THE SHAKING

By DN Hoets

Often the way in which we perceive truth is determined by our spiritual state - whether we are babes, children or mature men and women of God. Sometimes we can be mature in God in most areas but be influenced by shepherds in certain areas, resulting in superficial views in certain areas.

For example, the Scripture says:

MATTHEW 18: 3 - 4

Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Some, including pastors, take this to mean that we need to be childish and do the things of a child. They are under the impression that adults are full of inhibitions and need to be free like a child. They attempt - unsuccessfully in most cases I might add - to be childish and to do childish things for God. This is seen as being humble and spiritual.

As one grows in the things of God and, especially, those that have been through the wilderness of God, see things in a different light. They see the 'becoming as little children' as the shift from soulishness or carnality where the soul - mind, will and emotions - predominate to becoming spiritual. 

For example, young believers strive in reading many Christian books, do much studying with their mind,  focus on memorising large portions of Scripture and are soulish to a large extent. As one grows, one reads less and studies less and is more concerned with the Spirit's revelation to their spirit. There may be less knowledge but that which is revealed is of God. 

As bee draws nectar from a flower, so too one learns to hear the Spirit's rhema. One stays with the verse and passage as long as the fragrance and sense of His manifest Presence remains. Only when His Presence wanes do we move on. Often only a few verses are dealt with. This is vastly different from an intellectual study of the word of God where  the mind - soul - predominates and often much Scripture is read and little revelation comes forth.

GOLD 

By DN Hoets

 'I desire gold - PURE GOLD - to fill My temple,' says the Lord  

The work of God in the wilderness brings His light in fullness. In His light, brass is clearly seen as brass and pure gold as pure gold. Brass and gold look similar in poor light and can easily be mistaken as being the same.   

So the work of God in the wilderness is foundational to thoroughly discern what is to remain and what is to be shaken and realigned.   

Solomon's Temple was constructed from PURE gold. In these last days, He says, 'I desire gold - PURE GOLD - to fill My temple.'  

What happens is the molten metal - both of gold and brass and impurities - is heated up by fire. As the fire comes, the temperature rises and the brass and impurities rise to the surface. So we see the separation of the brass and the gold. As the brass and impurities are removed the gold becomes pure. And eventually, the Refiner can look down from heaven and see His face reflected in the gold and know that it is PURE gold.  

The purification differs according to the season of God.  

THE WILDERNESS

Those in the wilderness have had this process take place in their hearts. This is the first wind mentioned in the prophecy of 'Two Winds' by Minor.  

INTO THE CHURCHES

Others who have not been through the wilderness experience hear the word of fire from the prophets of the wilderness. As they come forth from the wilderness and enter churches, the fire comes and brings heat to the saints of God. This may be rather uncomfortable. It results in the separation of gold from brass. Some may try to pour water on the fire and silence those who are called of God. This they do to their own destruction and the fire is essential if we are to have sufficient oil in our lamps in these last days. Remember the parable of the Ten Virgins? Will those who do not respond to the prophets of the wilderness have sufficient oil in their lamps?   

In the Charismatic move, Christians have brought the brass of the world into the temple of the Lord as a substitute for pure gold. What they have is a mixture; it is not pure. Therefore, I can only bless My people so far, because they have substituted brass for gold.

 

PEACE

By DN Hoets

ISAIAH 1: 5b-9

The whole head is sick, And the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even o the
head, There is no soundness in it, The wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, Or soothed with ointment. Your country is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire; Strangers devour your land in your presence; And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, As a hut in a garden of cucumbers, As a besieged city. Unless the Lord of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, We would have become like Sodom, We would have been made like Gomorrah.  

Today, there is no soundness. Sometimes there is an appearance of wholeness but the discerning see that this is not true. Many have entered the wilderness because of this discernment. 

The plan of God in these end times is to bring wholeness again to His body. 

He has needed to take His remnant into the wilderness and to separate them from the rest of His body in order to do His work in their hearts. It is a long process. Many have been in the wilderness of God for twenty to twenty-five years. Presently, some of those from the wilderness have been called by God into churches for a season. This has been happening for between two to five years. The process has been a long slow process. The plan is a process to restore and bring wholeness to His body, and is also the preparation of His bride in these last days.  

HAGGAI  2:   v6-9: 

"For thus says the Lord of Hosts:
Once more (it is a little while) I will SHAKE heaven and earth the sea and dry land;
and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations,
and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the Lord of hosts.
'The silver is Mine, and the GOLD is Mine,' says the Lord of hosts.
The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,'
says the Lord of hosts.
'And in this place I will give PEACE,' says the Lord of hosts.'

First, the glory and manifest Presence of God. Then the peace - the shalom - of God. A wholeness. A soundness.   

Unveiling God's
SPIRITUAL Plan
for South Africa

By DN Hoets

South Africa is unique amongst the nations being the world's largest gold producer; it political situation, too, has been unique with apartheid, sanctions - squeezing the gold - and a shaking leading to a peaceful rainbow nation. Instead of a bitter civil war, God brought our nation into a semblance of peace.

The unfolding of the events in the natural gives us a clue to God's plan for our nation as often in the sovereignty of God the spiritual plan and condition is an extension of the unfolding of natural events. We see this in the churches in Revelation.  

James 5: 1-5

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for
your miseries that are coming upon
you!
Your riches are corrupted, and your
garments are moth-eaten.

Your GOLD and silver are corroded, and
their corrosion will be a witness against you
and will eat your flesh like fire. You have
heaped up treasure in the last days.
Indeed the wages of the labourers who
mowed your fields, which you kept back by
fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers
have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
You have lived on the earth in pleasure
and luxury; you have fattened your hearts
as in a day of slaughter.
You have condemned, you have mur-
dered the just; he does not resist you.

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the
coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits
for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting
patiently for it until it receives the early and
LATTER RAIN.

Consider this article concerning Anglo-American Corporation which controlled most of the gold and minerals in South Africa.

South Africa - Revival is Coming

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BREAKING SATAN'S HOLD OVER AFRICA

By DN Hoets

Central African Deliverance Ministries - Rwanda, Africa - has recently invited me as the guest to minister - bring the prophetic word - at a international pastors and government leaders convention (Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Sudan, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia) and a 3 day gospel crusade in Gitarama Stadium next year (March 16th -24th 2008) in Central Africa. Funding is needed for the event. Please email me or Rev Ruhorimbere Denis (Rwanda) if you feel led to be partners in this by contributing financially or in prayer.

Death has come to Africa from Rwanda. Racism and an attack on a largely Christian group (as in Sudan) led to a genocide in 1994. This occurred as South Africa in 1994 was breaking free from the grip of racism and moving into a non-racial democracy. Only two international reporters were in Rwanda at the time. The focus was on South Africa.

