2009 - A Season of the Fullness of God's Blessing

John Mark Pool:

"We are Entering a Season of the Fullness of God's Blessings"

Joseph - The Fullness of Blessing

"Joseph is a fruitful tree, a fruitful tree beside a fountain. His branches reach over the wall. He has been attacked by archers, who shot at him and harassed him. But his bow remained strong, and his arms were strengthened by the Mighty One of Jacob, the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.

"May the God of your ancestors help you; may the Almighty bless you with the blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the earth beneath, and blessings of the breasts and womb. May the blessings of your ancestors be greater than the blessings of the eternal mountains, reaching to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills. These blessings will fall on the head of Joseph, who is a prince among his brothers." Genesis 49:22-26

The Fullness of Blessing for Joseph is indeed overflowing. What Jacob says of him, is history as well as prophecy. Jacob reminds him of the difficulties and fiery darts of temptations he had formerly struggled through. His faith did not fail, but through his trials he bore all his burdens with firmness, and did not do anything unbecoming. Jacob was well acquainted with this life message, for he had an authority through a conclusion of walking out this reality.

All our strength for resisting temptations and bearing afflictions comes from God; His grace is sufficient. Joseph became the shepherd of Israel - to take care of his father and family; also the stone of Israel - their foundation and strong support. In this, as in many other things, Joseph was a remarkable type from the Good Shepherd and tried Cornerstone of the whole Church of God.

Blessings are promised to Joseph's descendants, typical of the vast and everlasting blessings that come upon the spiritual seed of Christ. Jacob blessed all his sons, but especially Joseph, "who was separated from his brethren." Not only separated in Egypt, but, possessing eminent dignity, and was more devoted to God.

In the days of Joseph, that was a huge blessing to be proliferated through the seed of their ancestors to increase the family of God. As women gave birth to more Israelites, this was viewed as a sign of fruitfulness.

We are entering a season of the fullness of God's blessings as we abandon the pains from poor choices in the past. Let them go, offer them on the altar of grace before God, and feel the refreshing blessings begin to flow again in your life, your restored relationships, and your deepened intimacy with our Father.

Joseph and Jacob - a Message of God's Grace

When Joseph was reunited through famine with his brothers who had sold him into slavery, God was bringing a conclusion to the way human flesh deals with problems. This is one of the best messages of God's grace for His own people that could be cited in the entire Bible. Joseph could have had his brothers executed, yet he displayed overwhelming mercy and became the redeemer for not only his immediate family, but also national Israel.

Jacob was very knowledgeable of God's ability to turn tragedy into triumph, demonstrating that if we will purpose to view God in the process, then this will allow the stones in our paths to become the very "Gates of God!" This year, allow your stones in your path to become your "Bethel of blessings!"

"At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone for a pillow and lay down to sleep. As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from Earth to Heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down on it.

"At the top of the stairway stood the LORD, and he said, 'I am the LORD, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I will give it to you and your descendants.'

"Then Jacob woke up and said, 'Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn't even aware of it.' He was afraid and said, 'What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God - the gateway to Heaven!'" Genesis 28:11-13, 16-17

Jacob went on to pay a great price for the valuable lessons of a pathway from being a trickster to being triumphant!

Joseph was just one such reminder, yet in the end, God turned all things around to bring us the message this year offers:

2009 is the Birth of Your Turnaround!

Joseph was Jacob's favored son. Yosef is the Hebrew translation for Joseph and means "he increases or enlarges or becomes more full." As this time of revelation came to light, that his brothers lied to their father, it lets us know that in 2009, we must let go of any sinful patterns of our past. This will bring a necessary healing of old iniquitous ways to a required conclusion.

Grace is sufficient for all our needs. "And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We cannot move forward without some very important conclusions to past mistakes. This will enable us to walk in the gratitude of grace from our Lord as opposed to wandering in the "wilderness of wants" forever. We must view what God desires as our lifestyle and not succumb to human efforts of "business."

2009 will be a year to "end the strife" of past broken relationships and once again, move forward with your obedience to God in "birthing your destiny." The spirit of travail is dropping on everyone who positions themselves for desperation to birth their prophetic destiny now!

