Prophecy

Prophets, Seers, and Humility

2006-12-24T16:52:00.000-05:00

PROPHETS AND SEERS
By John Paul Jackson

with Introductory Comments
By Ron Wood

John Paul Jackson is a blessing to me and to the Body of Christ. I’ve enjoyed being around him in several venues. We had the privilege of hosting his ministry in a conference when I was leading a church in NW Arkansas. I appreciate John Paul’s teaching and mature perspective on the prophetic ministry. I consider him to be a true prophet of God.

Prophets have a peculiar and vital function in the Body of Christ. Prophets, along with the primary building gift of apostles, form an important part of the foundation of the Church. Some prophets focus on divine revelations. These prophets build up individuals with words of encouragement.

Others are what I call Building Prophets. They work alongside apostles or church planters and thus team up in strategic warfare and in building up the church. Both kinds of prophets bear a distinct testimony of Jesus Christ. They impart His Spirit in a wonderful and unique way to the saints.

John Paul Jackson has given a lot of thought to distinctions in the operation of prophetic gifts. For years, I’ve recognized that it is one thing to have a divine revelation and something totally different to have utterance to speak it forth. By utterance, I mean the grace or anointing to verbally speak a revelation with God’s authority.

So in prophetic ministry, there is a valid difference between seeing it and saying it.

You might see a word, but if you try to say it, it may fall flat on the floor! Is it time? Is it the right place? Are you the right vessel? Seers seem to often wait for someone to inquire about a word, whereas prophets may have unction from on high to declare it proactively. Yet presumption may make us assume that we can release it simply because we have discerned it.

John Paul analyzes this distinction very well in this excellent short study on seers and prophets, and the insightful question that follows it on humility.

This particular article addresses one aspect of revelatory gifting, that is, "words of knowledge." This grace-gift from the Holy Spirit enables a believer to know information or details about someone that could only be revealed by God. It is a small but valuable gracelet from Holy Spirit.

For example, when Jesus met the woman at the well (John 4), He knew by this gift operating that she had been married five times. This divine knowledge about her life uncovered her sin. Yet Jesus spoke the truth to her without condemning her. He ministered in such a way that it broke down her resistance and resulted in the salvation of her village. This is an example of a grace-gift functioning in a non-religious setting in order to display God’s great mercy.

When the gift of prophecy gets outside the church and into the streets, sinners won’t stand a chance! Resistance will be futile. God’s truth ministered in deep love and humble wisdom will uncover the stumbling blocks that hinder their repentance and thus will help bring many souls to faith in Christ.

I believe the day will come when ordinary believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit and living in union with Jesus will manifest the word of knowledge in remarkable ways. It will be common for sin to be uncovered, not by ministers, but by disciples. In fact, the day will come when we will think that prophets who impress us with their words of knowledge today were mere children in the faith!

I am asking for this little gift to operate more often in my own life- the snippets of divine information that enables me to show people that God knows the details of their lives and truly cares for them. Twice, the Lord has given me peoples’ names! Once, it was to witness to a waitress. Another time, it was to encourage me in a time overseas when I felt like I wasn’t hearing anything from God in my meetings. But this little gift is needed more. Along with sharing the gospel in a natural and gracious way, it can be a very powerful supernatural evangelistic tool as we saw in the example of Jesus talking with this discouraged woman about her life.

Why doesn’t the Lord give more words of knowledge to more believers today? I believe two reasons hinder this. One is disbelief. We don’t expect the Lord to help us and we doubt it when He does. The second is pride. We get can quickly inflated in our ego when God shows us something. As soon as we start getting revelation, we tend to get an exalted opinion of ourselves. We start to feel entitled to a title, and we think just because we heard some secret revelation from God, we must be in the office of a prophet. Wrong! Humility is thus a vital key to advancement in this powerful ministry.

Here are John Paul Jackson’s comments on revelatory gifting….

PROPHETS AND SEERS
By John Paul Jackson

Years ago, I considered anyone who had a revelatory gift to be a "prophet". I no longer believe this. Over the years, I have come into contact with many revelatory styles. I define these styles by the manner in which someone ministers, combined with their own God-given personalities.

During my 20-year tenure, I have observed many gifted revelatory people. I was delighted to discover how radically different they are from one another. Their differences are more than just a broad array of personalities or the way revelation is delivered. How a person receives revelation from God and the type of revelation they receive may vary from person to person.

This makes for quite a potpourri of visual differences when watching how someone ministers or delivers a word from the Lord.

After reflecting on these various types and styles, I have come to understand that there are unique personalities as well as variations in the respective gifts of prophets and seers. Notice that I have not made a value statement, making one gift more valuable than another. Rather, they are two of many expressions within the revelatory arena.

Differences between prophets and seers seem to be more clearly distinguished in the Old Testament. However, the lack of distinction in the New Testament does not necessarily indicate they are the same. Instead, it may simply indicate the writers did not distinguish between prophets and seers, which may reflect a difference between the Hebrew and Greek mind-sets. The Greek language does not seem to recognize a difference between the two titles.

Since the Early Church, many believers in the West have failed to make a distinction between prophets and seers. At some point, the Church also stopped recognizing the title of a seer. In a similar way, they diminished the role of a prophet and failed to note the distinction between prophets and pastors, or even prophets and evangelists. Today, however, these perceptions are rapidly changing in many places around the world.

A STARTING POINT
As a starting point, I would like to suggest using the following three approaches. These steps will lay a biblical foundation for understanding these gifts. First, we need to approach the differences between prophets and seers through translating the original Hebrew words. Second, we need to approach the differences between prophets and seers by looking at the manner in which the titles are used. Third, we need to approach the differences between prophets and seers by looking at those who were given the titles and by trying to ascertain, whether or not their titles indicated differences in their respective functions.

WORD ORIGINS
Perhaps we should begin by looking at some of the Hebrew words translated in Scripture as "prophet" and "seer." The Strong's Concordance translates these as follows:
"SEER" Hebrew (7200, 7203, 2374, 2372)
-- Hebrew 7200: ra'ah, raw-aw'; to see, look, view; to realize, know, consider; to be selected; to become visible, appear, show oneself; to be seen; to cause to see, show; to be shown; to look at each other, meet with; a general word for visual perception.
-- Hebrew 7203: ro'eh, ro-eh'; a seer; vision.
-- Hebrew 2374: Chozeh, kho-zeh'; seer, one who receives a communication from God, with a possible focus that the message had a visual component; agreement.
-- Hebrew 2372: Chazah, khaw-zaw'; to see, to look, observe, gaze, by extension: to choose (one thing or another); to have visions, to prophesy.

"PROPHET" Hebrew (5030, 5012, 5197)
-- Hebrew 5030: nabiy', naw-bee'; a prophet (true or false).
-- Hebrew 5012: naba', naw-baw'; to prophesy, speak as a prophet; prophesy has its focus on encouraging or restoring covenant faithfulness, the telling of future events encourages obedience or warns against disobedience.
-- Hebrew 5197: nataph, naw-taf'; to pour down; gently fall, drip; to (drip words) preach, prophesy.

WORD USAGE
We also need to look at how the words are used. Many use the terms "seer" and "prophet" interchangeably. Furthermore, some believe that seers have not existed since the time of the Prophet Samuel (1150 B.C. - 1010 B.C.). They quote 1 Samuel 9:9: "(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he spoke thus: 'Come, let us go to the seer' for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer)".

However, this is a shortsighted point of view and creates a dilemma: Why does Scripture continue to make a distinction between prophets and seers after the era of Samuel?
I believe that seers and prophets continue to "co-exist" throughout Scripture. Both Gad, the seer, and Nathan, the prophet, served in King David's court (2 Samuel 24:4; 1 Chronicles 29:29). Asaph, the seer, and Isaiah, the prophet, were also contemporaries during King Hezekiah's reign (2 Chronicles 29:30; 2 Kings 20:1).

Therefore, I believe that 1 Samuel 9:9 implies that Samuel moved from functioning as a seer to functioning as a prophet. Or, more likely that Samuel fulfilled both the functions of a seer and a prophet!

In addition, there seems to be a difference even between those who functioned as "seers". In 1 Chronicles 29:29, the word "seer" is used twice, but it is not the same Hebrew word. "Now the acts of Kind David, first and last, indeed they are written in the book of Samuel the seer (7200), in the book of Nathan the prophet (5030), and in the book of Gad the seer (2374)" (1 Chronicles 29:29). Perhaps this indicates a difference in how Samuel and Gad received revelation from God.

Samuel had a wide variety of revelatory experiences, perhaps broader than Gad's. Samuel was gifted in visions, knowings, and dreams. He transcended time and geographic locality to watch events that were occurring simultaneously outside of his immediate geographic location. He knew who was coming to his door before the person arrived. He even predicted weather patterns (1 Samuel 12:17).

In contrast, Gad's revelatory gift was not as well documented. It is possible that he walked in the same level of prophetic gifting as Samuel, but there is no record of this. Scripture indicates that he carried the Lord's rebuke to David for numbering Israel (2 Samuel 24:11-13). He also helped arrange Levitical music (2 Chronicles 9:25), and apparently wrote a history book about David's reign (1 Chronicles 29:29).

Did people go to a seer more than to a prophet? It seemed to be common practice for the people of Israel to look to the seers for direction (1 Samuel 9:6-9). It was also common for them to bring the seer an offering for his livelihood (1 Samuel 9:7). There are also several instances where people went to the prophet for wisdom and direction from God.

In conclusion, prophets and seers still function today, as they did in biblical times. In fact we are seeing a worldwide renaissance in these types of revelatory gifts. Next month, I will offer deeper insights on these dynamic, re-emerging, and mysterious revelatory gifts.

To learn more about prophets and seers, please see John Paul Jackson's 6-tape series, PROPHETIC REFORMATION. You can order it online at http://www.streamsministries.com. Or, by calling our office toll-free (U.S. and Canada): 1-888-441-8080.
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13. QUESTIONS FOR JOHN PAUL JACKSON

QUESTION: Is humility and meekness the same thing?

