Poster | Thread | IRONMAN Member
Joined: 2004/6/15 Posts: 1924 IN HEAVENLY PLACES WITH JESUS
| Re: | | bro Rahman you know walkng in the faith that it is God who is speaking to me and dealing with me in spirit seems to get easier with time and with people bearing witness to the spirit, or should I say the spirit in another bearing witness. The other day james and I were praying and God ministered to us in a new way and as we discussed it afterward (as is the case all the time) he may see something in the spirit and not say anything about it but when I bring it up he can relate to it. It's really cool that God would reassure us like this.
at the beginning sometimes I felt as though I was crazy but the more and more God deals with me the more I know it is him at work. Now that is not a thing I can prove to anyone or convince anyone about and so some brethren dismiss that as fantasy. It's all good though, it seems most people thought the prophets were looney anyway :)
You said you can feel things happenning in the spirit that are about to shake up satan's kingdom, I've been shown the enemy's armies on the move, but even so the warrior angels of heaven are also making preparations. the world at this point is largly oblivious to these and other things happenning in the spirit realm, but when they break through into the natural...
Now is the time that we begin to go out and say "thus saith the Lord" I get the feeling that we will know just how the prophets of old felt when they were sent out... _________________ Farai Bamu
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| 2005/4/7 18:20 | Profile | Rahman Member
Joined: 2004/3/24 Posts: 1374
| Re: The Terrain has Changed: A Word to you Lonely Elijahs ... | |
Brother Ironman this is exactly one of the reasons "Terrain" speaks to me so ...
QUOTE: The Lord continued to speak: "[b]Many of the footmen have run individually, aware only of their own footsteps, their own path, and their own goals[/b] . 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[b] the isolation many have known in this place is going to pass away[/b] . 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!
Praise God that He saw fit to make your calling in a "fellowship" of your spiritual peers ... ;-)
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| 2005/4/7 19:55 | Profile | Rahman Member
Joined: 2004/3/24 Posts: 1374
| Re: The Terrain has Changed: A Word to you Lonely Elijahs ... | |
MT PRESENT TESTIMONY: Why "The Terrain has Changed" speaks so much to me ...
As some of you may know our Lord has had me for the past 20 years (most vigorous and ended at the begining of 2004) on what i once concidered an odd assignment to my pastor ... He's used me as both a voice and a scribe in His "thus saith the Lord" to my pastor stating in 1999 that He'd set an open door before our church, and that pastor was to be prepared to lead us thru it at God's appointed time ... Then at the beginning of 2004 to both relay His "word" and "instructions" towards our congregation being prepared to "repentance and holiness" to going thru that open door ... As with all the other messages pastor was polite, but who was i? ... Then in May of 2004, i heard our Lord say in my spirit, "Rahman cease, for you have done all that I require of you in this season ... I will handle it from here" ... i can't begin to tell you how relieved i was about the first part, but became increasingly concerened about the second part" ...
The Lord's word "season" really stuck out in my mind and excited me because to me it meant that another "season" was soon coming ... But what overshadowed my anticipation of something "new" coming (for i was dog tired of the old) was my pondering of what did it mean when God said, "I will handle it from here"? ... That sent me into instant intercession for my pastor who i have affection for, for God had never sent me with a "word" to anyone else in our congregation regarding this ... Then when at the end of 2004 pastor attempted to capsulize into 40 days the 40 week "instruction" of cleansing Holy Spirit had me write out for the taking of the congregation thru "the open door" into the New Year of 2005 i actually became afraid for my pastor ... It was like my pastor got convicted as 2004 began to wind down and did something that reminded me, i don't like to say, of Saul ...
i'd long been crying out to our Lord prior to 2004 that i felt like i was in a box where He had me, imprisoned, at which point just recently He thru His lesson to me concerning Joseph let me know that i was in fact His prisoner, in His prison, and that i could not be released until He deemed the proper time, but in the meanwhile i should be thanking and praising Him like Paul and Silas ... 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" ... A sister (reluctant prophetess) called me about a month later to tell me about an in house prayer meeting and that our Lord had told her that His "word" to me would come forth there ...
