Transition to Position

Paulette Reed: The Hall of Faith: He is Moving You From Transition to Position
from the Elijah List website

Does it ever seem like you're somewhere and perhaps should be elsewhere, but seem to be going nowhere? Are you waiting for doors to open, but can't find the keys? Well, beloved, I believe I have good news. You may be in the "hall of faith." Please allow me to explain.

Recently, I had a dream about being in a long hallway. When I asked Holy Spirit for the interpretation of the dream, I saw hundreds of Believers "in the hallway." Oh, friends, don't turn back and don't get stuck. The Lord is up to something, so keep moving forward, as He is about to show you the way, the truth and the light!

As I was walking down the long, narrow hallway, I remember sensing perplexity. I looked backward, then forward...waiting, wondering. If I peered ahead long enough I realized the dimly lit hallway became brighter way off in the distance. Next, an honorable, international church leader joined me in the hallway and took my hand. The leader was silent as we walked forward together, and suddenly I could see several doors—one was open. We walked through the open door and entered an office that housed a beautiful, large couch covered in exquisite gold brocade fabric. I felt an amazing peace in this new-found office, a resting place and dwelling for the glory of God.

Symbolism

The length of a hallway can indicate the duration of a transition period, and the light speaks of the degree and nature of revelation we receive along the way. The width gives insight on the space available for maneuvering as we walk. In this dream, the hallway was quite narrow. In fact, I felt as if I almost had to turn sideways to squeeze through. However, I knew it was extremely important to go through the hallway rather than try to escape it. The narrowness seemed uncomfortable due to limited movement, but actually kept me from going to the left or the right, and it compelled transition.

The walking indicated progress or living in the Spirit. It also seemed to represent a trip or traveling. The Great Commission, I presume—Go!

When the cherished leader took my hand, it was a symbol of strength, power, action and possession. Hands are also instruments of work and service, and they indicate ministry activities that fulfill the word and will of God. Of course, an open door indicates a transition, an opportunity. And, the office we entered represented a position of trust, where agency and representative powers are granted for one's service to another. It also represented the five-fold ministry: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher.

The gold color of the beautiful cloth on the furniture represented the riches of the glory of God. Gold also symbolizes an enduring capacity of Believers as overcomers, an unchanging holiness as well as wisdom and righteousness. And, brocade is a fabric woven with an elaborate design, especially one having a raised overall pattern. In dream interpretation a couch indicates a safe, comfortable place to sit and rest. Sitting can represent rulership; position; concentration; receiving; place of authority; power; a business contract or agreement and the Kingship of the Lord.

The Obscure Hallway

Beloved, in the hallways of life, the Lord redefines and adjusts the rules necessary for us to be changed from glory to glory. While we're in the corridor, Holy Spirit gives us time to focus and pray for accurate direction. We may feel bewildered because we've never been this way before. But how marvelous that the King of Glory takes our hand and teaches us a new way. A way we have not been before.

The hallways of God are, of course, transition. They are a place where the Lord connects where we have been with where we are going. Although the Word tells us not to look back, it also tells us, "don't forget." Don't forget from where we have come, Church. Don't forget how much God has done for us. Remain grateful, knowing that if you suffer with Jesus you shall also be glorified with Him. The Lord wants to build a bridge between your past and your future in order to catapult you into destiny.

Keys to the Kingdom

Here are some keys to unlock those doors at the end of your Heavenly Father's hallway. These are doors only God can open and no man can shut (Revelation 3:8). Oh, this is so crucial to grasp as the Church moves forward into new offices.

• No murmuring, or we may be in the hallway for 40 years.

• Stand on the promises of God. We can't see well in a dimly lit hallway, but we live by faith and not by sight.

• Stay focused on the King—when He gets our attention He can adjust our vision and illuminate our path (Proverbs 4:18).

• Don't stop—keep movin'! We can't sit down in the hallways of life...transition times. We may even find ourselves pacing back and forth in intercession. It's okay, as there's an inner rest, a peace that passes all human understanding.


• Two things we can do while in the hallway—eat and drink of the Living Word.

• Go forward! Look back only briefly, when prompted by Holy Spirit, as He uses your past experiences as connections to your future. Let the Master Potter mold your trials into bridges, crossing over to wholeness and holiness.