JOHN PAUL JACKSON: Humility and meekness go hand in hand. Meekness is often overlooked because our focus is more often on trying to be humble. Meekness involves how you respond to others when they think that you are wrong. Meekness is how you lead others when they are totally dependent on you. But the best example of meekness is giving up the right to rule and the right to be right. Daily, the Lord is taking me to a place where I am learning that I don't have a right to be right. This is an attribute that I hope to see the Church grow in. The secret to growing in meekness involves giving up your need to be right. We don't have to be right. We do have to be broken.

QUESTION: I have been facing difficult trials lately. My friends have told me to be encouraged these difficulties are a good sign. Can you explain this to me?

JOHN PAUL JACKSON: Your friends are telling you the truth. This principle is one that is discussed in The Art of Hearing God classes. The depth of your battle is proportionate to the coming anointing you will receive from God. Anointing is basically spiritual influence in a natural world. Therefore, the battle we face actually predicts the coming influence we will walk in after the battle has concluded. What we tend to focus on, however, is the difficulty of the battle. The battle that we overcome creates stronger character that allows us to become better leaders. Therefore, if you don't quit, you win.

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Ron Wood resides in Springdale, Arkansas, is the founder of Touched by Grace Inc. He and his wife, Lana, are parents and grandparents. You may contact him at ron@touchedbygrace.org.

Father's War

2006-08-16T12:15:00.000-05:00

Father’s War
by Ron Wood

Many great dramas have been written or filmed that featured a father standing strong to defend his children. A man unwilling to fight for his family is a phony father and a hollow man.

In the Old Testament, Abraham was a man who displayed traits of good fatherhood long before he actually became a father. When his nephew Lot along with many women and children were captured and carried off, Abraham put together a band of brothers from within his household to rescue them. He had 318 trained men who were ready to follow him into battle. (Genesis 14:13-20)

What made these ordinary workers and ranch hands willing to follow their master on a perilous pursuit? To these men, Abraham was a patriarch. He had treated his servants like sons.

Fatherhood is far more than the act of siring offspring. When God first called Abram, he and Sara were childless. Yet the character of a father, not the act of having fathered children, was what God was looking for. This was the kind of man with whom God could cut a covenant. Why? Because- Abraham’s ways were compatible with God’s ways as a father.

The spirit of fatherhood in Abraham was like a covering that protected those shielded by it. The spirit of fatherhood creates extended family– it adopts. It causes a man to invest resources in those joined to him, to nurture and equip those dependent on him, to save his family or friends from their enemies.

Abraham’s faith was contagious. This motley non-military team that he assembled like a posse believed the impossible, that they could win the battle and rescue their loved ones. True fatherhood creates a culture of faith that has a can-do attitude. Fatherhood is a bulwark against eroded values in a decaying culture. Real fatherhood, the kind that comes from knowing God, faces down fear, refuses to run, and fights for what is right. Fatherhood empowers. A mother may carry a baby for nine months and nurse it for a year, but a father also carries his children… in his heart, forever.

Our God is an eternal Father. He is not like a father... he is a father! The Bible says he is the father of our spirits and, like a good father, he corrects us so we can be partakers of his nature and learn his ways. Our Savior revealed God to us in a new way… our "Father in heaven!"

True fatherhood is displayed in actions, not intentions. Fathers earn respect by their deeds and thus become worthy of honor. It is not a title or an empty office, but a job description, what a man does daily. The apostle Paul said, "You have lots of teachers but few fathers." This is still true. The prophet Malachi quoted the Lord, saying, "If I am a father, where is my honor?" and went on to discuss financial honor through the practice of paying tithes and giving offerings.

God is a good, honorable father. He is not an abusive father. He is not an absent father. He is not a feminized father. God the Father did not come from a dysfunctional family that left him emotionally frozen and distant from his children. He is holy, happy, merciful, reliable, and just. God speaks and keeps his word. He loves us, stays involved in our lives, and disciplines us for our own good. He trains us in right living. He causes us to reap what we sow, yet forgives us when we repent. His kids never go lacking. And God gets angry at his children’s enemies.

God goes to war against any enemy who attempts to rob his children of their inheritance. Jesus is The Prince of Peace, but he can be violent. He doesn’t promote peace at any price. Lasting peace comes when God’s rule impacts our human situation. That happens as people choose to follow God’s word and invite Christ’s kingdom to be present. But not everyone is willing or obedient, are they? Because of the reality of evil and the existence of the devil, all people must be confronted with the kingdom of Christ, the Good News, and the devil’s deceit and oppression must be defeated. That ends all revolt and robbery. To this end, our Father is willing to fight.

The Bible is filled with stories of good people forced to fight. Job fought using prayer. He made intercession for his children regularly, fearing they might have sinned. God said concerning Job that he was a perfect man. David was a solitary psalmist and a gentle shepherd, but he was ready to fight. He protected his family’s sheep by killing the lion and bear, thus preparing himself for overcoming Goliath. Nehemiah the builder called for his people to fight for their families as they returned to the promised land and rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem. God honors men who take a stand against their foes for the welfare of their family.

Whether it is a drug lord invading a peaceful neighborhood, or a political leader with no moral values, or a bureaucrat who takes bribes, or a heartless judge who frees the guilty and fails to protect the innocent, or sly entertainers flaunting their perversion, evil must be withstood by men of courage or else we forfeit the future of our families.

The Lord tells us why he chose Abram, why he elevated him from exalted father to Abraham, father of a multitude. It was because he would be a faithful father to instruct or command his children. God said "I know him... I’ve chosen him." Based on what? The Lord had observed Abraham training his household servants as though they were his family, boldly rescuing Lot, then honoring God with tithes from the plunder. (Genesis 18:19) This shows us that when God chooses someone, he first tests them to prove their faith prior to releasing their blessing.

Abraham’s faith was birthed by God’s gracious choice, not any man’s determination. God can vindicate anyone He chooses, if we respond to his grace with faith that endures. God selected Abraham, approved him through trials, and then gave him a posterity beyond his wildest dreams. God the Father is in the business of selecting and supporting fathers who pass the test. God will fight for fathers when they stand for what is right, confront evil, and defend their children. God is still looking for men who walk in the steps of father Abraham.

Today, vicious enemies have risen up against Abraham’s natural seed, Israel. Our Father in heaven is not passive nor neutral. He is on the side of covenant faithfulness. The three-generation promise that he swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will not be undone. God will keep his word.

Simultaneously, another battle is unfolding behind the scenes. Wicked forces assail the saints and seek to plunder their inheritance. Satan is resisting the spiritual Seed of Abraham, Christ Incorporated, the Church which is his Body. In behalf of us all, God will work wonders again. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will arise and make bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, for the glory of His Son and for the salvation of a multitude.

It is time for the saints to possess -- through prayer and faith -- the kingdom purchased for us by Jesus. It’s time for the power and glory of the kingdom to be displayed.

Considerations and Applications:
1. Being servants in the house where God birthed you is a high calling.
2. Real Fathers in the Faith treat those who serve like sons, not hirelings.
3. Equipping sons in the house is part of your calling, if indeed you are a father.
4. If you depart from fatherhood as did Lot, you will be captured by an alien culture.
5. Everything God does that’s built to last begins with fatherhood.
6. God the Father will fight for Jesus’ birthright: Israel, the saints, the nations.

Father’s War © 2006 by Ron Wood. Write us at ron@touchedbygrace.org. See more material online at touchedbygrace.org. A Ministry of Prophetic Teaching. We are Touched by Grace to Touch the World!

Houses and Fields & Fearless Faith

2005-09-20T07:27:00.000-05:00

These two words are related. Debbie is an experienced prophetic intercessor and a dear friend. She is spear-heading an apostolic war summit for intercessors set for our area with Dale Sides. I’ve asked her permission to share this timely word with you and added my own to it as a one-two punch. Enjoy!

Houses & Fields
By Ron Wood

The Lord gave me a prophetic word recently about the house and the field. In this word, He said “The wisdom of the master-builder can be seen inside the house, but the power of the seed is seen only in the field.” I saw the Lord making a distinction between the house and the field. I knew there was more to this word, so I’ve considered it further and have some thoughts to share.

It’s a mistake to try to make everything happen inside the house. We tend to relegate all the ministries to classrooms, kitchens, and nurseries. These are all in-house duties. Distracted with many chores in the house, we may forget the field outside the door. But the field is where the Lord is looking. Why? Because: the field is where the harvest is found. In this season the Lord is saying, “thrust in the sickle for the harvest is ripe.” It is time to reap. Harvest and judgment coincide in the Lord.

Hosea 6:11 says, “…there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the fortunes of my people.” Listen: You have an appointed harvest from God! This rich blessing will arrive at a time of restoration, not just for you, but for all of God’s people. Where will you find it? Many Christians feel frustrated; many are trying to find some place more satisfying. Does that describe you? The problem may be that you should be exercised in the field, not sitting in a house becoming a spiritual vegetable.

Field work is different from house work. Field work is arduous and dirty. House work is tedious but clean. Both are work, not play. If we were farmers, we would all know that the tough work is done outside in the field, but refreshing comes inside at the table with the family. Both kinds of work are necessary but they are not the same.

Paul wrote about these two types of labor as he described the various efforts of apostles who had teamed up as servants to make the Church at Corinth thrive. He said, “For we are God’s fellow-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” God uses teams composed of incompatible people. Only His yoke keeps them together (ouch!). No one type of ministry can fully equip God’s people. We are designed with built-in deficits. Humbly, we need to admit that we need one another as equal partners in order to finish God’s work.

Some laborers are gifted at building, others are gifted at farming. One labor involves laying a foundation, designing and erecting a structure, and then furnishing it. The other requires locating the right field, planting the right seed, tending it to keep predators or weeds away and finally gathering the crop when it is ripe. At harvest time, intense effort is required. Everyone lends a hand after long periods of being idle. Where do you store the crop? In a nearby barn that is part of a house. The house and the field are meant to be connected, part of the same territory or sphere, part of the same cycle of reproduction.

If you make builders labor outside in the field, you’ll be disappointed with the results. You may have orderly rows, but a lean crop will occur. If you make farmers plow and sow and reap inside the house, you’ll be disappointed with the pitiful potted plants that barely manage to bloom. These workers are different gifts from God with different grace in operation intended to produce different effects. But both are God’s fellow-laborers.

