I, the Sovereign Lord

Well, I have to say, Friday night's Firelight intercession was truly impressive! Typically, when we gather to appeal to the Lord to transform our local Church and make us able to show forth God's Kingdom, we usually arrive with no certain aspect in mind. But on this night, I arrived with a concern that our Church leaders needed a good dose of courage for the changes ahead.

The reason for that concern is that Christian leaders, in general, have counted upon political influence in Washington to influence the culture. Because we can now expect anti-Christian retribution from Washington, our leaders are going to find they can no longer afford to tow the party line, but will have to take a John the Baptist approach against a growing tide of wickedness. Being outspoken is not what our leaders are known for.

But then we went to prayer and had hardly begun to worship. Normally, a good portion of the start of our evening is spent in worship, but the Holy Spirit clearly had something to say. Worship had barely begun when prophetic prayer began to volley back and forth between Will and me. I can recall only once or twice in my entire life of that ever taking place and it went on non-stop for how long?--I don't know. It could have easily been 30 minutes or 45. All I know is that it was as though the Lord was "in the room" speaking to us and through us in one unbroken stream of thought. There was such a unity that several times, I knew the next thing the Lord was wanting to say and there would be Will proclaiming out the very thing--the very words--I knew were to be spoken!

Unfortunately, it was SO engaging, it wasn't possible to take notes of what the Spirit was saying as I normally do. Man! Was it POWERFUL! Our focus started as an appeal for courageous leaders, but immediately erupted into the Lord proclaiming His DOMINION, declaring that He rules with a rod of IRON, boasting that He LAUGHS at His enemies. Folks, it was the most amazing interweaving of scripture and prophecy extolling the Lord's unrivaled SUPREMACY in the earth. One prophetic proclamation gave way to the next and it was as though each one seemed larger than the prior one. What's more, He was throwing down the gauntlet for the Church to radically rise to the full stature of what she is called to be. It was like tag-team.

Writing this can in no way do any justice to the Lord driving home the fact that a magnificent, faith-filled Church is about to be revealed which will portray to the world the Lord's supremacy! What a glorious hour the Church is about to witness!

He Wins!

This past month was our last time to meet in advance of the Presidential elections. I truly expected the evening would be one of serious warfare and declarations of God's Word. Instead, it was an evening of sweet worship and encouragement. But the evening was punctuated with one, bold prophetic utterance which seemed to settle any concerns we may have brought into the evening.

It went something like this: "Do I not hear the cries of My people calling out to Me for a righteous ruler? And you do well to do so, for do I not wish to intervene on your behalf? Have not your prayers and tears been heard in heaven? Indeed, I respond to your cry to me for righteousness. Therefore, I declare victory in this season! Look and you shall see it. It is right before you! I proclaim Myself King over your hearts if you will have Me! Are you not called to be to Me a nation of priests and prophets? Are you not to be to Me a people separated from amongst all the nations of the earth?

"Then I invite you to give your allegiance to Me and Me alone! Have I not demonstrated My devotion to you by My Blood shed to purchase you, My people? Have I not earned your devotion to Me by My sufferings for you and washing your sin from you? I present Myself before you as your King. Choose Me above all else," says the Lord, "Choose Me, for there is no other who will sustain you as I will. There is none who will defeat your enemies before you as will I! I declare My Sovereignty over all the earth. I welcome you into My Kingdom. My Kingdom shall prevail when all others will fall, for I am the King of kings and the Lord of lords and there is none like unto Me. I declare victory and My people who are Mine are with me in this hour!" says the Lord.

What an invitation! What an opportunity! Here we stand in a moment of history in which we determine if we ultimately pledge our allegiance to the flag or to the Lamb? This is not to diminish our dedication to make this free nation all it can be. Rather it is to be certain we do not pin our hopes on it!

This is an hour for extreme intercession for our land. Not since the very founding of this nation has so much been at stake! We stand to lose all the underpinnings this nation was established upon. There is a gross deception blanketing this nation. II Timothy 3:13 is clear, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived."

