Intro by D. Nelson regarding "The Call" to Nashville 7-7-07 by Lou Engle

Posted: 2007-05-07 20:32:30

(“The Call” immediately follows this Introduction)

I would like to say a few things about “The Call” before posting it in its entirety. There are many moral standards which have been and are now being dragged down by our society, TV, and even the church has helped by agreeing, being silent, or being deceived. What to do? Know what is true and pleasing to the Lord and lift up the standard of truth as God leads you and gives you opportunity.

Lou Engle says that in 1967 San Francisco, California had an influx of “hippies” that taught “free love”, oppose authority, oppose rules and ways of the past, do whatever feels good, disregard conservative morals, maybe live together instead of marriage, Eastern mysticism, “summer of love”, and many other ideas like these, their music and art fuelled all this, and all over the country (in every city) young people talked and lived a counter-culture rebellion. But the Lord also had His Jesus people movement in 1967 with disciples that lived closer to the path Jesus walked than any we had seen since the 1^st century. Also, Jerusalem was taken back by Israel in 1967.

Now it is 40 years later (similar to the 40 days of Christ in the wilderness and the 40 years of Israel in the wilderness). Lou Engle writes that our only hope is the vehement flame of God’s love to come into us and burn away all the worldly things that may be holding us back from God’ revival. In Song of Solomon 8:6-7 it says that love is a vehement flame of fire, that many waters cannot put it out or drown it. Only God’s love burning in our hearts, that only God can give to us, will be able to drive out all the other “lesser loves” and worldly things that sway our affections away from God again and again. We need the vehement flame of God’s love to break the power of the world’s attractions. The fiery love of God is stronger than the passions of the world and the addictions of this culture. We certainly are engraved on the palms of the Lord’s hand (Is. 49:14-16) and we are, no doubt, a seal on God’s heart (Song of Solomon 8:6). We must also cry to Him, put your seal upon my heart and put your seal upon my arm! Are we not in the time of Joel 2, needing a call to solemn assembly? In Joel 2:15-19 it says, “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people…let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.” Is it time to say to the Lord, marry us again! We don’t want to be married to this world any more but to you alone. Could Joel 2 even be saying it is time for our marriage to Jesus to be of such high priority that natural marriage plans be temporarily put in 2^nd place to hear His call?

It is for each person to decide where the Lord wants them to go and on what dates, but I felt that this call to Nashville, Tennessee on 7-7-07 was important for people to know about, especially what Lou Engle said about the Lord calling us to “renew our wedding vows” with Him again. I have been in meetings of 2,000, 200, or 20 where there is the freedom for “unscheduled” people to share or speak. I’m sure this meeting in Nashville will be quite large and if anyone speaks they will probably be speakers known and approved by the ones who are leading “The Call”. From our standpoint as a ministry we have enjoyed the venues where there is a freedom for anyone to speak whether they are known or unknown. We feel that the Lord then has the freedom to totally make it His meeting, to go wherever He wants it to go. In our day, I’m sure the Lord will bring about His purposes through many types of meetings and may have a wonderful purpose in “The Call” in Nashville with “scheduled” speakers. Meetings in the New Testament times in some instances may have had only one speaker, perhaps Paul was visiting from a trip, and everyone wanted to hear all that he had to say. One important thing that we need again in our meetings today is the idea that when believers come together each one has something. How this will be worked out practically in all sizes of meetings I’m sure the Lord will show us in the days to come. It is our hope that the following article is an encouragement to you.

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The Call by Lou Engle;

God Is Calling Us To Fasting And Prayer And To Answer

The Call On 7-07-07 In Nashville And Where You Live!

We are in a Crisis

The Church and the nation are in a crisis! In no uncertain terms, the elections of 2006 showed us that there is no clear moral foundation upon which the nation votes. In this present historic moment, the Church was paralyzed. Tens-of-thousands stayed home and could not vote as if they were drunk with disillusionment.

Only one week before the elections, a major Christian leader was exposed in immorality. Before that, a high-ranking Republican Representative was exposed. After considering these scandals, the ongoing exposures of these Christian leaders, and seeing the outcome of the elections, I felt God shouting that the Church is in danger of losing its moral authority to turn a nation.

"Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord...he who has clean hands and a pure heart," Psalm 24:3-4. The hill of Lord is the place of the throne, and the place of spiritual authority. Only those who have clean hands and a pure heart can stand on that hill and exercise that authority.

He is sifting the Republican Party for its refusal to stand for moral principles and for playing political games with its constituents, who in 2004, voted on moral issues.

