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(Three recommended teachings from the ministry of Francis Frangipane)

*ASK OF ME

*THOSE WHO MAKE A COVENANT WITH GOD

*WHERE A DESOLATE SOUL FINDS GOD

***

"ASK OF ME"

~ by Francis Frangipane

Resources: www.frangipane.org

We live in unparalleled times. Not since the first century have more Scriptures been fulfilled in a single generation. Each unfolding word brings down another mountain; it lifts another valley. In truth, the way is being prepared for our King's return into this world.

"THE GREAT REVOLT"

The Lord forewarned that, during the end-time, "many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase" (Dan. 12:4). Contrast our time with any other in history: Not only are we traveling farther and more frequently, but we do so in a world inundated with increasing knowledge.

It has been our privilege to behold the prophetic return of Israel to its land (see Jer. 16:14-15), and our misfortune to live when "the earth is . . . polluted by its inhabitants" (Isa. 24:5).

As though Jesus were reading a news summary of recent years, His prophecies of two thousand years ago clearly describe our times. Thus, we are compelled to discern accurately the significant era in which we live.

Indeed, of the many prophetic fulfillments of our day, one in particular rises with undimmed candor. I am speaking of what the Bible calls the "apostasy." You will recall Paul's warning:

"Let no one in any way deceive you, for [the day of the Lord] will not come unless the apostasy comes first" (2 Thess. 2:3).

The apostasy has traditionally been described as a time of deception and massive falling away from authentic faith in Christ. Depending upon your specific view, sometime before or after the apostasy the rapture of the church will occur.

However, the concept of apostasy as merely “a falling away” is incomplete. The original Greek word for apostasy, apostasia, when used in classical Greek literature, meant “a political revolt.”

From this we understand that the end-time apostasy is not just a time of sinfulness or large scale backsliding; it is actually a time of open defiance and warlike aggression against divine moral foundations. In other words, the apostasia is a political insurrection against the laws of God.

This interpretation of the apostasy is not an isolated view. The new International Version, Revised Standard Version, Philips Translation, and New English Bible all render apostasia as "the rebellion." The Living Bible interprets the apostasy as the "great rebellion," while the Jerusalem Bible assigns a proper name to this era: "The Great Revolt."

As we consider the fulfillment of so many other prophecies, let us carefully observe: Mankind has entered an era of open revolt and outright rebellion---an apostasy---against the moral standards of God.

Today, we are witnessing a large-scale rebellion against godliness and moral values. Indeed, this brazen attitude has had a name for itself since the 1960s: the sexual revolution. And "revolution" is exactly what it is.

Our moral standards have not only been challenged, they have been replaced by a non-standard. Indeed, the great rebellion seeks to legitimize and then mainstream every perversity known to man!

There is much to say on behalf of those trapped in perversity and who hate sin's affect on their lives. We must be compassionate toward them and not strident; many are sitting in our churches afraid to even speak of their need lest they be disowned.

I am not speaking with reference to the victims of this advance, but of those who are engaged in a mutiny against the sway of God in our nation. They argue the only standard Americans have is the standard of individual freedom.

In their view, freedom itself is the "god" ruling America, with self-indulgence sitting as chief counsel. Yet, the God of heaven desires the nations of the world. Though the apostasy will certainly intensify, we must remember it is only one of many prophecies unfolding in our day.

The same Divine Word that warned of the Great Rebellion also assures us that ultimately God's kingdom shall crush the demonic influences in our world (see Dan. 2:44).

Yes, evil shall mature into full rebellion, but good is also ripening into full Christlikeness! (see Matt. 13:40-43; John 17:22-23). True, the apostasy shall reveal the nature of Satan, but the true church shall manifest the nature of Christ!

Our king is not only coming in the skies; He is coming "to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed" (2 Thess. 1:10). What seems to be Satan's hour, full of darkness and rebellion, is simply the opportunity for grace to abound to the glory of God in the church!

"SEATED WITH CHRIST!"

The Second Psalm, perhaps more then any other Bible text, accurately portrays the spirit of our time. Indeed, it also proclaims our correct response to Satan's bold advance. Although it was quoted by the early church (see Acts 4:25-26), God has set its full realization for the end of this age.

"Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!'" (Ps. 2:1-3).

Although "the rebellion" reveals itself worldwide in many ways, in America many of our leaders have certainly been counseling together "against the Lord" in their recent decisions. We see it in the legal protection offered the gay movement and the shelter provided for satanic rock music.

Again, our anti-censorship laws, like armor plating, have been established to defend sin against the Lord, shielding the perversity of our entertainment industry. The virulent cry of those in rebellion hammers relentlessly upon the fetters of moral restraint!

This railing against God has not gone unnoticed in heaven. Is the Almighty confounded? Has fear concerning recent developments gripped the Lord's heart? No. The Psalm continues,

"He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury" (Ps 2:4-5).

The Lord laughs at the foolishness of those in full revolt, as they imagine God's judgments cannot reach them. Why then, you ask, does the Lord delay His full judgment? In part, the Lord waits for us, His church.

For while the world shall demand, and receive, the reign of hell, the goal of the praying church shall be for the reign of heaven. You see, all of God's prophecies shall be fulfilled: those concerning evil and also those concerning righteousness.

The Lord has purposed to have a "bride without spot or wrinkle" and a "kingdom" of wheat without tares. The transformation of the church will be fulfilled as surely as every other prophecy occurring before the Lord's return.

Thus, with great fear and holy trembling, we must review what God has promised concerning us! Let us remember, the Lord is not alone in the heavens. According to His Word, He has seated us with Him in the heavenly places (see Eph. 2:6).

It is time for our identity as Christians to shift. Our nationalities only define our ambassador status; our true citizenship is in heaven (see Phil. 3:20). And if God is laughing at the mocking of those in the rebellion, let us also, as His subjects, share His confidence!

Thus, He commands us to sit with Him in the completeness of His purpose. He requires us not only to live without fear but to stand in prayer for these very nations that defy Him!

Listen again to this Second Psalm, for in the very context of worldwide rebellion against the Lord, it records the most remarkable discourse: "Ask of Me," the Father says to the Son, "and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession" (Ps. 2:8).

When I first came to Christ in 1970, churches in America were deeply divided and rather cold in organized prayer. Today, leaders of denominations are working together, and it is estimated that more than a quarter of a million American churches are moving toward deeper unity and increased prayer for this nation. Jesus has asked the Father for the United States, and in response, the prayer movement has been born!

As Christ's church, we do not deserve a national revival, but Jesus does! As His representatives, in His name and virtue, we ask of the Father for America! More than an expression of faith, our prayer is actually an act of obedience: We are commanded to ask God for the nations!

Therefore, while the perverse strive toward complete rejection of God, even as their mocking words fill the air, the Almighty's unchangeable promise to His Son (and by extension, His church as Christ's body) is "Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations!''

As violence, New Age religions and witchcraft flourish in our schools, ask God for this nation. While all restraint is removed from the entertainment industry, ask God for this nation! While perversity dresses in normalcy, ask God for America!

While abortion remains protected by laws, ask God with confidence, with boldness, and with faith for our land! Where you see injustice in any form, ask God for His kingdom to manifest on earth!

"HE WHO SITS IN THE HEAVENS LAUGHS."

Put away fear and discouragement; repent of fretting. The more we accept our place in the divine plan, the more we shall laugh at the enemies' plans. The faith that relentlessly asks God, pleases God.

Now, as the fullness of the times unfolds, as the world around us clothes itself in prophetic fulfillments, let us put away unbelief; let us repent for withdrawal. It is a time to boldly ask of God. As He has promised: He will give the nations as an inheritance to Christ!

Let's pray: Lord Jesus, how blessed we are that as evil matures into full rebellion, Your church matures into full Christlikeness. Teach me to pray for my inheritance, my nation. Use me to stand in the gap until my people become Your people.

***

"THOSE WHO MAKE A COVENANT WITH GOD"

~ by Francis Frangipane

THE COVENANT-KEEPING GOD

Throughout the history of God's dealings with man, He has revealed Himself as a covenant-making God. The Almighty covenanted with Noah, Abraham, Moses and David; He renewed His Abrahamic covenant in His call to Isaac and Jacob. Each covenant initiated a new wave of redemptive power into the world and forever impacted the human condition.

The word covenant means "to fetter" or chain together. It was the highest form of commitment that two individuals could share. Any of several rituals were employed to express the covenant partners’ unity:

A sword might be passed, signifying that the two would be united against the enemy as one. They might pass a sandal between themselves, which symbolized they would travel any distance to be at one another's side.

Or, they might cut an animal in two and pass between its halves. Just as the two halves, though separated, were still one animal, so the two covenant partners would become as one individual.

When the Lord initiated His covenant with a man, He did so as an extension of His eternal purpose; the man was a component in a series of divine initiatives. Contained within the Lord's covenant was His divine intervention, His supernatural wisdom and strategies, and His provisions.

Thus, if we look at the Lord's call to Noah, we see that it was not the ark, but the covenant of God, that preserved Noah and his family during worldwide judgment. Noah was a component, a factor in a series of divine initiatives, which accomplished the Lord's predetermined plans. God established the covenant, designed the ark and brought the animals. The Lord even shut the door after Noah entered the ark.

When the Lord established His covenant with Abraham, twice a flaming torch passed through the halves of the animals Abraham offered in sacrifice. The two passes signified that God would keep His part of the covenant and He would keep Abraham's part of the covenant as well!

Today, a restored Israel testifies to God's faithfulness in His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And it is God's covenant with Abraham, not merely the Jewish military, which preserves Israel in our times.

When the Lord entered into covenant with man, God promised that the covenant conditions and possibilities would not only apply to His servant, but His servant's descendants as well. Noah and his family, Abraham and his seed, and David and his family were all united as beneficiaries of God's covenant relationship. Similarly, we are saved and sustained through life's battles by Christ's covenant with the Father.

"PAYMENT AND PATTERN"

Our salvation has been secured, not only because Jesus died for our sins, but because His death was part of a covenant He had with the Father. The fact that Jesus suffered on my behalf is staggering, but His crucifixion was a component of an even more powerful reality: His covenant with the Father.

The terms of Christ's covenant were such that, if He would live His life blamelessly and offer that holy life upon the cross for sins, everyone who looked to the Son of God would be granted forgiveness.

The Father would look to Christ's sacrifice and see justice; and sinners would look to Jesus and find mercy. Yet, as maturing disciples, we find in Christ's covenant-mission not only our peace, but also a pattern Christ calls us to follow. He told His disciples, "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (John 20:21).