• Trust Jesus—He works in us for His will and His good purposes (Philippians 2:13).

• Be adaptable, allowing the restoration (recovering) process. The Lord cannot put old fabric on new wine skins or it tears. He will perfect love in us, not half way, but unto completion.

• Find your identity in Christ when it seems you're alone in the hallway. God expounds all things to His disciples privately (Mark 4:34).

• Listen for your Shepherd's strategy, not stepping out until you have direction. When in doubt—don't.

• Watch for the doors God opens, not man.

• Follow the King! When we feel a bit squeezed, in narrow places, we're compelled to seek the Lord. Then He takes us by the hand and fills us with hope, expectation and revelation.

• Remain grateful, and when you see the open door go through it with no fear, only gratitude and joy-unspeakable.

Your Personal Hall of Faith

You might ask yourself where you are at in the hallway...the beginning, the middle or the end? This discernment helps because when a footman knows the distance of a race, he's prepared to pace himself and use keys as needed. He keeps his eye on the prize, knowing that tenacity is increasing as he receives glimpses of a radiant rainbow of light at the end of the corridor.

Friends, it's in the hallways of life that faith becomes our personal possession. It's in the hallway that Jesus increases patience, perspective and purpose. If your hallway seems a bit dim just now, remember, light shines the brightest when it's the darkest. And, you need both dark and light in order for your shadow to be cast...just like Peter.

I saw so many weary in the hallway...at the end of a year (cycle), the end of one portion of their journey with Jesus. Hold, beloved! You're a champion of the Most High God! Let Isaiah 57:10 speak life to you today. "You were tired out by the length of your road, yet you did not say, 'It is hopeless.' You found renewed strength, therefore you did not faint."

Oh rejoice, dear one, and again I say rejoice! The King is coming to take you by the hand, and you shall walk as He walked, in the light of His glory. Jesus is the door. He is taking you from transition to position—into apostolic Christianity.

Paulette Reed
Extreme Prophetic Ministries
Email: info@xpmedia.com

About Paulette Reed: Paulette is operations manager for Patricia King and Extreme Prophetic Ministries, in Maricopa, Arizona. She is a powerful preacher, prophetic minister, encourager, and author. Her passion is to share the love of Christ and unite people to the inexplicable love of our Heavenly Father, exhorting them to arise and reach for their destiny. Paulette loves to see God's people awakened and proclaim the active extension of the Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. She ministers in the revival anointing accompanied by revelatory ministry, healing, miracles, signs and wonders.

Harvest Time. Payback Time.

Matt Sorger: "It's a New Season of Restoration! The Thief Has Been Discovered – Get Ready for Your Harvest!"
[from the Elijah List website]

The Church is entering into a new season. Many are about to experience great restoration and harvest in their lives.

John 10:10 declares, The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). Amplified Version

It may feel like the enemy has come in like a thief and tried to rob, steal, kill and destroy. But I have a word from the Lord for you: THE THIEF HAS BEEN FOUND OUT!

But if he is found out, he must restore seven times [what he stole]; he must give the whole substance of his house [if necessary – to meet his fine].—Proverbs 6:31, Amplified Version

Once you have discernment on where and how the enemy has been stealing from you, you can rise up and use the authority God has given you as a Believer.

When it has been discovered that the thief has stolen something, he must not only return what he stole, but he must give back seven times as much. Not only that, he must give his whole house away if necessary to pay back the fines he owes. The devil has a lot of fines to pay! Not only does he have to give back seven times what he stole from you, but we are plundering his entire house!

If he has tried to put depression and heaviness on you, get ready for seven-fold "joy." If he has tried to put sickness on you, get ready for seven-fold "health." If he has tried to put debt and lack on you, get ready for seven-fold "prosperity and provision." If he has tried to put fear and anxiety on you, get ready for seven-fold "faith." If he has tried to put bondage and addiction on you, get ready for seven-fold "freedom."

IT'S HARVEST TIME! LOST YEARS WILL BE RESTORED

God is a God of the second chance! He is about to restore to you the years that the locust has eaten. Some suffering is unjust. However, some of our suffering is the result of bad choices we have made. Some of you today are experiencing a negative harvest in your life because of bad seeds that have been sown. When we make sinful choices we are sowing negative seeds in our lives that will ultimately bring a bad harvest.

