1965 vision given to Stanley Frodsham

The following is an excerpt from a prophecy given at the Elim Bible Institute Summer Camp Meeting in 1965 by the late Stanley Frodsham.

Brother Frodsham was a recognized prophet and teacher in the Body of Christ whose life and ministry spanned the Pentecostal Revival, the great Healing Revival and the early days of the Charismatic Movement. He also authored the well-known book, “Smith Wigglesworth: Apostle of Faith”.

It will do us well to take notice of these things, as we are seeing such deception rising up strongly in the Body today. Many of us have heard these preachers and teachers, and have believed what they first ministered in, because we saw certain signs and wonders, prophecies that were “spot on”, and were caught up in the enthusiasm that John Wesley warned about. Now the line has been crossed somewhere and strange teachings are coming to the fore. These are camouflaged as “deep truths” or “present hour” revelations – things they tell us can only be understood if you are one of the elect (elite). Sadly, sadly is it now true that MANY have not used their discernment, and the wolves are nipping at the sheep’s feet. Soon the blood shall flow and spiritual death will come. It is time to repent. These days have been prophesied. The day is looming.  Come Lord Jesus!

May the Lord have mercy, may we still have time to repent.

Peter McArthur

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The following is the word given to Stanley Frodsham

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“When I visit My people in mighty revival power, it is to prepare
them for the darkness ahead. With the glory shall come great darkness,
for the glory is to prepare My people for the darkness. I will enable
My people to go through because of the visitation of My Spirit. Take
heed to yourselves lest you be puffed up and think that you have
arrived. Many shall be puffed up as in the olden days, for many then
received My message but they continued not in it. Did I not anoint Jehu?

“Yet the things I desired were not accomplished in his life. Listen to
the messengers, but do not hold men’s persons in admiration. For many
whom I shall anoint mightily, with signs and miracles, shall be lifted
up and shall fall away by the wayside. I do not do this willingly;
I have made provision that they might stand. I call many into this min-
istry and equip them; but remember that many shall fall. They shall be
like bright lights and people shall delight in them. But they shall be
taken over by deceiving spirits and shall lead many of My people away.

“Hearken diligently concerning these things, for in the last days will
come seducing spirits that shall turn many of My anointed ones away.
Many shall fall through various lusts and because of sin abounding.
But if you will seek Me diligently, I will put My Spirit within you.
When one shall turn to the right hand or to the left you shall not turn
with them, but keep your eyes wholly on the Lord. The coming days are
most dangerous, difficult and dark, but there shall be a mighty
outpouring of My Spirit upon many cities. My people must be diligently
warned concerning the days that are ahead. Many shall turn after
seducing spirits; many are already seducing My people. It is those
who do righteousness that are righteous. Many cover their sins by
theological words. But I warn you of seducing spirits who instruct
My people in a evil way.

“Many shall come with seducing spirits and hold out lustful enticements.
You will find that after I have visited My people again, the way shall
become more and more narrow, and fewer shall walk therein. But be not
deceived, the ways of righteousness are My ways. For though Satan comes
as an angel of light, hearken not to him; for those who perform miracles
and speak not righteousness are not of Me. I warn you with great in-
tensity that I am going to judge My house and have a church without spot
or wrinkle when I come. I desire to open your eyes and give you spir-
itual understanding, that you may not be deceived but may walk in
uprightness of heart before Me, loving righteousness and hating every
evil way.

“Look unto Me, and I will make you to perceive with eyes of
the Spirit the things that lurk in darkness that are not visible to the
human eye. Let me lead you in this way that you may perceive the powers
of darkness and battle against them. It is not a battle against flesh
and blood; for if you battle in that way, you accomplish nothing. But
if you let Me take over and battle against the powers of darkness, than
they are defeated, and then liberation is brought to My people.

“I warn you to search the Scriptures diligently concerning these last
days. For the things that are written shall indeed be made manifest.
There shall come deceivers among My people in increasing numbers who
shall speak for the truth and shall gain the favour of the people.
For the people shall examine the Scriptures and say, ‘What these men
say is true’. Then when they have gained the hearts of the people, then
and only then shall Satan enter into My people.

“Watch for seducers.
Do you think a seducer will brandish a new heresy and flaunt it before
the people? He will speak the words of righteousness and truth, and
will appear as a minister of light declaring the Word. The people’s
hearts shall be won. Then when the hearts are won, they will bring out
their doctrines, and the people shall be deceived. The people shall say,
‘Did he not speak thus and thus? And did we not examine it from the
Word? Therefore he is a minister of righteousness. This that he has
spoken we do not see in the Word, but it must be right, for the other
things he spoke were true.’

“Be not deceived. For the deceiver will first work to gain the hearts
of many, and then shall bring forth his insidious doctrines. You cannot
discern those that are of Me and those that are not of Me when they
start to preach. But seek Me constantly, and then when these doctrines
are brought out you shall have a witness in your heart that these are
not of Me.

“Fear not, for I have warned you. Many will be deceived. But
if you walk in holiness and uprightness before the Lord, your eyes
shall be open and the Lord will protect you. If you will constantly
look unto the Lord, you will know when the doctrine changes and will
not be brought into it. If your heart is right I will keep you; and if
you will constantly look to Me, I will uphold you.

“The minister of righteousness shall be on this wise: his life shall
agree with the Word and his lips shall give forth that which is wholly
true, and it will be no mixture. When the mixture appears, then you
will know he is not a minister of righteousness. The deceivers speak
first the truth then error, to cover their own sins which they love.
Therefore, I exhort and command you to study the Scriptures relative
to seducing spirits, for this is one of the great dangers of these
last days.

“I desire you to firmly be established in My Word and not in the per-
sonalities of men that you will not be moved as so many shall be moved.
Take heed to yourselves and follow not the seducing spirits that are
already manifesting themselves. Diligently inquire of Me when you hear
something that you have not seen in My Word, and do not hold people’s
persons in admiration – for it is by this very method Satan will destroy
many of My people.”

Stanley Frodsham 1882-1969

Zola Levitt discovered an amazing correlation between Biblical (Jewish) Holy Days and the gestation of a human baby, from conception to birth. While preparing for writing a book for new parents, Zola contacted a gynaecologist for some help in understanding gestation.

During that session, the gynaecologist showed him a series of pictures, pointed to the first one (an egg and a sperm) and said, “On the fourteenth day of the first month, the egg appears.”

The statement struck a chord in his Jewish mind because that was the date of Passover. He remembered the roasted egg on his family table every Passover. Now, for the first time, he knew what it meant! Not wanting to lead the gynaecologist off from the subject at hand, he didn’t say anything, but continued to listen.

The gynaecologist continued: “The egg must be fertilized within 24 hours, or it will pass on.” This reminded Zola of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the seed or grain that “fell into the ground and died” in order to produce a harvest, the firstfruits of which was presented to God.

