The following "word" will bring comfort and support to some (as myself) and turn others completely off ... i post this because it coincides with what i believe i'm also hearing from Holy Spirit (we're in a spiritual transition from one season to another) and not to cause controversy or debate ad-nauseum (i most certainly won't but of course you've got your own free will) ... So if you're blessed by it be blessed, and if you're turned off then reject it ... For as with all "words" and "prophecies" time will reveal ... Amen


THE TERRAIN HAS CHANGED
A Word from the Lord received 31st January, 2005
Cheryl McGrath
http://www.greatsouthland.org/prophecy05.html


A WORD TO THE FORERUNNERS

"If you have run with the footmen and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses?" (Jeremiah 12:5).

The first section of this message is addressed to the Lord's
"footmen", or forerunners. In Old Testament times the footmen
were selected soldiers who ran ahead of the main army in order
to scout out the land and prepare for its arrival.

The church worldwide is currently experiencing a severe season
of transition and change that will ultimately reveal the true Bride
of Christ and expose an antichrist religious system built on the
false foundations of man's pride and intellect. The word "antichrist"
does not mean "anti-Jesus"; it means "anti-anointing". It is a
mindset that despises and persecutes anything or anyone born
of the Spirit of the Living God, who is the Anointing. The Name
Jesus Christ means Jesus the Messiah, (or Yeshua Ha Meshiach),
the ANOINTED ONE (Psalm 2:2; John 1:41; 4:25,26; Lk 4:18, etc).
Let us not be deceived - the antichrist mindset acknowledges
Jesus, but denies His Anointing, thereby exalting flesh over the
Spirit. In the present season, the Lord is busy establishing His
own church as He said He would, even while a false religious
system blindly continues to expand and represent itself as "the
church of Jesus Christ."

Let us understand this time of transitioning is NOT simply about
whether to hold meetings in church buildings or in houses. To
argue in such terms is to diminish the immensity of the Spirit's
present work in the church as the Bride is being called out and
prepared for the final stages of this current age. It is about the
Spirit and the flesh, who are at war (Gal. 5:17). Only those who
live and are ruled by the Spirit of God will discern the nature and
timing of the Spirit's work in the church (1 Cor. 2:14-16).

Many of the Lord's servants, in the wisdom and timing of the
Lord, were called as forerunners in this transitioning process and
have been "running ahead of the army" for some time now, even
years. These are those who the Lord called out of denomination-
alism in order to form an arrowhead for the Spirit's thrust of major
reformation of the "ecclesia", or those who are called to be Christ's
(Rom 1:6). In a spiritual sense, these forerunners have been
scouting the newly emerging landscape, adjusting their vision and
their footsteps to the unfamiliar terrain and gathering necessary
understanding of previously unexplored expressions of "being the
church", as opposed to "going to church."

For a great many of these forerunners the experience of being part
of that "arrowhead" has been a costly one in terms of extreme
loneliness, isolation and unjust accusations of rebellion from those
they once walked with in the Body. However, the lessons they
have learned and the brokenness gained from having endured and
overcome in this place will prove to be of immeasurable benefit to
the Bride in the days to come.

These forerunners are the "nameless, faceless" ones spoken of
by several prophetic voices during the 1990's. For the most part
they have been hidden and crafted by the Lord until His perfect
timing and they will not look like or sound like the former leadership
models the church has come to rely on. Some of these footmen-
forerunners have been scouting ahead for (what seems to them)
a very long time, and their weariness is being compounded by
discouragement and frustration as they wait for the movement of
the main army. For those of you reading this who recognise
yourselves as part of this company, the Lord has a specific word:

He says "the terrain is now changing. This new terrain is no place
for footmen and requires the power of horsemen. How will you
transition to the next stage of what I am doing if your strength has
already run out? Let each one answer for himself and herself. Let
each one seek Me for the answer, for you cannot do such a thing."

As I contemplated this question in prayer, I considered the
weariness and discouragement I had been personally battling
throughout the first weeks of the New Year, and I knew that I did
not have an acceptable answer. I was then given to see that
indeed the only way for the forerunners to keep pace was in the
fullness of Christ and the total emptiness of themselves. This truth
was etched further into me in recent days as I was led into a
deeper understanding of what it means to "love our lives not unto
death." This is not something that we can do by determining to do it.

The strength of "self" as central to all things is so solidly entrenched
in the human heart only the love of Christ Himself can bring each
of us to a place where we love His Life more than we love our own.
It is only then that we truly begin to understand the often repeated
statement: "it's not about me, it's about Him." No matter how
many times we say it, or assent to it's truth, we cannot walk in it
until the power of His Life in us has broken the power of "self-
consciousness", "self-exaltation" and "self-preservation". Then
it is that we can truly witness with Paul "It's no longer I that live,
but Christ......."