However we serve a God of the second and third and fourth chance! If you will decide to begin to sow good seeds in your life today, your harvest will begin to transform. God is in the restoring business and the Body is about to experience some glorious restoration in many areas of their lives. We cannot always get back lost opportunities, but God is able to restore the years that were lost to you and cause the glory on your latter house to be greater than your former.

Here's the word of the Lord for you in this new season:

Joel 2:23-26, Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord, your God; for He gives you the former or early rain in just measure and in righteousness, and He causes to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, as before. And the [threshing] floors shall be full of grain and the vats shall overflow with juice [of the grape] and oil.

And I will restore or replace for you the years that the locust has eaten—the hopping locust, the stripping locust, and the crawling locust, My great army which I sent among you. And you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord, your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you. And My people shall never be put to shame. Amplified Version

It's harvest time. Your threshing floors will be full of wheat and there will be an overflow of wine and oil in your life. Wheat and grain always speak of harvest and the wine and oil speak of the overflow and abundance of the anointing of the Holy Spirit in your life. Years that were lost during past seasons of wilderness wanderings are about to come back to you and be replaced with harvest and blessing. Some of you will even experience an extension of your lives as lost years are restored!

LET'S DECREE AND DECLARE:

Heavenly Father, I humble myself and repent for any bad choices I have made over the years. I ask that You would bring full restoration into my life and restore my lost years. May the glory on my latter house be greater than my former. I command everything that was taken from me and everything that was stolen from me to be restored in Jesus name. I command the thief to repay seven times what he stole. In Jesus name I command every fine to be paid and I empty the storehouse of the thief! I command the thief to restore seven times everything that he has ever taken from me, in Jesus name.

Father, I thank You for the abundant harvest and fresh anointing that is coming my way! In Jesus name. Amen.

Matt Sorger
Matt Sorger Ministries
Email: info@mattsorger.com

Greater Things Are Yet to Come. Greater Things Are Still to be Done.

Barbie Breathitt:

"2009: New Leaders, New Voices and Resurrection Power"
[from the Elijah List]

The restoration of ancient wells and mantles, in addition to the new level of anointing God is releasing in the earth, will cause a "healing river" to overflow its banks. The healing revival of the 1950s still holds a standard of miracles we seldom see today. But, as we move into this new season of exchange, the glory of God will far surpass the healing anointing He poured out in the past. This Holy Spirit revival of fire will trump the 1948-50s healing revival. We will see more extreme miracles and deliverances take place than ever before. Ministering angels have been assigned to ensure those who move in this new level of love and healing don't repeat the same mistakes from past generations.

William Joseph Seymour, of the 1909 Azusa Street Outpouring, prophesied the "glory cloud of healing" would return in 100 years (2009). We are witnessing the glory explosions and healing miracles in our Breath of the Spirit's meetings weekly. God is releasing specific words of knowledge that are opening deaf ears, straightening backs that have been twisted with scoliosis, restoring torn ligaments and joints, removing cancerous tumors and healing cancer ridden organs. The anointing is stabilizing hearts with arrhythmias, healing chronic issues of pain and much more.

See What the Father is Doing

The New Testament passage in John 4 speaks of the Pool of Bethesda, which is translated "outpouring." The healing angel would come and trouble the water. When the anointing began to pour, the first to step in was healed. Those who weren't able to step in became bitter, murmuring and complaining of those who were more fortunate than they. Jesus approached a particular crippled man that His Heavenly Father had shown Him in a vision. This man's crippled identity was enslaved to sickness for 38 years. After one supernatural encounter, strategic appointment or divine confrontation with Jesus, his life was healed.

In the place of outpouring we will overcome the victim mentality by renewing our mind to become "victors." Ephesians 4:23-24, "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." If we will come to Jesus for healing during this time of outpouring we won't have any more excuses for our crippled, weakened conditions.

The new move of God will usher in a new breed of leaders who will only do what they see the Father doing. John 5:19-21, "Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes."

The realm of vision is so powerful it ignites passion and clarity of purpose in the heart of the beholder. To walk into the greater works we must see what the Father is doing in Heaven and allow it to flow through our lives here on earth.

New Voices Will Be Heard

God is opening doors to release new voices in 2009 that have only been heard on a limited level. This new breed of leadership will be full of godly wisdom, knowing the seasons and proper timing like Issachar. The Daniel and Joseph anointings of understanding mysteries, dreams and enigmas will also operate on a governmental level.

