HONEY – WAKE UP…I THINK THERE’S SOMEONE IN THE HOUSE

–

My dream life continues to increase and change with His directions and I am continue to be amazed by the depth and breadth of His plans for us. Last night I had a dream both for me as an individual, but for those who have been struggling to see their worth in Him

In the first scene I was asleep – dreaming about a situation – when my wife reached over and woke me up with those words that no one really wants to hear. Honey wake up I think there’s someone in the house.

I reached under my bed to my pistol storage safe and removed my 1911 45 ACP, flashlight, and opened the door.

There was light filtering down the hall \way from the living room area, and as I began to step out into the hallway I saw potato chips spread out along the carpet. I knew right then that this was serious – the chips were meant to be an alarm to alert the prowler that someone was up and moving. Little did they know that I had Samuel Peter – my 14 year old Sheltie and champion chip remover (his nickname is Hoover because no food stays on the ground long).

I quietly moved down the hallway, turned the corner and confronted a bushy headed white male squatting down working on one of my small safes.

I pointed the gun and light at him and directed him to stop, put everything down, and put his hands behind his head. I then told my wife to call 911.

Then it began to go from bad to scary…my wife froze and couldn’t call 911, and the bad guy refused to respond, and in fact turned around and with a smile said “I don’t think you appreciate your situation…”

He was right, but I called 911 and the voice strangely answered “Hi Dale, what can I do for you”. First my name is not Dale, and second this is not how 911 operators are trained to respond. I tried to give the operator the information, but something told me that my expectation of law enforcement showing up any time soon was overly ambitious.

As I confronted the burglar, I heard sounds to my right – around the corner towards the kitchen, I backed up to take a better position to cover both individuals and a youngish woman (late 20’s) came around the corner, addressed the burglar, and then saw me.

At that point all heck began to break loose, and as if in slow motion, I saw other members of their team out by my garage and storage shed breaking in, and realized that there must be at least a dozen bad guys – my next thought before I started shooting was –

But I don’t have that much stuff to make it worth this big of a team to steal…..

Another one of their team came through the side door with a pistol in his hand, and at that point it became a them or us situation. I told him to drop his gun, he refused and began the motions to raise his pistol and shoot – I shot before he could finish hitting him square in center body mass. He stumbled but didn’t go down.

Other team members began to converge on the house and I kept shooting, with the same results – for some reason the 45 wasn’t effective and I needed a bigger weapon.

I moved along the back wall when another one of our dogs (looked like a cream colored Afgan hound) came bounding to my defense – but then began to play with one of the bad guys (ok, I’m thinking this is not really working) I gave the “kill’ command and the dog became a bit more aggressive but not to the level needed to protect us.

I managed to get to my hidden gun safe, pulled out the AR-10 and began to engage both the up close and far off targets. I was accurate with my fire, but still they wouldn’t go down. And of course the police hadn’t shown up yet – which I had anticipated.

At that point I woke up and began to have a conversation with Holy Spirit.

The first thing He said was

“Natural weapons - no matter the size - are ineffective in the supernatural battle. The team invading your home was not natural, but supernatural – along with their human helpers (the 911 operator). My children need to quickly understand a couple of things

1. You truly are in a serious life threatening battle –but it is not against flesh and blood

2. The enemy sees your TOTAL spiritual treasure that you are often not aware of (your current and future inheritance) and his goal is to kill, steal and destroy

That’s why he sent such a big team into your house – your spiritual treasures are simply beyond your ability to fully grasp – and his goal was to disrupt the plans I have for you.

BUT I have a better plan, to take this and to increase even more beyond your current understanding, to create a situation where your awareness of your spiritual authority will be without question, and instead of the enemy attacking you – YOU WILL TAKE THE BATTLE TO HIM!

The police represent the current church structure, they can be effective in some situations when mobilized but they have to be notified. The 911 operator represent those Pastors and leaders who have forgotten their first love and their mandate from Heaven and willingly or not – have chosen to hear the wrong voices and refuse to train and mobilize those I have given them.