Next, the gynaecologist said, “Within two to six days, the fertilized egg attaches itself to the wall of the womb and begins to grow.” And, sure enough, the Jewish evangelist thought, “The Feast of Firstfruits is observed anywhere from two to six days after Passover!”

Next, he was shown a photo of an embryo showing arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, toes, a head, eyes, etc. The caption said, “Fifty days.” The gynaecologist continued, “Around the fiftieth day, the embryo takes on the form of a human being. Until then, we don’t know if we have a duck or a tadpole.” Zola thought, “That’s Pentecost!”

The next picture showed the embryo at seven months. The gynaecologist said, “On the first day of the seventh month, the baby’s hearing is developed. For the first time, it can hear and distinguish sounds outside the womb.” Zola knew that was the date for the Jewish Festival of Trumpets.

The gynaecologist continued, “On the tenth day of the seventh month, the haemoglobin of the blood changes from that of the mother, to a self-sustaining baby.” Zola thought, “That’s the Day of Atonement, when the blood was taken into the Holy of holies!”

Next, the gynaecologist said, “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the lungs become fully developed. If born before then, the baby would have a hard time breathing.” And Zola thought, “That’s the festival of Tabernacles, a time of celebrating the Temple, home of the Shekinah glory or Spirit of God.” In the New Testament, the Greek term pneuma, normally translated as “breath,” is applied to the “Holy Spirit.”

Birth takes place on the tenth day of the ninth month. Eight days after birth, in Jewish families, a son is circumcised. Zola noted that the eight days of Hanukkah are celebrated right on schedule, nine months and ten days after Passover.

No human being could have understood the gestation period 3,500 years ago. The establishment of the Jewish Holy Days was given to Moses by Jehovah, Himself. Its correlation with the human gestation period is not only remarkable; it proves “Intelligent Design.” It proves the existence of an intelligence beyond this world. It proves that there is a Creator God that guides the affairs of man.

On Wednesday, April 19, 2006, Zola Levitt went home to be with the Lord after a battle with lung cancer. The announcement on his website added: “What a soldier’s testimonial — to stay at his post until called away by Yeshua! Happy is the man whose work is his play.”

In giving his testimony, Zola wrote:

“I came to the Lord on March 14, 1971, through the urgings of Campus Crusaders at Indiana University. They challenged me to read the Scriptures, particularly the Book of John. I went by night, like Nicodemus, to the campus director’s home and brought a New Testament bound by itself (what Dr. McCall, our ministry senior theologian refers to as ‘The Amputated Bible’).

“When I read John’s cosmic views of the Lord and the plan of salvation, I realized that I was reading Jewish writing about a Jewish Messiah, and a Jewish way to God. All the Campus Crusaders might have been Gentiles, but I knew Jewish thought when I read it. My prayer of 28 years ago was extremely simple. I said to God, ‘If You’re there, show me.’ An open-minded look at the life I have led since that moment would have to conclude that He has indeed shown me wonders.”

The correlation between the Jewish festivals and the birthing of a baby was just one of those “wonders.”

Peter McArthur

The Issachar Ministry

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1. THE SPIRITUAL MAN

• The Spiritual Man lives from his spirit, not from his mind life, the soul.
• We need to learn how to come into an “Assembly of Believers” and not just be individuals in a Meeting.
• Be a congregation of one spirit, mind and heart.
• When we meet in true spiritual unity there is a sense of the quality of the Holy Spirit’s presence
• There are “laws of unity” which have nothing to do with agreement of doctrines but are “spiritual laws”. Our growth in the Spirit depends on how much spiritual substance or character we have.
• We need the “discerning of spirits”. But he who is spiritual judges (=discerns) all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. (1 Cor 2:15)
• Such a spiritual man is beyond human and soulish judging because he is a “mystery” to people. He lives in and from a different realm, the spiritual!
• Our minds might think like Jesus but it still cannot produce “life” or comprehend the things of God.

2. THE MIND OF CHRIST

• We have the mind of Christ: For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2:16).
• This mind is not in our soul but in our spiritual life. It is gained both by being Born Again and by habitually abiding in the presence of the Lord.
• The mind of man cannot receive the things of God (1 Cor 2:14), if they do try to hold these it can only be done so by memorizing them in our minds, not our spirits.
• By abiding in the presence of the Lord we can begin to receive all He has for us. The fruit of this will show in the divine effect our words and actions leave behind us as a deposit.
• Jesus always left a supernatural effect and deposit.
• If we don’t have such an effect it means our soul is displacing Jesus. The mind sets itself up as “God” in the Temple of God. But if we walk in the Spirit we’ll never have failures.

3. BECOME A FATHER PLEASER 2 Cor. 5:9

• Jesus was a Father Pleaser (John 5:19 and 8:29).
• Since the Father is a spirit we cannot know Him except by the spirit and we cannot “see” Him except by spiritual eyes.
• Pleasing the Father is doing the things He shows us and saying the things He speaks to us (Jhn 5:19 compare Lk 2:49).
• Enoch’s testimony was that he pleased God: “for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Heb. 11:5)
• Faith pleases God: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him “ (Heb 11:6)
• The flesh cannot please God: ”So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. “ (Rom 8:8).
• Jesus lost nothing even though He gave the Father all the glory! When we please the Father rather than ourselves we will in fact benefit much more than we can ever hope for.
• This is a spiritual secret that the spiritual man has learnt, to please the Father even to the hating of his own needs.

4. MIND OR SPIRIT?

• All our Knowledge and Learning cannot produce spiritual results. We can learn about truths but they won’t work.
• If we don’t learn how to distinguish (=divide) our soul and spirit, then our minds will play “God” and attempt to direct and control us.
• The mind/soul might even “talk like God” and sound “spiritual” but it won’t be Him. Many Christians fall into deception about hearing the voice of God thinking He has spoken to them when in fact it’s been their own soul “playing God”.

5. EXPERIENCE BY THE SPIRIT

• It’s with our spirit that we experience God. Growing up in Christ isn’t “learning” but experiencing.
• During a message or sermon “lean forward in your spirit into” the teaching. Never become passive in your spirit-man.
• The Holy Spirit has much to say when listening to a preacher, teacher, etc. We should be able to draw 10 times more from the preacher than he’s in fact saying, but the Holy Spirit.
• Learn to mix the Word with Faith. This is not an ability of the mind but of the spirit: “but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (Heb 4:2).
• The consequences of not doing this is that the Israelites died! There are drastic consequences when we don’t live from the spirit.
• We grow through intimacy, both in the natural and spiritual realms. Intimate acts are done in a private, secret place. So too in the spiritual realm – intimacy with God is found in the secret place in the prayer closet (Mtt 6:6).
• Living in the Spirit and living from our spirit-man is living and walking, saying and hearing, thinking and speaking, and working by faculties and senses that are non-existent in the natural man. Exercise these spiritual senses (Heb 5:14).