This is a real picture of the year of 2009 - including the tet symbol that represents a new wineskin or even a "fertile womb." Tet is the Hebrew symbol, or letter for the number nine, which symbolizes end, conclusion, fullness of blessings, and evangelist. Another meaning for the number nine is conclusion.

God will now "Joseph" (Yosef) or enlarge our blessings into their fullness. We are in a season of both chronos and kairos times. Our chronos will be a season of fullness if we will begin to allow the spirit of travail to cause the kairos moment of God's orders for new birth to soon occur.

2009 is the time you and your family will be encouraged by God to forget the past, embrace your fullness of blessings and take that message to a very hurting world.

2009 is a Year of Evangelistic Harvest!

The year 2009 will indeed become the beginning of one of the most unprecedented times of harvest this nation and the world has ever experienced. We must be ready for such reaping. Reaping is best for those who have prepared their nets. We must now have our visions of a move of God raised higher. The world around us is experiencing this in a way most Americans have not yet experienced.

Take time to follow the Lord drawing you into a deep hunger for intimacy with Him and the sheep of His pasture. He cares for everyone in His creation. He made us to glorify Him in all the earth. 2009 will be a year that is initiated in many exciting ways. Begin to thank the Lord for all His love and grace and care that He gave us - it's more than we would ever deserve.

2009 will be a Year for Praise and Thanksgiving!

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name." Psalm 100:4

King David appointed Levites to lead in prayer, thanksgiving, and praise in 1 Chronicles 16. At the heart of this chapter is thanksgiving. Beginning in verse seven, David recited his own "psalm of thanks to the LORD.'' The verses following reveal a beautiful song of gratitude to God. True worship of God issues forth from grateful hearts.

A feeling such as bitterness, envy, hostility, and pride disqualifies anyone from genuine worship. Thanksgiving opens up the door of the heart toward God in such a way that the individual is freed for true worship of God. Everywhere in Scripture this spirit of thanksgiving is revealed as vital to our worship experience. Let's exchange a spirit of bitterness for a spirit of thanksgiving!

King David had a lifestyle of one trial after another which could've been his ending at any moment if he ever gave into defeat. However, like the same sinew of faithfulness that Joseph and Jacob possessed, they allowed themselves no room for destruction. Praise and worship before Almighty God became not only a healing salve to their tattered souls, but also a weapon of praise against the wiles of the devil. Yes, incorporate praise as a lethal weapon in our spiritual arsenal.

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give You thanks forever!" Psalm 30:11-12

Be like David and then have a spirit of thanksgiving for saving him from his enemies. "You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of Your name, lead me out of this peril. Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in You alone. I entrust my spirit into Your hand. Rescue me, LORD, for You are a faithful God" (Psalm 31:3-5 emphases added).

Many battles will indeed come our way in the next few years, as God is about to shake our nation as never before, but we will learn in this season of testing to "entrust our spirit into the Lord's hand."

We have had a real year of trials of our faith, yet that is what makes Christians stronger! King David said it this way, in Psalm 34:19, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."

Now is the time to begin drawing into the heart of our Lord and to thank Him for all He has done for us. This is a season in time to decree and press in for you and your family to experience in 2009 and beyond - the Fullness of Blessings!

Always a voice for our Lord,

John Mark Pool
Word to the World Ministries

Email: MarkandSandyPool@aol.com

Website: www.wordtotheworldministries.org

Transported in the Spirit.

Transported in the Spirit.

By Ian Johnson

Transportation in the Spirit is a subject that we talk about in private a bit, but only the brave seem to speak about it in the public arena. Since I was a young Christian I have heard people talking about “Phillips Transport”. & I remember marvelling about the testimony of a missionary who had been transported over a swollen river in some Brazilian jungle. In recent times I have experienced transportation in the spirit, always on the Lords errands. I can’t say wither my whole body has been transported or not, but as time goes by the evidence of my transportations or visions are bearing fruit, more about that later.

Paul wasn’t so sure either if he had been carried away in body or just in Spirit, what he was sure of is that it was real and he wrote about it in

2 Corinthians 12:2:4 I was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether my body was there or just my spirit, I don’t know; only God knows. But I do know that I was caught up into paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be told.

