Wednesday, December 26, 2007

A Destiny Twenty-Two Years in the Making—How a Missionary Pilot Inspired a Young Boy

This story comes from Breaking Christian News.


"It's humbling—and sobering—to think that your actions today can affect the lives of the next generation."

Teresa Neumann (December 26, 2007)

ntm aviator(Alaska)—New Tribes Mission (NTM) aviation pilot Paul Dye was a hero in ways he couldn't imagine and would only later learn. Twenty-two years ago, while on a mission in South America, he was kidnapped by Colombian insurgents, but escaped in the night in his airplane, despite the fact that it was extremely low on fuel. (Photo: NTM)

Dye's miraculous escape was the subject of a book he penned called "When Things Seem Impossible." While in Alaska in the 1980's on a speaking tour about his experiences, a man in the audience got a tape of Dye's speech and gave it to his 7-year old grandson, Zach Keller, to listen to. According to an NTM report, Zach listened to the tape over-and-over until he had the entire story memorized.

The tape served to "plant a seed to know that NTM aviation was out there, and I always had it in the back of my mind as I was growing up," Zach later said.

Today Zach is in his last stage of training with NTM Aviation and on his way to following in Paul Dye's footsteps. Indeed, Paul Dye was one of his instructors.

Says NTM reporter Jackie Fallis, "God can use the smallest thing to inspire His people to follow His command to make disciples of all nations. Praise God with us for Zach and Jane's open hearts to Him, and pray for Zach's safety as he flies for NTM Aviation."

Source: Jackie Fallis - New Tribes Mission News

Grieving Parents of Slain Sisters Give God Glory on Good Morning America

This story comes from Breaking Christian News.

"About 22 years ago I gave my life to God and that meant everything. I just didn't know it was this much...but that's OK. Because I gave my life to God, that meant everything."

Teresa Neumann (December 26, 2007)

On Friday, December 21, David and Marie Works, parents of the two sisters killed outside New Life Church in Colorado Springs, appeared on Good Morning America. (Photo: ABC/GMA)

According to GMA's website, when asked if she could forgive the gunman after having personally witnessed one of her daughters being shot, Marie Works said, "I knew she [Stephanie] was in Heaven. I knew she was dead, you know. I didn't have—I wasn't sad at that point because I knew she was in a good place. And I have no reason to hate the guy."

David Works said, "About 22 years ago I gave my life to God and that meant everything. I just didn't know it was this much...but that's OK. Because I gave my life to God; that meant everything."

He added, "They were the best. I wish I could take credit for it. But I'm not that good. I just let them be who they were and who God created them to be."

To view a video of their GMA interview, follow the link provided.

Source: Good Morning America—ABC

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Senator Brownback's Comments on the Paradox of Christmas

Teresa Neumann (December 25, 2007)

brownbackIn a CNS commentary, Senator Sam Brownback has written on the theme of the carol, "Joy to the World"—what it means that God entered into our human story in the flesh and what true joy is.

"It is in many ways life's great paradox: we seek pleasure but do not find it; we seek comfort and are restless," says Brownback. "Yet, when we abstain from passing pleasures, we find joy. It is also the paradox of Christmas. Wise men set out in search of a king and they find a child wrapped in swaddling clothes. God promises a liberator and He offers an infant. Christmas suggest that happiness is found where we least expect it."

Brownback concludes: "So this Christmas season, the invitation is to the same paradox. If in fact we do what we know we should this time of year, call a friend in need, contact a family member from whom we are disconnected, or make someone's Christmas a little more bright, we are sure to receive a greater gift in return. These simple but profound actions will yield much joy for the recipient and for you for an eternity. It is indeed joy which has come to our broken world, a joy that will not pass away."

To read all of the senator's commentary, follow the link provided.


Source: Sam Brownback—CNS


Saturday, December 22, 2007

Bill Yount: "Getting Our DREAMS and SPIRITUAL GIFTS UNWRAPPED and Out of the Box this Christmas!"

This article is courtesy of elijahlist.com.


bill yount

Our Dreams, Gifts and Highest Callings Could be Unwrapped by Our Enemies!

Genesis 50:20 in the Message Bible says, "Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you...life for many people!"

God used Joseph's hateful brothers, Potipher's wife's false accusations and an unfair prison sentence to unwrap his dream. Then there was King Saul's spirit of jealousy and rage which was used to unwrap David's crown for kingship. Also Judas' betrayal was used to unwrap Jesus' destiny to be King of kings and Lord of lords! Who is God using in your life to unwrap your destiny?

I sense many of God's people are frustrated, not able to unwrap their spiritual gifts and callings. I am discovering that it takes all kinds of people around us to unwrap the gift that God has placed inside of us. Can a gift unwrap itself? Neither can we. When it comes to unwrapping your spiritual gifts, you don't get to open them. God uses other people to do that, for your gift is not for you--it's for others!

How God Unwrapped the Prophetic Gift in My Life

Many years ago in our church as I led worship, I would experience God's powerful anointing. I loved leading worship and the church seemed to love it when I led too. Let me caution you. When you fall in love with your gift and others begin to fall in love with it--be careful. That's when God usually brings people into your life to unwrap you from that gift that you got wrapped up in!

Shortly thereafter, a new elder came on the scene and was given the privilege and authority to call on people to lead worship. I noticed something--he wasn't calling on me! So I began to pray for him for I knew he must have a lot of problems. For God's word says not to touch My anointed. As I prayed for him, nothing happened. I had to sit in the congregation and die in my seat as I longed to be up in the pulpit leading worship. Every time I would look at him up front, I felt a knife going in me. During this time, I would actually get physically sick going to church.

Finally the Lord walked me through Matthew 5:23-24, "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; (or in my case, if you have ought against him) leave thy gift before the altar and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift."

It took me many months to walk through forgiving this elder and asking God to bless him and then being able to bless him myself by taking him out to lunch. I then realized why God says to feed your enemies. When we do, Jesus pulls a chair up to that same table and knocks the walls down between you and the person you don't like and causes you to have communion as you eat together!