Having laid down His life in covenant surrender, He now bids us, "Take up [your] cross, and follow Me" (Matt. 16:24). Of course, our cross does not replace His cross nor do the sub-covenants we make with God supersede Christ's covenant.

The truth is, our cross extends the power of Christ's cross into our world and times, and our sub-covenant with God finds its backing because of Christ's covenant with God.

Thus, the Lord calls us to follow Him in personal covenants for our homes, cities and nations. The covenant we embrace is nothing less than the expression of Christ's nature, revealed again through us for our families, cities and nation.

"THE HARVEST AND COVENANT POWER"

To many Christians, the idea of making a special covenant with God is unfamiliar. Yet, I believe that many have already felt the Holy Spirit speaking, urging them to deepen their commitment to Christ.

Even so, covenants and our obedience to them must come from our hearts in response to the Lord's initiative. You will know the extent of your covenant by the measure of vision and faith, which also come from God.

Especially in the last days, we need to become a people who know the truth given us through Christ's covenant. And, in following Him, we should also know the unique endowment of grace He brings in making special covenants with us.

Indeed, Daniel 11:28-32 warns that the last days will be a time of unprecedented deception and spiritual intrigue. According to this text, Satan's rage will be hurled uniquely against "the holy covenant"! (v. 28a).

Yet, in this same chapter we read, "But the people who know their God will display strength and take action. And those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many" (Dan. 11:32-33a).

The prophecy continues, "And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever" (Dan. 12:3).

In the midst of great deception there will be a time and a people who know their God, have great insight, do exploits and lead many to righteousness. They will receive a new and powerful endorsement of God's Spirit.

Additionally, if the enemy will be warring specifically against the holy covenant, we can assume there is something of unparalleled power that Christ's covenant provides against Satan!

A new authority is coming to those who desire full conformity to Christ. For a great harvest is indeed prophesied for the end of this age, and those leading the way will be individuals who understand Christ's covenant and have themselves covenanted with God for their land.

"GOD'S UNALTERABLE COMMITMENT"

It is right to pray for the Lord to bless our lives. However, praying for the blessing and provision of God is not the same as covenanting with Him. A covenant is an altar upon which the Lord and His covenant partner give themselves fully to each other.

The quality of a covenant relationship with God does not cease once prayers have been answered. For, in covenant love we mature from simply being "believers" to becoming living sacrifices, given to God's highest plans. By so yielding, He creates within us a life that He can use extraordinarily in the process of divine redemption.

Covenant power is greater than that which comes through prayer alone. The effects of a covenant reach far beyond simple faith. Prayer and faith are essentials; they are prerequisites, but not substitutes, for covenant power. The covenant relationship is a lifelong pledge, an unbreakable oath that God Himself initiates and promises to sustain.

Contained within His promise is His unalterable commitment, not only to satisfy His redemptive purposes, but also to supply grace and faith to His human counterpart. Together, the all-sufficient God and a believing man accomplish the impossible through their covenant relationship.

"THE POWER RELEASED IN A COVENANT"

A covenant with God accomplishes two interconnected goals. It thrusts us beyond "subjective prayer" (prayer made primarily for our personal needs), and it brings us into a deeper commitment to God. Out of greater commitment comes greater grace to accomplish God's redemptive work in the world.

An example of covenant power is seen in ancient Israel during the revival that occurred after Athaliah, an idolatrous Judean queen, was dethroned. Jehoiada, the high priest, looked to God in covenant prayer. We read, "Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they should be the Lord's people" (2 Kings 11:17).

The result of his covenant was that grace came upon the people and they cleansed the land of idolatry. We read, "So all the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet" (v. 20). Jehoiada's covenant brought the nation back to God and ended violence in Jerusalem!

Consider also the power released in Hezekiah's covenant with God. The nation of Judah had been fully corrupted by Ahaz, the preceding king. However, Hezekiah began his reign by seeking God's highest favor. He opened the doors of the temple and reconsecrated the priests.

Yet, the purification of priests and buildings by themselves would not have brought about revival had not Hezekiah taken one further step. He said, "Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His burning anger may turn away from us" (2 Chr. 29:10).

Just eight days after the king made a covenant with the Lord, we read, "Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly" (v. 36). The difference between a long-term struggle and a speedy turning of the nation was, I believe, in the power that was released when the king covenanted with the Almighty.

It is vital that we who are Americans remember that our spiritual forefathers were people who knew and exercised principles of covenant sacrifice. When they came to this country, they knelt on its shores and covenanted with God for this land, dedicating the "new world" to Christ and His kingdom. It is unlikely that the revival of our nation will come without local and national church leaders covenanting together with God for their land.

"MAKING A COVENANT WITH GOD"

A personal covenant with God is a serious commitment, worthy of extended prayer and focused waiting before God. I have covenanted with the Lord to see the body of Christ delivered of carnal divisions and racism; my covenant goal is that Christ's prayer of John 17 be answered.

I have also united my life and faith with the covenants of our Pilgrim forefathers. Together with other brethren, both locally and nationally, we have covenanted with God to see this land restored according to 2 Chronicles 7:14.

I believe there will be a time when this nation, like all nations, will become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (Rev 11:15). Until then, whether revival comes quickly or we pass through the fires of divine judgments, our lives belong to Christ-not simply to be blessed or prosperous, but to see His highest purposes accomplished in our land.

However, not all of us will covenant with God for the nation. According to their faith, some will make covenants with Him for their families. Others will covenant to see abortion ended in their cities. While still others will covenant with God for the church--to see unity established in the citywide church in their cities.

Making a covenant with God takes us further into our goal of Christlikeness. It is the highest relationship we can enjoy with God and it is the most deeply surrendered. It is, in truth, that which brings Him the most pleasure.

To those who covenant with God, He says, "Gather My godly ones to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice" (Ps 50:5).

Today, as this nation stands at the threshold of two realities, let us take time in contemplative prayer and kneel before the Almighty Father. In Christlike, focused surrender, as Christ was a living sacrifice for our sins, so let us become living sacrifices to God for those we love. Let us embrace covenant oneness with God that His purpose and passions be fulfilled in our lives and in our times.

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"WHERE A DESOLATE SOUL FINDS GOD"

~ by Francis Frangipane

Jesus gave the last hours of this age a poignant headline. He called this period "The Great Tribulation." The word rendered tribulation means "grievous affliction or distress; pressure or burden upon the spirit." As we move closer toward the end of this age, we should expect that catastrophic distresses and pressures on man shall increase.

Added to the increasing stress of our times is the decreasing desire of government and society in general to restrain moral decadence. We live in a time when a significant portion of our society is in open and defiant rebellion toward God.

The prophetic words of Psalm 2 are being fulfilled before our eyes: World and local leaders "take their stand and the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His Anointed" (v. 2). As they renounce moral values, their militant cry is, "Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!" (v. 3).

Jesus warned of this day, saying, "Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold" (Matt. 24:12, NKJV). If you are one who has resisted the increasing darkness, you know how intense and multifaceted the battle is.

Whether you are fighting to remedy an injustice in your community or just trying to keep your family together, barely do we make headway in one area before five other areas are breeched.

In spite of breakthroughs occurring in several cities, many good people have grown weary. They are just going through the motions. The prophet Daniel warned of a time when the enemy would "…wear down the saints of the Highest One" (Dan. 7:25).

To emerge victorious in this day, we must climb into the reality given to us by God in Psalm 91. There is place of replenishing life--a fountain of eternal life where we can abide. The Bible calls this place the shelter of the Most High.

"ELIJAH: A MAN LIKE US"

Elijah was a man with passions like ours, and he fought in a spiritual war similar to ours. In his battle for the soul of Israel, he stood against the wiles of Jezebel and her husband, King Ahab. Yet his most intense battle was not against visible foes but against personal discouragement.

As bold as Elijah was, he lived as a fugitive moving in and out of caves and places of hiding. Jezebel had murdered nearly all of the Lord's prophets, replacing their godly influence with the dark, satanic oppression accompanying the priests of Baal and the Asherah.

A new initiative, however, had come from the Lord: Both Elijah and the prophets of Baal were to build altars, each to the deity they individually served. The God who answered with fire would be acknowledged as Lord over the nation.

King Ahab and all Israel came to the confrontation. Try as they may, the priests of Baal could draw no response from their demonic idol, Baal. In dramatic contrast, at Elijah's prayer, fire immediately fell from heaven and consumed his sacrifice.

This was Elijah's greatest victory. And when the Israelites saw the display of God's power, they bowed to the ground saying, "The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God" (1 Kings 18:39).

But the Lord was not finished. After Elijah had the priests of Baal executed, he went to the top of Mount Carmel, and, kneeling face down, he prayed seven times for rain until the Lord brought a great downpour that ended a devastating three-year drought. On this one day, both fire and rain miraculously fell from heaven!

Perhaps if this tremendous day had occurred at almost any other time in Israel's history, the nation would have repented, but it did not. Baal worship should have ended, but it continued. In fact, nothing changed.

Instead of the revival that Elijah envisioned, the opposite occurred: an enraged Jezebel vowed to kill the Lord's prophet, spurring Elijah to flee into the wilderness. There Elijah collapsed, exhausted and despondent, beneath a juniper tree. "It is enough; now O Lord," the weary prophet prayed, "take my life, for I am not better than my fathers" (1 Kings 19:4).

Elijah had offered the Lord his very best effort. This day had been the culminating event of his life. Elijah had prayed that Israel would know the Lord was their God and that, in response, the Lord would turn Israel's "heart back again" (1 Kings 18:37). Yet, like the prophets before him, Elijah could not trigger revival for Israel. Discouragement overwhelmed him. He had had enough.

Have you been to the point of spiritual or emotional exhaustion where you too have said, "It is enough"? Perhaps you were frustrated by your own inability to effect positive change in your family or you've fasted and prayed for your church or society but no visible change occurred. You gave your all but found little success. Disheartened and weary like Elijah, all your resources were spent.

Elijah laid down and slept. As he did, an angel touched him and said, "Arise, eat" (1 Kings 19:5). At his head were bread and water. Elijah, weary with life itself, ate and withdrew back into sleep.

Once more the angel touched him. "Arise," he said "Eat, because the journey is too great for you" (v. 7). For all our visions, plans, and programs, the journey before each of us is also "too great." Indeed our journey is divinely designed to be too great for us. The Lord has no plan where we succeed without Him. Life is so constructed to drive us to God.

"BACK TO OUR FOUNDATIONS"

"So [Elijah] arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God" (1 Kings 19:8).

