I heard the Lord say, "Stretch", and I knew it was a word for the body of Christ in the coming year.
According to Webster's Dictionary, the word "stretch" is defined in the following ways: to enlarge; to cause to reach; to expand; to fulfill a larger function; to raise up from a cramped, stooping, or relaxed position.
Isa.54:2,3 - "Enlarge the place of your tent. Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your descendents will possess nations......"
Zech.1:16,17 - "I will return to Jerusalem with compassion.... and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem.... My cities will again overflow with prosperity..... "
Nugget of Gold: The Lord is taking us out of our comfort zones as we enter into the new decade. We have to be willing to release those things that He is directing us to let go of (hopes, plans, fears, relationships, schedules, etc.) in order to move into the new place that He's taking us. Even now, the Lord is "stretching out a measuring line" over our new territory. He is causing us to have to "reach" in order to fulfill a larger function in His kingdom. Where we've been comfortable and relaxed, we will now feel an urgency to move and to exercise our gifts in a way that we haven't known before. New ministry opportunities will open to us as we are teachable and continue to move in complete obedience to the Holy Spirit's promptings. Our new "territory" will involve increased responsibility and will necessitate that we be properly connected and firmly planted in the Body as He ordains.
As we enter this new year and new decade, the Lord's mandate to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" (Matt.6:33) will be imperative. May our prayer be as Jabez (1Chron.4:10):
"Oh that Thou wouldst bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that Thy hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldst keep me from harm, that it may not pain me!"
"And God granted him what he requested."
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The Knitting of Hearts
Ecc.4:12 - "...... A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."
One of the significant works of the Holy Spirit in this season is to bring us into intimate, covenant relationship with one another in the body of Christ. As we see in Ecclesiastes 4, only two can resist the works of darkness, and "woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up." (Ecc.4:10). We see many people under attack in the church today, but some come through with ease, while others seem to lose heart and fall under depression and hopelessness. What makes the difference?
While meditating on this, I felt a strong witness of the Holy Spirit with regard to covenant relationships - not only marriage, but also friendships born of the Spirit. It is God who knits our hearts together with one another, as He knit the hearts of David and Jonathan.
1 Sam.18:1;3 - "The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself."
This occurred before Jesus, the second Adam, came. Thus, man was a "living soul" and not a "life-giving spirit." (1 Cor.15:45) Therefore, it was the soul of David and Jonathan that the Lord knit together. However, the New Testament speaks of this same type of love relationship between a husband and wife:
Eph.5:33 - "..... Let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself....."
Nugget of Gold: God has mandated new relationships for each of us this coming year. He will initiate them, and in so doing, will knit our hearts together as the hearts of David and Jonathan (and as the heart of a husband is knit with his wife). Two are indeed better than one, and the Lord is preparing us to stand strong in the days ahead. Not only will we be blessed by those that He brings into our lives, but together with the Lord, we will become those "cords of three strands" that cannot be quickly or easily broken apart!
One of the significant works of the Holy Spirit in this season is to bring us into intimate, covenant relationship with one another in the body of Christ. As we see in Ecclesiastes 4, only two can resist the works of darkness, and "woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up." (Ecc.4:10). We see many people under attack in the church today, but some come through with ease, while others seem to lose heart and fall under depression and hopelessness. What makes the difference?
While meditating on this, I felt a strong witness of the Holy Spirit with regard to covenant relationships - not only marriage, but also friendships born of the Spirit. It is God who knits our hearts together with one another, as He knit the hearts of David and Jonathan.
1 Sam.18:1;3 - "The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself."
This occurred before Jesus, the second Adam, came. Thus, man was a "living soul" and not a "life-giving spirit." (1 Cor.15:45) Therefore, it was the soul of David and Jonathan that the Lord knit together. However, the New Testament speaks of this same type of love relationship between a husband and wife:
Eph.5:33 - "..... Let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself....."
