Wednesday, April 29, 2015

IDF is on a Rescue Mission in Nepal ✡ "An Angel of the Lord"

An angel of the Lord is stationed around those who fear Him, and He saved them.

PSALMS (34:17)

חֹנֶה מַלְאַךְ יְ-הֹוָה סָבִיב לִירֵאָיו וַיְחַלְּצֵם

תהילים לד:יז

kho-ne ma-lakh a-do-nai sa-veev li-yi-ray-av va-y'-khal-tzaym

Today's Israel Inspiration

Israel has sent a remarkable delegation of IDF soldiers and medics to save lives in Nepal after its devastating earthquake. Here's what IDF Brig. General Yoel Strick had to say: "We have set out on a mission which symbolizes all that the IDF stands for, and we are greatly proud of this." The soldiers of the IDF are today's "angels of the Lord," renown for setting up field hospitals and rescue work throughout the world during times of natural disasters. This is the true face of Israel and its moral army.

67 Years of Bravery

With incredible historic footage of the IDF, this is Israeli heroism over the decades.

IDF Rescue Team to Nepal

Israel has sent a delegation of emergency responders to Nepal following a devastating earthquake that has killed more than 3,700 people and injured countless others.

Sterling Silver IDF Keychain

This fantastic keychain features the seal of the IDF in sterling silver. Below the shield is the Hebrew text: “Tzva Hagana L’Yisrael,” the Hebrew words for Israeli Defense Force.

Today's Israel Photo

Israeli soldiers and medics in Nepal use teamwork to set up a fully equipped field hospital. At the end of the mission, the IDF will leave all of their sophisticated, new medical equipment behind to benefit the people of Nepal.

Yesterday's Photo Trivia

Yesterday's photo by Boruch Len featured the Bania Springs in the Golan Heights, one of Israel’s wonders in the north. The spring emerges at the foot of Mount Hermon and serves as a main tributary into the Jordan River.

Thank You

Today's Scenes and Inspiration is sponsored by Stacey Phillips from Georgetown, Texas. Toda Raba!

“I Have Learned So Much”

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Ancient and Emerging: 5 Major Changes Coming to the Church

