Excerpts from "Hinds' Feet on High Places" by Hannah Hurnard

Posted: 2007-12-06 15:39:08

Excerpts from Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard, Living Books, 1975

Habakkuk 3:19, He will make my feet like hinds’ (deer) feet and he will make me to walk upon my high places.

Introduction: “Much Afraid” is the name of a young lady who visits the Shepherd regularly and is encouraged by what he says. (this book is an allegory)  She is not loved or appreciated in the Valley she lives in and has problems in her life and with her personality. After some years of visiting the Shepherd she is offered a chance to go to the High Places by invitation of the Shepherd and not have to live in the Valley any more. She is promised to be guided to the High Places to live, to have her feet be made as hinds’ feet, and to have her name changed. One requirement before she goes is that she must learn to love in the new Kingdom of Love that she is going to, but that the Shepherd will put that seed in her heart that will grow and flower if she wants it and wants to go to the High Places. She decides to take this journey not knowing that it will be very hard and that she will be changed in some dramatic ways all along her journey. Some of the things she learns are as follows. 

P.12,   Whatever happens to us is by God’s permission and design. Every sacrifice we make and every abandoning of ourselves to his will is a means of furthering us on the way to the High Places which he desires to bring every child of his while they are still living on the earth. His goal is that we would experience unbroken union with him not letting these (negative) happenings side track us.

P. 18,   Two disfigurements that the young lady named “Much Afraid” had (a crooked mouth and crooked feet). She feared that there would no deliverance from these and that they would continue to mar her service always. (the Shepherd would be disappointed and she would be seen by others in a negative light). 

P. 24,   To go up to the High Places you must have a growing love in your heart. “Much Afraid” responded, I think I have a longing in my heart to be loved and admired, (but not very much love for others). Then the Shepherd said, I will plant the seed then in you, if you want it and it will grow and flower. But know this, if you love you will be hurt, but to love is happy, and the pain in love will not be as significant to you as the happiness of loving others.

P. 29,   Know this, that growing into the likeness of what you want to be will be a long process. 

P. 33,   (After some time of walking with the Shepherd, “Much Afraid” says) What is the use of thinking of going to the High Places? I could never reach them, for the least, little thing is enough to turn me back.

P. 56,   How is it that wild flowers are not seen by men and animals just walk on them and don’t appreciate them? The wild flowers have a wonderful lesson to teach. They offer themselves confidently and willingly and with no one to appreciate them. They sing their joyous song to themselves that it is so happy to love even though one is not loved in return (but God loves their song).

P. 57,   The greatest victories and most beautiful flowers in our life to the Lord, no one ever knows about.

P. 60,   Once you go high (with the Lord) you will want to go low to do all the painful work of self giving and then go high again to be rejuvenated. Only in the High Places of Love can we receive power to pour ourselves down in utter abandonment to give to others. (Like water coming down and falling from the high mountains to give drink to those below).

P. 61,   I planted the seed of love in your heart and already it has begun to make you hear and see things which you had not noticed before (bubbling water sounds, the color of flowers, birds songs, the people you see each day (your two guides)).

P. 63,   If I (the Shepherd) carried you to the top (of the High Places, without all the struggles you are going through) you would never develop hinds’ feet for yourself and you could not be my companion and go where I go. When you get your hinds’ feet then you will be able to go with me “leaping upon the mountains.” If you don’t fully learn love you will be on the smaller hills always in reach of your enemies (they will be able to bother you). 

P. 77,   One of “Much Afraid’s” enemies named Pride met her on her path and said, The Shepherd will abandon you when you get to the top (the High Places). Has he not surprised you so far with your traveling companions Sorrow and Suffering (detours through a desert), might he also surprise you with other things (of course always saying they are for your good) but still very hard to do? He says you are going to the Kingdom of Love? You were never loved in the valley where you lived because of your deformities, how will you be loved up there (in the High Places) where there are no blemishes? 

P. 82,   This desert path contradicts all that you (the Shepherd) promised. I want to go up to the High Places (but we are going away from them now). The High Places are postponed but for how long or why is not told. Just that it is to be. OK, I will do it, as a burnt offering of my heart and to be in your will and do whatever pleases you.

P. 91,   I saw the little golden flower in the desert with one drop of water falling on it from time to time, it’s name is Acceptance with Joy. (And so that is what I must do).

P. 105,   This is a great day to remember “Much Afraid” said the Shepherd. The day you promised to wait patiently until I give you your hearts desires. (I have promised you many things and I cannot lie).

P. 126,   I don’t think I want hinds’ feet, if it means I have to go on a path like that, she said slowly and painfully (as she looked ahead).

P. 145,   Don’t ever allow yourself to begin to picture what it will be like (ahead). Believe me (said the Shepherd), when you get to the places which you dread you will find that they are as different as possible from what you have imagined….

P. 152,   Much Afraid was now accepting her two guides more as (friends) and companions and she seemed to be more alive than ever before to beauty and delight in the world around her. She was enjoying more every little detail of her life (the morning star, the sound of the rain, the safety and peace of her temporary little hut).

P. 172,   At one point Much Afraid was tempted with these thoughts. Instead of doing what the Shepherd wanted maybe she should choose the path she wants. Her sorrow and suffering could be ended at once and she could plan her own life in the way she liked best, without the Shepherd.

P. 174,   Now he wants me to go down into the Valley of Loss and loose everything I had gained before, and he wants me to climb the highest wall I have ever seen. (Suffer yourself to loose all of the past). 