THIS IS ABOUT TO CHANGE - but for now understand – that truly the Battle Belongs to the LORD – and I’m going to be showing many of My children new weapons and strategies for the days ahead and I’m training those to use the BIG GUNS...”

Martin Best is a prophetic voice in the Northwest.

http://www.whirlwindministries.org/

Persistent Prophetic Warfare

Comment: This is not your typical prophetic word. This is a prophet clarifying the work of the prophetic to which many of us here in the northwest are called. Understand the warfare that you are a part of, take appropriate action, and do not let anything stop you.

Persistent Prophetic Warfare

From my experience there are two “branches” of Persistent Prophetic Warfare. There is what the Persistent Prophet continually does to wage war against the forces of darkness. And, there is what the forces of darkness continually do to wage war against the Persistent Prophet.

Of course, this is also generally true for ANY Child Of God. All born-again believers WILL have to wage war against the forces of darkness – it is written – and WILL suffer backlash and setbacks from that effort – which is also written. There is NO escape. It is our collective reality – and God has made this struggle plain in His Word. From God’s point of view, we are clearly to expect – by faith –  that there will be victories, and we are also clearly warned that there will be struggle.

It was the same for Jesus Himself. 

But I am writing about that particular subset of the overall battle called “Persistent Prophetic Warfare.” And more importantly, about the enemy’s objective and the tactics meant to bring Persistent Prophetic Warriors down.

The scriptural references that apply are legion, I know you know them, so I will be limited in using them and write more from my heart. 

Let’s assume that if you are on my email “to” list [where this article was first published],  that I consider that you already know you have a Prophetic Call of some kind – whether it is the primary Call on your life – a complimentary or secondary Call – or you have intimate knowledge about or experience with those that do have a Prophetic Call. Let’s also assume that as “experienced” prophets we have already exhibited decades of proven experience – and have had ongoing struggle as we have “walked out our faith.”

We have been Persistent Prophetic Warriors.

The enemy is not stupid. When satan sees that you are being obedient and affective – especially long term – he will do whatever he needs to do to “take you out.” He will also be persistent. He will continue to attack your day job, those to whom you report to – like bosses or supervisors, your finances, family, friends, your prophetic “vision”, your health, etc. ...even your effort to continue on with life itself. Misunderstanding, rejection, weakness, shame, embarrassment, disappointment, doubt, fear, and sickness may be your “familiar reality.” You may even be called in front of legal authorities multiple times and find yourself having to repeatedly defend yourself for things you may or may not have actually done. Your family, friends, Christian friends, and co-workers may question you and turn away from you many times.

At points you may loose your prophetic vision too – as these things repeatedly rise up to overwhelm you – and not just in ones and twos – but multiple avenues of warfare coming against you over and over – and over long periods of time.

Effective Prophets sometimes fight on with few friends understanding what they are doing. Effective Prophets may feel the sting of isolation and wonder why they have so many victories, so little recognition, and so much struggle and discouragement. Prophets will know the Juniper Tree. 

And, if Satan can’t destroy you, he will try to distract you.

He will try to separate you from your First Love – and divert you away from your Calling and mission.

He will try to keep you focused on material things: your money, house, cars, clothes, tools, other worldly possessions, and the struggle to get and maintain them. He will try to make work and your ministry overwhelm you: with diverted time, an appeal to selfishly excel, and constant dissatisfactions with procedures, policies, bosses and co-workers. He will try and disappoint you with your family and friends. At times they will be indifferent toward you, neglect you, and – as in my case – outright reject you. He will try and bring fear into your life through the personal, national and international issues we are all facing. He will attack your health, ability to rest, cause you to be dissatisfied with your own level of fitness – and anything or everything else about you. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Satan will use whatever he can to separate you from the Love of Jesus, the Voice and Power of the Holy Spirit, the Absolute Care of our Heavenly Father, and the CALL He Himself has placed on your life. 

You will have Battle Fatigue. 

You will have battle fatigue. Not much fun, huh?

