Tag: Headstone Academy

Brokenness Sees

 

The last word that I wrote was directed at knowing Christ in the power of His resurrection and pressing on to the High Call of being trusted with His power. However, that’s only half of the equation in the attainment to this High Call; the other part of the equation is to first know Him in the fellowship of His sufferings. Brokenness is the foundation for knowing Christ in the fellowship of His suffering—His suffering to bring to birth the longing of His heart, the magnificent vision of His Bride. Brokenness provides the ability to participate with Him in that travail to bring forth His dream and consequently to know Him in the ultimate power of His resurrection to bring that forth.

“Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” Says the LORD. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.” Isaiah 66:1-2

There is a perfect correlation between brokenness and humility, with the ability to see and hear, just as there is between pride, blindness and deafness. I am not necessarily talking about the seeing that is a prophetic, although that will certainly be affected because of mixture.  I am talking about the seeing that releases an understanding of God, of who He is and therefore of who we are before Him—of knowing Him in His ways, understanding His purposes and His will. Moses asked of Him, “Show me your ways that I may know You.”

The Word of God declares to us that the sufferings that we experience cannot be compared to the Glory that shall be revealed in us!  Brokenness keeps the flame of love burning on our hearts whereas pride puts ourselves at the forefront. On the day that arrogance dies, the Lord will be seen high and lifted up and the train of His robe filling His temple as Isaiah saw in the year  Uzziah died.

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.” Isaiah 6:1 

Brokenness Takes us Higher

There is great power and authority coming to the people of God that will be entrusted to those who have been prepared in brokenness and who have embraced it as the work of God in their lives. These are ones who repent with Godly sorrow when they see their hearts in the Presence of a Holy God, and cry out like Isaiah. “I am a man of unclean lips!” Recently I have taken note of many pastors and leaders—some who are well known—who are being shifted to a deeper levels in God through the door of brokennes by their choice to make themselves vulnerable and transparent. The fruit from this in their lives is truly magnificent—much revelation, sublime wisdom and an authentic and beautiful spirit in the fragrance of Christ!.

“The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” Psalm 51:17

I love how the Message expresses this passage:

“I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.”

These who have been broken are able to know Christ in the fellowship of His suffering. These are ones He will trust to know Him in the power of His resurrection. In brokenness, pride is shattered, trustworthy, safe vessels are made ready and are brought forth.

Pride Keeps us Blind

During a recent conference I saw something in my own heart, an issue rooted in pride that I had been working on over the years. It was the pride of being overly opinionated without being in possession of all the facts. For a moment it was if a burst of Light landed on my heart highlighting the issue; I saw it with a clarity that I had not seen before and was able to see the many times it had hindered me in life. I was in a place of brokenness about this as I saw the many times God’s hand had protected me from sabotaging my destiny because of it, and His patience in waiting for me to grow in this area. I was broken because pride had kept me blind, deaf and unaware of any of this until that moment. As Light came in, I was able to see because of the brokenness.

Since that time, I have had key moments of increased seeing and receiving strategy and direction from the Lord—as if a blockage had been cleared and the smudges on my glasses were cleaned.  Prophetic, seers must be careful to not fall into the trap of opinions, for as much as God reveals, we are never privy to all the facts, only God sees it all at the same time—the past the present and the future.  He alone has perfect understanding!  We serve Him with our gift in humility and obedience, never going beyond the bounds of His instruction and revelation. Those who are careful in their walk before Him and handle revelations with righteousness, become friends and partners of God, ministering to the heart of God and serving His Love and care to humanity.

Brokenness is a great Gift of God! As a consequence of seeing, we can choose to humble ourselves before God, seek His mercy and forgiveness for the arrogance that has kept us blind, bound to earth, the flesh, opinions and judgments.

“For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah 57:15

To revive means: – to make alive, give (promise) life, nourish up, preserve alive, quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, save, be whole. These are blessings awaiting the humble heart.