As I allowed the Holy Spirit to search my own heart for the answer
the Lord was seeking, I was reminded again of the account of
Elijah in 1 Kings 18:44-46 - "Then it came to pass the seventh
time, that he said "There is a cloud as small as a man's hand,
rising out of the sea!".... the sky became black with clouds and
wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to
Jezreel. Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he
girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel."

Even as the storm clouds dramatically and suddenly rolled in upon
Elijah, so too is the spiritual atmosphere in and over the church
experiencing dramatic and irreversible change. Even those who
have been waiting and praying for such change will be challenged
by the magnitude of the shaking and rearranging the Lord is
determined to bring to His household. Yet, here we see that not
only did Elijah contend with the horses of Ahab, he ran by foot
ahead of them. How? By the Spirit of the Lord alone, for there was
nothing in Elijah's own strength or stature that could enable him.
Horses represent power. There is a way for the footmen to contend
with the challenges of this new terrain and run with the horses
and horsemen, and it is in the power of the Spirit and by no other
means. The Lord is asking if His forerunners are ready to adapt
to this new terrain, which will require a shift in focus.

The Lord continued to speak: "Many of the footmen have run
individually, aware only of their own footsteps, their own path, and
their own goals. But now the terrain changes and they must see
what I see - a company of horsemen riding. And they must see
themselves no more, but see the company, and themselves as
part of that company. They must take in and adjust to the wider view."

If you are a forerunner or part of a forerunner ministry, the message
is to look up, look around, stop what you are doing long enough to
survey the new surroundings. For things are changing and the
isolation many have known in this place is going to pass away.
The Lord wants His forerunners to be ready and alert to the new
season. There is grace and strength for the discouraged and weary,
but the new terrain requires submission to the Spirit and dying to
the fear of man as never before. Stay close! There is no other Rest
but the Lord. He will enable you!

Conclusion

I wish once again to stress that as the Body of Christ moves further
into the transitional process, we must grow beyond merely defining
this transformation in terms of whether to meet in traditional church
buildings or houses. There are believers meeting in houses who are
still captive to the "temple" mentality with its hierarchy and law-
keeping. And there are believers meeting in denominational church
buildings who are free enough to meet with the Body in any physical
setting because they understand that the true church finds unity and
fellowship only in the Spirit.

This transition is about much more than the mechanics of where
the church should come together or how the church should function
corporately. It is about whether to continue compromising with a
flesh-dominated religious system, or abandoning compromise for
the spiritual house of living stones, at any cost. Eventually, every
believer will have to choose one of those two places. May the Lord
give us grace and humility to understand this is all about Him, and
not about us.

"He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather
with Me scatters abroad." (Matt. 12:30)

you know bro rahman, it is good for the prophets of the Lord to know that they have company. God always sends comfort when we need it most whether we realize it or not. It's good to know that we are not crazy and also that we will be called heretics and have all kinds of thngs said and done against us in the service of God. But praise Him for He will hold us up and train us for the work!

_________________
Farai Bamu

Prophecy Quote:
__________________________________________________
For a great many of these forerunners the experience of being part
of that "arrowhead" has been a costly one in terms of extreme
loneliness, isolation and unjust accusations of rebellion from those
they once walked with in the Body. However, the lessons they
have learned and the brokenness gained from having endured and
overcome in this place will prove to be of immeasurable benefit to
the Bride in the days to come.
___________________________________________________

I don't know if I am a forerunner, I don't even know what that is or what that person does, but I sure can relate to this prophecy.

Thanks for sharing it.

Karl

Rahman, I posted the following on a thread Chanin started this morning. I copied and pasted it here because it is so fitting:

"I believe the judgement is against the false church or religion, if you will. Here in North America, there's a huge, I mean huge amount of churches filled with religious people who are going to hell. The proclaim that they are Christian, but they are pharisees. I believe the judgement of God has already been issued to separate the false from the true, and those who do not respond to the call of God to examine themselves, but resist him because of spiritual pride, will be left to their own deception, and great will be that deception. The deception will be so great, that they will think they are doing God a favor when they kill those who oppose them. It will actually be this false church who will persecute the true believers. What may look like a judgement because of our suffering persecution is actually a blessing because Jesus said, "Blessed are you when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Matt 5:11 & 12.
The actual judgement of God will be the leaving of people to their own deception. They will simply be groping around in their nakedness thinking they are rich and fully clothed."

Obviously God is saying the same thing in many places. Love, Dian.

we will really get a sense for how few we are at the moment when the tribulation begins and those who jumped on the Christianity bandwagon for prosperity say "I didn't sign up for this..."

