Friday, April 11, 2008

Chuck Pierce: "The First of Months in the Year of New Beginnings: LET JUDAH GO FIRST! (8-Day Prayer Focus Included)"

Steve ShultzWe Have Entered the Month of Nisan

These are intense but glorious times throughout the world. The Church is arising from nation to nation. I am seeing a hunger for prophetic revelation. This will give us vision of what God is doing this hour (Proverbs 29:18). Without prophetic revelation, we lose our way. Thank you for believing in me to be an ambassador of God's prophetic voice. We must be willing to tear down the religious structures that keep the wineskin for this age from coming forth with power.

In this season, a major shift is coming in the way we worship and acknowledge God corporately. This past weekend I was amazed at the different expressions of worship and sound being released at our Firstfruits Gathering. Not only was the worship prophetic, but it was generational.

We have now entered the month of Nisan, the "first of months." The tribe that the Lord chose to be "first" was Judah. Judah means praise. The word "praise" originates from "value" and "price." So in this month, praise should be preeminent. The Hebraic calendar has certain times when certain blessings can be spoken into the earth.

Each month is designed by the Lord to release a blessing into our lives. His desire is for us to move from blessing to blessing all year. In this "first of months" there are certain things which must be done "first." The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron and said, "This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you" (Exodus 12:2). This month marks the beginning of the Hebrews' movement out of Egypt and into His covenant. Even as the Church became secularized and moved in the Babylonian concept of Easter, we still operate in the observance of deliverance by the Blood--by recognizing the Resurrection.

This is Not a Season for the Body of Christ to be Passive

There are many wonderful examples where the Israelites expressed violent praise. Moses and Miriam both sang and danced when they passed out of Egypt. Miriam was actually 90 years old when she led the congregation in dancing. The Israelites also expressed violent praise at Jericho. Gideon expressed violent praise over the Midianites. Paul and Silas expressed violent praise that shook them out of prison. Don't worry about what to say to praise violently--just let your heart respond to God for He IS worthy! Psalm 81:10 says, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it."

The restoration of David's Tabernacle is advancing in the earth realm in this generation. You should read Amos 9 as well as Acts 15, and then the Book of Revelation. One expresses prophetically, another expresses historically, and the latter reveals the present expression of the war in the Heavens. When you read more closely, you can see how we, as God's army in the earth, will co-labor with the Host of Heaven to express a Holy God's overcoming power throughout the nations of the earth. This will unlock a global harvest. Your violent praise is preparing a storehouse for Kingdom harvest.

As you praise "violently" you are also releasing the "Roar of the Lord" that has been held captive in God's people. Let me explain the "Roar of the Lord." God's sound permeates from Heaven and orders much of what goes on in the earthly realm. When He is ready to bring restoration to earth, He releases His sound. Judah goes first! Judah roars! The roar of God is within us. Judah means "Praise Yahweh." Do not resist the major shift that is recreating the way we worship and our corporate acknowledgment of God. Yahweh signifies the God of covenant.

This is a month when our praise and worship is important to the LORD. This is also a time when we begin to value the covenant that He has allowed us to enter into with Him. What a price He paid to give us access to the Throne Room. Our worship will take on great covenant significance at this time, and release great blessings into the earthly realm.

Violence means "vehement, forcible, or destructive action, often involving infringement, outrage, or assault." Matthew 11:12 says, "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." In the phrase, "the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence," a share in the Heavenly Kingdom is sought for with the most ardent zeal and the most intense exertion. The NIV reads, "The Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it."

To give praise to God is to proclaim His merit or worth in every situation that we find ourselves encountering. You can shout "Glory!" You can release blessing! Your heart can express thanksgiving.

