A Call to Repentance
"if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2Chron 7
The Lord is calling us to repentance! In this hour when an entire generation has grown complacent about the things of God, a revelation of the fear of God will be given. Open your eyes; this is now in progress. Shakings, disciplines and judgments are already coming upon the earth. We are bringing them upon ourselves because we have disobeyed the ways of God.
This call to repentance is not a new thing! God has been warning His Church for nearly 3 decades. I can remember standing at a “Washington for Jesus” rally in 1979 or 1980 where hundreds of thousands from around the nation gathered to hear speaker after speaker quote II Chronicles 7:14. I don’t think I can count the number of times I have heard it since then. And although there have been some serious efforts made to call us to repentance over the years it appears that our sins have only multiplied. God is serious about this and has been allowing many troubles in our personal and corporate lives to help get our attention. Can you see what is happening: 9/11, Katrina, the severe drought now occurring in the southeastern United States? These are all wake up calls to a people who have grown complacent, materialistic and sinful. I am talking about the Church, you know… for judgment begins in the house of the Lord. God is calling us to repentance! I am writing this particularly
to those readers in the USA, this applies to peoples around the globe.
Before you stop reading let me say this, I am not a negative, doomsday preacher. I love to speak of God’s mercy and grace because I need it myself. Those who know me would say I have a “mercy” gift, but this is a very serious time… and time is running out. God is calling us to repentance. If we do not repent there will be grievous consequences.
I think it important when speaking of such things to make it very plain that our God is loving and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy… He is also righteous and just. Yes, He loves mercy; nevertheless, throughout history there have been many times when He found it necessary to disciple His people.
It is not uncommon for a child to take his father’s love for granted, testing the boundaries of obedience and pushing his forbearance to the limit. Surely you have seen this in your own family. Then comes a warning, and another a bit more stern, and perhaps yet another because this father is slow to anger. But if the child’s behavior is still not corrected this loving father must administer some form of discipline… reluctantly, but firmly.
I would sometimes find it necessary to discipline my own kids by spanking them. Of course, this hurt them and they would cry; sometimes I would cry too. After administering this punishment I would not push them away, but hold them close to comfort and assure them of my love… while affirming that they must not do this thing again. I think we saw this type of judgment/mercy during Hurricane Katrina. In the midst of unimaginable judgment, the Lord was reaching out through His Church with compassionate works of mercy. He brought judgment and then immediately demonstrated compassionate mercy.
For whatever reason, many pastors and leaders do not warn of the consequences of sin… and shy away from speaking of the fear of the Lord. I think we have made a BIG mistake only teaching and preaching about God’s love and mercy and grace - society is now reaping the fruit of this error. (Remember, throughout history it is the Church who declined first and then society followed.) Please tell of God’s love and mercy but also warn the people and call them to repentance. How tragic to say “peace and prosperity” when God is saying “REPENT!”
It is foolish to think that God does not bring judgments. If you believe like this, you are deceived. Let me say it again. The Word of God is full of His warnings and judgments… sometimes they are intensely severe. Does this mean that God is not LOVE? Of course not! A loving father disciplines, even scourges his favored sons. The Lord’s discipline is usually painful, but it is also motivated by love. His intention is always and only to correct and set one’s feet on the right path… that we may know and love the Lord and fulfill our destiny. Make no mistake about it; God calls us to repentance, He warns us, and if we don’t repent at some point He follows through with discipline… sometimes it is very severe. Why should we suffer the consequences of sin when a merciful God is so willing to forgive, heal and deliver? We must recognize, dear saint, that God is not pleased with us. Most of us are not obeying as we should. Be honest; are you being a witness as you should, giving
sacrificially, pouring your life out for others? And then there are those other things. It is time to repent.
A quick review of world history reveals God’s mercy and long-suffering toward the nations. However, eventually judgment comes to those who refuse to repent: calamity, decline or destruction. This has occurred many times. In fact, more than twenty-five great civilizations have declined or have been completely destroyed during the course of human history. Do you not think that this could happen to us?
You must fear God, beloved, and obey Him. Our nation must fear God. What judgment is stored up for a people who have murdered over forty million babies for the sake of convenience, celebrates homosexuality in her streets and exports our pornography to the world?