Finally after many months, we were totally reconciled as though he never had hurt me. Right after we were reconciled, I will never forget the very next Sunday morning in our church. During worship, a Spirit of prophecy came upon me for the first time, and I gave a powerful prophetic word that went outside the walls of our church into nations! After the service was over, God spoke to me. He said, "Bill, it wasn't that elder that moved you out of the pulpit from leading worship. I used that brother to move you, for you loved leading worship so much, you wouldn't have stepped down on your own. I used that elder to move you. I had a another gift to give you, and you wouldn't have been able to receive this prophetic gift in the pulpit since you were all wrapped up in leading worship!"

Getting Past the "Wrapping Paper" to Find the True Gift in Others

Many times in my life over the years, I have not been able to know certain people because I didn't like how they were "wrapped!" They were so different than me, and how they ministered seemed to be a bit crazy. I have noticed something late in life--God seems to increase His anointing on people whom I wouldn't! And I am learning that just maybe they are doing something right after all. It's time we get past the wrapping paper and find the true gift in each other! Lately, God is bringing people back into my life so I can help unwrap their gift and help bring it forth to bless even my own life.

A Christmas Story: There was a father who had a little daughter that was wrapping his Christmas gift with the most expensive wrapping paper in the house. He didn't say anything to her because he loved her. On Christmas morning, the father began to open his gift from his daughter, and as he unwrapped the gift and opened the lid of the box, he found nothing in it. He was so upset, he lost it and blew up at his little girl. He said, "Honey, you used the most expensive wrapping paper we had to wrap my gift and there is nothing in the box!" The little girl responded and said, "Daddy, that box isn't empty, I blew kisses in it for you. I blew kisses in it for you, daddy!" Not long after, the little girl was killed in an accident. When the father was so depressed, he would open up the lid of that box and pull out an imaginary kiss.

Listen carefully--there is always something in the box! God has made every person on earth in His image and even when we think someone has no value or has no gift, there is always something in every person that God has placed to bless our lives.

We must get past one another's gifts and know each other! Our gifts can actually hide us and hinder people from knowing us. I believe many of the most gifted in the Body of Christ are the loneliest. It's lonely at the top. They can't help feeling that people are after their gifts instead of loving them for who they are. I believe God is taking us from paper to people! I believe the greatest gift we can have on earth is a friend. Perhaps our greatest call is being a friend of God, a friend to sinners and a friend to others. God wants us to be known for who we are, not for what we do! I sense the more I am around people and just love them for who they are, their gifts begin to be activated and so are mine!

Many times, the people with the greatest needs will pull on your gifts, but in return, you are able to just love on them. It will always be as it was with Jesus--He was moved with compassion for the people and many miracles, healings and wonders took place.

Let's think outside of the "box" this Christmas!

Bill Yount
Blowing the Shofar Ministries
Email: theshofarhasblown@juno.com


Friday, December 21, 2007

PAUL KEITH and WANDA DAVIS: "The Voice of the BRIDE--This is the TIME to ECHO the BRIDEGROOM'S VOICE"

Check out elijahlist.com for more articles like this one!


Steve Shultz

Wanda and I along with the WhiteDove team pray that this newsletter finds you blessed and moving forward in the things of God during this season of celebration. 2007 was a very interesting year. I would say it was a year of the "sweet and sour." Many good things transpired while many others continued to sift tares from our souls.

Although God primarily recognizes the Biblical calendar, there is also a measure of prophetic indication given for our Gregorian calendar year. We believe 2008 will be a time of completion and new beginnings.

For a company of people, a measure of preparatory work will come to a completion--with new beginnings for personal intimacy with the Lord and anointing for ministry. There is a certain anticipation surrounding the upcoming twelve months. An expectation exists for God to do tremendous things to transition us into a more complete revelation of the harvest.

We oftentimes shy away from using the word "revival" and instead utilize expressions like "spiritual outpouring" or "visitations of God's Spirit." Even so, we believe there will be revival centers emerging in the very near future to gather a harvest of harvesters. Training and equipping centers will work in unison with the Spirit of revival to prepare the laborers for the great harvest.

We have now crossed a threshold in God for this to become more of a living reality. May the Lord richly bless you in your Heavenly pursuit and the fullness of your destiny!

The Voice of the Bride

There are many voices in this present generation. There is the voice of human reasoning, the voice of innocent blood, the voice of politicians and even the voice of the martyrs. However, the one voice that has not yet been heard in its entirety is the voice of the Bride. Revelation 18:23 states,

"The light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery."

This passage clearly outlines a season of time in which the voice of the Bridegroom will be distinctly articulated through His Bride and a specific time for it to cease. Throughout the earth there is a religious and political spirit that the Bible identifies as "Mystery Babylon." Nevertheless in the midst of this ungodly system, the Holy Spirit will release great praise and worship, expressions of God's creative ability, and the distinction of His true voice.

A Mighty Outpouring

While in a conference in Regina, Saskatchewan this past April, I was in prayer for the Sunday morning service. I am not certain if I went into a spiritual vision or fell asleep, but I saw a man standing before me declaring, "There is about to be a mighty outpouring of the Spirit and it will be the voice of the Bride."

Although the Church has experienced many expressions of spiritual outpourings, the Bride has not yet had her revival. There is a "weighty" presence or Glory that the Lord intends to place upon His people during these last days as a testimony to the nations of His redemptive virtue. We are not completely certain what this will look like but we know that it will transcend present understanding of God's Word and the working of His Spirit.

This company will be the literal fulfillment of John 14:12, doing the works that the Lord did and even more of them. Like the Lord Jesus, the Bride will be entrusted with the sevenfold Spirit of God operating in fullness to demonstrate the radiant nature of God and His great redemptive power.

This is the Time

All prophetic indications point to this spiritual season as the time when the voice of the Bride will be sounded with great clarity and discernment. Over the last one hundred years, the Church has experienced many expressions of revival and spiritual outpouring; but no generation has yet witnessed the mature Bride who has such intimate fellowship with the Bridegroom that her words are a perfect expression of His heart. The Bridegroom will speak in Heaven and the Bride will echo His voice in the earth.