Three Saturday's later at 6 p.m. sharp i was the first one there fully expectant to hear from God ... Then after about two hours of corporate prayer out of the mouth of a fellow (reluctant) prophet (brother Ron) i'd never met before this "word" out of Jer.40: 4 & 5 came forth for me ...
"And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go. Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go".
The following is contained in a post to Ironman on 4/1/05, on brother Jeff's "Days Are Evil" concerning this same subject ... i wrote to him ...
"That Monday asking Holy Spirit's leading i did some commentary study on this scriptural passage that just blew my mind ... i've always said that i've never read anywhere in scripture where even thru the direst of circumstances God did not provide for His "spokesman" ... i've read/listened to Jeremiah on a number of occasions but this particular passage had never jumped out at me ... Notice that in such a seemingly God forsaken place as Jerusalem and the lands surrounding it after it's Babylonish devestations God provided the captain of the gaurd to give "victuals and a reward" to the prophet ... Man! ... talk about divine provision of needs ...
i found it amazing that at this point in Jeremiah's life God gave him a free will choice with no judgment from God as to what Jeremiah chose ... Jeremiah apparently had a piece of property in Israel that he could have taken his victuals and reward from the captain of the gaurd to and in essence it seems to me could have become a retired "prophet" ... Jeremiah didn't choose that and neither have i for i'm still to young to be retired and i'd miss the continued type of fellowship with Holy Spirit that my calling affords ...
Jeremiah also could choose to stay with the "left behind" folk he prophesied to, who by my estimation never seemed to be able to "get it" as to what Jeremiah's message was ... That's the lonliness ... That's excatly how i've felt in my prior season of service, particularly so in the past 5 years ... Jeremiah chose to stay with Gadeliah, Gadeliah was killed ... Then somehow those remaining left behind hardheads in Israel got Jeremiah into more difficulty by kidnapping him and taking him to Egypt ... Ughhhhh ... God forgive me if my motive is wrong for my choosing to go with the captain of the gaurd to Babylon has much to do with the fact that i'm weary of ministering to folk whose only response seems to be blank stares (but again He's given me a free will choice w/ no strings) ... Bottom line is i don't want to be retired, but i'm tired of the box i've been in for the past 20 years for now it seems so small and confining, so my only logical, reasonable option of continued service and new spiritual adventure is to move on to Babylon ...
My thinking is that in Babylon as with Daniel, i will at least have spiritual peers (equal fellowship) and contemporaries like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who also "get it" - which is something that i sorely lack at present ... If it were not for SI i'd be totally locked up inside myself as to it's discussion/sharing with fellow saints ... And then also there's is a certain intriguing mystery i feel as to just what being a "spokesman" in Babylon will mean ...
Since recieving that "word" last Saturday i've come to see "the Captain of the guard" as the Holy Spirit, and that i have nothing to fear in Babylon at all because He Himself has promised to look after me ... i've got my spiritual bags packed, i'm ready to go when He says, and do anticipate the next congregate of believers He assigns me to by the river Chebar ...
i think things are about to get even more interesting in this "new season" of His plan for my life ... All i'm waiting to hear from Him now is "Rahman, let's go"! ...
And then WHAM!!! on 4/6/05 He sends me: "THE TERRAIN HAS CHANGED" ... Some may call it coincidence, i'm calling it the difference between the terrain i've "foreran" thus far in my past season to that very different terrain i'm about to encounter in my new ... Praise God!
These are the passages from "terrain" that really spoke to me:
UOTE: 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.
QUOTE: 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."
I See A Hand Sized Cloud (1Kings 18:41-45) ... https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=1887&forum=40#12134
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.
