Tag: Glory

The Year of Release!

In recent words that I have written, I shared about the coming Jewish Shmita year beginning on Rosh Hashanah September 6th 2021-2022. This was to be a Sabbath year of rest but was also a year when slaves were released from captivity and fortunes restored—it was a year of freedom and release. Today in preparation for the Year of Release and the Great Cross Over into a most notable season of history—a time of promises fulfilled, and destiny realized—a new breed is arising for this historic moment, ready to conquer and occupy lands for the Kingdom of God. A people presently chosen, known, and ordained for this hour, from before time, are now beginning to mobilize. We are about to enter the time of the Great Crossover into our promised destiny. It is therefore possible to stand resolute in the call of God, and in the face of tyranny, stand  with resolve, knowing that the living God stands with us and goes before us.

God’s ways and methods for accomplishing His ends, however, are so much higher than ours, that to the undiscerning, things may appear quite desperate, with the enemy seemingly having the upper hand. Our hearts desire is for God to move quickly to fix the problems, but things don’t always unfold the way we have imagined or expect. It may require some time. It may require a series of battles—a campaign that God is leading us through onto victory.

The saints of God must therefore be prepared to dig in, and to fight with a mindset and resolve for the long haul, and whatever it may take to succeed. Conflict is not usually a bed of roses. To attain to victory and the conquering of the promised land, it may require a walk through the Red Sea, with ominous walls of water on either side looking like they’re ready to crash in on us. It may look like a harrowing road ahead, with howling winds and great storms, yet, through it all God is saying, keep your eyes fixed on Me and follow My lead, I will be with you, and I will keep you safe.

Things may appear to get uglier before they get better. The path ahead will require a close walk with our Lord, and it will necessitate coming fully alive to our identity as supernatural warriors in Christ. It will require deep roots. To grow to the heights, it’s necessary to have very deep roots, as any strong wind that comes along will take you down and out. The people of God must become like the mountain tree whose roots are buried deep in the Rock through growth in endurance and is able to withstand the battering winds and storms. Through this trying time there are many in the church, and for sure in the world, who do not have deep roots—the saints are there to keep them steady in the storm, not to attack them.

The year of release is the year to be fully who you are in Christ. It means God is opening the gate to your stall. It means there is an assignment for you—a path ahead with signposts positioned along the way. God is our guide who knows the way ahead. Sometimes, the road takes turns and twists, but God knows how to get us to our destination. The question you must answer yourself is, do you trust him?

During the days ahead it will be important to be saturated in the Word, reading it daily, as we will be receiving important instructions and messages from the Lord through His Word. Watch for the signs and stay objective. Look for the thread that ties things together. God can speak to you in many ways and through many voices; take note of the things that are being confirmed. Recognize that no one has the whole picture. Allow God to fine tune your senses and don’t become dogmatic, set in your opinion. Be flexible and willing to yield when it becomes clear that you have taking a wrong turn. God has differing paths for different people. He has specific tasks and assignments for certain individuals. Know what yours is! Don’t follow blindly! Trust God in the strange ways that He works, as His ways are so much higher.

Joshua was appointed the commander of the armies of Israel and knew what to do because God was with him, and over the years He had learned to understand God’s strange ways of accomplishing His ends. Israel, as a people, agreed with God to obey and follow Joshua when Moses had passed. Soldiers like Joshua are brave and confident’ because of their training. They have been fashioned in conflict and in tests of endurance. They are secure within their team who have trained alongside them. They are specialists and skilled with weaponry; they know when and how to deploy their weapons and they have no fear. They are interconnected through intelligence and communication with each other and with the home base, both Heavenly and locally. Soldiers understand the mission and the potential costs.

THE ARMIES OF GOD

Things are about to shift for the saints with the new season starting in the Year of Release. The Lord God is going ahead of us. He goes before us, and He will be with us. He will not leave us nor forsake us, so do not fear, or be dismayed as he told Joshua. We have been kept in a measure of silence during the years of training and preparation. God is about to release us to our destiny and He’s about to release our voice—remember, we are in the decade of the voice—the decade of pey according to the Jewish calendar. To be a voice for the Lord comes with a cost! Will you answer the call? Remember Moses and Jeremiah, they both resisted the call, but God assured them that He would be with them, just as He will be with us!