Teaching by
Peter McArthur

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“His coming is according to the working of Satan in all power and miraculous signs and lying wonders, and in all deceit of unrighteousness in those being lost, because they did not receive the love of the truth in order for them to be saved. And because of this, God will send to them a working of error, for them to believe the lie, that all may be judged, those not believing the truth, but who have delighted in unrighteousness”. 2 Thess. 2: 9-12

Note the phrase “love of the truth” mentioned in verse 10.

In His own time and way the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth (John 16:13).

There are two requirements laid on us if we would come into all truth.

We must become yielded to God’s Spirit as Teacher, and, we must love His written Word with a passion.

A strong conviction is also needed, that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim 3:16 and 2 Pet. 1:21). There is a parallel between what we find in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and what happened in Eden when the Satan beguiled Eve. It was there in the Garden that “the mystery of iniquity” (2 Thess 2:7) began its work that has continued through the ages till this day.

“Mystery” is from the Greek mustérion which means “a secret” known only to the initiated, or that will remain under cover until its time of revelation has come.

“Iniquity” is from he anomía, which means “the lawlessness” and has reference directly to the utter disregard for God’s Law. The small word he (pronounced “hay”) is a Greek Definite Article meaning “the.” It specifies the word it precedes as distinct. Hence it is “the mystery of THE iniquity” which is an attitude toward God that denies He has any right to rule.

The iniquity began with an assault on the mind of Eve in Eden. It has continued through the ages with its hold on all humanity. This will continue till its final work when all its poison will be released toward the minds of those who have found redemption through the Seed of the Woman (Gen 3:15) — those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ. “The wicked one” (Mtt 13:19) will fix his strategic gaze on us who are set in the earth to “withstand” him (Eph 6:13). As the age winds down, he is working to throw our minds off kilter with the goal of disabling us for function with Christ in His Kingdom.

In 2 Cor 10:4-5 Paul makes it clear what will come in our counter strategy when we realize that the main end-time battlefield is our mind. See some of the powerful insights of the following passage in 2 Thess 2: 1-2. “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that you be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.”

Paul’s exhortation was with regard to the “coming” of the Lord. This word “coming” is from the Greek word parousía, meaning Christ’s return to earth to reign. At that time all true believers will be gathered together unto Him with no walls or divisions. This grand appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ is the end toward which this age is now moving. Paul’s concern for this was that believers “be not soon shaken in mind.”

Note where the attack is aimed! The deception of the enemy, coupled with the trauma of the age ending, could throw the mind of even a true believer into turmoil so that it lacks all sound judgment or understanding. It was Paul’s concern that this not be so. There are 3 ways by which spiritual revelation may come by spirit, by spoken word, or by written word. True and pure revelation comes by the Holy Spirit, but there are also other spirits at work mimicking God’s Spirit. It is here we need that operation of the Holy Spirit called discerning of spirits (1 Cor 12:10). This is the ability given to us by God’s Spirit through which we put spiritual revelation to the test and discern whether it’s from the Lord or not.

There are three fundamental criteria by which we seek to judge any revelation that comes to us.

1. Is it in line with God’s Word?

2. Does it bring exaltation to the Lord Jesus Christ?

3. Is the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon it?

Our concern should be that no matter what happens or how it happens or when it happens, believers will not be thrown into tumult, drowned by discouragement, or lost to Christ’s Kingdom because they lose the stability of their minds. Teaching mixed with error can cause this, but revelation that is pure always brings stability. One is holy; the other is not. The following verses (2 Thess 2:3-4) are heavy with revelation as Paul writes to the saints he loved dearly. “Let no man deceive you (beguile you from the path) by any means: for that Day shall not come, except there come a falling away (THE apostasy) first, and that man of sin (that man of THE sin) be revealed, the son of (THE) perdition (the one who wastes all things; the one who is set in the earth to mastermind a final great destruction); Who opposes (sets himself in opposition to) and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God (a god).”

The Lord Jesus referred to this same thing in Mtt 23:11-12. “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many (lead many down the path of falsehood). And because iniquity shall abound (the iniquity shall be multiplied), the love of many shall grow cold”. That we may abide in the truth in this trying time is our desire and the purpose of any true Berean! Paul used the word náos for Temple in the above Thessalonian passage. It means the Most Holy Place in the Temple. Another word hiéron also means “temple,” but it always signifies the Temple as a building. Paul was clear in his conviction that it was not a building of stones, but of living members, redeemed people, believers.(See Acts 17:24; 1 Cor 3:16-17; 1 Cor 6:19; 2 Cor 6:16; Eph 3:21).

The anti-Christ’s scheme is to spoil this Temple so it cannot be useful in Christ’s Kingdom. But this activity will only push us to learn more of what is called prevailing grace! The grace and power of God will far exceed the determination of anti-Christ to ruin us for the Kingdom. Take note of the statement “he as God sits in the Temple”. The little word in comes from the Greek eis, which means “into, or unto”. This presents a picture of the “son of perdition” pushing in toward the Temple, contending for the Holy of Holies. But it does not say he becomes seated in it.

At the very instant it seems the enemy might accomplish this grand feat and make his parousía on the world’s scene, the Lord Jesus makes His glorious appearing and consumes Satan. Paul was clear in warning the people that spirits of deception would keep an eye on believers to get them away from the Lord and His purpose for them. 2 Thess 2:5 “Don’t you remember that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?”

The Greek word in this verse from which we get “I told” is a Greek phrase spelled in a way to let us know it was Paul’s practice to speak time and time again of these important matters. The energy of the wicked one has been in operation in the world as “the mystery of iniquity” ever since the deception in Eden. But there has remained a restraint on the iniquity until the antichrist himself, not just his spirit, is on the scene. “And then shall that Wicked (the wicked one) be revealed (uncovered; disclosed), whom the Lord shall consume (use up; destroy) with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy (render powerless) with the brightness of His coming (the glorious manifestation of His presence)” 2 Thess 2:8

Following the long period while iniquity has been under restraint, it will make a final breakout on earth. The destruction to which this verse points comes when sin has come to its full. Then, a final act of rebellion against God calls for the return of the Lord Jesus. The wicked one will determine to take the Throne of Christ’s Kingdom by mimicking the Lord Jesus, and will attempt a glorious burst on the scene to make his presence known in all the earth. He will be energized in his own parousía by Satan himself.

See the following revealing statement in 2 Thess. 2:9-10. “Even him (the anti-Christ himself), whose coming is according to the working (energetic power) of Satan with all power (dynamic power) and signs and lying wonders (terrifying lies), and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish (them that are perishing); because they received not (laid not hold on) the love of the truth, that they might be saved”.

