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.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
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. Th
e 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.
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. Th
e 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.
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