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.

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.

Your Hands for War

These are the nations the LORD left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience). Judges 3:1-2

Do not desire to be trained for spiritual warfare if you are not yet able to obey God in laying down your life and all the things you want in life to gain His desires and His plans for your life. The Lord's training for warfare is going to cost you your life -- nothing less. If you cannot follow Him that way, you cannot follow Him at all.

He is the One who trains. He is the One who teaches. If you do not yield to that, you will yield to something else. If you do not submit to the training and discipline of God, you will submit to something else. You are either for God... or for something else.

Who will you yield to? Who will you submit to? Who will you let train you? God? Or someone else?

God will train your hands for war, especially if you have not experienced it before. But you have to recognize that initially it is going to look unattractive, painful and uncomfortable. You're not going to like it at first, but in the end God's training -- the testings that come; the sacrifices required; the obediences demanded -- will strengthen your feeble knees, train your hands for battle and make you the warrior God has designed you to be.

But first be yielded to His will.

This war cannot be won with complacency and nonchalance. The devil has had us blinded for far too long already. Recognize that you are a soldier in God's army and you have a destiny that Satan wants to steal, kill and destroy -- both in the physical and the spiritual. The devil will stop at nothing to eliminate you -- you are a bane to his existence. He wants you dead. And if you cannot even learn to kill your flesh or even control your emotions, the devil will find it easy to toy around with you. If you won't even cry out to God for help, do not expect to put the enemy under your feet. Chances are the enemy will be doing tap dances on you.

God allows hardship into your life not to weaken you or to push you down, but because He wants to strengthen you by causing you to draw near to Him -- not run away from Him. That's how He trains you. Training for warfare is not easy. Understand that. Training is going to be tough. Why? Because the enemy is tough and he's been at it for much longer than you have been. But if in every painful and disappointing situation in your life you choose to run from God and cower in your own corner, how will you learn to fight this enemy of ours?

The Lord knows you are weak, that's why He has sent His Spirit to empower you. But you have got to make the choice to get with the program -- go all the way for God. That's how you win. Decide to follow Him no matter what the cost is, no matter what needs to be let go and laid down. Your present sufferings are called "light and momentary troubles" in the New Testament and compared to the glory yet to come, what we go through in this lifetime is nothing but a breath.

God will train your hands for war. He will equip you to not just survive the daily assaults from the enemy and from the world, but to be a victor at every turn. Just ask for Him to train you. Cry out to God to help you. Be yielded to His ways and then you'll see yourself becoming stronger in the strength of His might. You'll see yourself becoming the conqueror He sees and says you are!

Empty your hands! The Lord wants to train them for war!


"Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him?" Psalm 144:1-3

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.

Warning and Encouraging the Peacemaker

[A warning and encouragement for the Son of Peace and Abundance]

1 Timothy 6:17-21 says "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith."

and Luke 12:13-22 has this to say:

The Parable of the Rich Fool

Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'

"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '

"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.

Gifted. Protected. Exalted.

[for "Gifted to Heal. Protected by God. Exalted by the Lord."]

Hands that bring healing to body and soul
The Spirit that's leading will take full control
You have been anointed to go forth, make known
That God is the Healer; the glory -- His own

Your life in the daytime is kept well secure
Your life in the nighttime is safe, be assured
That Savior is able to watch and to know
His hands will protect you wherever you go

You will be exalted when humble you stay
He'll lift up your head, you'll see this one day
Just keep your light shining, the dark will disperse
You are exalted, you're blessed and not cursed

You're gifted to heal, your Lord is the Healer
Protected for life, your God is Redeemer
Exalted on high, your King will uplift you
Get ready to rise, the Kingdom's within you

Warriors Creed: I Am a Soldier

[from http://www.warfaresaint.com/print.htm]


I am a soldier in the army of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.
The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.
Faith, Prayer, and the Word are my weapons of Warfare.
I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity.

I will either retire in this Army or die in this Army;
but, I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out.
I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable.
If my God needs me, I am there.


I am a soldier. I am not a baby.
I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up,
pumped up, picked up, or pepped up.
I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me.