This phrase in the Greek is sun ergo, (together-energy) translated into English as “synergy,” which means “the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.” Teamed up, we produce more than when working alone. Who is our team-mate? God! He is at work both in the house and in the field. In the kingdom, teams are assigned tasks to get a job done. Some workers are stationary. James rarely left Jerusalem. Some workers are mobile. Paul never stayed long in any one place. Houses are rooted in a location. Seed is portable and easily carried to new fields.

Now listen to the wisdom of the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord said, “The power of the seed can only be seen outside in the field.” Sometimes we don’t know what we’ve got until we get it relocated and activated. The miracle of grace erupts as the seed germinates under the right conditions in the right location. Seed, locked up in a sterile environment, produces no crop and never multiplies. Seed is meant to be sown, not stored forever.

The power of the seed is the life of Jesus inside you. Trust in that power! It will be unlocked by your faith as you cry out to him after you are sown into unpleasant circumstances.

Jesus spoke of world as his field and of houses that will either stand or fall. Fields are subject to seasons; houses are not. Seasons must be discerned or they will be missed and the work will be in vain. Houses are subject to fires and storms and winds. Houses go in cycles of generations, not seasons. There is a time to build a house and a time to work in the field. “Do your work first in your field and afterwards build your house.” Don’t jump over the field trying to get to the building stage too soon. Don’t neglect the field or your house will be bare.

Jesus said a man found a treasure hidden in a field and sold all he had to buy it. He didn’t find the treasure in a house—he found it in a field. Likewise, the riches God has intended for his house are first derived from the field. All that is good in the house was discovered first in the field. The wealth that furnishes the house comes from the field if we work it; it is only stored up in the house for the good of the family or to buy more fields to increase the harvest.

Ron Wood
ron@touchedbygrace.org

Fearless Faith
By Debbie Davis

We must get past the fear that tells us we need to wait for permission. It's time to move because you have the Word of the Lord! Many in the Body of Christ are sitting and waiting. But waiting for what? Gifts, talents, and divine empowerments are going unused. How many examples do we see in the Scripture of whole people groups waiting to be delivered? The enemy would love God’s appointed and anointed to just be idle; to sit and wait for a sign. Fear never affects only you; others are waiting for you to overcome your fears and move in faith. Others are depending on what you have been given, so go!!

Jesus Christ put all the keys to spiritual power in our hands to complete the work of the Kingdom. He has given us authority and power to trample on serpents and scorpions, and (physical and mental strength and ability) over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall in any way harm you. (Luke 10:19).

The Lord is assembling an army of valiant warriors. A wake up call is being heard across the land and the army is coming to attention. There has been an unprecedented assault of terror and fear by our enemy. God needs those who will be fearless and full of faith for such a time as this. The Lord is networking the Body of Christ who are like-minded and of a different spirit, those who cannot be stopped by the intimidator! These warriors are uncompromising Army of the Lord who are not interested in fame or fortune but only in hearing and obeying the Captain of the Lord of Hosts.

Fear is always the opposite of faith. It will be the difference between defeat and victory! Fear sets out to strip us of our God-given authority, to dilute the power of God at work in us, to drive us from the love of God. Fear torments the mind and wants to destroy our witness for Jesus. Fear will always keep you in bondage and steal your victory.

The power of fear will render you useless if you allow it to take root. It will keep you stagnant and stunt your spiritual growth. Fear will rob you of being profitable for the kingdom of God. It will stop you from fulfilling your God-given call. It will make you waste your gifts and talents.

I believe we are in a time of divinely anointed exchange. We are being required to look our fears in the face. Do you see it? Can you confront it? Complacency and lethargy are being traded for a willing attitude. God is looking for those who will not be limited or hindered in any way by the spirit of fear. Fear controls; trust liberates. This army will declare, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind."

There is a wooing of the Spirit for us to make a trade: to lay down our former motives based on fear (guarding what you’ve got) and to take up the power of God (going into new uncharted territory). Move past the difficult situations, push through hindering circumstances and yes, even push past the people-- those who’ve been discouraging you-- and move into courage and obedient action. Acknowledge you are ready to do great exploits for the one true God- the one who goes before you!

Debbie Davis (email address: soundthealarmdd@juno.com)

The Killer Storm, The Bitter Pool, & The Prophet's Axe

2005-07-10T11:07:00.000-05:00

The Lord can use insights and incidents to help us understand this
season.

Killer Hurricane Targets Prophets’ Compound
The hurricane named Dennis made landfall Sunday July 10th at Santa
Rosa, the small panhandle beachfront town in Florida that is the base
of ministry of Dr. Bill Hammon and his network of churches. Christian
International has equipped thousands of believers to activate the Holy
Spirit’s wonderful gift of prophecy. Dr. Hammon is himself a prophet of
the Lord.

Consider this as a symbol: the center of the storm’s killer winds were
targeted precisely against the center of the prophetic movement in the
modern church. Was this merely a coincidence? It has happened before…

In Matthew 14, Jesus stayed behind and prayed until the third watch
(3:00AM). What happens after this prayer vigil is the amazing story of
Jesus walking on the water through an intense storm to get to the
disciples’ boat. The storm was trying to kill or delay the disciples
from crossing over. The storm was an enemy of God’s purpose. Perhaps
that’s why Jesus knew he needed extra prayer to penetrate this new
region with kingdom power.

Afterward on the other shore came the most intense spiritual battle
recorded in the gospels, the demoniac from the tombs. Spiritual warfare
scholars believe the man was not influenced by ordinary demons, but was
also in the grip of the strong man or the principality ruling the
region. This evil fallen angel was using this pitiful man as a channel
to paralyze the population with fear. After he was powerfully
delivered, Jesus departed then returned later and was welcomed by the
people. The power of darkness over the region had been broken by Jesus
in a ferocious battle that began in solitary prayer, was manifested in
a vicious storm, and climaxed with a great miracle. It was not enough
to pray, they also had to survive the storm to get to where the need
was. The demonized man was set free and the gospel penetrated a new
region and touched many peoples’ lives. Jesus the healer was on the
scene.

The Bitter Pool Preventing Healing Flow Gets Healed
This morning the Lord showed me and some intercessors the coming flow
of healing waters. But first, I saw that the Bitter Waters have to be
healed. In Exodus 15:22-27, the people had made it out of Egypt by a
three-day’s journey, only to become thirsty due to lack of water and
begin to murmur. At that point they encountered a pool of water but it
was bitter, perhaps poisonous from harsh minerals. The people
complained but Moses prayed.

This is the choice all of us have to make on our journey when we
encounter trials and obstacles that both hurt and hinder. None of us
will be spared the trials of life. We all will be tested. The question
is: What do we do during our trial of faith? Do we discard our hope,
start murmuring and griping, and turn away from following the Lord?
Moses showed us the right response when the pressure increased: he
turned to the Lord in prayer.

The Lord told Moses to toss a tree into the water. This prophetic act
shows us today that the answer to life’s bitter experiences is found in
the Tree of Life, the Cross of Jesus Christ. We will never become so
spiritual that we no longer need to take ourselves back to the cross to
deal with our sinful nature, our unbelief, or our fear. The tree tossed
into the bitter water made it sweet.

In the New Testament, James talked much about what flows out of our
soul: either bitter water or sweet water. He said this ought not to be
(James 3:1-12). When we feel the pressure to sin with our tongue  the
possibility of judging, the chance to exalt our self, the biting word
that contains subtle accusation, the cold love of suspicious slander 
and let that venom flow off our tongue, we show proof that the bitter
pool still has a residue in our soul.

The cure is still the same: the Tree upon which Jesus died to set us
free. He took the curse to give us the blessing. We can’t earn it, only
receive it.

I enjoy what Bible teacher Derek Prince said about this incident. It
not only displayed the cure for life’s bitter experiences (salvation by
the cross), it also introduced a new revelation of God to his people:
he is the Lord our Healer! All of us have ailments, but God is our
Healer. The healing we need the most is invisible to most: inner
healing or emotional healing for our soul.

Unhealthy emotions are a bigger hindrance to the Spirit-filled life
than is the lack of the anointing. It’s the dirty vessel that muddies
the clean flow out of our life in ministry or relationships.

In the light of these truths, the Lord cautioned me today that despite
persevering through our trials and battles, we have to be very careful
not to let out hearts be hardened. The danger is that we start out
with tender hearts but lose intimacy with God and sensitivity to one
another in the heat of battle or the length of the journey. I have a
friend who is a spiritual advisor to me in the Lord, Anita, a dear lady
of mature years and wisdom. She recently underwent abdominal surgery to
repair an old surgical scar. During her recovery she said, “I never
thought it would take this long or be this hard.” Does this describe
what you are feeling?

The Lord showed me Hebrews 3:7-13 which reads, “Therefore the Holy
Spirit says, ‘Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts’…
but encourage one another.”

The condition of our heart is our own responsibility. We make choices
which harden or soften our hearts. For example, the decision to repent
is a choice. The decision to hold a grudge is a choice. The decision to
humble ourselves is a choice. The decision not to trust someone is a
choice. The decision to hear what the Spirit is saying is also a
choice. These choices, done once and never retracted, will affect the
condition of our heart into the foreseeable future.

Failure to hear and respond in faith when God speaks to us is called
“an evil and unbelieving heart” and God’s reaction to willful unbelief
is anger, judgment, and eventually, our disinheritance. The Lord wants
our hearts tenderized and able to love freely, void of imbedded
offenses.

One tool that pours healing salve into our hearts is prophecy. This
gift of the Holy Spirit, more than any other gift, ministers
encouragement to believers. Perhaps that’s why the devil targets
prophets and prophecy so much: he wants Christians to have weak hearts!
So he tries to control prophets with condemnation, or keep them outside
the circle of leadership, or discredit the operation of the gift of
prophecy so it won’t be permitted among the saints.

As I’ve dealt with issues in my own life where my heart needed healing,
and also as I’ve attempted to help others, especially leaders who carry
deep hurts from decades of being wounded while serving God’s house, I
have often tried to be patient and sympathetic sometimes beyond the
degree of mercy God allows. The Lord recently said to me, “My kindness
is revealed in my severity.” He also said to me, “Don’t be more
sympathetic with stubbornness than I am.” God’s cure may seem severe,
but he only hurts us (with truth, in love) in order to heal us.