Hardened combat soldiers – those who continue to wage effective war on the battlefield against the enemy – ARE going to be the enemy’s target.   

Experienced Prophet warriors – those who continue to wage effective war against the forces of darkness and win – ARE going to be satan’s target. 

Both are going to face exhaustion. Both are a great threat to the enemy – and the enemy is going to direct his resources toward the greatest threat. 

There is that element of combat experience where the soldier and Prophet get to the point that life and death, victory and defeat don’t matter.

Continue the Fight.

What matters is continuing the fight. Because continuing the fight is right. 

So, be careful to face up to the fact that you are in this thing – Persistent Prophetic Warfare – for the long haul – and that in a certain sense (understand this with godly wisdom) “you” don’t matter.

What matters is far greater than ourselves or any earthly kingdom. What matters is Jesus and the Kingdom of God – and that in the heat of battle you continue to recognize the enemy, continue keep your weapons aimed at him, and continue pulling the trigger.

If victory comes, which it most surely will, there will come a time when your Reward is made known.

Jesus Himself will not forget you – either in the fight or afterward.

The Holy Spirit will continue to empower you and be your Advocate – both in the fight and afterward.

And, our Father will both dry your tears – and bring ultimate judgment.

As it is written: “God is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” 

He Himself said that He would “neither leave us nor forsake us.”

Be persistent. 

Keep pulling the trigger.

Unlike combat soldiers, Prophetic Warriors have an unlimited supply of weapons and ammunition – and our Leadership does not fail.

Regards, Scott

Scott Wiley Arnold

Missouri USA

September 18, 2009

Rick Joyner: All Christians Should Know the Voice of the Lord

This coming year the goal of our study is to be able to discern the voice of the Lord better, first for our own guidance, but also in the unfolding events of our times. Nothing is more important for us to do this year than to love God more and follow Him more closely. Only then can we love each other the way that we are called to love.

As we have learned with so many prophetically-gifted people in our church and ministry, if they will inquire of the Lord about a person, He will show them things that can help them. If they inquire of the Lord about a city, He will show them things about the city that can help it. The same is true for a church or a nation, a ministry, a mission, an industry, and so forth. It is the same gift of the Holy Spirit that reveals all of these things. Even so, after a time, prophetic people will often start to specialize in hearing God for individuals, or for churches, cities, nations, etc.

Understanding the Voice of the Lord

When I'm flying my plane, I will sometimes turn the speaker on to listen to the controllers rather than wear the headset. Almost every passenger who flies with me says they cannot understand a single word that the controller is saying and they wonder how I can. More than the volume or tone of the speaker, the reason they cannot understand the controller is because the words that are being used, or the way that they're being used, are unfamiliar to them. To prove this, I have sometimes asked the controllers if they knew the score to a big game, and when they start talking about sports or something my passengers are familiar with, they can understand them fine.

My point is that many do not understand the voice of the Lord for the same reason—the words, or the way the words are being used, are unfamiliar to them. This is basically what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:12-14:

• Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

Many Christians have a belief that the Lord will only speak about spiritual things, or about what He is doing in His Church, but this is not the case. Often, He will speak to us about the things that we are interested in just so we can begin to know His voice. In His own walk on the earth, the Lord spoke to people about the things that were important to them. God cares about everything we care about. God is so big that we tend to think He will only get involved in the big things, but He seems to enjoy getting involved in the most personal, even seemingly trivial matters with His people. He'll speak to you about your child's little league team or your diet. It does not have to be a problem for Him to give us counsel either—it's mostly about relationship.

As we see in John 10, the Lord's sheep know His voice and they follow Him because they know His voice. All Christians should know the voice of the Lord and easily be able to distinguish it from all of the other voices in the world. However, not every Christian is a prophet or has prophetic gifts. The basic difference between hearing from the Lord on a personal basis and prophecy is that if we have a gift of prophecy it is for others, not ourselves. If you have a gift of healing, it is not to heal yourself, but others, and the same is true with all of the spiritual gifts.