The Lord gave Elijah strength, not to send him back to battle but to bring him back to basics. If we become more consumed with our task than we are with our love for God, our lives will eventually become brittle and desolate.

To restore our souls, the Lord brings us back to the essentials of our faith. Indeed, He might even stop our labors completely and direct us to the simpler realities of prayer, time in the Word, and worship.

He reminds us that, of all He calls us to accomplish, His greatest commandment is to love Him with all our "heart…soul…mind…and…strength" (Mark 12:30). Without this focus, we lose touch with God's presence; we are outside the shelter of the Most High.

The Lord brought Elijah to "Horeb, the mountain of God." In Hebrew, Horeb means "desolation."[Hebrew: Charab - to make desolate.] The barren environment mirrored Elijah's soul. Yet to God, Horeb was actually a place where the issues of a man's heart were flushed to the surface. There is no theater at Horeb, no acting. It is the place of unembellished honesty and core-to-surface transparency.

"HOW DID YOU GET HERE?"

Perhaps Elijah's greatest virtue was his zeal. Indeed, twice in his communication with God, Elijah speaks of having been "very zealous" for the Lord. But zeal unaccompanied by wisdom eventually becomes its own god. It compels us toward expectations that are unrealistic and outside the timing and anointing of the Lord.

To remain balanced, zeal must be reined in and harnessed by strategic encounters with the living God. Otherwise we become frustrated with people and discouraged with delays. We step outside our place of strength and spiritual protection.

Elijah had come to Horeb and lodged there in a cave. Soon the Word of the Lord came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (v. 9). This is one of the most important questions God will ever ask us.

His question probes the reality of our spiritual state: "How did your service to Me become dry and desolate?" God wants us to know that when we fail to esteem Him as our first love, we will always find a desert awaiting us.

Our primary purpose in life must be to abide in Christ. Otherwise we can become so consumed with the deteriorating condition of the world that we fail to see the deteriorating condition of our own soul. In His love, the Lord stops us and forces us to look honestly at our heart: Is this existence that I now live the abundant life promised me from Christ?

Let's speak candidly. We have nothing to prove and no need to pretend. We can abandon the internal mechanisms of defensiveness and pride. If we are disappointed, we are free to express it; if frustrated, we can admit it. We must simply and truthfully evaluate, without rationalization, our true spiritual condition.

Lord, reveal to me my heart. Bring to the surface of my consciousness those disappointments and heartaches, as well as my sins and failures. Remove Remove the cargo of oppression from my soul. Help me, Master, to lie still as You perform heart surgery on me.

Transparency is the outer garment of humility, and humility draws the grace of God to our hearts. Is not intimacy with God the very thing we most neglect? And is not the Lord alone our source of strength in battle? If the enemy can distract us from our time alone with God, he will isolate us from the help that comes from God alone.

Let us, therefore, approach the living God without any garment other than transparency.

"A FRESH ANOINTING"

As the pressures of this age escalate, we will soon discover that yesterday's anointing will not suffice for today's battles. The Lord brought a new beginning to Elijah's life at Horeb---one that would ultimately release a "double portion" of power to Elijah's successor, Elisha. Under this new anointing, Jezebel would be destroyed, Baal worship abolished, and the only period of revival the northern tribes ever experienced would begin.

To reach a similar place of breakthrough, it will take more than the momentum of our own zeal. We should not be surprised if God calls us to pass through our own Horeb.

How will we recognize this place? Horeb is the voice of personal desolation; it is the desperate compelling of our heart to possess more of God. We must now listen carefully to the voice of God. For it is at Horeb that He brings us deeper into Himself. It is here, under the canopy of His compassion, that we discover the purpose of our brokenness: our desolation is, in fact, a time of preparation.

The Lord is about to bring a new beginning to you. When you return to the battle, you shall war from the shelter of the Most High.

Lord Jesus, apart from You, my life is dry and desolate. Forgive me for trying to do Your will without abiding in Your presence. I desperately need You, Lord. This day, I commit my heart to return to my first love.

Teach me, Lord, to consider intimacy with You the greatest measure of my success. Let me see Your glory; reveal to me Your goodness. Guide me, Oh Holy Spirit, into the spiritual fortress of the presence of God. Amen.

Resources: www.frangipane.org/

***

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Dear Joshua Family Subscribers & Friends:

Today, i received  a two-part  important prophetic word that came in from Wendy Alec of God.tv which i sensed that i needed to share with you here.

It is particularly important for those of you who are intercessors to begin to stand in the gap and to pray concerning the things that you are about to read below because it involves coming judgements (and further revival outbreaks) that are about to come on the west coast.  

We as true believers should have a heart to stand in the gap rather than to stand-by as critical spectators during this most crucial time in our nation.

True intercessors will stand in the gap and cry out to God on the behalf of their nations and regions. The religious-minded will stand by with judgmental hearts and critical spirits, to watch the world fall apart, and go to hell in a hand-basket.

So let's not find ourselves in the place of being judgement-happy as so many are on the internet, but let's show forth the character of Christ and be moved with His love in our hearts for our nations and regions, making a difference with our lives for the glory of God. 

Right now, the move of God is accelerating upon the world-scene on one hand, while on the other hand everything that can be shaken, will continue to be shaken down.

Always remember: The Lord still expects us to have a Christ-like heart to love and to pray for our nations, and for each other (with pure hearts and right motives.)

Many blessings, L.D.

***

"WORD FOR SAN FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES"

~ Wendy Alec

Resources: unknownprophet.com

Published Jul 18, 2008

*WORD FOR SAN FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES

*THE BAY THE BAY THE BAY THE BAY

*THE SHAKING – THE JUDGEMENT IS COMING
FIRE AND WATER - SAN FRANCISCO AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

*IDOLATRY - THE GOLDEN GATE FALLS – LOS ANGELES – REVIVAL FIRE

***

Dear Friends:

I was awoken in the early hours of the morning to hear the words ringing out -' THE BAY THE BAY THE BAY THE BAY' – As I currently live in the UK and am not at all familiar with the West Coast.

I did not know even know what The Bay meant other than that I knew the Lord was saying CALIFORNIA - but once again I sensed a strong red alert for San Francisco.

It was only a day LATER that I discovered that the Bay area covers San Francisco. I knew the Lord was trying to get my attention.

Words of judgement are often not well received and I have held back on this word for several weeks to weigh it intensely, but under the fear of the Lord I feel I must deliver it now so that those with a burden for the West coast can pray, so that many, many will come to repentance in this present hour and also that God's faithful servants will know his supernatural protection in the times to come.

This is what I saw.THE BAY THE BAY THE BAY THE BAY - ANGELS OF JUDGEMENT CARRYING GOLDEN SCYTHES

I saw two huge Angels of Judgement carrying what seemed to be huge golden threshing instruments that looked like scythes. They were crying out in loud voices:

‘THE BAY THE BAY THE BAY THE BAY’

I did not know what that meant except that I knew that it was CALIFORNIA and I had the same dread for San Francisco that I had experienced before when I had received the ‘West Coast’ Prophecy.

And I saw a mighty shaking and trembling begin under the earth.

And the Lord said – 'From under the Pacific it shall come – in Fire and in water – it shall come.'

It was hardly noticeable at first but it was as though the whole city froze as one and then the shaking and the terror and THEN THE FIRE CAME

I saw a horrifying inferno -- A literal inferno.

I saw ravaged land - ravaged, ravaged cities.

But one city received the full force of this terror and earthquake and this is what the warning was crying out ‘THE BAY – THE BAY’

And I saw the heavens were black – blacker than black and there was no light – all light was extinguished.

And the smoke continued to rise and thousands upon thousands of this city were killed at the first strike.

But I saw a second strike.

A second strike

And I saw water - water devastating parts of the West Coast – to the NORTH – THE NORTH – beware the NORTH – THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIAN COASTLINE

I still saw plumes of smoke rising from charred buildings.

There was not just one city affected. It was more than one - on the Northern California Coast.

People were bleeding and dying.

The emergency services were hindered greatly from reaching The Bay in good time – they were prepared but no one could prepare for this and the suffering was intense.

I heard many cursing God – even in their suffering instead of crying out for mercy they were cursing God.

But I also heard those crying out in desperation for His mercy and the Angel of the Lord spoke the Word of the Lord

And I heard him say ‘And these ones I shall by no means cast out.'

EMPTY CISTERNS – EMPTY CISTERNS – SCALES OF JUDGEMENT FULL

And the moon turned a strange colour of crimson.

And the haze hung over the bay for many days and nights.

And the city was silent.

Thousands of people were left crushed - drowned.

I felt this was further up the coast than Los Angeles – more to the North, though Los Angeles was shaken it was not as devastating as The BAY the Lord was talking about.

EMPTY CISTERNS I saw written in the sky EMPTY CISTERNS above San Francisco – and the scales – the scales of sin and judgement were full – so full that judgement could not be withheld over San Francisco.

LOS ANGELES – A SPIRITUAL FLAME –ANGELS ON THE WIND – REVIVAL BREAKS FORTH

And then I saw Los Angeles – and it seemed a different scenario – and I knew that the Lord held in great esteem and looked down with a great and enduring compassion on His servants - His prophets –His intercessors - His servants who had stood in the gap for Los Angeles.

And I saw many intercessors who had stood in the gap day and night for Los Angeles and California and I wondered if these faithful servants of God were the reason that in the former vision I only saw a partial devastation of Los Angeles – great swathes of Los Angeles were PROTECTED.

But San Francisco and along the northern coast seemed to receive the full brunt of the ferocious shaking.

There was a great scale in the sky and I saw one side of the scale weighed right down with sin and iniquity.

I still remember being shocked because I still heard many in San Francisco still cursing God - and I knew that was a reflection of how sin and rebellion against the most high God had blackened the hearts of men in this city.

LOS ANGELES

And I was taken back to Los Angeles.

And I saw a spiritual flame burning from Los Angeles and the Southern Coastline of California.

And I saw Angels on the wind over Los Angeles with a banner REVIVAL BREAKS FORTH

And a connection with LAKELAND – this seemed to be happening in a second timeline that was not the same timeline as the former vision but was more in the present season.

But it made me wonder if this calamitous event was not coming quicker than we knew or thought.