P. 176,   If all things that you promised are not true (although I believe you cannot lie) still it is you that I will follow. (I have none other). 

P. 179,   Love is beautiful and it is also terrible (in the Shepherd), terrible in its determination to allow nothing blemished or unworthy to remain in the beloved.

P. 182,   This very high cliff that you dreaded will take no effort this time. We will be carried in these chairs on guide wires, without any struggling or striving on your part.

P. 189,   When there is a mist over the High Mountains where you are going (and you can’t see them) you may think they are not real (at times) but then the mist will part for a few moments some days and frame the truth. You have seen reality, the mist is the illusion. Whatever happens I mean to bring you up there exactly as I promised.

P. 198,   Now I want you to take the promises of hinds’ feet, going to the Higher Places, and the love I have put in your heart and offer all these promises as a burnt offering.

P. 202,   These promises of hinds’ feet and to go to the High Places have not come to pass as yet. But I must admit I am walking in higher places than I ever have before? I will hold on to these promises. So what if I die now without all I wanted?

P. 211,   I am now at this “grave” and at the place where I make a burnt offering of all promises. One flame now burns in Much Afraid steadily, the flame of concentrated desire to do his will, everything else had died and fallen to ashes.

P. 241,   You always saw me (Much Afraid) as I will be (like a queen walking with grace) not as I was. And now I tell you (my Shepherd) I greatly want to regard others in the same way. (Last page) I greatly desire to go back to my valley and help those who are so miserable. The Shepherd says, that is what I do, let us go there.

Give Thanks-2007

Posted: 2007-11-19 23:30:23

we give thanks to God for His love, mercy, and blessings!  We also thank God for His precious gift of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord!  

                       

David and Sybil Nelson

Statement concerning the Prosperity message and the U.S. Economy by David Nelson

Posted: 2007-11-19 18:04:48

Statement concerning the Prosperity Message and the U.S. Economy                      

by David Nelson    (11-19-07)

John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostle Paul all preached that we should give up worldly goods that would entrap our hearts and that we should give to the poor, and they lived frugal life styles that backed up what they taught. This teaching of a simpler, non-worldly life style is found in various prophecies on our website and in Chapter 8 (“The Lord’s Path, Not of this World”) in the book Desiring One Thing. This Chapter is now posted on our Latest Page.  The Prosperity Message being taught in many churches and on many Christian TV programs is contrary to Biblical teaching found throughout the New Testament (the gospels, the book of Acts, etc.). * (For writings that teach a non-worldly life style please send us your request and we will send them to you). 

Also, I have been reading many warnings lately that the U.S. economy is going to fall, it is just a matter of time and that this will be one of the Lord’s judgments on America. Many prophetic voices have said that cities of America are going to burn, that America is Babylon and that this country will be judged and will fall.  (Please see book on books/prophecies page “Flee From Babylon”). A Babylon system will fall by the judgments of God (Jeremiah 50 & 51 and Revelation 18). From these verses it sounds like they are talking about the United States. Some Babylon system will be judged by God for the Word must come to pass. Also, many judgments (natural catastrophes) must come to pass as recorded in the book of Revelation. When will this happen? The Lord has not said to me if it is 6 months, two years, 6 years or even 20 years, but it will happen some time. Signs are pointing to sooner rather than later.

I believe the rug will be pulled out from under the feet of the people of this world and many will be bewildered and not know what to do, including “Christians” who are attending church regularly. We must be learning to know our God now. For when the rug gets pulled out from under us, those who know their God will be able to help many who don’t know what to do.

How to prepare for all this? Lift up your eyes to the Lord, be ready for His coming, know His voice, He will give us the strength and wisdom to know what to do when the time comes that we need to know. The Lord will lead us through all things that are ahead, no matter how trying the times will get. We will need each other. Bless you all, and write us and let us know what the Lord is showing you. We as brothers and sisters are in this together with the Lord as our Great Shepherd and High Commander.

"The Brightest Star" by David Nelson (11-13-07)

Posted: 2007-11-19 16:22:40

The Brightest Star    by David Nelson   (11-13-07) 

If you look up in the night sky on a cloud-less night notice which one is the brightest star in the sky. Depending on the time of the night the brightest, natural object besides the moon might be the planet Venus  which looks like a very bright star.

Now I would like you to think about your daily walk with the Lord. Did the Lord speak to you today so clearly that you can write down what He said? In these days we are learning to hear the Lord’s voice more and more clearly. In the Bible the Lord might appear to someone through an angelic visitation, or He might speak audibly, or He might speak into our spirit as when He spoke to prophets, “And the word of the Lord came to (so and so, the prophet).” Actually much of Scripture are the experiences of God speaking to people, and then what He said to them or what He asked them to do was written down. These leadings, manifestations, and words of God were to specific people and they were so clear that they could be written down. Does God still speak this clearly today? I believe so. Of course, what God says to us today is not written down with the same authority as the written Bible. That Word is complete and finished. But He does want to speak clearly to us today if we are willing to “tune in” to hear Him. Each day the Lord may want to show you something that I will call a manifestation of God (or a bright star or ray of light into our day). These leadings or words from the Lord I call manifestations because I Corinthians 12:7 says, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man for the profit of everyone.” These manifestations are inspired by God or God breathed.  The breaking through of God to speak to us or show us something is a manifestation of God. Even if the Lord shows you something at home, He may want you to share it with others to encourage them.

