"Prophetic Destiny: Five Tests Of An Overcomer" - Che Ahn

"Prophetic Destiny: 

Five Tests Of An Overcomer"

Che Ahn, Pasadena, CA

The Elijah List

Beginning a New Year of Jubilee: Get Ready to Step into a New Season!

This marks the beginning of a new year on the Jewish calendar (5776), as Rosh Hashanah falls on September 13-15 this year. While nowadays we use the Greco-Roman calendar system, I feel the Jewish calendar has prophetic significance, and I always sense something stirring in the spirit around this time of year.

Usually coinciding with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), September is also a significant month for me personally: It's when I got married to the love of my life, when I was ordained and when I received a prophetic dream to move to LA.

This Jewish New Year is extra special because it is the Year of Jubilee! On the Jewish calendar, years are observed in seven-year cycles, with a sabbatical year on the seventh year. Then at the culmination of every seven cycles (a total of 49 years) comes the 50th year: the Year of Jubilee, when all agricultural work ceased, all land was returned to its original owner and all slaves were released into freedom! (See Leviticus 25:8-24.)

God wants to unload His immeasurable blessings on you in this new year!

Five Tests of an Overcomer

Everyone has a prophetic destiny and God-given dream that we are called to walk into. But the key is: you have to know how to go from your dream to your destiny.

Why is it that certain people reach their destiny while others get stuck in life? If we look at the life of Joseph, we can identify five different tests that you must overcome as you are prepared to come into your destiny. (Photo via flickr)

If you want to walk in the fullness of what God is doing, you must partner with His prophetic plan both for the Church as a whole and for your own journey of faith.

1. The Pride Test

"Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more." Genesis 37:5

When he was a young man, Joseph received a prophetic dream that showed he was destined for greatness. Yet he lacked wisdom when he shared it with his family.

The truth is that if you can't handle the vision and call on your life, you will never be able to handle the reality of the destiny. You must overcome pride by choosing humility (1 Peter 5:5-7).

When you are truly humble, you are secure in who you are. And this security will take you through the pride test every time you go to the next level of favor and responsibility.

2. The Potiphar Test

After Joseph was sold as a slave, an Egyptian officer named Potiphar bought him. Instead of resenting Potiphar, Joseph chose humility and worked in his household: "And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him." Genesis 39:3-4

How well you serve those who are over you is the key to overcoming this test in life. It could be a parent, a boss or a pastor – in any case, you are called to imitate Joseph, who did not work for Potiphar but for God.

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men..." Colossians 3:23

3. The Purity Test

In Genesis 39 the story of Joseph continues as he faced a test that every person has to go through: the purity test.

"Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, 'Come to bed with me!' But he refused." Genesis 39:6-8

Joseph passed the purity test with flying colors. What was his secret? He had the right perspective that was aligned with the fear of the Lord: "How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9).

If you want God's blessing and favor, you must flee from immorality – and run straight to the Lord!

4. The Prison Test

The next phase of Joseph's journey was another test of character. After being falsely accused of rape, Joseph was sent to the king's prison (Genesis 39:17-20). There he was sustained by the Lord as he kept his heart from bitterness due to injustice.

To overcome the prison test, you must persevere and hold onto hope that is anchored in God. Perseverance means fighting the battle while you are waiting. Perseverance produces character (Romans 5:3-5), and character is the key to supporting your destiny. 

Deep character comes through deep trials. (Photo via flickr)

5. The Prosperity Test

Finally, through a series of God-orchestrated events, including extraordinary prophetic insight that came through the interpretation of dreams (Genesis 40-41), Joseph came into a place of power and influence as his prophetic destiny unraveled (Genesis 41:38-44).

The final test boils down to how you handle prosperity and favor when it's given to you. It's not just about reaching your destiny but what you do with your destiny. When God prospers you, it's your responsibility to intentionally give Him all the glory.

Joseph's story is a tale of trials and testing, but it's also a testimony of God's faithfulness to complete the work He started.

God has a dream for you! His thoughts for you are higher than yours, and you are called to greatness in His Kingdom!