Brokenness gives us the wings to fly into eternal and supernatural possibilities. Those trained in brokenness will be transformed into a great army of Eagles, flying with the Lord into the heights, entrusted with eyes to see into the distance, given to understand the times, to know like Issachar what is coming and what needs to be done—discerners who understand the Lord’s movements and can easily detect the schemes of the enemy and the counterfeit. Brokenness sees and knows!

God’s Corporate Family

Twenty years ago, God told me that the Great Revival and outpouring of God I was looking for would come to a corporate people.  In my immaturity at the time, I did not want to believe or accept that statement and was unwilling to wait for others.  Like Joshua and Caleb, I felt that I was willing and ready to enter the Promised Land at the time. I was eating and dreaming revival, reading everything I could get my hands on! Zeal for the Lord was consuming me yet there was little love in my heart.  Twenty years later I am just beginning to understand that God meant what He had said.

Caleb and Joshua had to wait forty years for the old generation marked by the old ways of division, pride, grumbling, murmuring, in-fighting, and usurping leadership, to die off.  They had to wait until a generation of warriors who had learned the lessons and chosen God’s ways of humility, had come forth. Israel became a corporate, unified body that was beautiful in God’s eyes.  Balaam who was called forth to curse the people of God could only prophecy the pleasure of God over His people.

“How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel! Like valleys that stretch out, like gardens by the riverside, like aloes planted by the LORD, Like cedars beside the waters.” Numbers 24:5-6

“He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. The LORD his God is with him, And the shout of a King is among them. God brings them out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox. “For there is no sorcery against Jacob, Nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob And of Israel, ‘Oh, what God has done!’ Numbers 23:21-23

The work that God has been doing in His people over the years, in His mind, has had one end in view, a corporate people that have become a unified body in fellowship and in a love for each other that binds us together in Him. This is His great emphasis right now—the honoring and preferring of our leaders and each other, fellowshipping together, eating together, bonding together, falling in love with each other.  This as a foundation for the coming Harvest and the great and effective door He is about to open to His Body. As He has said in His Word, it is by our love that they will know Him!  Brokenness prepares the heart to express a love that is pure and authentic. It tenderizes our hearts and allows us to truly become a family—the family of God!

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The High Call of God

For every dispensation of time, the Saints are called forth to the stewardship of that time, ensuring that God’s will is accomplished, and His intentions fulfilled. Paul declared in Colossians 1:25 that he became: “…a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God…”

The word ‘stewardship’ in the Greek is oikonomia; It is a word related to the stewardship and management of God’s economy. For those chosen to be born and live in these fullness of times—in the Day of His Power, the call to ministry is to the High Call of stewarding and administering the Life of Christ in the fulness of the power and authority intended by the Lord.

The Bible highlights the many great leaders and saints who lived out the principle that God raises up certain people for certain times and prepares and equips them to administer His blueprint for that period.

Joshua was one of God’s most trustworthy and faithful leaders, raised up to cause the people of God to conquer and possess the promised land. Joshua 24:31 is testimony of his great leadership, “Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua…”

There are strategic assignments to be accomplished for every season, and keys brought forth by God to crank the engine, that drives and directs our movement on the journey of ascension to Christ toward the completion of His Divine plan.

Every objective of God to be accomplished in every dispensation, is a vital and crucial part to His unfolding plan. Each becomes a part of the momentum that moves history forward toward the climax of times at the end of the age.

 “In all wisdom and insight, He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him.” Ephesians 1:8-10

The word administration in this passage, is translated as dispensation and also as stewardship in other translations; it is the same word oikonomia, spoken of earlier in Col. 1:25. In the context of this passage, it refers to God’s administration or stewardship of a certain period of history to which Paul described as “the fulness of times.” This passage also takes into account the Lord’s servants appointed to partner with Him in this administration, to carry out His will and execute His Campaign with authority; the ESV describes it as, “…a plan for the fullness of time.”

God will have an administration suitable for this dispensation, tailored and equipped to meet the challenges of the times—this is our destiny. It is therefore necessary to God’s interests that we: Understand the dynamics of the times; God’s intentions for the times; know the framework and boundaries of the times; the enemy’s limits within the times (Dan. 7:25); and receive directions and tactical assignments to implement the plan of God.