After 800 000 - 1 million people were killed in Rwanda, the conflict spread to their neighbour, the DRC, and we have seen many nations of Africa involved in the Congo wars which are also known as the world war of Africa. Four and half million people have died in these wars. Poverty and destruction has gripped most of Africa.

Marxist/Communist Zimbabwe has also been plagued with the fruits of Marxist rule and a violation of the basic God-given human rights - the right to life, liberty and the ownership of property. Poverty, instability and death are the fruits.

Rwanda has been on the road of recovery since 1994 and is similar to South Africa in its recovery from apartheid.

However, although good government and the upholding of the God-given human rights is essential for Africa, this is only the law. It is not the gospel. It is the setting of bounds and the church has a important role in this regard to bring godly counsel to heads of state to rule nations in a godly manner. Africa has hopefully learned from its mistakes - learning the hard way - and will seek to lead with good governance in the years ahead, providing peace, safety and prosperity for all peoples in Africa and allowing the final harvest to have its fullness in the years ahead.

When one comes to know Jesus Christ, His manifest presence changes our hearts from hearts of stone to hearts of flesh; hearts sensitive to Him and others. The deeper we move into Him, the more sensitive we become. Life becomes more and more precious. We uphold the first human right - the right to life - by the sensitivity which comes to us as we spend our lives lost in His love and Presence. Similarly, the other human rights are fulfilled as we walk in His Presence. The law and government policies which should be based on principles from the Word of God are only for sinners. It is a school teacher pointing us to the gospel. The restoration in Rwanda and South Africa points the way to the need of the coming move of God.

Africa needs God! Africa needs the final tsunami of God's Spirit to reach deeply into the continent, even in the place that brought death to Africa - Rwanda. South Africa also needs revival! Just has Elisha put salt at the source bringing healing to the waters, so, too, the season has come to do so in Africa. Christianity in Africa has been said to be a mile wide but only an inch deep. This needs to change. We need depth.

Is this God's time for Africa?

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GOD’S PLAN FOR SOUTH AFRICA (extract)

18 January 2007

Brother Andrew, in his book, “ Battle for Africa ” , says in his chapter, “One Nation Could Save All of Africa ” :
“I believe that God has a special interest in the survival of the South African nation… I believe in a concept, which might be called ‘regional evangelism’. God has given certain countries the primary responsibility for the evangelising of the region of the world which they occupy… a responsibility that emerges as history progresses. To whom much is given, much is expected… I believe that the evangelisation of Eastern Europe is the special responsibility of Western Europe . The United States is responsible for Central and South America . The burden of reaching Asia falls to Australia and New Zealand . And the continent of Africa is the special spiritual responsibility of South Africa .

“Why? Because South Africa has the tools to reach the entire continent. It has the money, technology, a large number of committed Christians, the freedom and relative political stability. It has everything needed to evangelise the continent of Africa , to equip black Africans in other countries to participate in the process, and to get the job done all the way from the Cape of Good Hope to the Sahara Desert . And I further believe that God will intervene in the course of history to preserve South Africa , if her people will accept her responsibility to evangelise the rest of the continent .”

As Loren Cunningham, founder of the international Youth With a Mission, said when he visited South Africa , “God will save your country if you send your young people to the ends of the earth with the Gospel.”
At the centre of the great Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria is an altar with a Bible recalling the message of the 1820 Settlers to the departing Voortrekkers: That God has placed us at the foot of Africa to spread the light of the Gospel of Christ throughout Africa .

South Africans have a great calling, a great responsibility and are still in the midst of a great conflict. As Lenin said, “Whoever controls the tip of Africa controls the world. We want it for world Communism.

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You have sown much, and bring in little...

By DN Hoets

Sowing seed. The law of seedtime and harvest. Many Scriptures speak of sowing the Word. However, let us sow in the Spirit. Sowing in the flesh has little fruit. Much effort. Little fruit. Frustration. Disappointment. Speaking the Word. Being positive. The power of confession. Being the prophet of your own life and destiny. Sound familiar?

This is not Biblical. It may appear to be biblically correct, but is not. This teaching destroys your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I strongly admonish to break ties with extreme Word-Faith ministries such as the Copelands as they mislead many. This teaching is widespread in the Charismatic movement and is contrary to the coming move of God. Those who hold this teaching will be bypassed in the coming move of God. Take heed!

I admonish with tears as I once, many years ago, was a close follower of this teaching and would still be following this teaching if it were not for the Lord's grace and mercy towards me. Many are walking in the light that they have. Let us be careful how we deal with our brothers and sisters!

Locally, in South Africa, and even in East London, there are prominent ministries who have put forward "The Year of the Open Door" as the prophetic word for 2007. This comes from the prophecy given by Kenneth Copeland for 2007. Read more ... Even though there is nothing "wrong" with this word biblically, it comes from Kenneth Copeland (leader of the Word-Faith Movement - Creflo Dollar, Jerry Savelle, Fred Price and others), a ministry and movement which is very unbalanced and teaching which is contrary to the coming move of God. One should be distancing oneself from such ministries and not embracing their prophetic word and teaching!

Notice the emphasis on man's role in us being co-laborers with God. Self is emphasized. How different is this from the message of the cross in the coming worldwide move of God!

Look at the following verses, first, spiritually. Eating, drinking and being clothed is a type of us feeding on Him, drinking of His Presence and being clothed in His Presence. Notice the dissatisfaction, unfulfillment and void.

The curse on today's Laodicean church is given in HAGGAI 1:6:

Now therefore, thus says the Lord of
hosts: "Consider your ways!

You have sown much, and bring in
little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with
drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is
warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with
holes."

The way out - HAGGAI 1:7-8:

Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider your ways!
Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the Lord.

Spend time alone with Jesus Christ. Prayer. Go up to the mountains. Bring wood - solid wood not melamine - which comes from spending time in His Presence. However, there also needs a shift in the foundations. More that simply spending more time in prayer. The foundations need to be changed!

Is "Obey God's Word" preaching helpful?

Many ministries are Bible-thumping hear, believe and obey ministries. However, they don't lead you into a deep personal walk with Jesus Christ which is essential to truly obeying and fulfilling the Word of God.

The gospel is not simply one of hearing, believing and obeying precepts. Rather it is one of coming to know Jesus Christ and to grow closer to Him, knowing His Presence, His Voice, His Nature and His Heartbeat. A gospel such as this is misleading. It is more Old Covenant than that of the New Covenant.

Again, let us be careful in dealing with this as they are often walking in the light that they have.

Contamination

Jesus my Source

Today's church has the Word of God as its source. Tomorrow's church has Jesus Christ - a deep personal fellowship - as its source. This shift needs to take place. Few understand it. Most are Word people and rely on the Word of God and not primarily resting in Jesus Christ and abiding in Him - especially those in the Word-Faith Movement. Many no longer truly understand or know the continual experience of abiding in Him!

Remember we worship the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and not the Father, the Son and the Holy Scriptures!

JOHN 6:39-42

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. I do not receive honour from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.