When a bitter pool is all that we’ve ever drank from, we’re in danger
of becoming a fountain of bitterness. The writer of Hebrews warns us,
“See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of
bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.”
(Heb 12:15 NASB)

The word defiled is a strong word. In the Greek, the original word is
the root word for miasma, an old medical term for a disease
mysteriously spreading on the air. A root of bitterness, once released
through spoken words, spreads inexorably like an airborne plague from
patient to patient until everyone is sick. Once made ill, the only cure
is the biblical application of repentance: the axe has to be laid to
the root. That’s what John the Baptist said he was doing with his
radical preaching (Matt 3:10). The prophet used his ax.

This verse in Hebrews about causing trouble is an instruction to all
believers. Bitterness in one person will have an effect on other
people. This is especially true if the bitterness is coming from
leaders with authority. Pastors of churches as well as all believers
have a responsibility. There is something we are to see to, tend to,
take care of; this issue of bitter hearts.

Bitterness has stages of growth or degrees of infection. Like a plant,
it has a root and it has a shoot. The root of bitterness is at first
invisible, buried beneath the surface. No one knows it is there but the
original carrier, and they’ve covered it over for so long they’ve
forgotten it. The shoot is the first evidence of a sick heart,
bitterness in its early stages, barely discernible to casual contacts,
often manifested as the spirit of rejection or the spirit of control.
The trouble is the evidence of bitterness in its mature stages. Close
contact, especially covenant love, feels it the most keenly.
Relationships split and accusations fly. Trouble multiplies quickly.
The defilement is the end result of this assault from Satan left
unchecked: embittered souls who are no longer of any use to God or man,
the kingdom or the church.

We have a responsibility. We are to see to it that no bitter root is
allowed to remain in us. If you see it, expose it. Only after you see
it can you repent of it and expel it. This scripture also tells us that
it is possible to come short of the grace of God. This is a sobering
realization.

The grace of God, as powerful as it is, can be frustrated by two
things: imposing extra-biblical authority and judging one another with
words of suspicion or accusation. The Bible is quite clear on this:
legalism or criticism grieves the Holy Spirit and nullifies God’s
grace. In an atmosphere of such poison, healing is distant and disease
is common.

The bitter taste in our mouth always has a root cause. It had to come
from somewhere. We had to swallow it for it to be inside us. When did
it happen? Where did it come from? Often we find its source in failed
or dysfunctional families, legalistic churches, injustice, or abuse.
Regardless of its source, the healing water of the Lord’s grace can put
a sweet taste back on our tongue!

By returning to the Lord in repentance and prayer, we find salvation
for our sick souls and freedom from slavery to controlling spirits. Not
only that, but we will witness outbreaks of unforced grace that will
put on display God’s great healing power to the glory of our Risen
Savior. I’ve seen it before and I will see it again. The Lord has even
promised me that creative miracles will occur. Why? Because I’m so
special? Or I have such great faith? Of course not! It is only because
of the loving nature of God- He is our Healer!

The Floating Ax Shows God’s Hand Is At Hand
The final word God gave me today came through a prophetic intercessor
named Lori. She showed me a scripture after I had discussed the Bitter
Pool. She pointed me to 2 Kings 6:1-15. As she showed it to me in her
Bible, amazing insight suddenly gripped my mind.

A company of prophets were growing larger and needing a bigger place to
meet. They asked Elisha, their leader, to go with them. They went to
the river to cut timber for building. One young man’s ax came off the
handle and flew into the water. Dismayed, he cried out, “It was
borrowed!” Elisha tossed a branch into the water and the ax floated up.
The young man put forth his hand and took up the ax.

Here’s the interpretation and prophetic application I saw today. The
place of the prophetic company has become cramped. God is enlarging
their place (space, grace). This is important because prophets are
forerunners and also because they deal with religious idolatry and they
call for repentance to prepare the way for God to build on the cleared
ground. This is no light thing. (Think you are ready to receive
apostles? When was the last time you received a prophet? What did you
do with the word he spoke? If you didn’t receive the prophet, you’re
certainly not ready for apostles.)

The prophetic company moved camp to be near deep water (so deep the ax
was lost). When they moved, they asked Elisha, the Double-Anointed man,
to go with them. He went! That’s good news! They started to cut timber
and build, but resources were slim (it was a borrowed ax). The branch
that was tossed in the water was another sign of the cross of Jesus,
The True Branch (John 15). When Jesus came on the scene, the ax came to
the surface!

Hear this: The ax is being restored into our hand today! If you put an
ax into a prophet’s hand, he (or she) will use it to cut off roots so
dead trees can go ahead and fall. If you put an ax into an apostle’s
hand, he (or she) will cut timber and build with it. Whether warring or
building, whether prophet or apostle, the ax symbolizes tools, Holy
Spirit grace-gifts, to get the job done.

The ax is a sign of supernatural power coming back into high level
operation in the church today not just through foundation ministries
like apostles or prophets, but through believers who will step out in
faith united with Jesus our Lord. In our day, the tools will be paid
for with abundant provisions. The ax is rising to the surface out of
the deep waters of worship. Tomorrow won’t be like yesterday.

Back to the beginning, to Exodus 15:27. When Moses led the children of
Israel forth, after they made it past the Bitter Waters, they came to
Elim. This is significant. It was worth the effort. At this camping
place, they found Twelve springs of water and Seventy date palms. The
next time we see 12 and 70 is when Jesus is Training the Twelve and
Sending the Seventy to heal the sick, drive out devils, and proclaim
the gospel of the kingdom (Luke 9:1; Luke 10:1)

Past our bitter waters of today, what lies ahead? I see apostolic power
to heal and a new season of commissioning new workers. A few years ago
I asked the Lord “Where are we on the time-line of Jesus?” He answered,
“In-between the Training of the Twelve and the Sending of the
Seventy.”

What was that season like in Jesus’ day? It was filled with unbelief,
carnal behavior by young Christians, competition between the young
apostles as to who was the greatest, powerlessness before suffering
humanity shown by their inability to drive out a demon from a
defenseless little boy, and prideful jockeying for position in the
kingdom. Sound familiar?

All this in Luke 9 and 10 while Jesus was praying on the mountain top,
bathed in glory, meeting with Moses and Elijah, being affirmed by the
Father’s voice, then coming down to finish the work of equipping his
infantile apostles for the work he would shortly delegate to them as he
turned and went to the cross.

Jesus has more faith for us, that we’ll make it, than we do for
ourselves.

------------------------------------------------

“The Killer Storm, the Bitter Pool, and the Prophet’s Ax” © 2005 by
Ron Wood, P.O. Box 12749 Wilmington, NC 28405
Write us at ron@touchedbygrace.org
Subscribe or unsubscribe at www.touchedbygrace.org

We are touched by grace to touch the world!

Change Your Position

2005-05-14T11:01:00.000-05:00

Praise Report and Prophetic Insights
By Ron Wood

I want to thank all of you who prayed for us while I ministered in
Eureka Springs, AR. The Lord particularly blessed the meeting with His
anointing. People were delivered from shame, laughing and crying at the
same time while I spoke.

Storming Strongholds
Warfare there has been intense. Many pastors have suffered illness or
divorce. The city is a center for new age paraphernalia and new age
thought. The common mind-set is “many paths to God.” One recent mayor
was a warlock. Yet the youth are ripe for harvest and open to the
gospel. Pray for Pastor Rudy Sanchez as he reaches out to the next
generation in school assemblies and finds future leaders to train. We
will go back there in October to minister again. More intercessors are
now targeting Carroll County and much prayer is focused on that region.
I join with the US Strategic Prayer Network in their work (in Arkansas,
led by Dr. Jay Morse) in praying for that state’s transformation.

Pray for us as we go to South Carolina this next weekend to an area
beset by racism, misguided notions of male headship, and religious
mistrust. We will minister at Larry Hutto’s church, Living Waters
Fellowship, in Barnwell, S.C. Join us on Sunday morning if you can.

Underground River
In Eureka Springs, AR, prophetically, we opened the door for God’s
apostolic government to come in and replace the false spiritual rule of
witchcraft. The occult or witchcraft, whether manifested in secular new
age forms or in religious forms as manipulation, domination,
intimidation, legalism, or control, is simply an illegitimate sphere of
authority attempting to rule an area or a people in the absence of
God’s appointed and anointed government through apostles, prophets, and
elders. (Satan loves a power vacuum.)

I was taken to an auditorium in Eureka Springs where many years ago
Smith Wigglesworth preached and healed the sick. Rudy took me down
below street level, to a door that opens to a rock wall. There, you
could hear the sound of an underground river that flows beneath the
auditorium. I was captured by the sound of the river and the image of
God’s underground river of power, soon to erupt on the surface again!
It was also significant to me that representatives of the John G.
Lake healing ministry, Wayne and Sandy Warmack, were in the meetings.
John Lake was a true apostle, with signs and wonders and spiritual sons
and church plantings, even before we knew how to define such a
ministry.

In the last three weeks, people have told me they have had dreams in
which they saw me and Lana on a stage or in front of a platform with
piles of crutches and wheelchairs from miracles of God’s merciful
healings. Make it so, Lord Jesus!

Jesus is a Listening Bridegroom
The past Sunday, My wife missed Sunday celebration due to an injured
ankle. The senior pastor’s wife was home ill with cancer and weak from
treatment. The guest speaker’s wife was hospitalized with a frightening
and mysterious seizure. God showed me that He is a Husband who feels
the pain of His Bride, and wants her well and strong and beautiful in
grace. The last few weeks, I have been sensing that the Lord is paying
attention to what His body is feeling. This is like the Israelites in
Egypt for 400 years, but the time came when God heard their cry for
deliverance. The Head is noticing that the Body is hurting. What do I
mean by that? There is much frustration in the Body of Christ. Some of
it is due to immaturity or rebellion or ignorance we bring on
ourselves. But most of it is due to the 5-Fold Leadership failing to
perform their assigned task. What is that task? “Equip the saints for
the work of the ministry.” What is the ministry? It is what Jesus
began to do and teach.

Change Your Position
Sunday morning, I sat on a pew and wrote out the words, “Change Your
Position,” while I was waiting to hear missionary church-planter Joe
DiSarno from Cebu, Philippines, speak to us. He came forward and
preached from Genesis 12 and told the story of how God had Abraham
re-locate in order to fulfill his purpose. God wants us to reposition
ourselves in order to be re-provisioned. To be re-provisioned is to
“see ahead by God’s vision” what He has already provided for us to do
the work.