Moses commanded Joshua to read the book of the law written in Deuteronomy every seven years, in the Year of Release, at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles (Deut. 31:10). God’s reasoning in these instructions, was that the people would learn to fear the Lord their God and be careful to do all the words of the law. Moses then said to the people:

“Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law. For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess.” Deuteronomy 32:46-47

Holding the Word of God dear to our hearts, is also a word that is for us today as we prepare to crossover into this new season of strength. When it was time to crossover, Joshua told the people to be ready, to consecrate themselves to the Lord, for they were about to cross over into a new land. God had found a generation that He could work with to conquer and take the land that was close to His heart—a land representing one that is ruled by the Kingdom of God and the Lord our God, a land that is Holy, characterized by righteousness and the Lordship of Christ.

At present, there is great shaking in the world, in all nations. We have entered a time of trouble where evil has progressively been creeping in through governments of nations. Their intention is to take control of mankind and turn them toward the kingdom of darkness in service to Satan its ruler. This is a moment that we have been chosen for, and have been prepared for; a time in which God has set the dynamic. God has set stage for the battles ahead. He has already gone ahead to ensure victory. We stand in the victory that has already been won by Christ on the Cross.

As the armies of God rise and get ready to move out, the kingdom of darkness is in disarray. They are in fear of the King of kings and of His armies that follow Him. In the days ahead we will see victories; we will see exposures of hidden things; we will see God shine His light into the darkness; we will see many prominent figures fall; we will see turmoil, civil unrest, and wars; and we will see the armies of darkness rise up, enraged in hatred and in violence. I believe God is saying to us that when we see all these things, that we are not to fear—we are to fear Him! In such times we are to know, recognize and remember that He is on His throne. God is in full control, and we must continue through it all, to always look to Him. As we walk through this time, through our Red Sea into victory, we keep our eyes on the destination, and we keep our eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel. We are about to run the gauntlet, but remember, it’s the gauntlet to the Promised Land and to Glory. God would say to His enemies and to us:

“Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.’

“For the LORD will judge His people and have compassion on His servants, when He sees that their power is gone, and there is no one remaining, bond or free.” Deuteronomy 32:35-36

Sometimes God will delay His work, that we may understand our sinful nature and our weakness to accomplish anything of value apart from Him. When our power is gone and all seems lost, and we are having a Red Sea moment with the enemy gaining strength—or so it may appear, we begin to cry out to God, and repent of our idolatry and apostasy. At such times God will then in His tender mercies, draw graciously near to us once again, to heal, to quicken and to deliver. He will decree swift vengeance to the evils that have kept us in despair, ride in on His white horse and lead us into victory.

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Glory Zones

Based on the last word I published—Systems Deployed,  I would like to continue to look at the principle and blueprint of Systems in terms of Apostolic Hubs, or what I refer to as Glory Zones! These are protected Cities of Refuge & Cities of defense—functioning on systems established by God. They are being created to stand against demonic assault in the completing era of things! These systems, operate with precision within a God established leadership structure and within order.

The definition of the word system provides insight into God’s intention—a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network—working together is the key to their effectiveness. Systems can be represented within a House, a City or an Army; all are facets of the end-time systems God is setting in place within Glory Zones across the Earth that are directed toward His ends, set to accomplish His will in these times.

Systems running together create synergy! Synergy is defined as:—THE COMBINED POWER OF A GROUP OF THINGS WHEN THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER, THAT IS GREATER THAN THE TOTAL POWER ACHIEVED BY EACH WORKING SEPARATELY (Cambridge Dictionary).

Greater impact is therefore created when we work together as opposed to independently of each other! The point is there is structure and authority within systems, producing productivity and resilience! The parts within a system must agree and work together in a unity of purpose—God’s purpose, within God’s blueprint, with God’s end in view.

The ability to function within the constraints of Godly character is needed to receive direction. This produces the stability that comes through an understanding of being under authority. God is preparing Glory Hubs and Zones having this dynamic, through which He can birth His purposes in the Earth.

This era will be characterized by intense warfare as the enemies of God align themselves to oppose God and resist the moves of God, as they will not easily give up a billion souls easily. We are presently in the travail to birth a new era in our history, and collectively we are God’s birthing vessel.

God is presently showcasing the difference between darkness and Light. This is working to produce great division and a sifting in all sectors of society and within the Church. The Church will be attacked both from within and from without. It will be a time when great wisdom will be needed in our warfare, a time to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matt. 10:16).