Modern Church history records a progressive restoration of our apostolic heritage and the unfolding of a divine plan that prepares the Bride of Christ without spot or wrinkle. During those seasons, various forerunners provided a prophetic model for the coming corporate Body that will function in the full appropriation of God's redemptive virtue. They will not only have the intimate relationship of a bride but will also function in the earth as sons of the Kingdom.

These prophetic forerunners have primarily provided a "John the Baptist" type of ministry to prepare a body of people for divine visitation and restoration to God's people of the desolate heritages. John speaking about his role stated,

"You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but, I have been sent ahead of Him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made full." (John 3:28-29)

Friends of the Bridegroom

Many "friends" of the Bridegroom surfaced during the 20th century exemplifying lives of purity and power that will characterize the last day Bride of Christ. They called attention to our current place in history and the mandate to come up higher to a place of revelatory insight and spiritual maturity. One of the keys to unlocking this mystery is by honoring the work of God's Spirit through these champions and imitating their faith. (Hebrews 13:7-8)

Many of God's people are recognizing and honoring the pioneering work of men and women like A. A. Allen, Alexander Dowie, John G. Lake, Kathryn Kuhlman, William Branham and others. In many ways they were spiritual prototypes of the relationship and power to be exemplified by the Bride.

Some of these have been the most dishonored individuals of the 20th century Church, yet used most notably in soul winning and the miraculous. Our adversary has effectively attempted to neutralize the testimony of these individuals as forerunners by overly emphasizing their shortcomings and weaknesses. Even so, the Lord is allowing a body of people to recognize the pioneering influence these individuals conveyed in order to position us to carry forward the unfinished commissions.

I Will Have My Harvest

Earlier this year I heard the Lord say, "I WILL have My harvest!" The books of Daniel and Revelation highlight a mysterious and wonderful book containing mysteries of God's Kingdom and His divine plan for the end of time harvest. Revelation 5:9-10 records,

"And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your Blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.'"

Only the Lord Jesus was worthy to take the book and break its seals to unfold God's complete plan to redeem back to Himself men and women from every nation and culture. He will then empower them to function in a priestly role of ministry unto the Lord and delegate His authority as spiritual kings. According to Revelation 10:10-11, John representing the Bride said,

"I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. And they said to me, 'You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.'"

God is presently using the spirit of this world and personal circumstances to forge for Himself a weapon for its work; that is to bring to ruin the destroyer (Isaiah 54:16). We will function as both priests and kings through the appropriation of His Blood and prophesy to the nations to bring in His purchase of souls.

For the Bride of Christ to be identified with the Bridegroom, she must also know something of the wilderness. Song of Solomon portrays the bride coming forth from the desert leaning upon her Beloved. This picture captures our present condition. The Holy Spirit has been alluring us into the wilderness so that He can speak tenderly to us and to the issues of our hearts. From this place we emerge with God's anointing and the power of His Spirit.

Paul Keith and Wanda Davis
WhiteDove Ministries

Email: inquiries@whitedoveministries.org


Lee Grady's Top 12 Newsmakers of 2007

by J. Lee Grady, Charisma Online

It was a year of courage, tragedy, religious scandal and political surprises. Here are 12 people who brought Christian faith into the headlines.

At the end of every year I slow down, step back and page through the last year’s issues of Charisma to discern how God has been working in our world. I enjoy identifying the Christians, some famous and some unknown, who were behind the headlines. I think the people below deserve some special recognition:


1. CHINESE BOOKSTORE OWNER
SHI WEIHAN

Police raided his Holy Spirit Bookstore in Beijing on Nov. 28, confiscating his inventory and placing him in secret detention. His case was embarrassing to Chinese authorities, who are trying desperately to put on the best face possible before the 2008 Olympic Games begin. Media attention of Weihan’s arrest reminded the world that Christianity is growing rapidly in China, with some observers estimating that there are 10,000 conversions every day there. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity says there are now 111 million Christians in China, making it the third-largest Christian country.


2. NECATI AYDIN, UGUR YUKSEL AND TILMANN GESKE, MARTYRS IN TURKEY

These men, two Turkish converts and a German missionary, were tortured and stabbed in April in the city of Malatya, in southeastern Turkey. Their martyrdom made international headlines because the small Turkish Christian community responded in forgiveness to the four men who attacked them. Geske, whose throat was slit in the attack, left a lasting impression on Turkey’s Muslim community when his widow announced that she did not want revenge. The leader of Turkey’s Bible society told reporters: “We truly believe that the blood of these innocent brothers will bless our country.”


3. BUSINESSMAN AND PHILANTHROPIST MART GREEN

After Richard Roberts resigned as president of Oral Roberts University (ORU) in November, Green stepped forward and gave $8 million to the school, with a promise of another $62 million after a 60- to 90-day review of its finances. Green, who has had no previous ties to ORU, is the son of David Green, an Assemblies of God layman and founder of Hobby Lobby stores. The younger Green is president of the Mardel chain of bookstores. His gift will retire ORU’s $50 million debt and hopefully restore its credibility, which was damaged in August when three professors sued the school for wrongful termination and accused Roberts and his wife, Lindsay, of mishandling finances.


4. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MIKE HUCKABEE

Some pundits say the former Arkansas governor is just lucky. Others wonder if God might be energizing his campaign, which seemed to come out of nowhere in the late fall. One thing is for sure: This dark horse candidate is swiftly taking the lead in the Republican race, and his outspoken Christian faith and rock-solid family values have not hurt his chances. Three months ago few people took Huckabee seriously. Today he is the candidate to beat, mostly because evangelicals who don’t want Hillary Clinton in the White House finally feel they’ve found someone they can vote for.