***

PART TWO:

SAN FRANCISCO – GOLDEN GATE
ALTAR OF HARLOTS AND IDOLATERS – BAAL - IDOLATRY

But then I was led back to San Francisco and the great devastation ahead in the future –

And I saw a sign in the sky that read THE GOLDEN GATE – ALTAR OF HARLOTS AND IDOLATERS – And I saw the words BAAL and IDOLATRY – LASCIVIOUSNESS – LUST – SODOM AND GOMORRAH

And I saw the face of the Angels of Judgement were set fiercely against this city and the word of the Lord came forth saying – ‘For I have set my face against this land – and even in a moment I shall smite it' – and I saw the fall of the Golden Gate - cut in two and how the mighty were brought to the ground even in a moment. And I saw above the Golden gate bridge written IDOLATRY.

And I saw the city of San Francisco a devastation – blackened and even to the coastline to the North of San Francisco –

‘CRY OUT, CRY OUT!’ cried the Angels of the Lord –‘CRY OUT, CRY OUT to the Most High God for surely your idols have fallen – every one – and no more shall they rise.’

RAINBOW RISING FROM THE STRETCHES OF NORTH CALIFORNIA OVER SAN FRANCISCO TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA – I SHALL ESTABLISH IN THIS PLACE MY GOLDEN GATE

And then I saw a rainbow – the most glorious sight – it rose from the stretches of Northern California and over the devastated city of San Francisco and then over to Southern California and it blazed with every colour as bright as the sun and out of the radiance I saw a GOLDEN GATE – it seemed so huge and so glorious it looked as the gates of heaven – and I heard the Lord say – 'And now I shall establish in this place MY GOLDEN GATE –

A gate of repentance –

A gate of revival –

A gate of cleansing –

A gate of Holiness'.

And I saw a remnant in that charred city come out from under the angel's robes – and over their heads was written FAITHFUL and TRUE –and The Lord said 'These are those who stood for me in this city of San Francisco-

These are those who have wept and pleaded and interceded for this city day and night without ceasing. These are those who were My gate keepers of this city – who heralded in revival – and poured out My Spirit even in the face of great opposition and persecution – these are those who are greatly BELOVED by me.'

And I saw that the Lord Himself had placed them under the angel's mantle and that these faithful pastors and apostles, these intercessors and prophets had been divinely protected by the Lord's own hand from this harm

...and I saw the Father's hand pick them up and set them on high with heaven's Golden Gate – as His chosen gatekeepers for the new move of His spirit that would sweep through the Northern parts and coastline of California.

And I heard the Lord say 'REDDING - REDDING ' – and I saw a vast thick elixir like golden river flowing from REDDING to San Francisco - San Jose and on to Los Angeles – and these forks in the river were all connected.

LOS ANGELES – SEVENTEEN HUGE BLAZING LIGHTS
A SIGN READ - MORE TIME – REVIVAL FIRE
A GREAT GRACE SHALL ARISE FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Then the Lord directed me to look back to Los Angeles – and I saw Los Angeles shaken but by no means devastated or destroyed. And I saw as the rainbow encircled Los Angeles great swathes of light beaming up into the night skies-

– these were blazing beams of light almost as from monstrous searchlights. And there were thousands of them – some were very small like pinpricks but others were so huge and filled the night sky.

And the Lord said – 'This is the reason My hand has been stayed for yet a season for Los Angeles. For these are My servants – HOLY and TRUE. '

And once again – it seemed I was taken back to a second timeline more in this present and coming season before the devastation that was to come

And I saw thousands of the tiniest of lights were small groups of intercessors meeting in their homes – one on one – in small groups – piercing the heavenlies, then the brighter lights were fellowships' of churches all across Los Angeles and California-

– but there were seventeen of the strongest monstrous searchlights – I saw around five in Los Angeles itself, the rest were across Northern and Southern California – and the Angels' of the Lord cried ‘HOLY HOLY ARE YOU LORD – HOLY IS THE LAMB.’

And I sensed that these were the blazing lights of those who had followed the Lamb wherever He went with great sacrifice to their own lives and their own agendas – and it was because of these ones that the Judgement over Los Angeles would be stayed and I saw a sign that read –

MORE TIME - REVIVAL FIRE

– And I sensed a GREAT SHIFT IN THE SPIRIT CENTERING ON LOS ANGELES AND CALIFORNIA – THIS WAS HAPPENING NOW IN THIS PRESENT SEASON

– I sensed the Lord was IN THIS PRESENT SEASON about to turn His FOCUS and INTIMATE ATTENTION on Los Angeles and California – and it was a BLAZING FOCUS

– I felt the Fathers eyes were as hot coals blazing with His Mercy, His Judgement yet with His infinite grace upon the West coast and especially Los Angeles – that He had been deeply stirred by the cries of His people.

AND I SAW ANOTHER SIGN THAT READ – REVIVAL FIRES IN THE WEST and I saw the streams from Redding join with several of the streams in Los Angeles.

And a fiery molten stream from LAKELAND. This stream was literally so intense – hissing and burning with the fire's of the Ancient of Days - it was blazing red hot coals everywhere it passed.

And then I saw different streams emanating from some of these light bearers and I saw molten silver river flow and a molten ruby fire river flow from another and from another flowed a river of diamond like molten fire.

And I realised that where the Lamb was worshipped and adored, the Lord was about to JOIN some streams together and it was out of this that California's revival fire would come.

And I saw the words – A GREAT GRACE – A GREAT GRACE – and the Lord said - 'A GREAT GRACE SHALL ARISE FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THAT SHALL IMPACT THE NORTH EVEN TO THE STATE OF WASHINGTON – EVEN TO SEATTLE,' SAYS THE LORD – 'AND TO VANCOUVER IT SHALL BLAZE

THE PACIFIC – KOREA – SINGAPORE – I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN YOU

and the Pacific – the Pacific' says the Lord – 'across the Pacific these fires will go – ASIA.' And I saw CHINA and JAPAN and KOREA lit by streams of these molten rivers from Los Angeles –

-and I saw a molten river from CHINA – a different river - the river from China was the only river that had live jumping fish swimming upstream – and I seemed to sense the fish represented a huge catch of souls – that evangelists from China had some part in evangelism of the West Coast

–and this river was flowing back to the West Coast also - even a great outpouring on the Chinese communities in California ahead - and South Korea but also the North – North Korea – 'And SINGAPORE', says the lord-

– 'Singapore – you have worshipped mammon – you have worshipped that which has been built with bricks and mortar –that which has been by your own hand and you have turned away and have forgotten me – but I am coming to SINGAPORE-

– even in a moment – and even as the stocks and the shares of the east shall shake and stand in the balance – so Singapore I shall yet show you my love for you – for I have commissioned you to proclaim my gospel even to the far reaches of the East – even to Mongolia your evangelists will go,’ says the Lord-

– 'To Malaysia, Indonesia and far beyond –for I have not forgotten you, Singapore - and you shall yet see the King in his beauty even in your land.’

- WA

***

Joshua Apostolic Prophetic Network

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Dear Joshua Family Subscribers and friends:

Today, i am including two important messages with prophetic insights for you, which i believe will be of great encouragement to a number of you out there.

Theresa (Tess) Phillips wrote an awesome article on "BEWARE OF THE POLITICAL YEAR" and sent it in over last weekend for review. When i read and pondered this, it reminded me so much, of what i have seen and experienced myself, in regards to the atmosphere in various situations in the past, and it really shed some fresh light on the topic. Great article Tess!

Then, the second article here today was written by Ching Co, from the Philippines, whom i have received various messages from since 2002, on "A VISION OF A MAN IN A RACE CAR." I know that when you read it, it will not only encourage you, but will also resound in your spirit man, as it did with me. It relates to the Holy Spirit, as the driver of the car in the vision. Simply awesome!

Also, i wanted you to know that i have placed a slideshow on the Joshua-ap.net Extended Network site with our photos from "The Call" gathering, along with two new videos, and will be posting additional messages on the blog, as well.

And, please don't forget to read our updates that are written below each of the Joshua AP Network Messages that are sent out. Just scroll down a little further, and you will see them there, after you read todays messages.

Have an awesome day friends, and let me hear from more of you, who haven't written in for a while, when you get the chance. Blessings, L.D. Oxford

***

*BEWARE OF THE POLITICAL YEAR

*ARE YOU READY FOR THE RIDE?

***

"BEWARE OF THE POLITICAL YEAR"

~ By Theresa Phillips

Resources: ChicagoPropheticVoice.Net

Several months ago a minister friend told me,"We are entering a Political year, and the Politics for position are going to heat up." Whew, did I receive this word, but it was with an "ouch" in my spirit.

Recently, while attending a conference, I was suddenly overcome by the Lord with a powerful unction to leave the conference, go back to my hotel room and pray! Now mind you, I RARELY leave a meeting, and I am seldom ever late! I even resist leaving when nature calls. I was raised with the understanding that you don’t walk out on God.

My secretary attended the conference with me. I quickly told her, "In 10 minutes we are to leave this building, go back to the hotel, and pray." Without a question, she agreed. She knows from experience what I am like when God is moving me to act fast, and I was blessed by her quick response. So we went back to the hotel.

As we prayed, God began to download heavenly things to me from the atmosphere above us. I saw a large curtain, rolled up in metal cuffs. Then I saw two blades, but only one handle.

I asked the Lord what this was, and He told me that one was the blade of a small dagger and the other one was the Sword of the Spirit. I was still seeing the cloth above my head at this time, and it was rolled up and full of color. The cloth was being held in place by 9 cuffs of iron.

The Lord then asked me, "Is it enough to have the dagger to poke holes in the fabric and get a trickle of Glory? Or is it wiser to swing the sword of the Spirit and cut the cuffs or shackles off the fabric?"

Inside the fabric were the gifts God IS willing to pass out in this present day. They are the supernatural manifestations of His essence, His tangible Presence.

"BUT SOMETHING WAS STOPPING IT!" THE LORD REVEALED THESE TWO REASONS:

1. A lack of unity, and

2. A power struggle to be "number one." Political struggle...

Upon learning this, I was so shocked that I wept and immediately phoned one of my mentors.

Then, God let me know that my life had taken a different turn. The Holy Spirit was leading me to make a change in my walk. He was calling met to obey Him, no matter what, regardless of the cost.

My heart was being challenged. Who was I willing to obey? The voices of men, or the will of my Father in Heaven? Was I discerning His voice, or was this idea coming from me? Was it possible for me to try to pass this off as something I heard someone else say?

While lying on the bed at the hotel, I began to weep inside because I knew I was going to receive another challenging word from the Lord. I was right. It came later.

My mentor, who was staying in the same hotel, came to my room. I shared this word from the Lord with her. Deep down in my heart, I felt like asking, "Can we make a difference?" I also felt my soul begin to plead with the Lord to take control and change me.