Probably the most often quoted transportation is that of Phillip as found in the book of Acts. It appears that Phillip was transported to another location in the flesh in an instant. In other words his whole body, soul & spirit were transported.

Acts 8:38-40 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.  Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.  But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

EZEKIEL:
Ezekiel was transported in the now and into the future. He was lifted up in the Spirit and in the flesh, as we can see from some of the following scriptures.

Ezek 3:12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a loud rumbling sound behind me. (May the glory of the Lord be praised in his place!) It was the sound of the wings of the living beings as they brushed against each other and the rumbling of their wheels beneath them. The Spirit lifted me up and took me away

Ezek 8:3 He put out what seemed to be a hand and took me by the hair. Then the Spirit lifted me up into the sky and transported me in a vision of God to Jerusalem.

Ezek 11:1
He put out what seemed to be a hand and took me by the hair. Then the Spirit lifted me up into the sky and transported me in a vision of God to Jerusalem.

Ezek 43:5 Then the Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner courtyard, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. And I heard someone speaking to me from within the Temple.

ELIJAH:
We can assume that being transported was a fairly common occurrence for Elijah from the reaction that the prophets had to Elisha when he said that his master had been taken; 2 Kings 2:16-18 They sent out 50 men to look for him saying “Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has taken him to some mountain or perhaps in some valley.

Also when the servant of Ahab came to Elijah he was afraid that Elijah would be transported somewhere and in the following scripture he expressed his fears.

1 Kings 18:11-12 And now you say, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijah is here” ’! And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from you, that the Spirit of the Lord will carry you to a place I do not know; so when I go and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he will kill me. But I your servant have feared the Lord from my youth.

So biblically and historically Transportation in the Spirit has been a part of the inheritance of the Sons and daughters of God. I’m sure that dreams that are Godly and very vivid are also instances of transportation. From what I’ve been able to glean from Church history it seems to have been quite a common thing, especially right up to the reformation. (and after in the life of some Catholic “Mystics”) It seems that while the reformation was necessary and important there may have been an element of throwing the baby out with the bath water, as far as “Mystical” Christian experiences are concerned.

It is a certainty that MARTIN DE PORRES (d. 1639) spent all his Christian life at a Monastery in Lima, Peru; yet, according to reliable witnesses, he was seen at different times in Mexico, China, Japan, Africa, the Philippine Islands and perhaps even in France. The accounts of these Transportations are well authenticated, especially that which took place in Mexico City. A merchant who had resided in Lima and was a good friend of Martin went on business to Mexico City, but before leaving he visited his friend to implore his prayers for a safe journey and success in his business undertakings. Upon his arrival in Mexico he became desperately ill. At the height of his sufferings he asked, "O my God! Why isn't my good friend Brother Martin here to take care of me when I am so desperately ill?" Immediately the Saint was beside him. The sick man, full of questions about the Saint's providential arrival, was told, "I just arrived." After ministering to the merchant, setting the room in order and prescribing a medicinal draught, Martin reassured the merchant that he would soon recover. The saintly Dominican then disappeared as mysteriously as he had arrived. The merchant promptly returned to health, and hoping to thank his benefactor, whom he thought was visiting Mexico City, he tried to locate him. He first visited the Dominican friars at their monastery, but learned that they had not been visited by anyone from Lima. He went to the residence of the Archbishop of Mexico, but without success. After inquiring at hostels and inns he learned that no one could give him information about his friend. It was not until the merchant returned to Lima that he understood what had taken place. After telling his story to the priests of Martins monastery, he learned that Br. Martin had never left Peru.