Praise includes offering of sacrifices (Leviticus 7:13), physical movement (2 Samuel 6:14), silence and meditation (Psalm 77:11-12), testimony (Psalm 66:16), prayer (Philippians 4:6), and a holy life (1 Peter 1:3-9). Praise is linked to music, both instrumental (Psalm 150:3-5) and vocal. Praise includes spontaneous outbursts of thanksgiving for some redemptive act of God (Exodus 15; Judges 5; 1 Samuel 2; Luke 1:46-55, 67-79). Praise also includes formal psalms and hymns adapted for corporate worship (2 Chronicles 29:30) and Church (Colossians 3:16). Praise should be a heart expression and not an outward show (Matthew 15:8).

The Sound of the Throne Room

God is pursuing His people. The Spirit of the Lord is calling us to worship. God is releasing a sound from Heaven that is being embraced by people all over the world. The call causes us to draw near to Him and to each other. The sound causes us to go to war. We must manifest on earth what God says in Heaven. God's sound permeates from Heaven and orders much of what goes on in the earthly realm. When He is ready to bring restoration to earth, He releases His sound.

A physical sound has always led the armies of God forth. I always visualize it this way: God is on His Throne, and Jesus is seated next to Him. Jesus is the door that we have into the Father's Throne. The Word of God tells us in James 4 to submit ourselves to God, draw near to Him and then resist the devil. I believe that as we worship and submit ourselves to a holy God, we can come into intimate contact with Him. Even though we walk here on the earth in our worshipful submission, we ascend into Heaven. As we individually seek God and ascend into the Throne Room, we can hear the sound in Heaven in our spirit man on earth. We also find this all the way through the Book of Revelation.

The Book of Revelation is just an incredible, elaborate pageant that is interpreted to us by heavenly, celestial singers along with creatures and elders. John saw a door standing open in Heaven, and the voice he heard was like a trumpet speaking and saying, "Come up here and I will show you things that must take place after this" (see Revelation 4:1). The Lord's voice, many times, sounds like a trumpet calling us forth. The trumpet, or shofar, in the Word of God had a distinct sound to assemble and call God's people to war.

Nisan is the Passover month. This is a time to CROSS OVER into the inheritance that has been promised you. Joshua 3:15-17 says, "And those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the time of harvest)...and the people crossed over completely to the other side of the Jordan."

I believe we are moving in God's perfect time. Timing is so important. "In Him, we move and have our being" (Acts 17:24-26, Colossians 1:19, 2:9). I am praying for you to be in God's perfect timing.

In this month of Nisan, here are key areas that you can use for an 8-Day Prayer Focus:

Day 1: Read Genesis 29:35, 49:8-12, Deuteronomy 33:7, Judges 1, Judges 20, 1 Samuel 16, and Psalm 89. Judah goes first. Since this is the beginning of months, this month represents the Tribe of Judah. Let praise arise in your heart. If you will begin to praise now, then He will enthrone Himself in the midst of your life and situations. Begin this month praising and let praise be the pattern for you all year long.

Day 2: Catch a "New Wind" of His Spirit. Read 2 Samuel 5, 1 Corinthians 13, and John 3. This month represents the annual renewal of God's HEI plan. Remember the Hebrew letter HEI. This is the month linked with the window of Heaven and the sound of Heaven invading your life in the earth realm. Another sound we find before God led His troops forward was "the wind in the mulberry trees."

In 2 Samuel 5, David had experienced a major breakthrough in his own life. What had been prophesied over him 29 years prior had actually come into fulfillment. He then had to lead the armies forth into battle. David had one driving purpose: to get the Ark of the Covenant of God back into its rightful position in the midst of God's covenant people. When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed as king, they rose up against him. David defeated the Philistines and drove them out of his jurisdictional authority. However, they regrouped and came back at him again. He asked the Lord if he was to pursue them.

In 2 Samuel 5:24 the Lord answers, "And...when you hear the sound of the marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly." The sound of marching was not just the wind blowing the tops of the trees, but the hosts of Heaven and the armies of God rustling the leaves and signifying they were present to help David in victory. This is a month to recognize the angels among us! If we will keep our spirits active and in communion with Holy Spirit, we will begin to see the Presence of God and His Hosts of Heaven that are contending on our behalf.