An outstanding feature of the coming apostolic Glory Zones will therefore be defense. Warriors will stand as sentinels at the gates of these cities. They will be given intelligence, wisdom and discernment to watch, guard and protect:

“In that day the LORD of hosts will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty To the remnant of His people, For a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, And for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.” Isaiah 28:6

The Significance of God’s ordained Leadership Structure

There is much to be understood of God’s ways in the bible account of Rehoboam, having great relevance to these times. King Solomon had died, and the people asked Rehoboam the new king, to lighten the burden upon them and they would serve him. Rather than taking the counsel of the elders, Rehoboam took the counsel of the young men he grew up with and chose the keep the heavy yoke on the people. However, a curious statement is then made:

“So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events WAS FROM GOD, that the LORD might fulfill His word…So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day” 2 Chronicles 10:1, 19.

The people chose to reject Rehoboam’s rule, however, God saw their rejection and departure as rebellion! Rehoboam joined with the tribe of Benjamin and prepared to make war with Israel and their leader Jeroboam. He assembled one hundred and eighty thousand men from Judah who were chosen as warriors to fight against Israel (v. 1). However, God then sent an important word to Rehoboam that is relevant to us today:

“You shall not go up or fight against your brethren! Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.” 2 Chronicles 11:4

The kingdom became divided and entered a state of war. Jeroboam took ten tribes under his rule, and because he was afraid of his people going up to Jerusalem to worship God, as ordained by God, he established his own places of worship, appointed his own priests and began worshiping idols (v.15).

But Rehoboam obeyed God, returned to Jerusalem and began to build cities of defense! These cities were built in Judah, which means praise, and in Benjamin where Jerusalem was established as God’s ordained place of worship and resting place.

God Equips & Provides for His purposes!

These cities represent fortified strongholds armed with Kingdom intelligence, strategic in spiritual warfare and intercession—they fight not against flesh or against their brothers and sisters. God is in the midst of such cities, they are therefore supplied with everything that is needed:

“Rehoboam fortified the strongholds, and put captains or leaders in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine. Also in every city he put shields and spears, and made them very strong.” 2 Chronicles 11:11

God will have an abundance of spiritual food in these cities, spiritual food but also natural food. God will always make sure His children are fed. These cities will be rich in the Word of God. Teaching and training will play a foundational part in the building up of these Glory Zones.

The Oil represents the anointing. The anointing will allow the gifts to flow in these cities with Divine wisdom. The gifts to teach, preach, heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons and perform supernatural acts, will function with power. There will be an anointing on the servants of the Lord in these cities surpassing anything we have seen as the sons of God dwell there. These Apostolic Hubs are God’s powerhouses or energy plants supplying power to regions. They will be storerooms filled with a sufficient supply of oil.

These Hubs will also have an abundant supply of wine. God has been saving His best wine for last. He is preparing to serve a wine to the world, not tasted before. This wine has been ageing for two thousand years. The church has come across with mostly judgment, condemnation, internal fighting and strife. We have left a bad taste in people’s mouths. The people of God in the last days will serve the pure undiluted wine of the Holy Spirit to bringing joy, refreshing and the love of God to a parched and desperate world.

Shields Up! Faith United!

I heard the Lord say, “Shields up!” Shields in these cities speak of faith creating a united front and wall of defense. Strong faith will be characteristic of these cities. They will be inhabited by people who are mighty in faith, who believe all things are possible with God. These shields will be a defense against any attacks from the enemy. These cities will provide shelter for the army of God, who will be made ready, trained and equipped to march forward into the battle. These are men and women of courage who fear nothing but their God.

The principle to be gleaned from this account of Rehoboam, is that it was ultimately a test from God to reveal who would submit to His ordained authority and divine order.

A sifting was taking place in preparation for the establishment of Glory Hubs—cities with foundations. Those who stayed, passed the test, and showed by their actions that their love for God and obedience to God surpassed their own desire for comfort. This is a hard lesson to learn but God is looking for warriors and leaders of character to carry His authority.