5. AUTHOR AND POET RUTH BELL GRAHAM

We lost many Christian leaders in 2007—including Jerry Falwell, D. James Kennedy, Rex Humbard, G.E. Patterson and Jack Frost, to name a few. But Graham’s passing in June, at age 87, made us painfully aware that a generation of stalwart generals is fading away. She was the quintessential evangelist’s wife, content to live in the background, yet biographies show that she basically raised the five Graham children. All of them are in ministry today. When her husband once entertained the idea of running for U.S. president, she threatened to leave him if he abandoned his ministry. And when singer June Carter Cash gave her a mink coat, she refused it—saying that an evangelist’s wife could not live lavishly. Graham’s down-to-earth moderation seems refreshing at a time when some evangelists are defending extravagance.


6. COLORADO PASTOR BRADY BOYD

He showed amazing courage by agreeing to fill the pulpit at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo. the congregation led until last year by Ted Haggard. After being at his new job for less than four months, Boyd was challenged again when a heavily armed gunman showed up on Dec. 9 and sprayed bullets throughout the church lobby and parking lot, killing two church members and wounding others. Boyd told reporters at a press conference two weeks ago: “This is a very strong church—it has a history of surviving trauma, and it will do well.” The 40-year-old pastor’s obvious integrity and quiet strength are refreshing in light of the many scandals that have plagued churches in our movement in recent months.


7. NIGERIAN PREACHER SUNDAY ADELAJA

Featured on Charisma’s cover in October, Adelaja represents the new face of missions in the 21st century. He’s not from a Western country (he’s a native of Nigeria) and he did not depend on American money or education to build the largest church in Europe. As founder of the 25,000-member The Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for all Nations in Kiev, Ukraine, Adelaja wants to plant hundreds of churches in Western Europe and the United States. Not afraid to take his faith to the public square, Adelaja has trained his congregation to influence politics—and the result has been a national swing from communism to pro-Western democracy.


8. VIRGINIA TECH SHOOTING VICTIM LAUREN MCCAIN

She died on April 16, along with 31 classmates and teachers, in the deadliest school shooting in American history. Media reports told of McCain’s MySpace page, on which she talked about Jesus Christ being “the love of my life.” The world quickly learned about a young woman from Hampton, Virg., who was active in her church’s drama ministry and a member of Campus Crusade for Christ. Her contagious faith is still spreading today through a new biography, Lifting Our Eyes: Finding God’s Grace in the Virginia Tech Tragedy.


9. PRAYER MOBILIZER LOU ENGLE

This passionate preacher often loses sleep—and regular meals—because he’d rather pray. In July Engle brought more than 75,000 people to Nashville to pray with him at The Call, an all-day event designed to trigger revival in the United States. Engle led 10,000 of the participants on a march through the city to Titans Stadium, where the bigger crowd prayed all day while God TV beamed the event to homes around the world. (Did anyone besides me wonder why so many scandals erupted in the church in the latter part of 2007? My hunch is that desperate cries uttered at The Call released an anointing of holiness that was sent to purify us.)


10. COGIC LEADER CHARLES BLAKE

After the death of Bishop G.E. Patterson in March, Blake became the leader of the 8-million member Church of God in Christ (COGIC), the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States. He comes to the helm of COGIC at a poignant moment, the church’s 100-year anniversary, and is young enough to bring significant reform to a vibrant African-American Christian movement. Although the 67-year-old Blake plans to focus on transforming the inner cities of the United States, he carries an intense passion to evangelize and revitalize Africa—and could mobilize African-Americans into a huge missionary army.


11. HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER TIM TEBOW

At a time when the sports world has been scandalized by rampant drug use, dog-fighting and ethics violations, it was refreshing to see a home-schooled Christian kid with wholesome values win college football’s top prize this year. The son of missionaries, the 20-year-old, 235-pound quarterback for the University of Florida Gators is the first sophomore to ever win the coveted prize. In his acceptance speech on Dec. 8 he thanked Jesus Christ three times and mentioned that his real hero is his older sister, Christy, who is a missionary in Bangladesh.


12. US SENATOR CHARLES GRASSLEY

Some people say the Iowa Republican overstepped his authority when he launched an investigation of six Christian ministries in October. Others maintain that the ministers in question have crossed lines of their own by living lavishly at their donor’s expense. A conservative Baptist who claims he believes in church and state separation, Grassley says he called for the probe to guarantee that nonprofit groups stay within the bounds of the law. He won support on and off Capitol Hill when he made this comment to a reporter: “Jesus came into the city on a simple donkey. To what extent do you need a Rolls-Royce to expand the ministry of Jesus Christ?”
In light of the fact that many Christians are dying for their faith today—in China, Turkey and many other countries—that’s a perfectly legitimate question to ask as we seek to serve the Lord faithfully in 2008.

Link

Source: CharismaMag.com

Charisma Online is a service of Charisma magazine and Strang Communications, copyright 2007.

To subscribe to the free Charisma Online, click here.


Thursday, December 20, 2007

GREAT QUOTES

-Sermonindex.net

"God is presently seeking for a humble, praying people that He
can pour His glory through. If we will not yield to the Holy Spirit in
humble obedience, He will find a people who will! Some of us may
have to visit someone else's fellowship in order to experience the
coming move of God. Let's not deceive ourselves, God is not
committed to use us, but He is committed to remember the prayer
of the humble. (Psa. 9:12). If we refuse to prescribe to the Christ
honored methods of humility and prayer, we will certainly be
refused for the Master's use in the coming revival." - David Smithers

"The self-righteous never apologize." - Leonard Ravenhill

"When HOLINESS loses its sweetness it is a fierce thing to come
in contact with." – Frank Bartleman

"God has a good deal more to give than most of us are getting.
"Knee-ology" is a much-neglected branch of Christian ethics. The
Church loses immeasurably in strength and accelerated power by
failing to test the wonderful promises of God in prayer. Oh, for
somebody who can really pray. Why need a church languish and
die and have no one converted the year round? Somebody
neglects to pray. Why need a community be without a revival for
years? Somebody neglects to pray. Why need the missionary
cause and current expenses of the church suffer? Somebody
neglects to pray. Why need the church resort to unscriptural
methods to raise money? Somebody neglects to pray. Oh, for a
praying church! Brother, sister, apply this directly to your own
heart. Are you neglecting to pray ?" – C. E. Cornell