While we were still talking about it, I already knew the solution. It was going to take corporate unity to break off the shackles. These shackles were represented by the iron cuffs that were holding back the curtain containing glorious gifts from Abba, Father.

I knew that the meeting I was in was not to be the place these gifts would manifest. It grieves the Lord to see anyone force a move of God. I learned a long time ago that just because you get a word from the Lord does not necessarily mean it’s the right time to share it with others! I was certain this word would have to be released only according to HIS perfect will, time and place.

"LIKE NOW!"

I left the hotel room with my mentor and attended the rest of the conference. I was relieved, yet I was not...

I was soon back in the realm again of the Spirit and God reminded me of the night in 2004 that President Bush won the election, and then his election was contested.

"THE WAR OF POWER HAD BEGUN AND I WAS SENSING THIS VERY SPIRIT ACTIVE AGAIN."

I am NOT saying that the meeting I was in had that spirit, but I sensed the same type of atmospheric presence making me aware of the spiritual struggles of power that are over many ministries today.

I could feel the power struggle as if it were tangable.

I was grateful the Spirit of the Lord gave me a scripture then ad there. We do wage war, not against flesh, but against principalities in the AIR.

Ephesians 6:12 (Amplified Bible) For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

I was really feeling the same atmosphere I did the night of the presidential election in 2004. Then I remembered the minister who recently spoke to me about this coming year being a political year.

I decided then and there that I wanted to make the name of Jesus famous rather than my own name.

I have begged the Lord tell me the secret to unlocking the supernatural manifestations over all of us and not for just a select few. I am fully aware some people will carry the Glory in a much more prominent atmosphere than others. But can’t we all have access to it?

"OR HAVE WE BEEN COMPETITIVE OVER IT?"

The Lord then clearly spoke to me and said, "Yes, it is my Good Pleasure to give it to you ALL."

Ephesians 1:8-10 (New International Version) ...that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

"I WAS BASKING IN THAT THOUGHT WHEN ANOTHER WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME..."

Luke 12:32 (Amplified Bible) Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!

This spoke volumes to me and I received it personally, for our ministry is not large. Then I began to realize that little flocks need not to be fearful…for it IS HIS desire for us all to have the Kingdom …HIS Kingdom.

BUT it is HIS KINGDOM, NOT OURS. This is why God was giving me awareness of the political atmosphere.

Was I foolish to think I could carry a part of the Glory?

Was I wanted in that realm?

Did I make a mistake wanting to be With HIM on such a level being so small a ministry was it ego? Was it jealousy, was it??

And yet I was being abandoned for the very thing GOD was doing in our midst ..

I was getting emails I was getting phone calls letters etc questioning me as if i were unable to do what GOD was telling me to do. What was it?

Then I know it was political warfare and I knew He voted for me.

I can imagine many may ask, "How does this apply?" The answer is simple. Who can declare the works of the Lord Majestic Power, and Glory?

Psalm 73:28 (King James Version) But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

"WHO CAN BEHOLD HIS BRILLIANCE? JOHN DID."

Revelation 21:11 (New International Version) It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

"WHO CAN DECLARE AN OPEN HEAVEN?"

Ezekiel 1:1-3 (Amplified Bible) NOW [when I was] in [my] thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was in the midst of captivity beside the river Chebar [in Babylonia ], the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

"WHO CAN SEE PORTALS AND ANGELIC REPRESENTATIVES OF HEAVEN?"

Genesis 28:12 (King James Version) And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

"WHO CAN ASCEND TO THE OPEN DOOR UPON HEARING, "COME UP HERE?"

Revelation 4:1 (Amplified Bible) AFTER THIS I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice which I had heard addressing me like [the calling of] a war trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place in the future.

"WHO THEN IS ABLE TO OPEN UP THOSE SHACKLES OF IRON? HOW CAN THIS BE ACCOMPLISHED?"

As I was carrying this word in me, I knew it would take considerable wisdom to handle this, for offenses are so great. That is a key to the worlds political arena of winning.

It is the offences of man (Who is really offended you to THEM) that keep people from these two things:

l. Advancing in their own walk,

2. Advancing, HIS Magnificent Kingdom

We see into the political arena, that it is all about who appears to be best qualified, and who can "out do" everyone else. Much of this becomes essential for a prime candidate to carry the office one desires to carry.

But how sure is the victory, and how much will the people believe when the office is won with the wrong motives? Is the motive jealousy? Is it a noble motive? Is it a true calling, ignited with passion? To be at the top can be a noble desire, but is it essential to climb to the top?

"THIS POLITICAL YEAR CAN AND WILL OFTEN RESULT IN MANY CHRISTIANS AND MINISTRIES CONTENDING"

...with other ministries as to whom is the greatest or the most important. The horn is blowing because an enemy has invaded the camp. DON"T get fooled by the politics of the day. Remember we all can fall prey to this. The great warning is NOT to let ourselves become consumed with what others are doing.

It is GOD who calls us all to swing the Sword of the Spirit. It is far better to be in UNITY than separated. Through unity we can break those shackles together. All can advance the kingdom, all can carry their load, and all can achieve the dreams God has for them.

The key is to return to our first Love and establish that He is Lord. Then corporately we can choose the Love of GOD over the love of self. This will enable us to see the Greater Glory that is up ahead.

REMEMBER THIS:

"Little is much with GOD in it."

Luke16:10a (New International Version) Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much...

"Who is the least will be the greatest."

Luke 9:48b ...for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

"Better is one day in His courts that 1000 elsewhere."

Psalm 84:10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

"Who then can declare the works of GOD? We all can! Let's take back the world by faith, together!"

~ Theresa Phillips

***

NEXT:

"ARE YOU READY FOR THE RIDE?"

~ By Ching Ten L. Co

Cebu City, Philippines

"A VISION OF A MAN IN A RACE CAR... HE'S READY TO GO!"

Since the start of this year, a vision keeps coming back to me. I keep seeing a vision of a man sitting inside a race car, wearing a helmet and racing outfit, as He waits at the starting line of a race track.

I can clearly hear the sound of His car engine running, shifting into higher gear as the Driver is ready to start the race. I believe this vision has spiritual significance for the time we are in.

As I have continued to watch and listen to what God impressed upon me, below is the message I received. I pray it will bring encouragement to you as it has to me.

The Driver is the Holy Spirit, and as He set to go at the starting line, this represents the coming move of God. Our Heavenly Father has shifted to a higher gear, and He is inviting His people to join Him in this ride. This move will be both exhilarating and intimidating.

To those who totally trust God and His leading--this ride will be the greatest joyride of your lifetime. God is telling us, "It's time to move forward."

THE QUESTION IS: "ARE YOU READY FOR THE RIDE? DO YOU HAVE TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN THE SKILL OF THE DRIVER?"

"WHAT MAKES US QUALIFIED TO RIDE WITH GOD?"

God is looking for people whose hearts and motives are pure and who do not hide their weaknesses from God. These are people who, when convicted of their shortcomings, are quick to let God deal with their hearts in complete surrender to Him.

Just like when God chose David, He said to Samuel, "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

Therefore our present success will not be His basis for choosing us; it will be the condition of our hearts which will matter to Him. David failed greatly when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and plotted the death of Uriah (2 Samuel 11).

Yet despite David's shortcomings, God continued to use him greatly, and he was fondly remembered as "a man after God's own heart."

"GREAT NEWS FOR GOD'S CHILDREN"

Presently there is a big group of God's children who, in the past, experienced the mighty moving of God in your life and ministry. But due to various circumstances, some of you had to give up works or ministry, and may now find yourself seemingly bereft of any success.

Despite the difficulties you had to face, the sacrifices you had to endure, the seemingly barrenness of your life right now, quietly, you continue to worship and honor God as best you know how.

Yet you cannot deny there is a greater longing in your heart to do more for God's people, to do more for His Kingdom, and to implement all the ideas and plans God has planted inside of you to do. The dreams and visions God placed in the innermost parts of your heart for so long seem to be unattainable.

BUT THERE IS GREAT NEWS:

God had you in His mind! If you can identify with this group, the great news is that God had you specifically in mind and will call you to be on the forefront when His Holy Spirit makes the move. As you have been faithful to God, holding nothing back in the process, laying down everything at His feet, it's now His time to respond.

He has not forgotten His promises and His calling for you and your family, and you will see Him opening doors and opportunities which you thought were closed or lost.

"LUKE 1 CONNECTIONS"

We are coming into a time of connection just like Zechariah and Elizabeth, and Joseph and Mary were intertwined with each other (read Luke 1).

These were two different couples at various age levels, facing different challenges, yet both families' lives were intertwined with each other and linked by God for each other's comfort, confirmation, and for a common cause. So will it be in the coming days.

God will use the wisdom, skill and experience of those from the older generations, and He will link them with the new ideas and innovative ways of the younger generations. The experience and expertise of each will "complement," not compete, and they will blend perfectly to fulfill God's Kingdom for the nations.

What Peter had spoken to the crowd about during Pentecost will once more be manifested in our midst. This is both to the older and younger generations:

"This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people, your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy'" (Acts 2:16-18).

"PROPHETIC INSIGHT AS THE DRIVER MOVES"

AS IN THE DAYS OF JESUS' DISCIPLES:

• The people of God will ride this wave and will once more impact the community where they have been planted by God.

• Holistic endeavors connected with education, skills training, community development, poverty alleviation, indigenous inventions, environmental protection and many other projects that the community will need, will once again be spearheaded and pioneered by God's children who will have an important role in these projects.

• God is releasing a marketplace anointing where your skills, talents, hobbies and spiritual gifting will be used extensively by God to impact the people that you are and will be working with in the coming days.

• Ministry, business and job opportunity, which you had given up on before and thought had been lost, will once more be brought back into your path by God Himself. He will network you with people whom He has chosen to work beside you for these projects.

• Just like in Jesus' time, God's work will start off "small," and may not seem significant in the beginning. But as you continue to press in and faithfully do what has been assigned to you, the impact and effect of these works will catch the attention of the secular world.

• You will experience our God going before you and preparing the way. You will hear Him clearly guiding you as He says, "This is the way, walk in it."

***

"OUR PRAYER"

Our Father, we thank You for quickening our hearts once more with this message. We await this day with great expectation. Come Holy Spirit, even today, prepare us for the work that You have chosen for each one of us to do.

Just like David cried out to You with these words: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24), so we cry out to You in the same manner today.