In wartime, there are grave consequences to lack of submission and order. Even so, many will choose the way of pride and split away from the protection of God’s plan. God resists the proud! God is knocking at the gates of cities and on the doors of churches wherever man’s control, independence and self-sufficiency has forced Him out. Within the Glory Zones of the faithful and obedient, this song will be sung:

“We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. Open the gates that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.” Isaiah 26:1-2

God’s Prepared Storehouses

We have been in a season of abundance—an abundance of revelation, of the prophetic word, of teaching of worship songs. It has been almost impossible to keep up with the CD’s, the messages, the videos, and the books—however the treasures of God are being stored within His people as we move toward a season of ‘mean and lean’ in the Earth. This does not seem to fit with the picture of great revival and great harvest. Yet, in examining Church history, beginning with the book of Acts, we see that most outpourings have been surrounded (before, during or after), by great storms, persecution, or economic woes.

Great harvest and times of abundance do not seem to happen together. When people have everything they need, they are blind to the fact they are in need of God, and of being saved. Tremendous Church growth is usually found in the hard times and in times of persecution. People search for God in desperate times. The greatest harvest is coming into the church right now under present persecution and chaos.

Those that have been filling up during the abundance of God’s River being poured out, will have plenty of food, wine and oil during the times of famine. In Joseph’s day, “The famine was over all the face of the earth” (Gen. 41:56).During the years of plenty, Joseph stored food in Cities: “He laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them.” (Gen. 41:48)

These are the cities of defense and refuge, where the food, oil and the wine are now being stored. God has been preparing ‘Joseph’s and ‘Joseph’ Churches to be storehouses, those who have been in pits and prisons, misunderstood and persecuted as part of their preparation, who will become the administrators of food in the time of famine. God has been storing food in churches, leaders, and ministries in cities all over the world. IN JOSEPH’S DAY, THE WORLD HAD TO COME TO JOSEPH TO GET FOOD—the only place food was available!

We have entered times of shakings on the Earth, but it is in times of judgment that the Earth learns righteousness as Isaiah 26:19 states: “For when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.”In these desperate times, amid the darkness, the world will be drawn to the Light and Glory of God upon His people who will, “…shine as lights in the world.”

From Pentecost to Tabernacles – A Journey of Ever-Increasing Waves of His Glory!

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With Shavuot, the Biblical Feast of Pentecost coming up on June 11th there is a heightened sense of expectancy of increasing measures of God’s Manifest Glory moving with purpose toward planet Earth. From the time that the door was first opened and the Spirit of God poured out on Israel around two thousand years ago, God has been moving purposefully and intentionally toward the summing up and completion of all things in Christ at His Return. At Pentecost the door was opened for the gathering in of a great harvest of souls. The Feast of Tabernacles is the closing of the Harvest Season, and a celebration of God’s goodness and faithfulness on the Great Journey toward union with His Presence and His Glory.

In the time frame the Father has purposed, Jesus is going to return in Glory, but until His feet touch down on the Mount of Olives, He will be CONTINUALLY COMING with ever-increasing waves of His Manifest Presence! The Body of Christ is poised to again experience what occurred at Pentecost, re-released in mounting waves of His Presence as momentum builds towards His return. If the Glory and an invasion of the planet by Angel Armies were needed to establish foundations at Pentecost, how much more will it be needed to sum up history, for the work that prepares the way for Jesus’ return, and the completion of the Great Journey represented in the Feast of Tabernacles.

On this Great Journey, like David we discover that there are consequences to touching the Ark of His Presence in an unrighteous manner outside of God’s prescribed way written in His Word. David’s intentions were good, even noble; he wanted to prepare a Resting place for God to dwell in. But our God is a Consuming Fire and will consume the dross in our lives on our Journey with Him.

“This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” Isaiah 66:1-2

In David’s case God’s wrath broke out against Uzzah due to David’s neglect in learning the correct protocol for handling the Ark, written in God’s Word. Like David, we can also become put off, or even angry with God when our intentions are noble and we desire to do great things for God, but the opposite of our expectations are occurring and all hell is breaking loose!

The Everlasting God is a Consuming Fire, He is Holy and the weight of His Glory can crush and destroy, the reason He holds back. When the Ark was stolen by the enemy, people died and plagues broke out wherever it was taken (1 Sam.5,6). God honors our deep desire for His Presence and is very gracious and patient with us. However, for a significant and notable upsurge of the Glory that the world-wide Church is pressing in for—that He also desires, and has purposed for this hour—a profound level of consecration to His Will, His Word and His Ways is needed. Like David we must repent, change course, press in for His direction and stay the course on the Journey of consecration. God is looking for purity in heart, righteousness in our stand, singleness of purpose, passion in our love, excellence in our walk and a willingness to lay down our lives and surrender all because He is so worth it!