Our position first is in Christ, second is in relationships here on
earth, and third is geographical. The first position is the most
important position. When you “posit something” you state what you
believe to be true. It answers the question, “Where do you stand on
that?” Our most critical stand is by faith based on Jesus’ grace as
revealed in the cross. We are first and foremost, sons of God by faith
in Jesus! The Father has adopted us! I recall recently that the first
revelation God gave to me of Himself to me as a child was that He was
my father! How awesome that self-disclosure of God was to me. The
Spirit of Adoption has been bearing witness to me of how precious that
first revelation was and still is!

God has distributed grace to you already, and we all should be grateful
and not murmur. In the forward to Gene Edward’s classic, “The Prisoner
in the Third Cell,” he says there is a means of “lifting your stature
to a place above that place where formerly you stood.” It involves
receiving and then giving grace. That grace came freely and should be
given away freely also. Law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by
Jesus. The Law has no mercy. It shows us our need of grace. What is
grace like? Look at Jesus! Jesus loves to heal people. Jesus loves to
forgive sins. Jesus loves to show the Father’s mercy. Jesus loves to
gather lost sheep. Jesus loves to antagonize Pharisees and bless
sinners who have lost their way. Jesus loves for His kingdom to come in
power and truth in the midst of a human community being transformed by
grace!

Giving Away the Ministry
About nine months ago, I had a flash of insight in which I pictured in
my minds eye the Lord Jesus shaking His head in dismay and saying, “”My
Five-Fold Leaders have robbed My people of the ministry.” I felt his
heart ache over this issue. This is no small matter. And although it is
a major course-correction for preachers and pastors, it must occur now.
I say to you by the Spirit, the Lord will not tolerate this situation
any longer. The Lord has by-passed his professional clergy in times
gone by, and he won’t hesitate to do it again. Either we start giving
away the ministry, or the ministry we have will start to diminish.
Either we give up control over our “franchise” of the gifts of God, or
we will be set aside as covetous rulers who hoarded the blessings.

Jesus wants everyone to reproduce their ministry and distribute their
gifts of grace, not use them to elevate themselves or protect their
turf. The issue of releasing and blessing is very important. Many
people have been reduced to being spectators and donors rather than
fellow-laborers. I have heard the Lord say, “Everyone must go back to
school.” Get trained, get equipped, so you can be qualified to be
effective and fruitful for the Lord. If where you presently are they
are not equipping you, then change your position. Life is too short to
sit where you are and die.

--------------------------------------

Ron Wood
ron@touchedbygrace.org

Touched By Grace Ministries
P.O. Box 12749
Wilmington, NC 28405

Gold and Glory

2005-05-05T11:00:00.000-05:00

I am passing along to you the following account from Chuck Pierce. It
details a supernatural manifestation of God’s presence among
worshipping, penitent people. I say “penitent,” because only when we
get low and humble ourselves, does God disclose his glory.

I was in a similar supernatural setting among intercessors seeking
God’s intervention in our nation’s election in Waco, Texas, in November
2004. We prostrated ourselves before God to acknowledge his holy
presence. A very strong fragrance of incense suddenly manifested in the
front of the church for about ten minutes. The Lord gave me Rev. 8:3-5
to explain the phenomenon. We had the assurance the election would go
the way God desired.

I was speaking at a prophetic meeting in Arkansas just recently when
the presence of God became so thick it felt like a river’s current
running around my legs. People were obviously responding to God’s
manifest presence with simultaneous laughter and tears. I began to see
that the river of God’s glory, his awesome signs and wonders witnessed
in bygone eras, a river that has been running underground unseen, is
about to erupt again to the surface!

The golden rain which appeared in the Chicago church was a sign. What
does it mean? For one thing, it means that Jesus is worthy of glory,
and in an earthly way, of riches (Rev. 5: 12). God wants money to be
laid at Jesus’ feet. Why? Does God need it? No, he can make more… but
we need to give it as an act of worship and we need to be free of
covetousness or greed.

Gold is precious to men but God has so much of it that heaven’s streets
are paved with it. Gold represents the honor due King Jesus, the
majesty and excellence of his holy and joyous realm. The gold also
symbolizes the end-time transfer of wealth which is being stored up for
the righteous in these last days. This prophetic plunder from the
enemy’s camp is the provision for the righteous to inherit the earth
and to partner with God’s holy prophets and strategic apostles, in
order for the Great Commission to be fulfilled in our day. I believe
the gold is also a sign of a fresh release of heaven’s greatest
treasure, the knowledge of the Lord as revealed in the face of Jesus
Christ, with his gifts of power, revelation, and wisdom.

Gold symbolizes glory. 1 Peter 1:7 says gold is purified by fire and as
such is a symbol of true faith that has stood the test. There are
“degrees of glory” awaiting God’s saints who persevere, according to 1
Peter 4:13. Suffering precedes glory, if we keep the faith of God in a
pure heart. Suffering while abiding in settings of mutual respect for
others is a prerequisite to greater glory being revealed among us (1
Peter 5:1). What degree of glory are you expecting?

Supernatural signs are manifestations of divine grace. They are tokens
of an invisible kingdom becoming momentarily visible. They reveal God
at work as he invades our time-space world to confirm that heaven is
drawing near and his kingdom is at hand. Signs, although spectacular,
do not replace the need for pursuing righteousness, or faithfully
witnessing, or obeying the word of God. They do testify to God’s
kingdom, power, and glory being near and they do help generate faith
and expectancy in God’s people. We need signs and wonders to startle
people from their slumber and to alert us to pay attention to his word.

Signs, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit are like credentials
(Hebrews 2:4) that attest to the authenticity of the person being sent
by God. The credentials being carried by prophets today have been
earned keeping the faith while enduring suffering. They are shields of
gold worn on weathered coats. More than titles that impress mere
people, these badges of authority are recognized by angels (both holy
and unholy) and these agents of heaven’s court are being backed up by
heaven’s resources.

WINDOWS OF HEAVEN OPEN AND GLORY FALLS IN CHICAGO

The Church is in an incredible season of change. I believe we are all
sensing those changes in us and around us. In one of our prayer
meetings at Glory of Zion, at the beginning of December, I saw "great
atmospheric changes in the heavens that would affect the earth realm."
We are hearing about those changes in the natural as well as the
spiritual.

I actually prophesied that over the next four months (beginning in
December) there would be cataclysmic shifts in the heavens and we must
be prepared to shift in the earth realm. I then specifically directed
this word toward California. I traveled to California and declared the
atmosphere would change and they would have unusual weather patterns.

Actually, the tsunami that swept through Southeast Asia occurred during
the first month of this four month time frame. Many people do not
relate what happened on the earth to what was going on in heaven. The
heavens are changing.

I thought an article by Robert Roy Britt on February 18, 2005,
"Brightest Galactic Flash Ever Detected Hits Earth," was very
interesting:

"A huge explosion halfway across the galaxy packed so much power it
briefly altered Earth's upper atmosphere in December, astronomers said
. . .

"The commotion was caused by a special variety of neutron star known as
a magnetar. These fast-spinning, compact stellar corpses -- no larger
than a big city -- create intense magnetic fields that trigger
explosions . . .The blast was 100 times more powerful than any other
similar eruption witnessed . . . No known eruption beyond our solar
system has ever appeared as bright upon arrival. The blast originated
about 50,000 light-years away and was detected Dec. 27 . . .

"Gamma rays are the highest form of radiation on the electromagnetic
spectrum, which includes X-rays, visible light and radio waves too . .
. The Sun is a middle-aged star about 8 light-minutes from us. It's
tantrums, though cosmically pitiful compared to the magnetar explosion,
routinely squish Earth's protective magnetic field and alter our
atmosphere, lighting up the night sky with colorful lights called
aurora . . .

"A similar [magnetar] blast within 10 light-years of Earth 'would
destroy the ozone layer,' according to a CFA statement, 'causing abrupt
climate change and mass extinctions due to increased radiation.'"

(www.space.com/scienceastronomy/
bright_flash_050218.html)

This is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.

Scientifically, there is no clear correlation between the tsunami and
galactic flash hitting the earth. However, it's important to understand
that the heavens and earth are changing, and the atmosphere of earth is
changing rapidly in the natural. As we intensify our seeking of the
Lord, not only will passion increase, but we will also understand that
the heavenlies are coming closer and invading the earth. We are
entering a supernatural dimension.

ONCE HEAVEN HAS TOUCHED OUR LIVES

A very interesting supernatural phenomenon happened while I was
ministering with Robert Stearns this past weekend in Bolingbrook,
Illinois. Robert is a well-known worship leader and prophetic minister
in the Body of Christ. (Many of you know Robert was one of the leaders
who called the Body of Christ to pray for the peace of Jerusalem last
October. This connected over 70,000 churches.) He, JoAnn McFatter, and
I were ministering in a conference near Chicago called "Open the
Gates." Last year I knew God was saying that Chicago was one of the
cities He was focused on in our nation.

I ministered last Thursday night on the changes that are coming into
the earth. I spoke from John 2 on the changing of the water to wine at
Cana and how this began the Lord's ministry of miracles, the disciples
believing in a new way, and glory manifesting in the earth realm for
individuals to see.

I then went to John 5. This is where Jesus came again to Cana. The word
says:

"Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He made the water into wine.
A certain nobleman approached Him there asking Him to heal his son, who
was in Capernaum."

I began to declare that God was coming AGAIN to places and people He
had visited before to fulfill purposes that had never been fully
fulfilled. This was Jesus' second sign in the earth realm. I actually
believe that once the heavens have penetrated our lives and the
atmosphere of the territories of the earth, that they are more easily
penetrated AGAIN.

"THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN OPENED AND GOLD BEGAN TO SNOW DOWN UPON US"

The next morning I spoke on the times and seasons and how sound was
invading the earth. That afternoon the conference concentrated on the
watchman anointing in relationship to Israel. On Friday night Robert
and the team from Eagles Wings began to lead worship. If you have never
been in a meeting with this group, then you have missed an incredible
dimension of corporate worship. I would encourage you to be a part of
their future gatherings. Robert Stearns can guide a group into the
heavenlies in a very peculiar way. His incredible ability to produce
songs on the piano and lead a team in corporate ascension is amazing.
JoAnn McFatter can sing and express what heaven looks like and the
activity that is occurring.