As a watchman waits for the dawn, so we also wait and long for You. Move as You have in the days of old. Summon Your power, and show us Your strength as You have done before.

Be exalted once more in the midst of the nations. Raise up the standard of Your people. Pour out Your favor upon us so that people around us will know that Your Presence is with us, and they will be able to distinguish Your children from the people of the world.

Thank You for revealing Your plans and Your heart to us for the coming days. We wait for them with great expectation and with thanksgiving in our hearts.

Unto You and You alone, be all glory and power and might for all that You have done, are doing and will do in our lives. In Jesus Christ's name, we say, "Amen!"

***

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Dear Joshua family subscribers and friends:

Today, i am sending out to you some great prophetic insight that just came in from the ministry of Matt Sorger. Last year, we posted the "2007 Word" that Matt sent out, and i have included a link here in his article for easy access, so that you may go back and review it again.

God is most definitely bringing a love-test upon the Body of Christ this year, and each one will be tested, as a challenge to grow in love and to become more Christ-like in our lives.

We must be willing to lay down our lives for Him, (and for the brethren as He tells us in His Word to do), if we are going to make a real difference, and to leave a mark on this generation.

God gave His very best for us, and we must be willing to give our very best back to Him in the way that we live our lives, and in sharing God's love towards each other. Anything less than that, only shows that there is a faulty foundation.

The only way to prove and show otherwise, is to return to our first love, which is our relationship Christ, to obey His commandments, and to walk and abide in Him daily. And this is what He calls all of His people to do without exception.

So, please not only read the article, but also ponder what the Lord may want to say to you personally, as an individual in this. It is not a message meant for someone else, but is especially given for the corporate Body of Christ, which means that it is for anyone who is a true Christian, wherever they may be.

May you be challenged, strengthened, and encouraged through todays message. ~ L.D. Oxford

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"12 PROPHETIC SIGNPOSTS FOR 2008"

~ By Matt Sorger

Resources: mattsorger.com/

As I have been waiting on the Holy Spirit throughout the month of January I have been processing in my spirit several prophetic themes. The listing below includes many of the things Holy Spirit has been stirring in my heart as we move into 2008. I also feel that some of what I shared for 2007 is still being carried over into 2008 and has not reached its full development.

I encourage you to also read our 2007 article to continue to lay hold of the Father’s heart for this generation of believers and for your life personally. Take some time to meditate and pray over the Key Scriptures included with each prophetic highlight. I pray these words are a blessing to you.

(The link to the 2007 article given last year: click here )

1) God is about to invade His church. Jesus is inspecting His Father’s temple. Some tables are going to be overturned this year. Don’t be dismayed when you see this happen. It is the hand of the Lord.

God is refining the inward motives of the heart. Any work done with a selfish, self-seeking motive will not survive the refining fire. Key Scriptures: Mt 21:12; 1 Cor 3:13, 4:5

2) God is calling the church to return to and re-strengthen the foundations of our faith and personal walk with Him and our ministries. A refining fire is coming and anything not built on a foundation of love will not stand the testing.

God is inspecting our works. He wants work motivated by first love, not empty activity. Some lamp stands will be removed this year. Anything not built on love will be shaken. Key Scripture: Rev 2:4-5

3) There will be many "love-tests" this year. People will be given opportunities to grow in true Christ-like love. God will allow moments of difficulty and challenge to teach us to walk and live in love.

He is taking us deeper into the gospel of the Kingdom, which is to love God with all our hearts and to love people. God is really bringing a revival of true heartfelt love. God wants to invade whole cities and regions.

The key that will unlock cities and bring a move of God like the Welsh Revival of 1904 will be a revelation and reality of Kingdom love. Key Scriptures: 1 Pet 4:12-13; Mt 22:36-40

4) New ministries will be birthed this year. There will be another wave of launching ministries. God has been laying foundations and now is the time to take action and step out into the fullness of the call of God. Some "good things" will have to be let go of in order to lay hold of God’s best. It truly will be a season of "new beginnings" for many. Key Scripture: Gen 12:1

5) The apostolic mandate will continue to mature and come into greater manifestation this year as the church is "sent by God" into the marketplace, highways and byways to see the gospel of the Kingdom advance forward.

There will be a fresh emphasis on souls, church planting and discipling new believers. We will see a new wave of evangelism released through apostolic order. God is stirring the body to aggressively pursue creative miracles and deliverance.

Look for opportunities for God to move outside of church meetings. If you make yourself available He will move in the most unexpected places. Key Scriptures: Luke 14:23; John 1:6-8

6) God will reveal to the church the true prosperity of the Lord. Any prosperity preached with a motive of greed and selfishness will be shaken down so the true prosperity of the Lord can shine forth. Only God knows the motives and intents of the heart. We must be careful not to prematurely judge people or ministries. Let God be the judge.

God is refocusing our understanding of biblical prosperity with the truth that we are blessed so we can be a blessing to others and advance the Kingdom of God in the earth. (Remember, prosperity is more than just finances.

It also includes divine health, healing, protection, forgiveness, grace, joy, peace, and much more.) God will continue to anoint people with creative business ideas for supernatural wealth to help fund the end-time harvest. Key Scriptures: 2 Cor 9:6-11; Isa 60:11.

7) Foundational truths will be emphasized by the Holy Spirit, including the blood of Christ, the cross of Christ and salvation through repentance of sin. Key Scriptures: Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Gal 6:14

8) God is causing us to inspect and re-strengthen our foundation so He can bring multiplication and increase. Anything done with a pure motive and built on a foundation of selfless love will see a wonderful multiplication and increase this year. That which has a solid foundation will be multiplied in 2008.

9) God is teaching His people how to operate in dominion from a position of rest. We must know how to use governmental Kingdom authority from a place of resting in Christ’s finished work. Both dominion and rest are being highlighted by the Holy Spirit.

This dominion will cause the enemy to be displaced out of the land of our inheritance so that we can not only possess but be multiplied in that land. Key Scriptures: Col 1:13; Josh 6:1-2, 15-16.

10) An apostolic shift of focus is coming into how we view the "church". God will continue to give us understanding into the practical functions of the apostolic. God is shifting the vision of leaders beyond their own kingdom onto His Kingdom.

A baptism of love will cause leaders to understand "the church" is not just their local congregation, but it is the corporate body within that city, nation and world! Greater expressions will be given to the corporate church. God wants leaders and churches to have a heart for one another.

God wants to invade, awake and transform whole regions and cities. Apostolic leaders will be raised up transforming local churches into holy habitations of God’s glory that release the body of Christ into greater fullness and manifestation.

Pastors and other five-fold ministries called to the apostolic will continue to shift this year in their vision and function. Some churches will make the transition from "local church" to "regional apostolic centers".

Through the apostolic we will see a greater merging together of the prayer movement, evangelism and church planting. The prayer movement and power movement will come together in a greater way.

11) This will be a year of understanding God’s great grace on many levels. We will hear a lot about grace, faith and love. Key Scriptures: Gal 5:6; 1 Tim 1:14

12) Those with media mantles given in 2007 will see an increase and expansion in the media in 2008. God and His current day move will be seen on both Christian and secular television. God is invading the airwaves with His glory. We will also see the "face" of Christian TV changing.

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As posted on

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NEW UPDATES:

Just a quick update to let you know what has been going on here recently. We have been in the process of working on ministry audio messages for new CDs, and single Mp3 messages for release in 2008.

I am doing the audio messages/ and music mixing myself, and and another friend is working on the art for CD cover use.

We now have the two audio message/music sites on MySpace and on Reverb Nation, although there is still more uploading to be done over the next several weeks.

This has been taking up alot of time in the afternoons and evenings, so we will be needing your continued help and financial support during this time.

The ministry overhead expenses includes the electricity, phone lines, cable connections, and the supplies that are needed to complete the present work being done.

So, i am asking that those of you who really believe in us, and in what we are doing here, would take action, to do what you can to help out with any amount.

Those who are supporters of the ministry here will receive free CD messages as they are released in 2008.

Thanks in advance for your thoughful consideration and timely responses towards these needs.

Many blessings in Christ, L.D.

(Postal mailing and online donation info can be found by going to our homesite at: www.joshua-ap.net/ )

 Joshua Apostolic Prophetic Network

Home Central

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In this revelatory two-part series learn why it's important to hunger and thirst after and contend for and pursue breakthrough for God's presence-for encounters with God that will release abundant favor and fruit in your life for His glory.

Keith examines exciting biblical truths and blueprints through the lives and testimony of King David in his Psalm 63 prayer, Moses, Aaron, and the study of the Old Testament tabernacle and tent of meeting.

Learn how to go from the tent of meeting to testimony to becoming a witness of the testimony of His presence. It's an exciting place where you can believe for the impossible and where anything can happen!

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"THE BLESSING OF HIS PRESENCE" -- PART 1 OF 2

~ By Keith Miller

Resources: www.sfwm.org

Resources
"O GOD, YOU ARE MY GOD!"

I am so excited about what the Lord's doing right now. It's a time where the Lord is putting the same cry of David found in Psalm 63 into His people's hearts:
"O God, You are my God!" The Lord wants to release that cry in us daily, not just on Sundays! It's saying everyday, "I can't help but worship the One whom I am extremely, overwhelmingly in love with!" How awesome to awaken every morning with, "O God, You are my God!"

Friends, this is a time to PRESS IN to the Lord for this anointing-the anointing of a worshipful God-seeking heart. How would you like to awaken every morning with an attentive ear that eagerly anticipates the Word He has waiting to release for you? Aren't you glad He's your God?

What a privilege to get out of bed every morning with, "O God, You are my God!" Why do you think God included this passage in the Bible? There's good reason why the Holy Spirit inspired David to start Psalm 63 off this way, because not only is it a privilege to worship God, but also because we have the privilege of unlimited access to Father God through Jesus, our redeemer.

And as a result of unlimited access, we can go before the throne any time, and we don't have to bow back, we won't have to draw away, but we can go before God Almighty and say, "O God, You're my God!" Why don't you just praise Him for that privilege right now and tell Him aloud "O God, You're my God!"

"EARLY WILL I SEEK YOU"

In the next breath, David prays, "Early will I seek You." The implication here is that God is David's first love. He seeks God early or first thing in his day.

I tell you, I believe one of the things that the Lord is releasing to the Church right now is a fresh fire of His passion and love. Do you want to His love to consume you afresh? Of course you do! We need the primary motivation for everything we do to be His love.

God wants us to press in to God by faith to receive the imprint of a greater depth of His love in our inner man so that His love flows like a river out of our lives and touches people around us. We're not going to have to "pump the pump" in worship, but we can just BE worshippers.