With Love,

Che Ahn
HRock Church

Website: hrockchurch.com
Email: info@hrockchurch.com

Ché Ahn and his wife, Sue, are the Founding Pastors of HRock Church in Pasadena, California. Ché serves as the Founder and President of Harvest International Ministry (HIM) and the International Chancellor of Wagner Leadership Institute (WLI). With a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary, he has played a key role in many strategic outreaches on local, national and international levels. He has written more than a dozen books and travels extensively throughout the world, bringing apostolic insight with an impartation of renewal, healing and evangelism.

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BENIN: A MACEDONIAN CALL - Morris Ruddick SHIELD

Morris Ruddick BENIN: A MACEDONIAN CALL  - Morris Ruddick  SHIELD Benin is a small, French-speaking nation, just west of Nigeria. The nations in sub-Saharan Africa have experienced great challenges in recent years, as a new generation emerges from the transitions since colonial days, through the economic and political instabilities caused by despotism, corruption and terrorism. The potential for Christian leaders in facing these challenges in business and government has never been more strategic. What the Lord is doing globally in these pivotal times will not be accomplished without the mantle assigned to Africa.  Benin's part is significant. We have a long history in our work with brethren from several African nations and we sense timely significance ahead for Africa. So, with much anticipation and joy, we head to Benin. The Call to Come Help  It all began with something of a Macedonian call from brethren intent on reshaping their nation and releasing God's potential for Africa. This mission is being hosted by a team of Christian entrepreneurs led by a modern-day Josephina, who a few years ago began being exposed to my books. Since that time, she has voluntarily translated them into French. Our venues will focus on implanting God's economy and mobilizing and uniting leaders called as modern-day Josephs and Daniels.  Their awareness and hunger for the Jewish roots to the faith is remarkable. There will be a time with a group of Christian members of Benin's parliament. In addition to our activities with the business community, we will also be ministering in some key local churches. I'm told that attendees for our gatherings will be coming from other African nations, such as Ghana, and from as far away as France. With all the change and turbulence in the spiritual dynamics impacting the world around us, we are deeply grateful for your prayers. More than ever before, we need to be aligned with God's timing and focus, as we establish these agendas. We need the spiritual and protective edge for the supernatural results that we are reaching for. Specific Prayer Targets 1. Protection and good health for ourselves, our team and our loved ones back home. Good connections and traveling mercies.  2. Anointing and fruitfulness for each meeting, each workshop and for the spiritual-biz incubator groups we start.  3. To nurture and raise up leaders with an unequivocal focus on the Kingdom. 4. Spiritual authority and presence of mind to strategically bring influence and change to the leaders we work with, and an increase of their impact on their communities and nation. 5. To discern and seize unexpected opportunity. 6. Wisdom to penetrate the secular realm with this message of economic opportunity in crisis through God. 7. Consistent prayer coverage and communications for our next steps in mobilizing God's people in the marketplace. 8. Wisdom for the NEXT STEPS of this unique calling we're stewarding God's Destiny for Africa  In the late 1990s, during my first visit to Africa, a prescient African Christian gave me two books that changed my Western thinking about Africa: "Is Africa Cursed," by Tokunboh Adeyemo and "Hope for Africa" by George Kinoti. Africa in reality has a rich heritage and destiny in God. Among the original Hebrew names for Africa is the meaning of "mother of mankind" and "garden of Eden. Today, on this one continent, are all the rich, vital resources the rest of the world seeks. The intense struggle underway for the soul of Africa is not random. From the stance of the unseen world, it is strategic. Our venues to mobilize and equip God's most unlikely followers with God's most unlikely strategies to bring about God's most unlikely results -- mark the season for Afirca, as God's people assume their mantles as the head and not the tail, to be blessed to be a blessing. Over the millennia God's chosen have consistently been catalysts to penetrating society with meaningful change that reshapes their economic and spiritual climates. The fruit of our program has consistently released timely change across a broad spectrum of societies, as we impart strategy and equip God's forerunners spiritually and economically. Thank you again. Your support and prayers for us are foundational to overcoming the challenges and maximizing the opportunity. With warm regards in Jesus,

Morris Ruddick Global Initiatives Foundation www.strategic-initiatives.org www.strategicintercession.org

Who is in control?

2014: A Year of Double 7s... Double Portions... and Double Blessings - Gale Sheehan

A Year of Double 7s

...Double Portions 

...and Double Blessing

Gale Sheehan

(The Elijah List)

2014 is a key year for expecting great things from the Lord. It is a year of "Double 7s," with a base number of double 7s (7+7=14) and the Hebrew year double 7 (5774). 

