Just as last year we saw the wind come and separate, we believe this year will be a year for things to be connected and made secure.
The year 2016 is the Hebrew year of 5776. The two Hebrew letters associated with this number (76) are ayin and vav. The letter ayin gives us a picture of an eye, and vav gives us a picture of a peg, nail or hook. The year 2015 was a year of the whirlwind; things were turned upside down, shaken, moved and shifted! Many things were exposed and sifted.
There was a lot of divine sifting before the shifting! However, this is a year to secure some things, nail some things down. It is a time for the hook to connect things. There is an unfolding of kingdom partnerships for kingdom purposes.
A Time for Alignment, Expansion and a Year to Secure and Tie Things Down
Alignment is a key word this year! Alignment with others for kingdom exploits is critical. The who is every bit as important as the where and when.
It is also a time of expansion. As we think about the peg, we think about the tent; expand the peg and expand the tent. The Father is challenging us to dream radical, God-sized dreams and to pray bold prayers! There is a fresh wind blowing upon the revelation of faith. Faith sees and seizes. It is time to pray "Jabez" prayers again and to ask God to enlarge our territory. This is a time for the children of God to be brave. There will be personal stretching, expansion and promotion along with corporate stretching, moving into new territories and advancing.
It is a year to secure and tie things down. We see all of this mirrored in the natural in the U.S. political system as border security has become a huge debate. We are being urged to secure our borders, to create a physical barrier. This is a true, prophetic picture. It is time to secure the borders of our ministries, families and personal lives. What does that mean? And how do we secure our borders? We put Jesus front and center. We seek to honor and please Him above all else. We also kick the enemy out and use the blood of Jesus as an aggressive weapon.
We need strong prophetic preaching and teaching in this hour to expose the works of hell and to call the people of God back to their first love! I am reminded of the vision that Oral Roberts had of shaking in the last days. He said that the Lord told him there was a need for preachers with fire in their bellies! I say, raise up the Fire Carriers, Lord!
The Lord Must Build the House
We need to make our calling and elections sure (2 Pet. 1:10). This is a time to secure the foundation that our lives and ministries are built upon. All things that are not built on the sure foundation of Jesus will ultimately fail. We must be sure that our identity is found in Him and not in our giftings, talents or anointing. His house is built on the apostolic and prophetic foundation with Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20). The Psalms tell us that unless the Lord builds the house, those who labor are laboring in vain (Ps. 127:1). Our labor must be about His house and for His kingdom. There is no room for self-promotion or self-exaltation.
"From him comes the cornerstone, and from him the tent peg. From him comes the bow for battle, and from him every ruler goes out, all these together. And they will be as mighty men, who trample down in the muddy streets in battle. They will fight because the Lord is with them, and He will put to shame those riding on horses" (Zechariah 10:4-5, MEV).
"For no one can lay another foundation than that which was laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 3:11, MEV).
"But the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who calls on the name of Christ depart from iniquity'" (2 Tim. 2:19, MEV).
"See, I lay in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, firmly placed; he who believes shall not act hastily" (Is. 28:16, MEV).
"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the entire building, tightly framed together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God through the Spirit" (Eph. 2:19-22, MEV).
"Except the LORD build the house, those who build labor in vain; except the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain" (Ps. 127:1, MEV).
"It shall be, if you will listen to all that I command you and will walk in My ways and do what is right in My sight to keep My statutes and My commandments, as David My servant did, I will be with you and build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you" (1 Kin. 11:38, MEV).
Watch for those who have been secure only in themselves and sure of themselves. The people and ministries that are about self-promotion will be removed while others are set in their place.
Shebna was a servant who was trying to promote himself in the kingdom. He did this by building a tomb for himself like those of the kings in his day had. When one tries to promote himself, the act becomes dead works, and the only thing they are actually building is a tomb. Due to his self-promotion, Shebna "the peg that was fastened in a secure place" was removed from his position and another "peg" (Eliakim) was set in.
"Thus says the Lord God of Hosts: 'Come, go to this treasurer, even to Shebna, who is over the royal household, and say: "What right do you have here? And whom do you have here that you have dug out for yourself a tomb here, as he who hews out for himself a tomb on high, and who cuts a habitation for himself in a rock?'" (Is. 22:15-16, MEV).
"I will fasten him as a nail in a firm place, and he shall become a glorious throne to his father's house" (Is. 22:23, MEV).
Watch for true prophetic voices to become even more secure of their position in Christ, causing a greater boldness to minister a more sure word of prophecy. They must remain in holiness and continue to be moved by the Holy Ghost, and not of themselves. They will carry a sure testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy.
"And we have a more reliable word of prophecy, which you would do well to follow, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts" (2 Pet. 1:19, MEV).
"For no prophecy at any time was produced by the will of man, but holy men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Pet. 1:21, MEV).
"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple" (Ps. 19:7, MEV).
"And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said unto me, 'See that you not do that. I am fellow servant, and of your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus: Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy'" (Rev. 19:10, MEV). 
Ryan LeStrange started in ministry after training and serving under his spiritual father Dr. Norvel Hayes. Ryan and his wife, Joy, lead Impact International Ministries based in Bristol, Virginia, which consists of several local churches and revival ministries. Through Ryan LeStrange Ministries, he travels the globe preaching, igniting revival and moving in the power of God. Ryan can be seen weekly on his television program, Power 4 Today, airing around the world on GodTV. He is the founder and apostle of Impact International Apostolic Fellowship, networking and fathering ministers around the world. Ryan has authored several books releasing an apostolic and prophetic perspective to the body of Christ. Please visit ryanlestrange.com.
Jason Armstrong is the founder of Remnant Fire Ministries based in Cleveland, Tennessee. Jason travels as a prophetic teacher, releasing kingdom strategies, prophetic insights and practical revelation to ignite individuals, families, churches and nations with a burning heart for God and His kingdom. Connect with Jason online at remnantfireministries.org
For the original article, visit elijahlist.com.
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