Tell yourself right now, "I'm a worshipper." Do you know why you're about to break through into this? It is because He's about to break through for you! You can't help but be overwhelmed because of His lovingkindness!

"MY SOUL THIRSTS FOR YOU"

How desperate are you for God? Do you thirst or hunger for Him, for His presence? David cried out, "My soul THIRSTS for you, my flesh LONGS for you in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water."

How desperate is that? His flesh longed for God. Listen, when your flesh longs for Him, you're living out Galatians 2:20, ... "it's no longer I who live..." It's saying, "But the flesh crucified and I want Him to live His life through me."

The flesh doesn't like to be denied. It likes to eat and it likes its comfort. The flesh is used to getting certain things, and it doesn't like to let up.

When a group of people denies their flesh to cry out to God...something big is up! I believe the Church has stepped into a new season of hunger. We're beginning to put a demand on the presence of the Lord and we don't care what it costs, we just have to have more of HIM!

We have all had wonderful blessings of the Lord in our lives and we're truly grateful for that but God is stirring up an ache inside of us for more of His presence!

"SO I HAVE LOOKED FOR YOU..."

Hunger is something we must respond to, just as David did. He fed his hunger by feeding himself with revelations and remembrances of God. He'd lie on his bed at night and ponder about Him, and think about God and His goodness. He'd remember things that God had done, or reflect on His character.

Have you ever had little bits of flashbacks of God's promises in your life? Have you ever been stirred to say, "Oh, I remember the days Lord, when You promised me.. I want to see those days God!" God stirs our hunger. When He stirs yours, how will you respond? Like David? "O God, You're my God!"

A revelation is coming to the Body of believers whereby we are going to understand deeper still the vastness of God! It will awe us and we'll marvel that we have access to One so great; that He is OUR God, who spoke everything we see into existence with a word!

He knows the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning, and His counsel stands forever. From "ancient times," He knows things that are not yet done and says, "My counsel shall stand, and I will do My pleasure!" (Is. 46:10).

It's just so awesome that this One who speaks is our God and I marvel that we have total access to Him!

While in Dallas for some incredible meetings, one night I awoke out of a dead sleep startling my wife Janet, and she says that I was saying, "Oh God You love me, You love me!" I recall also saying, "I want those things that You have prepared for me! Holy Spirit, search the deep, deep, deep things of God and give them to me!"

Are you ready to dive into the bottomless treasure chest of God for your life? Listen, when you awake hungry the Lord is up to something in your life because He initiates the hunger.

"IN THE SANCTUARY..."

King David tells God that he has searched Him in the sanctuary: "So I have looked for You in the sanctuary..." Where's the sanctuary of God? The Bible says that we are the temple "where the Holy Spirit dwells" (1 Cor. 3:16; see also 1 Cor. 6:19.). There's more though!

We as a Body of believers also are His sanctuary! Ephesians 2:21, 22 tells us that we are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, "Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit."

Can you imagine a group of people together telling God, "O God, You are our God! We hunger and thirst, we say "No!" to the flesh, and say "Yes" to You!" It will be a whole lot more than a board meeting, praise God! Nothing boring about encountering the Living One!

We will meet with God because of our hunger. When we gather in one accord and cry out to Him because we're hungry, we WILL GET BREAKTHROUGH
in the "sanctuary," the corporate church body!

Now think for a moment what would happen if your family gathered in the house to say, "O God, You're our God!" Expect a Jacob's ladder anointing where your home will become a gate to heaven. Imagine a fresh hunger coming to your household where when people walk into your house, they'll encounter the Living God!

Do you know that my wife and I cannot get our grown kids to leave our home because they say that it's so peaceful there? Of course, the Prince of Peace lives at our house! When we hunger for Him, His presence stays!

When I awaken and say, "O God, I hunger!" I hunger for Him and I hunger for Him to blow the lid off anything I've ever seen or done before! How about you? How hungry are you? Are you ready to see Him lift limitations?

Gather with others and agree that where two or more gather in His name, to tell Him, "You are our God, we say "NO!" to the flesh and "YES" to you," that anything is possible!

Hey, it only took 120 people hungering after the promise of the presence of the Holy Spirit to receive the mighty outpouring of God's Spirit and incredible breakthrough for spreading the Gospel.

"TO SEE YOUR POWER AND YOUR GLORY..."

What did David say after he told God that he looked for Him in the sanctuary? He said that he looked for Him there to "See Your power and Your glory." We need His power and His glory in our lives! It's an awesome thing to see the power of the Lord at work! Nothing is impossible for Him.

Even more overwhelming is His glory. Contend to see His glory. Moses said, God, show me Your glory! Are you asking that of God? Remember that YOU are His dwelling place! Think for a moment what will happen when He shows you His glory and power in His dwelling place.

Imagine God's glory and power exploding in the sanctuary. We need an encounter with God that fills us afresh with His power and His glory. Do you know what happens after a fresh breakthrough and revelation of His power and glory? Of course! Praise!

"Oh God, I'm so glad You're my God! We're so glad You are our God!" King
David said, "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You!" Our lips shall praise Him! Once you get a taste of His power and glory, all you'll want is more. You'll become desperate! Hungry! Thirsty! Your soul and your flesh will cry out to Him!

Ah, glory in the tabernacle, that's what I want! Gather your family, gather your church, and cry out to Him for His glory cloud to cover the tabernacle of meeting! When it covers that sanctuary, God fills it with His glory!

"Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" (Ex. 40:34). The cloud of His presence covers the tabernacle of your life" everywhere you go and on every journey, it covers you. Check out how the cloud of glory affected the children of Israel:

...and Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle meeting because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys.

But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys" (Ex. 40:34-38).

"ARISE, SHINE!"

The glory makes you shine! "Arise, shine, for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1).

Have you ever been around someone who has just experienced the glory of God? The glory glows so brightly in the inner person that we see its brilliancy!

The Book of Hebrews makes the point that our covenant in Christ Jesus is far better than the Old Covenant of the Law through Moses (see Hebrews 8:6), and if Moses came down from that mountain glowing after leaving God's presence, how much more we shine with Emmanuel, God With Us!

Oh my gosh! We serve Emmanuel God With Us, His glory constantly an overshadowing cloud of His presence. Are you ready to step into that realm of open heavens? We can live daily with a fresh infusion of dunamis dynamite power to live as an overcomer, not overcome. What's the difference?

An overcomer says, "I can leap over walls! I don't see any giants, I see the promises of God and they are "Yes" and "Amen" in the anointing!"

Friends, we are about to see families, churches, and business filled with the cloud of His presence and His power where anyone who encounters us, visits us, or does business with us will encounter God and His presence, and experience true freedom.

The anointing sets captives free! We must have an overcomer's lifestyle of ruling and reigning in this life. Life shouldn't rule us! Our walk should be that of living to glorify the Master who said, "Be of good cheer, for I have won!" He wins!

"BREAKTHROUGH FOR HIS PRESENCE"

So, how do we get or see this breakthrough of His presence in our lives? Second Chronicles Chapter Five describes a scene from Solomon's temple whereby the priests placed an offering on the mercy seat of the altar and the fire of God came down and consumed it.

Afterward, the glory of God filled the temple. For believers, the blood of Jesus is our finished and completed offering. This means that we can ask for the glory of the Lord to fill the temple (us).

When you gather with others, or when you spend time alone with God, do you ask that the cloud of His glory would fall upon you? Do you go for breakthrough? Maria Woodworth-Etter had this revelation. She understood that she could establish the realm of the kingdom wherever she put up her ministry tent by accessing the tabernacle of His presence and asking for the glory to come.

And when His presence would break through, people in their homes within a twenty-five mile radius from the tent would be overwhelmed by His presence. How desperate are you for that kind of glory to fill the temple?

Think of the possibilities for your city to be touched and awakened to His presence. I'm going to go for breakthrough! At a recent meeting in Cedar Rapids, a healing wave came in and God healed many, though not all.

I went for breakthrough and said, "Now Lord, You healed many the first time, You'll heal the rest also!" Then another wave came in and when I asked how many had any pain whatsoever, only three raised their hands.

Go for breakthrough! Believe God for breakthrough! You can have breakthrough in every area, including finances and harvest. The enemy loves to attack finances to cripple God's people, but GOD wants to give us breakthrough so that we can give out of abundance, not lack!

I'm pressing in for Ezekiel Chapter One to be a reality in the Church. I want to see the wheels in the wheels touch the earth. I want to see all the activity of the throne come and overshadow us.

Imagine gathering with other believers and standing in agreement for God to set up His throne over an entire stadium of lost people?

Listen, Ezekiel in his vision stood under the throne and looked up and saw lightnings, thunders, and flashes, and "in the appearance of His glory was the rainbow" (V. 28).

What did it signify? I believe it is the display of the manifold glory of God, which Ephesians 3:10 says will be made "known by the Church." We will display the glory of God to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms; to spiritual beings both angelic and demonic.

"Manifold" also has the idea of beauty, multicolored having different hues and tints. How would you like to radiate the multi-faceted brilliance of His glory that causes even the principalities of the air to watch your life and go, "Oh my gosh!"

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"THE BLESSING OF HIS PRESENCE" -- PART 2 -- CONCLUSION

FROM MEETING, TO TESTIMONY, TO WITNESS

God has a great calling for everyone and to each one He has given giftings and anointings, for He has marked you for that purpose of displaying His glory and these things are testimony that you have met with the King of Glory!

In Numbers 17, the Lord instructs Moses to take all the almond rods of the twelve tribes of Israel and place them in the Tabernacle of Meeting. Aaron's rod went in for the Levite tribe (the tribe of the priests) and all the rods were placed in the tabernacle "before the testimony where I meet with you" (Num. 17:4).

"TESTIMONY IS ESTABLISHED WHEN WE MEET WITH THE LORD."

Your meeting or encounter with God establishes testimony that you just met the glorious One! What a testimony your life becomes! Aaron was a priest, just as you and I are priests, a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), according to the New Covenant by the blood of Jesus our Great High Priest.

We have access to His throne. We don't have to draw away from it because the blood of Jesus washes us (there's no condemnation or shame) "that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

Aaron's rod is symbolic of authority. Recall that it blossomed! He used it to demonstrate to the Pharaoh that the God of the Hebrews was the Lord. This same rod struck the rocks at Horeb and Kadesh to bring forth water (Ex. 17:1-7; Num. 20:7-11).

