Prepared for the Times, Part 27 - Rick Joyner

One of the ultimate problems facing Western civilization at this time is the entitlements that are pushing governments to the brink of insolvency. If they cut the entitlements, the people will riot. If they don’t cut them, virtually every Western government will eventually have to default on its debt, which will likely bring about a worldwide economic collapse. With almost every new crisis, we come closer to the point where there is not any remedy that can even buy us more time to find a solution. In every way, we are getting beyond human solutions, and the cliff we are heading for is coming at us faster and faster.
Consider this: Virtually every economist admits that inflation is inevitable with the present deficits, and to meet the obligations for entitlements that we already have will require increasingly large deficits. If interest rates go up just 2 percent on our debt, it would require an 82 percent income tax just to pay the interest on the debt. It if went up just one-half percent more, a 100 percent tax would not cover it. Nearly every economist predicts the rise of inflation and interest rates, and some see them going far beyond 2 or 3 percent.

The government’s projections for such things as the recent Healthcare Reform were based mostly on best-case scenarios, which are almost never what actually happens. Many citizens still think that the brilliant people we have elected will solve how to deal with this and rescue us from whatever happens. I too am praying for such grace, but reality is that the ones we are trusting to get us out of this with their brilliance are the ones who got us into this. To date, we don’t have any realistic evidence that they have changed or even learned anything from what is happening.

Greece has been in the news because it recently dangled over the edge of default and required a bailout. However, other European nations are actually in worse shape than Greece and had their debt come due a little sooner than the others. Italy, Spain, and Portugal will hit soon. This is not all—an increasing number of states in America are in worse shape than these countries. About thirty states are close to default on their debt and have already begun to shut down some government services. This was before the recent Healthcare Reform Bill cast billions in increased costs back on the states for picking up Medicare and other obligations. Some states that have completed studies on their increased responsibilities from the Healthcare Reform Bill have indicated that it doubled their deficits, which were already too big for them to deal with.

What has been the Administration’s answer to this? “We will grow our way out of this.” Our first question about this should be: What is going to cause this kind of growth, which would require a level of growth many times faster than any expansion in history? Our government either is not telling us the truth or it does not know the truth. Both of these are bad.

“If you do not change your course, you will end up where you are headed,” and we are headed toward an economic meltdown that will likely be worse than any in history. It could be avoided; however, we are not changing course, but rather picking up speed, running up more in deficits in our present budget than all other previous Administrations combined. Can we survive this? Yes, but without a doubt, regardless of what the stock market is doing, or what other monthly economic indicators are saying, the most basic and pressing crises are not being addressed. It is like the Titanic has hit the iceberg, but for now the party continues.

So what do we do? First, are we personally in the same shape as our governments? Have we spent beyond our means? If so, we must start by repenting, which means to: 1) be genuinely sorry for our irresponsibility, and seek to understand and change what greed or other sin caused us to do it, 2) ask for God’s forgiveness and grace to get out of the mess we’re in, 3) change our ways so that if He does get us out we won’t just fall right back into the quicksand, and 4) seek to help others.

We also need to start praying for our leaders like never before. The insanity in our government has reached unprecedented levels with no change in sight. We have come to the place we’re in because of both Republicans and Democrats, but there is one group that is even more responsible—Christians. We have failed to be the salt and light we are called to be, which would be such a striking contrast to the spirit of the world that we are like a city set on a hill that all could look to for guidance.

If we have built our lives on the ways of this world, we will go down with the world. If we have built our houses on the Rock, then we do not have to fear any storm that is coming. We build our lives on the Rock by hearing the words of the Lord and obeying them. If we have lived by sound biblical principles of stewardship, we should have nothing to fear. If we have not, we can still get there by repentance, but we do not have any time to waste.

I will get a bit more practical about how to do this in coming weeks, but we can keep in mind and heart the absolute fact that the kingdom is coming, and God’s will is going to be done on the earth as it is in heaven. As our job in preparing the way for the Lord is described as “building a highway,” which is God’s “higher way,” we begin this by building our own lives on His kingdom, not the kingdoms of this world.

Since we are called to be salt and light, we must also get engaged in helping the nations we have been placed in. I will also get more practical about how to do this in coming weeks.

Jesus Never Healed Anyone! - Bill Johnson

Here's a key to moving in supernatural healing...



Bethel Church, located in the quiet town of Redding, California, is home to one of the most dynamic healing ministries of our time. People journey to Bethel Church from all over the world, and are released from cancer, birth defects, chronic pain and just about any other disability that can be named. Sid recently interviewed the senior pastor, Bill Johnson, for his TV show, It’s Supernatural!

Bill says that the key to divine healing is the understanding that Jesus never healed anyone! Bill explains, “I don’t mean that healing did not happen through Jesus, because the Bible plainly says that it did. As we turn the pages of the New Testament, we read of the dead being raised to life, of people born blind receiving their sight and of oppressing demons being driven out of people. There is no question that God’s power worked in a mighty way through Jesus.

“But Jesus did not do these works in His own power. Jesus repeatedly said, ‘I, myself, can do nothing.’ Jesus moved in the power of the Holy Spirit; it was the Holy Spirit who did the miracles. This is an important distinction because it means you do not have to be a Christian superstar to combat suffering and disease. All you have to do is be open to the workings of the Holy Spirit.

"Once I got my mind renewed to this truth, I realized that the same miracles that Jesus did could flow through me! I started seeking after the Holy Spirit with all my heart. I burned with the desire to have more of God’s power in my ministry, no matter what the cost. God tested me to see if I were willing to risk looking foolish, but I told Him, ‘What ever the cost, use me. Here I am, use me.’ Miracles and healings began to flow through me as I followed His leading."

People often ask Bill how he knows what the Holy Spirit wants to do in any given situation. He says, “It’s a learning process, but one sign I have learned to observe is when a feeling of compassion comes over me for someone. In Corinthians, Paul says that you are restricted by your affections. I believe that when I am moved by compassion, it is the Holy Spirit signaling that there is a special person present that He wants me to pray for. When my heart gets drawn into a situation in this way, I don’t always know what He plans to do, but I know that He wants to touch the person in some way.

“For example, when I was teaching at a healing conference earlier this year, I prayed for man with advanced cancer who had come from Canada. He looked very sick, and walked slowly and painfully with a cane when he came down to the front of the church for prayer. He said that doctors had given up hope, and that he was in the last stages of the disease, and taking morphine for his pain. I was stirred with compassion for his suffering, so I knew that the Holy Spirit was touching him, but there were no dramatic signs as I prayed for him.

"However, the next day, when he came back to the conference, his pain was less. He had not needed any morphine since the prayer, and he was able to walk without his cane. He continued to improve, and when he went back to Canada, his doctors found no evidence of cancer in his body! They gave him a clean bill of health. I later went to minister in his congregation in Canada and saw for myself the boldness and transformation that had come to his whole family. When people are healed so dramatically, the power of Messiah is shown to be very real.

“At Bethel Church, we believe that God will use anyone who makes himself or herself available, so we have a healing school that teaches people how we do it. After some basic teaching, we send our students out into the marketplace to put it into practice. On one occasion, a young lady from the Nashville area took three young people to the mall and started looking for people on crutches or with a cane or some other visible sign of a problem.