The word parousía occurs 18 times in the Greek New Testament. Every time it is with reference to the Lord Jesus. This word describes the appearance on the scene of a majestic ruler. What a brazen insubordination the devil will attempt this with his man, the antichrist! Let us stress this again: antichrist’s plan is to win the throne belonging to the Lord Jesus. His only hope is to deceive the followers of Jesus as he deceived our parents in Eden. His aim is to capture our minds and our hearts. According to the teaching of Scripture those who would lose their way in the final days would be those who received not the love of the truth.

Let’s not be deceived; let’s be the ones who receive a love for the Truth. There’s a powerful statement in 2 Cor 10:4-5 that lays out the very principle of renouncing THE LIE and releasing our minds for the Truth that is in Christ. “…for the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful to God to the demolishing of strongholds, the demolishing of arguments and every high thing lifting up itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ…”

Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to usher truth into your inward parts. This is a strategy by which we bring our own minds under subjection to Christ. It is very effective as hearts become open to the Word of God’s Kingdom.

Now let these things of prime importance be settled with us:

• We acknowledge that Jesus Christ is our Lord
• We choose to believe the Word of God
• That it is inspired by the Holy Spirit
• That its truth abides
• That the Holy Spirit is ready to bear witness to it, and
• That we must neither add to it nor take from it.

Let us be committed to these things above all!

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There is one outstanding factor we see again and again just prior to a revival or spiritual awakening: and that is, God-given vision returns to the Church!

The absence of true heavenly vision accounts for so much that is dead and lost in the church today. However the presence of heaven’s vision brings a clear and definite transformation. There is, as-it-were, a swallowing up into God. When we see again what God sees, when we again have confidence in heaven and no longer pander to the things of earth, when we begin to stand, rather than wilt at the knees then, all things work together for good in a most remarkable way.

God’s purpose for us upon the earth is that we be governed by His Holy Spirit. You can call it by other names such as being led by the Spirit or Sonship or Walking worthy of the Gospel , but whatever we choose to call it, it’s neatly summed up in the phrase “being governed by the Spirit” .

The Father calls us to be a people who live under the Holy Spirit’s government. That governing is to do with the Father’s eternal purpose. But it s simply not enough to be led by the Spirit (under His governing) unless we also love God AND know our calling.

Notice what Paul had to say : “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” . (Romans 8: 28).

When we love God and respond to Him by being subject to the Holy Spirit’s governing, then indeed all things will work together for us! Hence we need to have a vision of the Father’s purpose, for His purpose governs all things, both animate and inanimate.

What is that purpose, that vision ? Can we see it totally and fully? No! God does not divulge His purpose or vision completely in any one-given season. It’s a principle in the Word that
God-given vision simply isn’t given in totality at any one time. When the Book of Revelation finishes we are still left wondering, What happens next ?

God’s vision is most definitely imparted to us, but in seasons of His choosing. However, His vision is always subject to enlargement when and how He chooses. He doesn’t arbitrary
change it to fit the circumstances; rather He reveals it when He sees hearts and minds receptive to the moving of His Spirit.

When this factor is present, God’s vision begins to be fulfilled through the next stage.

In order for this to happen it s most likely that the vehicle used previously to bring in the prior part of His purpose will be succeeded by a new vehicle or means. God is indeed a God of enlargement, as it were. He’s always on the increase, blessing His people with an ever-expanding revelation of His person and purpose. This actually means that men’s hearts need to accommodate for the enlargement of vision. The heavenly will constantly press in on us, and we need to accommodate for that increased spiritual knowledge.

The danger of any one period in the church age is that we hang back holding onto previous moves of God, making them our modern-day traditions. God is a God of Life and to hold back from moving on into further life will brings us into a death of sorts. God’s grand purpose and vision for His people is one that is heaven-centred, and it moves further and further away from temporal things. This is one reason why a true saint of God will find less and less satisfaction in the things of the world, and more and more desire for the heavenly. Paul expressed it wonderfully when he wrote: “For this cause we do not faint; but though our outward man perishes, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day”. (2 Cor 4: 16).

This tells us that no matter what faces us in the earth realm, no matter what tragedy should befall us, no matter what crisis we are faced with, no matter what. Keep the heavenly vision central and you will not wilt under the things of the temporal realm. God is not One who is limited whatsoever; He is not a God of reduction, limitation, incapacity or anything like that. He is the One who is Great beyond measure, the One who fills all things.

If limitation or reduction should come our way on earth, it is His pruning back in order that we might see clearly again. There is always a purpose to His work, and it is never, never
limitation as the human mind would see it. Note for instance how Paul was limited from his travelling ministry and incarcerated in prison. Was this limitation? In the earthly sense, yes. In the greater, heavenly sense, absolutely not! Some of Paul’s greatest and most spiritually insightful letters were written when he was in chains.

Certainly we’re aware that the Adversary will attempt to limit us, reduce us, and even rob us. Yet even when this should happen does that make him lord ? Not over us it doesn’t! We have One Lord who is seated in the heavenlies at our Father’s right hand. Even the schemes and moves of our Adversary cannot limit what is limitless within us. Christ in us cannot be
suppressed. When we submit to the Holy Spirit’s governing over us we find the most wonderful place of safety and security. We have learnt Gods purpose, for we know our calling
and have seen the vision.

This kind of thing makes us people of prayer, people of vision, and a people of great testimony. The heaven-sent vision of God’s grand purpose becomes a dynamic thing within us. In this hour of the modern church how we need saints who have seen what heaven sees, who know the Father’s purpose, and who are willing to be governed by His glorious Spirit.
At this stage in the earth s history we see Islam rising up in its attempt to force the world, particularly the West, to submit it to its rule. How shall this battle be won?

Most especiallywithin the hearts and minds of the saints of God who know what it means to be submitted to God’s purpose first and foremost. Whatever the outcome is with Islam, it can never succeed, for it s a desert religion that can only make men thirst more and more for Truth. As God’s Word so wonderfully puts it: The truth is in Jesus (Eph. 4: 21)

Blessings and the Lord’s favour upon you,

Peter McArthur

“Issachar, who understood the times”

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1. WHAT DO WE MEAN BY THE PROPHETIC ?

The term “prophet” and “the prophetic” these days has come to mean virtually the same
thing – something to do with giving correct Words to encourage and build up. But there
is a vast difference between the two terms.

Prophet quite correctly has a fairly narrow term of reference, but the prophetic
covers a much greater area. It basically means an anointed ministry, which in
revealing divine direction during a given season, points you to new life in God.
It may not even include a single Prophetic Word! And the person giving the counsel of
God may not even hold the office of Prophet!

Rather, it is a person who is open to the voice of the Holy Spirit and who knows how to
offer a Rhema Word of counsel from the throne room of heaven without taint.
Note that I say counsel and not advice . Avoid Christians who give you advice . That
is man’s view of a matter, and it may sound reasonable, logical, sensible and even a
little spiritual . But it s still Man and not God.