New faces will grace the conference and media arenas with an authoritative Kingdom message and the power to back it with signs, wonders and miracles. These hidden ones will emerge out of the wilderness carrying the mantles and wisdom of past generations.

The Kingdom that is within us is expanding and beginning to flow like a river, watering the barren places. We will continue to increase and expand if we will focus on unity and God's Kingdom business and mandates first. Isaiah 55:11 says that every word that goes forth from His mouth shall not return to Him void, but will accomplish what He pleases, and it shall prosper in the thing for which He sent it. The sound of God's voice shatters darkness. Psalm 89 tells us that we are blessed if we know the sound. The sound is God speaking. Everything He says He will do; He will accomplish everything.

Great Grace and Favor

2009 is a season of a supernatural endowment of great grace. Grace and favor gives us the capacity to live as an overcomer, or a victor, not as a victim who is overcome by the enemy of their soul.

The Shekinah glory descended upon the Tent of Meetings and Moses met with God face-to-face, but that glory faded. Moses died in the wilderness but Joshua continued to walk with God in the glory. He received Moses' mantle, crossed the Jordan and entered the "Promise Land."

Throughout history we see men and women who learned to walk in a "spirit of holiness with God." The Spirit of holiness is the divine nature of God manifesting in maturity with resurrection power! Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Enoch walked in resurrection power and never experienced death.

Romans 1:4-6, "Who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ."

Enoch's anointing or mantle was to walk and talk with God in the Spirit of holiness. He displayed the divine nature of God in its fullness, walking in resurrection power! Genesis 5:23-24, "So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him." Enoch's earthly walk was the same as his walk with God in heavenly places. He was not double-minded. Enoch was renewed in the spirit of his mind. He put on the new self, in holiness and truth in the likeness of God. Enoch was a forerunner of what we are called to be in Christ. It is the Christ in us that gives us the hope of glory.

Intimacy learned in the Song of Solomon will enable the hidden ones to emerge from their wilderness wanderings with their hearts panting for the Lover of their souls. Their ears are tuned to hear the whispers of His voice leading every step of the way.

Deliverers to Set the Captives Free

God is equipping deliverers to set captives free. His eyes are searching for those who will walk in His ways of truth. Isaiah 42:22-23, "But this is a people plundered and despoiled; all of them are trapped in caves, are hidden away in prisons; they have become a prey with none to deliver them, and a spoil, with none to say, '"Give them back!' Who among you will give ear to this? Who will give heed and listen hereafter?"

Kingdom revelation builds faith producing Kingdom power through which many people will be set free. Psalm 9:9-14, "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble. Have mercy on me, O LORD! Consider my trouble from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death, That I may tell of all Your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation."

Salvation has the power to save and heal us completely in our mind, emotions, body and spirit.

Resurrection Power to Do Miracles

On January 11, 2009, I awoke from a dream of resurrecting four men from the dead:

I found myself in a room with four dead men. Several more who knew them were present, grieving for their loss. The Holy Spirit spoke to me as I entered the room and said, "Their spirits are still in the room at ceiling level." In the vision I saw myself lay hands on the stomach of one of the dead men and commanded life to enter him. His spirit manifested in the form of a transparent spirit skeleton. It lay on top of the man's dead body. As it entered his body the man's breath or spirit returned and he resurrected from the dead. When the men in the room observed what had happened they followed suit. The other three men were raised from the dead too. Then I was transported to another state to raise a woman from the dead in the same manner.

Leaders are to demonstrate and teach so the Body can learn to do the works of Christ. Jesus is looking for a place to lay His head. The Body of Christ must arise in the Church so His head will have a resting place. I am learning about resurrection power through the dreams God has been giving me. Resurrection power operates the best outside the four walls of the Church.

Paul went down to the street to resurrect Eutychus from the dead. Acts 20:8-10 tells us, "There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together. And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, 'Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.'"

Paul left the safety of the four walls of the Church. He went into the streets to embrace the broken and the dead. He released resurrection power and brought Eutychus back to life. We are called to do the same. Matthew 10:8 says, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give." When Paul stepped outside the walls of the Church, resurrection power was released.