One of our young women in the Justice House of Prayer in Washington , D.C. , had a dream on November 4, 2006, the Sunday before the elections: I was at the house on the farm and made a kind of agreement with a man who was the head of the GOP. In my dream, this GOP man broke the agreement. I went and confronted him, and he got in my face and started yelling at me. He then backed up and I pointed at him and said, "Our God is neither Republican nor Democrat, He will only honor those who are morally righteous and just." He left, slamming the door.

God has a word to say to the Republican Party: "Line up with moral issues--Marriage Amendment and Abortion--and show compassion to the poor and the oppressed--show Justice--or I will remove your lamp stand."

This is precisely what happened to the Whig party in the United States . The issue of slavery divided the party and its anti-slavery constituents formed the anti-slavery Republican Party out of which Abraham Lincoln was elected. The Whig party was no more! If the Churches vote radically PRO-life, then any political party, REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT--could be no more.

An Awakening to the Church

But the voice of God is shouting even louder to the Church!

Revelation 2:18-23 and 26 says, "And to the angel of the Church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

And I gave her time to repent of her immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the Churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works."

Verse 26, "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations". It is only when the Church is found faithful in moral purity to her bridegroom, God, that she can gain spiritual authority over nations.

In a season of personal temptation, when God was searching my own heart and mind for inward toleration of Jezebel's influence, and during the time of Bill Clinton's moral failure, I received a dream from God. In this dream, a pastor I know was a high-ranking senator. He had gathered major governmental leaders together to deliver a message. Bill Clinton was in the meeting but was sleeping in bed. I was in the meeting but was clothed only in my underwear and I was lying in the same bed as Bill Clinton. The pastor's message was weak and carried no authority. Then he asked me to pray for Bill Clinton, who was still asleep. I prayed a pitiful token prayer and then suddenly threw off the covers and ran to get clothed.

I awoke from the dream in shock! The Holy Spirit spoke clearly to my heart, saying, "Neither you nor the Church of America has any power to awaken this nation or Bill Clinton because it sleeps in the same bed!"

The dream and the Scripture confirm each other. The Church cannot bind the spirit of Jezebel dominating the nation if the spirit of Jezebel binds the Church. Only to those who have overcome this spirit, the Scripture says, will be given authority over the nations.

This truth makes the present moment with fallen leaders more profound and pronounced. I am not pointing the finger at a fallen brother. I mourn for any of them and for my generation that has been assaulted with the spirit of Jezebel and lives under the shame of their bondage, which defiles imaginations and causes nightmarish inward moral battles. Maybe all our leaders who have fallen are a sign and a symbol of the whole Church of the nation. From the head to the feet we are sick, bruised, and beaten up, and we are being exposed publicly.

Hosea 2:10 says, "Now I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers..." We are like eunuchs in Jezebel's palace whimpering our prayers, and even with our great churches and powerful spiritual programs, the nation remains unchanged. More than all this, we have crushed the Lord's heart with our spiritual adultery, we have left our first Love, and have gone after our Baals as in the time of Jezebel. But I believe that God wants to allure us into the wilderness and speak tenderly to us and make this Valley of Achor (the place of exposure of hidden sin) a door of hope. "In that day...you will call Me 'My Husband,' and no longer call Me, 'My Master'" (see Hosea 2:14-16).

Godly repentance the foundation for the spiritual restoration of America.

I believe that in this moment in time, if we respond in repentance, we could release the greatest revival of confession of sin and a cleansing by the blood of Jesus that could draw us back into marital faithfulness with our Bridegroom, God. I believe a great spiritual awakening could be at hand which could even affect the elections of 2008 and overthrow Jezebel's death-march in this nation.

God's Holy Prescription-Fasting and Prayer

What must we do? God's holy prescription for our diseased state in times of national crisis and moral collapse is in Joel 2, verses 12-13, 15-16, 18 & 28, which is a solemn assembly of united fasting and prayer:

"Now, therefore," says the Lord, "Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.

Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; let the bridegroom go out from His chamber, and the bride from her dressing room.

Then the Lord will be zealous for His land...And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."

Seven years ago, we called for a massive Joel 2 gathering of fasting and prayer in Washington , D.C. It was named, "The Call," and 400,000 young men and women with parents and leaders gathered together...not for a feast, nor a festival, but to a fast, believing that God would respond and show mercy to our nation. Seven "Calls" took place, the final being in the Cotton Bowl in November of 2003. We believe God is still answering those prayers.

At that time, a prophet gave me a word that, "The Call" would die, but in three years, a crisis would come and then it would be resurrected. Three years have passed since that word; the time is now, and the Church and America are in crisis. God is blowing the Joel 2 trumpet again--on 07-07-07, The Call Nashville !

The Call Nashville !

In 1993, Bob Jones prophesied, "The Houston Oilers would move to Nashville , and Nashville would build God a stadium. And 100,000 people, particularly youth, would gather for a great mobilization of the army of God." With this prophecy in effect, I was praying about holding The Call in Titan Stadium in Nashville on 07-07-07.

