Chuck Pierce: "A Time for Breakthrough and A Time for Cycles to Change" and "Pray for Texas!" - THE ELIJAH LIST

       

Chuck Pierce: "A Time for Breakthrough and A Time for Cycles to Change" and "Pray for Texas!"

THE ELIJAH LIST Aug 30, 2017

From the desk of Steve Shultz:

We are hearing more and more prophetic voices saying that we are in a time of "breakthrough" unlike we've experienced before...and that word is both individually and corporately for the Church Body.

When my friend Chuck Pierce speaks, I simply listen and take heed. He is a true Issachar prophet who understands the times and season...and I always look forward to his insight!

Chuck Pierce shares this prophetic exhortation he received just this week from the Lord:

On Monday morning I woke up thinking about breakthrough. So many people need a spiritual breakthrough – in healing, finances and favor...

"If you are willing to submit, your light will BREAK FORTH like the morning and your HEALING will break forth speedily. Your righteousness will go before you and I will come behind you. Do not fear your past any longer. I am preparing a way of escape for you and I will rearguard you."

Now that's a good word! As Chuck Pierce also lives in Texas, he admonishes us to keep praying for the Houston and coastal areas! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

Enjoy! And thanks for forwarding this to your friends! They can subscribe here.

Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The Elijah List & Breaking Christian News 
http://www.elijahlist.com

P.S. – Oh, and a Quick Note to our readers: To EXPLORE our more than 2,500 Christian Prophetic books, CDs, and gifts go to: elijahshopper.com.

"A Time for Breakthrough and A Time for Cycles to Change" and "Pray for Texas!"

Chuck D. Pierce, Corinth, TX

A Time for Breakthrough! 

On Monday morning I woke up thinking about breakthrough. So many people need a spiritual breakthrough – in healing, finances and favor. I started reading in Isaiah from chapters 55 - 58. Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord begins to invite us to an abundant life. Here is a prophetic word the Lord gave me from these chapters:

"Seek Me while I may be found, call upon Me while I am near. I am thinking beyond you! My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways. I have thoughts to interject into your circumstance. There are thought patterns within you that I need to change.

"I will send signs and wonders to help point you on the path ahead. As the rain comes down and waters the earth, seed will come forth for those who are willing to sow. My word shall not return void! I sent the word to accomplish something and from that word you shall prosper.

"I will raise you up and make you joyful in your 'House of Prayer.' I will heal any backsliding that has occurred in your life. You will need to fast, but only fast the way that I instruct you. This will be of great benefit to you. I am longing to break you out of old religious patterns!

"If you are willing to submit, your light will BREAK FORTH like the morning and your HEALING will break forth speedily. Your righteousness will go before you and I will come behind you. Do not fear your past any longer. I am preparing a way of escape for you and I will rearguard you." (Photo via Pixabay)

A Time for Cycles to Change!

Here is a word that was released by James Vincent and Tobias Lyons at our Firstfruits gathering. This word is very important. Look at every old cycle in your life – especially those that have been in place the last 10 years. Then allow the Spirit of God to speak to you.

"The Lord showed me a picture of a round, turning cycle. As this cycle continued, the Lord suddenly came and made a BREAK, or disruption, in that cycle. There was a breech created, and the people who were previously held within this cycle had the opportunity to jump into the breech, freeing themselves from the cycle.

"This picture the Lord showed me represented TEN-YEAR CYCLES. Because the cycle was round, the beginning was indiscernible from the end. As the Lord BROKE the cycle, He said: 'I am bringing the END of these ten-year cycles into TODAY.'

"Ten year processes are suddenly coming to an end, although ten years have not necessarily been completed. Another way to word it would be that the finishing of these processes are being brought into today in defiance of the cycle. Death processes are being disrupted by healing and deliverance TODAY and dry bones are experiencing resurrection TODAY!

"This disruption is throwing the plans and movement of the enemy against you into complete disarray. The things he had waiting at the end of ten years are now in confusion. There are things the enemy had planned that depended on the cycle running its course, but the Lord has now disrupted it and brought the end of that cycle into TODAY. We agree with His word and jump into the way of escape that He has created for us!"

"God says:

"'This is a month when I am going to deal with blunt-force trauma to the Body. I have come up from My throne to address that fear that has kept your success pinned down, and I am there to meet you. This is a month of success. Although the enemy swung and hit you and pinned you down in trauma, I have unseated Myself from My throne.