MARY OF AGREDA (d. 1665), a humble nun who spent forty-six years in the Convent of the Conception in Agreda, Spain. Not only was she transported across Spain and Portugal, but she also crossed an ocean to visit another continent that was known as America. Her final destination was New Mexico and the Indians of an isolated tribe. The event took place in the following manner. One day in the year 1620, while rapt in ecstasy, Maria was transported to New Mexico, where she was commanded by Jesus to teach the Indians. She spoke in her native Spanish, but was nevertheless understood; she, in turn, understood the language of the Indians. Because they did not know her name, the Indians called her the "Lady in Blue" because of the blue mantle she wore over her habit. When she awoke from her ecstasy she found herself in the convent in Agreda. Two reports of a nun teaching the Indians reached Don Francisco Manzoy Zuniga, Archbishop of Mexico. One report was from Agreda's own confessor, Fray Sebastian Marcilla, who contacted the Archbishop to learn if Mary of Agreda's report to him that she had been transported to the Indian Territory was correct. The other report came from missionaries who related how the Indians sought them out under the direction of a Lady in Blue. To determine the truth of these reports the Archbishop assigned Fray Alonzo de Benavides of the Franciscan Order to investigate. Fray Benavides was then the director of the missionaries who laboured from Texas to the Pacific. One day in the year 1629 Fray Benavides was sitting outside the Isleta Mission when a group of fifty Indians from an unknown tribe approached him and asked that he send missionaries to their territory. In his letters to King Philip IV of Spain, Fray Benavides revealed that the Indians had travelled a great distance from a place called Titlas, or Texas, and that they knew where to find the friars from the directions given them by a Lady in Blue who had taught them about Jesus Christ. Two missionaries were sent back with the Indians. These holy men found the Indians well instructed in the Faith and baptized the entire tribe. After searching for eleven years, Fray Benavides finally found the mysterious nun, not in America, but in Spain. On his return to Spain in 1630, he visited the Superior General of his order, Fr. Bernardine of Siena. It was he who told Fray Benavides that the Lady in Blue was Sr. Maria of the convent in Agreda. Realizing that the nun, out of humility, would not reveal her secret to him, she was placed under obedience to tell all she knew about the visits to America. In the presence of her confessor, Fray Benavides questioned her in regard to the various peculiarities of the province in New Mexico. She described the customs of the different tribes of Indians, the nature of the climate and other details. Fray Benavides later wrote that "she convinced me absolutely by describing to me all the things in New Mexico as I have seen them myself, as well as by other details which I shall keep within my soul, although the Nun never left the convent it seemed certain that she had been to New Mexico.

FRANCIS XAVIER (d. 1552) is regarded as one of the Church's most illustrious missionaries. He was born of noble parents and was by nature refined, aristocratic and ambitious. He was for a time professor of philosophy at the University of Paris, where he met St. Ignatius Loyola and became one of that Saint's original seven followers. His missionary career began in 1540, when he journeyed to the East Indies. Within ten years he had made successful visits to Ceylon, India, Malaya and Japan. He performed many miracles and exercised many mystical gifts, including that of transportation. He is reported to have been at several places at the same time preaching to the natives. So carefully witnessed were these transportations and so numerous were they that one biographer admits that the "Transportations which are related in the story of St. Francis Xavier would seem to be of quite ordinary occurrence."
Historical accounts taken from: Mysteries Marvels Miracles by Joan Carroll Cruz

DREAMS & TRANSPORTATION.
Have you ever woken up from a very vivid Godly dream and thought! "Wow that dream was so real I felt as if I were there" I have long believed that perhaps some times in the spirit we are.

An event in the life of a member of our Church and testimony from someone in another country who was also in the dream will bless you greatly. (Because the person who has been saved is in the middle of an Islamic family and in danger I will not include the country or the names)

The man who had the dream, which he said was so vivid he felt like he had been there. He explained that when he was younger he had a friendship with a family who were Muslim, The Children loved him and called him uncle. Almost 20 years have passed since He immigrated to New Zealand and although they have had spasmodic contact by phone or letter, the families have not seen each other in that time.