In light of this call to repentance we are issuing a call to the Capital Region of New York State for a serious season of Fasting and Prayer. By God’s grace on Jan 25-28 we will be doing a 3 day “Esther Fast” (3 days without food or water). This will be a time of repentance and seeking the Lord. Will you join us? For more information go to:
May God hear our cries, forgive our sins and heal our land.
“Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.” Revelations 15:4
2008 The Year of the Justice of YAHWEH no longer will it be delayed.
Luke 18:7-8 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.
THE JUDGEMENT HAS BEGUN AND THE THINGS HE TOLERATED
IN THE PAST WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN THE FUTURE.
this New Year brings a filling for God’s chosen but not just any filling. This is a year that can also be called a Double Filling of His Agenda, because with a double filling of His agenda brings a double filling of His blessings. During this year according to His agenda it is time for the church to be regenerated, resurrected and truly reconciled! This means it will simply rise up and out of all carnal behaviour and war in the Spirit against the enemy that has boldly stood up repeatedly and attacked the church. In this agenda the body of Christ will begin to obey and honour the Lord without question so that He is pleased and not our flesh. In this year our flesh will suffer greatly but we must not be moved nor allow an inkling of fear to rise up while this beast called the flesh lay down and dies. And the more we feast at the table of the Lord our spirit man will become freer to serve and do what is right by Him. It will not be a struggle as it was in the previous year
to do what the Lord has called us to do. In 2007 we consumed much drink but many picked up cups that were not filled with the right spirit therefore some became intoxicated with that not of the Holy Spirit. But in 2008 we will receive our filling from only the table where the New Wine will be served and drink until our cups are full and running over with Jesus!
Micah 3:8 But truly I [Micah] am full of power, of the Spirit of the Lord, and of justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.
2 Kings 17:13 Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah through all the prophets and all the seers, saying, Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the Law which I commanded your fathers and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.
John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
Amos 8:14 Those who swear by Ashimah or the sin of Samaria and say, By the life of your god [the golden calf], O Dan! and [swear], By the life of the way of [idolatrous] Beersheba, they shall fall and rise no more.
Amos 9:8-9 Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom [of Israel's ten tribes] and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, says the Lord.
For behold, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations and cause it to move to and fro as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least kernel fall upon the earth and be lost [from My sight].
Psalm 50:16-21 But to the wicked, God says: What right have you to recite My statutes or take My covenant or pledge on your lips, Seeing that you hate instruction and correction and cast My words behind you [discarding them]? When you see a thief, you associate with him, and you have taken part with adulterers. You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son. These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was once entirely like you. But [now] I will reprove you and put [the charge] in order before your eyes.
1 John 3:8 The Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
THE JUDAS ALLIANCE
In Luke 22: 2-6 we read, “And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him [Jesus], but they feared the people. Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.”
“So.... he sought opportunity to betray Him.....in the absence of the multitude.” The climax of Judas’ role in the ministry of Jesus reflects a sad reality of what can unfold when the flesh in a single individual wars against the Spirit.
Judas was an insider. But Judas’ loyalties were not with Jesus. Judas was a part of the fanatical party of the Zealots who sought the overthrow of the Romans. Jesus was simply a means to an end in Judas’ personal priorities. Sometime in the course of Jesus’ ministry, Judas became disillusioned with Jesus.
He was a man without honor. He became a rebel. But then a corner was turned when Judas began “confiding” with others of a kindred spirit. But a kindred spirit with a twist --- it wasn’t the Zealots Judas conspired with, but those who were aligned with the Romans --- the oppressors the Zealots sought to overthrow.
The scripture says that the chief priests and captains wanted to kill Jesus, BUT “they feared the people.” Betrayal involves collaboration with others. Judas provided God’s enemies with the means of access to God’s anointed --- which they would never have had otherwise.
The operation of the Judas spirit can only manifest when a betraying alliance is formed. An unholy alliance instigated by an insider. An unholy alliance awash in hypocrisy --- as Judas conspired with those working in support of the very Romans his “kingdom” views sought to overthrow. The Judas alliance has no REAL agenda of its own --- but that of undermining the genuine work of another. It is an alliance driven by disillusionment, confusion and the need for justification that deviously and diabolically seeks to betray the innocent.