While in a prophets gathering, I received a profound confirmation. Sharon Stone, a prophetic voice from England, who knew nothing that was on my heart, stood and began to speak forth this word over me, "There is coming a fresh recruitment on 07-07-07. I heard the day very clearly, and on that day, a stand will be taken, and it will bring forth a great shift." Could it be that The Call in Nashville is that day of recruitment and that day of shifting? Yet, I still needed more confirmation.

Then a few days later, I received a phone call from a woman I had only met one time. She said, "I have written you a check. What are you doing?" I told her about The Call Nashville , and to my amazement she said, "The check is for 100,000 dollars." She had no idea that the first Call was launched by another woman that I did not know, who gave me 100,000 dollars as well.

I experienced the Divine endorsement of God pour over me just as it did seven years before, and I knew this wasn't my Call, it was God's Call, and it was time to blow the trumpet again. If Heaven is releasing, "The Call" again, then there is still hope for America , for that is the very reason a solemn assembly is called. In times of crisis, when there is no hope and no remedy, God says, "Blow the trumpet in Zion, and call a fast."

Previous Historical Gathering

In 1967, 100,000 young people, ages 15-25, flocked to San Francisco to experience the hippie movement. This mass convergence was sparked by the hit song in San Francisco called, "Wear a Flower in Your Hair." Once there, they experimented with LSD, pot, immorality, and Eastern mysticism, in what became known as the "Summer of Love." When these newly recruited, "Flower Children," returned home at the end of summer, they brought with them new styles and ideas, flooding the cities of the U.S. and Europe with a message that opposed authority and scorned conservative morals. This counterculture rebellion was fueled by music and art, and it rapidly shifted global culture.

A great divorce from God and His ways of kindness occurred in this turbulent time, and the effects of the, "Summer of Love," are still with us today. The Church is obviously saturated with those effects.

Renewing Our Vows to The Lord

On the 40th-year anniversary of the "Summer of Love" that occurred in 1967 (really a summer of divorce), we are calling multi-generations to Nashville, Tennessee . We are calling you on 07-07-07--the number of covenant renewal, marriage, and the fullness of time--for a day of national repentance, fasting, and prayer for our 40-year generational rebellion. We are calling elders, pastors, mothers, fathers, college students, children, every race, every denomination, and every age to come and divorce Baal, and remarry the Lord.

The book of Hosea is clear--God uses wedding vows as a symbol of renewing covenant with His people. Hosea 2:19, says, "I will betroth you to Me forever, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness. " We are coming to renew our vows. We will cry out to God for a release of Song of Solomon 8:6-7 (paraphrased) , "Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm, for love is as strong as death, the vehement flame of God, as unrelenting as Sheol, loves flames are fiery flames, the fiercest of all, many waters cannot extinguish love, and rivers cannot sweep it away."

Our only hope for an idolatrous people is the fiery love of God that is stronger than the passions of this world. We have got to get an awakening that is stronger than the hellish addictions of our culture. Oh God, marry us again!!!

Newspapers and websites across America are saying that on 07-07-07, more marriages are occurring then ever in history. Wedding Chapels and churches are booked across the land. But could we be in a time, a Joel 2 time, where our marriage to Jesus is of higher priority than our natural marriages? What if God would really test us on the urgency of this hour, and in particular the Biblical Joel 2 mandate? Let the Bridegroom come out of His chamber and the bride out of her dressing room (see Joel 2).

We have received the following report that a pastor said to a couple, "I cannot marry you on 07-07-07, even though the day is set. I must go to Nashville on 07-07-07--it is the highest priority." The couple was understandably upset by the decision of the pastor, but the following week a special guest speaker spoke on Joel 2 at the Church declaring, "Let the Bridegroom come out of His chamber..." With tender hearts toward God, the couple publicly asked forgiveness for their response to the pastor and said, "We are going to Nashville and will postpone our marriage."

We are receiving many reports now of couples changing their marriage dates because they have heard, The Call. I believe that pastors must make hard decisions, for it was the priests who were to weep between the porch and the altar, crying out, "Spare your people, Oh God." Also, the elders have been affected with internet immorality and compromise. We must gather and bear the reproach before the Lord. Who knows, He may turn and pour out His Spirit as promised in Joel 2:28, "And afterward I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh..."

The Number 40 is Significant

Recently while in Nashville, my friend and godly statesman, Don Finto, spoke a word to me that lit my fires of faith. He said, "I have a 1971 Time Magazine article that states three times, that the Jesus Movement began in 1967, and that Jerusalem was taken back by Israel in 1967."