In the dream the man saw himself standing at the side of the bed of one of the women of the family. She was very sick it was obvious, and in the dream the man shared with her the love of Jesus, and his willingness to heal her. She allowed him to pray for her and in the dream it seems she was healed, and also it seems she came to an understanding of Jesus and the salvation available to her. The dream ended, and the man Awoke thinking about the amazing dream. This was around 5 in the morning. If this was all that occurred you would say that it was an encouraging dream. But what transpired next was the miracle. At 9am the man received an international phone call from the young woman he had seen in the dream. She was healed, bedridden for 8 months and chronically ill for 18 months she was healed! And she said she had no way to explain it but, she had seen the man she called “Uncle” standing at her side in the night and praying for her, she wanted to accept Jesus as her saviour and that was the reason for the phone call. She was able to tell the man exactly what he had said and exactly what had occurred. The Lord has miraculously touched this woman and transformed her life through a Godly man living in another country. Transportation!

Church history seems to be full of transportation in the spirit and such events, but it seems in this day of reason and communication sophistication, that Christians don't seek to allow the Lord to move in such ways. I feel now is the time to move in the power of the supernatural realm to overcome the works of the evil one. If there are barriers of politics and religion stopping us taking the gospel into areas, then we need to start believing for a release of the power of Godly transportations.

As I said in the beginning the instances of transportation I have experienced have been for a Godly purpose, and over a period of time I have observed the fruit of my encounters..

For instance In about July 2006 and again in March 2007 I was taken to Portugal (see link for details http://www.papelim.org.nz/page12.html ) The fruit of which has been the development of a link with a ministry in Portugal which is seeing hundreds come to the Lord. I have been able to speak into that ministry with some authority because I have seen into the future and I have seen the revival that is currently in its infancy in that Land.

Also in July 2006 I was transported into many parts of NZ and saw the purpose of God for different parts of the country. I have seen news items since that time which have confirmed what I saw unfolding nearly two years later.

In June this year I was transported and saw a circle of fire which represented an outbreak of revival in parts of NZ. There were many things shown to me at this time which are currently unfolding. Interestingly the invitations I am getting to minister at the moment are all inside that circle.

There are many other instances which I’m not currently free to speak about and I am not sharing any of this to boost myself or the ministry up, rather it is an encouragement to the Sons & daughters of the Lord to be open to the possibility of being transported, either by Chariot, or dream, or vision or even in body. The enemies of the Lord will only be stopped in their tracks when we start to use the weapons of our warfare to their full extent. As an army, we the sons & daughters of the Lord have weapons which are mighty to the pulling down of strongholds.

If you need to see what you are facing in the spirit transportation is one of your weapons. In a war room situation it’s like stealth recognisance. Even for those who through injury or age can no longer go into the harvest field, this will add a new dimension to your prayers and even in some cases to your evangelistic endeavour. Closed countries need no longer be considered closed and inaccessible places can become accessible.

It’s not about joy rides; it’s all about winning a world for Christ; using Gods weapons.Transportation is a mighty weapon and I am sure the Church in these last hours will see it happening more and more.

IAN JOHNSON
ianjohn@xtra.co.nz
www.papelim.org.nz

2009 - Prophetic Word

Garris Elkins:

"2009 - A Year To Engage The Open Heavens"

In 2008 God accelerated His people into a new place. We have been positioned beneath Heavens that have been opened by the very hand of God. We are now standing under unrestricted heavens. This is the time to order all aspects of our lives to reflect this reality.

As I pondered this word for 2009, I sensed three assignments for the Church as she stands under the open Heavens: Praise it Down, Pray it Down, and Pull it Down.

Praise it Down!

2009 is the year that worship will be experienced in a new dimension. Praise is the music that adorns the stairway of Heaven that connects this earth with the heavenly realms. As we praise, we will be taken into new dimensions of "stairway worship" that will join our voices to the voices of Heaven.

Praise under the open heavens will allow us to hear the sounds of Heaven and bring that sound down upon the earth to displace the sounds of fear and sorrow. The sound of praise will push back darkness and create a new space into which the miraculous works of God will be poured out.

Pray it Down!

2009 is the year to pray down supernatural provision with a greater boldness. Heaven is waiting to hear our petitions. The provision of 2009 is hanging like a swollen water droplet that is about to fall to earth and splash all around. Our prayers will shake loose those drops of promise that will water our communities, our nation and the world.

Pull it Down!