The Only Way to Mature is Through Experience

For this reason, the most prophetically-gifted people I know do not hear prophetically very well for themselves. This is because the Lord has made His Body to depend on one another so we will have to walk together as we are called to accomplish our purpose.

Think about this principle with the two best dream interpreters in Scripture—Joseph and Daniel. They were both extraordinary at interpreting what others received, but neither one of them could interpret their own dreams well. Daniel's revelations actually made him sick, and he was told to seal them up until the end of the age when their interpretation would be given.

I am making this distinction here because many people who start hearing from the Lord begin to think that everything they're getting is for the whole Body of Christ, or for the nations, when often it is just for them. Not being able to distinguish this has brought much confusion to the Body of Christ. This is one reason why much of the Body has had such bad experiences with the prophetic that they don't want to have anything to do with it now.

Learning to distinguish what the Lord is saying to us personally and what He may be saying to others simply takes maturity. I have prayed often for the power to be able to lay hands on people and just say, "Be mature in Jesus' name!" but it has never worked. The only way to mature is through experience.

You can't blame church leaders for only wanting prophetic ministry that is mature, because it takes a lot of work to help people mature. However, if you want a mature prophetic ministry, this is virtually the only way to get it.The maturing process for both the prophetically-gifted and those who will relate to them enables a true relationship to develop where the prophetic ministry can be useful.

We can be mature in one area but quite immature in others. Regardless of how mature and experienced we are in knowing the voice of the Lord, we will go twice as far as we have before this year in revelation, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. We will need this in the coming year, but this is why all of His gifts were given to the Church—we need them.

Editor's note: While this word does not specifically address the Northwest, it speaks to issues that are germane to our region: 1) We need to hear God's voice clearly; it is appropriate to take steps to reach that point, and 2) this coming year (2011) will offer increase in revelation, knowledge, wisdom and understanding.


Rick Joyner
MorningStar Ministries
Email: info@morningstarministries.org 
via: http://www.elijahlist.com/

Beware Gypsy Presbyteries

“Beware gypsy presbyteries!”

It has been fifty years since the warning was prophesied to the church in that city. It was one of the larger cities of the greater Pacific Northwest region, and the prophet declaring the word was known by the church of that city, and was respected. “Beware gypsy presbyteries!” he declared.

I’ve been thinking about that word, and I’m hearing God breathing on it for my region. In fact, I believe God is re-breathing that word to the entire Pacific Northwest. He’s probably saying it to more than just our region, but I have confidence that this is the season for the Northwest to hear it. Fifty years ago, the church didn’t hear, or they didn’t understand, and there was a price that was paid for their failure, but that’s not the story I’m telling here.

But before I tell the story, I need to be clear about the position that I tell it from. I am not opposed to travelling ministries; I am not opposed to prophetic ministries. In fact, I have good friends in both camps, and I serve ministries that are in both camps. What I am about to say is not a declaration that such ministries are in error. That would be an untrue accusation. In fact, the very prophecy we’re discussing here was delivered by a travelling prophetic minister.

Think with me about that simple sentence: Beware gypsy presbyteries:

·         Beware: watch out. There’s danger here. Be careful here; don’t get caught in it.

·         Gypsy: in the less-politically-correct times of a half century ago, a gypsy was “a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling.” They traveled from place to place, with no roots in the places they visited, and no accountability in those places.

·         Presbyteries: Bill Hamon defines a prophetic presbytery: when two or more prophets and/or prophetic ministers lay hands on and prophesy over an individual, a body, or a region, to minister a prophetic word, to identify gifts and placement in the Body or in leadership, to impart gifts and callings, or for ordaining to an office of ministry.

It’s probably worth mentioning that this a metaphor: I am not suggesting that there are either individual prophets or groups of prophets wandering from town to town performing fortune telling under the guise of prophetic ministry just to make a living. I’m sure that does occasionally happen, but again: that’s not the primary warning here.

These days, we have a large number of traveling prophets, visiting town after town, prophesying. I would expect that, like the gypsies of old, they were tempted to declare what people wanted to hear in order to generate better offerings, but again, that’s not the primary warning here.