After a 40-year judgment, could we be in a season in which a great spiritual awakening could occur in America , and the Jewish people would return to Yeshua? God administrates His Kingdom through prophetic time periods, and the period of 40 years is one of the most significant. When Jesus fasted 40 days, He was tempted in the wilderness just as Israel was tested in the wilderness for 40 years. Jesus confronted the temptations of satan, quoting the very Scriptures in Deuteronomy that pertained to the 40-year failure of a past generation.

In Ezekiel 4, Ezekiel is given a prophetic prayer assignment; He is told to bear the iniquity of the house of Judah for 40 days, a day for each year of their iniquity (verse 6). Here again, we see an intercessor bearing the 40-year failure of a past generation in a 40-day prayer assignment. I believe now, with all of my heart, God is calling us to fast and pray for 40 days--from May 29 to 07-07-07, and bear in intercession the 40-year failure of the 60's generation, and then gather on 07-07-07 to call on God for the promised rains of revival.

Hosea 2:16, 21-23, "'And it shall be, in that day,' says the Lord, 'that you will call Me 'My Husband,' and no longer call you my Baal.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will answer, I will answer the Heavens and they shall answer the earth, the earth shall answer with grain, with new wine, and with oil, and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy. Then I will say to those who were not My people, you are My people, and they shall say you are my God."

Let a great Jesus movement come forth in America , and out of Nashville may music come forth that will reap the harvest and carry revival more powerfully than the Beatles carried the rebellion. If the Church repents in Nashville , the culture could be transformed in San Francisco . Nashville is the gateway to the Church, and San Francisco is the gateway to the culture.

The trumpet is clear and the nation is summoned, from the pastors to the bridal chamber, and from the elders to the little children. Forty days of fasting, prayer, media turn-off, and intimacy with God--May 29th to 07-07-07 to return to the Lord. A Joel 2 solemn assembly. A day to take a stand and to shape history. May those hearts who are stirred, come and return to the Lord.

Lou Engle

"I want Fame and Fortune" by David Nelson

Posted: 2007-05-07 19:03:34

“I want Fame and Fortune”        4-27-07

Imagine if the Lord were to appear to you and say, “I’m going to bless you, many will know who you are and your spiritual gifts will be recognized and appreciated and be in demand by many. You will be famous and your name will be known and many will seek to be blessed through the gifts I give you. Also, money will flow into your life so that getting the things done you need to do will never be a financial worry or burden. You will not need to be a tent maker like Paul or ask for money like some today, only do my work and all the money you need will come, more than enough.”

Is there any one reading this who would say to the Lord, “No, please, I don’t want to be recognized or admired by many people. No, please, don’t give me more money, I’m not sure what to spend it on or what to do with it.” Maybe we would say to the Lord, “Please guard me lest too much popularity or too much money corrupt me, or make me proud, or cause me to become greedy, selfish or spoiled!?”

The Bible says that our hearts are deceitful and can trick us concerning the purity of our motives. Who really can know his own heart, but the Lord alone does. Our flesh, emotions and mind can create a very pleasing script for our lives that may reflect our deepest longings and desires. Everyone “loves” to be appreciated, recognized, and honored for who they are and what they do. At least our emotions, minds and even our hearts think that we would be pleased with having some fame with our peers and financial freedom (to be independently wealthy, able to do anything we please with no worries of overspending). But I think some people in the world do have this kind of fame and fortune and still they find it is not what they are looking for to give their lives the meaning they long for.

The life of Enoch in the Bible may hold a key to the life we are really looking for. Is fame and fortune the one thing that will really give our life meaning and happiness? Yes, let’s try it, you may say. But think for a moment, what does God really want for me? He is Spirit, and He wants to show you His way, His Spirit to your spirit. What did Enoch do? All we know is he walked with God.(Gen. 5:22) We don’t know what he did for the 365 years that he lived but this one thing we are told that he did, he walked with God. Maybe he was rich, certainly he is famous now even though so little was said about him. And he never died, God took him to heaven to be with Him at just the right time. He walked with God on the earth and then he just walked into heaven and now he still walks with God. Is that what we want? Is our chief goal fame and fortune or is it to walk with God? God may give us fame and fortune in our walk with Him but we are to seek 1^st His kingdom and His righteousness (and His will for our lives) and all that we need will be added unto us.