During this time of transitioning into the resurrection power, God is calling the Church to pray as never before. We are to seek His face while he may be found. Psalm 105:4-5, "Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually. Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth." It is time to seek the Lord for increase.

A Plentiful Harvest: Gifts and Fruits

Hosea 10:12 says, "Sow with a view to righteousness, reap in accordance with kindness; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord until He comes to rain righteousness on you."

His rain will bring forth a plentiful harvest. This speaks of continuing to seek the Lord until breakthrough is obtained. Isaiah 55:6 further exhorts us to seek the Lord while He may be found and to call upon Him while He is near. We must enter the presence of the Lord to access His power. A clear, clean conscience will bring forth a new level of boldness and power to enter His presence. 2 Timothy 1:3, "I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day."

We are told in 1 John 3:21-22, "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight." As long as we are asking in the name and character of our Lord it shall be done for us.

2009 is a year of developing the nine fruits and the nine gifts of the Spirit with divine great grace!

1 Corinthians 12:4-11, "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

"For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills."

The fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-25 enable us to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."

When we mix the fruit of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit we release the resurrection power in our lives.

Power Evangelism

This season of great grace is a call for us to walk in Power Evangelism releasing salvation to the lost as a free gift of God.

Ephesians 2:4-10, "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

God's great grace is releasing a flow of testimonies that demonstrate God's great power to save, heal and deliver.

Acts 4:33-35, "And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need."

Signs and wonders are increasing as the proceeding Word of God leads us into abundant life. Matthew 4:4, "But He answered and said, 'It is written, "MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD."'"

New Wine: Drink Deeply of His Joy

This is a year to be filled with the Spirit of God and His new wine in 2009. Drink deeply and abundantly of his joy and grace. Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. It is time for us to rejoice, not fear.

Philippians 4:4-7 instructs, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Adjust your mindset to think positively, count your blessings and taste and see that the Lord is GOOD! Be focused on and totally dependent upon God to meet your needs supernaturally this year. Psalm 34:8-9 tells us to, "taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the Lord, you His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want." He will abundantly satisfy.

Our old dry wine skins are fading away and they will be exchanged for a new flexible wineskin, shining with the glory anointing. Our focus will change from the past moves of God to the present "Now" new move, and we will have vision for the future. When we prepare our hearts to become a new wineskin God will fill us with the new wine. The New Wine is God's dunamis power releasing His glory, demonstrating His goodness, manifesting His presence and the commanded blessings of unity coming forth.

Good wine is a blend of the finest of grapes confined in a barrel for a specific time to blend and meld together. The winery test and tries each vat of wine until it reaches its peak or premier taste. The dregs settle to the bottom and are poured off. Every person has their own taste or flavor, but when we come together in unity—no one stands out but we blend to perfection.

Isaiah 65:8 spoke of the new wine in the cluster or in the spirit of unity, "Thus says the Lord, 'As the new wine is found in the cluster, And one says, "Do not destroy it, for there is benefit in it," so I will act on behalf of My servants in order not to destroy all of them.'""

God's Breath to you,

Barbie Breathitt
Breath of the Spirit Ministries
Email: Barbie@BreathOfTheSpiritMinistries.com

Give It Away, Give It Away, Give It Away Now!

Denny Cline: "Elisha Rising—What Do You Have that the Next Generation Needs?"

Remember the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal? What an amazing encounter and kingdom confrontation. It was clearly one of Elijah's most memorable feats and what many see as the high point of his ministry. Yet, when John the Baptist comes on the scene as a forerunner to the ministry of Jesus, he was said to have come in the spirit of Elijah. What was the purpose? It was to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers. This turning was seen as essential to the release of the ministry of Jesus Christ who would both teach and demonstrate the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

After his great victory at Mount Carmel, Elijah experienced a demonic attack, sending him running in fear and despair to a cave with a death threat over his life. In his state of mind, Elijah felt alone, finished and hopeless. But God finally opened his heart to see that the most important influence he would have was yet to come. Elijah would then go on to form four schools of the prophets, and in particular, mentor a young man named Elisha. I believe this story represents something very important for the Church—the Body of Christ today. Jesus is leading many sons and daughters to glory as it says in Hebrews 2:10, and He is doing it in partnership with fathers and mothers in the faith who have been experiencing the glory of God in this present generation.