The number 7 is a special number to the Lord, one of completion, fulfillment, and destiny. I have experienced the miraculous power of the number 7 in great ways with the Lord.

This year will also be one of "Double Portion" mantles being released to those that have past the recent years of testing times. If you feel that you have been one of those with great tests over the last few years, this year you can expect great rewards, breakthroughs, and health and financial miracles.

Angels will be released on assignment this year to co-labor with us to get victories we never would have been able to get by ourselves. This year will also be a year of "Double Blessings." To be blessed is to be empowered by the Lord to be fruitful and have dominion, wherein 2014, supernatural advancement in the "7 Mountains" of society will be possible. This includes supernatural favor in business, government, media, and other realms of societal influence, including ministry.

We are moving toward the time when the "kingdoms of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord" as revealed in the book of Revelation. We corporately as the Church are becoming a "Kingdom and Priests to our God." We will be a demonstration of Jesus, the true "Light of the World," at a time when darkness, as well, will be experienced in the earth.

2014: A Year of "Double 7s"

The number 7 has always had a very significant impact on our family in both the natural and spiritual realms:

When I was born in the natural realm, in 1955, the time was 7:07 A.M. When I was "born again" in the Spirit, in 1981, it was when I read Matthew 7:7. 

The Lord spoke to me while I was in a crisis situation as an unbeliever ensnared in a drug culture. I was all alone on a farm in Central Illinois when it happened. My brother's wife, Linda, along with John Schlitt's (of the Christian rock band Petra) wife, Dorla, were prayer partners and were praying for me that night and pushing back the forces of darkness. This prayer effort enabled me to make a willful choice to serve the Lord that eventful night.

The Lord heard my heart's cry when I said, "I am asking for help," asking if He was real. I had remembered hearing somewhere the verse, "Ask and you shall receive," and I was sincerely asking for help from this God of the Universe. 

The next thing that happened was the Lord spoke to me to go get an old Bible that I had buried away with my old college books. This was a giant print Bible my mom had given to me many years prior. I jokingly say that she thought if the words were big enough they would work on me some day. College degrees in chemistry and psychology along with agnostic views had helped to blind my mind to the possibility of the true supernatural realm.

When the Lord inspired me to get this Bible out and read from it, very supernaturally, the Scripture I turned to was Matthew 7:7...double 7s again. This passage of Scripture states "Ask and you shall receive, Seek and you shall find, Knock and the door shall be opened."

When reading this Scripture God revealed Himself to me and I said, "It is true," meaning this Bible and its Author were real to me. I was "Born Again" that night before ever knowing what that terminology meant. "It is True" got me into the Kingdom. As I believed in my heart and spoke with my mouth, I was transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the "Kingdom of Light."

Hearing the Voice of the Lord can change your world. 

This experience opened a new door into a realm I never knew existed. Through this door was a prophetic destiny to be fulfilled. This upcoming year of 2014 and ongoing years will offer opportunities for Double 7 "Prophetic Breakthroughs" as we pursue them in faith. 

The number 7 represents completion, fulfillment, and success. Many of your prophetic words of past years will be fulfilled this year. God will shine His light on your prophetic destiny steps this year.

After this time of being "Born Again", the next year the Lord stirred marriage in my heart. He again used the number 7 in a unique way. When I found Shelly, her birthday was on July 7th, another 7/7 day. I thought this fits well in the overall plan of Gods direction and His use of the number 7 for our destiny.

Over the years the number 7 has had additional special meanings. Our daughter's wedding was 7/7/7 and her son, our only grandson (thus far), Landon, came into this world right on time on June 7th. Our son's wedding was also on a "Double 7" day, the 14th of September 2013. This was also Yom Kippur another special day to the Lord. These have been some of the examples where the Lord has humorously and purposefully used 7's to confirm his will for us.

2014 will be a time for great expectation of the power of "Double 7" fulfillment. God is releasing His "Seven Spirits" to direct us this year. As we hear His Voice and partner with Him, all things are possible.  