"They found a nine-year-old girl on crutches, so they asked the mother if they could pray for her. The girl was immediately healed and threw down her crutches. Her mother was quite moved by this. Then she said, ‘Would you please pray for my husband? He is a deaf-mute, unable to hear or talk. Our little girl has never heard her father speak.’ Our ‘students’ began to pray for him and his ears immediately opened. He could hear clearly when our student said, ‘You are also going to speak!’ God then loosed his tongue, and he started talking. That family was a scene of rejoicing. People who witnessed this miracle, the passers-by in the mall, were affected, too.

“Many miracles take place in public places. One young man felt the presence of God come on him in a grocery store and was led to pray for a man who had had three back surgeries and was in a lot of pain. He was instantly healed. There were numerous witnesses to this healing; as a result of seeing the demonstration of God’s power, two of them received Jesus and were born again. This is healing evangelism.”

“God wants to invade earth with His blessings and power. There are so many gifts in Heaven that He is just waiting for the opportunity to bestow. As a believer, you have a job to do here, not just sit passively. You are to do the works of the Messiah. The Bible says that if you sincerely hunger and thirst for righteousness you will be filled. Righteousness is intimacy with God. This life is just a blink of the eye compared to eternity. The highest adventure possible is walking with God, taking back the Kingdom, invading the earth with His power. It is for you, not just special people. It is for you."

Bill Johnson - Grocery Store Healing (This is becoming the new "normal" for Christians)

War and Glory - Rick Joyner

In August of 1993, I had a vision of the church. It was represented as an island in the middle of a sea. There were many different types of buildings allover this island, each of which I understood to represent a different denomination or movement. These buildings seemed to clash with each other architecturally as there were very old ones next to very modern ones. There was a war going on between many of the buildings, and most of them looked like bombed out shells. People were still living in the buildings, but most were starving and wounded.

The Controlling Spirits

There were two dark spirits over the island directing this war. One was named Jealousy and the other one Fear. They congratulated each other every time one of the buildings suffered damage, or people were wounded.

I then saw two powerful and frightening spirits rising over the sea. These became storms. One was Rage and the other Lawlessness. They were stirring up the sea and causing great waves to crash onto the island. Soon these storms became so large that they seemed even more threatening to the island than the war.

I felt that the people in the city had to be warned about these storms, and several apparent watchmen were trying to do this, but no one would listen to them. The people only debated and argued about whether the watchmen should be trusted. This was remarkable because anyone who just looked up could see the storms for themselves.

These wars had left so many people wounded that the hospitals were fast becoming the largest buildings on the island. The hospitals were movements or denominations that had given themselves to healing the wounded. As these grew, the other warring factions had no respect for them as being a place where even their own wounded were being cared for, but were instead more resolved to destroy them than the other buildings.

As the war continued, even those who were not badly wounded had the appearance of phantoms, or they became grotesquely deformed from the starvation and disease. Anytime a building received a supply of food, which would attract people, it would become a target. I could not comprehend how even a war could be so cruel--and this was the church!

In the midst of the battle, men were still trying to add to their buildings, or star new ones, but it was futile. Whenever one building would start to rise a little higher than the others, or any time a new building was started, it would become the main target of all of the other buildings, and it would quickly be reduced to rubble.

I was then shown many powerful leaders who were conducting this war. All of them had the same word on their forehead: "Treachery." I was surprised that anyone would follow someone with that written on them, but they did. I was reminded of II Corinthians 11:20, "For you bear with you anyone if he enslaves you, if he devours you, if he takes advantage of you, if he exalts himself, if he hits you in the face."

A Remnant

However, there were people who appeared as lights in almost every building. These lights in almost every building. These lights refused to take part in the fighting, but spent their time trying to repair the buildings, or nurse the wounded. Even though it was impossible to keep up with the damage or the wounded, they did not stop trying.

It was also apparent that each of these lights had the power to heal wounds, and that power was increasing as they worked. Those who were healed became lights just like those who healed them. It was obvious that these individuals who were committed to healing the wounded were now able to do more than the hospitals because of the ruthlessness of the attacks on the hospitals. Understanding this, the hospitals dispersed their people as "healing teams" which spread out across the island and moved in to many of the other buildings. There were also small camps around the perimeter of the island. Some of these were involved in the war between the buildings, and seemed intent on trying to destroy all of the buildings so that they could bring people in to their camps. The leaders of these camps had the same word "Treachery" written on their foreheads.

There were a few of these camps which were not involved in the war, and they too appeared as lights. These were also growing in authority, but it was a different authority than the healing powers that the others had. They had authority over events. They were praying to stop small battles, and to keep small storms away, and it was happening as they prayed.

The two spirits over the city and the two storms became very intimidated by these small camps. I felt that these intercessory groups were actually close to having the authority to stop the major battles and big storms, which were obviously the source of agitation of these large spirits.

The Tragedy

There were multitudes of boats and ships all around the island that were waiting to enter the city as soon as the fighting stopped. Many of these boats were full of refugees from other wars, and many were wounded. There were also ships bearing kings, presidents and those who appeared wealthy and prosperous. These were all afraid of the storms, but they could not enter the city because of the fighting. Their groans and screams were so loud I was surprised that no one in the city would hear them; no one even seemed aware that they were out there.

In His Wisdom

Then I saw the Lord standing and watching. He was so glorious that I wondered why I hand not seen Him before, or why everyone in the city did not stop to worship Him. To my amazement, no one was able to see Him I then looked in to the eyes of some of the people, and they were all so "blood-shot" that I was surprised that they could see anything.

I then wondered why the Lord did not stop the fighting, and seemed content to just watch. As if He had understood my thoughts, He turned and said to me, "This My church. These were the houses men tried to build for Me. I knocked on the door of each one, but they would not open to Me. I would have brought peace because I will only dwell in the city of peace."

Then He turned and indicated the people in the ships, saying: "If I allowed all of the these people to come to the city now they would just be used in the war. When their cries become louder than the war, I will build a place for them."

Then He looked at me with great earnestness and said, "I allowed this to happen so that it would never happen again!" It is hard to convey the power of this statement, but imparted to me a deep understanding that He allowed this conflict to continue out of profound wisdom. He then said, "Until you understand this you cannot understand what I am about to do."

When the cries of those in the boats became louder than the conflict in the city, the Lord gave a command and the sea was released. Great tidal waves arose and began to sweep across the island until they covered the buildings. The spirits that were storms joined the spirits over the island, and they all grew to almost double their previous size. Then the island completely disappeared under the darkness of the spirits and the raging sea.

The Lord did not move as this was happening. I knew that my only protection was to stand as close to Him as possible. I could not see anything but Him during this great storm. As I looked at His face I could see both hurt and resolve.

The House Of the Lord is Built

Slowly, the storms died down and the tides receded. The individuals who were the lights inthe buildings emerged and remained standing where the buildings had once been. Then the Lord, who had been on the edge of the island, moved to the center and said, "Now I will build My house."

And all of those were lights started turning toward the Lord. As they turned, they became even brighter, and each group as changed into a living pillar right where they stood. Soon it became obvious that these pillars were the framework of a building which would almost cover the entire island.

The pillars were different colors, shapes, and sizes. It was hard to understand how all of these, being so different, would work as a single frame work, However, the Lord seemed very pleased with each one, and they did eventually all fit together.

The People Come

Then the ships and boats all started landing on the island. There were multitudes of people. Each ship or boat was from a different country or race of people. Soon I began to think that, even as large as it was, there were too many people for the building. Then the Lord looked at me and said very sternly, "We will build as many rooms as we need-no one will be turned away."