Consider

Haggai 2:11-14

Thus says the Lord of Hosts: 'Now, ask the priests concerning the law, saying,
If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?' Then the priests answered and said, 'No.' [HOLINESS IS NOT INFECTIOUS]

And Haggai said, if one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?'So the priests answered and said, 'It shall be unclean.' [UNHOLINESS IS INFECTIOUS]

Then Haggai answered and said, 'So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,' says the Lord, 'and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.'

Keep away from religious systems and ministries!

Similarity between Johnathon Edward's preparation and God's preparation for the Coming Tsunami of God

Those prepared by the Lord for the coming worldwide move of God have gone through exactly the same transformation through His sweetness as did Jonathon Edwards.

Revival is essentially a spirit of prayer that rests on a person at all times. The Holy Spirit reveals the Father Heart of God - especially His great burden for lost souls. The spirit of prayer, or soul travail, begins to rest on a person with such magnitude and frequency that he can easily say, "I pray in the Spirit at all times."

In such a state, God will sanctify the person entirely - body, soul and spirit - so that he comprehends and experiences the holiness of God. The fullness of Christ then begins to overflow the person; God, who is infinite, goes on to sanctify everything around Him, using the individual saint as a channel of His love.

Extract from The Forerunner

The Mixture, Repentance and Separation

By DN Hoets

In the Book of Haggai, there is a passage which stands out.

Haggai 2:11-14

Thus says the Lord of Hosts: 'Now, ask the priests concerning the law, saying,
If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?' Then the priests answered and said, 'No.' [HOLINESS IS NOT INFECTIOUS]

And Haggai said, if one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?'So the priests answered and said, 'It shall be unclean.' [UNHOLINESS IS INFECTIOUS]

Then Haggai answered and said, 'So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,' says the Lord, 'and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.'

The remnant had come from Babylon to build the Temple. Not all the Israelites came from Babylon. Many stayed in Babylon. Only a remnant returned. A narrow and hard road to take. It was much easier to enjoy the comforts of Babylon. Similarly, many today are in Laodicea. A remnant - few in number - have heeded the Master's call - the Laodicean call - in this late hour.

Even amongst those of the remnant there is a MIXTURE. Some have kept the old foundations where there is much of self (Haggai 1:6) and the world; and have simply embraced the vision of the coming move of God. The blessing of God will NOT rest on the mixture. Every work of their hands is unclean and what they offer is unclean.

Repentance is needed. Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand! Different foundations! Uproot the foundations! A separation is needed.

Ezra 4: 1-3

Now when the adversaries of Judah and
Benjamin heard that the descendants of
the captivity were building the temple of the
Lord God of Israel,
they came to Zerubbabel and the heads
of the fathers' houses, and said to them, ''Let
us build with you, for we seek your God as
you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since
the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who
brought us here.''
But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest
of the heads of the fathers' houses of Israel
said to them, ''You may do nothing with us to
build a house for our God; but we alone will
build to the Lord God of Israel, as King
Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.''

Only, once the new foundations are established, will His blessing be present!

Note: This is why the blessing of God has been lacking often. Even the prophetic movement is a mixture. [See The Coming Tsunami]

The Prophet, Evangelist and Apostle

By DN Hoets

In the Book of Haggai, we see the prophet, evangelist and apostle.

The prophet Haggai 1: 2-6

Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying:
'This people says, 'The time has not come,
the time that the Lord's house should be built.''

Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in
your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in
ruins?'

Now therefore, thus says the Lord of
hosts: "Consider your ways!

You have sown much, and bring in
little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with
drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is
warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with
holes."

The prophet speaks of the restoration of the prophetic movement that has arisen during the past few years. Unfortunately, there has been a mixture in the prophetic movement.

The prophet is concerned with God's times and seasons. Many call themselves prophets. However, the true prophets will always rebuke that which is of the flesh and own effort. The true prophet will NOT proclaim that all roads are acceptable in this hour. On the contrary, he will proclaim that the way is narrow and the foundations different from the mainstream; charismatics included. The true prophet points the way and directs, 'Go up into the mountains and bring wood and build the temple...' He also goes a little further, 'Stay and linger in the mountains that you bring solid wood...'

The evangelist Haggai 2:7 1:6

I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations (Jesus)...

You have sown much, and bring in
little...

The end-time move of God brings in the final harvest of the church age. Evangelists will have a key role in this hour. However, those raised up by the Lord over the past decades will bring in much. Those who have not been obedient to the Laodicean call of the Spirit will have sown much, and bring in little.

Notice that in Haggai 2, verse 6 (evangelist) and verse 8 (apostle) are found in the context of the coming glory. Verse 7 and verse 9 speak of the coming glory. Often the apostle will do the work of an evangelist and also bring the prophetic word.

Desire of All Nations

In both Jewish and Christian tradition, the phrase “the desire of all nations” (Hag. 2:7) has been generally interpreted as a messianic title of Christ.

The apostle Haggai 2:8

'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,'
says the Lord of hosts.

The final restoration at the end of the age is the restoration of the apostolic movement. Many today claim to be apostles. However, I speak of those whom the Lord has raised up and their central purpose is to take the church from where they are today into the coming glory of God.

True apostles will clearly distinguish between the gold - fine pure gold - and the brass. They will be instrumental in leading the way in the coming move of God.

'Be strong', Do not fear! (Verse 4-5)

Some called may 'fear' as the time draws near as they are weak in themselves - poor in spirit. However, as the enemy comes in like a flood in the great shaking, the Spirit of the Lord will cause those called and prepared to BECOME STRONG through His Presence in the coming season. They will rise up as evangelists and apostles in the coming hour.

The Prophet Zechariah, who ministered with Haggai, also emphasized the importance of trusting the Holy Spirit for the enablement needed to do God’s will: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (Zech. 4:6). A.W. Tozer once said, “If God were to take the Holy Spirit out of this world, much of what we’re doing in our churches would go right on, and nobody would know the difference.” What an indictment!

The work (Verse 4)

The work is to 'Go up to the mountains and bring wood...' The mountains speaks of the exalted place in Him - the secret place - and the wood is the revelation coming from His Presence. This revelation births the coming apostolic movement. Dead works, works of the flesh and church works done in our own strength does not find a place here. They are left at the foot of the cross.

“To work is to pray,” said St. Augustine.

The Signet Ring

By DN Hoets

'In that day,' says the Lord of hosts. 'I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,' says the Lord, 'and I will make you as a SIGNET RING; for I have chosen you,' says the Lord of hosts. [HAGGAI 2:23]

The blueprint of the final hour has been given in Haggai. The shaking began in the natural and has proceeded into the economic storm. It seems to have reached its bottom according to Wall Street. Soon, very soon the final tsunami of the Holy Spirit will break out. Authority is being given to those who have been chosen, called, separated and prepared in the wilderness for this final hour. They know who they are and the calling upon their lives. They have waited for a long, long time for His promises to be fulfilled. His plan will soon unfold. Remember: no man or woman will start the final move. God will initiate it Himself.