Nugget of Gold: God has mandated new relationships for each of us this coming year. He will initiate them, and in so doing, will knit our hearts together as the hearts of David and Jonathan (and as the heart of a husband is knit with his wife). Two are indeed better than one, and the Lord is preparing us to stand strong in the days ahead. Not only will we be blessed by those that He brings into our lives, but together with the Lord, we will become those "cords of three strands" that cannot be quickly or easily broken apart!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Double Portion in the New Year
The Lord awakened me several mornings ago at 4:44 a.m. This morning, I was awakened at 3:33. Today is December 22nd. As I was pondering these numbers, the Lord quickened to me that He is releasing a double portion to His ministers in the new year! This will be a double portion of His presence and anointing, a double portion of wisdom and revelation, a double portion of provision and finances.
Job 42:10 - "And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold."
Isa.61:6,7 - "But you will be called the priests of the Lord. You will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead of your shame, you will have a double portion.... Therefore, they will possess a double portion in their land. Everlasting joy will be theirs."
A couple of months ago, the Lord revealed that where we have previously walked alone (as one), He will now bring a new relationship into our lives. The application may be in the form of a new ministry partner, a mate, or a business relationship. This is because "two are better than one, for they have a good return for their labor." (Ecc.4:9). Again, we see the emphasis on "double".
Nugget of Gold: The promise of a double portion belongs to those who are walking in covenant relationship with the Lord - His ministers! God is not only rewarding us for our faithful service, but He is equipping us to stand strong and do exploits for His Kingdom. We are entering a time when the world system will be growing darker and darker. However, this coming decade will mark the period that God's glorious church began to rise up and shine with His glory! Amen.
Job 42:10 - "And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold."
Isa.61:6,7 - "But you will be called the priests of the Lord. You will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead of your shame, you will have a double portion.... Therefore, they will possess a double portion in their land. Everlasting joy will be theirs."
A couple of months ago, the Lord revealed that where we have previously walked alone (as one), He will now bring a new relationship into our lives. The application may be in the form of a new ministry partner, a mate, or a business relationship. This is because "two are better than one, for they have a good return for their labor." (Ecc.4:9). Again, we see the emphasis on "double".
Nugget of Gold: The promise of a double portion belongs to those who are walking in covenant relationship with the Lord - His ministers! God is not only rewarding us for our faithful service, but He is equipping us to stand strong and do exploits for His Kingdom. We are entering a time when the world system will be growing darker and darker. However, this coming decade will mark the period that God's glorious church began to rise up and shine with His glory! Amen.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Word for 2010
1 John 5:4 - "For whatever is born (begotten) of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith."
Luke 2:49 - "Did you not know that I had to be about My Father's business?"
What has God birthed in your life this past year? A ministry....... a creative idea for a new company or product........ a place of service ...... a new partnership or relationship..... a new home, ministry or church location?
Fathers beget children and they also name them. I believe the Lord said that He is bringing great favor, prosperity, multiplication, and anointing in 2010 to those things that He has begotten. His glory will be seen upon the people, churches, and ministries that rise up to accomplish the work which He has given them to do in this hour.
John 17:4 - "I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do."
He will exalt them as He did Joshua following the death of Moses:
Joshua 4:14 - "On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; so that they revered him, just as they had revered Moses all the days of his life."
There will be a clear distinction between activities that God Himself endorses and those that are merely works of the soul and flesh. The new year will see darkness growing darker and the Light growing brighter and brighter. We will be successful and prosper in spirit, soul, and body, only by putting our hands to those things the Lord is directing us to do.
John 9:4 - "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work."
Luke 2:49 - "Did you not know that I had to be about My Father's business?"
What has God birthed in your life this past year? A ministry....... a creative idea for a new company or product........ a place of service ...... a new partnership or relationship..... a new home, ministry or church location?