_________________
Farai Bamu

_________________
Mike Compton

Ironman you wrote;
"it is good for the prophets of the Lord to know that they have company. God always sends comfort when we need it most whether we realize it or not. It's good to know that we are not crazy"


Amen ... i get much comfort to keep in mind that even an OT prophet such as Elijah (with the actual God given ability to call down fire from heaven) was succeptible to feeling all by himself to the point that God had to reassure him that he wasn't ... i've often wondered how in the world Elijah could have been afraid of Jezebel in God's so tangible way of communication with him, when we NT prophets have only to rely and react to what we "believe" we are hearing from the still small voice of Holy Spirit, but i digress ... With us it's just one continuous step of faith, often times fretful, after another ...

Even after my Jonah experience there had been times when i've just wanted to throw the towel in regarding my "past season" assignment to my pastor, but our Lord would always speak to me somehow thru either waking me up at exactly 3:10 a.m. to lead me thru some scriptural encouragement to keep on keeping on, or thru a sermon on TV, at church, on SI, or a book, or a dear saint like sister Dian who pm'd me today with this Art Katz teaching which i've got to share ...

Sons and Daughters of God
https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=3330

... or sometimes by just out of the blue filling me up with His presence to tears and ministering to my spirit/mind as you so aptly put it in assurance, "No Rahman you are not crazy ... You are being obedient to My will" ... Oh bless His holy name! ...

You know a little while ago Holy Spirit ministered to me about the life of Joseph, and told me then that yes i was in fact being held as His prisoner in His "prison season" for my life and that i was to be like Paul and Silas in the prosess singing praises to him in that situation instead of my crying, bellyaching and freting about when i'd get out ... God is so amazing in that as soon as i decided to do what Holy Spirit said it was not long after that He sent me a new "word" of encouragement about "staying or going" that i told you about ...

i know i've made a breakthrough! ... And i know that there are things happening in the supernatural right now that are about to shake the very foundations of satan's wicked kingdom, seperating wheat from chaff, sheep from goats, pure gold from fools gold, and the promotion of a great falling away, but more importantly the great congregating of His glorious unspotted Bride set to task of His (i believe) final great harvest via the outpouring of the mother of all Revivals beginning here in America!

Two things have been going over and over and over in my spirit/mind lately that even tho saved as long as i've been seem so brand new to me right now to the point that i speak them out loud in a holy amazement, and they are:

- i'm justified in Christ Jesus ...

- and that faith IS! ...

In this my "new season" the more i go on with God in His continuance of my calling i've concluded that it is definitely Him, and not me, prompting me ever onward, for i certainly wouldn't be choosing on my own to take on the "self" pulverizing brokeness, extra measured faith and prerequisite holiness required to become a deliverer of "thus saith the Lord" (especially) to such "a rebellious house" ... If it was left totally up to my own power i know without a doubt that i'd still be numbered amongst the latter and not the former ... But by His amazing grace Has He determined royal priesthood for a wretch like me ... How can anyone worth their salt not return such love to a God like that! ... Amen

Brother Karl,

i posted my reply to what you stated on this thread over on your "Testimony" thread ... All of us in Christ was once "lost", but now we're "found" ...

What a friend we have in Jesus! ... Amen

Sister Dian ...

So good to see you(r) post! ... :-)

You wrote;
"Obviously God is saying the same thing in many places" ...

Praise the Lord, and thank God for the internet because without it i'd not know as much for where He has me stationed i seem to be the only one who hears/sees what i hear/see Holy Spirit saying/showing to me ...

There was a time when i tried really hard not to be drawn any deeper into what i once secretly delegated as my "weirdness", but my time here on SI and many of (not all) the subsequent "prophecies" and "words" that i've learned that others like myself are hearing from all over the world has been most encouraging to me, and so often a "confirmation" in that these saints are hearing in the spirit the same thing i hear ... There is strength in numbers, for there is no way now to convince me that so many of us can be hearing/seeing/sensing the same thing regarding God's pending movement in the spirit, without His Spirit whispering in our ears what He's hearing from heaven! ...

PS - Our Lord used you to my blessing with the Art Katz sermon ... Man, did i identify! ... Confirmation! ... :knockedout:

Brother Mike you wrote;
"there is nothing that impoverishes our faith quite like prosperity".


Man that is so sad but true ... :-(

A while back in my listening to (Orr) i believe it was, regarding the History of Revival, he said that the thing that stunted the Revival in the US that started in the 1950's but abruptly fizzled, was due to the fact of our booming post WWII economy ... Folk were just to busy seeking after earthly treasures which all of a sudden were so available, so revival didn't have a chance ... Brother Orr also said that in Revival's history any nation that missed two in a row of God's free will offering of Holy Spirit outpouring became destined to what amounts to "reprobation" ...

i agree with you 100%, "Gods' judgement on our economy may be His keenest grace" ...