Perhaps you've seen the video the AFA has promoted. It was produced to encourage Catholic voters to take a moral stand in the upcoming elections, but I found very inspiring and extremely well done. To view it, paste the following into your browser:

http://www.onenewsnow.com/valuesvoters.aspx

Voices Like Silver Trumpets

At Firelight's prayer a couple of weeks ago, the conversation was then--as now--about the Wall Street failings which had just begun to implode that week. As we had already discussed on prior occasions, we recognized that we're living in the period Jesus referred to as birth pangs just prior to the Great Tribulation. How long that period will last is open to debate but the clear picture painted is that we can expect a series of succeeding events each more intense than the previous. These frustrating events are sent by God to condition us toward prayer, repentance, seeking Him, changing our perspective from things temporal to things eternal, etc.

Following is the journal of the evening, taken directly from my notes:

Hurricane Gustav was a dry run; a lesson in preparing for days coming which are defined by lack of the basic infrastructure of life which we take for granted.

Cried out for God's impassioned servants--even those marked as martyrs--to rise up; a generation unlike any previous generation. Called for a people who could lock eyes with God and not flinch (due to shame) but rather gaze upon His beauty.

Declared its not too late for our generation to make its mark. We repent of our excuses and wish to run this race. We would choose to be like Daniel and his three friends who would stand when others wouldn't; that we might be like Moses whose strength is unabated.

There is a grinding stone sharpening swords that is the Word being declared in razor-sharp clarity and with accuracy. Prophetic words will not be vague but sharp; precise. The sword will cut bands of discord and demolish yokes and cut through nonsense.

There is a changing of the guard underway in the Church. That new guard will bow to You Lord and no other. Their faces will be set like flint (not swayed by opinion nor giving ear to it).

Prayed for Governor Jindal to not be ashamed of the Gospel.

Repented of speaking critically of other pastors or ministries which are unlike where we ourselves attend or whom we prefer to listen to. Concerning the shaking of the financial markets, we repented of declaring judgment in the matter when our hearts should be declaring redemption. Its not about God's judgment but of His rescue. We ask forgiveness for forming coalitions, politically, with those who don't acknowledge You.

Remove mixture from our churches. Let out leaders discontinue being compromisers but be courageous; not lulling the flock to sleep but whose voices resound as clear as silver trumpets.

Prayed for the prophetic words to come forth with all the clarity of Samuel as demonstrated in I Sam 10:1-8

(For information on trumpets in the Bible, click here. Please note this will take you to a different website.)

Which is Coming: Judgment or Revival?

During last month's prayer, we pondered how different prophets seem to prophecy at odds with each other. Some are declaring the judgment of God looms over the United States and that, as a result, we could expect to see the last great revival to follow.

Others prophecy we are entering the Church's finest hour and the last great revival is about to break forth. They conclude that following that great in-gathering, judgment will begin to fall.

So which is it? Which prophets have the mind of the Lord? Are we on the verge of a great revival or a great judgment? Yet as we prayed, we listened to what the Holy Spirit was praying through us and received real clarity to this dilemma. We sensed that the great revival AND the falling judgments would actually take place at the same time! We were reminded that it was PRECISELY AS darkness covers the land that the light of the Church grows the brighter! The power of God is most evident where there is the greatest upheaval. Churches are far more consecrated where there are more martyrs. In the midst of the fire is where the gold is refined! It is in the flame where the wood, hay and stubble are burned up.

Two chapters that really spoke to us in our prayer were Jeremiah 7 and Ezekiel 14.

We acknowledged the guilt of the Church before God and that He is just to do whatever He chooses. The Church in America is without excuse. We were consoled by Romans 9:27. Clearly life in the Church will one day soon change. That life will be terrible and glorious. May the hearts of God's people be prepared for the Refiner's Fire.

Redeemer to a Holy Offspring.

This past Friday night's Firelight prayer was fascinating. The Holy Spirit's theme for the evening was a revelation of the Lord's character as the Redeemer. The various scriptures we received and the exhortations which came forth and the prophetic words declared reinforced that throughout the night.

The defining scripture portion for the evening seemed to have been Isaiah 53; the Messiah chapter. We all know it to accurately describe the life and ministry of Jesus, but it should be noted that does not at all depict the Royal Defender of the Covenant the Jews were awaiting. The Holy Spirit seemed to emphasize through the evening that it is completely consistent with God's nature to answer our prayers through unexpected means.