Fathers beget children and they also name them. I believe the Lord said that He is bringing great favor, prosperity, multiplication, and anointing in 2010 to those things that He has begotten. His glory will be seen upon the people, churches, and ministries that rise up to accomplish the work which He has given them to do in this hour.
John 17:4 - "I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do."
He will exalt them as He did Joshua following the death of Moses:
Joshua 4:14 - "On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; so that they revered him, just as they had revered Moses all the days of his life."
There will be a clear distinction between activities that God Himself endorses and those that are merely works of the soul and flesh. The new year will see darkness growing darker and the Light growing brighter and brighter. We will be successful and prosper in spirit, soul, and body, only by putting our hands to those things the Lord is directing us to do.
John 9:4 - "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work."
Friday, December 18, 2009
3 Generations: God's Prophetic Plan
With the words in Exodus 3:6, "I AM the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob", the Lord establishes the principle of "The Three Generations". We see throughout scripture that the Lord works in covenant relationship with these three generations as a UNIT at any one time in history: the Fathers (gender neutral), the children, and the grandchildren. Our ability to enter into our full inheritance depends on our personal and corporate relationship with both our natural and spiritual fathers, children, and grandchildren.
We are in a time of "the changing of the guard", in which those who have been the Fathers (the Moses generation) are now passing away. Many of us in the body of Christ have witnessed the passing of our own fathers and mothers this past year, while the church has just seen the passing of one of our great spiritual fathers - Oral Roberts. I believe that over the past 40 years, the Lord has been raising up the new generation of Fathers, who are now ready to step into their covenant role. This generation of Fathers will be used to "turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest God come and smite the land with a curse." (Malachi 4:5,6)
The body of Christ has accurately identified the next generation of "young men" and of "children" (1 John 2:13) as having particular roles and anointings in this day, but few have realized that each generation needs the other in order to fully realize God's Kingdom purposes.
Hebrews 11:39,40 - "And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect."
I recently had a dream in which I was in a house with my family - father, mother, siblings, and children (3 generations). We were about to cook a meal, but I needed to return to my own home to get several things I had forgotten. When we had arrived the weather was calm and beautiful, but upon leaving the house to travel, I discovered that a huge snow storm had created drifts so deep that everything was buried. It made driving extremely treacherous. Then, I had to cross a body of water in a small boat. Coming over, the seas had been calm, but the weather was now stormy and the waves were huge. There were also enormous sea monsters that were constantly threatening to overturn my boat. I quickly returned to the house with my family where it was safe.
Nugget of Gold: I believe we have come to a time when the only safe place will be in Him, with all three generations represented and living in intimate harmony as ONE! There is a clarion call for the fathers (gender neutral) to take their place in the Body of Christ and to serve the "children" and the "grandchildren" in whatever way the Lord reveals. Ministry will more and more represent a blending of the three generations, which will produce a "cord of three strands that cannot be easily broken" (Ecc.4:12)!
We are in a time of "the changing of the guard", in which those who have been the Fathers (the Moses generation) are now passing away. Many of us in the body of Christ have witnessed the passing of our own fathers and mothers this past year, while the church has just seen the passing of one of our great spiritual fathers - Oral Roberts. I believe that over the past 40 years, the Lord has been raising up the new generation of Fathers, who are now ready to step into their covenant role. This generation of Fathers will be used to "turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest God come and smite the land with a curse." (Malachi 4:5,6)
The body of Christ has accurately identified the next generation of "young men" and of "children" (1 John 2:13) as having particular roles and anointings in this day, but few have realized that each generation needs the other in order to fully realize God's Kingdom purposes.
Hebrews 11:39,40 - "And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect."
I recently had a dream in which I was in a house with my family - father, mother, siblings, and children (3 generations). We were about to cook a meal, but I needed to return to my own home to get several things I had forgotten. When we had arrived the weather was calm and beautiful, but upon leaving the house to travel, I discovered that a huge snow storm had created drifts so deep that everything was buried. It made driving extremely treacherous. Then, I had to cross a body of water in a small boat. Coming over, the seas had been calm, but the weather was now stormy and the waves were huge. There were also enormous sea monsters that were constantly threatening to overturn my boat. I quickly returned to the house with my family where it was safe.