I am a soldier. I am not a wimp.
I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders,
praising His name, and building His kingdom!
No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts.
I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.
I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.


I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.
When Jesus called me into this Army, I had nothing.
If I end up with nothing, I will still come out even. I will win.
My God will supply all my needs. I am more than a conqueror.
I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ.
Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me.
Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me.
Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me.
Governments cannot silence me, and hell cannot handle me!

I am a soldier.
Even death cannot destroy me.
For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield,
He will promote me to a captain.
I am a soldier, in the Army, I'm marching, claiming victory.
I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier, marching Heaven bound.


There are four kinds of soldiers:
1. Active Duty: Serving the Lord faithfully, daily, and on duty 24-7-365.
2. Reserve Status: Serving only when called upon,
or twice a year: Christmas and Easter.
3. Guard Status: Backing up the Active Duty group.
4. AWOL! Absent With Out the Lord.


Which kind are you? Be an army of one for an audience of One.

No Crutches

Every single thing I can possibly lean on, God takes away... until I learn to stand with no crutches and learn to lean on Him alone.


This is the cost of following Christ.



Are you willing to follow?

Pray This Way

Kathi Pelton: "The Power of The Father's Prayer"
[from the Elijah List website]

"Our Father, Who is in Heaven, holy is Your Name; Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4

Over the past couple of months, I have found myself beginning each day by praying the entirety of the "Father's Prayer." I have to admit that I have never done this in my entire Christian life. I have prayed the prayer occasionally, but never daily with such a sense of the power of the Holy Spirit backing up these Words. Although I do not know, I would not be surprised to find out that many of God's people around the world are being led by the Spirit to pray these words.

Holy Is Your Name

"Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.'" Revelation 4:8

It is so appropriate that the first line of the Father's prayer is the echo of what is heard in Heaven both day and night, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty..." As Jesus taught His people to pray, He knew the sounds of Heaven and taught us to come into the unity and the sounds of His Kingdom as we approach our Father. As we pray this first line, "...holy is Your name..." we are joining with the angels in raising an anthem of "Who He is."

In our schools here in the USA, the day begins with the Pledge of Allegiance to our nation, and in Canada each Monday morning the national anthem is sung by the students. So, as God's people, we can begin our day with our "pledge of allegiance" or singing the anthem of Heaven that shouts "Holy is Your Name."

As I enter into each new day, I want to declare that He alone is Holy, that He alone is God Almighty, and that He was and is and is to come. Even now my Spirit is rising up as I write this, declaring, "Holy is Your Name!" There is great power in this statement alone. It is an acknowledgement of His Holiness, His might, and His Name being the name above all names.

Stop even now and begin to let your spirit join with the voice of Heaven and say, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." I believe this is the most powerful statement we can make. It must be, since the four living creatures never stop saying it! May all His living creatures, in Heaven and on Earth, begin to say both day and night, "Holy is the Lord."

Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done

"...Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven..."

As God's people we long to see His Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven. My greatest desire, above every other desire, is to see the desires of God's heart accomplished in the lives of His people. Though I live with many personal desires, each one of them are laid down at the feet of Jesus and submitted to His desires alone for my life.

Recently, my family took a foster baby into our home. He is a six-month-old, adorable baby boy. Our entire family has fallen in love with this little bundle of joy. Our five teenagers have become the source of his constant entertainment. Though we have less sleep (way less!), less free time, and less energy, we have gladly exchanged these things for the beauty of his little smile, the sweetness of having his little fingers stroke our faces, the tenderness of kissing his cheeks, and the adorable giggle that he releases when we act funny.

But, here's the dilemma: There's another daddy and mommy who love him too and are longing for his return to their arms. In my natural thinking, it would make sense if God gave him to us for adoption since he would be raised in a Christian home, but God understands things in ways that I can never understand or figure out. It just may be God's will for him to return to his birth parents.

Each morning (and sometimes numerous times throughout the day), I pray the Father's prayer over him, "Your Kingdom come and Your will be done..." By doing this, I submit my desire over to His perfect will, knowing that His will carries wisdom that my desire alone will never comprehend. I believe that as God's people do this in every area of their lives, it is a pleasing sacrifice that invites Him to entrust us with the deepest desires of His heart.