The prophets of Israel were called forth as stewards of the oracles of God and witnesses to the world of the Living God. They lived supernatural lives functioning in gifts and abilities sourced from another realm.  For this present hour, the saints prepared and brought forth to serve God, will be a unique people, bold and courageous, who stand resolute, tethered to the Lord by humility and the fear of the Lord. They are called forth for the stewardship of a unique season of fullness, when everything has matured to its fullness—both good and evil—the season of Harvest!

THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD

The responsibility to execute this stewardship is authorized by a walk of integrity and faithfulness to the Call and undergirded by a resolution of unwillingness to compromise or capitulate.  To such a heart is the high call of God given.

These saints will be moving in heightened discernment and in the fullness  of the administrations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They will be a people who have attained to the glory of sonship the Father intended—a people conformed to the image of the Son.

Philippians 3 is a passage written by Paul toward the end of his life. In it he shares his great longing to know Christ at a deeper and higher level in the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Verses 12-14

Paul’s words reveal that he was pressing on to attain to something far greater than he had thus far experienced in his life—he was pressing on for more! This was captured in his cry to apprehend the fullness for which Christ had apprehended him.  Paul referred to this prize as the high call of God.  What is the high call of God? It seems clear that Paul’s desire was not simply that of a literal resurrection from the dead, confirmed by his words, “…not that I have already attained.”

In the Greek language, the words high call or upward call, means a mandate and an invitation to come up higher. The definition of the word high adds further light as to Paul’s intent:

High: extending above the normal or average level; great, or greater than normal, in quantity or intensity.

Some may say that Paul was moving in great signs and wonders, however the cry of Paul’s hearts shows that there is much, much more for us to experience in God. Paul was straining, pressing and reaching forward for this prize—to grasp and lay hold of the fullness of his inheritance in Christ.

There is a coming level of resurrection power to be released in its fullness in the saints that extends far above a level we have yet seen. Paul’s goal was reaching for this prize of the high call of knowing Christ in this level of resurrection power.

THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION

Paul prayed that the saints would also know this great power and get the possibilities of what the embrace of their true identity as sons of God meant for their lives and consequently for the world.

“…what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power…” (Ephes. 1:18-20).

Resurrection power is the new dynamic and DNA of saints born again in Christ. We are now supernatural beings by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, as the scriptures clearly show:

“Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.” Matthew 9:8:

“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49:

GOD’S SUPER HEROES

The disciples lived a life in demonstration of this indwelling power, administering it in the boldness and courage granted by the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament provides many accounts of those who served God displaying His power; for example, Moses in the power of God parted the Red Sea. Elijah parted the river Jordan and stopped the rain from falling for three years. Both he and Elisha with the help of angel armies accomplished many supernatural feats and miracles. In battle Joshua asked God to turn back time and it was granted.

As a Man, Jesus walked the earth displaying marvelous supernatural power. He healed the sick of all diseases and raised the dead. He walked on water and commanded the storm to be still, demonstrating power over all natural elements.  Yet, Jesus declared to His followers that they would do greater works than He did.

Jesus’ words became a reality for the disciples, who began moving out in signs and wonders, in supernatural power in the gifts of healing, wisdom and foreknowledge of events; some raised people from the dead. Phillip, a disciple travelled from one city to another supernaturally:

“When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.” Acts 8:39-40

SUPERNATURAL POWER

As preparation for moving in the High Call of God, I heard the Lord say the word hone. To hone the gifts and skills given to us means to: sharpen as a blade; refine or perfect something—honing skills; give greater strength or firmness to the body, or a part of the body.

Corinthians 12:7-11 declares that we have each been given power that functions through nine gifts administered in the power of the Spirit of God. In the fullness of time, God will have a people of superior supernatural prowess, moving in the powers of the age to come, above the normal or average level. These are the sons of God the earth is travailing to bring forth:

“…who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age…”

THE CLASH OF TWO KINGDOMS

The clash of kingdoms will be dramatic as God releases His own Super Heroes prepared for the hour—warriors whose faces are set—sons of Zion raised up to war against the sons of Greece, their God has made them like, “…the sword of a mighty man. The LORD will be seen over them…” Zechariah 9:13-14

For the fullness of time, our God-given supernatural gifts will be released to function at a much higher level than even seen in Scripture. A new breed will emerge fashioned for the challenge of the climax of history.  It is time for the saints of God to get the revelation of the power and great treasures that reside within them through Christ— “Christ in you the hope of glory.” The High Call of God is attainment unto Glory!