The Lord has been showing me in the last few years that I must be more focused and “tuned in” to the Lord, and be looking for these daily manifestations of God and that they will be so clear and so unlike anything else that they are like rays of light in the dark or like bright stars (brighter than the rest). Certainly we are to know the voice of our Master (our Shepherd) and follow Him. These “words” from the Lord (of course, in complete harmony with the written Word) will be so clear that we can actually write down what He says or what He shows us. In the experiences of people in the Bible the Lords words and directions were written down for us to read. And today the Lord is still speaking to us and leading us with crystal clarity if we will have “ears to hear.”

Now, it is possible that the Lord may not show us anything on a particular day, nothing seems to shine like a star. But that does not mean that He might not show us something every other day, or once a week, or even give us a lot in one day. All I care about these days is hearing something clear from the Lord in my daily walk or when I get together with others (2 or 3 gathered, or maybe a church meeting). Even if we gather together with others there is no guarantee that everything that happens is a manifestation of God, although it would be great if our meetings were 100% led by the Lord. Wouldn’t that be great if there were just one manifestation after another, orchestrated by the Lord, each one giving their part from the Lord?

That’s what I want. I want to tune myself to God these days, get to know His voice better and better, and see what He will shine into my life from His throne. What is the brightest star in the sky at night? What was the brightest spot in my day where the Lord showed me something from heaven? Or what were the brightest spots in my week (maybe only one thing that stands out). If they were rays of light from the Lord then He manifested Himself to me. And if I know what He said then I could write down what He said or did.

I think we will see Him and hear Him in a different way if we focus on what really is the Lord speaking to me today. And we also should ask Him, Lord, please let me have ears to hear you and please speak to me more, I am listening for you.

The "Horsemen Dream" by Michael Boldea Jr.

Posted: 2007-11-19 16:16:21

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

The Dream

As promised yesterday, the following is a dream I had the night of October 29Th. It is essentially a transcript of what will be going in the next newsletter.

I had a dream last night, and if not for the specific instruction to share what I saw, I would have preferred to keep it to myself. I had gone to bed late, having waited for my wife to get home from work. After seeing that she had arrived home safely, and saying my prayers, I fell into a restful sleep.
I dreamt that I was sleeping, when a hand touched my shoulder, and a voice I recognized said, 'wake up.'
In my dream I opened my eyes, and my breath caught in my throat as I saw who had awakened me. It was the same messenger, the angel I had seen on previous occasions, dressed in full battle armor, standing by the side of my bed.
'Take my hand' he said, 'I have been sent to show you something.'
I barely touched the hand that was extended toward me when my bed and my bedroom evaporated, and I found myself standing before a white, oblong building, that looked allot like a barn or a horse stable. Two large doors made up the front of the structure, and as I looked they began to swing open.
I knew wherever I was, it was not of this earth, because everything shone, everything was white, pristine, immaculate.
I also knew that whatever the reason for being shown this, was about to be revealed, so I stood in silence, holding the messenger's hand.
As soon as the doors were fully open, I saw an angel that looked very much like the one standing beside me, except without the armor, leading a white horse by its reins. The horse was large and muscular, but he followed the angel obediently with its head bent low. The angel's countenance was somber as he led the horse away, and for some reason this registered with great clarity.
I looked up to the messenger whose hand I was still holding, but he merely nodded toward the white building and the open doors, and said, 'witness.'
Another angel soon appeared in the doorway, holding the reins of a red horse, following after the first. I began to realize what I was seeing, and in silence watched as two more angels appeared, each holding the reins of a horse, one black, one of no discernible color, just pale. All four angels were dressed alike, and had the same somber, sorrowful countenance.
I stood and watched as all four horses were led out of my sight, and finally when they had disappeared from view, the messenger turned to me and said: 'Go and tell what you have seen. The riders prepare, the horses are ready, and soon they will descend, soon they will be loosed. Remember what you have witnessed, and do not hold back a single word. Soon they descend on wings of fury; soon turmoil will shake earth's very foundation.
Prepare yourself, for many will fall and few will stand. Fulfillment is at hand, go and speak what you have seen, and what you have heard. The Kingdom awaits the righteous, the holy will soon see the Lord.'
I only realized I was still holding his hand when he let go of mine, and suddenly I was back in my bed, sitting up, fully awake. I am still unsure whether or not it was a dream, or if 'dream' is the right word for it, but for simplicity's sake I will call it a dream.
I tried to go back to sleep but could not, vividly remembering the sorrowful look on the faces of the angels who were leading the horses out of the stables.
It seems the world is seeing, what the church is refusing to acknowledge, the fact that we are on the cusp of great upheaval not only in this nation, but also throughout the world.
These are the days of which the prophets spoke, the days of which Christ warned, the time of distress, of sifting and of separation.
My prayer is that we remember always, our hope is in the Lord, and He is faithful to those who are faithful to Him. If one word stands out from this entire dream, it is the word 'prepare' and we mus do so with diligence. The children of God must steel themselves for what is coming, prepare their hears and settle within their soul that the day in which we will have to stand for truth is soon approaching.

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea Jr.

Posted by Michael Boldea Jr. at 1:46 PM  

Excerpts from "The Ministry of the Sons" from Sharon Luzzi

Posted: 2007-11-19 16:10:41

Excerpts from The Ministry of the Sons (and Daughters of the Living God) (11-7-07)  from Sharon Luzzi

(My own: Is this who you are, is this who you are becoming, is this who you want to be?)

Simplicity surrounds the ministry of the Sons of God in bringing Heaven to Earth.

They build crossings. They bridge relationship. They fill the Gap between heaven and earth.
They are Trail Blazers. They have paved the pathway they have climbed for others to ascend to behold the Glory of God.