2009 is the year to activate Heaven through unusual prophetic acts. These prophetic acts will declare the intentions of God upon the earth before they become visible in the natural. Individuals and ministries will at first look foolish taking these postures, much like Noah did when he built the ark. Endure the ridicule because the rescue of Heaven is on the way and Heaven's target will be your act of obedience.

As the flood waters rose in the time of Noah, so the flood waters of fear are rising in many hearts. Unusual prophetic acts, that at one time looked ridiculous, will become postures of promise. God is calling the spirit of the prophets to "speak" in a language that will be seen more than it will be heard. This is not a year to be timid. Pull it down! Pull it down! Pull it down!

A Prayer for 2009

Let's Pray: "Father God, I am standing beneath Your open Heavens. You have brought me to this place for a time such as this. Thank You that the open heavens are not affected by a closed earth. I shout out to You, my Jehovah God - 'Here I am. I am ready to engage Your open Heavens!

For 2009, I will praise it down! I will pray it down! I will pull it down, so that Your name is glorified upon the earth! I pray and declare this in the name of Jesus Christ, Your magnificent Son. Amen.'"

Garris Elkins

Living Waters Church

Email: info@livingwatersmedford.org

About Garris Elkins: Garris Elkins is the Senior Leader at Living Waters Church, a Foursquare Church in Medford, Oregon. His ministry is to strengthen and encourage the Church through teaching and prophetic ministry.

Supernatural Experiences are for You!

SUPERNATURAL EXPERIANCES ARE FOR YOU

by Ian Johnson

Before I was a Christian I seemed to have a lot of Spiritual experiences, (over 30 years ago) Most were not good encounters, all designed to hold me in fear of the supernatural realm. There were three beings who hassled me a lot as a Child, they weren’t nice at all. I once saw a huge horse and rider with open eye as he sped just above the ground along the road near our home.

When I became a Christian at the age of 18 all of this stopped, although I loved the moving of the Holy Spirit in my life and I had impressions of the spiritual realm. I didn’t "see" for many years. Mostly I think because my early experience had been negative.

I am greatly indebted to Kathie Walters for encouraging me that the supernatural realm & Angels are part of our inheritance as Sons of the most high God.(Kathie has some excellent teaching material and resources for sale on her website www.goodnews.netministries.org/kathie )

Many have been asking me about "How" to access the supernatural realm. So although I don’t have all the answers, I do have a desire to see all God’s children enjoy the realms of Glory.

Jesus said : "Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn’t have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God." (Mark 10)

A loved Child generally always accepts that Father knows best, and is not afraid as long as the father is there also. This is the kind of Faith our Father delights in. When you, His child puts your total trust in God your Father, and says Daddy as long as you are with me I will be OK.

So step one is accepting that our supernatural Father lives in a supernatural world and wants to give us supernatural gifts. Accepting that, if we ask for a fish he won’t give us a stone. Come as a Child! Or with the faith of a child.

Hunger & thirst for all that the Lord has for us is naturally required, although you can’t force any thing. One thing supernatural Sons have learnt is that Jesus is our Sabbath rest. Hebrews 4:10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

The thing that limits us seeing into the supernatural, more than anything, is our frantic works and striving. God has a word for his Sons. "Chill out"

I’ve learnt that when the Father speaks, that is the time to listen, A good example of this was in the middle of a Jill Austin meeting I was really enjoying. The father said. Go and sit on the floor I want to show you something. Now I could have said, but I’m really enjoying this message and I might miss out on something. But I chose to sit on the floor and listen to the Lord.

Almost instantly I was carried in the spirit into a supernatural visitation. An Angel arrived, and instantly I was high above the clouds, much higher than I have been before you could see the arc of the Earth. I saw thousands, probably millions of chariots and Angels in groups of 3 to perhaps 30 all waiting. I asked "who are these and what are they doing," the Angel said "they wait" "Wait for what" I asked? "Instructions" his reply, "from the Lord" I asked? "No they already have instructions from the Lord; they wait for his people to see and to believe, He is the Lord of the harvest and he has harvesters assigned to instruct the host but most don’t see and don’t believe." "Are all these assigned to the harvest" I said? "Yes all" he said. "Come I need to show you more" I was in a place, on earth or in heaven I do not know. I saw millions all dressed in white and shining like the lightning’s of God, all shouting and praising and full of worship. The angel looked at me knowing my question; "these are the great cloud of witnesses cheering on the saints on earth they know that the saints of earth must command the host."I heard a voice loud and like liquid, "Tell my people I love to bless, and I love to full them with joy. Tell them to open their eyes to see; for they are not alone, I must bring in the harvest. This blessing I am sending out is for harvest, command the host, command the host!"