"Lord God by any means necessary, please do whatever you have to do in/to me, and every other saint, to the bringing about of your REVIVAL of your Church, to the honor, glory and good use towards your will being done, and your kingdom coming upon earth, as it already is in heaven ... i believe with all my heart, soul, mind and spirit that the Mother of all Revival's is coming to America, and that it will engulf the globe in the harvesting of souls, and by God if it doesn't in my lifetime it certainly won't be because i didn't excessively believe it, beg it, plead it, and shed tears to Father, Son and Holy Ghost toward its fruition ... Make it rain! ... Amen
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| 2005/4/7 20:08 | Profile | deltadom Member
Joined: 2005/1/6 Posts: 2359 Hemel Hempstead
| Re: | | I sometimes feel like a lonely Elijah _________________ Dominic Shiells
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| 2005/4/7 20:57 | Profile | IRONMAN Member
Joined: 2004/6/15 Posts: 1924 IN HEAVENLY PLACES WITH JESUS
| Re: | | Quote:
Brother Ironman this is exactly one of the reasons "Terrain" speaks to me so ...
and I can bear witness to that! _________________ Farai Bamu
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| 2005/4/7 22:26 | Profile | Rahman Member
Joined: 2004/3/24 Posts: 1374
| Re: Brother Deltadom ... | |
You're as "sparse" in your posts as i am "writative" ... :-P
You wrote; "I sometimes feel like a lonely Elijah"
Why? ... How so? ... Care to elaborate? ...
We "lonely" Elijah types believe in praying for one anothers strength in Christ!
Br. R
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| 2005/4/8 10:06 | Profile |
| Re: Lonely Elijah's really.... | | ...caught my eye. I've probably been living this much longer than I realize. I know it's been at least 6 years that I'm aware of "something going on". But I'm certain that God has been bringing me even unto this day. I don't want you to misunderstand. I am who I am and where I am only by the election and grace of almighty God. I deserve nothing. I could think of so many people that I would assume God would use instead of me. But God just does not think like ordinary folks like me. He does use ordinary folks. For that I am greatful....awed....but very greatful. Just yesterday, I was at a birthday party for a friend of mine. Most of those there were outcasts that have been miraculously saved. This one fellow came up to me and told me that he understood that I had been wounded in church many times. I didn't know this brother from Adam. I told him I did have much scar tissue in between my shoulder blades. He said that he too had been through the same thing and that God had shown him that I had too. Needless to say, we had great fellowship. I was blessed and comforted to know that there are others. Of course I have known for quite some time now that some of the "others" are here. But it was good to meet someone whom you could relate too. I shared with him the pain of the spiritual wound. He understood perfectly. When I finish this post, I'm going to email him the lead message here. I know he will be blessed. I've sought the Lord many times about the wounds and the pains. He comforts me to remind me He understands better than anyone and that nobody has been more wounded than He. I myself have been much of the cause of His suffering. My on infidelity to Him has greived His so very much. Yet, the love that drove Him to Calvary has sustained Faithfulness to me, and so many more like me. It is so incredible that so few have the understanding of this. The apostacy, dear saints, is lost because of deception and self love. As the remnant enters the soon coming tribulation, we will be easily identfied and slaughtered for our faith. Oh God give us strenght to endure to the end. But it is also this same remnant, that will be raised in the first resurrection (Rev 20). And we will rule and rain with Jesus during the millenium. Thank you Jesus. The so called church of this hour is very appealing to the flesh. But we are to come out from among them and be seperate. How can two walk together, except they be agreed? We follow after the Spirit of God. We live in the world, be we are not of the world. The church seeks experience and emotion, the saints of God seek Him. He promised to reward those who diligently seek Him. What kind of reward? Jesus said in John 14:21 that we would be loved by the Father and that Jesus Himself would manifest Himself to us. Apart from salvation, there is no greater thrill than this. There is no joy more thrilling. The message of obedience, piety, and holiness is as foreign to the apostacy, as the ten commandments are to the liberal. This is not shocking or unusual. This is our heritage. Jesus said that they hated Him and they will hate us too. If not, we are simply not His. He said that His sheep know His voice. If you continually suck on the spoiled milk of so called "christian tv", you may be part of the