Intimacy with God is where they find courage and strength.

The Pleasure of God is a focal point of their heart in their ministry to the GodHead. While the enemy aims at usurping any pleasure God should receive from His creation and relationships, The Sons strive to bring Him pleasure until He is filled.

They don’t strive for ministry position. There is no competition in them. They have come to Serve.

They minister to the Lord. And He ministers to the people through them.

They are guardians of the mysteries of God. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, [and] rivers in the desert.

Their soul purpose is to manifest Christ and reveal the Heart of Father God to those around them. Their Law: And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this [is] the first commandment. and your neighbor as yourself.
 The Sons are a conduit of the GodHead. Golden vessels clothed in humility.
They are worshippers. They have intimate knowledge of God’s heart.

They are Sons… after Mine Own heart, which shall fulfill all My will, says God.

No wonder all creation groans and waits for their revealing. Will you recognize them?
“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. Face to Face

Excerpts from "Why I Left the Prophetic Movement" by Andrew Strom

Posted: 2007-11-07 08:34:53

Chapter One:  Why I Left the Prophetic Movement (pages 5-15)

P. 5-  I have no problem with the concept of ‘prophets’ as such. In fact, I wish we had more real prophets in the world, not less.

P. 6-  A report on the Kansas City Conference, Oct 28-30, 2004. The saddest thing of all is that many people probably came away from this conference saying how “wonderful” and “uplifting” it was…. But I have to tell you, I was grieved to the core by it.

P. 7-  The word the Lord gave me (He woke me up Friday morning at 6:00 A.M.) was that this must be a ‘repentance’ conference-that this was in essence the “last chance” for the Prophetic movement because it had become more and more corrupt-centered around money and ‘ear tickling’ words, false prophecy and so on.

However, what actually eventuated at this event seemed to me to be more akin to a circus than a solemn assembly. (music, stage lighting, dancers, the hype, $40.00 door fee, offerings every session)

What really bothered me about the weekend was the total lack of any truly ‘prophetic’ preaching (a message that that truly pierces and challenges and convicts).

P. 8-  The on stage dancing throughout this conference… made me very uncomfortable in my spirit. It seemed so “pagan,” that I could hardly even bear to stay in there. Then came one of the main prophets; He said, you may feel uncomfortable with this “pagan” type dancing but that it was originally God’s type of dancing and we were just now ‘stealing back’ what the pagans had stolen from God! This was the last straw for me. What kind of ‘spirits’ do they think are being transmitted to people who open themselves up to that music? There is no discernment in this movement at all.

P. 9-  Below are the SPECIFIC THINGS that God told me He has against this movement as a whole:

-The giving and receiving of “ear tickling” words.

-The giving and receiving of money in expectation of prophecy.

-False words and false teaching.

-The lack of a true Repentance message.

_-The spiritual ‘blindness’ that allows familiar spirits and spirits of divination to flourish.

-The failure of the movement to judge itself, meaning that God must judge it.

-The idolizing of well-known prophets-placing them on a pedestal.

P. 11-  There are some teachings and practices that come straight out of the New Age movement (Andrew Strom gives some examples). I told my readers that if they attended these kind of things, or allowed these prophets to ‘guide’ them in the way, then they were opening themselves up to all kinds of spirits and demonic counterfeits. I went on: “It is with great sadness that I make the above points. I have refrained from saying such things in the past, but I can no longer do so, because untold people are being spiritually damaged by what is going on. Please understand my heart in this.”

HOW TO AVOID DECEPTION

What a lot of people don’t seem to recognize is the sheer level of ‘peer pressure’ and ‘crowd manipulation’ that is going on at many of these events. They end up being led into doing things they feel uncomfortable with, just because “everybody else” is doing it. They squash down their discernment. They ignore the “little voice” or the tiny ‘alarm bells’ inside them that are trying to get their attention.

P. 12-  REDEFINING “PROPHET”   Just because I have cut myself off from today’s Prophetic movement does not mean that there is no place for prophets in the church. In fact, I believe we need true prophets now more than ever. Every true Prophetic movement, right from the Old Testament down through every Revival and Awakening that I have ever studied, has been a movement of REPENTANCE. And yet we find today a movement that calls itself “Prophetic”- but with ‘revelations’ and words of knowledge at its core-No piercing word. This is the precise reason why it has gone off the rails. I am convinced that God IS  going to raise up true prophets in this hour to cry to the lukewarm church “Repent.” The “John the Baptists” whom God has prepared in the caves and wildernesses are about to arise and speak His word-just as in every Great Awakening down through history. The whole point of what we are still doing is to call forth and encourage these “John the Baptists” whom God is raising up in this hour. We will not stop crying aloud until we see a great “Repentance” Revival sweeping this nation from coast to coast. 

Chapter Five:  What is Real Revival? (pages 56-60)

P. 56-  I have often been saddened by the corruption of the term “Revival” in recent times-and what it actually means. So few Christians seem to be aware of what really happens when God comes down. (For that is what true Revival is- “GOD COMING DOWN”). When Moses came down from the mountain, he carried the holy presence and glory of God with him. The people wanted to run and hide! That is what true Revival has always been like. It is the invasion of the awesome holy presence of God….We need to see people truly “cut to the heart” like on the day of Pentecost.

P. 57-  True Revival itself is aimed at cleansing, purging and then empowering God’s people. If they have fallen into a state of spiritual decline or lukewarmness, then the first thing that true Revival will bring is deep REPENTANCE. True Revival brings God’s children to their knees. As on writer commented, Revival is “not the top blowing off, but rather the bottom falling out.”