For example, we know He uses foolish things to confound the wise, so why are we always so surprised by the source of the answer? He chose little Bethlehem from among Israel's towns and cities. He used a shepherd boy against a giant, a Gideon's army against an invading force. He called order out of chaos, light out of darkness and gives beauty for ashes. And likewise this next, unparalleled, prophetic generation will arise from the midst of young men and women who bear little resemblance (in our way of thinking) to what heroes of faith look like!

The wayward appearance of the children from Christian homes is NOT AT ALL the end of the story! We are not to fear for their futures. The seed sown in their hearts--that imperishable Word of God--will surely spring up to be an abundant, fruit-bearing plant. Like their Lord which sprang from the root-stock of the tree of Jesse, this generation (even though the Church world be cut down to the root) will spring from that same living root.

It was truly an insightful and very encouraging time of prayer. Thanks to those of you who were able to attend.

Let us be careful to have eyes of faith to look beyond the self-evident into the eternal.

As a post-script, I came across a video called "The THUNDERING Song" which is an appeal for true prophets that I thought you might enjoy.

For those of you interested "TheCall DC" is August 16 with a pre-Call conference August 14-15.

My "Thanks!" to Mike Hebert who oversaw last month's Firelight while my family was in St. Louis.

Chuck Pierce's Word for the Next 40 Days

Chuck Pierce received the following prophecy on March 4th, 2008, and it is time to MARCH FORTH!
The Voice of Change is Stirring Us to Come UP from the Wilderness!
Dear Friends and Intercessors:
We are heading into two of the most rearranging, realigning months that we have ever known in the history of this generation. What occurs during these days will set a course for our lives and this nation. The Lord woke me at 1 o'clock on Tuesday morning, March 4th, 2008. As I walked into the bathroom I noticed a calligraphy verse: "Lean not on your own understanding." This verse lit up even though the light was not on in the bathroom. The verse became red and yellow like fire. When I went back in at 5 AM, I noticed that the verse was actually in navy blue!

I heard the Lord begin to say: "Lean not on your own understanding today. I am calling you to watch the way that begins to form! For I am forming and reforming the way for My people! Abrasive circumstances will increase over these next 40 days. Lean not on your own understanding. I will show you things that you do not know during this time. I will cause you to see the pattern that I am forming. Do not fall into an understanding of the past, even the past 40 years, for in the next 40 days I am producing a new time of understanding in My people. For My wisdom is not your wisdom. I am creating a fear and an awe of Me!

I will show you how evil is working. I will let you hear the voice of evil-- that voice that has been distracting, confronting, and taunting you. My cause will rise up in you. My words will form in your mouth. You will speak it to the atmosphere and the atmosphere around you will change.
I am forming a highway in your wilderness. It will not be made of shifting sand. The foundation for your future is being laid. I will cause you to see the land that will be made sure for you. Lean not on your own understanding. Allow these next 40 days to be that which will change the atmosphere from one of a mesmerizing force to the power of God in your midst.

Honor ME with a shout! Bless My Name. For My name is replacing the name of the enemy on the gates of entry into your future. Where the enemy had your gate blocked, I am now rising up to give you authority and entry into your new place!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Me and I will direct your path. Do not just look at your circumstances--do not lean on your own understanding! Keep your mind stayed upon Me. Do NOT allow your abilities to be your trust.

I will create a strong people that will rule in every sphere of authority. Spheres of authority will be rearranged in these next 40 days. The power of My words in your mouth will cause a breakthrough. Don't miss your window of opportunity or fail to recognize the catalyst I am creating for rearranged momentum. Receive an anointing to leap over the mountain that has been deceiving and intimidating you.

Don't be afraid of your storm this week, for I will reorder your way and will cause your times to be changed. I'll set you ahead of that which would overtake you and cause you to be overwhelmed. So don't fear the storm. Watch the rain and wind work to your benefit! Hear the keys shaking, for I am rattling the gates of hell. Decree the blockade that wouldn't open up and let you move forward, even in your emotions--is being unlocked and that you are now able to move forward.

Your path will become straight so that I might enter a new way. What is too high will come down and that which is too low will come up. I can bring the prideful into right order and bring the humble into a new place of seeking. I am creating a straight path for us to walk into the future. May you see the path on which I will lead you into the future. Allow Me to come into your midst and prepare a way through this wilderness and into your next place.

