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/

The Time Has Come

This word was delivered in a denominational church in Kelowna BC on 12/26/2010. It speaks specifically to revival in Canada, and from Canada to the Nations. The speaker is Don McMillan.



It has been edited (for time limits) from this audio file:
http://www.evangelbc.org/sermons/2010/20101226a_sermon.mp3

Note: this is a video post. if you have difficulty viewing the video, click on the title of the post (The Time Has Come!) to view the video on the web page.

From Washington to Washington Dawn's Early Light!

A Word About 11-11-11

"Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; in holy array, from the womb of the dawn..."—Psalm 110:3

For God's crossover people and for our nation, I believe a new day has been decreed. Over the past few months we have watched with the Lord for breakthrough. Nationally, a window of opportunity has now been opened to turn our nation back to God. For 2011, it's time to stand for a full release of this Great Return, where multitudes disengage from Jezebel's table and return to the table of the Lord!

Let's allow the Holy Spirit to refresh us. But in the midst of refreshing, let's strengthen our resolve to advance. Dawn's early light is beginning to shine!

Anthem for Our Hour

A few years ago, Holy Spirit began to speak to me that our National Anthemis prophetic for this hour of history. This year marked the 196th anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner, written by Francis Scott Key, a native of Frederick, Maryland. It is as though Key saw into our day and its challenges.The song of his day prophesies to saints in our day the potential for victory in the battles we now face!

This "new song" was birthed in the midst of battle being waged through the night, in a war that would determine the destiny of our nation. Really, the battle was fought to determine who would rule our land. We are facing a similar challenge now. The great question is whether or not we will remain the "land of the free."

To an extent, the answer depends on our response at this time. Just as Key watched – and prayed – through the night, so we are being called to stand with the Lord both symbolically and literally till the break of dawn.

Dawn's Early Light

Long before Francis Scott Key penned these words, the imagery of "Dawn's Early Light" was used to describe how Jesus would bring a surge of life to Israel. Luke records that "The Sunrise (Dawn's Early Light) from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death"(Luke 1:78-79)

This describes our battle. Corporately and individually, we have been warring against the empowering of death in our land. For the past few years – beginning in my understanding when the Stock Market fell 777.68 points on Rosh Hashanah 2008 – a shadow has seemingly enveloped the land in a pronounced way. The most hopeful among us cast our heads in disbelief as challenges seemed to overwhelm the labor of our lives.

I believe prophetically that as of Rosh Hashanah 2010, this shadow is now being penetrated by "Dawn's Early Light." In 2011, many are being called forth like John the Baptist as "forerunners of the dawn." Just as John the Baptist was described by Jesus as a "burning and shining lamp," so these forerunners carry a dimension of this sacred fire within their very being. This year, His light truly begins to shine.

Does His Banner Yet Wave?

This is the most important question this generation must answer. Does His banner yet wave over the land of the free, the home of the brave? Will it continue?

A few years ago, our friend Cindy Jacobs shared a vision of an angel of the Lord over America, draped in the American flag as a mantle. She watched as the stripes of the flag became like a river, and poured into the nation. As she saw this, Holy Spirit spoke to Cindy, "By His stripes you are healed."

Cindy shared that the red represented the Blood of Jesus, and white represented His righteousness pouring into our land. By His stripes, even our land can become healed. Finally Cindy saw the stars from the flag pouring down. These stars became as burning torches throughout the land. Again, we believe this year we will see a great release of God's holy fire to illuminate that which has been hidden and bring us through the break of dawn.

The Lord wants to establish His banner – His "bridal canopy" – over our land. I believe this year, God's bridal canopy will begin to form and connect over our regions in a whole new way, bringing forth healing, life and protection. These regions will become known as "cities of refuge" in times of future challenge.

The Significance of 11-11

Many prophets have noted that the number 11 denotes transition. In John 11:11, Jesus prophesies a literal life-transition available to us today: "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep."

As we move towards 2011, it is amazing to discover how many times the number 11 comes up in our history. On 11-11, 1620, the Pilgrims made covenant with the Lord for our nation, committing the land and government to God's glory and the advancement of the Christian faith. Maryland became a state after ratifying our constitution on 11-11, 1776. Washington State came into the union on 11-11, 1889.

And on 11-11, 2009, a year-long youth awakening was sparked by a visitation of the Holy Spirit at IHOP-KC, in the heartland of America. From coast to coast, I believe we are called by God as a nation of awakening!

Beach-Head for Freedom

An aspect of the Pilgrims' legacy is very important for this hour. Through covenant with the Lord, the Pilgrims intentionally established our governance as a beach-head against antichrist dictatorships.

The Pilgrims were walking out a holy commission from the Lord. Both Jews and Christians were being pursued, persecuted and martyred by European dictatorships infiltrated by an antichrist spirit. Fleeing this persecution, the Pilgrims were called to "cross over" and establish a lampstand for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They committed the land and government to "the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith." These holy roots helped forge our land into what it is today.

From 10-10 to 11-11

Last year at this time, while in Washington State, the Lord told Jolene that "10-10 comes before 11-11." John 10:10 says, "The thief comes not but to steal, kill and destroy. But I have come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly!"