This was said so sternly that I resolved to never again consider turning people away as an option. I also pondered how the biggest problem before was how to get people to come to the buildings. Now the big problem was what to do with all of the people.

The Cemetery

When each ship arrived, the people on it were led straight to the Lord. He looked into the eyes of each one and said, "If you trust Me, you will die for me." When one said "I will die for You," He immediately thrust His sword right through his heart. This caused very real pain. To those who tried to avoid the sword, it was obviously even more painful. To those who relaxed, it did not seem to hurt as much.

They were then taken to a cemetery with the words "Obscurity" over the gate. I felt compelled to follow them. Those who had been stabbed were checked to see that they were really dead before they were buried. Some clung to life for a long time, and were laid off to one side. Quickly, those who were buried began to arise as lights just like those who had survived the storm. I noticed that they were not staying in their tombs the same length of time. Some of them arose before those who were clinging to life were even buried.

When I first looked at this cemetery, it looked like a dreadful place, and I did not think that it fit at all on this now glorious island. As I left the cemetery, I turned to look back at it, and it looked beautiful. I could not figure out what was different, when one of the workers said to me knowingly, "The cemetery has not changed--you have."

I then looked at the building and it was even more glorious than I had remembered. I then looked at the island and felt the same thing--it had become much more beautiful. I remembered the Scripture, "Precious the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones" (Psalm 116:15). The worker, who was still looking at me, then said, "You have not died yet, but were changed just by being close to those who have. When you die you will see even more glory."

Those who were emerging as lights from the cemetery were each being led to their own place in the building, which would have their name on it. Some joined the walls, others joined the pillars, some became windows or doors. They remained people even after they became a part of the building.

The Test

I returned to the Lord's side. Standing in His present was so wonderful I could not imagine why anyone would not be willing to die for Him, but many of the people coming from the ships did refuse. These would all back away from Him at the request. Many of these went back to the ships, some of which left and some which remained in the harbor.

A few of the people who refused to die stayed on the island and were allowed to walk about freely, and even enter the House of the Lord. They seemed to love and bask in the glory of it all. Many of these began to shine with a glory too, but they only reflected what was coming from the others.

As I was thinking that it was not right for these to be allowed to stay, the Lord said to me, "My patience will win many of these, but even those that never give me their lives, I love and am pleased to let them enjoy my glory. Never turn away those who love My glory." These really did enjoy the house, and enjoyed the presence of the Lord that radiated from the house, but they seemed timid, and retreated when the Lord Himself came close to them.

I then watched as those who had refused to die for the Lord began to act as if His house were their own, and had been built for them. I wanted to be angry at their great presumption, but I could not feel anger even though I wanted to. I then understood that it was because I was standing so close to the Lord that I could not be mad. This forced me to make the decision to stay close to Him for move away so that I could be angry.

I was surprised that this was a difficult decision, that I would even consider wanting to move away from the Lord, but it honestly was. Out of fear at what was arising within me, I stepped closer to the Lord. He immediately reached out and grabbed me as if I was about to fall off of a cliff. As I looked behind me I was astonished to find that I had been on the very edge of one, and had I taken that step away from the Lord to feel the anger, I would have stepped off of it.

He then said to me, "In this house I can tolerate presumption more than that anger. That anger would start the war again." I was then overwhelmed with the knowledge hat I had not yet made the decision to die for Him either, and that I too had been presumptuously feeling possessive of both the house and the Lord. When I saw this great evil in my own heart I was appalled and immediately begged the Lord to destroy my evil heart with His word.

Resurrection Life

When the Lord pierced My heart, I was surprised to feel so little pain when it seemed to have been so hard on others. He then said, "Those who request death die easier." I remembered His statement in Matthew 21:44 "And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whoever it falls, it will scatter him like dust."

I did not remember being carried to the cemetery, but just as if no time at all had passed, I was emerging from it again. Now the glory of everything I saw was unspeakable. I looked at the rock and loved it. I looked at trees, the sky and clouds, and could not believe how wonderful they were. A sparrow seemed more glorious than any bird I had ever seen. I wondered at the great treasure that this little bird was, and why I had not appreciated him like this before.

I then looked at the presumptuous people. Not only did I feel no temptation to be angry, I loved them so much I would have let one each pierce my heart again if it would help them. I then began to think of how blessed I was to be able to meet them and be with them. Now I actually wanted them to stay and could not even comprehend how I was ever tempted to be angry at them--they were much greater treasures than the sparrow!

Then the Lord stood next to me. Though I did not think it was possible, He was much more glorious than before, and I was able to bear it. He said, "This is why the death of My people is so precious to Me. Those who seek to save their life always lose it, but those who lose their life for My sake find true life. Now you know true life because you know love."

I then looked at the house and all of those who composed it. Everything and every one that I looked at seemed to stir up this great feeling of love that was more wonderful than anything I had ever felt before. I wanted to go look at or talk to each one, but I did not want to leave the Lord's side, Whose presence was even more compelling. Knowing my thoughts, he said, "You need never fear leaving My side, because I have made My abode in you and I will be with you everywhere that you go."

As I watched the presumptuous people, they were enjoying all of the blessings, and even thought of themselves as the reasons for them, but they really were not even a part of what was being built. Having just been one of them I also knew how shallow their enjoyment was, compared to what it could be, and a great compassion came over me for them. As I continued watching these people, they gradually became thinner in substance until they were just like the phantoms I had seen in the city that had been destroyed. Again I thought of the Lord's words, "Those who seek to save their life will lose it, but those who lose their life for My sake will find it."

No Limits

Then I looked at how the building kept getting higher, and the higher it went the more glory it exuded and the further it could be seen. This resulted in even more ships and people coming through the storms, which were still raging, but seemed unable to affect the island. As I wondered how high the building could get, the Lord turned to me again and, as if He were answering my thoughts, said, "There is no limit to how high we can build this because I am the foundation and love is the cement."

This caused me to look at the cement, which was transparent but radiated a great power. I wondered how I had not noticed this before; it was now so obvious and captivating. I then started pondering how I seemed blind to even the greatest wonders of this building until the Lord directed my attention to them. It caused me to turn back tot he Lord and watch everything to which He gave His attention.

The Lord then began looking at the people who now composed the building. As I looked at them again I was immediately struck by the face that they were more than people-I knew that they were the "new creation" that had transcended this creation. They had bridged the gap between the physical and spiritual realms, and were clearly a part of both. They were unquestionable supernatural, which did not mean that they were more than natural, but far more natural than anything "natural" I had ever seen. They were more real than anything I had ever considered "real." They made everything else seem like a shadow, and this sense increased as they continued to change.

Soon the glory that was coming from them could be both seen and felt. The feeling was not like a touch, but like an emotion, As I walked close enough to this glory, it made me feel so good that the only way that I can describe it is like a wonderful intoxication, not one that clouded the mind, but illuminated it. I felt somehow ennobled, but with pride, but with a powerful sense of destiny. I also felt a profound security, as if I were in complete harmony with the ground, the air and especially the Lord and His house. The feeling was so good I never wanted to move again.

With the addition of each new boatload of people, the transformation of those already a part of the building would continue, and the glory of the whole building would increase and expand. This made everyone in the building greatly rejoice with the coming of each new group of people.