I could have missed it, if I had been more concerned with frantic learning, than listening to the Lords voice.

Step two then is rest in HIS works, this doesn’t mean you don’t do any thing, it just means we need to learn to do only what the Father asks us to do.

Kathie Walters says, God doesn’t anoint what you do, He anoints what he does! I love that saying, and it makes our walk so much more enjoyable.

Being Led by the Spirit is a natural expression of our supernatural walk. After all, Romans tells us, "Those who are led by the Spirit of God, are the Sons of God"

Recently I was talking to a dear friend who can’t see why seeing in the Spirit is all that important, She couldn’t see what relevance seeing Angels & Chariots, and supernatural signs had to being a Christian in 2007. My response is simple If we are being led by the Spirit as true Sons & Daughters, then we will have Spiritual experiences. On the other hand, if we are being led by Programs and a Greek mentality of excellence, which is really just another word for dead works we wont have spiritual encounters to the same level.

When I look at Church history most of the people who are remembered just wouldn’t cut it, in today's Greek thinking Church.

It requires a change of mindset, from Greek excellence to Hebrew belief in an excellent God, who does excellent things. Like all good Fathers desires to include His Children in his world, leading them into new adventures in the Spirit daily.

Step three is being Led by the Spirit. The more we allow ourselves to be led, the more Natural it seems to be in the Spirit.

For example Peter in Acts 12 was in prison, and an Angel came alongside him and dug him in the ribs and said get up, put your clothes on, and come with me.

So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was really happening. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate to the street, and this opened to them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. Peter finally realized what had happened. "It’s really true!" he said to himself.

Here is a good example of being Led in a very natural way, but he didn’t know if it was a dream or if it was real. I guarantee many of you who read this will say to yourself, I’ve had experiences just like that.

We have to learn to co-operate with our visions, that’s when they go from being dream like, to very vivid.

My first Chariot ride was just like that, Lying on the floor in a meeting I saw an Angel and chariot pull up beside me, not overly clear, but I knew it was there, The Angel said hop in, and I saw myself co-operating with the vision, and in an instant I was in the vision, it was real and clear see the testimony www.papelim.org.nz/page12.html

Like Peter, there is often a moment of wondering, is this real or not. The more we co-operate with the Holy Spirit in our dreams and visions, the more we will walk in the supernatural. But don’t be discouraged if you are not sure, because when Peter had his Acts 12 experience, He had just finished having his Acts 10 experience, which was the vision of the clean & unclean animals, and His call to include the Gentiles.

Its ok to wonder, but don’t let the wondering turn to unbelief. Just keep co-operating with the dream or vision until it is more real and clear.

Be alert to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I have had experiences with Angels and supernatural events, especially concerning other countries and ministries that have caused me to ask the Lord, why he was showing me. His answer has always been the same, He had tried to speak to others but they don’t obey the prompting to come aside.

One example of this is when the Lord showed me his plan for Portugal, I felt the prompting of the Lord to come aside, I obeyed and very quickly I was confronted with the Angel of Portugal, very awesome, the experience is recounted on my website www.papelim.org.nz/page12.html at the bottom of the Chariots testimony.

The language of the bible is full of, Come aside, follow me, Come up here. I’m sure I miss it as well, but I am learning to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit, no matter how inconvenient they may seem at the time.

Many of you will be getting ready to have a break over Christmas, and I know many use this time to seek the Lord. Just remember to be like a Child, rest in His works, be led by the Spirit of God and obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit. It may just open the gate into 2008. As Sons & Daughters soar in the Spirit this holiday season.

IAN JOHNSON. ianjohn@xtra.co.nz www.papelim.org.nz