Jolene felt the Lord was highlighting 10-10-10, or October 10, 2010, as a representation of this shift for the Body of Christ. He is emphasizing the second half of John 10:10. We are leaving a season of death, and entering into a SURGE of harvest and life. God desires for the breakthroughs in this transition season to usher us into a much fuller expression of His "11-11 awakening."

11-11 Campaign

As Pilgrims and warriors of this hour, we are calling you to leave lesser pursuits behind and invest this year in God's dream for you, your family, and your nation. From now till 11-11-11, let's really go after God, until America sees His promised awakening – a Great Return where multitudes disengage from Jezebel's table and return to the Table of the Lord. Here are four practical ways for you to participate:

Pray: It is time to cry out for awakening until the break of dawn – until His power shows up! In his book Prayer Storm, James Goll has identified four categories of prayer we are dedicating ourselves to this year: Revival in the Church, a youth awakening, prayer for Israel and the sons of Ishmael, and Crisis Intercession.

In James 5:17-18, Elijah prayed and the heavens were shut. He prayedagain, and the heavens opened, and the harvest of the earth came forth. It's time to pray again!

Prepare: Like the safe harbor that protected the Pilgrims, God is calling us individually and corporately to become places of refuge in times of storm. As God enables, we can and must prepare now for future realities.

Campaign: Prior to the recent election, you were probably inundated with campaign communications. Both parties have been extremely diligent in fulfilling their commission. Now it's time for us to fulfill ours. Let's share Jesus again as if He is all He says He is – our salvation in all aspects of life, for now and eternity.

Act: In election campaigns, the civic duty required of us is simply to vote. In the same measure, in this 11:11 Campaign, our duty is to ACT. To take a stand for basic integrity, even if it costs. We can no longer be in agreement with significant compromise in society or within the Body of Christ.

Heaven-Rescued Land

Again, we believe that the words of our National Anthem are prophetic for our hour. Most of us are familiar with the first stanza alone. Therefore few know how Francis Scott Key describes America as a "Heaven-rescued land" and calls us to "Praise the Power that hath made us, and preserved us a nation." This is in our National Anthem!

Today, let's stand together before the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, and ask to again be a Heaven-rescued land. May we this year remain a beacon of liberty to the world, illumined by Dawn's Early Light!

Star Spangled Banner (first and last stanzas)

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Jon and Jolene Hamill
Lamplighter Ministries and Maryland International House of Prayer
Email: admin@lamplighterministries.net

Via Elijahlist.

The Revelation Of The Son and Daughters

From March 15, 2010:

Last week I woke up to the most amazing vision- the most stunningly profound one I have yet to have- or probably ever will.

The Holy Spirit showed me what God is doing with mankind in His work to restore His creation. I saw God standing before a nesting doll. You know those dolls that click open and reveal another doll, and click open again to reveal another doll and so on and so on until you get to the one teeny tiny doll in the middle that is whole and solid and final. I saw God opening these shells of the doll and discarding them one by one and casting the empty shells aside.

I’m struggling to perfectly word what I saw as it was so simple, yet profound. I saw was God peeling all the stuff off this person until He got down the real person inside- the honest, naked truth, the healed whole submitted intimate friend that we should eventually become in our walk with Him. What I felt in my spirit was that this final little person, this end result is the restoration of the original creation that God created. This one freely loves Him, freely loves His creation, freely chooses to submit to being transformed back to God’s will, freely looks to fellowship in friendship and love with God and His creation in simple everyday life, and wisely asks for His wisdom and heart. This little one was not a little person, but a full grown mature Son/Daughter and friend of God who fully knew God and God fully knew them. I could tell by the emotion that I felt that neither God nor this little one would ever desire to hurt one another and would always seek the other’s heart- that they knew each other so intimately that they were one and could read each other’s hearts and minds perfectly.

As I saw God take off the last shell and reveal this tiny little person I saw the most profound thing I dare ever lay my eyes on. I saw God- in all His Glory and His fine crown and kingly robes climb down off of His throne and bend His knee and bow His head down to this little one. He bowed not in lowliness or mocking, but in mutual respect, dignity and friendship -submitting Himself equality to this little person who submitted to His hand. This little one asked for His help, His mind, His healing, His friendship and most of all His heart for others so that they could see the world through God’s eyes of love to help, not hinder, to love not condemn, to free not bind, to raise not bury, to speak truth not lies.

I saw God bow His head and bend His knee to those who have done the same to Him- who deliberately searched God’s heart as they opened up theirs to Him to do the same as they followed and submitted to Jesus as their Lord and Friend.

I saw God bow to His Friend, His bride and one who He considers His equal because this little one’s will and God’s have become one- because they have become one in heart, in mind and in spirit.

It was impressed into my heart that whatever this Friend of God asked of Him, God would give out of beautiful mutual submission- a submission built upon truth, love and kindness toward one another. This little one not only came to God for his own healing, but also asked God what heart pains He had and if he might be of assistance to heal Him right back. And I know God’s wound is His fallen creation and it’s unbelief in His love and Grace and open arms of healing, correction and restoration.

I stand in awe- and I saw as this vision left me I saw that God’s knee is just now bending.

Blessings~ Jenni Davis

Spring in Winter

This is Ted Hanson, from Bellingham, WA. This is from February 21, 2010.

Ted Hanson, Abundant Life, House of Bread, Bellingham, WA.