Sharing the Glory

When those who came from the cemetery took their place in the building, those who were already a part tried to give the new ones their own glory. As they did this, the glory radiating from the Lord would increase, and He would give even more to those who had given their own glory away. Those who were the most devoted to this sharing would be the ones used to start the next level of the house, which kept going higher and higher.

I thought of how opposite this was from the jealousy which had prevailed previously in the city. I then tried to ponder the jealousy to understand it more, but it was almost impossible to do. Because I could no longer feel jealousy, I had a difficult time even understanding what it was--it seemed as unreal as if it had only existed in bad dreams. The joy of sharing was so great that not doing it now seemed incomprehensible. The more the glory was shared, the more each one received to share.

The joy of sharing was so great that I knew that all of use would be spending eternity just seeking others with whom to share the glory. I had a strong sense of knowing that the Lord would be creating many new worlds just for us to have new places to share His glory. I then knew that this was why He had created the universe with such diversity, and why He created it to continually expand at a rapid pace. Those who touched His glory were touched by a love that had to share the glory, which caused them to expand. He had given us the universe to share His glory with. He had set in motion a glorious chain reaction that would never stop! There were no limits on time or space, and we would need every bit of it!

The Storms Return

Then suddenly my attention was turned toward the storms that had continued to grow in the sea. To my shock they had grown larger and faster than the house of the Lord, and were now coming toward the island.

Great waves covered the island and the building disappeared from my view, even though I was still very close to it. The fury of this storm was beyond comprehension, but I felt no fear at all. I knew that it was because I had already died to this world and had a life that could never be taken from me. As wonderful as the island had become, I was just happy to die physically so that I would be free to carry the glory of the Lord to the rest of the universe that had so captured my attention. It really would have been hard to choose to stay or go, I just rested and waited.

Gradually the storms abated and the building then re-emerged. Both the buildings and the island were much smaller, but even more glorious. Then I noticed that the storms were just off shore and were returning. This happened several times, and each time the building would emerge it would be smaller, but more glorious. Each time that this happened the storms were also much smaller--they were wearing themselves out on the island. Soon the storms could only generate small waves that posed no threat of any real damage. The glory of the house was now beyond any human description.

Then the clouds dissipated altogether into the most beautiful sky I had ever seen. As I gazed into the sky I began to realize that it was filled with the glory that was being emitted from the house. As I looked at the house I was amazed that there was no damage from the storm, though it was much smaller. Even so, the glory now coming from the house was much greater than before, and was reflected by everything. I felt that it was so great that it must already be extending far beyond the earth.

Then the vision changed and I was alone with the Lord. All of the great feelings were gone--even the love. He looked at me earnestly and said, "The war is almost over. It is time to prepare for the storms. Tell My people that no one with His brother's blood on His hands will be used to build My house."

I was trying hard to listen to these words in order to heed them, while still thinking about the great love I had felt. He then said, "This was a dream, but it is real. You have known everything that I have shown you in this dream in your heart. Now believe with your heart and My love will be real to you again. This is your quest--to know my love."

Comments

The general interpretation of this vision is obvious, but I do think that many of the feelings that I had during this experience are an important part of the message.

In looking at the different buildings which I knew represented denominations or movements, the architectural clash was so striking that it was grotesque. It was as if they were all so intent on being different that the most hideous skyline had been the result. I could not imagine anyone who happened upon such a city having any desire to enter it, even if the conflict was not taking place.

The church is doing much more damage to herself through infighting than the enemies without are able to do. At that time I was consciously surprised that the Lord did not intervene in this destructive fighting. Those who were fighting against the other denominations, or movements, were all disqualified from being a part of the house the Lord built.

This reminded me of King David, who, because he was "a man of war and had shed blood" (1Chronicles 28:3), was not allowed to build the temple of the Lord. This did not disqualify David from salvation, or from being considered one of the great men of God of all time. I felt that many true saints, and even great men of God, were tragically disqualifying themselves from this most wonderful work of all by becoming embroiled in this spiritual civil war. This even caused them to lose the light that hey had; only the peacemakers, and those who to trying to repair and build instead of tearing down, radiated with light in this vision.

I think that it was significant that almost all, if not all, of these buildings contained those who were true lights. These may appear as small lights now, but they will be the foundation upon which the Lord will build His house.

Because the sea sometimes represents "mass humanity" in Scripture (see Revelation 17:15), the multitudes are going to rise up in great waves which will destroy much of the present visible structure of the church. Those who are true lights will not be swept away by the waves. Those who walk in this truth have a foundation which cannot be shaken.

The Lord's command to release the sea did not cause the sea to rise up, but just removed that which was restraining it. The sea then came with fury against the island, as if it were being controlled by a great hatred. I believe this represented a great hatred against visible, institutional Christianity that will arise, and the Lord will allow it to destroy these institutions.

When these great tidal waves had stopped, there were no Christian institutions as represented by the buildings that men had constructed. However, all of the real Christians remained. I do not think that it is wrong to keep\ trying to repair these structures, as the Lord honored and preserved those who did, but this vision affirmed deep within me the need to focus on building people, rather than trying to build another institution that will be able to stand in these times--none of them will stand.

Even though these present buildings were destroyed, they each contained those who were to be pillars in His house. The house of the Lord was a brand new building but those who became the main supports in it came from almost every denomination and movement. The Lord is "the wise man who brings forth from His treasures things both new and old." The Lord does have new wine to serve, but Isaiah 25:6 declares that the Lord will also serve "refined, aged wine." The Lord will not use either the old or the new, but both the old and new.

The Lord's house was built in the midst of the increasing storms of rage and lawlessness. It radiated as an even greater light because of the storms. I was encouraged that the Lord will build, on this earth, a church that really will reflect His glory, and that this age will not end until He does.

It could not be any other way. Moses contended when the Lord threatened to destroy Israel, that this would only leave the testimony that He could bring people out of Egypt, but could not lead them into the Promised Land. The Lord will have a testimony, through the church, that will last for eternity. That testimony will be that He not only can forgive the sins of His church, but He also has the power and wisdom to deliver her from her sins, and maker her into a glorious bride without spot or wrinkle:

Mt 16:13-18

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some [say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

A Bankrupt BP - Worse for the Financial World than Lehman Brothers

The following is an in-depth article about the potentially catastrophic financial ramifications of BP going bankrupt.

The BP crisis in the Gulf of Mexico has rightfully been analysed from the ecological perspective. People’s lives and livelihoods are in grave danger. But that focus has equally masked something very serious from a financial perspective, in my opinion, that could lead to an acceleration of the crisis brought about by the Lehman implosion.


People are seriously underestimating how much liquidity in the global financial world is dependent on a solvent BP. BP extends credit – through trading and finance. They extend the amounts, quality and duration of credit a bank could only dream of. The Gold community should think about the financial muscle behind a company with 100+ years of proven oil and gas reserves. Think about that in comparison with what a bank, with few tangible assets, (truly, not allegedly) possesses (no wonder they all started trading for a living!). Then think about what happens if BP goes under. This is no bank. With proven reserves and wells in the ground, equity in fields all over the planet, in terms of credit quality and credit provision – nothing can match an oil major. God only knows how many assets around the planet are dependent on credit and finance extended from BP. It is likely to dwarf any banking entity in multiples.