 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…”  Ephesians 3:20

The Day of the culmination of all things, is the Day of His Power when the saints volunteer freely, the leaders lead courageously and willingly, and Heaven invades planet Earth with the Glory of the Christ. Of this day, as the armies of Heaven march in unison with God’s army on Earth to take the Promised Land, it will be said, as it was said of Israel when they gathered corporately to advance into the Land. “The shout of a King was among them.”  That King is Jesus!

God is calling the saints to be bold, to come up higher into the Upward and High Call of God, to take our positions in the battle against evil.

 

(Excerpted from our Online Course The Arising Army of God)

Call For The Women

This word is written for women but is an important word for all! 

A woman’s voice of authority is now being released in fullness to have impact and to affect change in the spiritual and natural realms. The muzzle has been removed from a woman’s voice to decree the word of the Lord for such a time as this! Women have suffered thousands of years of imprisonment to demonic mind-sets. In western nations however, it has been only within the last century that true freedom and equality has begun to enter the lives of women on a large scale. This has been timed and purposed by God for a few reasons.

Resident within a woman is a force unique to her, that in God’s hand becomes an effective and powerful weapon—a weapon He has kept reserved and restricted and brought out for appointed times of history.  This force is nothing but the Lion of the tribe of Judah released through the peculiar passion unique to women, depicted in Mary the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene.  This force when harnessed in corporate woman, and released through union and agreement, becomes an explosive dunamis power—reserved by God for this notable hour of history. I believe God has allowed women to be restricted to a degree because the force of corporate woman if unleashed before its time—before it can be harnessed, directed and controlled by God through humility, submission and obedience—could bring harm to His precious daughters and hinder His unfolding plan.

The word harness means: to bring into conditions for effective use, as in – to harness the energy of the sun, or to harness water for electricity (dictionary.com). A harness is the bridle of a horse, used to restrain the power of the horse, and train and direct its movements.  God prepares his daughters for work in the ministry of God by training them in submission and the surrender of their wills for His glory and the fulfillment of His plans.  A wild stallion trained under the loving hands of his master, learns to become one with him, understanding the whisper of his voice,  the nuances of his gentle nudges and the guidance in his movements. Through the training, a mutual love and trust between horse and Master is developed. Wildness and rebellion is harnessed by love. the stallion becomes a portrait of majesty and will surrendered in adoration.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye. do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.” Psalm 32:8-9

God is presently removing from His daughters the bridle of  religion, ancient mind-sets against women, and the error and lies planted by the enemy. However He is bridling his daughters in a Harness named The Choice of Submitted Life—a life surrendered and yoked to him in His eternal love.

An army being prepared for the harvest fields

Everything taking place right now in every sphere, in politics, economics, weather and in society, is setting the stage for the release of the greatest harvest of souls in all of history.  All the saints of God are in preparation mode for this great event, as God does a deep cleansing work in the hearts of His people to clear it of all rebellion to His Word and to His Will.  Churches and Ministries are being re-fashioned to meet the challenges of the great influx of souls into the Kingdom as creative and innovative strategies are released from Heaven to receive and embrace them.

The release of the Harvest will affect and reform all aspects of life. The rising levels of offense, hatred and division we are seeing in the world right now is the evidence of the intensity of demonic resistance to the loss of souls they will suffer. A woman’s voice and position of authority is being now restored in its fullness to fight, to decree, to legislate in the spiritual realms and to occupy till He comes!