So the Prophetic Person speaks from God’s mind, thereby avoiding the advice of the
human mind and experience (Prov. 16: 1 and 9).

2. THE ROLE OF THE PROPHETIC PERSON

Let’s look again at my definition of The Prophetic (1)an anointed ministry, (2)that in
revealing divine direction (3)during a given season (4)opens you to new life in
God.

There are four points in this that are vital to understand:

1 an anointed ministry
2 revealing divine direction
3 during a given season
4 that opens you to new life in God.

First, the ministry or person needs to be Anointed. The word means to be
enchristened and refers to being Christ-like. [Strongs G5548 chrio it has the idea
of contact, to smear or rub with oil, and by implication to consecrate].

In other words the person needs to be in contact with The Christ, to be smeared and
covered with the same anointing that Jesus had, and to be set aside (consecrated) to
that calling and work. We need to look for such a heart attitude in the person we are
intending to trust, minister or allow us to lead.

Second, the prophetic person will not give advice, but reveal to you God’s direction for
that moment or next stage of your life. They will reveal ( take off the cover, disclose )
what God wants you to see and know.

They will not add their bit to it nor attempt to direct you they will take off the cover
over your mind, life and spiritual eyes, allowing you to see what God alone wants.
The Prophetic Person must never be tempted to give direction or voice their own
opinion, but must allow God to speak, and God alone.

Third, the revealing of God’s ways comes during set seasons, and rarely as regular
occurrences. The Lord has given us the natural seasons, the season s of one’s life, and
even the seasonal feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles, as parables of how
He works in us.

He uses seasons or stages to instruct us because the in-between times are meant for
us to learn how to apply the teaching and lesson presented by Him.
A wise person will take advantage of these seasons of God and draw as much as
possible from them. To ignore them brings us into disobedience and stunts our spiritual
growth.

Each season has its own spiritual character just like the natural seasons can be
identified by how much heat, cold, rain, snow etc is in them.

The Prophetic will speak revelation into these seasons of our life. It s vital that we listen
to the Rhema Word and act on it. We will not advance to the next season of our
spiritual development until we ve lived through the season God gives at that appointed
time. We cannot short circuit God’s dealings with us!

Have you noticed that prophetic ministries have the knack of turning up at just the right
season and imparting a Word that brings change? This is a noticeable feature of their
calling.

Fourth, the ministry of  The Prophetic will always lead you into a new realm in God. It
imparts life and it transforms.
This is one way you can gauge the validity of a prophetic ministry have they
deposited truth and change?

3. LEADING WITH THE PROPHETIC

Don’t be tempted to see the prophetic as some sort of wonder tool that will bring instant
revelation and guidance to those you re shepherding. Keep your eyes on Jesus, not the
prophetic no matter how anointed and effective it might be.

Allow others to see that you model this lifestyle by sharing your own experiences of
how the prophetic has helped you. They need to know they can trust this type of
guidance.

Once a person has received counsel from you on a matter, you will need to re-adjust
them from time to time as they begin to apply the Truth in their situation. This may
happen a number of times before it clicks . Be patient.

Keep humble in all this. Often those you re shepherding will perceive your prophetic
guidance as great wisdom, and may be tempted to idolize you.

Some pointers from my own experience:

*Speak and minister with authority
*Try to bring the person to a place of accountability regarding the counsel you’ve
given
*Be wary of their words as they’re often couched in spiritual jargon, but behind it
can be self-interest, ambition and a hasty spirit
*Look for the motives behind their heart.
*Don’t be afraid to be bold in declaring what you know God is saying to the
person.
*Check your own spirit so you know it s not your advice you re giving but what God
wants to say.
*Use the occasion to teach and impart God’s ways to the person (Psa. 25:4)

May the Lord and His teaching Spirit guide us into ALL of His wondrous ways!
Blessings and grace to you,

Peter McArthur
The Issachar Ministry

___________________________________________________________________________

HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD:

So many times believers have difficulty in discerning the Voice of the Lord. Over the
years I have noticed some fundamental principles that can prepare our hearts to hear
His voice. There are many fine books and teachers that can offer deeper insights than
outlined here, but I feel the following principles can be helpful in establishing a pattern
or grid upon which we can build. May they prove beneficial to you!

1. PREPARING TO HEAR
In order to clearly hear the Voice of God we must clean up our inner thoughts and
take control over our mind. We need to take captive our own thoughts and
imaginations. (2 Cor. 10:5).

The best preparation to hear the Lord’s voice is to stop the incessant chattering
away in our own mind first.

This can be done by having a single-minded focus on the Lord and eternal
things. Learn to prayer without ceasing (1 Thess 5: 17) and by beholding the
Lord . This will quieten the wandering thoughts of the mind.

Next, learn to act immediately on a convicting word from the Holy Spirit. Whenever
you feel a conviction of sin, deal with it immediately. Do not allow it to fester into
something worse particularly apathy. Rebellion follows!

We need to acquire the habit of allowing our actions to link up with our thoughts.
Harmony of spirit and soul is an important step in clearly hearing the Voice of
God.

2. IS THERE ANY PATTERN?
Experience and history shows a clear pattern of how men and women through the
centuries have come to know the voice of God without confusion, struggle or
deceit.

The most common denominator of all such mature Christians has been this:
spend at least one uninterrupted hour a day sitting in the presence of the
Lord.

This is apart from a time of intercession or supplication when you might be asking
God for something. And it s apart from your time of devotional reading time or
study time.

Having given prime time to sitting in the presence of the Lord, these mature
Christians then practice the art of on and off praying , speaking to the Lord
throughout the day in short uncomplicated prayers (often called arrow prayers).

This kind of prayer was used often by such men as Wesley, Moody and Finney.
The fruit of living in the Spirit like this is seen in their lives and ministries even
down to the present day.

Doing this will make you very receptive to the Holy Spirit and you will begin to find
the Voice of God to be much more distinct.

This is a two-fold approach in preparing to hear His Voice. First, spend some time
(perhaps one hour) in which you quietly focus in on the Lord and just learn to sit
and relax at His feet. Second, learn to extend that atmosphere of being with Him
into your daily life. This is done by continually keeping your focus God-directed.
Both of these will gradually prepare your heart to clearly hear the Voice of the
Lord. It does work!

I would warn you here that what I am talking about in NOT to be confused with mysticism.

There is a growing tendency even amongst evangelicals to use this practice. Beware!

3. LEARN TO IDENTIFY THE VOICE
Think back on some occasion when you thought you heard God speak, and when
you then saw the situation come to pass. Think now: what were you feeling at the
time when you thought you heard God speak? Learn to pick up the sensations you
were having when the voice came. Next time you think you hear God’s voice use
this past experience as a kind of litmus test. Was the feeling or sensation similar to
your previous experience? If it was it s most probable God speaking again.