P. 58-  In this kind of genuine outpouring of the Holy Spirit the tangible presence of God is very real Frank Bartleman described one of the meetings during the Azusa Street Revival of 1906 as follows: “God came so wonderfully near us the very atmosphere of Heaven seemed to surround us. Such a divine ‘weight of glory’ was upon us we could only lie on our faces. All would be on their faces on the floor, sometimes during the whole service.”

P. 59-  As Evan Roberts (of the 1904 Welsh Revival) said: “First, is there any sin in your past with which you have not honestly dealt,-not confessed to God? On your knees at once. Your past must be put away and cleansed. Second, is there anything in your life that is doubtful-anything you cannot decide whether it is good or evil? Away with it There must not be a trace of a cloud between you and God. Have you forgiven everybody-EVERYBODY? If not, don’t expect forgiveness for your sins….”

A CLOUD OF CONFUSION   With any new MOVE OF God, Satan is desperate to somehow thwart or destroy it, not just AFTER it has begun, but if at all possible, even BEFORE it begins.

P. 60-  The devil will use any means at his disposal to try and derail or destroy a new (or imminent) Revival.  Revival is the devil’s worst nightmare come true- a flood of cleansing and power designed to restore God’s people to what they were meant to be in the world. When Revival breaks out, or is about to break out, the devil will often move on many fronts: targeting certain leaders whom God is using to prepare the people, trying to break up relationships between key leaders, stirring up opposition from other Christians, introducing “counterfeits”…stirring up controversy to distract people’s minds away from central truths, etc. If he can ruin a Revival in the ‘preparation’ stage, then the devil knows he has done incredibly well. However, if he can’t, then he will try to ruin it as soon as possible after it begins.

Chapter Seven:  A Real Prophetic Movement (pages 89-91) Trumpet Call to the Church---Laodicean Prophets in a Laodicean Age

P. 89-  It is not just the (false) “manifestations” that convinced me that the whole Prophetic movement was failing God, but it was also the lack of any real “trumpet call” to the church. In one of my articles I wrote, “We live today in the age of the ‘Lukewarm” church- a church that is at imminent risk of being “spewed out” of the mouth of God. I believe that God raised up the Prophetic move specifically to awaken and challenge and convict His wayward people before it was too late. Too many prophets have made themselves thoroughly comfortable with the present system. They know that if they keep their mouths shut in certain areas and “emphasize the positive” (an advertising slogan) then they can do quite nicely for themselves without too much risk. Thus, through their silence they have become nodding supporters of the status quo. They are Laodicean prophets in a Laodicean age. Biblical prophets knew how to “cry aloud and spare not.” Which is exactly the kind of preaching that a lukewarm church most needs to hear.

P. 90-  I believe that God gave one of the most key mandates to the modern Prophetic movement in 1982 when He said: “I am going to change the understanding and expression of Christianity IN THE EARTH in one generation.” I believe this movement was sent to essentially proclaim this to the church-in the fullest degree-A tidal wave of MASSIVE CHANGE. There is no doubt that it is a very threatening message to the Laodicean status quo. But we are to STAND on it and PROCLAIM it in the most radical sense.  What we have now is a Prophetic movement that can live quite happily with the status quo-side by side with a thoroughly lukewarm church. The Prophetic movement that God desired to be at the center of a great vortex of “CHANGE” affecting the whole body of Christ, is now little less than a “sideshow.” –A safe, predictable sideshow that people can visit if they want to hear some warm prophecies about themselves or the church. Church leaders talk about “making a place for the prophetic” in their church like it was some tame little dog that they need to find room for. Just another flavor to add to the mix. But it was never supposed to be that way. The prophetic was supposed to THREATEN AND SHAKE EVERYTHING. That is what prophets were sent in to do when Israel was backslidden, were they not? It is the same with the church. Can you imagine Jesus arriving in a lukewarm church and NOT shaking everything?

P. 91-  There is all this talk about “coming Elijahs” today. I tell you, if Elijah did arrive in the church, most of these people would not know where to hide themselves fast enough. Do you think he would stand for the nonsense that we call “charismatic church meetings” today? The time has come for TRULY RADICAL prophets of God to arise. Prophets, let the fire of God consume you, and come forth bearing words that will SHAKE THE CHURCH. Nothing less will do. A tepid and insipid Prophetic? –AWAY WITH IT FOREVER.

Prophetic “Junkies” (pages 93-94)

P. 93-  The Prophetic should not be centered around ‘revelations’ above all else. (My own thought here: Some who may be addicted to and who read many revelations may not be changed to walk closer to the Lord in their daily lives).

At this point I would like to challenge any prophetic minister who is reading this:

-Is your ministry centered mostly around revelatory experiences? (Feeding itching ears)

-Or are you boldly proclaiming Shaking, Change and Repentance, as you should to a Laodicean church?

-Is your preaching convicting and challenging? (Like every prophet in the Bible).

-Or does it leave the church ‘warmed but largely unshaken?

-Is your ministry aimed at actually equipping and raising up the whole Body into ministry?

-Or is it your OWN MINISTRY that remains the center of attention?

P. 94-  Prophets, please hear me: I am all for visions and words being shared. But it must be in the context of a ‘REPENTANCE AND CHANGE’ type ministry.