Also, the Bible says that this was his epitaph (his testimony), or here is another thing that we can say about Enoch; he pleased God.(Heb. 11:5) Is this not our ultimate goal, is this not the one thing we should want more than recognition, ease, or to accomplish a lot “for Him”? One thing Lord, whether it is what my emotions, mind or even my heart cries out for, perhaps selfishly, let it not be to make many people happy or be without financial burdens, or do so many things that will give me fame with people or even what I think you want me to do for your glory, but let there be one thing that I want in my heart of hearts above all else and that is to walk with God and please God (and like Enoch, if nothing is ever said about what I did or accomplished, except it is said, he walked with God, would that be enough?). Surely we all want to use the gifts and talents he has given us and definitely rewards are promised by God for us in this life and in heaven too. But above all else let it not be that I created monuments for God or that I touched many people’s lives with the spiritual gifts that He gave me but let it be said as the most important thing that he pleased God.

Now, what the Lord tells you to do may touch many people and many may like you, love you and appreciate you. Or what the Lord tells you to do may leave buildings and churches and organizations and fellowships and many saved souls behind you as a legacy but let it always and quintessentially be your highest end and goal, that you could say in your heart of hearts, my greatest desire was to walk with God, to only please Him, and to have it be written after you are gone as it was written of Enoch, he walked with God, and this was his epitaph, he pleased God. My flesh and my wavering heart may want fame and fortune but O Lord, purify what I want or enjoy to be what You want, may I be one that You can walk with and who truly pleases Your heart, with all my lesser longings laid to the side.

At the beginning the Bible says that Adam and Eve perhaps had opportunity to walk with God every day in the garden in the cool of the day. (Gen.3:8) What was involved here? How do we do that again? Believe me, God is ready to show us how.

Journal Excerpts (May)

Posted: 2007-05-03 22:46:20

The Lord Welcomes Us into His Throne Room by David Nelson

Posted: 2007-04-30 11:47:18

The Lord Welcomes Us into His Throne Room by David Nelson     3-23-07

Do you remember in the Bible when Queen Esther risked her life to approach the king, into the inner court as he sat on his throne? If he raised his scepter to her, her life would be spared and she could talk with him, but if he did not raise his scepter she would have to die. She could only approach the king into the inner court as he sat on his throne if he requested for her to come.

The Lord is calling for us to come into his throne room, the highest holy of holies ever. We are even free to come if we are not sure he has requested us. It is the time to come into His holy place to be near Him. Yes, one day we will enter into heaven in a more final sense and that will be a most wonderful day. But even now, when we are ready to enter in, He is ready to welcome us into His place with open arms.

Where are we supposed to enter in? Do we really want to enter in? Where does God want us to go? What are we talking about here?

There is a secret place, there is a rest, there is a place of safety, where we will feel safe, forgiven, guilt relieved, peace, rest, comforted, accepted, all that we hope to feel when we finally get to heaven, accept that we can enter this place now. Joseph tasted of it when God brought him forth from prison to experience his dreams come true. Mephibosheth tasted of it when, even though he thought of himself as a “dead dog,” king David brought him into a place of honor and complete, future security, into his royal family. King Jeconiah tasted of it when he was brought out of prison after 37 years and was given a throne of honor and a seat every day at the great king’s table. He was also given a daily allowance from the king for the rest of his life. The younger brother (prodigal son) tasted of it when his father ran to greet him, kissed him, outfitted him very handsomely and celebrated his return home with food, family, friends and music.

In the recent movie “One Night with the King” a love story unfolds where the King (the king can symbolize our Lord and Father) takes delight in one woman named Esther and falls in love with her. The King (the Lord) wants you as his one true love as if you were the only one for him. He sincerely and truly wants to woo us, betroth us to himself and draw us into his chamber. And he wants us to delight in Him as He delights in us. All that He is allowing in your life now is to get you closer to Himself and to cause you to fall in love with Him more and more. He already is totally in love with us. But we don’t realize or trust His love fully yet. We are not sure how much He is for us, we’re not sure how much we can trust Him, rely on Him, or rest in Him yet.

We are in a learning process now to learn how much he loves us and learn how much we are willing to give ourselves over to Him. This learning process will culminate as He becomes our place of rest, though we may go back and forth for a while, up and down, until finally we become convinced and sold out that he is completely for us.  Even now we are not sure if His plans for us will be fulfilled or not? Will He come through for us?

One day it will sink in, I don’t have to be afraid any more, I’m not alone any more, I don’t have to wonder will He raise the scepter and accept me this time even though I have failed so miserably and disappointed Him so much? The point will finally come when we realize He will never turn away when we come into His throne room, He will always accept us (if we come humbly by the blood of Jesus and with a true heart). He will always raise His scepter to us and give us life. He will always run to meet us and kiss us. Why? Because of the blood of His Son Jesus and because of His perfect love for us.

For sure, we may all be at different places in this love story that is unfolding, and we may all be at different degrees of rest, with still some ups and downs ahead, but the King is betrothed to us, each one of us personally, and He is working out His plan to have us be His completely, and His plan will continue to unfold and we will get closer to Him.