"Prayer is not designed to inform God, but to give man a sight of
his misery; to humble his heart, to excite his desire, to inflame
his faith, to animate his hope, to raise his soul from earth to
heaven." – Adam Clarke

"They who pray not, know nothing of God, and know nothing of the
state of their own souls." – Adam Clarke

"This Pentecostal movement is something which God has started
at high speed, but the faster we go the greater the need of
holiness. The more power we have, the more we need to have
every obstacle cleared out of the way. That which cannot be
noticed in an old dead church can wreck a revival in a Pentecostal
church. May God give us holiness with our Pentecost, for we
surely need it. No revival can continue with the blessing of God
upon it that does not have a high standard of holiness." – Donald Gee

"Do the Pentecostals look back with shame as they remember
when they dwelt across the theological tracks, but with the glory
of the Lord in their midst? When they had a normal church life,
which meant nights of prayers, followed by signs and wonders,
and diverse miracles, and genuine gifts of the Holy Ghost? When
they were not clock watchers, and their meetings lasted for hours,
saturated with holy power? Have we no tears for these memories,
or shame that our children know nothing of such power?"
- Leonard Ravenhill

"The very truths that gave birth to the Pentecostal movement are
today generally rejected as too strong." – Frank Bartleman

"Praying without faith is like trying to cut with a blunt knife - much
labor expended to little purpose." - James O. Fraser

"How little chance the Holy Ghost has nowadays. The churches
and missionary societies have so bound Him in red tape that they
practically ask Him to sit in a corner while they do the work
themselves." - C.T. Studd

"The GREATEST HINDRANCES to the evangelization of the world
are those within the Church." - John R. Mott

"Let us advance upon our knees." - Joseph Neesima

"You must GO forward on your knees." - J. Hudson Taylor

"Satan does not care how many people read about prayer if only
he can keep them from praying. When a church is truly convinced
that prayer is where the action is, that church will so construct its
corporate activities that the prayer program will have the highest
priority." - Paul E. Billheimer

"On the ground of our own goodness we cannot expect to have our
prayers answered. But Jesus is worthy, and for His sake we may
have our prayers answered. There is nothing too choice, too costly,
or too great for God to give Him. He is worthy. He is the spotless,
holy Child, who under all circumstances acted according to the
mind of God. And if we trust in Him, if we hide in Him, if we put
Him forward and ourselves in the background, depend on Him and
plead His name, we may expect to have our prayers answered."
- George Müller

"Prayer is buried, and lost and Heaven weeps. If all prayed the
wicked would flee from our midst or to the refuge." - Evan Roberts

"Prayer is the midwife of mercy, that helps to bring it forth."
- Matthew Henry

"You may as soon find a living man without breath as a living
saint without prayer." - Matthew Henry

Keith Miller: The Blessings of His PRESENCE

This article is courtesy of elijahlist.com.

From Meeting, to Testimony, to Witness

In this revelatory article, we'll study why it's important to hunger and thirst after, contend for and pursue--breakthrough for God's presence! We all want encounters with God that will release abundant favor and fruit in our lives for His glory. We'll examine exciting Biblical truths and blueprints through the lives and testimonies of Moses, Aaron and the study of the Old Testament tabernacle and tent of meeting. We'll study 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 we can believe for the impossible and where anything can happen!


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" (Numbers 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 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" (1 Peter 2:9).

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

When 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 (Exodus 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 arose 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" (verse 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 about a prophetic minister from the 1950's, 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, rather, contend for a habitation of the glory--the glory of the Spirit of the Lord to rest upon us! (Isaiah 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 resurrection 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," instead, 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 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 of Solomon 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!

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" (Proverbs 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 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" (Psalm 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 (Psalm 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 being 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 (Isaiah 61). Wow!

A few weeks ago 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 then boom, down on the floor they went! Their group tripled in number the following evening, and I learned that my word about praising the Lord in Wal-marts was confirmation to them--because that's exactly what they'd been out doing, praising the Lord in Wal-Mart! The Lord touched them mightily again the next 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 a 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 and 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" (Psalm 65:9-10).

When His rain comes, it's a soaking rain as we 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 (verse 11-12). 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" (Psalm 65:13). It's full circle! We're going to shout for joy and sing because of His presence upon us--soaking, softening, healing and 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.

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 be because of the authority and favor He's given you. Faith is about courage. He told Joshua (in 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 then by praying the way David did to God in Psalm 63 when David was in the wilderness of Judah. He found much joy in the fellowship and presence of His King.

Let's pray this prayer: 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.

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.

Keith Miller
Stand Firm World Ministries
Email: info@sfwm.org

Julie A. Smith: Enter Into His Rest

This article comes courtesy of elijahlist.com.


julie smithEnter Into His Rest

Psalm 23:2-3, "He makes me lie down in (fresh, tender) green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. He refreshes and restores my life--my self…"

A few nights ago, I couldn't sleep. I was wide awake as I listened to the storm roaring outside my bedroom window. Heavy winds and rains swept the city and will continue for the week. As I tried to fall asleep, I would go into a half awake/sleep state and would encounter the Lord most of the night. In this encounter, the Lord brought understanding of how "He works" when "we rest."

First, He started moving throughout my mind with His thoughts, bringing understanding to my everyday life. He revealed many situations where He was always with me and brought truth to situations where I lacked knowledge. Then He went on to reveal how He has protected and kept me out of harm's way. I saw Him continually with me, and He showed particular situations when even more protection was given as His angels were sent to minister to my every need. He also showed the Advocate He has always been--standing up for and defending me. I felt a cleansing and refreshing take place, and God said that "He can reveal Himself best when we are at rest."

As each situation was revealed, I felt cleansed, refreshed and realigned with the heart and truth of God. I understood how "rest" is one of the most important ways God ministers to us. It's when God comes in with His cleansing and refreshing power to make us new again. Just as the morning dew forms on the ground, it's a cleansing and refreshing to the land. And so the same is with us. Rest is when God realigns us with Him. While at rest, our thoughts and ways are at their peak of "being still" and that's when God can come in and bring refreshing and cleansing to our minds, souls and spirits. I then realized what was happening outside with the storm bringing the winds and rains of cleansing--was also happening inside of me.