And at the heart of it all are those dreadful OTC derivatives again! Banks try and lean on major oil companies because they have exactly the kind of credit-worthiness that they themselves lack. In fact, major oil companies, conversely, spend large amounts of time both denying Banks credit and trying to get Bank risk off of their books in their trading operations. Oil companies have always mistrusted bank creditworthiness and have largely considered the banking industry a bad financial joke. Banks plead with oil companies to let them trade beyond one year in duration. Banks even used to do losing trades with oil companies simply to get them on their trading register… a foot in the door so that they could subsequently beg for an extension in credit size and duration. For the banks, all trading was based on what the early derivatives giant, Bankers Trust, named their trading system: RAROC – or, Risk Adjusted Return on Credit. Trading is a function of credit bequeathed, mixed with the risk of the (trading) position. As trading and credit are intertwined, we might do well to remember what might happen to global liquidity and markets if BP suffers what many believe to be its deserved fate of bankruptcy. The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has already been and will be further undermined by BP’s distress. They are one of the only “hard asset” entities backing up this so-called exchange.

If BP does go bust (regardless of whether it is deserved), and even if it is just badly wounded and the US entity is allowed to fail, the long-term OTC derivatives in the oil, refined products and natural gas markets that get nullified could be catastrophic. These will kick-back into the banking system. BP is the primary player on the long-end of the energy curve. How exposed are Goldman sub J. Aron, Morgan Stanley and JPM? Probably hugely. Now credit has been cut to BP. Counter-parties will not accept their name beyond one year in duration. This is unheard of. A giant is on the ropes. If he falls, the very earth may shake as he hits the ground.

As we are beginning to see, the Western pension structure, financial trading and global credit are all inter-twined. BP is central to this, as a massive supplier of what many believe(d) to be AAA credit. So while we see banks roll over and die, and sovereign entities begin to falter… we now have a major oil company on the verge of going under. Another leg of the global economic “chair” is being viciously kicked out from under us. Ecological damage is not just an eco-event on its isolated own. It has been added to the list of man-made disasters jeopardizing the world economy. The price tag and resultant knock-on effects of a BP failure could easily be equal to that of a Lehman, if not more. It is surely, at the very least, Enron x10.

All the counter-party risk associated with the current BP situation means the term curve of the global oil trade has likely shut down. Here we have yet another credit-based event causing a lock-up in markets that will now impede trade and commerce. It looks like an exact replication of the 2008 credit market seizure could ensue all over again – and it could probably be a lot worse. The world is in a far more delicate state now.

Although never really discussed, the world is highly reliant on BPs provision of long-term credit to many core industries. Who makes good on all the outstanding paper that so many smaller oil, gas and electricity companies, airlines, shipping companies, local bus, railway and transportation networks that rely on BPs creditworthiness and performance for? It doesn’t take a genius to figure out how this could all unwind. If BP has to be bailed-out, like a bank, the system will have to print even more unimaginable amounts of money.

The market, intellectually lazy and slow to realization, as it often is, probably has not woken up to it yet – but the BP crisis could unleash damage similar to the banking crisis. A BP failure through bankruptcy could make Lehman look small in comparison, and shake the financial house of cards we live in even more severely.

Prepared for Times, Part 26 - Rick Joyner

Week 26, 2010

I am often given trade and news journal subscriptions from groups that I sometimes cannot understand why they think I would have an interest in them, but nonetheless, I appreciate them reaching out. Lately these different journals, from unrelated industries or groups, have been taking on a common theme. Now there seems to be a continuous cry from all sectors of society to help save their freedoms. This is a revelation. There has not likely ever been a time in American history when all of our freedoms were under the kind of assault they are now, on almost every front, and with seemingly unrelenting persistence.

This is a predicted sign of the times, and we are told that when we see these things happening we should, “Look up for your redemption is drawing close” (see Luke 21:28). However, nowhere does it say that this is all we should do! In fact, we are given clear instructions and an action plan that will, if we follow it, lead to a sure victory, not defeat. II Corinthians 2:14 declares, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” If we follow the Lord, we will always come to victory.

It seems that almost every group in society is now feeling embattled, and they are correct in feeling this way. Since I receive communications from Christian leaders across the country, almost everyone is saying the same about what is happening in their city or state. It is obvious that we are in the greatest struggle of all time to save our liberty. Those who are fighting on the local level feel overwhelmed, but when you sit back and look at the whole, it seems far more so. As impossible as our plight may now seem, there is reason to hope. If God’s people awaken, arise, and call on our God while being resolved to fight the good fight, we cannot lose!

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings trilogy as a prophecy of the way he saw the times unfolding, and it seems that he was very accurate. Evil is growing more powerful than ever before, and the righteous seem so outnumbered, it does not appear that they have any chance of holding back the great hordes of hell. However, they still fought just because it was the right thing to do. They went into battle expecting to die, preferring to die rather than not fight the great evil of their times. Even though it looked like they had no hope of victory, one little hobbit would ultimately unravel all of the power of the evil one and good would prevail. Even the smallest and seemingly weakest believer has more power resident in him or her than all of the antichrists who have ever lived! We do not know how or through whom the victory will come, but our job is to just fight with all that we have for what is right and never give up. It is right to fight the big battles, but we can also expect that the Lord can use the smallest and weakest to slip in some unexpected way to bring the victory. You might even be the one!

In this trilogy, evil comes in almost every form and seemingly at the same time. There are the huge, evil armies that are easy to discern, but then there are also those who appear to come as friends, with the best of intentions, saying they only want the good of the people, and these inevitably do the most damage and come the closest to defeating the good. In 1928, this is what the U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis warned about, saying:

“Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government’s purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil- minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning, but without understanding.”

Another interesting and prophetic vision that Tolkien had of the future that seems to now be unfolding, was how the overwhelming threat of evil brought alliances between those who never dreamed of being aligned together, and had before been either enemies or rivals. Finding themselves all fighting on the same side against the ultimate evil gave them all a greater understanding of who their true friends and allies were. This ultimately brought forth a victory and a kingdom that was more glorious than any before it.

It is likewise interesting the alignments that are now taking place. In the church, there are gatherings of believers from almost across the spectrum of denominations and movements who want to join together, not in a denominational organization, but as different groups who have a common enemy, a common threat to their existence. There are non-religious groups who want to join with the religious because of the overwhelming threat of evil they perceive. It is truly a remarkable time, and it seems that the greatest of all battles between good and evil is now unfolding, and we get to be in it!

If we are here in these times, it is because we have been chosen to be. If we have been chosen for this, then it is our calling. It does seem to be overwhelming, maybe even impossible in some ways, but it seems that the Lord likes those odds, and does His best work then. We know from the overwhelming testimony of Scripture and history that we cannot lose if we do not quit.

There's a Famine in the Land - Bob Jones

"Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but [a famine] for hearing the words of the Lord.  And [the people] shall wander from sea to sea and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord [inquiring for and requiring it as one requires food], but shall not find it" (Amos 8:11 &12 AMP).

These are the words of the Prophet Amos that can be directly related to the American church today. The church has been dominated by a spirit of stupor because of their continual disobedience to God.

This famine in the land is a blanket of deftness preventing the body of Christ from hearing the Word. In this fast-paced world the Word is made available by many forms of communication by internet, T.V., books, CD’s and DVD’s to name a few. There is no lack. The problem is in the hearing of the word as if the word is falling on deft ears and bringing confusion into the understanding of the spoken word. It’s just like the serpent did in the garden when he spoke to Eve twisting the original word of God.

"As it is written, God gave them a spirit (an attitude) of stupor, eyes that should not see and ears that should not hear, [that has continued] down to this very day" (Romans 11:8 AMP).