How do I know this is true? Listen to these verses: “Him who comes to me I will in no wise (no way) cast out (turn away). (I will always raise the scepter, I will always love you). There is no way, I will in no wise turn you away. (Jn. 6:37) Nothing shall separate us from the love God has for us, neither things present nor things to come. I (the Lord) will keep you from falling, will cause you to stand and I will present you without blemish with great joy before His throne. (Jude 24) The work that He has begun in us He will complete. He is the author and the finisher of our faith. I know the plans I have for you, plans for success, to satisfy you and fulfill your dreams (dreams that even I have put in your heart for your happiness and my glory). I will bring you to your desired harbor (end or completion) (Jer. 29:11) “We have therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest (place with Him) by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, through his flesh (when Jesus flesh was broken the veil was rent by God); And having a high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb. 10:19-22)

Here is how we are all coming to new levels or new plateaus with the Lord (and I am sure there are future levels and plateaus that we cannot even fathom or imagine as yet). I have been experiencing for some years now the ups and downs of learning how to enter His rest, how to rest in His love, know His love, and truly love Him with all of my heart and strength as best I could. Recently I read the following article by Art Katz (this article will be posted in its entirety at the end of this writing) which helped push me to a new level in my walk with the Lord. Maybe it was brother Katz’s honesty or maybe what he said or the way he said it. Here is what struck me from his article: Yes, I want to enter the Sabbath rest of God, within the veil. But it is not on the basis of my qualifications but on the basis of His agape love and my complete pardon and acceptance through the blood of Jesus Christ. I choose now to enter into the holiest place of all within the veil that has been rent. Religious acts and works that you feel obliged to do may be dead works. God is requiring for this time, now, what is to be done will be a fulfillment that can only come from this place within the veil. Have faith to enter this place with a true and sincere heart in full assurance of faith.

Each person is moving along on his/her own journey but the end result will be a kindred people, a Bride, who are learning to love their King (and husband), who will more and more take on and reflect His holiness, and who are also learning to love one another as Jesus prayed that we would. There is a beautiful love story unfolding. The Lord is calling you and wooing you into His place.

Easter-April 2007

Posted: 2007-04-03 22:46:28

Easter by  Joanne C. Wolford

As God watched from the Heavens,
The unfolding of Christ's fate.
A multitude of Angels,
Stood poised behind the gate.
They knew God could bind Satan,
In the twinkling of an eye.
And thus remove his burden,
To suffer and to die.
But God knew without Calvary,
Man would forever be.
Lost deep within our human sin,
For all eternity.

Yes, Christ must bear our burdens,
He must pay the price.
Wipe clean the slate for mankind's sin, Our Holy Sacrifice!!
They watched as it unfolded,
They watched the Son of Man.
Die in our place, upon the Cross,
Our Sacrificial Lamb.
The nails were driven through Him,
And they mocked the King of Kings.
But when He cried. "It Is Finished!"
Heaven heard the Angels sing! 

God shook the earth, the curtain split,
He covered up the sun.
All Heaven praised His Glory...
For the battle had been won.
And the tomb now just a resting place,
As His Spirit was set free.
To finish all of God's commands,
To fulfill His prophecy.

Then came that blessed morning,
When the stone was rolled away.
And God revealed Christ's Glory,
That Blessed Easter Day.
The day sin was defeated,
In the resurrected Christ.
For His Blood bought our redemption,
His sacrifice paid the price.
So Thank You Father for your gift,
A gift beyond compare,
And if Christ lives within your heart,
All His Victories you will share!!

Hesed, His Lovingness by David Nelson

Posted: 2007-04-03 22:46:25

HESED,  HIS LOVINGKINDNESS           4-13-07

The Lord is always about what is right, what is good, and what is just. But it is such a blessing to understand also His lovingkindness (hesed in Hebrew). The Lord wants us to know that Hesed is not just about the great love that He has for us but there is great kindness in His love. He wants us to know that He is not just showering us with mercies night and day but that they are tender mercies.

He knows our needs every moment of every day and can provide in an instant just what we need, when we need it. He may test us to the furthest degree but when our hand is in the air with the knife set to come down (like Abraham to Isaac), He can make us hear or see the ram that we need. (Gen 22:14)  He can give us our heart’s desire or what we need at exactly the right time. (Jehovah Jireh)  Also, He is the God who is there. In Ezekiel chapter 48 a city is described and measured out, and the very last verse and word of Ezekiel the prophet is Ezek. 48:35, “It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.” (Jehovah Shammah)  There is a city, He is there. There is a throne, He is there. See that burning bush over there, He is there. See that mountain, He is there. Let us go up to Him, He calls us up to be where He is. “I have prepared a place for you, that where I am there you may be also (with me).”  He is always there for us. He knows our every need, every want, every desire. He is there for us, not for our pleasures 1^st but He wants to be one with us. This pleases Him and we will be fulfilled with all that we have ever longed for.  Also, He wants us to raise a beautiful banner, full of the best colors, that speaks that He is over us. Look at who He is, not at us. See Him! He is over us. He is our banner. His banner over us is love. (Jehovah Nissi, Ex. 17:15)

Ps. 63:3, “Your lovingkindness (hesed) is better than life.”