I’m not saying you are to simply go by feelings but they can assist you to make a
correct diagnosis when attempting to identify His voice. You know the past
experience proved to be of God’s making thus validating the voice you had heard.
So when that sensation comes again accompanied by a similar voice it may well
be the Lord speaking to you.

This might seem a strange way to identify His voice, but its surprisingly common.
It’s just that a lot of people don t link the two God’s voice, and what they were
feeling or sensing at the time. My own experience has proved this truth over and
over.

Eventually you become so fine-tuned to the Lord’s voice that you no longer pay
attention to the sensation that accompanies it. This is a sign of spiritual growth.
Identifying the sensation is solely to help you be confident about what voice you re
hearing.

Remember too that God’s voice might be urgent but never pushy. The Lord might hasten
you to do something, but Satan will drive you! Learn to know the difference.

4. A RECEPTIVE HEART
While there is no formula for hearing God’s voice or making Him communicate with
us, there are some basic ground rules that will make us more sensitive to His
voice.

First, love Him more deeply and intimately.
Second, desire to know Him more intently and personally.
Third, seek Him above everything else.

If we keep these 3 attitudes in our heart we ll become much more sensitive to the
voice of the Spirit. Taste and see!

5. STEPS THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR SENSITIVITY
Approach Him with an open heart, willing to listen to whatever He might speak.

• Don’t approach Him with your mind already imaging what He might say.
• Don’t ask God to speak to you about something that’s already quite clear in
  Scripture. He’s already spoken.
• Don’t limit God to your viewpoint. He’s not confined to answer you according to
  your view. It might be quite different!
• When you do hear God speak, obey Him.
• Show your love to Him through worship and serving others.
• Work at deepening your trust and faith in the Lord, no matter what. A genuine
  Spirit-led lifestyle is the greatest asset in knowing His voice. (Gal. 5: 25 and 1 Cor.
  10: 31)
• Honour and love God above everything and everyone else.

Blessings and the Lord’s favour upon you,
Peter McArthur

_________________________________________________________________________

Often when we enter into some new Biblical revelation we might think we are beginning
to get a fairly good hold on what the purpose of God really is about. Even if we think we
do have a handle on it, there is always more.

It’s not enough to have an understanding of the Grand Purpose, we also need to know
HOW we are to participate in it, and also HOW God is working all this to its appointed
end.

Correct vision of this purpose and right “seeing” is important, but do we understand the
ways in which God will bring all this to pass? There are certain spiritual principles (“laws”
if you like) that God uses in order to bring things to their appointed end.

When we can truly say in our hearts that we not only “know” the vision but also what in
us is likely to stymie it, only then can we have a valued testimony and stand before the
brethren to speak it. Then they will say about us; “This one knows the vision and can
even alert me to the pitfalls along the way – to this one will I listen, for he has heard from
heaven”.

So God will use men and women of Heavenly Vision who are able to state what it is, to
disclose the ways in which God will bring it to pass, and who are able to adjust the
thinking of those who might be prone to hasten or even short-circuit the prescribed way.
We dare not entertain doing this unless we have first “seen the Lord”. From the
Beginning of the gospel period to its End we find those who have “seen the Lord”. The
apostles saw Him in His resurrected state, and in John’s grand revelation he saw Him in
His glorified state. The whole New Testament from start to finish is a collection of
writings that cry out “We have seen Him!” There is literally no greater vision than this.

Everyone from that first point on who has lived out the gospel has also “seen Him”. It’s
this vision of Him and Who He is and our part in it, that glues the whole story together.
When we get the right vision it will stay firm within us despite all the daily grind, the
times of fleeting doubt or soulish fretting, even the illnesses and seeming injustices of
life.

When we can stand in “a broad place” (Psalm 18:19) and see things as they are
eternally meant to be, then we can proclaim from the very depths of our inner man and
say “I know this to be true despite what the circumstances of life might otherwise say”.
We will stand firm in our conviction.

This is one reason why correct vision is so important. True heaven-sent vision that has
engaged one’s heart and become a foundation deep within, will bring us through. Recall
that it was Joshua as a young man who remained faithful at the door of the Tent of
Meeting to keep his focus and vision centred (Exodus 33: 11).

Imagine this for a moment. Moses had come down from the mount only to find another
“vision” had been placed before the people; the golden calf. After this idol was destroyed
we find young Joshua remaining at the Tabernacle, the meeting place of man with God,
the place of extraordinary heavenly vision. No doubt he wanted to keep close as
possible to God’s original vision for Israel. He stayed focussed. He didn’t let the sin of
false vision, as displayed by the golden calf, sway him off course.

Later this would happen again. At the entrance to Canaan, Joshua was excited to at last
see the Promised Land. He, along with Caleb and the other ten entered in according to
God’s command. They saw and they tasted the fruit of that Promise. Two grasped what
God’s intent was about; ten let the circumstances speak a different vision to their hearts.

The ten said, “We SAW the giants…we were like grasshoppers IN OUR OWN
SIGHT “(Numbers 13: 33). Take note of what their vision dictated to them. It was
strong enough to make them fear, doubt and rebel.

But when God forbade the people to enter into Canaan that first time, when they had to
endure the forty years of hardship, mumbling, fear and regret, Joshua kept his vision
focussed. He kept the vision sharpened. He undoubtedly reminded himself of what was
yet to come. This enabled him to be ready to go in when the Lord spoke the second
time. He wouldn’t let unbelieving hearts dictate to him now. He had accepted what
Heaven spoke to Moses and he held fast to it, not wavering in it, but letting it day by day
grow deeper and deeper in him, and yet at the same time, letting its truth rise to the
surface.

Joshua’s vision of “entering in” was always just below the surface. True, it had gone
deep in him at first, but when it had formed a solid foundation within, it began to rise
towards the surface. Day by day it must have grown within him, so much so that no
doubt he groaned waiting for its reality. When that day came and Heaven spoke to enter
in, he was ready. He was prepared. He was not slack. He was a man of the given vision
and he had not let it wither those forty long years.

There are many today amongst the brethren who are hearing this wonderful purpose
and vision extolled. Not near enough are hearing it, but at least more than in previous
generations. However unless the proclaimers of this Grand Purpose of Harmony are
also able to warn about the pitfalls, to alert the brethren of the subtle deceptions, and to
disclose God’s way of bringing it to pass, we will have “ten” more who will balk when the
“entering in” is at hand.

Those ten spies (note how they are described!) would’ve known the vision that Moses
had repeatedly spoken about the Promised Land. But when the crunch came they were
self-focussed. True vision actually means death to self-vision. We need to get that
straight in our thinking.