Nugget of Gold: I believe we have come to a time when the only safe place will be in Him, with all three generations represented and living in intimate harmony as ONE! There is a clarion call for the fathers (gender neutral) to take their place in the Body of Christ and to serve the "children" and the "grandchildren" in whatever way the Lord reveals. Ministry will more and more represent a blending of the three generations, which will produce a "cord of three strands that cannot be easily broken" (Ecc.4:12)!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
More Revelations About Angels
Several trusted prophetic voices have spoken about increased angelic activity in this hour, and I believe the Lord is increasing our awareness of those who labor among us. Previous mention has been made of angels carrying dispatches (a message sent with speed, esp. an important official message sent by a diplomatic, military, or naval officer), as well as the angelic watchers (see Dan.4:13;17;23). Recently, the Lord quickened three additional types of angels who are being "sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation" (Hebrews 1:14).
Heralding angels, as seen in the announcement of the birth of Jesus in Luke 2:9-11 and an announcement of a different kind in Daniel 3:4, are being sent to the body of Christ during this season to proclaim and announce the changes that are coming. A "herald" is defined by Webster's Dictionary as "an officer sent by a King (or other high official) to proclaim a message or announce good news".
Isa. 48:3;6 - "I declared the former things long ago, and they went forth from My mouth, and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass..... I proclaim to you new things from this time, even hidden things which you have not known."
Fiery angels are being sent by the Father to guard those whose hearts are turned toward Him, who bear the seal of the Holy Spirit. God's love for us is a jealous love, and the fire of His jealousy will consume everything that hinders love in our lives.
Song 8:6 - "Put me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death. Jealousy (its ardor is as inflexible) is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord."
Hebrews 12:29 - "For our God is a consuming fire."
Hebrews 1:7 - "And of the angels He says, 'Who makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.'"
Revelatory angels carry the understanding of the Word that the Body of Christ needs in this hour, as we see in the Book of Daniel:
Daniel 8:16 - "Gabriel, give this man understanding of the vision."
Nugget of Gold: We have entered into a new season on God's prophetic calendar, and He has ordained that His bride work more closely with the heavenly host than ever before. This requires a greater awareness of those who labor among us, including the purposes for which they are sent. Let us not "neglect so great a salvation!" (Heb.2:3)
Heralding angels, as seen in the announcement of the birth of Jesus in Luke 2:9-11 and an announcement of a different kind in Daniel 3:4, are being sent to the body of Christ during this season to proclaim and announce the changes that are coming. A "herald" is defined by Webster's Dictionary as "an officer sent by a King (or other high official) to proclaim a message or announce good news".
Isa. 48:3;6 - "I declared the former things long ago, and they went forth from My mouth, and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass..... I proclaim to you new things from this time, even hidden things which you have not known."
Fiery angels are being sent by the Father to guard those whose hearts are turned toward Him, who bear the seal of the Holy Spirit. God's love for us is a jealous love, and the fire of His jealousy will consume everything that hinders love in our lives.
Song 8:6 - "Put me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death. Jealousy (its ardor is as inflexible) is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord."
Hebrews 12:29 - "For our God is a consuming fire."
Hebrews 1:7 - "And of the angels He says, 'Who makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.'"
Revelatory angels carry the understanding of the Word that the Body of Christ needs in this hour, as we see in the Book of Daniel:
Daniel 8:16 - "Gabriel, give this man understanding of the vision."
Nugget of Gold: We have entered into a new season on God's prophetic calendar, and He has ordained that His bride work more closely with the heavenly host than ever before. This requires a greater awareness of those who labor among us, including the purposes for which they are sent. Let us not "neglect so great a salvation!" (Heb.2:3)
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