The warning is to guard against depending on prophetic words from travelling prophetic ministries who have no root, no stake in this region. There is good that can come from visiting prophetic ministries, even from ministries that we don’t well know; the warning is against depending on those.

And this is a warning to the church; I am confident that this is a warning to the church in my region; I suggest you ask the Holy Spirit if it’s a warning to the church in your region as well. Fundamentally, this is a warning that the primary prophetic voice in our region must not be from travelling ministries. Our primary prophetic voice needs to come from the prophetic people of our own region.

Thirty years ago, there were a relatively large number of travelling evangelists. They’d come into town, hold a week or two worth of meetings, collect that many offerings, and move on to the next town. A few people came to Christ, more folks renewed forgotten vows, and some of the saints were encouraged. Sometimes.

But it was not an uncommon occurrence that the evangelist would say some things that confused some of the sheep. In my community, the departure of an evangelist would leave uncertain saints worrying about “Can a Christian really have a demon?” or “Can I really lose my salvation?” “Am I really in danger of hell after all these years?”

Pastors would talk with respect about some of the evangelists; others, they said, would “Blow in, blow up, and blow out!” and the pastors would be left to clean up the messes, soothe their worried sheep and answer their difficult and sometimes unnecessary questions.

In our generation, we have more prophets than evangelists blowing into town, declaring a prophetic sermon, prophesying with varying degrees of accuracy over several people in the audience, collecting the requisite number of offerings, and blowing on to the next town. Again, the pastors are left to clean up the messes, soothe their worried sheep and answer their difficult and sometimes unnecessary questions. These days, the questions include, “The prophet said this would happen; why isn’t it happening?” and “Why won’t the pastor recognize me in the role the prophet said I am called to?”

In other words, there are a number of pastoral problems with the church depending on travelling prophetic ministers. In order to deal with the pastoral questions, there is a temptation to reject the travelling prophetic ministry; I’m not sure that’s the right solution.

But there are also significant apostolic problems when the church depends heavily on travelling prophetic ministers, particularly when she depends on un-connected gypsy presbyteries. Some examples:

·         If we don’t stand up and take responsibility for hearing what God has to say for our region, then why should we expect people who have no investment in the region to labor to hear God’s heart for our region?

·         Prophetic words often don’t come to pass by themselves; we need to labor with them: fighting for the promises, fighting with the promises. Prophets who blow into town, declare a word (even a good word) and then are gone to the next town cannot labor to birth the word that’s been declared.

·         If we depend on guest speakers for our prophetic declarations, then what happens when we need to hear from God and there is no guest speaker in town this weekend?

·         When a church, a region, depends on others to bring the word of the Lord for them, then they have no motivation, no reason to raise up their own prophetic community. The church is justly famous for teaching on the gift of encouragement, the gift of giving and others; recently, the church has begun teaching on the gift of prophecy and how to hear God’s voice, but how often has either a congregation or the church of a region taught the people of their own region about how to walk in the difficult office of a prophet?

·         If there are no prophets raised up and recognized in the region, then how will the church of the region recognize and stand up to the agenda of darkness and declare, “You shall not pass!” As a result, the region stands with weakened defenses.

If we are to be a healthy people, we need to develop a measure of strength in all of the gifts in our region. We will do well to welcome travelling prophetic ministries, but we need to develop lasting relationships with them; fortunately, in this generation, it’s very possible to build lasting, distant relationships.

I believe the Spirit of God is calling for maturity in the prophetic (in all of the gifts, really). It’s time to raise up mature prophetic communities in our region, communities that have the maturity to declare the word of God to our region, both to the church and to the “secular” community, communities that are self-replicating, raising up their replacements, communities that can discern and judge the declarations of the gypsy presbyteries.