God’s instruction to David for achieving his heart’s desire was six steps then praise……all the way to Jerusalem! God is not in a hurry like we are, He is a wise and good father who waits to see that our character can occupy and hold the ground that He intends to give, that we are not destroyed by it. Many revivals have come and gone over history, but God is now preparing a holy generation, a royal priesthood of great integrity, fierce in passion, magnificent in love, that will hold and occupy in revival fire, and through great turmoil on the Earth.

The Journey was not a chore for David; it was one that was filled with the joy of His Presence where he danced unashamedly before his Lord. Israel and the Body of Christ has been on a Spiritual Journey up to Jerusalem over the centuries; the procession up to Jerusalem to see the King established on His Throne, is one that is to be filled with joy despite the condition of the world and the circumstances around us. God’s antidote to get us through to the end is PRAISE! Every six steps we stop and praise, every time the enemy tries to derail us we to stop and praise; when life is hard and things look grim we dig down deep, find the joy and begin to praise. We are to repent quickly and press in for full consecration, as the very safest, protected place to be is always the very centre of the Will of God.

God spoke to me when we first opened our church and said we were to take one service per month for only worship and praise without any agenda, only the prophetic as it occurs. As time went on He put it on my heart, to have our worship night on Rosh Chodesh or as close to it as we could. Rosh Chodesh is the first day of the Jewish month and carries the principle of first fruits—where we choose to give God the first and very best of our lives on the first of the month. The word feast in Hebrew is mô‛êd and means an appointment. During God’s special times of appointment with Him, greater dimensions of open heavens are available to us as we press in to see His face!

The Jewish people continue to this day to be blessed in all spheres of life and mountains of influence, a phenomenon that has the world very puzzled. However the world has ruled out the God factor and Israel’s obedience to continue to honor God’s appointed times—these special times of appointment with Him, set by Him and for Him, in His Word. I don’t believe it is necessary for Gentiles to keep the rituals and traditions that the Jewish people do, but there can be an honoring of these set times, as they are ordained by God, and are weighted with glory! More importantly, over History we have seen that God has chosen to move significantly on these times, to release His plans and purposes for both Israel and the Gentile church, to mark them with His Glory. These special times are also intended by God to keep His people focused, single-eyed and steady on the path of destiny; they provide times to stop and praise Him on the Great Journey, and begin our next steps with hearts filled with thanksgiving!

wanderer-455338_1280These times of rest where we stop and praise are vital for our spirits to be refreshed that we may press on to finish our course, whether individually or corporately. It is dangerous to settle on the Journey, as we risk falling into the trap of believing, we are rich and have need of nothing! (Rev. 3:17). With this mind-set we become complacent, not only losing what has been gained but falling back into a place of religious activity devoid of His Presence. I can remember distinctly one day sitting in a park under a tree and heard the lord say clearly out of the blue, “Denominations are points of settlement on the great Journey on the ascent to Union with Christ.” On the Journey, our great hunger moves God to release moves of the Spirit in His appointed times; this wonderful atmosphere then becomes a great place in which to dwell and settle down.

I am reminded of the insightful allegory written by Robert Burnell, Escape from Christendom; in it he describes a pilgrim on the Great Journey, searching to find the City of God. On his way he stumbles on Christian City where he is tempted to stop and settle as so many had. Here he finds a place of much activity, bit his heart remains unfulfilled.

As we press in to consecrate our lives to the Lord, and press on in a dance of praise on the Great Journey on the ascent to Union with Christ, and the fullness of the stature of Christ, God will release increasing waves of His Glory to undergird us, lift us up in strength and carry us on to the finish line, and we will find the City of God! God’s intent is that the Great Journey takes us from Glory to greater Glory, from strength to greater strength, and from faith to GREAT FAITH!

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.” Psalm 84:5-7 ESV

On January 1st of this year the Lord showed me that He was opening a GREAT and EFFECTIVE DOOR to the Body of Christ in 2016 see Let There Be Light. I believe in the month of June there will be a greater release of Glory to sustain the saints in the harvest fields—His Presence will increase, doors will open and breakthroughs will occur. Over the last two weeks I keep hearing God say, “Behold I do a new thing, do you not perceive it! Let us begin a new season of praise filled lives this Pentecost and remember always to stop every six steps and PRAISE!