"'My resurrection power and life-giving glory is coming to meet you and cause success to come where there is death, and life to come where there is death. My perfect love casts out all fear. Where the swelling from the trauma has caused a bruising reproach, I am causing the manifested power of My love to open up and make new what has swollen shut.(Photo via eyesright)

"'So enter the field that I am calling you into. Know that I have empowered your hands this month to cause what has pinned you down and created trauma in past seasons, to now turn to success.'"

Praying for those Impacted by Hurricane Harvey

I (Chuck) have many connections and friends in Houston. With the impact of Hurricane Harvey, please pray for that city and all those affected in the entire coastal region.

Dutch Sheets and I have chosen "Houston" as one of our 22 gatherings for "Changing a Nation from City to City!" Some of you might want to fly in for that meeting hosted by New Life Church on Wednesday, September 27 at 7pm as we release "healing" back into that city! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

Blessings,

Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion International Ministries
Email: chuckp@glory-of-zion.org
Website: www.glory-of-zion.org

Charles D. "Chuck" Pierce serves as President of Global Spheres, Inc. (GSI) in Corinth, Texas. This is an apostolic, prophetic ministry that is being used to gather and mobilize the worshipping Triumphant Reserve throughout the world. Chuck also serves as President of Glory of Zion International Ministries, a ministry that aligns Jew and Gentile. He is known for his accurate prophetic gifting which helps direct nations, cities, churches, and individuals in understanding the times and seasons in which we live. Chuck and his wife, Pam, have six children and seven grandchildren. He has authored over 20 books, including the best-sellers Interpreting the Times, Redeeming the Time, and Time to Defeat the Devil.

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Radical Revival Falls on China's State-Controlled Churches - GEORGE THOMAS/CBN CHARISMA NEWS

Radical Revival Falls on China's State-Controlled Churches

 2/5/2016 GEORGE THOMAS/CBN  charisma news

"The number of Christians in China is growing rapidly. It means Christ is starting to play an active role in China's society, and that's good in many ways." (Courtesy/CBN)

Join us on our podcast each weekday for an interesting story, well told, from Charisma News. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

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CBN News traveled to southern China and obtained exclusive, never-before-seen images from inside these churches.

When God Shows Up in a Communist Church

It's Thursday evening in Fujian Province, southeast China. Scores of men and women are dancing, waving flags, blowing shofars, singing and worshipping God.

You might think these images come from a charismatic service in the United States. But they're not. This is communist, and officially still atheist China.

And what Duan Huilai says is remarkable about this scene is that it's happening in an officially government-controlled congregation known as Three-Self Church.

"Dramatic changes are happening," Duan told CBN News. "God is moving in a powerful way inside these Three-Self Churches."

Duan and his wife have witnessed this move firsthand. Both are evangelists and have for several years crisscrossed the Chinese countryside documenting the Holy Spirit's move among Three-Self Churches.

"The most amazing thing is that the Lord is raising up God-loving people in these churches—so many brothers and sisters who love God deeply and want to serve Him," Duan said.

Signs and Wonders Now Allowed

Pastor Duan says what is happening today in Beijing and in other parts of China as it relates to the powerful move of God amongst the Three-Self Churches is quite remarkable considering where the church has been in the last 30 years.

"Every sermon that the pastor preached back then had to be vetted by the government authorities. Young people were never allowed to attend these churches, so you'd only see old people, mostly women," Duan said. "Preaching about the power of the Holy Spirit was forbidden. You couldn't talk about end times or preach repentance."

Topics on healings, miracles, signs and wonders were out of the question. Not anymore.

"Nowadays people have accepted these topics," Duan said.

Two main types of churches exist in China: registered and unregistered. Registered congregations, also known as Three-Self Churches, are government-approved.

Unregistered, sometimes called underground or house churches, operate outside government control, and for decades faced intense persecution. And with that persecution came tremendous growth.

Three-Self Churches, on the other hand, never experienced that kind of explosive growth. Until now.

"Now there's big revivals happening in the Three-Self Churches," Dr. Zhao Xiao toldCBN News from his offices on the outskirts of China's capital city.