God bless.

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SOUTH AFRICA, ISRAEL and the US

By DN Hoets

President Mbeki, South Africa resigns after judges ruling.

"Olmert, 62, who took office after Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke and fell into a coma in January 2006, resigned two days ago in the face of police recommendations that he be indicted for bribery and other charges. He denies wrongdoing and will remain as caretaker premier until a new government is formed."

US elections on 4th November 2008. More...

It is significant, indicating a change not only in the natural, but in the spiritual. Authority, denoted by the signet ring, is being given to those whom God has chosen to lead the coming worldwide revival.

Consider Haggai. Consider the date - 24th September. It is very significant.

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GOD's PROMOTION DAY

-Clara Iverson.    

Don't think that God has forgotten you! God is setting everything according to His sovereign plan and timing. When everything fits together, shall he not act? For the past days, He is just trying your heart, to see if you love Him more than 'all these'.

If fame, acceptance from men, popularity, titles and positions are no longer hindrances to you, He then can PROMOTE you.

This day is coming when the 'chief butler' will REMEMBER you and bring you up to see 'Pharaoh'. This day is coming when you have to quickly shave and change your clothing. (Genesis 41:14)

This day is coming when the foundation work is completed in you.
This foundation is built upon Christ and you don't need men's honour any more. You can bring glory fo God and say, 'It's NOT me, but God will give you Pharaoh an answer of peace.' (Genesis 41:16)

This day is coming when people around you say,'Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?' .....

This day is coming when you are being lifted up to sit next to Pharaoh, being put on the signet ring, clothed in garments of fine linen and a gold chain is put around your neck.

Those sufferings are worthy!

As you partake Christ's sufferings, you will be transformed into His image.

God is good to you and His thoughts towards you are not evil. He did have a hope and a future for you.

The END is always better than the BEGINNING ....

Children of God, can you hear what the Lord is saying?

He is saying,'I HAVE HEARD your prayer, I HAVE SEEN your tears, surely I will.....'(Isaiah 38:5)

Children of God, all the promises are established by God, not men, and God will SHORTLY bring it to pass. (Genesis 41:32)....

You will remember the dreams which you had dreamt about.
- I am addressing those who have callings like Joseph and are waiting to be promoted by God and be brought in to see the King.

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BE PATIENT for ISAAC
OR SUFFER your ISHMAEL

-by Russell Durose

The promises of the Lord have a certain longevity that tries anyone's patience.

The Lord gave me this Word just now, as I have just walked in the door from a very full day, of challenges and grace challenges that come with discipling a life in a troublesome life. The Lord is calling us to wait for Isaac. Are you willing? Or are you wanting to produce what is easy and natural? You see when our patience level reaches a breaking point, we must at that point quieten ourselves, then hold ourselves, until we dominate our flesh. It is here where our battles lie...the impatience of our humanity abort many divine processes.

Between the promise of Isaac and his birth, I estimate that 25 years went by. But in between there was a great temptation that came and manifested itself. The answer which was of divine promised is polluted by a deceitful thought you must collaborate with God...YOU MUST MAKE THAT FIRST MOVE, YOU MUST DO SOMETHING...this was the greatest error ever made, and today we live with its costly consequences.

Rather, let us compare for a moment two women...Sarah and Hannah...Sarah was the initiator of impatience ...Hannah was the sufferer for the cause of the promise. For Hannah, the shame and the plaguing of that which was natural, but closed to her, for a season, yet she continued on until she surrendered herself, and God granted her desire. But her wait for the seed promised, took prayers, crying, fastings, torture, yet the benefits are felt today...
because Samuel brought in the reign of Saul, through anointing, and then David through anointing.

Let us transport this to your ministry dream...are you willing to wait for your Isaac? Or will you "help God out?" Ishmael spells trouble and strife. He mocks the promise of God...He wars against it. I am certain that in our churches there are so called Ishmaels, who were never truly born again, but go through the religious motions. Yet they cause so much strife. This strife even creates wars, between tribes, creates states and divides worlds. So what does it cost - our impatience? It can cost our very life.

~SOURCE:  www.prayer-revival-initiative.com

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THE OTHER SIDE of "THE DAYS of ELIJAH"
-by Chris Anderson.

Something doesn't add up.

"These are the days of Elijah," we've heard it sung.

"These are the days of Elijah," we've heard it preached.

"These are the days of Elijah," we've heard it prophesied.

But then I look around. "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" I ask.
How is it that for all this singing, preaching and prophesying about "Elijah," there's next to nothing to be seen of the real spirit of Elijah in the land? There are some pretenders banging a few tinkling cymbals claiming to represent "Elijah. " But where is the true spirit of Elijah-confronting kings, calling down fire, raising the dead to life?

As I mused on this-which I have often-the Lord used some writings of a respected prophetic mentor (long since gone to paradise) to remind me of the "other side" of the days of Elijah.

It's true that every time we hear the name "Elijah" we immediately envision all the miraculous feats that marked his ministry. So this is naturally what we have been expecting in fulfillment of these prophecies. But when we read the entire story of Elijah, we see that there was more to his arrival than the obvious. Of special interest is the part of the tale from I Kings 17:2-5:

The word of the Lord came to Elijah: "Go away from here, turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan. You may drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to supply you with food there." So he went and did according to the word of the Lord.

This "hiding away" of Elijah is of great significance. It comes from the very opening of the account of his ministry, long before a single miracle or power-confrontation is ever recorded. The context is this:

Elijah arrives on the scene to make a declaration of drought to king Ahab, and no sooner does he appear than he "disappears."
He has come, and yet he just as quickly is "gone." He knows where he is. But nobody else does.

This "other" part of the story of Elijah-the "hidden" part-can go a long way to encourage those of us who have been hearing and believing in the manifestation of the end time Elijah spirit, only to see everything but! Let's try to put some perspective on this. In the process, we'll see that the days of Elijah are indeed here after all as predicted.

For decades, people with Elijah-class hearts have been sitting in the backs of churches ruled by Ahabs and Jezebels. Despite their best efforts to remain at peace and to hope for repentance and change, they have been eventually precipitated by the Spirit into confrontations where they have ended having to declare the departure of God's glory ("Ichabod") to the leaders of these ministries. This emergence and precipitation of believers to such declarations is in fact the first fulfillment of the prophecies of the return of the days of Elijah.

Note more carefully the declarations and their effect. These "Elijah"
believers and their declarations have not made the headlines of the Christian tabloids. Usually they are known only within the church they've been led into confronting. And their departures are often a hush-hush affair. But their story has been multiplied thousand-fold throughout the body of Christ. Warning after warning and declaration after declaration of the departure of the Spirit has been made by Elijahs to Ahab pastors and leaders of ministries of all sizes.