As He walked through situations of my soul, revealing truth and understanding, He said, "This is what I do every night." I then saw the similarity to a janitor working the night shift. Whatever business the janitor is cleaning, he is responsible for cleansing the daily activities of the environment, bringing that day's business to a close and preparing it for business the next day.

Definition of Rest: the refreshing quiet or repose of sleep; refreshing ease or inactivity after exertion or labor; relief or freedom, especially from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs; a period of repose, solitude, or tranquility; mental or spiritual calm.

The Lord is saying for us to: "Enter into His Rest." There are revelations He wants to share with us about ourselves as we enter into His rest. The revelations are to realign and draw us closer to Him and prepare us for the next season of our lives. Let Him refresh, cleanse and speak tenderly to you in the night hours of your soul's rest.

I pray that each of you receive a refreshing and cleansing of the Lord in your resting hours of inactivity. I pray that He shows each of you how much He is at work in every detail of your life while you are at the peak of rest.

Peace and rest to you,

Julie A. Smith, Editor
The ElijahList

www.elijahlist.com

Joni Ames: "SONS OF THUNDER: It's Time to SHIFT GEARS and Take Our DREAMS into the Realm of REALITY"

Go to elijahlist.com to see more articles like the following one about the supernatural.


joni ames

Dear friends, I would like to share some prophetic insights the Lord gave me while ministering recently. Before I share these insights, I want to encourage those of you who have gone through "a string of battles." I too have recently gone through a "string of attacks" and for some, you've been going through "extremes" and have throughout your lifetime. It is very important to know that you were not "picked out by God to be picked on." He is not the one putting you through drama-to-drama, trauma-to-trauma. The very enemy of your soul is--for he is the one who comes to kill, steal and destroy. He is the liar and the father of lies. He is the one who tempts and then torments.

But I have Good News! The more you have been through--like Navy Seals--the better trained you are with endurance to run the race and go forward as one who will walk in victory in the extreme exploits God has promised! Like the old saying goes: "Whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger!" The Bible puts it like this: He "comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Corinthians 1:4)

"And they overcame him (satan) by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony..." (Revelation 12:11)

Therefore, don't let anything start to stop you! Know that our God is there, and He is always RIGHT ON TIME!

Here are some of the recent prophetic insights the Lord gave me:

Time to Shift Gears

My daughter and her husband have 49 acres in the mountains of West Virginia. When I go there to visit, I must drive up a long, winding hill to arrive at their home, and there is a sheer drop-off on one side. I've learned that to go to the top of the hill--not having to back down, risking going off that drop off--I have to do three things:

(1) I have to shift gears.
(2) I have to "floor it."
(3) I have to look straight ahead and go all the way to the top. If I don't, I'm in trouble. I have to back down alongside that sheer drop-off, and start all over again. So, even if I'm afraid, I've learned that I have to "just do it," and get it over with!

Sometimes in life, we have to do things we are not very comfortable about in order to arrive at the place we need to be. Sometimes we have to "just do it" even if we "do it afraid."

Change isn't often easy. But I'm sure we've all heard the saying, "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity." If what we are doing isn't working, then we need to make some changes; we need to make a shift. One of the definitions of "shift" is "to change to the appropriate gear for an uphill climb." So it's time to SHIFT GEARS and make the necessary changes so that we can each arrive at our "mountaintop" experiences!

By the way, if we don't shift gears, we can be referred to as being "shiftless," which means incapable, inefficient and lazy. It is time to shift gears and take our dreams into the realm of reality.

Learn to Receive in a Spirit of Humility

During this time of "giving and receiving," God wants to teach us how to do both. Whether in this holiday season or any time of the year, don't let a religious spirit rob you of a blessing. You may have a need and be saying that you're trusting God to supply for it. He may send a PERSON with that provision, which may embarrass and cause you to surrender to a spirit of pride--and refuse the provision. You may even say, "No thank you, God will supply." Please don't do that! Why?

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18)

Very often, God teaches us to "receive" before He gives us the provision and authority to be an abundant giver. Why? To teach us humility and to help us better understand what it is like to be on the receiving end. He does this so we will lovingly and properly treat those that we are to give to--when it is our turn to do so.

So how should you handle it? First say, "No" to pride, then to the person just say, "Thank you and God bless you," and receive in humility. Then go into your prayer closet and thank the Lord and pray blessings over the giver. Don't be in a bad mood or be mad or embarrassed. Get excited! The Lord just walked you through the next step to being a cheerful giver as well!

Do Not Submit to False or Evil Authority

The Lord is teaching us all to NOT bow or submit to false or evil authority. He is delivering us from fear of man and from people pleasing. Plainly put, we are all learning to recognize and refuse submitting to witchcraft--via controlling and manipulative powers. The best way to do that is by simply saying, "No" and refusing to allow them to control and manipulate us.

Control is not always blatant. It doesn't always come as someone yelling and demanding us to do their bidding. Often, it is done by someone manipulating us through our emotions or through their use of them. It could be through their display of actions or attitudes. The person may even shed tears to try to make you feel you are abandoning them or making them feel unloved if you don't do what they want you to do. And of course, sometimes it can be done through outward means such as verbal, spiritual, or physical abuse or intimidation through the threat of it. Just remember: Control is rebellion. "Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft." (1 Samuel 15:23)

We must not allow anyone else to be "God" or the "Holy Spirit" in our life by submitting to them above God if we want to walk in the fullness of our purpose, calling and destiny. Additionally, others need to learn to trust in God, not us, as their source. By our making healthy boundaries, we are helping to send others on a more healthy path in the Lord as well.