Chapter Eight:  Needed: A Great Reformation (pages 114-116) Getting the Church “Saved”

P. 114-  It is an interesting fact that Charles Finney spent his entire ministry preaching to professing Christians. And yet he was called the greatest ‘evangelist’! What he was doing was evangelizing the church people-because he found that that most of them were not living in a state of true salvation at all. The church was ‘unsaved’! Finney found himself preaching piercing salvation messages his whole life in church buildings, Bible Colleges and so-on. The “Christians” must be saved. In most Revivals down through the centuries, what Revival was, was the church coming into true SALVATION for the first time. They THOUGHT  they were saved before, but they had been under a delusion. When the ‘Revivalist’ arrived and preached to them, suddenly they saw that they were undone and in a lost state, and multitudes were converted. (We need to hear the true message of salvation).

P. 115-  It is difficult not to come to the conclusion that many of these churches are like “holding pens” for the damned-telling people that they are, ‘OK,’ when in reality they are headed for destruction. Of course, Finney was hated and despised by churchmen for saying such things. How DARE he preach in such a way that implied that many ‘fine church members’ were unsaved? Today we see exactly the same thing Finney saw in his day. We see a “church” that is very largely UNSAVED. A truly “saved” church (in the New Testament sense) behaves and looks and sounds utterly different to what we see today. Even in Pentacostal/Charismatic circles we often find many “previously-saved-but-no-longer-walking-in-it” believers. Friends, this is not a state of ‘salvation.’ The Bible is very clear that only those who CONTINUE in New Testament Christianity and who “overcome” will be saved. These people are lost. (We need to hear the true message of salvation and see born again “new creatures” filled with love for Christ and others).

Comments by David Nelson on Chapters 2,3 and 4 of "Why I Left the Prophetic Movement" by Andrew Strom

Posted: 2007-11-07 08:33:52

Comments by David Nelson on Chapters Two, Three, and Four  of “Why I Left the Prophetic Movement” by Andrew Strom  (11-1-07)

I believe that this is a very important book for everyone to read. I am in support of Andrew Strom as a prophetic voice for our day and agree with much of what he says in this book. I would like to make comments on chapters 2, 3, and 4 concerning “manifestations” in the Church today that some claim are of the Holy Spirit. Andrew Strom says in these chapters that some “manifestations” today and some particular teachings are very dangerous to the Body of Christ.

Some of the “manifestations” and a particular teaching mentioned by Andrew Strom are gold dust, laughing, jerking and too much emphasis in certain circles on “romance” with Jesus. I believe we need to be very careful if we say that something is not of the Holy Spirit (when in reality it may be of the Holy Spirit). Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil….” I would not want to be one who calls something that is Holy, unholy, or call something that is unholy, Holy. So, we must be careful not to throw out things that God may be doing. Some things that we may see happening in a church meeting may “bother us” or we may “feel” something is not right. Andrew Strom is very right when he says that each of us should be very sensitive to do what the Lord is telling us to do as He speaks to our hearts and spirits. We may need to leave a meeting. But we must also be careful not to cut ourselves off from other people in an ungodly way or prematurely. Here is the point, when should we cut off from people or condemn what they are doing? I think that Andrew Strom is condemning some things wrongly. (you will see what some of these things are as you read on).He says on page 49 of his book that God will do strange things in the future and God has done strange things in past revivals but when something becomes “weird or ugly” we ought to take note of that and beware. This sounds like a good warning.

We need to find a balance here. We cannot and should not say that every single laugh in every single service in the last 10 years was of the devil. We cannot and should not say that every person falling on the ground and jerking or shaking in a church meeting in the last 200 years was of the devil. So which ones were of the Holy Spirit, which ones were of human creation alone, and which ones were really of the devil? I believe the Lord will give true spiritual leaders (trained and prepared after God’s own heart for our day) discernment. The Lord will also give discernment to each believer what they should do in each situation. Each one, from the least to the greatest, should all know the Lord’s voice (and we are all learning to hear Him better and better) and a stranger they will not follow. In one instance it might be the flesh operating and we may need to say, “We will need to stop that.” In another instance there may be a person controlled or in-dwelt by an evil spirit who is crying out or writhing or even prophesying error, in that case we may need to say, “In the name of Jesus I command you to stop and come out of him or her.” The Lord will show us what to do. I believe the Lord will make us very sensitive and discerning people as we are coming closer to the Lord. Just like in the book of Acts when Peter saw what was in the heart of Simon the magician (Acts 8) and told him exactly what he needed to do to get right with the Lord. 

God is not ready to kill everyone who is “off” in a wrong direction or a large portion of church people attending church services across this land would be dead. But when followers of Christ who are serious want to make a place for His holiness and He begins to come in His power and settle in our midst then, watch out, things of the flesh and of the devil will be snuffed out fast, like things were kept fairly pure at Azusa Street meetings for about 3 years. Because God will be in His Holy Temple and let all men be silent before Him.

So, what is the balance here for all of us, church leaders and each believer? (1) Be careful not to cut off from people or condemn what they are doing before we really understand and truly see things as God sees them. (2) Do not continue too long in something that is getting “weirder” and is starting to affect you in some “uncomfortable ways.” Let the Holy Spirit give you discernment when to stay, when to leave, and how to feel about the people and what to say about what they are doing (is it evil or good, is it holy or unholy). We should be careful not to cut off from others or condemn what they are doing until we really know. There are too many divisions now, let’s not make more, unless we can clearly say, “Thus saith the Lord….” We do not have to be part of something but that does not mean that we should condemn it and tell people to cut off from it. It is very important that we learn how to love people in our day as the Lord is wanting to teach us how to have a greater love for others than we have ever had before. Love covers a multitude of sins, faults, and gives people the benefit of the doubt over and over again. (Please read the book “Without Love We Are Nothing” on our Books and Prophecies page for a deeper understanding of how to love the brethren in our day).