When translated into prophetic terms, the essence of these declarations is that "there will be no more rain" in this church.
Again, this has been prophesied multiplied times over in thousands of churches by innumerable Elijahs of all kinds-young ones, old ones; men, women; pew sitters, church staff; new comers, old comers - none of whom know the others across the body of Christ.
And what we are seeing now in the body-wide church is a veritable death and famine in fulfillment of these multiplied declarations.

What is the consequence for the Elijahs? They have been of course ushered straight out the doors of the churches. They are no longer to be found or heard. They are in fact, hidden away. This hiding is itself part of the pattern in early fulfillment of the days of Elijah. On the surface, it appears that the Elijahs have been "kicked out." But from the Spirit's perspective they have in fact been led to hide themselves away.

Not that the Elijahs have understood this. They haven't. They usually have not heard a voice saying, "go hide thyself by the brook Cherith." But in reality, that is what the Spirit has mandated - even against the attempts of the Elijahs to be profitably engaged with the body of Christ. Even in spite of themselves, the Lord has hidden them away.

Meanwhile the death continues. The real kingdom word of God and the power of the Spirit are hardly to be found in any western church today. The rain is indeed stopped, just as the Elijahs have declared it would. The land is utterly parched. There's hardly a morsel of real bread to feed on anywhere. Lots of show and theater.
Not much else. The prophecy has come true: a "famine for hearing the word of God."

Not only this, but the famine in the church is affecting the surrounding culture and governments. The knowledge of God is disappearing from the face of the culture. It's getting so bad that laws are being passed under various guises to effectively prohibit the preaching of the gospel - in supposedly "Christian" nations.
The Elijahs hidden away and seeing this, like John the Baptist confusedly ask, "Where is the Lord of God of Elijah?" They can't understand why they aren't being released to confront the society and the governments of this world with the bold claims of Christ - why their "hands are tied" as if in prison, having to stand by and watch society totally kick out our God from its midst, and possibly even eventually kill them all like sitting ducks.

As one who lives in the "east" of his country as Elijah was sent to, I have had larger cause to meditate on this story. But here is what God wants me to understand, and I pass on to you. A time is coming when we will indeed be released to confront the Ahab churches and the godless society they have allowed to fester under their watch. There will be a culture wide Mount Carmel showdown. There will be some kind of repentance, false prophets will be slain, and the true rain will indeed fall that has been prophesied. (Don't ask me when or how). Meanwhile however, other things will still happen before this:

1)   The Elijah movement will still be fed and watered by the Spirit
in hiding. We will still find spiritual nourishment and can pass it on to one another, despite the surrounding famine.

2)   The "prophets of Baal" serving a false "culture-intoxicated
Jesus" will still keep "rain dancing" in the theater churches, singing meaningless songs about "revival" that they don't really understand and ultimately don't really want. Such rain dancing will manifest itself in earnest at the Mt. Carmel confrontation to come.

3)   Before all this happens, the Elijahs will be paired with a
"widow people" in "Zarephath" where together they will be mutually supplied by the Lord (the "meal" of the Word and "oil" of the Spirit will not fail here) until the confrontation back in "Israel" is ready.
Zarephath was outside of Israel. This means that the present hidden Elijah movement will make some kind of Spirit-directed encounter and form some kind of alliance with a divinely "prepared"
yet equally unknowledgeable people outside the church as we know it. Watch for this.

~SOURCE:  firstloveministry.com

____________________________________________________________________

The ELIJAHS OF GOD will ARISE

-Extracts from "Placebo" by Howard Pittman.

There are at least three men of God in history who have  walked under  the  mantle  and  anointing of the great prophet Elijah:
Elijah  himself, the  prophet Elisha, and also John the Baptist (who came 'preparing the way of the Lord' at His first coming).
Now that we are approaching Christ's return, the  Bible  states that  we  can  once  again expect God to raise up such bold and anointed  messengers who will go forth "in the spirit and power of Elijah" just prior to His return.

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before  the  coming of  the  great  and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of  the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse" (Mal 4:5-6). Jesus Himself stated that, "Elijah comes, and will restore all things..." (Mt 17:11). The task  of  these end-times Elijah ministries is to "prepare the way of the Lord"
and to "make straight a highway for our God"  (Is 40:3).  These are to be the spiritually 'violent' new ministries that God has been  speaking  about over the last few years or so. What glor- ious days these will be, when such ministries arise  to  defend the name and the honour of the Most High once again.

The  following  is an extract from the book "Placebo" by Howard Pittman. Mr Pittman was a Baptist preacher who,  on  3  August, 1979,  went into a near-death coma following the sudden rupture of the main trunk artery in his body cavity and the collapse of his veins through blood-loss. He was brought back from the dead twice by the doctors who were working on him in  the  hospital, and  it  was during this period that his spirit was transported into the heavenly realm and he was shown  much  about  his  own life,  the state of the church, and significant events that lay in the immediate future by God.

One of the startling facts that God first placed before him was that his self-righteous life of  Christian  work,  passing  out tracts, etc, was an 'abomination' in God's sight, as it was all done  from  selfish,  pharisaical  motives. This was a complete shock to Howard (as you can imagine) but he  realized  that  it was  absolutely  true.  Another thing that God told him to tell others when he got back to earth was: "For those who call them- selves Christians, this is the Laodicean Church Age in which we live.  A  high  majority  of so-called Christians are, in fact, living a deceived life. They talk Jesus and play church, but do not live it... Because of this our Lord said He would spue them out of His mouth. The  Bible  describes  the  condition of this type Christian in Revelation 3:14-22."

God  also  spoke  to  him about the coming 'Elijah' ministries.
He was to share with others that, "God is now in the process of recruiting an army with which He will shake this old world  one more  time.  By  working through His soldiers, God will produce great miracles that will shake the established hierarchy of the so-called organized religion that is in this world today. These soldiers that God is now recruiting will demonstrate the  power of God to a greater extent than did the disciples in the Pente- costal age. Some will be even greater demonstrations than  that of  Elijah... God's recruitment for this army has been going on for some time. Some of these soldiers have been brought up to a certain level of faith and placed in a "holding" position where they shall remain until He has brought all the new ones  up  to that  level. Remember, the Bible says that He is the author and finisher of our faith. It is going to be through the  faith  of the soldiers that God will demonstrate His great power. As  was stated  earlier,  for a long time He has been recruiting a few.

Now the recruitment has begun in earnest because God  is  about to perform the great miracles through His army that He promised us He would do in the Bible. John the Baptist brought the spir- it of Elijah into this world and he did not even  know  he  had it.  He denied it, but Jesus confessed that it was so. The pur- pose of that spirit was to  make  straight  the  paths  of  the coming of the Lord.