Will church in the future be supernaturally driven?
Will church in the future be supernaturally driven? (Lightstock)
Over the last 24-plus years of ministry, one of the most difficult challenges I've faced has been effectively communicating just what changes are coming to the church.
The current church paradigm is so prevalent and saturating in our culture that people just can't seem to wrap their minds around the shift that is coming. It seems nonsensical, threatening or just plain bizarre. They wonder how their ministry stream or focus or gift fits in that structure.
The reality is that it may not, or it may be radically redefined. The discomfort level will be quite high, and it will take a radical remnant to truly sign up for the reformation—for the revolution of the church.
The disciples of Jesus had an idea of what it would look like in Acts 1, but Jesus radically violated their dreams, plans and comfort zones by leaving—and commissioning them to establish what they hoped Jesus would build!
"So when they had come together, they asked him, 'Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' He said to them,'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight."
The Coming Church
This book that I'm currently writing will be addressing some of the spiritual and practical changes that will be coming to the structure and expression of the church. Trust me, it will shock our nation severely. Those who hold on to a structure or a ministry instead of Jesus himself will not be willing to go where God is leading.
I call this the ancient and emerging church. Ancient because it's rooted in scripture; emerging because the biblical structure has been largely forsaken. What will this ancient and emerging church look like? Here's just a small peek into a grand shift in the structure of the church:
1. Services will become more like prayer meetings. One of the greatest indictments on the church today is that prayer is not the driving force. Today, people tend to choose churches based on the appeal of the teaching and the worship instead of the fervency of prayer. If the church was a house of teaching, or a house of worship, that would make sense, but it's not. The church is a house of prayer for all nations. Every person in the church will function as a burning intercessor and the services will be marked by this unified groan of fiery prayer.
2. Personal need will give way to personal mission. Today, churches are often more like organic, socially driven hospitals. People tend to use the church as a way to meet their personal needs instead of serving it as a minister of God. This is going to change. Of course, there will still be personal ministry and true needs will be addressed.
However, instead of the church functioning as a hospital, it will once again function as a mission-driven military. The mission will take precedence. The saints will be equipped for service, not for personal survival. In this ancient and emerging model, their will be MASH units that will take very good care of the wounded with the primary purpose of getting the soldier back into battle. Apostles will again lead with governmental authority and pastors will be seen as the main leader less and less as they focus more on shepherding and less on primary leadership.
3. Teaching will be minimized while instruction is emphasized. Teaching is mostly for personal edification while instruction is mostly for corporate assignments. Today, most churches focus on teaching principles of scripture, providing truths that will help Believers navigate through their lives and giving nuggets of biblical info. While there will still be important Bible teaching, apostolic instruction will emerge as a necessary new ministry.
There is enough Bible teaching online, on CDs, in books and on video to turn every one of us into personal spiritual giants. We need to take it upon ourselves to grow. What is lacking, however, is apostolic leaders, military commanders who give instruction and assignments to a ready army. Teaching is personal growth-based while instruction is a call to corporate action for the sake of mission fulfillment.
An example of apostolic instruction is this: The apostolic leader gives a corporate assignment for everybody in the church to fast for a week and then show up together to prayer walk through the city streets. It's a corporate call to action versus biblical study. It's mission focused versus personal growth focused. Personal growth will be largely our responsibility between services so we can be ready to respond to the corporate instruction where we will receive our assignments.
4. We will gather together most days of the week. The 24/7 church will again emerge as the church drives culture instead of reacting to culture. Cares of life will lose their power as we simplify our lives and put corporate prayer and mission ahead of most everything else.
This may be the most challenging change for Christians. Today, Sundays are the days to set aside for corporate worship while we give precedence to our 'normal lives.' In The Coming Church, the very reason we live will be to pray on fire together every day, receive apostolic assignments and then move out into our lives as kingdom ambassadors. It wouldn't be surprising if a tithe of our time is what became the standard. Two to three hours a day, whether it's in the morning, afternoon or evening, or even in the late night hours, will be given by every believer to praying on site together with others, ministering and giving ourselves to intercession-fueled kingdom ministry. Of course, much of what we have been giving ourselves to will have to be eliminated so we have the time necessary to devote.
5. Worship will be supernaturally driven. There is a new sound coming to worship, and it's not simply a new style. There is a supernatural, otherworldly groan of intercessory worship that will explode out of the entire body as a new breed of trembling worship leaders lead the way into the shock and awe of the glory of God. We will no longer simply sit in a pew or stand with a raised hand while a familiar worship song is sung.
The prophetic, groaning sounds of Holy Spirit facilitated worship will make it normal to shake and fall to our faces as we cry Holy! The natural, logical sing-a-longs will be no more. We will have a hard time standing as God's Shekinah and Kabod glory resides in his church. Worship teams will practice less and pray in the Spirit with tears in their eyes more.
Of course, this is an extremely limited glance into the many, many changes that are coming. I wanted to share this to provoke you to preparation. There is much that you and I enjoy in the church, or that is comfortable to us, that we will have to let go. Again, the coming church will be troubling and shocking, but it will result in the power and life that we have been crying out for.
God is about to answer that cry.
I strongly recommend that you read my book 20 Elements of Revival. That book reveals much of the shift that we must embrace right now. If you truly take in all that it has to say, you'll never participate in the church the same way again.
John Burton has been developing and leading ministries for over 20 years and is a sought out teacher, prophetic messenger and revivalist. John has authored nine books, has appeared on Christian television and radio and directed one of the primary internships at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City. Additionally, he planted two churches, has initiated two city prayer movements and is currently directing a prayer and revival focused ministry school in Detroit called theLab University. John's mandate is to call the church in the nations to repentance from casual Christianity and to burn in a manner worthy of the King of kings. He is equipping people to confront the enemies of God (established religion, Jezebel, etc.) that hinder an extreme, sold-out level of true worship.
For the original article, visit johnburton.net.