The oil spill in the gulf is only the beginning of this nation’s troubles. The only hope (confident expectation) for America is for her to wake up from her stupor and cry out to God. When the church goes to her knees and cries out to God for mercy He will hear the prayers of the godly and answer and heal their land (and their seas).

There is no help for this nation apart from God. We must cry out for God to plug the oil well in the gulf for He’s the only one that can do it! And He’ll only do it when the church cries out.

If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 2 Chron. 7:14 AMP

This is a powerful scripture for the church; not the heathen. It’s a promise for God’s people; those who are called by His name. Christians are those who walk in the power and authority of Christ. When they cry out God hears them and answers.

When the American church wakes up and cries out to God we give Him permission to stop some of these major judgments. The only answer now will be God answering the prayers of His saints. Cry out to God so people will come out of their stupor and begin to hear from Heaven.

Pray for the spirit of stupor on this nation to be broken. There is no shortage of the word, they are not hearing. When you hear, then you obey! Heaven is waiting on the prayers of the saints to answer 2 Chron. 7:14. The saints must go to their knees!

In short, God is waiting for the redeemed of the Lord to say so!

Is U.S. Now On Slippery Slope To Tyranny?

Is U.S. Now On Slippery Slope To Tyranny?

By THOMAS SOWELL Posted 06/21/2010 06:13 PM ET

When Adolf Hitler was building up the Nazi movement in the 1920s, leading up to his taking power in the 1930s, he deliberately sought to activate people who did not normally pay much attention to politics.

Such people were a valuable addition to his political base, since they were particularly susceptible to Hitler's rhetoric and had far less basis for questioning his assumptions or his conclusions.

"Useful idiots" was the term supposedly coined by V.I. Lenin to describe similarly unthinking supporters of his dictatorship in the Soviet Union.

Put differently, a democracy needs informed citizens if it is to thrive, or ultimately even survive.

In our times, American democracy is being dismantled, piece by piece, before our very eyes by the current administration in Washington, and few people seem to be concerned about it.

The president's poll numbers are going down because increasing numbers of people disagree with particular policies of his, but the damage being done to the fundamental structure of this nation goes far beyond particular counterproductive policies.

Just where in the Constitution of the United States does it say that a president has the authority to extract vast sums of money from a private enterprise and distribute it as he sees fit to whomever he deems worthy of compensation? Nowhere.

And yet that is precisely what is happening with a $20 billion fund to be provided by BP to compensate people harmed by their oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Many among the public and in the media may think that the issue is simply whether BP's oil spill has damaged many people, who ought to be compensated.

But our government is supposed to be "a government of laws and not of men."

If our laws and our institutions determine that BP ought to pay $20 billion — or $50 billion or $100 billion — then so be it.

But the Constitution says that private property is not to be confiscated by the government without "due process of law."
Technically, it has not been confiscated by Barack Obama, but that is a distinction without a difference.

With vastly expanded powers of government available at the discretion of politicians and bureaucrats, private individuals and organizations can be forced into accepting the imposition of powers that were never granted to the government by the Constitution.

If you believe that the end justifies the means, then you don't believe in constitutional government.

Prepared for the Times - Rick Joyner

Prepared for the Times, Part 25
By Rick Joyner


In relation to some of the most basic social goals for the nation, such as taking care of the needy and providing services like health care to the population, the majority of both conservatives and liberals agree, but the disagreement is in how to do it. One thing that caused me to cross the line to becoming a conservative was a study I read back in the 1970s, which indicated that only one dollar in ten in the budget of the Department of Health and Human Services actually made it to the needs, and the rest was being consumed in administration and bureaucracy. My desire to see the truly needy helped did not change, but it was obvious that the best way to do this was not to use the government.

Now some would say that the needy would not get help at all if the government did not step in to do this, and it’s worth it even if it is such an inefficient way to do it. Though I may not agree with this argument, I can understand and appreciate it. However, the basic disagreement between those who want big government and small government is mostly about efficiency. There are constant reminders that governmental, bureaucratic management is going to be the most inefficient at just about anything it is given to do. It was bad in the 1970s, and since no Administration of either political party has addressed the reason for this, it has become far worse now than it was then—even with the incredible increase of automation and computer technology.

The government is now like a black hole, which sucks up anything that gets close to it, and it is never seen again. It does not have to be that way, but until the culture of governmental mismanagement is changed, we can expect anything we give the government to do to be many times less efficient and more expensive than it should be. How much better off would the needy be if all that is now being wasted in administration actually reached the needs?

The other main issue over big versus small government is intrusion into our lives. This was highlighted in the “Cash for Clunkers” program last year. For there to be a twenty-page contract required for this program was shocking, but an even bigger shock awaited the dealers who logged into the government website to join the program. In the agreement they had to make, there was a provision that made the dealer’s computers and all of their contents government property! The outrage was so great that this was removed quickly, but why was it put in there in the first place?

As expected, the Cash for Clunkers program became an administrative nightmare, and months later, dealers were still trying to get paid for the clunkers. The government may have had some good intentions at the root of this program, but its application was somewhere between horrendous and diabolical and certainly fed the fears many already had about the new Administration’s intentions.

As people are digging into the Healthcare Reform Bill and other legislation such as the Financial Reform Bill, they are finding similar time bombs hidden in the 2,700 pages, which seem intended to be such a mountain of legalese that no one would read it. These time bombs will destroy some of our basic freedoms. Only the most naïve or blindly loyal do not see this now, and it has had a huge impact in eroding the trust Americans have for their President and their government. This is the lack of trust all of the Founding Fathers seemed to share and was a basic driving force in the Constitution and Bill of Rights they left to us.

Those who seek to undermine the authority of the Constitution by saying that it is a centuries old document written for a people who were mostly farmers, which does not relate to the modern world, must not have ever read the Constitution. It was written to address basic human nature that does not seem to have changed one bit in the six-thousand year span of human history. It was written to rein in the corruption of power that would constantly be a challenge to our rights, and it has done so with remarkable effectiveness since it was adopted. It does this with such flexibility in enabling the nation to adapt to changing times that no other nation on earth has attained the freedom and strength that America has.

So why should we trust the intentions of any person who wants to change something that has been this successful? Why would we want to trust anyone’s word who swore an oath to defend this Constitution from enemies both foreign and domestic and would use their office to attack and undermine what they swore to defend? How can we trust someone’s word who obviously takes their own oath so lightly? Trust is built on honesty and integrity.

A basic principle of the Constitution is that you do not trust anyone who is in power. The Constitution was intended to keep everyone in power in check, so that they could use power to do what was needed by the people, but could never use it to oppress the people. Those in power may be good people and have good intentions, but they knew anyone could be corrupted by power, so they drew up this ingenious foundation for government that has worked better than any other basis of law that did not come down from Mount Sinai. How are people, who are constantly violating it, able to get into the high office, let alone the highest in the land?

Isaiah 5:13 gives us the reason: “My people go into bondage because of their lack of knowledge.” The U.S. Constitution is a document that can be read in one sitting. It has been the most effective and powerful document in human history for governing men, and yet very few Americans have ever read it, including many who have taken an oath of office to defend it! How could any honorable person take such an oath to defend something they have not even read? Should we not also ask those who are about to take this oath if they have read it? Then ask them if they agree with it?