Accountability with Our Words

We have been seeing more and more that even the unsaved are being brought to accountability with the words they speak. It has cost public figures who have used words they shouldn't--their reputation, job, income and lifestyle. If the world is being judged on the words of their mouths, how much more will the Church be? For the Word says that "Judgment begins at the house of the Lord." (1 Peter 4:17)

God wants to give us greater power and authority with our words so that we can speak resurrection life and healing. But power strong enough to do that could also be strong enough to kill. Additionally, cursing should not be flowing forth from the mouths of Christians. Speaking profanities and using the Lord's name in vain brings curses upon us. It's time for us as Christians to mature in this area and ask the Lord to put His spiritual coal to our lips to cleanse them. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." (Proverbs 18:21)

Our words have power. It is important for us to ask the Lord to help us in this area so that we can be bearers of the power of "life." As we repent, times of refreshing will come: "Repent and be converted, so that your sins may be blotted out, and times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3:19)

Jubilee Restoration

This fall, we entered into a Jubilee Year on Israel's calendar. On January 1st, we will be entering into the year 2008 on our Gregorian calendar. Eight is the number for new beginnings. Additionally, we will have an extra day in 2008, as it will be a "leap year."

Joel 2:25 promises us that God will restore the years the locust and cankerworm have eaten. Truly, this is a year of great promise for exactly that. God knew all those many years ago, that His Jubilee Year would fall in this time period of "new beginnings" and "leap year" on our natural calendar. Since "a day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as a day" (2 Peter 3:8), I believe this leap year of Jubilee restoration will be exponential. I believe we can call for, proclaim, and declare for jubilee generational restoration for 1,000 years back. It's time!

There will be restoration of lands, homes, finances, relationships, family, jobs, giftings, ministries, and much more spiritually, naturally and materially. In a time of serious financial crisis throughout the earth, those who trust in the Lord as Jehovah-Jireh will experience breakthrough (see Isaiah 60:1-2).

What is God's Glory?

I've heard a lot of bizarre stories about what people think God's glory is or what will happen when His Glory shows up. A good friend and I were talking recently and we discussed the glory of God in our Bible studying--Who He is--is synonymous with His Reputation. So, when the Glory of God comes, He fulfills His reputation. So what is His reputation? He is everything His Name is! And when He shows up--He IS and DOES what His Name says. Here are some of His Hebrew names and their meanings:

Adonai-Jehovah: The Sovereign Lord.
El-Elyon: The Lord Most High.
El-Olam: The Everlasting God.
El-Shaddai: The God Who is Sufficient for the Needs of His People.
Jehovah-Elohim: The Eternal Creator.
Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord our Provider.
Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord our Banner.
Jehovah-Ropheka: The Lord our Healer.
Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord our Peace.
Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord our Righteousness.
Jehovah-Mekaddishkem: The Lord our Sanctifier.
Jehovah-Sabaoth: The Lord of Hosts.
Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord is Present.
Jehovah-Rohi: The Lord our Shepherd.
Jehovah-Hoseenu: The Lord our Maker.
Jehovah-Eloheenu: The Lord our God.

When He shows up in all of His Glory, we will see Him declare His reputation in and through His People:

"Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you." (Isaiah 60:1-2)

We Are Third Day People

We have now entered into the "third day"--the third set of 1,000 years since the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What does that mean?

We have entered into resurrection power. (Acts 10:40, 1 Corinthians 15:4 )

We have entered into the third day harvest--a time of reproduction and fruitful harvest (Genesis 1:11-13). It's time to set our sights on bringing in the lost! We have entered into the third year Harvest time!

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." (Proverbs 11:30)

Signs in the Heavens

"I will show wonders in Heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke." (Acts 2:19)

The Lord says that there will be wonders in Heaven and the Bible refers to an "outer darkness," and the Lord says that He will make a "new Heaven and earth." Well, I encourage you that they are happening now. Truly, the Heavens declare His glory! (Psalm 19:1)

Refused to be Re-fused!

Major revival is coming to the camps of the "refused!" (particularly Latino and African-American churches). Although these churches have not been "refused" by God, but rather, they have been RE-FUSED and RE-FUELED with Galatians 2:20 power!

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

"'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6)

Powerful Songs are Coming

Some of you may remember songs such as, "I Write the Songs" and, "Killing Me Softly" that were popular in the 80's. The Lord spoke to me and said those songs were actually about HIM, and He DOES write the songs that will bring forth healing, even across the airways.

Sons of Thunder, come forth from the prayer closets of the Nation!--"for such a time as this!" The anointing of the Lord is blanketing His modern day Levites, and the songs will come forth--even over secular radio--that will begin to bring in a great harvest of souls! Rock concerts will turn into harvest fields that bring many to the TRUE Rock, Jesus Christ! The anointing will come forth from the stages and bring MANY in! It IS time!

The enemy tries to plot and plan to take out the younger ones in an effort to destroy the harvest. But God is greater!

Water Problems and Winter Warnings

While leaving on a ministry trip in September this year, the Lord told me to tell the people to begin to stock-up on water because tainted water and water shortages were about to make the commodity of water valuable. Therefore, those that have water on their lands would also prosper as if it was "liquid gold." Within the hour of driving, I had to make a "pit-stop" in Jonesboro, NC, at I-77, and was met by closed businesses. I was told the entire town was closed due to their water being tainted with E-coil. Since then, I've heard of several other such instances across the country. So I encourage you to stock up on bottled water and other provision for the days ahead.

I also received insight about of a "Winter Storm Warning." I wasn't sure if this was a natural storm or some type of catastrophe (natural or terrorist related). However, when I heard, "Winter Storm Warning," I felt that the Lord said to have alternative heating available, as well as a stockpile of provision (food and water).

Then I received "Wild Animal Warnings." The Lord showed me that due to fires and floods and other earthly disasters, wild animals will be coming into cities to search for food this winter. This winter, we must keep a watchful eye on our small children and our animals to keep them protected. Also, keep outdoor garbage containers away from your home, and as sealed as possible.

You can go to the FEMA website http://www.fema.gov/ and click on "plan ahead" for a list of resources to prepare you and your family in the case of an emergency. These emergency insights are given NOT to bring fear, but to inform and prepare you for any type of emergency ahead. Remember: the most important emergency kit we have is our prayers.