The training is tough and sometimes severe because the Call is so great

I understand very well the training and preparation necessary for the Call. When I first got saved 25 years ago I wore the crown of rebellion.  In the first church I became a part of—being ignorant of God’s Word and His ways—I told the Pastor in passing that I didn’t like listening to anyone, that if my father told me to do something I would do the opposite.  I am sure he was groaning loudly in spirit!  Over the years the training was intense and severe as God molded me and taught me His ways.  I could not see it, but could feel His hedge around me. I was restricted in a Holy Ghost trap and could not escape His love or His discipline.  In my rebellion to the restraints placed on me, God reminded me of the story of Helen Keller’s wild and unruly behaviour. I remembered that she was taken out to the cottage in the back to live alone with her teacher for a time of intense training. Through tears I remembered how she became a well-known author, lecturer and political activist who campaigned for women’s suffrage (Wikipedia).

I then read a little book describing the care of a shepherd for his sheep. The author described the behaviour of rebellious sheep that refused to obey its master’s voice. These sheep kept wandering off on their own, opening themselves to the attack of wolves.  After a time of grace, if the sheep continued to disobey, the shepherd would break its leg. He would then carry the sheep and hold him very close until it was healed—after the sheep would never stray again.

What does rebellion look like in the saints? It looks like the choice to stay offended, lack of love, stubbornness, control, hypocrisy, backbiting, contentiousness, unwillingness to yield and to get along, pride and arrogance, and a desire to “cast off  restraint.”  Sometimes in His incredible love, because of our hardheadedness God may have to take extreme measures to get through to us, or to allow life to teach us some hard lessons. In His great love God is always working on our behalf, for our protection and for training to be effective servants and leaders in His kingdom.

In the Bible, Jacob was known to be a deceiver who manipulated to get his own way.  In a strange encounter with God in Genesis 32:25-28, it tells us that Jacob wrestled with God all night. God touched the socket of his hip and it became out of joint.

“Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”

In the struggle to surrender our very strong wills to the Lord He gives us a new name—we become Israel Prince with God! I once heard a message preached on The Limp, where the speaker admonished us to never trust anyone who didn’t walk with a limp—of course he was speaking in the spirit, of one who walks before the Lord in brokenness and humility. This is the man or woman God can trust!

We have been called to live in an hour of extremes in the world, a volatile season in which God is requiring us to come forth in maturity. This means we must give up the fight, stop resisting God and His Word, and begin to resist the devil through a life of holiness, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless” (Gen. 17:1). God has deposited a great treasure in each one who belongs to him. It is now time for that treasure to come forth and shine!

Giving Birth To The Mighty Thing!

God has been speaking to me recently through the picture of an elephant’s pregnancy. God got my attention when within one week I encountered the message of the elephant three times.  A story was posted on social media in which a dog was comparing his pregnancy to an elephant’s.  The dog became pregnant and gave birth many times, while the elephant did not. Finally, the dog asks the elephant why she wasn’t giving birth? To which the elephant replied, “There is something I want you to understand. What I am carrying is not a puppy but an elephant. I only give birth to one in two years. When my baby hits the ground, the earth feels it. When my baby crosses the road human beings stop and watch in admiration, what I carry draws attention.  What I am carrying is mighty and great!”

God, has impregnated his Body with His Son—He is the Lion of Judah, not an elephant or a human.  God has been patiently waiting for the day when His Bride would be ready to give birth.  When this Lion hits the ground, the earth will shake!  Nations will stop to look and behold. The world will turn to see this great thing covered in the Shekinah Glory of God!  What the Body of Christ is carrying is Mighty and Great!  This birth will not happen until God gives the word, until He sees a Body free of rebellion and personal agenda, until He sees the surrendered will laid down before him as a gift—then He will announce the word and a multitude of women will deliver it:

“The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng: “Kings and armies flee in haste; the women at home divide the plunder. Even while you sleep among the sheep pens, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold…The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.”

Of course, this is the heritage of all sons and daughters, this message is true for both, but this word is highlighting the daughters of God for a present move underway. God is sounding a trumpet for His daughters to come forth in the Spirit of humility and a surrendered life to birth His Son in the earth—let the earth tremble at the Presence of the Lord!

See our free online Course – Call For The Women

(There was no author given for the anecdote of the elephant, and I pray  that whoever wrote it and sees this word is blessed by it.)