A Vision of a Man in a Race Car…He's Ready to Go

This word is not specifically about the Northwest, but I believe that there is much in this word for our region. In other words, it's my judgment – feel free to come to your own – that this is part of His call on our region. –Editor

Since the start of this year, a vision keeps coming back to me. I keep seeing a vision of a man sitting inside a race car, wearing a helmet and racing outfit, as He waits at the starting line of a race track. I can clearly hear the sound of His car engine running, shifting into higher gear as the Driver is ready to start the race. I believe this vision has spiritual significance for the time we are in. As I have continued to watch and listen to what God impressed upon me, below is the message I received. I pray it will bring encouragement to you as it has to me.

The Driver is the Holy Spirit, and as He set to go at the starting line, this represents the coming move of God. Our Heavenly Father has shifted to a higher gear, and He is inviting His people to join Him in this ride. This move will be both exhilarating and intimidating. To those who totally trust God and His leading--this ride will be the greatest joyride of your lifetime. God is telling us, "It's time to move forward."

The question is: Are you ready for the ride? Do you have total confidence in the skill of the Driver?

What Makes Us Qualified to Ride with God?

God is looking for people whose hearts and motives are pure and who do not hide their weaknesses from God. These are people who, when convicted of their shortcomings, are quick to let God deal with their hearts in complete surrender to Him. Just like when God chose David, He said to Samuel, "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

Therefore our present success will not be His basis for choosing us; it will be the condition of our hearts which will matter to Him. David failed greatly when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and plotted the death of Uriah (2 Samuel 11). Yet despite David's shortcomings, God continued to use him greatly, and he was fondly remembered as "a man after God's own heart."

Great News for God's Children

Presently there is a big group of God's children who, in the past, experienced the mighty moving of God in your life and ministry. But due to various circumstances, some of you had to give up works or ministry, and may now find yourself seemingly bereft of any success. Despite the difficulties you had to face, the sacrifices you had to endure, the seemingly barrenness of your life right now, quietly, you continue to worship and honor God as best you know how. Yet you cannot deny there is a greater longing in your heart to do more for God's people, to do more for His Kingdom, and to implement all the ideas and plans God has planted inside of you to do. The dreams and visions God placed in the innermost parts of your heart for so long seem to be unattainable.

But there is great news: God had you in His mind! If you can identify with this group, the great news is that God had you specifically in mind and will call you to be on the forefront when His Holy Spirit makes the move. As you have been faithful to God, holding nothing back in the process, laying down everything at His feet, it's now His time to respond. He has not forgotten His promises and His calling for you and your family, and you will see Him opening doors and opportunities which you thought were closed or lost.

Luke 1 Connections

We are coming into a time of connection just like Zechariah and Elizabeth, and Joseph and Mary were intertwined with each other (read Luke 1). These were two different couples at various age levels, facing different challenges, yet both families' lives were intertwined with each other and linked by God for each other's comfort, confirmation, and for a common cause. So will it be in the coming days.

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

What Peter had spoken to the crowd about during Pentecost will once more be manifested in our midst. This is both to the older and younger generations: "This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people, your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy'" (Acts 2:16-18).

Prophetic Insight As the Driver Moves

As in the days of Jesus' disciples:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our Prayer

Our Father, we thank You for quickening our hearts once more with this message. We await this day with great expectation. Come Holy Spirit, even today, prepare us for the work that You have chosen for each one of us to do. Just like David cried out to You with these words: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24), so we cry out to You in the same manner today.

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

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

Thank You for revealing Your plans and Your heart to us for the coming days. We wait for them with great expectation and with thanksgiving in our hearts. Unto You and You alone, be all glory and power and might for all that You have done, are doing and will do in our lives. In Jesus Christ's name, we say, "Amen!"

Ching Ten L. Co
Cebu City, Philippines
Email: mailto:Chingten_co@yahoo.com

'Men of Portland': The Lord Commands You To Go Now

INTRODUCTION

While ministering in the Portland / Vancouver area from April 15th -21st 1998, I sensed the Holy Spirit showing me how He wished to move in that area and the northwest region. The biblical framework for this move is found in Judges, Chapter 6 and 7, the story of Gideon. God's move through Gideon and his army is centered around religious reform and military action based on a coalition of Israelite tribes. In the Church today, we have recently, through the Renewal, experienced religious reform. I believe that the Lord is now revealing to us a military strategy based on a coalition of Christian Churches.

