I believe that we are in transition from the church moving from the place of being an institution and becoming a family. Ever since the beginning, God has been into building family. It was a structure that God put in place even before the church.
There is new sense of excitement in my spirit as I look to the future. I believe we are living in the greatest time of human history. Everything seems to be increasing in intensity day by day. The harvest from both good and bad seed sown for centuries is being realized before our very eyes. Neville Johnson spoke of this years ago. The groans of the earth are getting louder and louder with each passing day. I hear the groans every time I pull into the gas station to fill up my Jeep. Today, I spent more money on groceries for both Cheryl and I then I have spent in 44 years of marriage. It was during this very time prophesied by Jesus that He gave the following instruction found in Luke 21:25-28 (ESV)
I think we’ve all been in a season of shaking, sifting, pruning,etc. The one thing that has come up in my heart over and over during this season is the act of forgiveness and confession of sin in the form of holding un -forgiveness. This seems to be a key in these times- to allow the Lord to humble us into a deeper life of repentance whereas we lose our right to hold grudges against others.
There is so much more instruction that he gave me that is too long to blog about. I’ll speak about it once I’m home. But he showed me a couple “markers” to show me that this final awakening has already started in Cornerstone.
You could say that this tribe was the “intelligence” department of all the ancient tribes of Israel. They not only knew the times and the seasons, they also knew how to instruct the rest of Israel in what to do. In these incredible days of chaos and confusion, I am grateful for prophetic voices that can keep us appraised in what is going on and how to navigate the days in which we live. Even in the early days of the new millennium, God gave us Kim Clement who had incredible accuracy in the season we’re living in now.
One of the most encouraging things in coming into relationship with the Holy Spirit was the receiving of prophetic words and words of knowledge. It is safe to say that the first prophetic word that Cheryl and I received on January 11th, 1992 totally changed our lives and ministry. The Apostle Paul said this about the importance of prophetic words in 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 (ESV)
Over the years we have had many words about “Cornerstone Fellowship” being part of a spiritual awakening that would take place in the last days. Years ago, Bonnie Chavda gave Cheryl and I a word about Cornerstone being like a nuclear warhead that would eventually bring great destruction to the kingdom of darkness. When the papa prophet, the late Bob Jones last came to Cornerstone with the “Elijah List Conference”, he prophesied that Cornerstone would be part of an awakening/revival that would continue until the second coming of Jesus. We’ve also received prophetic words several times by a couple of different prophetic voices that the ‘fear of the Lord” would be one of the characteristics of this awakening, that the Spirit that took out Ananias and Sapphira would return in the last days of the church. I would like to take a minute and review the scripture that shares this event; Acts 5:1-11 (ESV).
The Apostle Paul knew this was available by inspiration or He wouldn’t have written the words given to him by the Holy Spirit. History shows that the church at Ephesus grasped this encouragement from Paul and literally saw this perverted principality of “Dianna” come crashing down. Ephesus was free from this sexual cult for the next 200 years.
I see a rising up of My people for there has been a rising up of their prayers and petitions before Me. I have heard their cries and have seen their tears."
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
Isaiah 60:1
"I am putting an awareness in My people of the overcoming power that I have placed within them. Did I not say the righteous shall be bold as a lion? My roar is about to reverberate throughout the whole earth from the mouth of my people. As they speak forth My rhema word into situations...into atmospheres, change shall take place. I uphold ALL things by the word of My power."
The debate continues. Is church the place to discuss “politics”? That seems to be the big divide presently in the church. Trying to keep a congregation informed has cost me dearly over the last 18 months. I have always wrestled with what the Holy Spirit would have me share or not share. In reality, most miss is the fact that we have been in World War III over the last 2 years.
This quote from Jesus is the essence of one who would be a follower of His. However, it is contrary to every other religion known to man. In religion, people worship to get. We appease the gods by our gifts and sacrifices. In turn, we expect the gods to provide for us. It is the heart of idolatry. In pagan cultures, there is a multiplicity of gods to meet a plethora of needs. I worship a particular god to get a particular need met.
If you hold to a Wednesday crucifixion as I do, last night would’ve been the night of the last supper in the upper room and all the events of that evening. Just imagine all that took place from the triumphant entrance just a few days prior to the denial and betrayal of Jesus. It’s easy to point fingers at the disciples but we have an advantage that they didn’t. Afterall, hindsight, they say is 20:20.