Communist Encounters Christ

Zhao is one of China's foremost experts on Christianity. A former Communist Party member and atheist, Zhao converted after reading the Bible.

"If you go to Haidian Church, you'll find yourself in a more than 100-meter line trying to get inside and worship. In Shenzhen, there are usually an average of 500 people being baptized each Sunday!" he shared.

Decades ago, the Chinese government had a law that said that young men and women below the age of 18 could not attend Three-Self Churches. Zhao says those rules have been loosened in recent years.

"There's an increasing proportion of them in churches now—more young male believers, professionals, mainstream celebrities, especially in the big cities, that are attending the church unlike the past when it was mainly the elderly who attended."

Love Camp

Back at the Thursday night meeting in Fujian Province, folks have gathered for a four-day event affectionately called "Love Camp"

"Love Camp aims to help the believer grow in their faith walk and get closer to God," Sun Rengui told CBN News one evening.

Sun is a pastor and leads the camp. He says the idea came 12 years ago when he says the Holy Spirit one day showed up while he was preaching at the Three-Self Church he pastors here.

"We were in the middle of the service; suddenly everyone at the church felt the Holy Spirit anointing fall. Some couldn't stand straight, others fell down. Some were dizzy and nauseous. When the worship began, people started crying. After the service, some were being healed. I saw demons being chased away from people's bodies."

Pastor Sun says his church had never experienced anything like it.

"We were seeing something unprecedented. We had no theological training in the move of the Holy Spirit. This was completely new for us," he said.

Word quickly spread.

"We were one of the first churches to experience this in the area. Soon, leaders from other churches came to us and were eager to receive the Holy Spirit. Later they also started witnessing the Holy Spirit's move as well," Pastor Sun said.

But it wasn't without controversy.

"People doubted if this was real. There was even conflict among my church staff," Sun said. "But as time passed, more people accepted the power of the Holy Spirit."

Transformed Lives

Twelve years later, Pastor Sun says the impact of the Holy Spirit's move is seen in the transformed lives of church members.

"Our cell groups are expanding, more people are attending church, and more people are going outside the church walls into society to share the gospel."

The church runs two orphanages and two elderly care centers, and twice a year puts on the Love Camp.

"We have four goals in this camp: to evangelize people, strengthen the family, disciple believers and encourage other Three-Self Churches to embrace the power of the Holy Spirit."

For Pastor Duan and his wife, this is evidence that God is doing something special in the world's most populous nation.

"I was speaking in Shandong, Henan and Zhejiang recently. Around 8,000 people joined the meeting. Last Christmas, I was speaking at a Three-Self Church in Yuhuan and I was amazed there were 12,000 people," Duan exclaimed with joy.

They, Dr. Zhao and countless others say they feel honored to play a part in helping more Chinese turn to Jesus Christ.

"The number of Christians in China is growing rapidly. It means Christ is starting to play an active role in China's society and that's good in many ways," Zhao said.

For a limited time, we are extending our celebration of the 40th anniversary of Charisma. As a special offer, you can get 40 issues of Charisma magazine for only $40!

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"Responding in Faith Not Fear" - Sean Malone, Nashville, TN

"Responding in Faith Not Fear"

Sean Malone, Nashville, TN

The predicted coming crisis this fall is revealing the heart and shaking those things that can be shaken.

There has been a lot of talk and speculation about what is coming upon the world this fall. From N.Y. times bestsellers like The Harbinger and The Mystery of the Shemitah (Shemitah years are God's seven year cycles mentioned in Scripture and linked to economic activity) to contemporary prophets and Blood Moon preachers.

While we can't draw hard and fast doctrines from any of these things, they are signs that make one wonder. I personally have heard quite a bit about what is supposed to happen in America but very little about what we are to do.

Is it just me or does it feel like someone just sucked the air out of the room? It's like a collective gasp around the Body of Christ right now as many of us are frozen, stuck and unsure of what to do. Some are even locked up in fear while the enemy just laughs. But I believe God is raising up people who understand the times and know what to do.

From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take. 1 Chronicles 12:32 NLT

Just as God raised up the sons of Issachar who could interpret the times and know what to do, we need to be equipped with knowledge and wisdom on how to take action for the good of the Church and for the sake of the Gospel.