THE LORD NAMES YOU

Prior to calling Gideon forth for military action, the Lord named him anew, identifying his forthcoming role in God's army.

Judges 6:12 "The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour." (KJV)

I believe that God has unveiled his army of warriors to many Christians in this region, and that he has also named you in terms of your rank and function in that army.

THE LORD COMMANDS YOU TO GO NOW

Though Gideon had lived a life of oppression, robbery and confinement under the ravages of the Midianites, and though, in his own understanding, his family was among the poor in Manasseh and he, the least in his father's house, the Lord said in Judges 6:14.

"Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?"

I believe that the Lord is saying to us to "go now" in the strength that we have.

GOD WISHES TO FULFILL A RESOUNDING AND WIDESPREAD SCATTERING AND ROUTING OF THE ENEMY IN OUR TERRITORIES

The Lord made known the extent of His intended uprooting and annihilation of the enemy to Gideon.

Judges 6:16 "Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man."

I believe that, in a united and progressive thrust forward with the Holy Ghost, Christians in the northwestern territories will uproot the enemy from the land.

UPROOT ANY VESTIGES OF WICKEDNESS THAT WERE INHERITED THROUGH YOUR GENERATIONAL LINE

Judges 6:25 "… throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it."

I believe that some, either have already, or will experience the Lord requiring a complete uprooting of all vestiges of rebellion, idol worship, witchcraft, false religion etc. in their family line.

Judges 6:26 "And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock …and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down."

I believe that the Lord requires a fresh consecration of oneself unto God. Some of the old 'furniture' of religion may have to be removed to make way for a new out-pouring of the Holy Spirit into our Churches. The former must make room for the latter, which will bring about a completely different, more liberated and culturally rich landscape for the worship of the Lord. Many people may have already experienced a certain separation from former religious organizations as a preparatory step towards what lies ahead.

PROPHETICALLY CALL YOUR BROTHERS IN ARMS FROM THE SURROUNDING TERRITORIES

Judges 6: 34,35 "But the spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him. And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also gathered after him; and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them."

I believe that men (and women) are to call together the Christian communities of the northwest to unite in the fulfillment of God's battle strategy. The 'trumpet' symbolizes the prophetic voice and also worship. I believe the Lord desires a convening of Christian communities for a large 3-day festival of worship in the Portland, Oregon area primarily. I believe that the timing of this event should be in early October 1998, coinciding with the Feast of tabernacles. This may be followed by another similar event in Olympia, Washington and later at another location. During that 3-day period of celebratory worship, with the dance and the 'Shout', the Lord will liberate His mighty men from the last vestiges of bondage and oppression under the ruling principalities of this territory and the religious (and other) organizations to which they have been tied. It will be like the crossing of a national boundary - out into new, liberated courses, which were destined for their lives. These men (and women) will be released into a company of mighty warriors, of forerunners, of like-minded men.

MANY PEOPLE OF GOD WILL PREFER TO REMAIN IN THE CAMP

There will be many among the Christian community who do not wish to go up into battle; they are occupied with the affairs of home; some are fearful at heart; they prefer to remain in the camp. They are freely permitted by God to refrain from the new thrust forward by the spirit into the enemy's territory.

Judges 7:3 "Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying 'Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from Mount Gilead'. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand."

SEPARATION OF THE MIGHTY WARRIORS

There will be a further sifting of the troops, much like that done by military organizations, where individuals are selected on the basis of personal merit, training, experience, gifting and bravery of heart, to go up into battle.

Judges 7:4 "And the Lord said unto Gideon, 'The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there; and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee. This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go."