Joshua was not identifying himself so much with the vision of “entering in” as if it was
some “thing”, or some “purpose” to be fulfilled. Rather he was identifying with the Mover
of that purpose, God Himself. There’s a great difference between aligning with a
“movement or purpose”, and aligning with God who is the Mover of that purpose.

Some people will readily jump on the band-wagon of a new movement, they will clamber
to identify with a new church across town who has a great vision, and they will readily
give themselves to the “new work”. They speak of commitment, and maybe even
consecration to the new work, but when things become difficult and Satan or the soul
presses in, they cave in. What’s happened?

They have made the error of aligning with the “vision or purpose” rather than aligning
themselves to the Mover, the Lord God. Worse still they may be the type of people who
live off second-hand revelations rather than receiving the call direct from the Lord. Our
commitment or consecration must always come out of identification to the Lord, rather
than our identification with the vision. He must always take the priority.

As we allow the Lord to take His rightful place, we begin to see what He’s really about.
We glimpse the vision He has, and it’s out of seeing like He sees that we’re moved to
identify with that vision. In other words, commitment to a vision should come of out
seeing as the Vision-Giver sees, not just because we approve of the vision itself. We
need to see as God sees.

There’s a principle in the Word: “Seeing precedes entering in”.

Think about that for a moment. Abraham had to “see” the stars in the heavens before he
could move on in his journey. Moses was taken up the mount to “see” the Promised
Land before the people could enter in. The disciples had to “see” what the Kingdom was
about through signs and wonders, before Jesus could send them out to proclaim it.

A wise pastor or elder will not get too excited when people want to join their church
because they “like the vision”. He will be cautious, because such people often put the
vision before He who gives it. They’d never say that of course, but their words and works
will eventually betray that attitude. How important it is to make certain the flock under
one’s care know the Vision-Giver first before they sign up to the vision itself.

Without “seeing” the vision for ourselves we are prone to want to adjust it later as we tire
of, or get frustrated with, the outworking of the vision. Our own ideas may begin to
surface in an attempt to rescue the supposed decaying vision. Striving soon takes place,
and a spiritual battle will ensure. Sadly this often ends in spiritual depression for some
and usually results in a parting of ways for others.

So it is that we first need to get to know God’s great eternal purpose, as clearly as
possible in our heart. Once we have seen what He purposes then the next step falls into
place.

That next step is to be so close to Him that we know His heartbeat. We recall that Jesus
said the twelve were no longer servants but friends to Him (John 15:15). Servants
certainly know about their job description, they act according to given commands.
Friends on the other hand are closer and they know the mind and heart, and they are
even privy to certain issues not disclosed to others (Matthew 11: 13).

We need to know both the “outward” eternal purpose as well as the “inward” heartbeat
of our Divine Friend. When these two are harmonious in a person’s life then we’ll have
people who know the Vision-Giver well, and are equally clear about the vision itself. This
marrying of the inward and outward will bring about a consecration of a person’s will to
the task. Such a person becomes both a Knower and a Seer of the grand vision.

It’s this combination that enables a person to remain steadfast to see the vision through.
It will be tested, certainly, but the Knower-Seer will stand and wait, assured that the
outcome will truly come to pass.

How will God bring us to His desired end? What spiritual laws will He use in our
preparation? One of the most fundamental ways, which God uses to prepare us for our
destined role, is the New Birth. Just as Jesus was a Son from above, so we too, who are
Born Again from above (John 3: 3 margin note) are members of “the First Family.”

We are partakers of the Divine Nature of God (2 Peter 1: 4), a very real “next of kin” if
you like. In fact our association with and to the Lord Jesus enables us to be of one Spirit
with Him:
“The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him”
1 Cor. 6: 17

This is our starting point; our preparation for having right vision is the New Birth. It
propels us into a new order of being. This spiritual heredity enables us to perceive the
Eternal Vision of the heavens; our mindset can now know the Purpose, while the carnal
mindset cannot:
“The mind of the flesh is enmity towards God; for it is not being
subjected to the Law of God, and neither can it be.”
Rms. 8: 7

Jesus Christ is THE Son; He is the mould, the prototype, the “image” of what all other
Born Again ones are to be like. We are “spiritual blood-brothers” to Christ.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh
nor of the will of man, but of God. ”
John 1: 12-13

This relationship with the great Son of God is not confined to being of “one family” but
extends to actually partaking of His glory. He said:
“…and I have given them the glory which You have given Me, that they
may be one, as We are One.”
John 17:22

Thus the purpose of our being is unravelled even further with this understanding. Paul
prayed that his readers would begin to grasp this wonderful truth when he wrote:
“(I pray) that the eyes of your mind having been enlightened, for you to
know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory
of His inheritance in the saints.”
Eph. 1: 18

Only by a divine revelation of God’s eternal purpose can we ever begin to know what
has been proposed for us. Only by the Holy Spirit enlightening our regenerated mindsets
can we see this truth, which begins with the New Birth. This then is the first spiritual law
that is enacted to bring about our “seeing” of the vision.

A second spiritual law that soon follows is that governing time. “Time” is a fundamental
characteristic of those who are coming to maturity. Saints who begin to appreciate the
seasons and times of God, particularly in relation to waiting, are on that road.

The outworking of any vision requires the obvious passage of time. Time must elapse
before the vision becomes a concrete reality. This is so in the natural realm and it’s even
more so in the spiritual. Rarely if at all, do we see an “incarnation” of a vision come
about quickly. We must wait, expectantly, yet with an increasing desire of yearning for
the vision to come to pass. Patience is of paramount consideration. It’s a testing.
As God is still seasoning our flesh and mind in this waiting period, but we’re prone to
want to hasten the day. This can occur in various ways.

A practical sort of person, like a pastor for instance, might want to use some method or
programme to help the vision become a reality. He may attempt to “prime the pump” and
help the spiritual flow come forth. He may even subconsciously misread events around
him to try to convince either himself or others that “something is moving in God; can you
sense it?” Discernment is displaced by undue haste. Confusion begins to take root and
wrong decisions soon follow.

Or there might be a prophet who was initially used by God to prophesy the vision, which
may become impatient and start to prophesy slight alterations to God’s programme. The
prophet who at first spoke boldly about the coming Move might cautiously add to the
original word as time seems to pass by rather more slowly than expected. The prophet
who first saw what God revealed tends to live in that future realm and often finds the
waiting hard. This is particularly so with immature prophets. If they’ve been so foolish as
to prophesy a date or time they inwardly panic as the day draws near with no sign of the
Move breaking forth. Right at this point they “add” some later “revelation” to save face.
Of course it’s all done subconsciously, and they would never think it’s them – but it
usually is.

Little “excuses” creep in; subtle changes to the original vision take place; and impatience
comes into the mind. The excitement of first grasping the vision, of seeing it and being
thrilled by its grandeur, begins to fade as we await the hour of its fulfilment. But it’s this
very passing of time that the Lord can use to adjust our thinking.