Our Daily Bread

"...Give us this day our daily bread..."

As many in these days face economic struggles, there is a reality to the prayer for our "daily bread." Although I believe that this verse is speaking of provision of our daily needs, I also believe that it speaks to the daily needs of us spiritually, emotionally, and in every way. This year, it's often been daily comfort that we needed to eat of.

For our family, 2008 has been an especially tough year as we have faced numerous deaths, the greatest financial struggle of our married life, unexplainable delays and trials that have stretched us and our faith beyond anything we have ever experienced. But God tells us not to worry, because our daily bread will be provided...this is a promise to us. Let's look at this promise in Luke 12:22-34:

"That's why I'm telling you to stop worrying about your life - what you will eat or what you will drink - or about your body - what you will wear. Life is more than food, isn't it, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky. They don't plant or harvest or gather food into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. You are more valuable than they are, aren't you? Can any of you add a single hour to the length of your life by worrying?

"And why do you worry about clothes? Consider the lilies in the field and how they grow. They don't work or spin yarn, but I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. Now if that is the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, won't He clothe you much better - you who have little faith?

"So don't ever worry by saying, 'What are we going to eat?' or 'What are we going to drink?' or 'What are we going to wear?' because it is the Gentiles who are eager for all those things. Surely your Heavenly Father knows that you need all of them! But first be concerned about God's Kingdom and His righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well. So never worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

As God's people, we struggle with the worry that will come and hit us without advance notice. It is hard in those moments to feel very excited about the faith that we have been called to walk in. But here's the truth: Faith is not a feeling - it is a posture and conscious decision that we make for our lives.

We must daily submit our flesh and it's feelings to the truth that our spirits know. When our family lived as missionaries for a number of years, it rarely "felt" good to not have a weekly paycheck to depend on, but once again, it was not a walk of feelings but rather a walk of faith. Our faith came from the promises of God as we just read in Luke 12. God will give us our daily bread.

Forgive Our Sins

"...and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us..."

We have been forgiven of so much! The longer I walk with God the more I realize how much I have been forgiven. It has been like the peeling of an onion. I now see the truth of the sin behind some of the things that seemed permissible in my youth. The good news is that I am not condemned in any of these things because of the merciful forgiveness that flows from God. I understand the words that Jesus speaks about the woman in Luke 7, who washed His feet with her tears and dried them with her hair:

"For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." Luke 7:47

Jesus was quick to love and quick to forgive, and I want to be like Him. Whether it was tax collectors, prostitutes, or fishermen - He forgave their sins and poured out His unconditional love upon their lives. We must do the same.

Last week my husband and I were at the memorial service for his best friend's father. During the service, this man's sons got up to speak about coming to the place of forgiving their father for not being everything they needed him to be when they were young. Do you know how they came to this point of forgiveness?

It was when they became men and fathers and began to realize how we all fall short, even when it is our deepest desire to be all that our children want us to be. When they were able to forgive their dad, they began to see all the beautiful gifts that he possessed. Prior to the point of forgiveness, all they could see were his failings, but after forgiveness they saw what an amazing man they were privileged enough to call "Dad."

Forgiveness is a gift that we give ourselves, because when we forgive we set ourselves free. My husband loves to say, "Unforgiveness is like eating rat poison and expecting the rat to die." This is such a true statement. We have been forgiven much so we need to love much. What a great act of love...to forgive someone who has sinned against you!

Even while dying on the Cross, Jesus was forgiving the ones who hung Him there as they divided up His clothing, "Jesus kept saying, 'Father, forgive them, because they don't know what they're doing.'" Luke 23:34

Deliver Us From Evil

"...and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

This is such a powerful verse to pray. This is a prayer for God's "keeping grace." I would rather be kept from sin and evil than to have to be forgiven for it! There is so much evil in this world and temptation that is put before us each day that we must ask God to lead us away from it. I am sure if you were to talk to other brothers and sisters who fell into sin in their past, you would discover they needed God to deliver them from temptation, because that came before the sin (evil). I would bet that none of these people desired to fall into sin. None of us want to either, so this simple prayer is important as we walk out our Christian life.