Ps. 107:43, “Who is wise, and will observe these things (principles), even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.”

Ps. 143:8, “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust.”

Jer. 9:23 & 24, It is not wisdom that we should glory in, we should not glory in might, strength, or riches: “But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”

Jer. 31:3, “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me saying, Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Hos. 2:19, “And I will betroth thee unto me forever, yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness and in judgment and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.”

Ps. 36: 7 & 8, “How excellent, precious, priceless is your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings. These shall be abundantly satisfied, they relish and feast on the abundance of your house, and you cause them to drink (drink their fill) from the river of your delights and pleasures.”

Would you like a friend like this? by David Nelson

Posted: 2007-03-31 11:47:20

3-31-07

Everyone would like a friend like the one I am going to describe.  When you are married, your spouse may be your best friend. Or you might have more than one friend, each one with different qualities so that you like to be with each of them. I’m going to describe a friend that may seem like an ideal and yet many people still long for this kind of friend. 

First of all let me say that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are this kind of friend though we have not fully realized it yet. Also, that the Lord wants each of us to become in character the kind of friend that we long for in the human sense. We should become what we are looking for in a friend. The Lord will be this kind of friend to us and he will allow us to have friends that will fulfill our deepest longings.

The best kind of friend will say things with their mouth and then you will see them do exactly what they said with their mouth. They don’t just talk big things but they do what they say. A good friend talks to you and keeps in contact with you even though you haven’t called or contacted them. A loving friend is interested in how you are feeling and what you are thinking and asks you regularly to express “where you are at” or how things are going (and really wants to know and must know). A real friend doesn’t forget about you as time goes by but can pick up exactly where you left off with just as much love and warmth as ever. A true friend does not want to let much time go by between contacts (they don’t forget you with time but feel more anxious with time the need to reconnect). A true Christian friend will not drop you as their friend “like a hot potato” if they hear you say something controversial or do something that seems strange or different. They will give you the benefit of the doubt. They will say, “Maybe they didn’t mean what I think they meant or maybe what I saw is not really that important to drop our friendship.” If you get cold toward people or cut off people who say or do things that are “different” or if you take offense and push away from a person you are not a true friend. If you are picky about who you want as a friend, you do not have the true character of God. Try to be friends with everyone, as much as it depends on you be at peace with all, owe no man anything, except you owe everyone love. If they are looking for a friend, try to be their friend. As much as you can get close to them (as much as they will let you, do so). If they are seeking your friendship and companionship, give it. This is what the Lord is like. If you break off friendships because you don’t have enough time, because they offended you, because they are different, because your not interested in them, and yet the person was seeking you, sincerely wanted to be your friend, then you do not have fully the character and love of God that God is wanting to instill in you.

So, you might not have time to write letters to everyone or be everyone’s friend but are you willing to be friends with everyone that God gives you strength to be-friend? Are you willing to be friends with everyone God prompts you to write, call, or spend time with? That is what God wants, that is what He is like. Remember, what you say is what you are and what you should do. A good friend calls, writes or approaches even when it seems that the other hasn’t called, written or approached. A true friend is always interested how the other is feeling or doing and seeks to know these things. Time doesn’t dampen the friendship, there is always a warmth and a taking up of where we left off. If too much time has gone by we should become more anxious to re-connect. No offense in words or deeds can cause us to drop a friend but we forgive every negative or at least try to get it out in the open and resolve it. Don’t be picky as to who you be-friend if they want to be with you. You owe every person love and that means wanting to know how they are doing and how they feel. Of course, God will lead you in each detail of who you see and the time spent with them. He will give you the strength when you need it and you will know what you need to do in each situation. But the true character of God is true friendship and loving everyone who seeks your love. Pushing yourself away from people because of the excuses of lack of time, they offended me, they are different, I am not interested in them are not what the Lord is like and neither should we be.

So, how will I be from now on? How does the Lord want me to treat people around me? Can I be a sincere friend to everyone? Here is what to do: What they see and hear from you is what you are. You will be their friend for the long haul not just pretending for the moment. You won’t drop them as friends because of flaws or mistakes. You will forgive them over and over and still stay friends. You won’t be nice till they cross you and then drop them “like a hot potato.” You will be their friend always even if you lose contact for a while. You will miss them and try to contact them if too much time goes by (as the Lord gives you strength). You will always have warmth in your heart towards them and sincerely want to know how they are doing (and not get cold towards them, and not pretend to be all chummy when in your heart you don’t intend to work at being friends). You will try to show love and friendship to as many people as God gives you the strength.