When we asked the members of our local Oak Initiative Chapter to read the Constitution, there was an immediate buzz about, “How can they do that?” They, our government leaders, could do these things that so basically violate the Constitution because the people are ignorant of it. Go to Google and download the Constitution and read it. You’ll be amazed. If you are unable to download and read it online, we’ll send you a copy. To obtain a copy, please send $2 to the following: Heritage International Ministries, Attn: Order Room, 375 Star Light Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29715, or phone us at 1-800-542-0278 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-542-0278 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

The most powerful weapon we have against tyranny is knowledge of the truth.

John Paul Jackson - The Perfect Storm (Part 6 of 6)

John Paul Jackson - The Perfect Storm (Part 5 of 6)

John Paul Jackson - The Perfect Storm (Part 4 of 6)

John Paul Jackson - The Perfect Storm (Part 3 of 6)

John Paul Jackson - The Perfect Storm (Part 2 of 6)

John Paul Jackson - The Perfect Storm (Part 1 of 6)

Kim Clement: Your Destiny and a Massive Reformation from 2010 and Beyond

Your Destiny and a Massive Reformation from 2010 and Beyond

Wow, what a year this has been so far. 2010 has brought about some of the most exciting moments and challenges of my life. A few months ago I released the Destiny Part 1 article and had hoped to release Destiny Part 2 the following month, but God intervened! At the end of March, I had a very powerful encounter with God and He called me to an 18-month period of prayer and fasting. Incredible things are taking place and I'm watching God's divine intervention all around me as a result. Needless to say, I haven't forgotten the second part of this article, but just had a few things come up in between. Here is the promised Destiny Part 2 article:


Joseph was Trained by the People He Would Rule Over

Joseph was one of twelve brothers who would form the nation of Israel. He was raised to believe that there was one God. His father and mother, Jacob and Rachel, taught him the ways of the Lord, and the culture in which he was raised was far different to that of Egypt. Yet little did he know, his destiny lay in Egypt. He never suspected for one minute that one day he would be the second most powerful man in the kingdom of Egypt, under Pharaoh. Even after having a powerful dream of his position as a monarch, he could never have fathomed the destiny that lay before him.

The course of events that would transpire after he revealed the dream to his father and his brothers was the furthest thing from his young mind. How would he possibly be a ruler in Egypt without training and experience? As his own brothers were lowering him into a pit, his heart was racing and his mouth was dry. He must have wondered what brought that horrible event about. Joseph was going to be trained by people that he would rule over one day. Unto whom much is given, much is required.

Daniel was a Chosen Man on a Spiritual Assignment in an Alien Culture

When dealing with destiny we cannot ignore the issue of culture. Your destiny dictates your present circumstances. If you can get a grip on that, you will accept, and not reject or resist, your present challenges as difficult as what they may seem. The only thing you need to resist is the devil, and it takes perception to know the difference.

Did Daniel ever dream that he would one day be a ruler in Babylon? When he was a little boy, raised as a Jew, you can only imagine that he had dreams—dreams of being a husband, a father and possibly a rabbi, carpenter or farmer. He could never have imagined that by the time he turned 15, he would have been emasculated, never to have children, and taken from his precious home in Judah as a captive of Babylon. And yet his destiny lay in Babylon.

As a representative of the cream of Judah's crop, he had been handpicked, along with his three friends, to be trained in the school of the Chaldeans. Rather than being forced into common labor or imprisoned like many of the other captives, he was being schooled to serve the Babylonian king. Thus he was required to learn the Babylonian language, embrace Babylonian customs and negotiate with foreign dignitaries on Nebuchadnezzar's behalf. Daniel was forced to serve the barbarians who had murdered his people. He was trained in the "university of Babylon."

The pressure to be squeezed into the mold designated by the Babylonians must have been intense. But Daniel resolved at the offset not to be defiled by even the same source of physical nourishment as the Babylonians. Daniel was a chosen man on a spiritual assignment in an alien culture.

What happened to Daniel has happened again in our time. The pressures they faced and the program they put on is here again. Babylon, the ancient city, is gone. Babylon, the spiritual power of the world, never left. You have the same choices Daniel and his friends had to face.

He will go down in the annals of history as the voice that guided the kings of Babylon and taught them by his knowledge and wisdom about the Lord God Almighty, his gift, and more importantly his character. The kings of Babylon would ultimately declare that there is only one God, and that is the God of Daniel.

Joseph, Daniel and David:  What Did They Have in Common?

David, a simple shepherd lad, had a destiny—to be the beloved King of Israel. So why would the next thirteen or so years of his life be spent on the run from a raging maniac of a king—Saul, living in caves, mountains, and yes, even a foreign land, before he would actually take the throne of Israel?

Each one of these characters had a few things in common—a refined understanding and appreciation of other social groups and a passionate drive for reformation and reconciliation.

God has revealed to me that beginning in March 2010, and continuing throughout the decade, there will be a massive reformation, as powerful as the time of Martin Luther during the 16th Century. The word reform means, "To amend; abandon what is wrong, corrupt, irrelevant and unsatisfactory." In a reformation, something controlling is always abolished and something relevant always emerges.

If Christians are Not Relevant in the Mundane, How are We Going to be Relevant in the Profound?

In the 16th Century, there was religious oppression and the people were taught that faith alone, whether fiduciary or dogmatic, couldn't justify man and only faith that is active in charity and good works can justify man. The benefits of good works could be obtained by donating money to the church. Martin Luther, a Catholic Monk, wrote his famous Ninety-Five Theses and nailed them on the castle door of the All Saints Church in October 31, 1517, almost 500 years ago—an event now seen as sparking the Protestant Reformation.

Luther became convinced that the prevailing religious system was corrupt in its ways and had lost sight of what he saw as several of the central truths of Christianity. The most important for him was the doctrine of justification—God's act of declaring a sinner righteous—by faith alone through God's grace. He taught that salvation or redemption is a gift of God's grace, attainable only through faith in Jesus as the Messiah. The Ninety-Five Theses were quickly translated from Latin into German, printed and widely copied, making the controversy one of the first in history to be aided by the printing press. Within two weeks, copies of the Theses had spread THROUGHOUT GERMANY; within two months throughout Europe.

We have entered into a period of great reformation. Reformers are emerging. They will be called heretics, as were the reformers of the 16th Century, but out of the persecution will emerge a movement far greater than what emerged in Luther's day, which gave birth to the Protestant Church.

America, more than ever, needs a reformation, spiritually and politically, and I believe that we are on the brink of such a reformation. It is time to make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices. So many revivals have ended up in abuse and malpractice, and the result is injury and damage to the flock of Christ.

The two great things to look forward to in these next few years are Reformation and Reconciliation. To reconcile means, "To bring together opposing forces."

I believe the Lord is telling me that this movement of Reformation and Reconciliation will bring about major change and breakthrough in the Kingdom of God for 2010.

Kim Clement

David Wilkerson - An Urgent Message

Saturday, March 7, 2009

AN URGENT MESSAGE

I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message to all on our mailing list, and to friends and to bishops we have met all over the world.

AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE - EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US.

For ten years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires—such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago.

There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting—including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written,

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (v. 3).

God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations. He is destroying the secular foundations.

The prophet Jeremiah pleaded with wicked Israel, “God is fashioning a calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh, turn back each of you from your evil way, and reform your ways and deeds. But they will say, It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart” (Jeremiah 18:11-12).