This is a prayer that we should be teaching our young people as they begin to face the many temptations that will dance before them to allure them into evil. Not even Jesus was kept from temptation, although He never gave into any of it. Not one of us is beyond temptation, but we can ask God to keep us from being led into temptation.

Final Thoughts - Thanksgiving

"...For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen."

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name."--Psalm 100:4

As I have been beginning each day with the Father's prayer, I have also been reminded of another verse to enter each day with. Psalm 100:4 exhorts us to enter into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. I want to enter into each day with thanksgiving and praise. Thanksgiving is the key to open the gates, and praise is the way to go through His courts.

I also want to encourage each of you to enter each day with thanksgiving and praise. As we pass through our U.S. holiday called Thanksgiving, let us mark this day with the beginning of a year that we release thanksgiving each and every day to our God. As our nation enters into a new era with a new President, let us open up the gates for the King of Glory to come in with thanksgiving and praise.

"Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is He, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty - He is the King of glory." Psalm 24:7-10

Kathi Pelton
Light Streams Ministries
Email: jkpelton@sbcglobal.net

- - - - -

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

We Teach

This is part of the Great Commission. And we are all called to do it. Some may be more anointed for it than others, but that doesn't make that an excuse to not teach. It's the same with evangelism. It's the same with healing, and preaching. We're all called to do it regardless of the levels of anointing.

So, we teach. We teach the young to mature. We teach the lost the way to salvation. We teach children to obey their parents; wives to submit to husbands; husbands to love their wives. We teach humility to the arrogant. We teach self-control to the willfull. We teach people to praise and worship in spirit and in truth.

We teach.

Without the passing on of what the older generation knows to the younger one, there will be much more than just culture, education and heritage that will be lost. The greatest price that will be paid for the lack -- and, God forbid, absence -- of instruction is the loss of vision. And the Bible says that without vision, God's people perish.

We teach.

The Elisha generation are a fledgling batch of prophets, preachers, teachers, apostle and pastors in the making. They are presidents, governors, engineers, nurses, businessmen, policemen and artists in seed form. We teach them so they can learn what we have learned from God through our own mentors and leaders. We teach them so they can stand on their own two feet, then onto our shoulders and see much farther than we ever saw, go farther than we ever went, and reach higher than we ever reached.

We teach.

We pass not only the baton to the Joshua generation but also the vision the Lord has given the Moses generation. We pass on the wisdom and the discipline. We pass on the courage and the faith. We pass on the pursuit and the perseverance. We pass it on through teaching.

We teach.

We serve by teaching. We serve by imparting. We serve by rebuking, correcting, instructing and training. But all this is useless if the Timothy generation do not receive from the Paul generation. No amount of teaching can ever penetrate a heart shut up by pride and apathy. Our words cannot reach a mind set on things other than Kingdom things. But we still teach.

We teach...

...not because it is easy, but because it is essential. We teach not because it is a chore, but because it is a calling. We teach not because it is wanted, but because it is needed. We teach what we know, what we have received from the Lord in the hopes that the vision will be caught and catch on.

We teach.

We have to.

We must.

We need to.

We will.

We are.





We teach.

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.

Maximum Extreme

[for Great Messenger of God]

Make the most of every opportunity in life
Avoid all forms of division and strife
Xylophonic sounds from your singing spirit
Impart that to all so they can hear it
Master your Master's intimate heart
And everything else won't fall apart
Never forget the main thing is love
God is the main thing, the Man up above
Eternity waits, your life's not just now
Live for forever and then take a bow
Oh, Great Messenger, be not distracted
Call on the Lord, your fears will be subtracted
Everything in order, if order is required
But first, acquaintance to God be acquired
Rest easy, young warrior, faint not and walk on
Entrust life to Maker at each breaking dawn
Cry out for more when you feeling dismayed
Until you feel His strength begin to cascade
Surrender your life and He will make it better
-- and lastly, in your youth, your Creator remember

Youthful Lover of God

[for "Youthful One Who Loves a Gracious God"]