5 Prophetic Words About Shaking and Awakening in America

According to prophetic words, a great shaking and awakening is about to happen in America.
According to prophetic words, a great shaking and awakening is about to happen in America. (iStock photo )

Prophetic Insight, from Charisma Media
I asked the Lord to wake me when He wanted to speak to me and for five nights in a row at 3 a.m., He answered that prayer. The following are five prophetic words the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart. I pray they touch yours.
Day 1: The Lord spoke early this morning about the future of the American church. I saw a person walk to the edge of a cliff overlooking a huge valley. The Man of God started shouting to the masses and they got up and started moving toward him. Thousands!
The Lord said complacency was leaving and people were ready to move forward. The America church has tried to advice thought programs and worldly structure, but have produced an Ishmael, but now Isaac is on his way! There is a Move of God coming to the church an Awakening!
Day 2: The Lord woke me early this morning ... I felt my bed shake so I jumped up! The Lord spoke very strongly and boldly saying will you answer this call or should I call another. I said I will answer your call.
The Lord said there is a greater shaking coming to America then anyone can imagine. I'm calling the leaders now. They will be the ones of intercession. The broken ones. They have been preparing for years. The current success the American church thinks she has, will have to be repented for. The American church has produced a Ishmael now its time for Isaac. I've never felt God so strong, my friends! We are about to see repentance in our churches from leaders who have taken the focus off God. I encourage everyone to fast and pray. Get ready!
Day 3: The Lord says He is making an offensive response to every demonic attack on America. The Lord is putting His armies in place. This will be a wave and yes even greater waves are coming of the responsive attacks from heaven. God wants his people and land back!
Day 4: The Lord woke me at 3 a.m. this morning speaking very strongly about this hour in the church. The Lord said, "I need my watchmen to be alert and ready at all hours!" When the Spirit wakes you get up and pray, don't pray in bed or roll over. This is the time God needs us to be seeking Him. Everything is silent with no hindrances at this time of Day. Whenever God wants your time, give it to Him. Don't be sleeping when you should be seeking!
Day 5: This morning the Lord spoke a very strong word to my spirit about the revivalists in the land. Many are falling away from the fight and giving up their calling. Like Elijah the powerful mouthpiece for God, when things got hard he complained and quit. So God raised up Elisha! Never watch someone else answer the call GOD placed on your life. 
Stay in the fight, get back in and never give up! America needs the revivalist to stand up, stand out and be counted on! I felt the Lord say, "I'm about to do something so powerful in the land and I need and want my revivalists to be ready!" 
Pockets of true revival are breaking out across America. Want to know more about the next great move of God? Click here to see Jennifer LeClaire's new book, featuring Dutch Sheets, Reinhard Bonnke, Jonathan Cahn, Billy Graham and others. 
Joe Joe Dawson is the president of Burn Texarkana Revival center and House of Prayer. Pastor Dawson also serves as staff evangelist for First Assembly of God in Texarkana, Texas, where he also is now the Tribe College/young adult pastor. Burn Texarkana has one revival/awakening service a month at First Assembly and also has Burn on the Road meetings in neighboring cites monthly. There are four Burn Texarkana prayer meetings each week! Joe is married to the love of his life, Autumn, and together they have three kids: Malachi, Judah and Ezra.
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Amid Christian Persecution, There Is Good News in the Middle East

Egyptian Coptic Christians have suffered mass persecution recently.
Egyptian Coptic Christians have suffered mass persecution recently. (Reuters )