In Psalm 11:6, David warns, “Upon the wicked he will rain snares (coals of fire)…fire…burning wind…will be the portion of their cup.” Why? David answered, “Because the Lord is righteous” (v. 7). This is a righteous judgment—just as in the judgments of Sodom and in Noah’s generation.

WHAT SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS DO? WHAT ABOUT GOD’S PEOPLE?

First, I give you a practical word I received for my own direction. If possible lay in store a thirty-day supply of non-perishable food, toiletries and other essentials. In major cities, grocery stores are emptied in an hour at the sign of an impending disaster.

As for our spiritual reaction, we have but two options. This is outlined in Psalm 11. We “flee like a bird to a mountain.” Or, as David says, “He fixed his eyes on the Lord on his throne in heaven—his eyes beholding, his eyelids testing the sons of men” (v. 4). “In the Lord I take refuge” (v. 1).

I will say to my soul: No need to run...no need to hide. This is God’s righteous work. I will behold our Lord on his throne, with his eye of tender, loving kindness watching over every step I take—trusting that he will deliver his people even through floods, fires, calamities, tests, trials of all kinds.

Note: I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off. I have unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose.

God bless and keep you,

In Christ,
DAVID WILKERSON

Nightmare vision for Europe as EU chief warns 'democracy could disappear' in Greece, Spain and Portugal

Nightmare vision for Europe as EU chief warns 'democracy could disappear' in Greece, Spain and Portugal


By Jason Groves
Democracy could ‘collapse’ in Greece, Spain and Portugal unless urgent action is taken to tackle the debt crisis, the head of the European Commission has warned.

In an extraordinary briefing to trade union chiefs last week, Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso set out an ‘apocalyptic’ vision in which crisis-hit countries in southern Europe could fall victim to military coups or popular uprisings as interest rates soar and public services collapse because their governments run out of money.

The stark warning came as it emerged that EU chiefs have begun work on an emergency bailout package for Spain which is likely to run into hundreds of billions of pounds.

Crisis point: Demonstrators protest cuts announced by the Government in Malaga last week in an echo of the Greek crisis

A £650 billion bailout for Greece has already been agreed.

John Monks, former head of the TUC, said he had been ‘shocked’ by the severity of the warning from Mr Barroso, who is a former prime minister of Portugal.

Mr Monks, now head of the European TUC, said: ‘I had a discussion with Barroso last Friday about what can be done for Greece, Spain, Portugal and the rest and his message was blunt: “Look, if they do not carry out these austerity packages, these countries could virtually disappear in the way that we know them as democracies. They've got no choice, this is it.”

‘He's very, very worried. He shocked us with an apocalyptic vision of democracies in Europe collapsing because of the state of indebtedness.’

Greece, Spain and Portugal, which only became democracies in the 1970s, are all facing dire problems with their public finances. All three countries have a history of military coups.

Greece has been rocked by a series of national strikes and riots this year following the announcement of swingeing cuts to public spending designed to curb Britain’s deficit.

Spain and Portugal have also announced austerity measures in recent weeks amid growing signs that the international markets are increasingly worried they could default on their debts.

Other EU countries seeing public protests over austerity plans include Hungary, Italy and Romania, where public sector pay is to be slashed by 25 per cent.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who visited Madrid last week, said the situation in Spain should serve as a warning to Britain of the perils of failing to tackle the deficit quickly.

He said the collapse of confidence in Spain had seen interest rates soar, adding: ‘As the nation with the highest deficit in Europe in 2010, we simply cannot afford to let that happen to us too.’

Mr Barroso’s warning lays bare the concern at the highest level in Brussels that the economic crisis could lead to the collapse of not only the beleaguered euro, but the EU itself, along with a string of fragile democracies.

But it risks infuriating governments in southern Europe which are already struggling to contain public anger as they drive through tax rises and spending cuts in a bid to avoid disaster.

Mr Monks yesterday warned that the new austerity measures themselves could take the continent ‘back to the 1930s’.

In an interview with the Brussels-based magazine EU Observer he said: ‘This is extremely dangerous.

'This is 1931, we're heading back to the 1930s, with the Great Depression and we ended up with militarist dictatorship.

‘I'm not saying we're there yet, but it's potentially very serious, not just economically, but politically as well.’

Mr Monks said union barons across Europe were planning a co-ordinated ‘day of action’ against the cuts on 29 September, involving national strikes and protests.

David Cameron will travel to Brussels on Thursday for his first summit of EU leaders since the election.

Leaders are expected to thrash out a rescue package for Spain’s teetering economy. Spain is expected to ask for an initial guarantee of at least £100 billion, although this figure could rise sharply if the crisis deepens.

News of the behind-the-scenes scramble in Brussels spells bad news for the British economy as many of our major banks have loaned Spain vast sums of money in recent years.

Germany’s authoritative Frankfurter Allgemeine Newspaper reported that Spain is poised to ask for multi-billion pound credits.

Mr Barroso and Jean-Claude Trichet of the European Central Bank are united on the need for a rescue plan.

The looming bankruptcy of Spain, one of the foremost economies in Europe, poses far more of a threat to European unity and the euro project than Greece.

Greece contributes 2.5 percent of GDP to Europe, Spain nearly 12 percent.

Yesterday’s report quoted German government sources saying: ‘We will lead discussions this week in Brussels concerning the crisis. It has intensified to the point that the states do not want to wait until the EU summit on Thursday in Brussels.”’

At the end of last month the credit rating agency Fitch downgraded Spain, triggering sharp falls on stock markets.

On Friday the administration in Madrid continued to insist no rescue package was necessary. But Greece said the same thing before it came close to disaster.

Yesterday the European Commission and the statistics authority Eurostat met to consider Spain‘s plight as many EU countries consider the austerity package proposed by the Madrid administration insufficient to deal with the country‘s problems.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1286480/EU-chief-warns-democracy-disappear-Greece-Spain-Portugal.html#ixzz0r9VxqvTC

Bob Jones: Build a Barn! It's Harvest Time

Bob Jones:Build a Barn! It's Harvest Time!

Recently, Bob was told that churches will become hospitals and bars will become churches. According to Webster's dictionary, a hospital is an institution that provides medical or surgical care or treatment for the sick and the injured.

Isaiah 26:9b says, When Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. (NIV)

As the world grows darker and darker and all that can be shaken is shaken, the Church will become brighter and brighter. The light or glory of the Lord will arise upon the Church and through His Bride, and all who come shall be healed. The Healer has never left the Church; the Church has abandoned her duties. The world will come to the Church to be healed spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally, financially, socially and sexually.

Bars or taverns will become churches. They will become a natural watering hole or well of redemption. God is going to redeem all things for His purposes. Bars currently advertise "spirits" and now they will know "The Spirit"—the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Holiness, the Spirit of Love and Righteousness, the Holy Spirit of God! Now, when they belly up to the bar, they will come away full of the Holy Ghost with the expression of tongues in their mouths and fire in their bellies.

A Season of Having the 'Faith of God'

It is time for the Church to begin building barns—it's harvest time! Barns are the people coming together in home meetings where they learn to grow in their gifting and exercise their faith. They are the harvesters! We're moving from the faith in God to a season of having the faith of God.

Jeremiah 22:3a says, Execute justice and righteousness and deliver out of the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. (AMP)

The harvesters will be able to deliver those oppressed by the spirit of this world and as they are delivered, God's justice and righteousness are restored.

Bob and Bonnie Jones

The Prophetic Ministry of Bob and Bonnie Jones