In the Book of Revelation, we find the real issue is the relationship between the sounds of Heaven and the demonstration of God on earth. Sound leads us forth. Be willing to allow the sounds of Heaven to order your actions today.

Day 3: Read 2 Samuel 11:1 and Daniel 1-4. Months in the Hebraic calendar overlap with months in the Roman calendar. This is the season of spring, and the beginning of the months of direct light. Ask for the spout of revelation to rest on you for the next six months.

Day 4: Read Psalm 107, Exodus 10-12, and Hebrews 9. This is the month of redemption. He paid for you by His BLOOD so you could be released from any prison that is holding you. Therefore, spend this month thanking God for your deliverance and He, as your Deliverer, will position Himself on your path for the year ahead.

Day 5: Read Psalm 90-92, Acts 5, and 19. This is the month of the beginning of miracles--BELIEVE for the impossible!

Day 6: Read Haggai 1-2, and Zechariah 4. This is the month that sets the course for your future. This is the month to decree (by speech) your future. SPEAK FORTH your expected end and declare it will be greater than your beginning.

Day 7: Read Genesis 22. This is the month of the RAM or (lamb). Look for your RAM in the bush. God will begin to reveal Himself as Jireh to you.

Day 8: Read Psalm 26, and Luke 10. This is the month to put your best foot forward--the "right foot" month. Choose to give the Lord your best.

When you are in God's time, you can reconcile His redemptive plan for your life and walk under the spout of His blessings. In God's timing, His secrets and "pregnancy" plan are revealed. In God's timing, your mind is impregnated with His thoughts. When you reconcile your walk with God's timing, what is seeded in your thought processes develops into a full fledged mental expression.

By understanding God's timetable and His ordered monthly plan, you can schedule your affairs and align your earthly appointment book with Heaven. This will cause you to succeed in bringing forth the FULLNESS of God's portion and ultimately fulfilling His plan for you in the earth. This is called experiencing His FULLNESS!

Fullness means the LORD will fill you until you run over; He will fill you until His plan is fulfilled! (John 1:16). The concept of fullness means that there is a place of abundance for you to experience (John 10:10). Fullness occurs when something fills up or comes to completion (Matthew 9:16, Mark 2:21, 6:43, 8:20). Think of the fragments of the fish and loaves that filled the baskets. That is a good example of fullness. The Lord takes what you have, breaks it, blesses it, and then you have more than when you started.

Fullness is happening in your life when the measure of Christ's blessing is overflowing (Romans 15:29). Harvest is linked with fullness. When the salvation of the Gentiles has come into a number that satisfies God's requirement for completeness (Romans 11:25), we have entered into fullness and we will see the God's plan for fullness of the Jews manifested.

Nisan is also a month of redemption. May this be a time of visitation where the presence and power of God invades your space and orders your steps! The redeemed of the Lord will say "SO." This is a time when the burning bush, "I AM," type of worship is coming into the midst of God's people. This is going to release a deliverance call across the earth. When the ROAR of the Lord goes forth, a prophetic mantle falls (Amos 3). Let loose the Roar of the Lord that is deep within you. This will enable you to hear clearly for your future. There will be an anointing to open your "ears." You will sense the Lord break hidden grief that has kept your joy capped.

Shout "Glory!" Release blessings! Express thanksgiving! What you want to do is say, "God, I want to be blessed with the fullness of Your redemptive plan for my life!" What does redemption mean? A price has been paid for you to be unlocked out of every one of your prisons. Make a list of your prisons and then start shouting, "I am coming out!"

Everyone can embrace this call to ascend and become a worship warrior. If we believe in Jesus, we are automatically enlisted in His army. Worship warriors arise! Worship Warriors of every generation, young and old, connect and stand. This is the time to worship, enter boldly into the Throne Room, be clothed with favor, and go to war. The sound is being released. Listen to it, enter the battle and release the Harvest! This is a great time to praise! Feel His Presence overwhelm you!

Blessings,

Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion Ministries

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