Strang Report, by Steven Strang, Founder of Charisma magazine
At the recent meeting at the United Nations highlighting the persecution of Christians, there was a surprisingly positive report from one presenter who said that the church is growing in Iran, in spite of or because of the persecution of Christians by Muslims.
As already reported, there is plenty of bad news from the region. Each year, 100 million Christians suffer persecution, imprisonment and even death for their sacred religious beliefs. According to The Voice of the Martyrs, a ministry dedicated to assisting the persecuted church worldwide, "more people have died for their faith in Christ in the last 100 years" than in the previous 19 centuries combined.
While it seems in some countries we are literally seeing watching the genocide of Jesus' followers in the Middle East, the Iranian speaker who now lives in the United States says the church is growing largely because of Christian television being beamed into the country. There is a real spiritual vacuum; people long for a spiritual reality that Islam cannot provide.
Recently I interviewed Christian leaders from three different Muslim nations. One source explained to me that ISIS considers moderate Muslims as infidels, so they also have a "price to pay." As Shia and Sunni Muslims fight each other, "a Shia mosque being destroyed (one day) and the next day a Sunni mosque being destroyed (isn't uncommon)," he told me. "And in between, of course, Christians were being smashed especially when they are located under the region of ISIS. So, in general, the Christians are paying a very high price, but other Muslims are suffering too, especially those like the Yazidi people. They pay a very high price exactly like the Christians because they are considered as infidel from the ISIS groups."  
But, now for some good news. For their security, I am giving no names and being ambiguous about locations. For authenticity, I'm quoting my sources as much as possible within the bullet points. Let the facts speak for themselves. To my knowledge, these stories have never before been reported.
  • "The good part of the story, is that God is using this to change the perspective of Christians in front of many Muslims. God is using this to open the eyes and ears of many Muslims to see the reality of who God is. God is not the God of violence. God should be the God of love—should be the good God, the God that the gospel is preached so many of them are coming, seeking and asking about the things of Christianity.  
  • "While the Christians under the persecution, they were very giving, very loving, blessing. Every time they were interviewed after such a massacre, they spoke positively toward the country, toward Muslims, forgiving their persecutors, praying for them, asking forgiveness for them which is unheard of.
  • "Every time Muslims were killed, their families, their parents asked for revenge. Here, every time they asked for forgiveness so many people started to compare. What is this? What spirit do you have? This is completely out of the box, out of their expectations. So God is using this in a mighty way to bring glory to Himself and to bring people to reconciliation with Him, with themselves and with their community.
  • "More than that, now in Egypt, the government is trying to do their best to pay back what the Christians did to save the country. It could have been a civil war between the Christians and Muslims, but because the Christians reacted in a loving and forgiving way, (Christians) saved Egypt. The Muslim community came to us and said, Because of you, God saved Egypt. God saved us because of the church. For the first time, the Muslim community is changing their perspective about the church and Christians.
  • "Systematically, the radical Muslim, they are doing something to wipe out, if possible, you know, the Christian community, the radical Muslim. But the moderate Muslim actually is good. They are a friend of Christians. But this radical, they are like terrorists, so they keep attacking.
I'll close with an incredible story from Indonesia, where Christians showed love to the Muslims who persecuted them. Outside of Afghanistan, Indonesia, is considered the second largest base of the radical, like al-Qaida, even ISIS. Yet the church is growing at a rate of 2 million converts a year. If you missed my report on this, click here.
Persecution in Indonesia is less in the big cities, where most of the problems where laws are passed to keep churches from renting public buildings. But in some of the outlying islands, there is real persecution. One story of Christian love and forgiveness shows why the church is growing. Again, I'm quoting my source, edited only for space and clarity.
  • "So there was a village in the east side of Indonesia. One day radical Muslims used this opportunity to that village. The village is mostly Christian, so they burned their houses, killed them, and they came with 500 soldiers with all the weapons. But then the Christians were cornered into a church building inside, so they killed 211 of them in one day and injured about 140 people. And then, the church, you know, next day they buried the dead and it was so sad. And so they made a monument there. (After this the Christians ministered to the Muslims) and because of the love of the Christian many were born again. They accepted Christ; there was a revival.  
  • "(So the Christians) began to pray, 'Lord, we don't have any building on Sunday to worship You. Can you give us money to rebuild it?' So when they prayed, God spoke to them, you know, 'I don't want you to use the money to rebuild your church first. I want you to collect the first offering and give it to the Muslims who killed you, who persecuted you. Give it to them so they can renovate their mosque also.' So they obeyed. Very hard for them, you know, because they were the enemy of them. But anyway, after they prayed, they were convinced by God and then they said, 'OK, God. We want to obey.' So they took that first offering, which is huge for them, $5,000 U.S. dollars. And then, they brought that money with praise and worship. I think about 2,000 people marched to the next village, you know, with joy, came to them and said, 'God told us to give you this money to rebuild your village and your facilities.' The Muslim leader wept. They said, 'Why you love us? We attacked you. We destroyed your building. Why you love us?'
  • "The Christians said, 'Because Jesus told us to do this.' They all wept and one of them stood up and said, 'Hey, Muslim people, we need to do something. Go to the jungle and cut all the bamboo tree and donate it to the church.' So they took all the bamboo trees and brought it to the church and donated it. So the government was so moved because of this, what the Christians did to the Muslims, so the government decided to give $15,000 U.S. dollars to rebuild the church building and by the help of many churches, you know, the church was able to rebuild and very beautiful, not only the church building but the people now experience tremendous revival. Now they are born again and almost 100 percent of that village become Christian."
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VIDEO: Israel's Amazing Qumran Caves