Prayer: Lord, we thank You that we are alive "for such a time as this!" It is an exciting time to be in! Please help us to conform to what You desire of us, and be released from any control of the evil one. We ask that You give us wisdom and direction and the courage to walk out what You show us! Thank You for the Blood of Jesus that forgives, covers and protects us! Thank You for Your love and mercy. Thank You for our families. Please bring them into Your Kingdom to walk in the fullness of all You have called them to in this time. In Jesus name, Amen.

Joni Ames
A.C.T.S. Ministries
Email: joniames@aol.com


Saturday, December 15, 2007

Gunman's Family "Overwhelmed by Act of Christian Love and Forgiveness" as Victims' Families Meet Privately with them in Colorado

This story comes from Breaking Christian News (BCN).

"Matthew's parents ... are humbled beyond words and deeply grateful to the families of God's children, Tiffany Johnson and Philip Crouse, for taking this extraordinary step to begin the process of healing and reconciliation. What an incredible example of the power of God's love."

Teresa Neumann (December 15, 2007)

(Arvada, Colorado)—As the mainstream news moves on to other news stories, the news out of Colorado after last week's shooting continues to yield more amazing testimonies of forgiveness and reconciliation.

The Rocky Mountain News reports that the families of YWAM shooting victims Philip Crouse and Tiffany Johnson met privately with Ron and Loretta Murray, the parents of the gunman, and with his uncle, Pastor Phil Abeyta.

"Both families said, 'We forgive you. We don't hold you responsible,'" said Peter Warren, director of Youth With A Mission's Denver chapter, adding that as they looked one another in the eyes and held hands, Abeyta "broke down in tears. And they prayed for him."

"The entire Murray family is overwhelmed by this act of Christian love and forgiveness," said Abeyta. "Matthew's parents ... are humbled beyond words and deeply grateful to the families of God's children, Tiffany Johnson and Philip Crouse, for taking this extraordinary step to begin the process of healing and reconciliation. What an incredible example of the power of God's love."

Referring to the amazing life change Philip Crouse underwent before coming to YWAM, a report in the Denver Post noted that Crouse's uncle, John Steiner, said that before getting saved his nephew was "dark and brooding, hiding his insecurities behind a perpetual snarl," and that after becoming a Christian Crouse's transformation was "as complete as it was remarkable."

Source: Todd Hartman - Rocky Mountain News

"Out of the Wilderness"

If you are experiencing some sort of "wilderness" season in your life, perhaps this Word I received from the Lord would be for you.

If this Word bears witness in your Spirit, then receive it with gladness and know that God is working FOR you.


For His Glory,
Joe

Read more...

Village in India Hears the Gospel from "out of the mouths of babes"

This article comes from Breaking Christian News (BCN).

At least 10 families are now following Jesus.

Aimee Herd (December 14, 2007)

(Assam State, India)—A missionary named Elian, trained through Mission India, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was working on spreading the Gospel in an Indian village, through a Bible-based adult literacy class.

However, Elian was met with slammed doors, and cold responses, even after offering to pray with people in the village. Not giving up, the missionary noticed the children in the village were often left unattended by their parents, so Elian began a Children's Bible Club.

A report by Mission India states that Elian started the club by singing, as he stood along the side of the road where the children would pass by. Before long a crowd of children had gathered around him, and they began singing and dancing to the worship songs he taught them.

Through the children singing the songs and telling the Bible stories to their parents at night, at least 10 families are now following Jesus, according to the MNN report.

Source: News Staff – Mission Network News

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Youth at Denver YWAM Rededicate Building after Shootings

This story comes from Breaking Christian News (BCN).

"In the crowded hallway, the students had a message for the killer. 'One, two, three,' they shouted in unison. 'I forgive you, Matthew!'"

Teresa Neumann (December 13, 2007)

(Denver, Co.)—Rocky Mountain News reports that YWAM missionaries have "reclaimed" the hallway in their facility where two of their workers were gunned down last weekend. (Photo by Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky)

Says reporter Jean Torkelson: "In the crowded hallway, the students had a message for the killer. 'One, two, three,' they shouted in unison. 'I forgive you, Matthew!'"

Torkelson added that at the end of the impromptu service, Peter Warren, director of the Denver chapter of YWAM, urged all students who felt able to do so to go throughout the dorm building, rededicating it to God.

Source: Jean Torkelson - Rocky Mountain News

Almost Aborted

This article comes from Focus on the Family.

Tim Tebow, quarterback for the University of Florida, became the first sophomore in history to win the coveted Heisman Trophy as the best college football player in the country. With 29 passing touchdowns and 22 rushing touchdowns, Tebow displayed the kind of versatility and athleticism for which every football coach prays. However, if doctors had had it their way, Tebow wouldn't be here today, according to the Gainesville Sun and lifenews.com.

Pam Tebow and her husband Bob were Christian missionaries in the Philippines in 1985 and they prayed for their child even before Pam became pregnant. When she did, she contracted amoebic dysentery, an infection of the intestine caused by a parasite found in contaminated food or drink. As a result, Pam entered into a coma.

The treatment for the medical condition required strong medications which would cause irreversible damage to her unborn son and leave him with devastating disabilities. Doctors advised her to have an abortion.

Pam Tebow refused the abortion and cited her Christian faith as the reason for her hope that her son would be born without the devastating disabilities physicians predicted. She ultimately spent the last two months of her pregnancy in bed and, eventually, gave birth to a completely healthy baby in August 1987.

"The combination of Timmy's God-given talent, hard work, character and leadership have made a mark on and off the football field," said Pam.

Former New York Giant Chris Godfrey shudders to think of the millions of Tim Tebows who aren't here today. "You just have to wonder how many good things did not come into our world because of our unwillingness to say 'Yes' and to trust in God," he said.

"Of the 49 million who never lived to realize their potential, imagine the number of future leaders, inventors, doctors — and, yes, even Heisman Trophy winners — among them," said Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council. "[We] pray that [Tebow's story] helps persuade other women of the inherent value of their unborn children and the great promise that lies within."

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