I control the end from the beginning. There is nothing that happens in the earth realm that is outside of MY dominion. Agree that My will will be done on earth as it is in Heaven this day. Look up and see Me as the King who reigns. See Heaven's highway forming in the earth realm around you. I am not asking you to go under, but to come up! Find the high way into the place that I have for you.

Hear My voice in the wilderness. Though you have been unsure of the way you are to go, today I am beginning to call you new and fresh. This is a time when you must not miss that window of momentum. Do not be content to only sit and be taught every day because teaching alone will not get you to your next place. You must have the anointing to leap over that mountain. My call is being extended from the heavenly realm.

War for the next 21 days to see My call come forth. Those that will hear the call that I have for them this hour know how to follow after the call that I am extending. This is not about a person you are following--but a call that I am placing to set a course for you out of one place and into another. Hear the call! My voice is entering into your valley and your wilderness and saying, 'Come up with Me!'

Now is the time of restructured vision. Now is the time of finding your place to stand on the land, a place that will not sink when you stand, a land that will not confuse or entrap you. Hear My voice in your wilderness. For in 40 days, I will begin to qualify those that have received and embraced My call!

Do not allow the enemy's voice to confuse you in the next few days. You will be accosted by the enemy three times to keep you from finding and standing firm on the highway that I am forming to bring you through and into your new! Watch carefully and know the different voices this hour. Voices will bring confusion into your atmosphere. In the midst of this time, you must know what you are to follow. This is a time when confusing voices over your financial state and the state of the world would create a disheartening emotion that would lead to fear.

I am the God of the gold and silver. I am the one who can shake loose new finances. I am the one who can cause things to be let go so you can move in and go through the gates I have for you. Do not let a narrow, high path in front of you seem to be too steep for you to climb. I am making a straight path and causing you to be directed in a new way these next 40 days.

You have never been this way before. Nations are hanging in the balance! My Kingdom government will now begin to rise up and form to influence the government of the earth. I am a God who creates a Highway that can only be seen by eyes who know My glory. You will know me as King and ruler. I confounded the gods of Egypt. I confounded the Roman Empire.

Let Me form the words in your mouth to confront those things that would keep you from finding the highway I have prepared in the wilderness. Only My voice can guide you through and to this narrow road! In the midst of these three confrontations, NOW I am forming the words for you to use to stop your enemy from overtaking you. This is a corporate call for My people to rise up. In this corporate call you must be a people who know how to confront the atmospheric war around you.

I am raising up an abrasive time that will provoke you and produce My jealousy in you so you rise up with a new war mantle against the forces of hell in your midst. I will raise the abrasion! I will provoke MY people to action. Wake from your slumber and stupor and hear Me now to come forth! Do not lean on your own understanding. Go with My flow and watch Me make a direct path. Watch Me cause a path to come into order.

Renew the foundation. I am ready to build again. I will begin to build your future. Activate that way that I am calling you. Do not fear going into the brush and the brambles to find the hidden treasure that you will use to build My altar this hour. Today I am activating you. The intensity of the time is now upon you. I am activating you and calling you to hear what is coming into your atmosphere. Be delivered from a deaf and dumb spirit that would keep you from speaking and hearing at the right time.

Rise up and create a path. Change an atmosphere and you will be able to take a stand in that land. Let Zion call forth. I am calling forth to Zion within you to rise up. Prepare for a quick change. Prepare for a quick change. Write the vision. Make it plain. Prepare for a quick change. I am calling for a new release of power over these 40 days. Do not lean on your own understanding. Go in My direction to create a power shift!"

Firelight Prayer Journal for 2/15/08

Prayer this past Friday night was truly special. There seemed to be a singular focus on interceding about those things that were on the heart of God. Though I didn’t take notes, I’ll try to include some of the things we felt impressed to pray about, though not in the order we received them.

As we were praying in the midst of the Louisiana Legislature’s Special Session on ethics reform we prayed for divine guidance for the legislators. We believed that raising ethical standards would be an indication that God would be raising moral standards in Louisiana culture as a parallel.