I think Andrew Strom’s warnings about how extreme and weird manifestations are Satan’s tool to destroy or taint revivals (in Chapter 4) are very good. This is very important! However, there are some things that Andrew Strom may be standing against that we (Prophetic Ministry Iowa) are not necessarily standing against. Especially, there should be more said by Andrew about the intimacy relationship with the Lord on the positive side. Andrew is right that we should throw out words with too much “sexual connotations,” these words can go too far (as some of the examples in his book illustrate). There is a depth to our relationship with the Lord that is little understood today that can be found throughout the Scriptures (not just in the Song of Songs, though there has been much revelation there from past writers and present writers). God is restoring to His Bride even now many truths about our relationship with the Lord. Yes, it is true, some people can take truths too far in their immaturity, some things can be down right false, and some of us need to take our relationship with the Lord much further and understand this love much better. There are many dangerous things going on in Christian meetings today, some things are too lop-sided, too extreme, people have taken things too far and are “out of balance,” but there could be some truth to what they are saying if they could come back in balance again with the Lord. It seems like a big mess as we look at so much “variety” or even “craziness” out there but the Lord will build His Church, restore truths, and we must learn His love towards all to help bring it all together when and how He sees fit. He can correct “out of balance” people in swift and amazing ways. He can bring people back to center. No, we are not so loving or open that we compromise truth. We cannot let sin come into or dwell in God’s camp. He is a Holy God. We can hold our truths securely, we must raise up a pure standard of truth, we can proclaim these truths from the rooftops and we will correct when we must. But we need to reach out to those who are deceived or immature without being tainted ourselves. We have to learn a greater love of God for this time to save people out of false manifestation groups just like we need to save people out of dead churches. As the Scripture says in Jude 23, we snatch brands from the fire with fear, hating their polluted garments and lest we be dragged down ourselves into error.

Another great point that Andrew Strom makes is that a broken, repentant spirit should be the hallmark of any revival. Some prophetic words do cut us to the heart and break our hard hearts. Other prophetic words may be calls from God to a closer relationship with Him that are not so much for repentance but never the less change us and draw us into a closer walk with the Lord. These “closer relationship” words from the Lord are also needed to keep people going with the Lord in the right direction after they have heard a hard sermon and repented. But what is it going to take to bring one person to his knees to seek God, not just in the heat of a hot sermon, but the next day and the next day, so that that person keeps seeking God and learns to walk with Him every day like Enoch did?  It may take different types of prophetic words, it will take teaching, it will take anointed words that are going to draw that one person into a lasting relationship with the Lord. That is the end we seek; People walking with the Lord individually every day. It will take fiery sermons and books and prophetic words and anointed teaching to renew our minds to see as the Lord wants us to see. I believe the Lord will be very successful in “wooing” people to Himself and He will use many means to do this including fiery sermons.

I consider Andrew Strom to be a prophetic voice for our time and I believe he is gifted in giving hard words and fiery sermons. I too have a prophetic ministry and have given hard words and fiery sermons (for hard words read “Flee From Babylon” book on our Books and Prophecies page). In Jeremiah 1:10 the prophet Jeremiah was to uproot and tear down before he could plant and nurture. In a “prophetic ministry” once you have given the hard words that uproot and tear down what is wrong, and the people are ready to say, yes, we agree, what shall we do to make a place for what the Lord wants? Then we will need words to plant and nurture into the paths of individual revival (restored, intimate relationship with the Lord) and corporate revival (how to get ready to meet with the living God and prepare a place for Him to come to).

A Season of Change by Kennesha M. Walker

Posted: 2007-10-31 23:10:15

BY:Kennesha M. Walker

What season does the leaves change to gold-
Where the soil is fertile ready to receive the mysteries untold?
A seed sown to increase the anointing for our lives-
As we press toward the mark of the high calling for the prize.

Changing our walk to stride as Jesus did-
Dwelling in the secret place we abode and hid.
Hiding ourselves to spiritually grow in His name-
Yet letting our light shine so healing can come to the lame.

A light that shines through the summer,
A light that shines through the spring-
When autumn leaves start to fall,
Or when ice crystals begin to bring,
A shifting in the atmosphere,
An elevation of a spiritual song-
As orchestrated symphonies play melodies that echo long.

A cool calm breeze has run by, touching the surface of every face-
Changing our lives through Jesus Christ, God’s Amazing Grace.
As we wait patiently as our season comes, our hearts begin to change-
To receive His Word and harvest in this season of change.

Encouraging words gleaned from Paulette Reed's word "God is about to deliver "Multiple Births"

Posted: 2007-10-29 22:12:33

Encouraging words by David Nelson gleaned from and inspired by Paulette Reed’s word “God is about to deliver Multiple Births” and a reading of Romans chapter 8  (10-25-07)

Have you been “pregnant” with a vision or a dream of what you would like the Lord to do in your life or in the Church? The Lord has been preparing us for some time now, making us heavy with expectancy as to what we hope that He will do in our lives and in the earth. If He has put a dream into our hearts (just like He did with Joseph) He will complete all the destinies He has planned for each of us. Paulette Reed speaks of pregnancy and pressure cookers to illustrate similar spiritual experiences that we are all going through now. The “pressure cooker” of our lives has been so hard for us to bear through these past years, but all the while it has really been gauged by the Lord to prepare us to be served up for His glory. In pregnancy a mother is torn between wishing the “baby” (our dreams) would go away (just forget the whole thing) or going through the frightening process of actually pushing the “baby” (our dreams) out into reality. Sometimes we feel like the baby ourselves. We have been growing in a dark, safe, comfortable place and now the Lord wants us to go through the process of pushing through into the “new place” He is bringing us to.