The Ministry of Elijah and the Ministry of Elisha

More was accomplished by Elijah pouring into the next generation than his own personal ministry exploits had recorded. So too, will more be accomplished by fathers and mothers in the Church by pouring into the next generation—helping them step into their calling with wisdom, support, and loving relationships to fall back on.

In this day and age of so much "fatherlessness" it is ever so crucial for the Church not to mirror our modern-day culture in this regard. So, here are some questions we must ask:

• What are some of the things we can do to help young leaders emerge and succeed?

• Is the Body of Christ aware of how many young leaders are already stepping into their callings with a great deal to offer now—not just in the future?

• Are we ready to put our money and time where we say our hearts are?

• Do we realize what a double portion really represents?

Although both Elijah and Elisha worked signs and wonders, Elisha was more prolific. Further, Jehu, a spiritual son of Elijah's ministry, brought down Jezebel—something Elijah was unable to do on his own. By the time Elisha came on the scene many other prophets were rising up into their callings—unlike Elijah, who was recorded as feeling all alone (although, in fact, he wasn't), showing us just how few relationships there were between Elijah and his contemporaries.

This was not so by the time Elisha received the mantle of Elijah and began to move in power and influence in the nation. Elisha was the most prominent of the spiritual sons of Elijah, and we notice that when Elijah was taken up, Elisha and many of the other prophets who received mentoring in Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, and Jordan seemed to know each other. Elisha was clearly respected and already recognized as a leader in his generation—moving quickly into a ministry which carried double the miraculous power of Elijah.

I would liken the ministry of Elijah to that of John the Baptist, and the ministry of Elisha to that of Jesus. And it is the ministry of Jesus that we are really after—isn't it? There will always be a need for the forerunner ministry to call people to the next level. But as much as we love, thank God for, and honor the ministries of the saints of the past, we need to reach for the ministry of Jesus in His Body—in the fullness of redemptive character and power today. The entire earth is groaning in anticipation to see this type of ministry in the sons and daughters of God.

We can talk all about the next generation and tell them what they should become until we are blue in the face, but unless we commit ourselves to them and the cause that faces them today (not in the future), they will continue to be held back—or like many of us, try it alone. It's a long, lonely journey without fathers and mothers in the Church who really love and are committed to help you rise up into your calling. I am not suggesting this is not going on now to some degree, but I do believe it is certainly a now priority.

Tell the Youth "Elijah has Come"

I had a spiritual encounter in Germany while doing a conference with Steve Shultz for the first German ElijahList Ministries conference in 2005. My wife Ann and I were resting between sessions on Saturday afternoon. She was reading and I was soaking to worship music in our little room. Suddenly I sat straight up in bed thinking I had just awakened, and said, "Why did you wake me up?" Ann's response was, "I didn't wake you up." And then suddenly the vision I was in came right back at and into me. In the vision a man walked up to me and said, "Tell the youth, 'Elijah has come!'" It exploded in my spirit, awakening something within me.

I had no idea what this could mean at the time and asked Stacey Campbell that afternoon. She said, "Well, the Bible indicates he has come, and he will come. But I am not sure either." Over the next couple of years I watched young men and women intentionally looking and asking for mentoring—father and mother-type relationships in the Body of Christ. They want what Elisha had—relationship with those who have experience in their calling to help them step up and into theirs. They honor and want the experience of mothers and fathers.

They also want to go further than we have gone—but not without a safety net. It's amazing to me the quality and heart of these young leaders—not just their giftedness, which is also incredible. One of the saddest messages I ever saw was on the back of an RV. It said, "We are Spending our Kid's Inheritance!" How heartbreaking and unbiblical. Parents are to lay up for their children—not the other way around.

Freely You Have Received, Freely Give

My prayer for this year and the next few years is this: I pray that fathers and mothers will recognize the emerging leaders in the Body of Christ and reach out to them like Elijah did to Elisha.

Elijah made a commitment to help Elisha rise up into his calling, and Elisha stuck close to Elijah for as long as he could—serving, gleaning, and ministering alongside of him—and then received a double portion. It's time for the next generation to rise up and begin to step into their inheritance. If we do it right, perhaps they will do the same for the next generation. Sadly, Elisha did not. The result was his anointing went to the grave with him instead of being imparted to the next generation. Each generation has its own particular calling and anointing—but the next one needs what the former has.