Faith Not Fear

No matter what happens this fall, none of it will take God by surprise. The answer to navigating the potentially troubled waters of this fall is rooted in faith and not fear. If your plan is to hunker down, hoard and just hold on, friends I am sorry you are missing the point. It would help us all to dig into the book of Hebrews to see a bigger picture. (Photo via pexels)

In Hebrews chapter 11 we see the many things the heroes of faith endured. By faith Noah, by faith Abraham, by faith Moses, they ran their race well and endured hardship "by faith" and became heroes of the faith. In chapter 12 we are reminded that God disciplines us as His sons and that we are to endure hardship as discipline from the Lord. Discipline is a sign of our sonship. He goes on to tell us that there is a time period that God will shake everything that can be shaken so that we can receive a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.

God's Shakings Are Redemptive in Nature

One thing we need to understand if we are talking about a God orchestrated shaking is that it is redemptive in nature and designed to perfect love for Him and for others. It's ultimately the first and second commandment coming into first and second place. Anything not under the Lordship of Christ needs to be and will be shaken away if it is hindering love for Him and others.

Think about that for a second.

What distractions are in your life that keep you from loving Him and others wholeheartedly? Right now is your heart tender and free from the cares of this life? Is He truly your magnificent obsession? Are you living fully for Him and through Him? Secondly, right now do you love others as yourself and carry a burden for the lost among the nations? This should serve as a tuning fork for our hearts because it is what is on His heart. (Photo via Pixabay)

How Will We Respond?

If this is true, our response to the potential shakings of this fall should look different. Our preparedness for an economic, political or even geological shaking should be more than a desperate attempt to hold onto our western lifestyles. Preparing for the days ahead is so much deeper than hoarding stuff. I have news for you, if that is your response than God may even shake that too. Do you really think He is looking for more western independence?

It makes me wonder how many people are paralyzed in fear right now of what's coming and have retreated from what God has called them to do. Our western Gospel of comfort that is devoid of the notion that we may suffer has fashioned a golden image of who God is. With the threat that their god may be shaken, people are locked down in fear. Shakings are the litmus test to show who we really serve. Ask yourself this question: How much of my lifestyle did I fabricate and how much of it is built on God's unshakable Kingdom?

Restoring the Second Commandment

The other aspect we need to understand is that in the shakings, God is restoring the second commandment as well as the first commandment. Love for others. What happens in the midst of a disaster or crisis? People come together and help each other. As we prepare for this fall, we need to be preparing to help others.

Today there is a prophecy about global crisis and the fear response is: Determine to prepare for survival and self-preservation. In the 1st century there was a prophecy about a global crisis (Acts 11:27-30) and the response was: Giving and aiding those impacted; each according to their ability determined to send relief to the brethren elsewhere.

We love to point fingers at the corporate depravity of our nation and say she deserves punishment while our hearts are just as bankrupt. Let's take this time to examine our own lives and actions before we point the finger at anyone around us and make sure we are caring for the poor, needy and hurting, heeding the warnings of Scripture for the actions of Sodom.

Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen. Ezekiel 16:49-50

Folks it is an upside down Kingdom. You give it away to keep it and this is a sign your heart is free. Again, if God is dealing corporately with us in America then our preparedness should be more of the heart than a fear-based grasp to hold onto our western lifestyles. Now there is nothing wrong with preparing your home, neighborhood, church and business for crisis and disaster.

Here at CRI we hold seminars on how to train people to do so. However as the Church we need to take inventory of our hearts motivation to make sure we are not hunkering and bunkering in fear but rather getting ready to help others and be the glorious Church in that hour. If something is out from under the Lordship of Christ right now in your life then you want that dealt with now and not later. (Photo via Pixabay)

Hebrews 11:7 says "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family..." It says that Noah by faith... in holy fear prepared for his family.

Are you responding in faith or fear? Let's choose faith. We are praying and believing for an outpouring of God's Spirit on the hearts and minds of those in our nation. Let's humble ourselves before the Lord and believe that together we'll see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

If we are going to be looking at the Biblical calendar as a way that God deals with His people then remember the Shemitah ended on September 13th and the year of Jubilee started on September 23rd. I encourage you to be believing for great things!