I believe that there are many Christian men and women in the northwest in whom God has staked his visions for the region. In the coming months, these visions will be stirred up within them. There will be an intense desire to run faster, to go up, and to take the land. To these people, I believe the Lord says 'Do not expend your energy in an attempt to bring all members of your communities with you. Do not pour your visions into the hearts of those who will choose to remain in the camp. Rather contain your strength; set your face forward to going up to battle; the Lord will soon liberate you into a company of mighty men who are like-minded and who will fight with you.

A NECESSARY DISTANCING FROM THE CAMP

There will evolve a certain physical and spiritual distancing between those who go up to battle for new territory and those who remain in camp. Let those who remain in camp give all they can to furnish the needs and to equip those going forth to take the land.

Judges 7:8 "So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men, and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley."

Those who go forth do so in a company of warriors. They are not cut off from the community of God's people in camp. They are simply separated for a time by virtue of the requirements of their visions.

DIVIDING THE WARRIORS INTO SEPARATE COMPANIES

Judges 7: 16-18 "And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet into every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. And he said unto them 'Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of the camp, and say, 'The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.'"

I believe that the mighty warriors will group, and fulfill their part in separate locations, though they all form part of one battle strategy. I see three separate thrusts, going north, east and south in these territories.

THE STRATEGY AND BATTLE OF THE LORD

The main tenets of the strategy are for the Church to (1) go up to battle, take your positions and stand. The Lord will go before you and destroy your enemies. This is linked to the description of the Lord's strategy given to Jehoshaphat when he defeated the Moabites and Ammonites (2 Chronicles 20).

2 Chronicles 20:21 "And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth forever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten."

(2) The second tenet of the strategy is "the trumpet and the shout" i.e. prophecy, praise and worship. As this is fulfilled at a number of locations, I believe that the Lord will shake the enemy strongholds, causing spiritual forces to flee in many different directions.

Judges 7:20-21 "And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried 'The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon'. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled."

I also saw prophetically, that as the worship and the shout went up, the hard dry earth of the territory suddenly cracked like a mild surface earthquake. I believe that this represents the fallow ground in the hearts of the population being ploughed up by the Lord. There will be a widespread and all encompassing shaking by the Lord of the unbelievers in the region. I believe that as companies of evangelists later go out to sow the seeds of the gospel amongst the general population, they will find the soil of the peoples' hearts already ploughed and ready to receive the Word of the Lord.

(3) The third aspect of this move is the re-formation of the Church as a 'city without walls' as described in Zechariah 2.

Zechariah 2:4-5 "… Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the Multitude of men and cattle therein: For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her."

I believe that the Lord desires to use many people from different denominations, who will work together to fulfill these words. In doing so, He wishes to remove some of the walls between Churches, to intermingle their strengths and anointing, and to show forth his bride in a glorious unity of purpose.

THE WHEAT HARVEST FROM THE CHURCH

Lastly, I got a sense from the Lord that this year he would be taking a wheat harvest from the Church. This referred to the men and women that he had carefully taught and trained over the past number of years and whom he considered to have reached maturity. These would be a "first fruits" unto the Lord. They would be separated for the coming work of the Lord, some of which has been outlined earlier. Pastors, themselves, are included in this wheat harvest. Some would be separated unto greater works beyond the boundaries of the local body. For pastors who see some of their 'finest' people leaving: they are to know that this harvest is to their glory for it is they who have nurtured this crop to maturity; furthermore, the separation is unto the planting of many new works for the Lord. In this way, the parent Church will multiply as well as continue in the addition of members. Lastly, the new 'families' formed after the separation will be places wherein the 'parent' pastor should always be received and honoured for his labours.


Prophecy given by Patricia Keating
At the Full Gospel Businessmen's
Portland Metro Chapter, April 20, 1998

From End Time Prophetic Vision.

Also located at: http://www.kalama.com/~debodino/menofpdx.htm

John and Patricia Keating
Fireland Ministries
http://www.kalama.com/~debodino/fireland.htm

Forwarded by:
Northwest Revival News <revival@kalama.com>
World Wide Revival Reports/Events/Prophecies
Dave Bodine, Editor
Pacific Northwest Prophecies
http://www.kalama.com/~debodino/ pnwp.htm