Though young you are, your strength will be
The love of God that sets you free
Not human strength or human will
But love of God will keep you still

From now till then, till you become
The man who’ll usher Kingdom come
The grace of God will see you through
Sustaining you in all you do

Your youth today will bless your peers
Your youth renewed in later years
For eagle’s strength the Lord bestows
To stand your ground and face your foes

For now, young one, in days of youth
Remember God; remember truth
For in His heart there is no lie
His oaths to you He won't deny

Commissioning a Vigilant Warrior

Ephesians 6:10-18 [Amplified Bible]
[for Vigilant Warrior]


In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.

Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God.

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).

Seven Things That Are Non-negotiable for Pastors

Notes from the preaching of Pastor Ricardo Santiago during the G12 Conference in Cebu City, September 11, 2008


A pastor must live in the presence of God every day
It is absolutely necessary for a pastor to always be in the presence of the Lord if he is to do the work God called him to do.


A pastor must be a visionary
God always starts His work with a vision. Pastors must have a revelation of God’s vision and God’s dream for their lives and their ministries. Pastors need to have a clear vision of where their congregation is going.


A pastor must be a manager
Administrative skills are essential for pastors. They have to be able to institute order in their families, organize church affairs and conduct their personal lives in a godly and orderly fashion.


A pastor must be a leader
As leader of the flock, a pastor must know the details pertaining to his congregation. He must also be a person who solves problems and unites people.


A pastor must have a renewed mind
It is important for a pastor to not limit himself to the old methods of doing the ministry. Just as Paul encouraged the Romans to renew their minds, a pastor should be open to new things that the Lord wants to do in the ministry.


A pastor must be an excellent communicator
Encouragement, comfort and edification are some of the thoughts a pastor needs to convey to his flock. He also needs to teach and preach effectively so that people get a clear message from the Word of God and get changed by it. A pastor needs to efficiently communicate these things.


A pastor must raise up a team
Jesus set the example by choosing 12 men to be trained and discipled. He multiplied and produced His own kind and they continued His work after He went back to Heaven. A pastor needs to raise up men to be trained and who are able to train others as well.

French Lessons

I am a multiplier

full of joy

born to birth change!

I CANNOT BE CONTAINED!

Love is the Reversal

Rick Joyner: "Love is the Foundation, Door and Path"

Last week we ended our study by asking the questions about knowing our purposes, ministries, gifts, etc., which we have been given by God. If our Word for the Week readers are typical, only about 2 percent could answer all of these questions with "yes," and less than 10 percent could answer any of them with "yes." This is remarkable because studies have concluded that the number one question that people have is what their purpose is in life. Every human being knows inherently that they are not here by some random accident, but they have a purpose. Yet most tragically, less than 10 percent of Christians, who know their Creator, have the answer to this.

This reveals what is probably the greatest failure of present church life, but we can expect it to be changed - soon. When this is corrected, and Christians begin to perceive their purposes and the gifts or tools that they have been given for accomplishing their purpose, as well as the corporate purpose of the Church in our time, the result is going to be the release of the most powerful spiritual force the world has seen.

Seeing our own purpose can have the single most powerful impact on our own life after coming to know the Lord, being born again, and being baptized in His Spirit. Every Christian knows they are called to be a witness, but we have a calling in His body that is more specific than that. Every Christian is called to function in at least one spiritual gift, which is the tool that we are given for fulfilling our purpose. So how do we come to the knowledge of these? There is a clear and easy path to it. My purpose for this study is to make it as clear and easy as possible.

How To Know and Fulfill Your Life's Purpose

I say easy, as in easy to understand, but it can be more difficult to actually walk out. However, not walking this out will result in a much more difficult and frustrating life. Let me first give you an outline of the following factors:

#1) Resolving to live to do the Lord's will as the chief pursuit of our lives

#2) Beholding the glory of the Lord

#3) Honoring our spiritual fathers and mothers

#4) Finding and becoming a committed part of the Body of Believers we are called to be with

#5) Receiving the ministry of the five equipping ministries listed in Ephesians 4

#6) Being recognized, trained, and discipled

#7) Engaging in our calling

These are necessary for us to accomplish the purpose for which Christ called every one of us and to be a successful human being. The most basic criteria for success as a human, becoming what we were created to be and doing what we were created to do, is loving God. We were created for this and known by God before the foundation of the world. If there is any measure of success for us, it will be to hear from the King on that great judgment day, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (see Matthew 25:21 NIV). Therefore, to hear those words should be the chief pursuit of our lives.