Sean Malone, Director
Crisis Response International
Website: criout.com
Email: info@criout.com

While involved in the motion pictures industry in New York, Sean Malonefound a front row seat at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks where he provided lighting for the search and rescue operations. This is where the seeds for being involved in crisis response work were planted. In 2007 he officially launched Crisis Response International, and since then have trained thousands of Responders to reach the Harvest in the midst of crisis. Crisis Response International (CRI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that resources, trains and mobilizes volunteers, churches and other organizations to respond to disasters and compassion initiatives around the world.

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Prophecy: God Is Restoring the Signs and Wonders Movement

12/2/2014 RYAN LESTRANGE  CHARISMA MAGAZINE

(Flickr/Patrick Emerson)

It seems like so many times recently during prayer I am reminded of the Prophet Elijah casting his mantle on Elisha. In that single moment a spiritual calling was released and an invitation to come up higher was given. This moment would not be recorded in Scripture if Elisha did not discern the weight of what was taking place. 

 

"So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him" (1 Kin. 19:19).

 

Elisha was being called by God to take the mantle of a prophetic father and advance! I so clearly hear the rumbling of revival in this hour. There is a transition that is taking place, and a generation of people are arising in the earth who long for the outpouring of the presence of God. 

 

We have read the books about the great healing ministers, powerful prophets and renowned revivalists who have gone on before us. When they died they left their mantles on earth waiting to be claimed and taken to the next level. It is time that this generation makes spiritual history! It is time that we have a fresh outpouring of power, miracles and awakening.

 

In a time of prayer recently a powerful word of the Lord came to me about the mantles being released:

 

I am calling this generation forth to move in the supernatural. Even as the church in the book of Acts went from place to place with power and demonstration, so am I calling this generation to move in power and demonstration. No longer shall the hand of man prevail; no longer shall the wisdom of man stand. 

 

I have invested the power and authority of My kingdom inside of My family, My sons and daughters. There is an awakening unto fullness, fullness of sonship, fullness of covenant, fullness of position and grace in Me, there is an awakening to the fullness of My power, My kingdom that I have called you to carry. There is a banner of fire being cast over this generation, and I am raising up voices who will release My wind and My breath upon the embers in order to fan the flame. 

 

This generation is called and marked to burn for Me. This generation is called unto the supernatural. I am raising up and establishing healing ministries in the earth as a sign and a wonder. I am sending forth prophetic ministries in the earth to awaken My people from their slumber and call them back to My heart. The spirit of slumber has blinded the eyes of many and they have been asleep at the wheel while destined journeys and planned exploits have crashed in the spirit and not been fulfilled because they were driving with their eyes closed! 

 

I am calling them to wake and move with Me. I am casting the mantle upon My people! I am casting the mantle of supernatural ministry upon My people. I am calling them to arise into the kingdom. The kingdom is supernatural. My sons and daughters are supernatural people called to signs and wonders. There is a generation that is arising in the earth that shall walk in uncommon faith and do uncommon exploits by my spirit.

 

Friend, I believe that this is the word of the Lord for you and me! God is calling His people to move in the supernatural. A new era of revival is beginning, and you have a part in it. Heaven has no small assignments! Let us be like Elisha and recognize the moment that we are living in. Jesus is inviting us to move deeper and allow Him to shine brighter through us. My prayer is that we receive the mantle of fire and go forth blazing with the fire of revival! "For our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29).

 

Ryan LeStrange has been preaching the gospel for more than half of his life. As a young man, God led him to leave his home and travel to Tennessee to study and train under Dr. Norvel Hayes, who later became his spiritual father. Pastor Ryan shares the apostolic call of Dr. Hayes to establish churches, ministries and bible colleges, and to train leaders in the body of Christ. Ryan hosts a weekly television show on God TV called Power4Today. Ryan is the Apostle and leader of Impact International Apostolic Fellowship, a network of churches and ministries around the world with a single vision to birth revival. He has founded two bible colleges, served as an associate pastor and traveled as an evangelist. Visit him online at ryanlestrange.com.

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The Blood Moons: Prophetically Discerning Times and Seasons - DOUG STRINGER - CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Much attention has been given in the church, as well as in the media, to the "blood moon" that occurred during the recent Passover/Easter season. (Brian Lauer/Flickr/Creative Commons)

The Blood Moons: Prophetically Discerning Times and Seasons

6/6/2014 DOUG STRINGER CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Much attention has been given in the church, as well as in the media, to the "blood moon" that occurred during the recent Passover/Easter season.