"I  declare  unto  you  that you the soldiers who are being re- cruited now to join with those who have been recruited  in  the past,  will bring to this world the spirit of Elijah. Again the purpose is to make straight the paths of the coming of the Lord for He is about to come again! You that sleep, now is the  time to  awaken!  You  that  have been in that "holding" pattern for years, look up! You're about to be put to work! To the new  re- cruit,  I  would  say  study  the Bible diligently and seek the Lord's will in every aspect of your life.  Time  is  short  for your spiritual training, but you will be used in ways you never thought possible if you seek the Lord FIRST in your life.

"You  who  are  to be chosen will be the soldiers of the latter rain as referred to in scripture. This recruitment is  for  the end  of the great revival spoken of by the prophet Joel and be- gun on the day of Pentecost. The end-time of that great revival is the beginning of the latter rain, so you must  prepare  for the battle with the discipline of a professional soldier.

"Know this also. There shall be a time or process of  "culling"
those  who  are not qualified to be a member of this "Gideon's"
army. Just as in Gideon's army in the Bible, only a select  few will  be  fit for service in the army of Christian soldiers the Lord will use in the battle of the latter rain."

~"Placebo" by Howard Pittman - published in the early 1980's.

THE HOUR OF THE WAILING SHEPHERD

By DN Hoets

ZECHARIAH 11:1-3

Open your doors, O Lebanon,

That fire may devour your cedars.

Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has

fallen,

Because the mighty trees are ruined.

Wail, O oaks of Bashan,

For the thick forest has come down.

There is THE SOUND OF WAILING 

SHEPHERDS!

For their glory is in ruins.

There is there of roaring lions!

For the pride of the Jordan is in ruins.  

The hour ahead and even now is the hour of the wailing shepherd. It is still not to late to repent! The later that the shepherd repents, the more tears he will shed. Some have missed the wilderness experience and have seen the truth as the prophets of the wilderness enter the churches. 'I will restore you', says the Lord, 'and even though you have come in late, I will bring refreshing which rides on the wings of repentance'. 

Those who try to move with the revival at a later season and who have not been through the wilderness experience will be blown by the coming storm like a cardboard shack in a gale. Read the prophecy of the Two Winds by Minor.  

The 3 chapters in Zechariah  9  to 11 form a unit which precedes chapters 12 to 14 which speak of the tribulation period and the phrase 'in that day' is repeated. The context of this passage is the time preceding the tribulation period. It is the time of the latter rain.  

ZECHARIAH 10:1

Ask the Lord for rain

In the time of the latter rain.

The Lord will make flashing clouds;

He will give them showers of rain,

Grass in the field for everyone.

The echoes of war and peace continue in chapter 10, but now  new metaphor has been introduced: it is the metaphor of the shepherd. Chapter 10 and 11 are held together by this metaphor.  

We see the season of the prophets of the wilderness entering the churches and the warfare and conflict in these chapters. 

ZECHARIAH 10:3-5

My anger is kindled against the

shepherds,

And I will punish the goatherds.

For the Lord of hosts will visit His

flock,

The house of Judah,

And will make them as His royal horse

in the battle.

From him comes the cornerstone,

From him the tent peg,

From him the battle bow,

From him every ruler together.

 

They shall be like mighty men,

Who tread down their enemies

In the mire of the streets in the battle.

They shall fight because the Lord is

with them,

And the riders on horses shall be put to

shame.

 

After the visitation of God, the army of God forms. The leaders come forth from the visitation of God which began with the Laodicean call into the wilderness. And so bone by bone, little by little the army of God forms, and great exploits are done in this final outpouring of the latter rain.

 

Let us repent now so that we too may be part of the remnant in this critical hour. It will be a bitter and sad day for those who have spent their lives building in the kingdom of God and to find that what they have built blown away by the coming wind - the hour of the wailing shepherd. Take heed, and repent today!   

PSALM 127: 1-2

Unless the Lord builds the house,

They labour in vain who build it;

Unless the Lord guards the city,

The watchman stay awake in vain.

It is vain for you to rise up early,

To sit up late,

To eat the bread of sorrows;

For so He gives his beloved sleep.

---

 

THE PROPHETIC SHEPHERD ENTERS

By DN Hoets

ZECHARIAH 11:4

Thus says the Lord my God, 'Feed the flock for slaughter,...  

 The prophet, Zechariah, is told to feed the flock of God and to shepherd the flock. So we see the prophetic shepherd emerging from the pages of the Bible.

One of the chief functions of a shepherd is that he is to lead the flock of God into green pastures. This is beautifully illustrated in Psalm 23.

PSALM 23: 1-3

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green
pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of 
righteousness
For His name's sake.

The prophetic shepherd will lead the flock of God in the way of God and not in the places where the other shepherds have taken the sheep.

The sheep will no longer ask:

SONG OF SOLOMON 1:7

Tell me, O you whom I love,
Where you feed your flock,
Where you make it rest at noon.
For why should I be as one who veils
herself
By the flocks of your companions?

There will be restoration and a satisfaction; and no longer will there be a restless searching for something more, but a sense of having found Him and that of knowing Him in truth.

THE PROPHETIC STICKS

By DN Hoets

ZECHARIAH 11:7b

I took for myself two staffs: the one I called GRACE and the other I called UNITY; and I fed the flock.

v 10

And I took my staff, GRACE and cut it into two...  

v14

Then I cut in two my other staff, UNITY.....

Although this passage points to the work of Jesus Christ in the New Covenant,  the Lord revealed a truth from this passage which is occurring in the unfolding of the seasons near the end of the age. 

This occurs when those from the wilderness enter churches. The Lord is raising up the stick of GRACE and saying, 'I desire to BLESS My people, to draw them unto Myself and to pour our My Spirit upon them and to bring them into this new anointing.' Churches can either receive these prophets of the wilderness or reject them. Sometimes the rejection will be in the form of whitewash - a multitude of reasons but without any substance.

The Lord says, 'I will strive will My people only for a time.' There comes a time when the Lord will break the stick of GRACE, meaning that the lamp stand is removed from the church. Once the stick of GRACE has been broken in two, the stick of UNITY is broken and the prophet of the wilderness is told by the Lord to leave for His work is done.

Often the stick of GRACE is raised in a church by the prophetic ministry that comes from the local body. This confirms to the prophet of the wilderness that it is indeed the Lord who has raised the stick of GRACE in that place.

In this passage, the prophetic shepherd - who are the prophets of the wilderness - is received to a measure and ministers to the flock for a time. Some of the shepherds and sheep loathed the prophetic shepherd instead of yielding to repentance. That same loathing and anger will be experienced by those who come from the wilderness into churches from time to time.

After a time of ministering, Zechariah was given wages for his work. He was instructed by the Lord to throw it to the potter. In other words, he accepted no wages for his work as he had worked on behalf of God. Many of those called at this time will enter churches and do the work of God and for no financial reward.