The long, dark birth canal of God’s purposes seem never to end and we have met such great resistance as we have tried to push our baby (our dreams) out. We are clinging to “I wish everything could stay the same”, the great changes all around us are creating great tension in us. But we also are so hungry for our dreams to be accomplished too, and that will mean so much must change. Our flesh is struggling but we want God’s will to be accomplished in the depths of our spirit. We are clinging to one thing and the Lord is saying, “Let go, Let go.” All is changing, I must reject all that was before, everything that was comfortable, safe and warm (in the womb). All that was comfortable seems to be ending. At the same time that God is preparing a place for you, your dreams and visions and the work He has for you to do are preparing a place for Him.

Sometimes we feel paralyzed by the evil in the world and our own weaknesses. But prior to birth a baby becomes very silent and still for 24 hours so as not to fight against the birth process. The pressures of the world and the pressures in the womb may be debilitating to you.

Yes, He has allowed us to suffer many things but it was so that we would draw near to Him, to create an intimacy with Him that could be gained in no other way. This intimacy is teaching us to trust Him, and it is creating a perfect love bond where all fear is cast out. Satan will do everything to bring confusion into our camps so that we will abort our God-ordained assignments. We have been in a small, narrow place to know God alone. But the birthing will squeeze us from the small place and launch us into a large, expanded place. We must learn to have the fruits of the Spirit in the birth canal when everything seems so bad and so dead. Perhaps our fruit is not ready to be revealed and we must spend a little more time in the small, dark place. We must be ready to carry His glory outside the womb. We must be shaped into Christ-likeness, we must be tenderized in the pressure cooker to get more of Christ’s meekness.

Giving birth is close to the experience of dying. We struggle to hold on to life, we struggle to hold on to something that has been part of us, instead of trying to get it out of us. But the Father says, I am about to make all things new, Push, Push, into the future. Do not have the attitude that you are going from drama to drama, from crisis to crisis, but you are going from peace to peace and from glory to glory, believing that everything happening to you is from God and is working together for good because you are called according to His purposes (for you) and He will complete them. (fulfill his good plans for you)

Don’t think you have done nothing. Your work is not in vain in the Lord. You have sown seed, you have labored. Let’s smile and remember how good God has been to us. We counted the cost, we tilled the fields, our dreams are growing. We will not remember the pain (after the birth), we will be overcomers with unspeakable joy. Behold I create new heavens and a new earth, and the old will not be remembered or come into mind. (Is. 65:17)

Press through beloved, push, push, it will be worth it all. The darkness seems overwhelming at times. Jesus intercedes for us, the Spirit intercedes for us (shows us how and what to pray), even as we sleep He is building us up (He may come in dreams or speak to us or just bathe us with His presence). 

Could not the Lord be saying to us all, “Faint not, I am coming soon, Faint not, I am coming soon?” Don’t be overwhelmed by the darkness and the sin. I (the Lord) am not overwhelmed. I have overcome the world (Jn. 16:33). “Behold, I speak words of encouragement to you, that as you are in me, that ye might have peace. In the world you have tribulation but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (and you will too because I am in you).”

The weight of God’s glory in the womb of God that He wants to bring into this world is being manifested in our pregnancy of dreams and the work He has for us to do. Can we even comprehend the weight of the glory of God that is coming? We can’t. We must simply believe, anticipate and rejoice.

The creation is groaning to see the revealing of the sons of God and the full manifestation of His glory and we are too. Our barren bodies are yearning for full deliverance. Waiting does not diminish us any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are being enlarged in the waiting. (Rom. 8:19-25)

We are squeezing down the birth canal and our head or face presents itself 1^st. The glory of the Lord will rise upon us as we see Him and see His light. We are being squeezed down the birth canal to reach (each of us) our destinies in Christ. We are leaving what is familiar and secure and entering into a place never seen before. Help us Lord, stay in peace and love under the pressure, as you jettison us from darkness into light.

Romans 8:26—The Spirit will help us in our infirmities, He will help us to pray as we ought, He will intercede for us. 

Rom. 8:28—All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called to and in accord with His purposes.

Rom. 8:29, 30—He knew us (and planned us) before we were born, He gave us a destiny before we were born, He chose us before we were born, He called us after we were born, He justified us (made us just in His sight, just as if we had never sinned), He is now and will glorify us and bring us to the glory He has planned for us.

Rom. 8:31—Are these things not amazing, what can we say with these things being true? God is for us, no one and nothing can be against us (and prevail).

Rom. 8:32—He gave us His Son (for our salvation) shall He not give us all other things as well?

Rom. 8:33—Who can charge us with failure when God has justified us (counts us as completely justified in His sight, just as if we had never sinned).

Rom. 8:35—No one and no thing or conditions or situations will separate us from the love Christ has for us, not tribulation, or distress, or persecution or peril.

Rom. 8:37-39—The truth is, in all these things we will not be overcome because we are more than conquerors because of Him who is loving us. Not angels or principalities or things that are present or things to come can overcome us. Nothing will separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (we trust in Him and rest in Him).

What a position we have, to be more than a conqueror, it must be through Him, who loves us.