While we were worshiping, there was an awesome presence of God, and
Robert invited people to come to the altar to repent (or change their
minds). As people began to come forward, the atmosphere electrified in
the venue, Living Water Community Church, pastored by Ken Hansen. JoAnn
began to sing from Psalm 133 about the dew of heaven coming down in the
midst of unity. I believe unity occurs when we are in an environment
where we are one with the Lord. Unity is not all of us simply getting
together. Nor is unity all leaders thinking the same way. Unity occurs
when God ordains a time frame to meet with Him and we are all in one
accord.

I do not say this lightly: THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN OPENED AND GOLD BEGAN
TO SNOW DOWN UPON US. The person behind me began to yell, "There is
gold falling from heaven!" I have been in places where gold was
manifested -- it was in teeth or on people's hands and clothes. This
was different! This was as if we were in a gold snowstorm. The gold had
a wet type of feeling but did not seem to rest on the people. Rather,
it flooded and filled the atmosphere. The gold was penetrable instead
of just physical. This went on for 20 minutes. Then the atmosphere
became fully clear.

The presence of God was so strong that you were either expressing
yourself in weeping or in awe -- on your face, on your knees, or some
posture of reverence. However you were expressing yourself, the awe of
God was being heard in the people, the instruments, and the worship
leading. The Glory of God had entered in from the heavenly window and
was pouring like the dew of Hermon down upon us. The people truly
entered into the joy of God coming again.

THIS IS THE YEAR OF "SAMEKH"

This is a year of the open window of heaven. As I have written, this is
a year of the HEI of God. The Hebrew letter HEI looks like a window.
When studying this word, both wind and sound blow from heaven through
the window into the earth realm to bring change. Declare that you are
willing to change and watch your atmosphere begin to be filled with
God's presence. God does not produce signs and wonders from heaven as
ends in themselves. They are released to bring faith to His people and
those around them -- whether believers or unbelievers.

This is the year of the SAMEKH of God, or things coming full circle.
This is the year to break old cycles. Ask the Lord to come again and
break you out of old cycles. Ask Him to allow you to experience His
Glory so your faith will explode. Come, Lord Jesus! May you enter into
the fullness of this year of Samekh Hei!

Chuck D. Pierce
www.glory-of-zion.org

Where is the Lord God of Elijah?

2005-02-07T11:58:00.000-05:00

This word is by a prophetic prayer warrior who often gains accurate
insights by the Spirit of Jesus. I’ve learned to pay attention to what
the Spiritshows her and to trust the prayer-agenda she frequently
carries. I particularly like this word and can relate to it personally
in this season of conflict so I wanted to share it with you. Enjoy!

Ron Wood, President
Touched By Grace Ministries

Where is the Lord God of Elijah?
By Debbie Davis

I believe the prophets and those prophetically gifted are about to
receive increase and are now in the place of war over new mantles and
increased authority. You may have been sensing intense opposition,
discouragement or frustration and even had desires to quit. I have
learned that when I get in this season of discouragement and
frustration, it is usually an attack on the prophetic gift and sent to
distract me from prayer, prophecy and intercession. I encourage you to
press in to hear the Word of the Lord, to see what He would promise in
this season and to activate what you have been shown. Wait patiently
before the Lord. He wants to release revelation and strategy in an
increased measure. Don’t give up. We are going somewhere!

There is beginning to be a release of seeing and hearing by the Spirit
that surpasses anything we have experienced. Many who are prophetically
gifted have recently had physical problems in the area of eyesight or
hearing. It is an attack in the physical to what God is getting ready
to do in the spiritual. Ask and believe for the seer's anointing.
Yahweh wants us to hear
with precision, to clearly see His purpose, His plans, His revelations
and His strategies. He wants us to see beyond the natural into the
supernatural. He desires to move us into increased power and authority
which requires increased prayer time, faith and complete obedience.

There is a process to mature us. We are a progressive work. Don't
become weary in the process. The Word of God tells us that we are being
changed from glory to glory, being transformed into His image. We are
being trained to reign, learning to be over-comers, and rising to the
call to be more than conquerors. We have tests and trials, and possibly
scars to show that we are
in a process. We are enduring that which is designed to build godly
character. God is about to raise up and set in place more prophets who
have been in training and have submitted to the building of their
character. These will come out to confront sin, idolatry, corruption,
and even the corrupt religious systems.

God is awakening watchmen in this hour. There is a release of the
seer’s anointing and the call to watch is being issued. Because Elijah
waited in prayer and communed with God, he was able to see what God was
going to do. He spoke with expectation that God would perform His
word! Elijah was sensitive to the timing of the Lord God. The watchmen
are getting ready to see more clearly than ever before, but they must
be prepared to go forth in a pure obedience with what they have seen
and heard. God wants us to see as He sees and use it to advance His
Kingdom on the earth. He wants us to be prepared by spending time in
prayer and fellowship with the Almighty. The watchman has the ability
to see approaching trouble and bring warning. The true condition of the
church is about to be unveiled to prophetic intercessors and prophets.

The watchmen are to hear what God is saying and speak whatever He
commands them to speak. They are to see what is coming, to warn both
the wicked and the righteous of sin, and to call people to repentance
(Isaiah 62:6-7). God will use His holy watchmen to wake up His people
and to cleanse the house of God.

Judgment always begins in the house of God because we are to be an
example to the lost and dying world. A cleansing fire is about to be
released again. This fire will make the way for the signs and wonders,
the miracles, and the power of God to return to the Body of Christ.
This is a time when the true prophets of God will emerge and shine.
They will not compromise! These will
deal with idolatry, with sin, and with pollution. Study how Yahweh used
Ezekiel. Read Ezekiel Chapters 1 through 36 to get a deeper
understanding of what type of prophet I am referring to. They will not
be moved by the opinion of man, by the hardness of men’s hearts, or by
fears but they will only operate in pure obedience to their God.

We live in a society that is spiritually deaf. We have surpassed Sodom
and Gomorrah and the Days of Noah with our wickedness. Sin goes
unacknowledged and permeates society from the old to the young. Where
is the Lord God of Elijah? Well, where are the prophets who will
confront sin and wickedness? Who will destroy idolatry? Who will take
on the spirit of Jezebel and the corrupt religious systems so that the
power of God will fall on the church? Come out of the cave. It is time
for some Mount Carmel showdowns.

The refiner’s fire is coming again to the church. The fire of Holy
Spirit is coming to burn out impurities. The Spirit of Truth is coming
like never before. The hidden will be exposed; and the covered will be
uncovered. Get ready. This is to prepare us for the unleashing of the
supernatural back into God’s people. The power gifts will be restored
to the true believers. No longer will people be able to call
themselves Christians and not represent the one true God. You will
suffer if you call yourself a Christian and continue in adultery,
pornography, lusts of the flesh, or other sinful selfish practices. We
owe it to Our Beloved to be the glorious church, the spotless bride
(Ephesians 5:26-27).

The early church was powerful because they practiced what they
preached. They were not tied up with meetings on doctrines, theories,
ideas or man's methods. The apostles did not set up meetings to explain
the experience of the upper room. They didn’t debate the speaking of
tongues on the day of Pentecost. They were more interested in the power
they had experienced and
the fact that they were equipped to do the works of God. After they
experienced this move of Holy Spirit, they went to heal the sick, cast
out demons, and to see souls saved. They were busy doing the work God
had called them to do. They went from house to house spreading the word
of God and doing what He called them to do. God wants action. The day
of staying in the safe confines of the church building is about to come
to an end.

God is about to give honor where honor is due (Romans 13:7). To exalt
those who have humbled themselves and bring low those who are proud. We
are to honor those in authority but not be controlled by man. It will
be dangerous in this season to put any man on a pedestal. God is the
only one we worship. Jesus set the example of the relationship with
the apostles by living WITH them not above them or separate from them.
We should be comfortable around those who lead us. If you are fearful
of those you serve under there is a problem. God is dealing with Fear
of man and the man pleasing spirit in a big way. The only fear we can
afford to have now is The Fear of the Lord!

Holy Spirit is preparing us for more. God wants to advance us into that
place of exercising our gifts with power and great faith, expecting Him
to move. We need to press in to see the move of Holy Spirit like never
before and to see Yahweh’s power unleashed again. Signs and wonders,
miracles, words of knowledge, etc.

The reason we are feeling opposition so strongly is because increase is
very close. The voice of the prophet is going to be heard. God is
dealing with the hearts of many leaders who have rejected or neglected
the prophets. True apostles will seek out the prophet and honor them.
The five fold will be established and in operation before the power
will return to the church. This is God’s order. Church government is
about to change. Pray for and command the church to wake up and to
repent. Make declaration, proclamation, speak faith, go to war. We have
to deal with lukewarm ness. Cry out for passion for Jesus and
everything He represents! The Laodicean church thought they had need of
nothing! They were half-hearted about the things of God and their
commitment to Him because they had worldly goods. Repent for lukewarm
ness, complacency, hypocrisy, coldness, immorality, profanity and
worldliness.

God’s power will be operating through those who have made a commitment
to Holiness. He is looking again for those who are wholehearted with
commitment to Him and are free from selfish motives. Many want God to
move but have selfish motives. The fire that is coming to the church
will separate the true from the false. It will separate the
hypocritical, lukewarm Christian
from the true follower of Jesus Christ. God is looking for the prophets
who will turn the hearts of God’s people back to Him. These prophets
will be about true Holiness and they will expose the imitation and the
false. This will make way for the glory of the Lord. The call to
repentance is being issued again.

God is speaking today loud and clear. He speaks through His word, His
Spirit and His prophets. He wants to use the prophets in this hour to
prepare the church for His Second Coming and to release the church into
her destiny. These prophets will call for change, and for shifting.
They will exhort, warn, command, rebuke, encourage and correct in the
love and because of the
love of Jesus. They will not be man pleasers but will be bold to press
past man’s reward system, popularity, position, titles or man’s
acceptance. This will release the people to see the true condition of
their hearts by bringing forth the Word of the Lord.