This blood moon, along with the three other lunar eclipses scheduled to occur during Jewish feasts in 2014-2015, has fueled conversation about whether we are entering into a new season of the end times, as referenced in the book of Joel: "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (2:31-32).

I won't try to speculate about dates and times of the Lord's return; however, I will say that I agree with many other voices that these blood moons should serve as a signpost for the body of Christ to awaken and understand the season into which we are entering.

As the Bible tells us in Genesis 1:14-15, the sun, moon and stars are not merely to give light to the earth or to mark days and years. They are also to serve as "signs and seasons." If God wants to speak to His people and give warning to the earth about a changing spiritual season, signs in the heavens are one of the means He has designated to do so.

So, just what is the season we have entered? What kinds of days are ahead of us? The passage in Joel quoted above suggests that the blood moon is a sign pointing to the great and awesome day of the Lord. There are countless scriptures we can look to for learning about the day of the Lord, but I will summarize with this statement: the coming of the day of the Lord means that time is short. The Lord is coming soon. Whether it is in five, 15, or 50 years, the Lord is coming soon.

A Dual Season

For those separated from Christ, or living a life of lukewarm or compromised Christianity, the blood moons bring a season of warning. Their message is one of urgency, to prepare and to turn your heart to the Lord while there is time.

For those who are in Christ, His coming is glorious news. Our salvation is drawing near and the great harvest of souls prophesied in scripture is coming. The message of the blood moons is to prepare for harvest, and to beckon all men to call upon the name of the Lord.

Yes, this is a dual season—of warning and of harvest. Of soberness and of celebration. Of preparation and of action.

A Season of Warning

Throughout the nine-day period this last April that included Palm Sunday, Passover, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Holy Spirit was speaking to me about the season ahead.

The message I heard was out of Jeremiah 12:5: "If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, how will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?"

The question I heard the Holy Spirit asking was, "If the church can't keep up with the footmen, how will they keep up with the horsemen? If you can't walk in victory in a land of peace and safety, what will you do when the shaking really begins?"

For days, this phrase was burning in my spirit: The horsemen are coming, the horsemen are coming, the horsemen are coming.

How do horsemen differ from footmen? They're faster. The coming of the horsemen speaks to an acceleration. The signs that we see around us— blood moons, weather phenomena, wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes that shake the earth so violently it is literally moved on its axis—these all are part of the same process. Things are accelerating.

Just as labor pangs increase and accelerate as a woman approaches her time to give birth, so are the pains and groaning of the earth accelerating as the time of the Lord's return approaches. And what is the earth groaning for?

The revealing of the sons of God.

A Season of Harvest

Both the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul quoted the passage in Joel chapter 2 that speaks of the blood moon and the coming day of the Lord. In Acts 2, the Apostle Peter quoted from Joel 2:32, ending with these words, "And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." The Apostle Paul referenced this same portion of scripture in the famous "Romans road" salvation scriptures.

Romans 10:9-10,13 says this: "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation...for 'Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.' " So we see that Joel chapter 2 points not only to a season of warning, but also to a season of harvest. The blood moon points to a day of salvation!

Hebrews 11 tells us that it was by divine warning that Noah built an ark. In dark days and in a time of judgment, Noah's ark became an instrument of salvation. This is the calling of the Church. In a season of divine warning, we are to prepare an ark—an ark of redemption and an ark of His presence. An ark that will be an instrument of salvation in a time of judgment!

In dark days, it is the children of light who will point many to Christ. As the sons of God are revealed, the earth's salvation is near (Romans 8:19-22). Our assignment in this season is simple: to warn and to gather souls. Just as animals were gathered and brought into the ark, so the Spirit of God is gathering souls to be brought into an ark of refuge.

Lift Jesus Higher, Lift Jesus Higher!

As the horsemen approach and the storm clouds gather, our message should be this: "Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!" God has given us the privilege of drawing others to Him. As we lift Jesus higher, proclaiming His name, He will draw all men to Himself. The great harvest of souls is coming!

Second Corinthians 5:18-19 tells us we are ministers of reconciliation. So we must remember in the season of divine warning that our calling is not to bring judgment and condemnation, but to prepare an ark that will save from that judgment and condemnation. It's easy to call out warnings about all the evil we see around us. But it's a lot more work to be an ark builder. Might I be so bold to say, if you are not actively preparing for a harvest of salvation, then maybe the warning is for you!