The Lord loves each of us in this way. He welcomes us if we want to be friends with Him. He will never let go of us for flaws or offenses and He wants to be in relationship with us for the long haul. He sometimes talks to us and contacts us when we have let our relationship with Him slide for a while. What He says is what He does. When He says He will be our best friend we can count on it forever. When He says He will do things for us, He will. He is very interested in how we feel and how our day was and wants us to tell Him. If we want to know He will tell us how His day was too. As time goes by He always has great warmth in His heart towards us and He will pick up always where we last left off. And He becomes more “anxious” as time goes by to re-connect with us. If you truly want to be friends with Him He will not turn you away. Should we not be like our Lord towards those around us?

Keep "human kindness" alive! by David Nelson

Posted: 2007-03-31 11:47:19

3-17-07

Keep “human kindness” alive!   (II Tim. 3:3)    3-17-07

The attitudes of anger, sadness, depression, and bitterness are increasing in the world around us.  So much joy, sweetness and goodness are being sucked out of people by the world and even the lukewarm church.  Some people can be so mean, lifeless, rude, without manners or without the milk of human kindness. Where is human kindness, where is Holy Spirit sweetness, life, light and grace?

There used to be an excitement, anticipation, and expectation at the beginning of a good movie (some spark of “this is going to be good!”) OR “Let’s get together and have a spiritual gathering, this is going to be so good!” But so much now is jaded, marred, corrupt on the inside, spoiled, infected, tainted, old, stale, sick, food gone bad so that it is very dangerous to eat—it could cause you to become sick or die. There is so much weak loyalty, no loyalty, guarded loyalty, suspicion, skepticism, cynicism, distrust, every-man-for-himself mentality.

Jesus warned us and the Apostle Paul warned us. In the last days love will grow cold, wickedness will increase, many will experience betrayal, hate, offended and wounded spirits. II Tim. 3:1-4 says, In the last days perilous times shall come, children being disobedient to parents (little natural respect for parents, authorities, elderly, etc.), not thankful, utterly self-centered, ungrateful, without natural (human) affection (callous and inhuman), fierce (mean and angry), hating those who are good, traitors and betrayers, loving pleasures and vain amusements and entertainment.

Matt. 24:4-13 says, many will be deceived by false teachers and false prophets, there will be wars, people against people, famines, diseases, earthquakes in diverse places, (upheaval in nature, harsh weather in diverse places?). This is the beginning of sorrows. You will be hated. And many will be offended (hurt), feel betrayed, turn against each other and away from each other, be separated, put up walls (of offence and defense) between you and others. People will betray one another (speak against one another) and will hate one another and be separated from one another.

In Lk. 23:31 it says (as Jesus was carrying His cross, beaten down and bleeding), Do not weep for me (Jesus said) but weep for yourselves and for your children to come (and the world to come), for if they do this when the branch is green what will it be like or what will they do when the branch is dry (in the last days)? The days are coming (Jesus said) when people will say, Blessed are those with no children. They will begin to say to the mountains, fall on us, cover us. These days will be shortened for the sake of the elect, otherwise, if possible, they too would be deceived, hardened or broken.

As much as you can, by the grace of God every day, keep human kindness alive. Let it go forth from your life as often as you can. Keep the smiles coming as often as you can. Keep believing and flowing with sweetness, love, gentleness, kindness in word, deed, and attitude.

Paul’s final letter, Paul’s final chapter to the church: II Tim. 4:7-22. I have kept the faith (until the end). Please come and visit me Timothy (in prison, I can’t come to you or I would). Demas has forsaken me (he became side-tracked, loving this present world). Please bring my cloak with you (it’s cold).  Verses 16-17 say, No one stood with me, all forsook me, but the Lord stood with me.  Verse 21 says, Please come before winter.  Paul still had Timothy, he had the Lord by his side, and he kept the faith (kept love alive) even though the world around him was getting very dark. 

The promise of God for His remnant is this, even though thick darkness shall cover the earth (in the last days) (Is. 60:1-7), the glory of the Lord will rise upon us and be seen upon us. And others will be drawn to it. So, keep “human kindness” and the Holy Spirit anointing of love alive and radiating out to others.

Prophetic Ministry News- March 2007

Posted: 2007-03-20 19:58:08

• Weekly Prayer, Saturday evenings, 7 p.m.
• Des Moines Ministry Base Church, Sunday evening, 6:15 p.m.

NEW LIFE through JESUS-March

Posted: 2007-03-04 11:47:25