2014: A Year of "Double Portions"

The relationship of Elijah and Elisha represents one of the best demonstrations of how to effectively move into a "Double Portion" time in your life. Elijah had been the model prophetic visionary for many years prior to his ascension to Heaven. He was known as the "go to guy" to get your miracle. He had many victories of light against darkness during his life validating the Lordship of the King of kings and Lord of lords.

When the time of his departure was growing near, he asked Elisha what he wanted prior to his leaving. Elisha was bold and asked for a "Double Portion" of Elijah's spirit (see 2 Kings 2). Elijah said that it was a hard thing but that it was possible if Elisha was diligent to be with him and see the time of his departure. Elisha was determined to see it happen and it did.

Elisha pursued Elijah when it was not easy and followed when there appeared to be no plan. Elisha did this because he believed the prophetic word of the Lord. Elisha got the "Double Portion" when Elijah left because of his tenacity. We as well this year can receive mantles of "Double Portions." We can then spiritually strike the waters and cry out for the God of Miracles and He will show up.

Double Portion of Fortunes: 

Some of you reading this have experienced the year of 2013 to be a great year of testing. This testing time of the Lord will cause us to focus on the key elements of fulfilling His Destiny. If you have been one of these, you can know that the good news is: test times result in a "Double Portion" if we pass the test of the Lord.

Job was one of the greatest examples of one who experienced great testing times but came through focused on the fact that God is a good God in every situation. As he was able to live his life accordingly, even though seemingly losing everything, he received a "Double Portion" in the end. Job 42:10, "The Lord restored Job's fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before." 2014 will be a year of double for those that pass the testing times of previous years.

Double Portion of Destiny:

One of the crucial keys of 2014 will be that the Lord is enabling Believers to be Destiny Fulfillers. There will be a "Double Portion" of His grace and anointing to cause destinies to be fulfilled. There will also be a release on Angels (Ministering Spirits) to help us to fulfill Destiny. 

As Angels were the keys of many Biblical battles recorded in the Bible, Angels will make up the victorious army of the Lord in the supernatural realm today. They will team with us, an earthly army, to enable victories.

The harvest of souls is imperative in this day and hour. The darkness in the earth is increasing to cause individuals to look for answers in life. The answer is Jesus. God is pouring out His Spirit today on all flesh – both Believers and unbelievers. 

The Church will arise in this hour to proclaim with power the name of Jesus and see many transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light.

Elisha became a great destiny fulfiller after receiving Elijah's mantle. He struck the water looking for the God of Elijah, the God of miracles. God parted the waters and Elisha went on to demonstrate even more miracles than Elijah. We need to be those that are striking the waters today with "Double Portion" mantles looking for the God of miracles. 

As we do, we are in for great times of signs, wonders, and miracles that we have not yet seen.

2014 A Year of "Double Blessings"

Double Blessing of Fruitfulness:

The first usage of the Hebrew root "to bless" is in Genesis 1:22, the 5th day of creation, when upon creating the creatures of the earth, sea, and sky, God blessed them and empowered them to be fruitful (the ability to reproduce) and also have dominion. This word "bless" denotes to endue with power for success, prosperity, longevity, etc.

This Hebrew word also conveys the idea of being supernaturally strengthened, and of our weakness being compensated with God's strength. It also means to kneel and acknowledge God as supreme. Therefore, a blessing from God is being empowered to do what is not within our natural capabilities. 

This will be a year where we will see impossible situations turned into supernatural victories.

Double Blessing of Advancing the Kingdom:

This "Double Portion" year will be a time when we can make great advancements in our destiny as we trust the Lord for strength to do things that we are incapable of doing alone. 

Even though there will be progressions in the world toward greater darkness we can also expect that God will strengthen us to be greater light during this same time period. When we are weak, we can say that we are strong by the power of the Lord.

A key verse of Scripture for this year will be the one that the Lord charged many leaders with "Be Strong and Courageous, Fear Not Nor be Dismayed, for the Lord thy God will be with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).

A "Double Portion" of destiny fulfillment will be attainable this year of 2014. 

As Elisha received the mantle of Elijah it equipped him to impact lives for the Lord in a greater way than he ever had. He was empowered to be fruitful in Kingdom business and see the signs, wonders, and miracles of the Lord in abundance. We are already seeing physical miracles, emotional healings, supernatural debt reduction, and supernatural favor being released in this year of 2014.