What do you have that the next generation needs? Is it wisdom in business, a prophetic mantle, gifts of worship or a deep understanding of the Kingdom, etc.? Whatever it is, give it away and insure that it will multiply until we see the fullness of Jesus in His Body.

Denny Cline, Senior Leader
Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Albany
Email: denny@vcfalbany.org

Denny Cline and his wife, Ann, have pastored in Oregon for 20 years. With a team of 27 adults, they planted the Albany Vineyard in 1994, where Denny continues to serve as senior pastor. They have been privileged to experience several awesome visitations of the Holy Spirit, impacting youth and adults alike with healing, salvation, and deliverance.

Denny is known and loved for his simple, compassionate, and yet extravagant approach to Kingdom life. A notorious "God-chaser," he has also led the Albany Vineyard in a bold direction that has birthed many developing ministries and produced a rich harvest of fathers, mothers and children filled with the zeal of the Lord.

Persistence Like a Dog!

One of the meanings of my last name is 'persistent'. Now more than ever, this character of persistence has been brought out and honed 'for such a time as this'. Sometimes I feel like a paki-alamero in the lives of some (or most) of the young men under my cell group because I doggedly watch over their lives, character and behavior like they're my own flesh and blood.

I've never had this kind of concern for young people before. This is God's doing! Hahaha! I used to have a passive role in terms of training and raising up the younger generation of men -- and women -- in our congregation. Now, it's a totally different story.

I believe this is one of my assignments in the Kingdom; that I am to persistently watch over these young men and help them "until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them." [Joshua 1:14-15]. I believe that this persistence, as prophesied by my last name, is given to equip me for this task. Otherwise, why would God name me as such.

I'm like a dog these days in the sense that I "go after with the intent to catch", "follow in or as if in pursuit", and "pursue or chase relentlessly" [from thefreedictionary.com]. What am I pursuing? What am I chasing after? What am I doggedly watching over these young men for? I'm after the fulfillment of the destinies that God has intended for these young men. I am after the realization of their purpose in the Lord. I want to see a Nazirite generation raised up right before my eyes during my lifetime. And as long as the Lord enables me to do so, I will continue to persist and doggedly pursue that by keeping tabs on the guys the Lord has entrusted to me.

If the Lord is relentless in pursuing me to see the fulfillment of His plans for me, why shouldn't I do the same for those He has placed under my care? I will do the things I see my Father do. Since He's persistent, so will I be.

Ojos y Alas

The cleanness of your hands can deliver even those who are not innocent.

Even if no one is praying for you.

Go to a quiet place. Get some rest.

Great patience. Careful instruction.

Command and teach.



What to do and how to get there.

ADTT: Learning from God’s Generals [A.A. Allen]

A.A. Allen
September 19, 1936 – June 11, 1970

I watched A.A. Allen in the God’s Generals video with my classmates in the Apostolic Discipleship Training Tract (August 20 class) and his personality and presence was in complete contrast to that of William Branham’s. That is not to say one is better than the other, but merely an observation.

Asa Alonzo Allen’s life was a testimony of the fact that where you come from does not necessarily determine where you will end up. Coming from a family with an alcoholic background didn’t hinder God from using him for His purposes.

Allen became known as “God’s man of faith and power”. I can only imagine the price tag that comes with that label. I’m pretty sure he paid his dues. On the video the ADTT class viewed, it was evident that he had a preaching gift. He had eloquence as a speaker and a forceful conviction in sharing the Word of God and in moving in the anointing bestowed upon him.

He was also recognized as the most persecuted preacher of his time, with the likes of the Ku Klux Klan opposing him. Church folk and people threw charges and accusations against his increasing fame.

My observations on the life of A.A. Allen can be narrowed down to two positive and two negative qualities/characteristics.

Positives

1) It was said in the video that he knew how to build up faith to get people healed. This is important for a man of God moving in the healing, signs and wonders department because many people that come to healing meetings may not necessarily be equipped with “faith that can move mountains”. So building up a sick person’s faith to receive healing definitely comes in handy.