VIDEO: Israel's Amazing Qumran Caves

Wednesday, April 29, 2015 |  Israel Today Staff
In 1946, a Bedouin shepherd went looking for a lost goat and instead found a series of ancient caves that ended up shedding a tremendous amount of light on the early Jewish communities living in the area.
The Qumran Caves and nearby settlement, since partially uncovered in excavations, tell the story of the Essene sect of religious Jews, and contained some of the oldest copies of the Scriptures ever found.
The entire area is today open to visitors and is a popular hiking spot for Israelis. For those who can’t make it in person, local film producer Amir Aloni has provided the following drone’s eye view of Qumran.
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Tuesday, April 28, 2015

THE RELIGIOUS SPIRIT - Morris E. Ruddick

Morris Ruddick

SIGN

THE RELIGIOUS SPIRIT

(c) Morris E. Ruddick


"Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, and has not turned to the proud nor to those who lapse into falsehood." Ps 40:4

The religious spirit has plagued the thrust of God's people from the beginning. Since the first century church, its counterfeit antics have perverted the household of faith's quest for more of God. Its modus operandi is subtle, seductive and entangling.

At its root is the perversion, the misapplication of the glory and blessing. At its gates even the elect stumble trying to do the right thing for the wrong reason. Its undermining tactics are why, for so many, that the power is either anemic or it backfires.

Combined with mammon, its potential is magnified with an influence bleeding into the infrastructures of culture, economies and seats of power.

The core application of the glory and blessing was labeled by Paul as the law or the principle of Christ (Gal 6:2), which he described as "bearing one another's burdens." This core application should be a banner we uphold. The long-standing foundation of this dynamic is outlined in Isaiah 53:4 and Matthew 8:17: "Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows."  

Paul wrote Timothy (2 Tim 3:5) to be cautious in dealing with those who are caught up in themselves with a form of godliness, but whose lives are a denial of God's power. The psalmist (Ps 40) describes those who have turned to the proud or lapsed into falsehood. When combined with those who are ever learning without coming to a knowledge of the truth (2 Tim 3:7), you have a snapshot of those caught in the grip of the religious spirit.

The Stumbling
The churches in Revelation 2 and 3 demonstrate how communities and institutions of believers can "get it" partially, yet still significantly be blind-sided.

Only two of the seven churches noted garnered the Lord's approval: the persecuted churches in Philadelphia and Smyrna. Part of the church at Thyatira had kept their focus and wasn't seduced and waylaid, like their brethren, by religious falsehoods and devices.

The rest were clearly instructed to repent, corporately.

The pathways into their spiritual slippage included: the presumption of living on past exploits, having lost their original zeal and purpose, along with being encumbered with the cares of the world and straying into becoming compromising and lukewarm. At the core of these revealing judgments against the churches missing the mark was a religious spirit, which distorts and misapplies the glory and blessing.

It illustrates the intensity of the battleground within institutions where replacement of the vibrancy and direction of the move of the Spirit has taken root. It punctuates the importance of upholding the mantle and standard that defines true biblical leadership.

It is humbling that the churches judged in Revelation were within the generation of churches birthed by those who had walked with Jesus. Since its inception, one of the most subtle deceptions operating against the church has been in accurately assessing the enemy's actions.