Prepare to receive a new prophetic mantle. Are you ready to confront
corruption and deception? Can you be used to expose sin, pray for the
spiritually blind and deaf, break man’s traditions and false doctrines?
Without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews12: 14). Are you
prepared to stand against the powers of darkness that have been used to
war against the church? Can Yahweh use you for restoration and revival?
Can God use you to be a prophetic voice that cries for change? This
calls for a bold people filled with courage because they are hearing
the Word of the Lord and have hearts of obedience.

We have the choice in this season to become like Eli or like Samuel.
Nathan had to confront a King. We have to be willing to speak about the
true condition of the church. Remembering always, God looks at the
heart. When we acknowledge there is a problem then we can pray
concerning the solution. God is getting ready to shake the old, the
dead, and the dry in order to bring
in the new, the alive, the refreshing. We have to operate in the fear
of the Lord and move with passion for Jesus and compassion for the
lost. God is about to turn the eyes of the church off of themselves and
back to Him and those who need Him. God wants to prepare the church for
what is ahead and to get us on a secure foundation…Him! Remember 2
Timothy 3:1, there will be tough times ahead. We have to examine
ourselves and make sure we are not the people mentioned in 2 Timothy
3:1-5 but be the Isaiah 61 people of God.

Let us become the people that declare as Elijah did, "Lord God of
Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou God
in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these
things at thy word." Elijah was not concerned about pleasing people or
proving his power as a prophet. He wanted to display the power of God
and see His glory manifested
to show He is the all-powerful God.

After the altar of the Lord was restored, the fire of God fell from
heaven to consume the sacrifice. Elijah had prepared the altar in a
fashion that God’s power could not be denied. Everything was consumed.
The supernatural power of God was displayed for the unbeliever. The
response was then and now will be, "The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He
is God."

Can you agree in prayer with me for the Spirit of Elijah and for the
rebuilding of the Altar of God?
1. Worldliness to be exposed and dealt with and a standard of holiness
raised up
2. The fear of the Lord to replace the fear of man
3. Dependence of God instead of leaning on the arm of the flesh
4. Worship in Spirit and in Truth; move past spectatorship and
entertainment
5. Die to self and self-centeredness
6. A new burden, passion for the unsaved
7. Passion to replace complacency
8. Show us where we have been half-hearted; replace it with true
dedication
9. 100% obedience instead of partial obedience
10. Hatred for sin and the ability to not compromise
11. Humility instead of pride and self-exaltation
12. Unselfishness and a servant's heart
13. The Spirit of Elijah to confront the Spirit of Jezebel

Where is the Lord God of Elijah? Could He be waiting on the prophets
who will be bold enough to call down fire from heaven? Could He be
calling out the Elijahs, the Samuels, the Nathans for today’s
generation? Ask!

---------------------------------------------

Debbie Davis, January 31, 2005. Debbie leads the intercessory prayer
team at The Rock in Wilmington, NC, led by Pastor Ron McGee. She can be
reached by email at soundthealarmdd@juno.com.

Touched By Grace Ministries, P.O. Box 12749, Wilmington, NC 28405,
www.touchedbygrace.org.

Feel free to forward this to your friends. To subscribe or unsubscribe,
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America's Josiah Season

2004-11-09T11:29:00.000-05:00

Two days after the U.S. election, the Lord twice gave me a Scripture
which has two layers of prophetic application. Many Americans prayed in
desperation for mercy for America and for God’s will to be done in the
selection of our president.

“Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the Lord
when you heard what I spoke… I truly have heard you…” (2 Kings 22:19
NAS) These are the words of a simple prophetess spoken to a repentant
king.

Josiah was the king of Judah when the book of the law was found in the
house of the Lord. Due to tremendous apostasy and gross idolatry, great
moral confusion had gripped the culture and unimaginable neglect of
God’s ways had become the norm in Israel.

Financial House in Order
From his youth, Josiah walked in the ways of David. In his tenth year
of reign (he was only 18 years old) he started setting “things in
order” by turning offerings over to the workmen repairing the house of
the Lord. He said, “No accounting shall be made with them… for they
deal faithfully.” He delegated the work and released dedicated funds.

Financial reform is more than just reducing the national debt, or
wisely using welfare, or governments eliminating roadblocks to small
business, but it includes religious affairs as well. In the kingdom of
God, we are seeing a return to entrustment of large sums to missional
ministry teams led by pioneering catalytic leaders who implement
effective transformations. These leaders can be trusted with financial
responsibility due to their personal integrity and their proven track
record of honest dealings. We need to take a lesson from Josiah: get
the funds into the hands of people who can do the work, then get out of
their way.

Financial reform started a spiritual reformation, for in the process of
doing their job, they discovered the Scriptures. As Derek Prince used
to say, “You treat God the same way you treat your Bible.” In other
words, we relate to God the same way as we relate to His word: either
respect it and obey it, or neglect it and thus despise God’s rule in
our lives.

Josiah’s response to God’s Word was to humble his soul, tear his
clothes, and seek the Lord. He repented for how ignorant and how wrong
they had been. Huldah the prophetess answered the king and interpreted
the times for Josiah. She revealed God’s heart and showed how the Lord
had been watching Josiah’s reaction to His written word.

Respect the Scriptures
Josiah gathered the people and read them their sacred Scriptures.
Josiah began to lead them in a process of national reformation. They
tore down their high places, halted gross immorality, desecrated and
destroyed the altars to alien gods, cleansed their land of defilement,
and reinstituted the true worship of Jehovah. It is hard for us to
imagine the depth of depravity their culture had embraced.

Great blessing and prosperity accompanied these reforms. This is always
the case when the salt and light of God’s superior society by living
and upholding God’s wisdom and God’s ways as shown in the Bible is
injected into any culture. Much later, Josiah foolishly went to battle
with an Egyptian force and was killed in an unnecessary engagement.
Perhaps the pride of success had gone to his head. But regardless, he
had served his generation in an honorable way.

The righteous judgments that were due to Judah as a nation were
forestalled for a generation due to the courageous leadership of a
great reformer. Josiah took advantage of a season of a revival of
values to institute necessary reforms to forestall divine wrath.

By turning to the word of God in repentance and by pursuing what was
right (this is faith in action), they preserved the kingdom and blessed
the people. In the next generation, sadly, leaders once again turned
back to a failed policy of wickedness, immorality, and idolatry. They
departed from God’s truth and disrespected the consequences of sin. The
nation of Judah became terribly oppressed and was then finally carried
away into captivity.

God indeed deals with nations, not just individuals. Nations, like
individuals, have divine destinies (prophetically envisioned
opportunities) that can be achieved or thwarted.

As Josiah went about his process of reforming Judah, he deliberately
destroyed the unholy places which had corrupted his nation. In a free
society, sinful people will build idols or create institutions or
foster movements that are like smokestacks streaming pollutants into
the air. These strongholds of sin are often defended by foolish people
in the name of liberty or personal rights. In America, some of these
smokestacks are labeled “media.” They are often sources of lies and
deceit: casting spells, belching accusations.

On one campaign, Josiah encountered a memorial. Was it a place of false
worship? He asked, “What is this monument I see?” The men of the city
told him, “It is the grave of the man of God who… proclaimed these
things which you have done against the altar of Bethel.” (23:17) Josiah
determined not to desecrate the burial site of the prophets who had
spoken against idolatry, saying, “Let no one disturb his bones.”

The Bones of the Prophets
The bones of the prophets lead us to the second warning. When God gives
a word concerning evil powers or wicked forces that are infecting our
religious or national culture, spokesmen who are hearing and declaring
God’s word, the Lord’s agents of change, need to be very careful. They
need to be humble and careful to fully obey.

Many a hillside is littered with the bones of the prophets. It makes
the soil crusty and hard to plow.

Jokingly, I used to say whenever I saw an old-fashioned country church
surrounded by a cemetery with the graves of parishioners, “Those are
the graves of the pastors they stoned.” Some of that is undoubtedly
true. Religious demons can inflame people to act like the devil. But
the burial plot Josiah uncovered wasn’t of prophets who had been killed
by the people, but prophets who had only partially obeyed the Lord and
were subsequently killed by God.

Any time a prophet is sent by God and has an assignment to take on,
address, or confront an idol, a throne, a principality, or a dominion,
or is told to rebuke a demonic horde which has become incarnate in a
human being who has authority over people (perhaps a dictator), that
prophet is walking into a dangerous place with a very specific mission
with narrow parameters of safety. Picture Elijah as he confronted Ahab
and Jezebel.

The only safe place for prophets of war is a posture of total obedience
from start to finish. Not all prophets are called to engage in such
front-line skirmishes. If they do, they need to be aligned with God’s
generals, apostles of transformation, and they need to be covered by a
shield of intercessors.

The modern Josiahs and the prophets who precede them (or accompany
them) are agents of God’s kingdom helping the redemption of Christ move
from the cross into the culture, beyond individual salvation to
affecting degrees of transformation among the nations.

Sunday, I had a vision of Christ on the cross looking down at potential
leaders being gathered for “investment” by His mantle. We had just
heard of young ministers in Greece being prepared to plant churches and
gospel schools in Iraq. I had just read of Chinese house church leaders
sending out missionaries to the Middle East in a “Back to Jerusalem”
movement. I thought of the Scripture, “He stood and surveyed the earth;
He looked and startled the nations.” (Habakkuk 3:6 NAS)

The eyes of the Lord are still searching for those whose hearts are
toward Him. He is still watching to see who will respond with
conviction when they hear His word. He is looking from the cross for
those who are unafraid of death in order to release life for the
nations to be saved.

---------------------------------------------

© 2004 by Ron Wood, Touched by Grace Ministry, P.O. Box 12749,
Wilmington, NC 28405 USA. Permission to copy provided content and
byline are intact. For more resources, visit www.touchedbygrace.org.
Write us at ron@touchedbygrace.org.

Captains of Thousands

2004-10-31T11:28:00.000-05:00

I awoke with a dream of thousands of men—mobilized men—gathering in
force with the same enthusiastic passion like men display when their
favorite team is winning in a sports stadium. I saw someone pointing
out three men as they entered an elevator and I heard him say about
them with pride, “Those men are Captains of Thousands. The older man is
only 40 and his team has 50,000 men; the younger man is 35 and he has
4,000; the youngest is only thirty and he already has a thousand.”