Our Chief Pursuit

Anything that eclipses our devotion to knowing and serving the Lord is an idol. An idol is anything that has more of our affection than He does, and it is also anything that we put our trust in above Him. The Word makes clear no idolaters will inherit the Kingdom of God (see I Corinthians 6:9). In Revelation 21:8, we are told idolaters will be thrown into the lake of fire and suffer the second death. Being an idolater is not something we want to be! That is the negative but, nevertheless, a true and necessary warning, so it is imperative that we not let anything eclipse our love and devotion to the Lord.

The positive is that keeping the Lord as our chief love and devotion is not only the path of life and the true fulfillment in this life, it also leads to eternal life that will be more wonderful than our minds can even now perceive. This present life is but "a vapor," a wisp that passes with remarkable speed. What we do here on earth establishes our eternal destiny, so we should not take this life or our calling and responsibility lightly but rather with all the seriousness and devotion that it deserves.

The Scriptures are also clear and we can totally trust in the truth that God is good - He is good to all and He loves all, wanting the very best for all. If we do not fulfill our purpose in life, it will not be His fault, but ours. We must want Him and His will enough to seek it.

He wants the best for us; living in His will and doing His will is the best life that we can ever live. This life that has been chosen for us could be hard at times and could even end in martyrdom, but if that is the case it is still the best life that we could ever live, and much better than any other option.

Love is the Foundation, Door and Path

Of course, the most basic calling for everyone is to love God above anyone or anything. Therefore, growing in love for Him is the foundation upon which every truly successful life is built. If we love Him above all and keep Him as our first love, then He will be the continuing devotion and pursuit of our lives. After that, we must love one another. So loving Him and one another is the foundation.

A foundation is something we not only walk on every day and build everything else on, but it must be the strongest part of the building. Since "the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing," this is the main thing that we must always keep the main thing. Everything else is dependent on this. We must never be beguiled from the simplicity of devotion to Christ (see II Corinthians 11:3).

Love is both the door and the path to everything else. One who loves is not only the happiest human being, but the most fulfilled, as long as we keep the order of love right - God first and then people. It is not wrong to love things, but it is right to love the good things God has given to us, receiving them with thanksgiving. However, we must keep our love for the Giver first.

As we grow into the army we are called to be, one of our most powerful weapons is love. In many ways this army is like other armies in devotion, discipline, focus, training, seriousness, and so on, but in some basic ways it is unlike any other army. The weapons of this army are not like any human weapons, but are divinely powerful. We do not hate our enemies, but we love them! We do not fight to kill but to give life - not to conquer, but to set others free.

And this you can count on - you are going to love this job!


Rick Joyner
MorningStar Ministries
Email: info@morningstarministries.org


ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

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.

Famous Warrior

[for "Famous Warrior Whose God is Gracious"]


Springs of living water that flow from within
Streams that bring life from your belly burst forth
Alive inside out as you walk on with Him
He gives you your life, your being, your worth

Receiver of grace from the Father above
Declared by your name, in prophecy foretold
For God is gracious and full of great love
He’s the same in your youth, He’ll remain when you’re old

A warrior you are, surrounded by fame
To lead and to rule is what your name entails
Renown, not your own, but from His holy name
The Famous One says, ”You will surely shall prevail”

Famous Warrior, go forth
Let His Spirit lead you
Through the trials that come
He will go before you
Do not fret, do not fear
You’re victorious already
For the Lord’s always near
Just stand firm and stand steady

Famous Warrior, arise
And take hold of you sword
There’s a war that is raging
There’s a foe who’s not bored
You are called to the battle
With authority in Christ
You are called now to conquer
You’re a warrior in His eyes

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!