We, like Elisha, will be empowered this year to be fruitful in Kingdom business. The Kingdom of God is being established in the earth today even in the midst of the darkness of the world. The time is approaching where the kingdoms of the world will become the Kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ. When that day happens, we will begin to rule and reign with Christ on the earth in a way that we have never seen before.

May you be "Strong and Courageous" as we move forward in Destiny in this 2014 year of "Double 7s, Double Portions, and Double Blessings." 

Gale and Shelly Sheehan
Directors, CI Apostolic Network

Email: gsheehan@mailcimn.net
Website: christianinternational.com

Gale Sheehan is the Director of Christian International Apostolic Network, a network of over 850 ministers in the US under the vision of founder Dr. Bill Hamon. CI also has a global arm of ministry with over 3500 ministers around the world representing all continents of the earth. Gale travels both Nationally and Internationally as a conference speaker. 

Gale is also the author of several books including Miracles Now, a book that equips Believers to activate miracles, along with numerous prophetic audio and video products. Christian International is one of the foremost leaders of the Prophetic Movement over the last 25 years. 

Gale also conducts equipping conferences that focus on releasing and receiving miracles through the simplicity of knowing that "Christ within You the Hope of Glory" is the reason for every miracle. Gale and his wife, Shelly, and family reside in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

Dutch Sheets: Let Only God Define Your Destiny

Dutch Sheets:

Let Only God Define Your Destiny

It has been said that one of our great purposes in life is to give birth to ourselves. We have to find the purpose for which God created us, and allow Him to give birth to it. Along the way, we must be very careful about what we allow to define us.

Throughout my life, I've had my fair lot of heart-wrenching situations, including the loss of loved ones, abandonment, rejection, and betrayal from those whom I thought were trustworthy friends. The list goes on and on. Each of those circumstances tried to paralyze me and imprison me, defining my destiny. But, each time, God broke in, offering me a way to freedom.

Facing Giants

Every time you are faced with a giant of opposition, you must decide whether you will allow God—or the giant—define who you are and what you will become.

In recent months, the Lord has had me teach several times on David and Goliath. I've become intrigued with the fact that the name Goliath means "expose; reveal." When the impious Philistine giant came against the nation of Israel, the cowardice of Saul and the Israelites was exposed, while the courageous, warrior heart of David was revealed.

Life's giants expose our hearts and character, revealing who we are. When we face crisis, trials or opposition, those circumstances either reveal and amplify the greatness of God within us, or expose our weaknesses.

When God's greatness within you is revealed, run toward the giant with whatever stones God has placed in your hand. 

And when your eyes are opened to the weaknesses that lie within, you are presented with great opportunity to be made strong in Him (2 Corinthians 12:9-11; Philippians 4:13).

When we position ourselves with the Lord, circumstances around us lose their power to paralyze and imprison us. His love and power strengthen us. 

If we humbly yield to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, in time we can overcome our weaknesses, conquer our giant, and take hold of the inheritance provided by God (Hebrews 9:13-14;13:20-21).

Let Only God Define You and Your Destiny

You don't have to let divorce, rejection, disappointment, disability, or any other impious giant define you. The power of the past to dominate your present and determine your future, is broken by the Blood of Christ.

Choose to be forward-focused and not past-possessed. Profit from the past, invest in the future. 

Let those mountains of opposition become stepping stones toward your destiny.

Know that when the enemy had you pinned to the mat, and people were counting you out, God was making you into a Joseph, an Esther, a Paul—for such a time as this! Allow those heart-wrenching circumstances to shape you into who God has called you to be. 

Let only God define you and your destiny.

Don't rob us of the amazing you God made! He deposited something in you we need. You are pre-destined by God to do amazing things. He is calling you to rise up out of the ashes of opposition, face your giants with bold faith, and cross over into your destiny!

How will you respond to that which is revealed when giants take the stage?

Dutch Sheets
Dutch Sheets Ministries

Email: click here
Website: dutchsheets.org

Dutch Sheets is an internationally known speaker and was recently named the Executive Director of Christ for the Nations Institute. Dutch is a successful author who has written many books including the best-seller Intercessory Prayer and his recent book, Dream. Dutch travels extensively, empowering Believers for passionate prayer and world-changing revival. Dutch and his wife, Ceci, reside in Dallas, Texas.

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