They will work in the spirit of Jesus as this passage points to the suffering of Jesus. The cross will be borne by those with this ministry as they bear with those who are wayward for a season. They who have become dead men from the wilderness experience will experience the cross and death again in this season as they enter churches. 

Sometimes the spirit of Jezebel manifests when death has not had its work brought to completion and all of us are open to this as long as we are in the flesh.

JEZEBEL

By DN Hoets

Prophets and intercessors say that this is the most talked about subject today. The spirit of Jezebel. Witchcraft. The spirit of control.

Often pastors accuse intercessors and prophets of being guilty of allowing the spirit of Jezebel into their midst. Yes, there have been times when death has not had its complete work and the flesh has entered the ministry of the prophet and intercessor. However, it is often ignored that there is a MUTUAL SUBMISSION by leaders and the prophets and intercessors. 

Pastors have tended to lord it over other ministries and have not had a servant heart and have manifested the spirit of Jezebel themselves. In this hour, the problem mostly lies with the shepherds and not with the prophets as these prophets of the wilderness have become to a large extent dead men in the wilderness and do not exhibit the spirit of Jezebel.

Instead we see a picture of shepherds of the old order resisting the new anointing. The prophets are to respond in the spirit of Jesus and are not to enter into any carnal disputes. They are sent to give the word and only the word of fire. If it is not received there will be a point when the Lord removes the lamp stand and they will move on at the Lord's bidding.   

Those who come from the wilderness need to read Stanley Frodsham's prophecy of 'The Coming Deception' carefully. There are many shepherds who will try to change the course of these prophets of the wilderness. They may ever imply that they are in error or are unbalanced. Be careful. Seek the Lord's revelation in all things and be careful of the charisma of leaders. Many will - with sincerity I might add - seek to lead you astray or backwards into Laodicea from which you have escaped.

Do not receive a word simply because a man is a shepherd. Look up to Jesus and spend time in the Word and weigh carefully what is said. Beware of seducers in the end-times. Many will fall back into Laodicea because of their influence.  

Remember that we alone are accountable for following His plan at the judgment seat of Christ. Shepherds need to be careful with the counsel that they give and need to step back and let God be God in the lives of the sheep.  

See the Key Pillars.

Experiencing the Depths

By DN Hoets

The role of the book "EXPERIENCING THE DEPTHS OF JESUS CHRIST" by Madame Guyon in the Coming Revival - Essential Wilderness Material  

Who is Jeanne Guyon?

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Many years ago as I entered into the wilderness, the heavens were opened to me and His glory came. Shortly afterwards, in His providence I came across the book "Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ" by Madame Guyon and perceived that the book had a special place in these end times. I also read 'Closer than a Brother'  by Brother Lawrence, Fenelon's works, John of the Cross and other books by men and woman who had a similar walk with Jesus.   

A few years later, Benny Hinn had a complete change in his life and ministry and I heard him speak of "Experiencing the depths of Jesus Christ" shortly afterwards.  This change brought a stability and greater anointing into his ministry. It was exactly the same change that took place in my life.  

Later, the same change took place in the last years of Pastor Ed Roebert at Hatfield, Pretoria. His life changed. Hatfield seemed to enter a time of revival afterwards and again the book "Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ" came into the spotlight in one of his messages. He spoke of being like Moses looking over the Jordan. He has stepped into something new and he saw the promised land - what was to come. However, just like Moses he went to be with Jesus and only saw what was to come.  

Clearly,  the hand of God can be seen. This is the  Laodicean call. Revelation 3:20. I believe that Benny Hinn, Pastor  Ed Roebert and others like myself have responded to the Laodicean call.  

The move toward "Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ" is to restore the depth and first love back to the church. It restores the foundations of the Denominations - abiding in Him - back to the church bringing stability, soundness and the new anointing. Basically it takes us from Romans 7 to Romans 8 - from carnality or soulishness to true spirituality.  

At first it stuck me how different the teaching of Madame Guyon  were from what is taught today. I believe that this Laodicean call and the teaching of Jeanne Guyon is bringing about the shaking that is to come. Once the truth has been tasted, one realises that doctrine needs to change to bring balance and soundness into the church.  

Of note the truth by Madame Guyon was widely accepted by John Wesley, Watchman Nee, Hudson Taylor and almost every man or woman of God  who have done great things for the kingdom of God. I mention this as some who have not responded to the Laodicean call may out of ignorance and a lack of true spirituality in their own lives label Guyon as New Age or as a mystic and a relic of  Catholicism.  

In a nutshell,  Guyon takes us deeper in the way of the cross. Many believers have entered through the cross into the kingdom of God but do not continue in the way of the cross. Much of what is done today is soulish and this is dealt with thoroughly bringing a greater anointing and soundness in our lives. However, the way shown is not the same as the way of the Catholics of the past - where we - our wills - our souls - mortify things in our lives. The path shown is different.

The path to knowing and experiencing His MANIFEST PRESENCE is pointed to from beginning to end. Many have not truly experienced His Presence and this book takes one on a journey of experiencing more and more of His manifest Presence.  

The sovereignty of God is emphasised and the shift from today's teaching in Charismatic circles is clear.

The difference between IMMATURE and MATURE Christian practices is clearly and thoroughly dealt with. For example, in a young believer there is much self-examination in their walk with God, but a mature believer will never engage in self-examination but only deal with that which the Spirit sheds light on.  

Watchman Nee seems to teach us the difference between spirit, soul and body and between soulish and spiritual in 'The Spiritual Man'. However, it is "Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ' by Guyon that takes us from one to the other.

SONG OF SOLOMON

By DN Hoets

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It is also known as the Song of songs. This book is unveiled during the wilderness. Just as Hudson Taylor, Watchman Nee and many others saw this book as the 'Holy of holies' of the Word of God, the nuggets of God are unveiled as our first love is restored.  

I have found that often the truths of Madame Guyon's book 'Experiencing the depths of Jesus Christ' are revealed before the Holy Spirit takes one into the Song of Songs. There seems to be a progression in the things of God and the truths in Guyon's book are foundational to entering the depths of the things of God. 

The Laodicean call into the wilderness is found in the passage (also in SONG OF SOLOMON 2:8-13):  

SONG OF SOLOMON  3:1-5

By night on my bed I sought the one I

love;

I sought him, but I did not find him.

'I will arise now,' I said,

'And go about the city;

In the streets and in the squares

I will seek the one I love,'

I sought him, but I did not find him.

The watchman who go about the city

found me,

To whom I said,

'Have you seen the one I love?'

  

Scarcely had I passed by them,

When I found the one I love.

I held him and would not let him go,

Until I had brought him to the house

of my mother,

And into the chamber of her who

conceived me.

  

I charge you, O daughters of

Jerusalem,

By the gazelles or by the does of the

field,

Do not stir up nor awaken love

Until it pleases.  

It speaks of a searching for more of Him and a searching in the established church for the direction and clear guidance to the green pastures of God and yet finding none.   