apostacy. You may not be listening to His voice. The mature saint gets meat from the table of the Master, even in the sight of his enemies. That meat is the sure promise, not the uncertainty of emotional hoopla. Finally, the man/woman of God has fellowship with the Father continually. This is abundant life. It's an existance that is impervious to the riches and cares of this world. Our riches are the true riches, fellowship with the Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit. Alleluia and amen. Thank God that we are peculiar. We are also royal. We don't blame difficulty on the devil or some spirit. We thank God in all things Who alone desires that we be remolded back into His image and give Him all the glory. Difficulty and adversity keep us dependent on Him. It also builds strenght and endurance. Thanks be to God. Temptation? Count it all joy. The lost are not tempted. They have no battle within between flesh and spirit. Victory? By faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. For the same One who saved us will also deliver us from ourselves and make us to walk and live an overcoming life....not perfect, but victorious. Our righteousness is in Him. Well, you can probably tell by now that I've just rambled on here with thoughts from my heart. I want you all to know that I'm so glad you're here. I too thank God for the internet, without which it is doubtful that we would be in fellowship. We really would feel isolated then. But even if it comes to isolation, there is One who cannot be seperated from us. He ever is seated at the right hand of the Father and continually makes intercession for us. Blessed be His holy name now and forever amen. |
| 2005/4/10 21:37 | |
| Re: A new season | | Very Good my brother, very good.
I loved and relished every word.
I am glad that you have chosen to go into Babylon that is the best place to go. Even though Babylon is a place of confusion, yet God is a specialist in sorting that out.
I too have lived in a box since day 1. I don't know what it is like to be outside the box, but I am not afraid to step out.
I feel that the LORD has been strengthing my inner man, though I can tell you that I am not doing any great thing in the ways of prayer to bring it on. I feel an assurance a confidence arising within my spirit man that God has everything under control.
I remember in the 90's when I used to receive a word from the LORD almost every week, it was like a river flowing, and then after the 90's it just stopped. When I sought the LORD less then a year ago with prayer and fastings, I received another word and it had nothing to do with what I was seeking, it was the opposite. "he knows our needs before we even pray".
That word was that "I am going to show you things that you do not know. Behold I seperated the light from the darkness, I will do this in your life. The darkness will flee and will not return. I will grant to you the things that you have petitioned me".
Praise the LORD, thanks for that word brother.
Karl |
| 2005/4/10 22:40 | |
| Re: The church I'm leaving behind.... | | ...is one of a string of churches I've left behind. Why? Rejection. As soon it is recognized that there is any measure of anointing on your life, the pastor becomes petrified of you, and turns a cold shoulder to you....a very cold shoulder. I've sat with them in private and shared my heart. I've told them that I did not come to displace anyone. I only wanted to find a gap to fill in the wall. Oh happy day they exclaimed. But when reality set it, it's the same old thing. Isolation. We were fellowshiping socially at home with the piano player and another family that we really enjoyed. The piano player is married to the pastor's daughter. He strongly suggested that we not continue in fellowship about the time I suggested some home worship. He said that others in the church felt left out of our "click". We were just like minded in love of the brethren. It's not a surprise. It is just discouraging. So now, the Lord has placed my wife in a retirement home. We are co-managers. We have about 110 residents here and they are just so hungry for love. The managers are really nice too, baptist. We get along just great. I can hardly wait to see what God has in mind. But I'm not under a pastor. EEEEKKKKK!!!!! It's true. But I am led by the GReat Sheppard. Alleluia. He leads me beside still waters. He lavishes me in green pastors. Goodness and mercy follow me around. Not mine, but His. I don't understand why He could love and want to be in relationship with a wretch like me. I only know that He is there, and He cares for me, irregardless of what I've done, or how I've treated Him. He has never been unfaithful to me and I know He never will. It's His love of this unlovable wretch that convinces me that I am justified by His blood and saved by His unmerite favor. Glory be to God, now and forever more. I'm so very greatful that He has not left me nor forsaken me. Thank You Jesus. When there seems