Remember His Covenant, Examine Your Heart

As I write this, it is now the Feast of Pentecost, also known as Shavuot, or the Festival of Weeks. This feast, along with Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (recently passed in April) and the Feast of Tabernacles which occurs in the September/October time frame, are times of remembrance and examination for the people of Israel. They are a time to remember God's covenant and His faithfulness, and to examine where the people stand in relation to God, both as individuals and as a nation.

God has been faithful to us. He is committed to us. His promises are yes and amen in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). As we remember this—as we remember His faithfulness, His covenant and His promises—let us examine our hearts. Are we faithful to Him? Are we committed to Him? Do we honor Him with our lips, while our hearts are far from Him (Isaiah 29:13)? Let us humble ourselves before Him in this season of warning. Let our hearts be quick to heed His call. Let our lives be first to reap a harvest of righteousness.

It is only when our lives are in alignment with Him that we can be positioned as those who will herald His coming. It is only when the warning is no longer for our own hearts that we can be those who effectively labor in the fields of harvest. So, in this dual season of warning and harvest, may we be single-minded in our focus, our purpose and our covenant with Him.

Doug Stringer is an internationally known conference speaker, the founder of Somebody Cares and Turning Point Ministries International, and the author of several books, including Somebody Cares: A Guide to Living Out Your Faith.

Prophetic Words Point to Move of Spirit in Ukraine - R. LOREN SANDFORD

Prophetic Words Point to Move of Spirit in Ukraine - CHARISMA NEWS

3/12/2014 R. LOREN SANDFORD

R. Loren Sandford

I feel compelled to call for intense and concentrated prayer for the situation inUkraine.

On the surface, it may appear to be only a political struggle between those who desire closer ties with Russia and those who want to integrate more closely with Europe. Having spent many weeks over a seven-year period ministering in Ukraine in both the eastern and western regions, I believe I can say with some certainty that a majority of Ukrainians in both the east and west do not desire a close alignment with Russia.

That being said, the real battle isn’t about political alignments or economics, although those things are indeed important. I believe there are underlying spiritual realities to be considered. I have long prophesied that Ukraine is a spiritual stealth torpedo in the arsenal of the Lord, a weapon of power that the enemy of our soul has not seen coming until now.

Historically, Ukraine has been a kind of innocent player on the world stage, ravaged by armies from Europe rampaging over it on their way to attack Russia and then trampled again by the armies of Russia driving back the armies of Europe. Ukraine itself has had little blood on its hands. Who would expect anything world-changing to come out of Ukraine? A parallel might be what the Jews said about Galilee: “They answered him, ‘You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee’” (John 7:52, NASB). The Jews used to ask, “Can anything good come out of Galilee?” And yet from Galilee came Jesus and the 12.

Powerful voices will arise out of Ukraine carrying a fresh stream of the Spirit and of power. Out of Ukraine’s relative innocence—and since the dissolution of the Soviet Union—a number of strong Christian leaders have been rising, mostly unknown and in hiddenness—hence my “stealth torpedo” metaphor. These are among the finest men of God I have met or had the privilege to know in my travels over the years. Although the number of charismatic and evangelical Christians in Ukraine remains small relative to the overall population, in terms of spiritual power and maturity their growth has been strong and wonderful to see. This has often been accompanied by signs and wonders that have garnered little attention outside of Ukraine.

It is my opinion that this political turmoil over the determination of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to align Ukraine with Russia and to turn away from economic alliance with the European Union strategically coincides with a time of ripeness for Ukrainian Christians. An underlying intent of the spiritual hosts of wickedness in this conflict is to dampen, squelch or hide the influence of a Ukrainian revival and Ukrainian spiritual leaders upon the rest of the world, as well as to simply create as much human suffering as possible.

In short, please pray for Ukraine. The consequences of what happens there go well beyond what you see in the news. There are kingdom of God issues at stake.

R. Loren Sandford is the founder and senior pastor of New Song Church and Ministries in Denver. He is a songwriter, recording artist and worship leader, as well as the author of several books, including Understanding Prophetic People, The Prophetic Church and his latest, Visions of the Coming Days: What to Look for and How to Prepare, which are available with other resources at the church's website.