I believe we are entering into the days that we have heard of…. days of awe. There will be a sense of awe as in these days there will be a complete yielding to the leading of His Spirit which will result in complete demonstrations of His Spirit. It will be a time when we are so aware of the preferences, the leading and guiding of Holy Spirit that we will be a people who truly are spirit-led. Over the years, the body of Christ has experienced church services that were mostly flesh or religion. We have had services that were a mixture….
When I think about the word “endure”, I think about “Team Hoyt”. Team Hoyt refers to father Dick Hoyt and his son Rick Hoyt (born January 10, 1962) from Holland, Massachusetts. Rick Hoyt was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth after his umbilical cord became twisted around his neck, which caused the blockage of oxygen flow. As a result, his brain could not properly control his muscles.
Philippians 3:13-14. ESV
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Wait to see what I have prepared for you. I know you inside and out and yet you do not see your full potential. This is for your good and protection from the enemy of pride. You will continue to see the plan unfold but know that all that is happening is directed by Me and not your own ability. I can see clearly into the future and I have mapped the way. Follow Me.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Only those who will humble themselves before Me can be used in this coming season. They must be completely rid of self-ambition and not only this but all desire for the accomplishments of man. It will be in this season that I will rise up in My Church as a beacon of light drawing others to Myself. If they see Me they will come and they will bow before Me and honor Me and be saved from the coming judgments.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
How shall you live? With your eyes on the prize. I come slowly and silently at times and you must be aware. If you keep your eyes on Me you will know the turns that I make and will follow Me. Even though you have followed Me before this time ahead will be quite different. I shall move with stealth and undergird My Church and undermine My enemy. He will not be aware of the explosion of faith that will ensue. He is not all-knowing. You on the other hand have My Spirit and will know the signs of the times.
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you… But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:15-17, 26
I am coming child do not doubt it. It may look dark and bleak at present but then the sun will burst forth in the clouds and we shall see the purpose together. There shall be dancing in the streets. Amen. Lift your voices in praise now in anticipation of what I shall do in this hour and never, never doubt My Word to you.
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:6-8
We are living in absolutely, unprecedented times. Intimacy with the Lord is imperative to know both pray and move in these times. Jesus said this about His secrets to His disciples the night before He was crucified; John 15:15 (ESV)
“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
If you want to know what’s really going on, get close to Jesus, become His friend and He will share His secrets with you. He will help you decipher between the truth and lies. Knowing the truth is the only way to make sure your intercession is true and accurate. You see truth is not theology, belief systems, forms of worship or even a political persuasion. Truth is a person. Jesus said this of Himself in John 14:6 (ESV)
Many of us are looking toward the revival for which we have been praying and believing. We hear in the messages of others the call to prayer to birth this long-awaited revival in our nation and the world.
I totally agree that we are on the verge of a revival that will sweep the nations for Christ. I believe we will see multitudes come into the Kingdom. What I don’t see is this revival being as we have seen in the past. Oh, it will have many components that we have seen in the past moves of God, but this revival I sense is marked to be different. It will not be for entertainment or the pleasures of the church. This is about the harvest and His Kingdom rule being unleashed upon the earth. This could very well be the last revival this earth will witness before the coming of our Lord. Many souls will be harvested, and the Lord is about to reap the rewards of His suffering.
This is a very familiar scripture to the body of Christ. It is often quoted in sermons and declared in prayer….” God will open a door that no man can shut. He will shut a door that no man can open.” Most often this is in the context of ministry or opportunities that the Father is putting before us.
Recently during a time with the Lord, He began showing me places where I had been given a choice of the spiritual path to take in my life. The places I left were places which were known and familiar…places where my future was certain. Instead, I chose to press in the direction of something new, something more, an unknown and unfamiliar path. I did not know where the path would lead but I knew I would never be fulfilled unless I went. There was a calling and a wooing toward what was hidden in future. A path I knew I must continue.
I hope you all had a wonderful “Valentine’s Day” and were able to spend the day with that some one special in your life. I was curious as to the day’s origin, so I did some research online. I found a plethora of possible origins of the day. Found this little tidbit on History.com.