New Beginnings, a new Government of the Kingdom of God
Matthew 16:19 Jesus said "I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of God. Whatever you lock on earth will be locked in heaven, and whatever you open on earth will be opened in heaven." The gates of Hell will not prevail against the gatekeepers entrusted with the keys. God Bless, protect, maintain, anoint, strengthen, increase, teach the Gatekeepers, the enemy shall not afflict them.
Dan. 2:25 YHVH rules in the kingdoms of men and he gives it to whosoever he wills.
The servants of satan shall not have authority, dominion.
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Zech 11:3 A voice of the wailing of the (selfish) shepherds, for their glory, the broad pasturage, is laid waste! A voice of the roaring of young lions, for the pride of the Jordan [the jungle or thickets] is ruined!
Zech. 11:17 Woe to the worthless and foolish shepherd who deserts the flock! The sword shall smite his arm and his right eye; his arm (STRENGTH) shall be utterly withered and his right eye utterly blinded.
Numbers 17:8 "Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds"
BEHOLD the rod sprouted, budded, blossomed and bore fruit! Almonds and the blossoms represent new beginnings and resurrection life. When we behold Him, see Him, encounter Him, we're transformed too, from glory to glory! Remember, the rod represented the whole Levi tribe, so His presence brought life and authority not only to Aaron, but also to the extended Levite family. Notice that God didn't say, "Just listen to what I'm going to say," instead, He said, "Behold," in other words, "Watch and see what I do for the House of Levi!" His presence will bring fresh ripe fruit into your household--this is that time! Now let me unpack this phenomenon of God's presence because it is truly exciting!
"My beloved spoke, and said to me: 'rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away!'" (Song of Solomon 2:10-13).
The prophets have been speaking much about this season of new beginnings. Bob Jones refers to it as "the season of the dove," as in Isaiah 11:2, the Spirit of the Lord resting upon us. The "dove company" comprises a people not satisfied with just a little touch from God. They contend for the tangible resting of His presence remaining on them. I know that you want the Lord to come and rest afresh upon you! Did you read that reference from the Song of Solomon? Do you see what happens when the dove's voice is heard "in our land?" Fruit! Fragrant, tender, fresh fruit!
Joy and Favour in the Latter Rain
Ask the Lord for a fresh cloud of His presence that releases the latter rain for your life! "And the light of the king's face is life, and his favor is like a cloud of latter rain" (Proverbs 16:15). His favour releases the buds and blossoms in your life, and it keeps the foxes (thieves) from going after the tender little vines, so that you will produce such fruit! The presence of the Lord is a fruitful place! The light of God's face is life! It's pure joy, man! We as God's people should be HAPPY people! Are you happy or do you go around with a "woe is me" countenance?
I tell you, time in His presence, beholding His face, will cause yours to light up like the nighttime skyline of a great city. "In His presence is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11). Pleasures forever more! His presence is JOY! Would you like a fresh anointing of His joy? It's contagious! The oil of this joyful anointing will get on people! Trust me, with the oil of joy upon you, people will laugh and celebrate as they encounter you. Ha! You'll receive tons of invitations to visit because so many are miserable and need that oil that you have!
The joy of the Lord is our strength!
THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS COMING
That cloud of His presence releases joy and harvest! That's why the prophet says, "Be glad then you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given you the former rain faithfully. And He will cause the rain to come down for you, the former rain and the latter rain in the first months. The threshing floor shall be full of wheat and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil" (Joel 2:23-24).
Harvest in the Latter Rain
If you're born again, you're a child of Zion; so this applies to you, and you can do what Joel says and rejoice in the Lord! We see that the rain releases the harvest. The threshing floors full of wheat symbolize souls and Kingdom harvest.
You get to possess the Kingdom! This latter rain will also release overflow because "the vats shall overflow." Ask the Lord to enlarge your vat, and as He pours in, you can pour out blessings to the world. Out of your belly shall flow RIVERS, not streams, but rivers of living water. We don't want dry riverbeds. We want constant, continuous, bank-to-bank overflow that overflows with new wine and new oil! Wine to make your heart glad and oil to make your face shine (Psalm 104:15-16). We're not talking alcohol here; we're talking partaking of the new wine in the new wineskins--supernat ural wine that gets you drunk in the spiritual. Because you are a king in Christ Jesus, you're invited to drink deeply of the new wine He has for you. Spend time in His presence, drinking in of the new wine, and being drenched with the fresh oil (not yesterday's oil)!