there is no one to love me, I just think of His mercy and grace, and I have a certainty that He loves me. Then, I come on here, and I suddenly find myself being His keyboard operator. That's all I do. I just allow myself to be available to His will and it just flows. No prep. No notes. Just Him. I have nothing to do with it except be here. He quickes my heart on which posts I read, and He places a long there for responses. Then I just start typing. I've learned to trust Him and just let Him have His way. Now believe me, I know that not everything I write is a blessing. But sometimes it is. I go back and read some things my fingers have written some time ago, and I find it hard to believer that my name is at the bottom. It is so far above my ability, knowledge, or strenght. I guess what I'm trying to say is that being available for His use is more important that attempting to make a "splash". I know that is poor venacular. Probably poor spelling too. But I dont' have to be anxious. I guess that is what I'm saying. Sometimes I come here, or other places online, and read. I write nothing. But then, other times, I come in and someone will post something that just "sets me off". The fingers start, and I just keep at it until the stream dries up a little. Then I stop. I try not to question. I just trust Him. I didn't start out in my christian walk to minister to ministers. But I often found myself doing that. Getting back to the topic, I love ministers, I really do. I crave their fellowship. I want to share the excitement and passion of living for Christ with them. The usual pattern is that they will set me down and ask me enough questions to find a "weakness", which isn't very hard. Then they focus on that to attempt to assasinate me and belittle my ministry. All I was sent to do was love them and encourage them. I'm an exhorter to the depths of my soul. I'm not anywhere to tell anyone how to do their ministry. I'm just there to encourage them to take time for God, and He will ignite them with the fire of His will and purpose. Most however just seem to freak out. It breaks my heart. More, it grieves the Spirit of God that lives within me. I have to run. But I look forward to all of you sharing your hearts, His temple. God bless you all. |
| 2005/4/10 23:24 | | Rahman Member
Joined: 2004/3/24 Posts: 1374
| Re: The Terrain has Changed: A Word to you Lonely Elijahs ... | |
Br. Lahry ...
i certainly can identify, no saint who knows the routine would want to be sent as a minister to ministers, but i can tell you that when you hang in there long enough for Holy Spirit to diminish your "self" almost down to an unpercievable level you'll stop taking "rejection" so personal and begin to intercede deeply for your rejectors because it's really not you that's being rejected ... It's not about you, me, or anybody else, it's all about JESUS!
"And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to. And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some ... Mark 12:1-5
You wrote: ...is one of a string of churches I've left behind. Why? Rejection. As soon it is recognized that there is any measure of anointing on your life, the pastor becomes petrified of you, and turns a cold shoulder to you....a very cold shoulder. I've sat with them in private and shared my heart. I've told them that I did not come to displace anyone. I only wanted to find a gap to fill in the wall. Oh happy day they exclaimed. But when reality set it, it's the same old thing. Isolation.
I didn't start out in my christian walk to minister to ministers. But I often found myself doing that. Getting back to the topic, I love ministers, I really do. I crave their fellowship. I want to share the excitement and passion of living for Christ with them. The usual pattern is that they will set me down and ask me enough questions to find a "weakness", which isn't very hard. Then they focus on that to attempt to assasinate me and belittle my ministry. All I was sent to do was love them and encourage them. I'm an exhorter to the depths of my soul. I'm not anywhere to tell anyone how to do their ministry. I'm just there to encourage them to take time for God, and He will ignite them with the fire of His will and purpose. Most however just seem to freak out. It breaks my heart. More, it grieves the Spirit of God that lives within me.
Jeremiah wrote;
"O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten. But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause" ... Jer.20:7-12
Sound familiar? ... The fire shut up in our bones unctions us past ourselves as God's instruments towards whatever purpose He has laid aside for us ... So in all humbleness of heart heed this passage ...
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, 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.5:10-12
Same then ... same now ...
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| 2005/4/11 10:16 | Profile |
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