2) He sought and inquired of the Lord before going all out with his calling. Allen knew he had a calling for a great ministry but he needed to have the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to do it. So he fasted and sought the Lord. As a result He found God and God gave guidelines for him to follow in order for him see His miracle-working power at work. Here are eleven of the thirteen guidelines the Lord gave Him:

He must realize he couldn’t do greater quality miracles than Jesus.
He could walk as Jesus walked.
He must be blameless like God Himself.
He must measure himself to Jesus alone.
He must deny his fleshly desires with fasting.
After self-denial, he must follow Jesus seven days a week.
Without God, he could do nothing.
He must do away with sin in his body.
He must not continue in shallow, pointless discussions.
He must give his body wholly to God forever.
He must believe all of God’s promises.

Negatives

1) He defended himself and his ministry by exaggerating the miracles that followed him. I can understand – to some degree – why Allen felt he needed to do this. But there really isn’t any need to defend ourselves because it is the Lord who will vindicate us and fight our battles for us.

2) He wasn’t able – in my opinion – to fully entrust to the Lord the alleviation of his pain from arthritis and instead relied on alcohol. And I say that in a non-judgmental way. We all have weakness and areas of life that we continually work on and ask the Lord for deliverance from, and I can totally relate to Allen’s dependence on alcohol to numb his arthritic pain. (In my case, my crutches tend to be my emotional connections to people.)

Lessons

A.A. Allen is the second in the long line God’s Generals that I have had the privilege of studying. I have been learning much from these great men of God – from both their successes and failures. My hope – for myself and for my ADTT classmates – is that we get inspired by and surpass their successes (for God’s glory, of course); then learn from and avoid the mistakes they have made.

I believe these men of God lived lives that should serve as signposts that point the pathway to Jesus. We would do well to take a page or two off their books to benefit from their life lessons and losses, so we can become better servants of the Living God.

More on the life of A.A. Allen

ADTT: Learning from God’s Generals [William Branham]

William Branham
April 6, 1909 – December 24, 1965

We have moved on to the next level of our Apostolic Discipleship Training Track. For the succeeding Wednesdays, the class will be focusing on the lives of the revivalists, evangelists and preachers who have been chosen by God to do great work in past years. This is in line with our congregation’s preparation for the revival outbreak that will come to the Philippines.

Last week, we studied and discussed the life of William Branham who became known for the notable signs and wonders that followed his ministry. We based that night’s class on the video on Branham’s life in the series called “God’s Generals”, presented by Roberts Liardon.

The class was asked to take down notes on the strength and weaknesses of this revivalist in order to learn from his victories and avoid his mistakes.

One of the things that I thought was Branham’s strengths was his constant confession of his dependence on God; that he was just being used by God, always identifying himself to the people as “just like one of you”. This, to me, spoke of his humility as a vessel and a servant of God, and his reliance on what God can do through him, not on what he thought he could do on his own.

Another thing that I thought was really positive in Branham’s life was the fact that he always waited for the “angel” of the Lord to be present in the healing crusades before doing anything. Again, this goes back to dependence on God. He didn’t go ahead of the supernatural but waited for the presence of the Lord before doing his calling. After all, God is the one who does the healing – Branham was just the vessel.

I also was amazed at how simple his prayers were and how non-theatrical his presence was in the videos that we saw. The people that he prayed healing for didn’t even fall down. I liked the fact that there wasn’t that much drama in his meetings but the power of the Holy Spirit was undeniable.

The most important lesson I learned from Branham’s life was to stick to one’s God-given anointing and calling, because going out of the parameters of ministry, which God gave means going out on your own. This was clear in the later part of Branham’s life. He wanted to be a teacher because it was the trend of the time. So he changed office at will. He moved out of his covering and away from his anointing. The Lord then confirmed to me to stick to my anointing and not try to be someone else He didn’t make me to be.


More on William Branham on God's Generals.

Stay Stuck

Stick to your anointing.


God spoke this to me at work Wednesday afternoon.

He confirmed it during my discipleship class Wednesday night.

I was kind of frustrated Tuesday night that I couldn't give counsel to my cell group members the way my cell group leader gives counsel.

But the Lord assured me that He used my personality to counsel one of the young men in our church Monday night for a particular reason.

God showed me the significance of staying stuck to one's giftings and anointings while learning about the life of William Branham.

It's useless trying to be who you are not -- in the physical and in the spiritual. If you're not called, anointed and gifted for a particular task, you're asking for trouble by getting into that task in the flesh.


Thank You Lord for teaching me Your ways.


Amen!