'Scarcely had I passed by them, When I found the one I love,' speaks of the the revelation of knowing Him and the secret of His manifest Presence that came shortly after entering the wilderness of God.  

I charge you, O daughters of

Jerusalem,

By the gazelles or by the does of the

field,

Do not stir up nor awaken love

Until it pleases.  

The above verse 5 unveils an important truth in our worship of Him. When He is near, be still before Him. Bask in His Presence. Do not be clamorous. When He seems a little distant - His Presence wanes, call upon Him gently. We need to learn how to respond to our Lord.  

The  Spirit's call into wilderness is a call into a season of singing and rejoicing and to an end of despair and frustration in the things of God.  

SONG OF SOLOMON 2: 8-13

The voice of my beloved!

Behold he comes

Leaping upon the mountains,

Skipping upon the hills

My beloved is like a gazelle or a young

stag.

Behold, he stands behind our wall;

He is looking through the windows,

Gazing though the lattice.

  

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,

An the vines with the tender grapes

Give a good smell.

Rise up, my love, my fair one,

And come away!  

Once the glory of His Presence has been tasted as one turns one's head into the wind, the wilderness child experiences the substance of this verse:  

SONG OF SOLOMON 4:16

Let him kiss me with he kisses of his

mouth -

For your love is better than wine.

Because of the fragrance of your good

ointments,

Your name is ointment poured forth;

Therefore the virgins love you.

Lead me away!  

Just as Mary broke the costly jar and the fragrance filled the whole room, so His Presence fills our beings and affects those around us.  

During the wilderness season, the wind of God blows. It is the first of the two winds mentioned in the prophecy of the 'Two Winds' by Minor.  

SONG OF SOLOMON 4:16

Awake, O north wind,

And come, O south!

Blow upon my garden,

That its spices may flow out.

Let my beloved come to his garden

And eat its pleasant fruits.  

It results in the fruit of the Spirit being manifested in one's life.   

We begin to know Him as the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valleys.  

We are taken into the experience of that which has been called 'the dark night of the soul.' This is the a place of death - of the cross - and the deepest expression of the cross in one's Christian experience - the place where He withdraws from one and where we no longer feel His manifest Presence. This experience is hidden the Song of Solomon.  

SONG OF SOLOMON 5:2-8

I sleep, but my heart is awake;

It is the voice of my beloved!

He knocks, saying,

'Open for me, my sister, my love,

My dove, my perfect one;

For my head is covered with dew,

My locks with the drops of the night.'

  

I have taken off my robe;

How can I put it on again?

I have washed my feet;

How can I defile them?

My beloved put his hand

By the latch of the door,

And my heart yearned for him.

I arose to open for my beloved, 

And my hands dripped with myrrh,

My fingers with liquid myrrh,

On the handles of the lock.

  

I opened for my beloved,

But my beloved had turned away and

was gone.

My heart went out to him when he

spoke.

I sought him, but I could not find him;

I called him, but he gave me no answer.

The watchmen who went about the city

found me.

They struck me, they wounded me;

The keepers of the walls

Took my veil away from me.

  

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

If you find my beloved,

That you tell him I am lovesick!

SONG OF SOLOMON 6:1-3

Where has your beloved gone,

O fairest among women?

Where has your beloved turned aside,

That we may seek him with you?

Afterwards the Shulamite replies to the daughters of Jerusalem and says:  

My beloved has gone to his garden,

To the beds of spices,

To feed his flock in the gardens,

And to gather lilies.

  

I am my beloved's,

And my beloved is mine.

He feeds his flock among the lilies.

The Shulamite - a type of the bride of Christ - now knows where He feeds His flock.  

Later the bride comes out from the wilderness of God in His time and into the churches of God.  

SONG OF SOLOMON 3: 6-8

Who is this coming out of the

wilderness

Like pillars of smoke,

Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,

With all the merchant's fragrant

powders?

Behold, it is Solomon's couch,

With sixty valiant men around it,

Of te valiant of Israel.

They all hold swords,

Being expert in war.

Every man has his sword on his thigh

Because of fear in the night.   

When the bride comes forth from the wilderness, she brings fear to the hearts of many and their hearts are no longer like tall, strong cedars but like reeds in the wind.  We see the Shekinah Glory as the 'pillars of smoke' come out of the wilderness. It also speaks of the fire that these prophets of the wilderness bring into the churches. The entrance of the bride is with the sword - expert swordsmen who do not swing at the wind - piercing the hearts of many as the message of repentance comes to the churches.  

Just as Solomon is carried on a portable throne out of the wilderness, these prophets will have a supernatural peace in their lives and will possess great spiritual authority.  

As we enter the churches, we encounter believers are still young and under developed in the things of God and who need to be gently built up and equipped for the work of ministry.  

SONG OF SOLOMON 3: 6-8

We have a little sister,

And she has no breasts.

What shall we do for our sister

In the day when she is spoken for?

If she is a wall,

We will build upon her

A battlement of silver,

And if she is a door,

We will enclose her

With boards of cedar.

---

THE REMNANT

By DN Hoets

1 KINGS 19:10

So he said,'I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I ALONE AM LEFT; and they seek to take my life.

v18

Yet I have reserved SEVEN THOUSAND in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him. 

Sometimes we feel the same as Elijah did in this wilderness encounter.   

When I entered the wilderness responding to the Laodicean call, I thought that I was alone. I was not aware of anyone else who was going through the same experience. It seemed that the entire body of Christ were moving in a different direction and that I was completely alone in my pursuit of God. I did not know that the wilderness experience was happening to believers throughout the world at the same time. God has His remnant. 

This remnant grows in number as more and more respond to His call and as the prophets of the wilderness minister fire in the churches of God.

Initially, the dealings of God are on a PERSONAL level only and mainly in the desolate place of the wilderness where one feels completely alone with Him. Eventually, His dealings will become more and more CORPORATE. 

As revival manifests amongst the remnant, the churches and people of God will see and come to the centres or pockets of revival and the revival will spread outwardly and visible to many established churches and other groups of wilderness believers, resulting in a world-wide revival.

This is what happened to the Jews and the Lord has shown me that the same plan is being implemented in these end times. Notice that Apostle Paul ministered, first, to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. Today, it is first to the established church and then with the remnant alone. Note that it is written 'all Israel will be saved.' Today it reveals the spreading of revival and the new anointing from the remnant to a world-wide revival.

A DANGER TO THE REMNANT

EZRA 4: 1-3

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the Lord God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers' houses, and said to them, 'Let us build  with you,  for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.  But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers' houses of Israel said to them, ' You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God; but we alone will build to the Lord God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.

The remnant from the wilderness can be likened unto the remnant from Babylon. The Samaritans and other Jews in Israel had not been through the wilderness and were not pure. They were of a mixture. Gold and brass. Many from the churches will seek to come in and build with the remnant but will not be permitted lest they damage and pollute the work of God with brass. 

He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.