Restoration and Favour
Are there things in your life that need restoration? Not only is this the year of God's favour, but a year of His justice. He will restore to you everything the cankerworm has robbed (Joel 2:26-27). So not only does the cloud of His presence release that fresh anointing of favor--the fresh flow of His latter rain that brings through the vat an enlargement of the overflow for Kingdom harvest--but also restoration of everything the enemy has stolen!
You see, you become the tabernacle of His presence, His latter rain and thus, you can release restoration in your life because of that abiding presence. With the glory of the Lord shining so brightly in you, you can go about the ruined cities and see the desolation of heritages and generations restored (Isaiah 61).
Amos 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David, the fallen hut or booth, and close up its breaches; and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old,
Watchful Praying
By Dave Butts
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful" (Colossians 4:2).
Devotion to prayer was one of the marks of the early Church. In Acts 2:42, Luke lists four areas of devotion that marked the Jerusalem church: Apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. The rest of Acts demonstrates their devotion, as a praying Church breaks out of Judea and embarks upon its mission to the world.
God’s call to His people today is for nothing less than that demonstrated by the first believers. Through dependence upon His power through prayer, we establish His kingdom in the lives of men and women everywhere, seeing Christ’s kingdom advance among the nations.
In Colossians 4:2, Paul’s command for us to be devoted to prayer is sharpened by the phrase, "being watchful." Watchful praying is a more intense, more kingdom-focused type of prayer. All too often our prayers can be a reflection of an unfocused, bland faith. We ask little, expecting little, and what we do ask for is more about our own desires than the purposes and plans of God.
Watchful praying takes effort. It is an aggressive sort of prayer life, recognizing that life is lived out in the midst of a battleground. Watching and praying is a lifestyle focusing on seeing the kingdom of Christ advance and knowing that our prayers are a vital part of what God is doing on planet earth.
To watch and pray first of all means that we watch God. As we draw near in intimacy and see how God is moving, we pick up divine cues from Him as to how we should pray. Scripture speaks much of keeping our eyes on the Lord:
• "O my Strength, I watch for You; You, O God, are my fortress…" (Psalm 59:9).
• "But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me" (Micah 7:7).
• "I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what He will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint" (Habakkuk 2:1).
• "It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back – whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’" (Mark 13:34-37).
God’s Word also tells us to watch what is happening around us, and sometimes even within us. There is to be an awareness of our surroundings and what God might be doing in them, so that we can pray with greater effectiveness. Here are just a few of the Scriptures that point to this way of watching and praying:
"Look at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told" (Hab. 1:5).
• "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" (Matthew 24:42).
• "Then He said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.’ Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.’ Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Could you men not keep watch with Me for one hour?’ He asked Peter. ‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak’" (Matthew 26:38-41).
• "Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them" (Deuteronomy 4:9).
One of the most fascinating aspects of watchful praying is how closely it ties us to the very nature and activity of God Himself. God is a watcher! Again and again in the Bible we read of how He watches over the affairs of both nations and individuals. He calls us to join Him on His watch…to devote ourselves to watch and pray that we might participate with our Lord in His purposes. What an amazing privilege! Carefully consider these Scriptures that point to God on His watch:
• "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you" (Genesis 28:15).
• "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you" (Psalm 32:8).
• "He rules forever by His power, His eyes watch the nations – let not the rebellious rise up against Him" (Psalm 66:7).
• "The LORD will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore" (Psalm 121:7-8).
The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good" (Proverbs 15:3).
today join with a watching God? He is calling His people to such an intimate place with Him that we begin to see some aspects of what He is seeing as He allows us that privilege. Our watching is for the purpose of praying into our world the purposes and plans of God. How amazing is the grace and calling of God that He would grant us the joy and favor of laboring alongside Him through watchful praying!
God Loves Rich Nicholas and P.A.L.S. Our help, salvation, strength, increase of Provision comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and earth. He is our refuge and strength
"a merry heart doeth good like a medicine" Prov 17:22