Likewise we prayed for Governor Jindal as he guides the state under godly influence. We noted that it was prophesied the eyes of the nation would be upon Louisiana to take the lead. Just that week the Governor was suggested as a possible nominee for Vice President of the US and the nation’s “next Ronald Reagan.” We thanked God that the news served as a token of greater things he had in store for Louisiana.

We prayed for those LSU students working toward a week of 24/7 prayer on the campus. Their efforts were absolutely pivotal in the move of God to be released in this region of Louisiana. We thanked God that by faith he was raising up more believers with heart to seek God and laying the groundwork for 24/7 prayer meetings all around the area. It was prophesied that God was in the process of lighting little “fires” across Louisiana (prayer meetings) and would later send a wind to cause those little fires to sweep the state. We prayed God would continue to bless and encourage all in Louisiana who were committing to deeper prayer. We asked the Lord to make the leaders of this new move toward 24/7 prayer to be courageous in the face of naysayers—men and women committed to what God set their hands to.

One of our members works at Parkview and considers the school her special project. We agreed with her that God would transform the school from whatever the community thinks it is (whether academic or athletic) but would instead be known as a school where the Spirit of God prevails over it all.

Another member brought a print-out of a prophetic word she received by email. The word was for Miami, Florida and Louisiana concerning unusually strong spring storms with resulting floodwaters. We prayed for God’s protection on our state.

While this doesn’t cover everything, it hopefully gives you a taste of some of what was prayed about.

Two Upcoming Prophetic Conferences in LA

I usually find out things like this too late. So, I wanted to pass this along to you:

There are two upcoming conferences in Louisiana which we wanted you to be aware of. You can also check for simialr conferences at any time by going to the website www.prayerfocusministries.com and clicking on the “Schedule” button.

Swiftfire Ministries International
Quantum Leap
Ray Huges, David Van Koevering, Sharnael Wolverton
Denham Springs, LA
February 21-23, 2008
www.swiftfire.org

IFL Northeast Regional Conference
Mobilizing the Army of God
Monroe, LA
February 15-16, 2008
More information: Contact CHatcher@pray4govt.org or
TTrahan@pray4govt.org

The Cry of a Nazirite

It is God's heart to raise up in this generation men and women aflame with holy devotion to Him and His purposes. Tragically, the Church is bloated with sell-outs who are profiteers of the Gospel. She is drunk from the intoxication of a self-empowering, you-can-have-it-all, "Jesus wants you blessed" kind of Christianity. Compare that with the early Church Apostles who were martyred for their convictions rather than bend to popular culture.

Instead, the eyes of the Lord today roam "throughout the face of the earth seeking those whose hearts are completely His" (2 Chron 16:9). We have relied on church growth seminars, pollster prophets, business management training, success principles of franchise marketing, and mission statements with corporate branding to attempt to build 21st century churches. God is not mocked. He wants His people in our day to abandon our trust in chariots and horses and to radically and unashamedly put our trust in Him. We would be wise to seek out the ancient pathways.

Where are those who would pray and fast with a desparate longing for the living God to breathe upon His people again? When will we learn that it is not by might nor by power, but by His Spirit that the work of God will ever be accomplished? When will we die to the tinsel this world tantalizes us with and ache to instead see the hand of God touch the leprosy of our land?

In stark contrast to the marketing madness gripping our churches is the following poem--the heart of a young woman who yearns to see God call forth His Nazirites once again:

For Such a Time

I was fashioned for this day

I was born just for this hour

A day of revolution

An invasion of Your power

We're John the Baptist signals

Posted high up on a hill

Lifting trumpet voices

And doing all Your will

My heart was made for burning

My destiny extreme

Called to be a Nazirite

A faith and fire machine

I'm fasting in the desert

And making straight the path

Proclaiming by Your Spirit

"Mercy triumphs over wrath!"

I'm laying down my future

In worship at Your feet

I'm calling for revival

To fill our nation's streets

I'm lifing up my voice

To God who answers prayer

"make me the hinge of hist'ry!"

And He answers

"Become it if you dare!"

To see the Lamb exalted

And His reward secured

I'll live a life of sacrifice

And let His voice be heard

For such a time as this

And for this very hour

God's called a generation

To be channels of His power

John the Baptist company

With Elijah in their blood

Burning in the desert

So that God will send a flood

--by Sylvia M. Barnhart--

Do you still share her passion? Or is there no oil left in your lamp?