We move out and minister in our giftings and callings, we need to move in authority. The authority of God Himself is our platform for anything He's called us to do, be it over our community or over a nation.

When the Lord gives you authority to move, you have a platform. We all need the Lord to give us increasing authority, that He would touch us, as He did Aaron's rod with favor.

Shortly after Moses entered into the tabernacle of meeting he went to the area of testimony, and then into the tabernacle of witness (Numbers 17:8). The Lord's glory makes you a witness not in word only, but in demonstration of the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus!

When God commanded Moses to take the children of Israel out of Sinai and head to the land of milk and honey (Ex. 33) Moses took his tent, pitched it outside the camp, and called it the "tabernacle of meeting."

Everyone who sought the Lord went out to that tent. When Moses entered the tabernacle, the pillar of cloud descended (God's presence) and the Lord talked with Moses. Every person who watched from their tent could see the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door and they rose and worshiped!

Moses asked of the Lord, "Now, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people" (vv. 13).

Grace for a nation! How would you like to be a part of a history-making generation used to release a mighty move of God, whereby tens of thousands of people all over the U.S. came to the Lord! How hungry are you for such harvest?

 Are you willing to deny the flesh, enter into the tent of meeting, to the tabernacle of testimony, and into the tabernacle of witness to see the impossible? Are you ready to say, "Lord, here am I, fill me afresh with Your presence!"

I heard once about a prophetic minister from the 1950s whereby everything he prophesied came to pass except for one thing. He once had a vision of a tent like the tent of meeting. It looked like a revival tent.

Inside this tent was another little room filled with glory and power, so brilliant that it permeated the tent fabric and people lined up as far as one could see for healing: the blind, the deaf, and the cripple. Everyone wanted to get into this room in the tent because as soon as they entered in, they'd exit healed, just like that! I believe the tent this person saw was a tent of meeting.

This is where the Church begins to live in the glory. Don't just contend for an encounter with God, though. Rather, contend for a habitation of the glory, the glory of the Spirit of the Lord upon (Is. 11:2).

"NEW BEGINNINGS"

Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds (Numbers 17:8).

BEHOLD the rod sprouted, budded, blossomed, and bore fruit! Almonds and the blossoms represent new beginnings and resurrected life. When we behold Him, see Him, encounter Him, we're transformed too, from glory to glory!

Remember, the rod represented the whole Levi tribe, so His presence brought life and authority not only to Aaron, but also to the extended Levite family. Notice that God didn't say "Just listen to what I'm going to say," no, He said, "Behold," in other words, "Watch and see what I do for the House of Levi!" His presence will bring fresh ripe fruit into your household-this is that time!

Now let me unpack this phenomenon of God's presence producing fruit a little more, because it is truly exciting!

My beloved spoke, and said to me: "rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away! (Song 2:10-13).

The prophets have been speaking much about this season of new beginnings. Bob Jones refers to it as the season of the dove, as in Isaiah 11:2, the Spirit of the Lord resting upon us. The "dove company" comprises a people not satisfied with just a little touch from God. They contend for the tangible resting of His presence remaining on them.

I know that you want the Lord to come and rest afresh upon you! Did you read that reference from the Song of Solomon? Do you see what happens when the dove's voice is heard "in our land?" Fruit! Fragrant, tender, fresh fruit! Can you awaken every day with that song in your heart, "It's spring a new beginning!"

"JOY AND FAVOR IN THE LATTER RAIN"

Ask the Lord for a fresh cloud of His presence that releases the latter rain for your life! "And the light of the king's face is life, and his favor is like a cloud of latter rain  (Pr. 16:15). His favor releases the buds and blossoms in your life, and it keeps the foxes (thieves) from going after the tender little vines, so that you will produce much such fruit!

The presence of the Lord is a fruitful place! The light of God's face is life! It's pure joy, man! We as God's people should be HAPPY people! Are you happy or do you go around with a "woe is me" countenance?

I tell you, time in His presence beholding His face will cause yours to light up like the nighttime skyline of a great city. In His presence is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16:11). Pleasures forever more! His presence is JOY!

Would you like a fresh anointing of His joy? It's contagious! The oil of this joyful anointing will get on people! Trust me, with the oil of joy upon you, people will laugh and celebrate as they encounter you. Ha! You'll receive tons of invitations to visit because so many are miserable and need that oil that you have! The joy of the Lord is our strength!

That cloud of His presence releases joy and harvest! That's why the prophet says,

Be glad then you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given you the former rain faithfully. And He will cause the rain to come down for you, the former rain and the latter rain in the first months. The threshing floor shall be full of wheat and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil (Joel 2:23, 24).

"HARVEST IN THE LATTER RAIN"

If you're born again, you're a child of Zion, so this applies to you, and you can do what Joel says and rejoice in the Lord! We see that the rain releases the harvest. The threshing floors full of wheat symbolize souls and kingdom harvest.

You get to possess the Kingdom! This latter rain will also release overflow because "the vats shall overflow." Ask the Lord to enlarge your vat, and as He pours in, you can pour out blessings to the world.

Out of your belly shall flow RIVERS, not streams, but rivers of living water. We don't want dry riverbeds. We want constant, continuous, bank-to-bank overflow that overflows with new wine and new oil! Wine to make your heart glad and oil to make your face shine (Ps. 104:15, 16).

We're not talking alcohol here; we're talking partaking of the new wine in the new wineskins, supernatural wine that gets you drunk in the spiritual. Because you are a king in Christ Jesus, you're invited to drink deeply of the new wine He has for you. Spend time in His presence, drinking in of the new wine, and getting drenched with the fresh oil (not yesterday's oil)!

"RESTORATION AND FAVOR"

Are there things in your life that need restoration? Not only is this the year of God's favor, but a year of His justice. He will restore to you everything the cankerworm has robbed (Joel 2:26, 27).

So not only does the cloud of His presence release that fresh anointing of favor, the fresh flow of His latter rain that brings through the vat an enlargement of the overflow for kingdom harvest, but also, restoration of everything the enemy has stolen!

You see, you become the tabernacle of His presence, His latter rain, and thus, you can release restoration in your life because of that abiding presence. With the glory of the Lord shining so brightly in you, you can go about the ruined cities and see the desolation of heritages and generations restored (see Is. 61). Wow!

A few weeks ago again while in Cedar Rapids I met up with a group of young people from Davenport, Indiana. I walked right over to them and said, "Yeah! I love to praise the Lord in the Wal-Marts!"

They responded with an equally enthusiastic, "Yeah!" and at that moment, the power of God hit every one of them and boom, on the floor! Their group tripled in number the following evening and I learned that my words to them of the previous night had been confirmation from the Lord for them, because that's exactly what they'd been out doing, praising the Lord in Wal-Mart!

Of course, the Lord touched them mightily on the second night too! In fact, I received an email just a while ago from one of the members of this group of youth. He said that the Sunday following the Saturday meeting, during the service, the pastor asked, "What's going on with you young people?"

He called for one of the youth to come forward and explain, and the boy said, "Oh, we've been in the glory man, the glory of His presence! At that precise moment, gold dust fell upon the youth, and then the congregation! Suddenly, one of the young people said, "Pastor, we've got a few words of knowledge."

The pastor told them to go ahead, the church received twenty different words for healing, and everyone who responded received healing! Praise the Lord!
God will fill your river! "You visit the earth and water it. You greatly enrich it.

The river of God is full of water" Tell yourself that your river is full! "The river of God is full of water. It provides their grain. The Lord has prepared it. You water its ridges abundantly. You settle its furrows. You make it soft with showers. You bless its growth" (see Ps. 65:9-10).

When His rain comes, it's a soaking rain, not one that causes clots just to wash away. It softens and dissolves the clots as they literally become drenched by His presence. Lift your hands and cry out, "Lord, soak me!" When He soaks you with His rain, you'll see Him do things for you that you could never do for yourself.

His rain brings you that favor which is His presence and you'll never forget where that outflow comes from because His presence is so mighty and beautiful, strikingly wonderful! His presence is His Person; it's not His throne but Him sitting upon it- upon the throne of your heart sits the King.

Your paths will drip with abundance and His rain will drop on the pastures of the wildernesses in your life (v. 11). The anointing will soak your wilderness so that it becomes like a buttery path that you glide on because of His favor.

He the Rock pours out rivers of oil (Job 29:6) in your desert, in your wilderness, in your family and in your life and you become a witness to the goodness of God. Check out His Word, you'll see that throughout all the ages of time He always tells us that He wants to display His grace and His goodness for His glory, forever.

What happens when the rain drops in the pastures of your wilderness? His Word says, that the little hills rejoice on every side! The green pastures are white with flock and grain fills the valleys, such that the hills and valleys shout for joy and sing (v. 13)! It's full circle!

We're going to shout for joy and sing because of His presence upon, soaking, softening, healing, bringing favor, His glory, power, and beauty manifested in every area! As we meet with Him and encounter Him we sing of His presence and we become a witness, with the transferable oil of joy upon us.

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CONCLUSION:

By now I'm certain that you want the Lord to take you from meeting to testimony to becoming a witness of the testimony of His presence! It's a different place to live-exciting! This place is a realm where you believe the impossible to be possible, a place where you believe anything can happen, and it will because of the authority and favor He's given you.

Faith is 90% courage. He told Joshua (1:9) to be strong and of good courage, not to afraid, fearful, or dismayed because God was with him for life!

Just as all of the great men and women of the Bible, God will give you authority that will release confidence, not in your ability, but in the strength of our Creator in and through us. As you go from strength-to-strength, tell yourself, "That's where I'm going "strength-to-strength!"

There's no better way I can think of to conclude this message than by praying the way David did to God in Psalm 63, as we've studied, when David was in the wilderness of Judah. He found much joy in the fellowship and presence of His King:

O God, YOU ARE MY GOD! Oh God, I hunger and thirst after You! Fill this sanctuary (me) with Your glory and Your power, and I will speak of Your lovingkindness which is better than life! My lips will praise You! I will be a witness of the testimony of Your presence upon my life.

I am being saturated with the abundance of Your house. And even when I lay down at night, Your presence is there with me. Thank You Lord for the privilege of Your awesome presence, and may Your presence rest upon me all the days of my life.

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AND NOW, I PRAY FOR YOU:

Lord, let a mighty outpouring of Your presence and power be released upon all who read this, and their households. Let it be, God, to see hundreds of thousands of lives powerfully impacted through the Body of Christ Jesus, as carriers of Your glory and presence. May they spring forth, bud, blossom and bring forth much fruit for the glory of the kingdom.

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