I thought, “What teams? Captains of what?” Then insight came to me.
This was the Lord’s call for men to join up as soldiers in his army, to
battle and to win the holy war of Jesus against sin, the devil, and
their own frail flesh. It is a daily battle any man can wage from any
arena, and he doesn’t have to quit his daytime job to do it. It is a
prayer-war!

The Bible says, “I want men to pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands
without wrath or dissension.” Men have great power…when they pray.
This is especially true if they pray after dealing with their issues of
anger or divisiveness. And what man is there, if he’s got any drive or
sense of dignity, hasn’t had some occasion to stumble in these areas?
Satan knows this, so he uses a variety of attacks to keep us men from
praying effectively.

If we deal with our sin first, then our hands can be lifted up in
prayer or praise without shame. Faith in Christ to save us and faith in
Christ to cleanse us when we confess our sins gives us confidence to
pray. Our uplifted hands or our raised voices can become mighty
anointed weapons of nation-shaking life-changing prayer!

The Bible says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much.” Two questions occur: Are we righteous? Are we praying
fervently? Realize: prayer can accomplish many good things…if. Yes, we
are righteous, if we are trusting in Jesus. That’s justification by
faith, and it is a gift of grace. And, yes, we are righteous, if we
have confessed and forsaken any sin that shames us. That’s simply
living right based on obeying God’s word. That’s how simple it is.
That’s how God qualifies us to become prayer warriors.

If prayer is so powerful, then how do we deploy it for maximum effect?

Then an idea flashed into my mind as a tactic for men to use. How can
we pray when we are all so busy, especially if we want to harmonize
with other praying men? Well, let me ask you: Have you ever made a cell
phone call while you were driving in your car? On during your lunch
break?

One of the secrets to effective prayer is what Jesus described in
Matthew 18:19. I call it, “the power of small numbers.” He revealed
this secret about prayer when He said, “If two of you agree together in
my name…” The secret to powerful prayer is not in giant gatherings, but
in small agreements. Like a tiny mustard seed, it can grow to have a
huge effect.

I saw men in my dream using modern technology-- cell phones-- to
connect with other men, then sometimes using three-way-calling to bring
a third man on line. These three men could pray one after the other on
the phone, using short one-sentence prayers which the other men could
say “amen” to. That is simply the “prayer of agreement.” There is
nothing more powerful in God’s arsenal, except perhaps fasting coupled
with prayer.

In my dream, these men prayed for three things: 1) for Christ’s kingdom
to advance through the gospel; 2) for the blessings of God to prosper
their business; 3) and for their family members to be equipped to fill
the earth with a new generation of leaders.

I heard the Lord’s heart as He said to us men like a coach challenging
his team during the championship season, “Take back what Adam
forfeited. Fill the earth with the seed of the righteous. Regain
dominion in the name of My Son. Believe in what I’ve told you. Claim
the inheritance I’ve promised you. This land is your land. Give glory
to the Coming King who has redeemed mankind with His blood.”

If we prayed three times a day like Daniel did, we could easily create
a network of thousands who unite in prayer. One man calls three, then
those three men can call three, then those three can call three, etc.
It multiplies without effort! We can make one call in the morning, one
at noon, and one in the evening. We can connect with 2 or 3 men each
time, and each time we do it we can extend a network of prayer.
Mobilized men using mobile telephones, elevating their issues to an
agenda of prayer, boldly asking in faith for God’s will to be done on
the earth and in their families and their work.

What if every man who loves Jesus simply called his friends in order to
pray on the phone together for our nation and prayed for the right
people to be elected? What if they in turn did it with their contact
list? I’ve done this myself for years: long-distance praying with my
partners in the work of Christ. Touch base, then pray.

We can use our cell phone to create prayer-cells! We can multiply the
power of small numbers by each one calling one, and so on, and so on,
until we have tens of thousands in our down-line and heaven takes
notice and calls us, “Captains of Thousands.”

--------------------------------------------

© 2004 by Ron Wood, President of Touched by Grace, PO. Box 12749,
Wilmington, NC 28405. Visit us at www.touchedbygrace.org. We are
touched by grace to touch the world! You may freely copy and share this
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Lord of the Breakthroughs!

2004-08-30T10:24:00.000-05:00

Our nation stands in need of a moral rebirth. Leadership seems
assaulted on every side, as though anarchy were desirable above any
government. Our personal lives or our ministries may seem filled with
frustration. The Church seems caught midway between revival and
restoration, or a return to religious irrelevancy. Indeed, this is a
day to seek the Lord.

The Lord spoke to some of us in worship just a short while ago that a
breakthrough was imminent, that the day of the release of the Lord from
our constraints was near at hand.

To illustrate this, picture a powerful, fearless horse that has been
hobbled. Capable of great strides, possessing amazing speed, yet
virtually immobilized by simple loops of weak rope tied around its
ankles.

A hobbled horse is impotent. But God promises to loose their power:
“For the Lord of hosts (armies) has visited His flock…And will make
them like His majestic horse in battle…” (Zech. 10:3 NAS)

In order to use his God-given strength, a war horse has to be
un-hobbled. He needs a breakthrough so he can break out and break forth
and run the race.

When I heard this word, “breakthrough,” intercessors had already heard
it. Prophetic worshippers zeroed in on it next. I simply caught the
persistent highlights of the Holy Spirit’s word to the church. “He who
has an ear, let him hear what the Sprit says to the churches.” (Rev.
2:17 NAS)

Later, the Lord presented this same word to us again, only now in the
sense of finishing what had already been started. Prophetic
intercessors were told: Pray through for your Breakthrough!

You may never have heard the expression, “I’ve prayed through about
it.” Older saints know what this is. I used to hear my mother use this
expression a lot. When you’ve done it, you know it. It means to press
your case in prayer, to not let up, to not give up, until you have the
inward assurance from the Lord that you have been heard on high. John
said “And if we know that He hears us, we know we have the requests
which we have asked from Him.” (1 John 5:15 NAS)

You’ve prayed through when you know you have the answer, when you know
your cry has been heard in heaven.

Why do we need to pray for something that God has already promised? In
the natural, it doesn’t make sense, does it? But in the kingdom of God,
we are co-laborers with the Lord. This is the great mystery and also
the great privilege of prayer. God’s will is only potential until it is
activated on earth by our obedience and by our faith. Therefore, to be
able to hear the Spirit’s prompting and pray God’s agenda into reality
is vital to our success.

For me, one of the questions is how to know what is my part versus
knowing what is God’s part. What will God do? What do I have to do? As
we mature in the Lord, this balance can change and may require more
discernment.

In Ezekiel 36:37 God says, “This also I will let the House of Israel
ask Me to do for them…” Yet God had already promised to do it ten
times, saying in the preceding verses, “I will…” Why is this? We play
an important role in advancing God’s kingdom. God’s will and our will
must line up, first in prayer, and then in our obedience of faith.

There is genuine power associated with following up on prophetic
promises. There is a big difference between praying to discover God’s
will and praying fervently for God’s will to be done on earth once His
will is revealed to us. Once we know God’s will, it is rebellious for
us to pray a weak or uncertain “if it be Thy will” kind of a prayer.

When the Spirit of God speaks forth the heart and mind of the Lord (and
that will always line up with the Bible), we know what the will of God
is. Then we have to act on what we’ve heard. We can realize we’ve been
authorized to petition the Lord for this very thing. We can pray with
confidence!

Knowing God’s will, we are energized by the Praying Spirit to resist
Satan’s discouragements and his robberies. By faith, we can be
confident and persistent in pressing our claim by both private and
corporate prayer. (Never forget the power of small groups!) We can
prevail in our battle by using the spiritual weapon of praise. We can
exercise powerful agreement by harmonizing with the Scriptures and by
agreeing with prophetic declarations as they are spoken to the church.

When I heard this word from the Lord, I immediately thought of the
occasion when King David had been installed and yet vicious new enemies
rose up to destroy him. This insightful story is found in 2 Samuel 5.
This is an amazing analogy and illustration of coming to power to lead
God’s people in a kingdom dynamic amidst great conflict.

David was a shepherd who served his father. After being chosen by God
and anointed by a prophet, he was harassed and chased by Saul for
years, yet he kept his integrity and upheld his honor toward authority
even when it mistreated him. Finally, he ruled over Judah for 7 years
and was then anointed by Israel as king for another 33 years. He was a
type of Christ in these matters. He also is a type (O. T. symbol or
shadow of a N. T. reality) of New Testament apostolic team development,
warring with the help of mighty men and prophets and using prayer and
praise and worship to win battles.

After David consolidated his victory and took the stronghold of Zion at
Jerusalem, a last great assault came against him from the Philistines
(modern term: Palestinians) in an effort by Satan to resist God’s
kingdom being established over His people and thus blessing them in
their inheritance in the land.

Look at David’s tactics in order to engage the enemy: he inquired of
the Lord (vs. 19), he acted on what he heard (vs. 20), and then God
gave him a mighty break-through! In fact, David named that place of
battle Baal-Perazim, “Master of the Breakthrough.”

Do you need a breakthrough? Then do something extraordinary! Add
fasting to your prayer. Get up earlier to pray more. Schedule private
prayer three times a day: morning, noon, and night. Meet up with a
prayer partner and agree together concerning key issues. Let your heart
become broken over the matter so that your tears are mingled with your
prayers. Pray according to Matthew 7:7- Ask, Seek, Knock.

What area have you felt hobbled in? In what areas have you felt defeat,
humiliation, confusion, delays, and frustration? Where the land is
being contested by the devil, our inheritance is likely buried. Here
lies the victory, if we hold on to our title-deed.

Hold on to your faith by choosing to believe what God has said. Let the
fire test your faith. If we keep our heart right and guard it from
wicked attitudes and feed our faith even when we are mistreated, if we
press the battle against the enemy and don’t become passive or pinned
down to the mat, then we can surely expect to see God break through in
our behalf.

The Lord doesn’t just give us a breakthrough-- He is our Breakthrough!
And with God, all things are possible.

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© “Lord of the Breakthroughs” 2004 by Ron Wood, President of Touched By
Grace Inc., P.O. Box 12749, Wilmington, NC 28405. For resources, visit
our website at www.touchedbygrace.org. Permission is given to copy or
share this article as long as the content and byline remains intact. We
are touched by grace to touch the world!