Evaluating the enemy's capabilities by using the same yardstick used to measure ourselves has been the soft-spot in the tactical underbelly for God's people over the centuries. The lure has been in "being like everyone else."

From the beginning God has had His own playbook for His people. In selecting leaders, Moses' father-in-law advised him to choose from those exhibiting not only competence and the fear of God, but those who were truly trustworthy and who had a track record of avoiding covetousness (Ex 18:21). Jesus advanced the secrets from this playbook. They are the principles of the Kingdom.

On an individual basis, there are several key factors by which the religious spirit erodes one's purity of heart. It begins with pride and fear, but simultaneous taps covetousness (greed), deceit, division and confusion.

Paul's prescient response to this fine-line issue is a key Kingdom principle: that in our weakness, God's strength would be manifested.

So it was with the two churches gaining the Lord's approval in Revelation. The others in need of correction, in one way or another had aligned themselves to operate on the same basis, using the same standard and criterion, as the world around them.

The Issue Compounded
Christian groups, from churches, to ministries, to marketplace organizations seeking to overcome the world, too often measure their success -- and approach their goals as an issue driven by money. In the Kingdom, that is the cart before the horse. In reality it is a matter of stewardship.

The loss of this focus leads to the influence of mammon, whereby the love or quest of money rules. Jesus said: "he who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much" (Luke 16:10). Good stewardship will prevail in its mastery over whatever resource is truly managed.

However, when the religious spirit is compounded with the love or quest of money, then the gates are opened for disorder, division, critical distrust and an array of controlling, manipulating spirits. Given free reign it digresses into sorcery and the misuse of the anointing by what some refer to as Charismatic witchcraft.

Many years ago, the Lord spoke a most unique word to me concerning the business I was operating. He instructed me that: "whatever sphere of influence you walk into, to immediately begin looking beyond it, lest it overwhelm you." While I recognized the wisdom this pointed to in applying the dynamic of faith, this word yielded even greater insight into avoiding the breakdown of stewardship in which either mammon or a religious spirit or both could gain access.

Illustrating this point of stumbling within Christian organizations was a prayer initiative that was birthed when George W. Bush became president. Designed to mobilize and provide the prayer support needed for the national task of wielding righteous power in corrupt settings, it initially blossomed. The realities of supporting this effort required fund-raising. However, as the initiative evolved, the fund-raising began morphing the focus on prayer until the initiative stalled and then fizzled. The means became the end. It was clearly the right thing done in a wrong way.

Curbing the subtle power of mammon begins with the awareness of its devices, even within the context of good stewardship. The ability to make or raise money is not the answer. However, those with a true Romans 12 gift of giving hold the most potential in its mastery.

The antidote to this alliance between the religious spirit and mammon begins with unity among those over finances wrapped into a foundation of godly maturity, humility/trust and leadership.

The Maturity Factor
In His relationship with His disciples there came a time when Jesus told them that He no longer considered them servants, but friends. Jesus was raising the bar. He said that servants don't understand what their master is doing, but that He had made known to them ALL that the Father had shown Him. With that, He extended trust and imparted the essential dividing line for Kingdom maturity.

It was the point that their calling and their lives were not about them.
"He who loves his life will lose it, but he who hates his life in this world will gain it eternally." John 12:25

Jesus penetrated the spiritual veil (Heb 6:19-20) to embrace the pure power that scatters darkness. This is the process restored. It is the demonstration of the fullness actuated by Jesus' victory over death. This mantle has been passed to those anointed leaders willing to pay the cost and persevere to access the veil and fulfill the law of Christ by destroying the works of the devil. Unfortunately, far too many short-circuit the process and succumb to making an idol out of the calling.

Those genuinely anointed to lead, whether as priests, prophets or modern-day Josephs will wield the glory and blessing, often walking into the face of darkness with a purity and authority that risks everything, but makes darkness flee.
"Build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love; ...be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by defiled flesh." Jude 20-23 NIV

The Humility and Trust Factor
The anointing to lead can result in overcompensating for the enormity of the calling. Cindy Jacobs once told me that many true modern-day apostles, which include today's Josephs, operate with a false humility. Godly humility cannot be contrived. It is forged in the fire and carries with it a recognizable authority. Godly humility is devoid of arrogance and deceit as those who recognize true authority serve as pure God-pleasers.
"Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority with solders under me and I say to this one 'go' and he goes and to another 'come' and he comes."
Matt 8:8-9

Stripped of position, Joseph the Patriarch had very little he could depend on, other than the Lord's daily guidance and the authority that came from the mantle of God's blessing that he wielded. Joseph was groomed in a fire of humility to where it became a part of his nature. With the brandmark of humility was the integrity of heart and trust that he could always be counted on to do what he said he would do.

With his chief advantage being the guidance and wisdom God was giving him, there was little to no room for pride or scheming. That is the combination needed for true spiritual maturity and the foundation for biblical leadership.

The Leadership Factor
Understanding the significance God had for Joseph the Patriarch lends a glimmer into understanding the long and very arduous wait-times being endured by many modern-day Josephs.

In raising the bar, Jesus described the criteria for true friendship and love, as the willingness to sacrifice for those counted as friends (John 15:13). He defined friends as those who could be trusted with the details of God's strategies and purposes. That dynamic is the foundation for His standard for love -- and with that the real foundation of humility. Without trust, the mantle falls short and is prey to the scheming and selfish ambition provoked by the religious spirit.

Weathering the devices of the enemy's onslaughts against Christian organizations takes both maturity and leadership. Mature, godly, sacrificial leadership will have no other foundation apart from humility and trust. Against such, the enemy cannot stand.
"This is my instruction, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12-13

The Fine Line
God's preparation time for Joseph galvanized him against the religious spirits and sorcery that prevailed in Egypt. That inoculation gave him mastery over mammon in his role as chief administrator of resources in averting tragedy for those under his charge during the famine.

Joseph became the model of a true prophetic steward. His example is the counterpoint to those succumbing to religious spirits who have deviated from the narrow path in their time of preparation.

Entrance into entertaining religious spirits is too often triggered by short-cuts. It takes discipline and resolve to hold the course. Joseph's path into maturity and leadership was enriched by humility and the trustworthiness he exhibited in the years of abiding in God's presence. As it was for Joseph, there are no short-cuts.

This path into abiding with the Lord involves a fine line described in Hebrews as the "dividing asunder between soul and spirit." Perseverance and waiting on the Lord and His established times are not options. They are in fact the crucible that weeds out the many who are called from the few who are chosen.
"The way of the righteous is level and smooth. O Upright One, make the path of the righteous straight. While following the way of your judgments, we have eagerly waited for You. At night my soul longs for You. Indeed my spirit seeks you diligently. For when the earth experiences Your judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness." Isa 26:7-10
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Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the call of God in the marketplace since the mid-90s. As founder of Global Initiatives Foundation and designer of the God's Economy Entrepreneurial Equippers Program, Mr. Ruddick imparts hope and equips economic community builders where God's light is dim in both the Western and non-Western world.

He is author of "The Joseph-Daniel Calling;" "Gods Economy, Israel and the Nations;" "The Heart of a King;" "Something More;" "Righteous Power in a Corrupt World;" and "Leadership by Anointing," which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders called to impact their communities with God's blessings. They are available in print and e-versions from www.Amazon.comwww.apple.com/ibooksand www.BarnesandNoble.com.

Global Initiatives Foundation (www.strategic-initiatives.org) is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 non-profit whose efforts are enabled by the generosity of a remnant of faithful friends and contributors whose vision aligns with God's heart to mobilize the persecuted church to be the head and not the tail. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to PO Box 370291, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card athttp://strategicintercession.org/support/

Likewise, email us to schedule a seminar for your congregation on the wisdom the persecuted church has for the West or on anointing the creative.

2015 Copyright Morris Ruddick -- sign@strategicintercession.org

Reproduction is prohibited unless permission is given by a SIGN advisor. Since early 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic intercessors and leaders committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For previous posts or more information on SIGN, check:http://www.strategicintercession.org

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