It’s a truth that we usually don’t comprehend the full nature of the initial vision until much
time has elapsed. Only then do we truly see what it’s about. This “blind spot” is done by
the Lord in an attempt to increase our faith. It also quickly sorts out those who have
really appreciated the given vision from those who have put their hand up without
considering the responsibility it requires.

Now a third spiritual law comes into play; that of the adjustment period. We’re not
expected to simply get the vision, and then wait around until one day it comes to pass.
No, there’s a requirement for us to be corrected, adjusted and transformed during this
time. More often than not it requires suffering!

The suffering is of course the challenging of our mindset by the Lord. How often do we
see or hear of saints who leap into fervent action when a vision is prophesied or first
presented. They might even appreciate the need for a waiting period, much like a
pregnancy, before seeing the fruit. After all, they concede, that’s Biblical enough.

But they’re not ready for the transformation of the mind that MUST take place if the
vision is to change them. The suffering it will entail brings all the dross of their inner life
to the surface and they can’t cope with it. Hurts, regrets and unresolved issues quickly
surface as the Spirit stirs the depths within.

It’s at this vulnerable point that the vision they were once so excited about takes a dive
while they focus on the mess that’s floated to the surface of their mind. Over and over
we see such people consumed, no longer by the God-given vision, but by the sewage of
the past.

At this moment God’s wonderful grace and mercy can cleanse and restore them, but
more often than not the process of adjustment is too much to bear. In order to find some
relief from their inner woes they begin to attack the Keepers of the Vision to divert
attention. A displacement of purpose and vision takes place, and unless there are wise
men and women of God to help restore such ones, the outcome is often tragic.

As painful as this is, it’s nevertheless one of the ways which God uses to purify the
outcome of His vision. He yearns for the vision to remain pure and intact. Inevitably there
will be some “deaths” along the way. Some may “die” in the early stages of the vision,
only to find a wonderful opportunity of restoration later. Others may well “die” and never
see a resurrection from their inner struggles that would enable them to be part of the
vision.

At this stage a rather wonderful thing happens. The initial vision, which could only have
been in embryonic form, begins to expand outward. The very core of the vision, coming
from God Himself, does not alter, but it does take on a new shape as it were.

As we yield to the correcting, adjusting and patience needed to see the vision unfold, our
spiritual eyes begin to take in a grander panorama than first envisaged. Our spiritual
horizon expands quite markedly, and in some cases very rapidly. What we saw from one
perspective is now seen from another, and the scenery is breathtaking. From this new
vantage point, that of submitting to God’s ways, the view encompasses so much more
than we first thought.

When this begins to take place, the former vision is not abandoned, but actually
enhanced; it becomes broader. Right at this point others who were not aligned with the
earlier vision begin to line up with this new “seeing”. The new blood brings a great
thrusting forward of intensity, and it can be a very exciting time.

But some who initially refused the earlier vision may now try to jump on the wagon and
be part of the new move. Sometimes the Lord allows this; other times He resists the
resisters for not moving on in faith earlier. It will require wisdom to know just who is
approved by the Lord in this and who is not. No one should think they can simply “get”
the fresh vision and join the parade. This vision is not “got” – rather it is “given”.

This is precisely where the maturity of apostles and prophets comes into play. The
mature prophetic voices will herald the broadening horizon, and encourage the saints to
go with it, while at the same time warning people to have a right heart in their motives for
wanting to be part of all this.

There’s also likely to be a marked increase in dreams, visions and prophetic words at
this time. However the words of the prophets will not be enough to stabilise the ship. The
spiritual fathers, the apostles, will need to know how and when to apply the truths that
will cause the vision to become a reality. Generally they will do so in tandem with local
eldership.

The prophets will proclaim the fresh vision to the Body, the apostles apply its truths for
the Body, while the local elders administer these within the Body.

One sees the vision and speaks it; one applies these truths to the here and now, and the
other facilitates it locally.

Of course it’s not as clear cut as that, for there will inevitably be some overlap as each
ministry works in harmony with the others to bring the saints into greater maturity.
This exciting marrying of ministries will set the church on a new course of life. Currently
this is where the Body of Christ is heading, but there’ll be many labour pangs yet to
come before we see the birth.

Blessings and the Lord’s favour upon you,
Peter McArthur

____________________________________________________________________

According to traditional Jewish understanding, the Sabbath does not conclude until three
bright stars are seen at the beginning of nightfall (the Jewish and therefore Biblical day
begins at sunset, not twelve midnight). In times past those heralding stars had to be
seen from the precincts of the Temple. Not until they were seen at dusk from the
vantage point of Jerusalem was the Sabbath deemed to have ended.

This sets a principle for us, which is: in Scriptural prophecy, all celestial and eternal
events are to be viewed from the perspective of natural Jerusalem. The red blood moon,
a falling star, a comet, or the Sabbath stars, etc., must first be seen from the perspective
of the natural city of Jerusalem in the natural land of Israel.

If the celestial event is seen from any other vantage point, but not seen from Jerusalem,
it is regarded as not warranting undue attention. In other words, all prophecy involving
celestial signs can only be regarded as valid if they can be seen from natural Jerusalem.

We can now extend this principle further: so too all spiritual issues are to be discerned
and judged from the perspective of Spiritual Jerusalem. Another way of saying this is
that issues must be seen from the Heavenly viewpoint and not from the earthly, worldly
or even religious one.

This is vital to understand if we are to fathom the grand panorama of God’s eternal
purposes. We must seek to view things from a heavenly frame of reference, not a
worldly one, a religious, or even a Christian one. Heaven is always the reference point
in Scripture.

In fact the Bible begins with this perspective very much in mind :

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…
Gen 1:1

It is the heavenly realm that comes first in God’s agenda of the created order, not earth,
or even light!

We can take this one step back and find an even earlier reference point : God Himself!

In the beginning GOD (Gen 1:1) and, In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).

This establishes the fact that God is the source, the beginning of everything. He is the
author of all things, all promises, all destinies, all designs. Everything emanates from
Him and everything returns back to Him. He is the one supreme focus of absolutely
everything.

Another way of stating this is that, pertaining to humanity, we are seeded from the
Father. The seed was placed within the first Man, Adam. Out of him came the first
Woman (ishshah lit. = bride). Adam named his bride Eve (lit. = life, living) because she
was the mother of all living .

Their first child was seeded from them both, but was not born in the Garden of Eden but
outside of it, after sin had erupted. Earthly things had displaced heavenly things. Surely
it was God’s intention that the seed of Adam and Eve should be born in the Garden, not
outside it. An earthly focus (giving way to the serpent s words) had supplanted the
heavenly focus (heeding God’s words).

How often it is that heaven s agenda has been delayed (but never supplanted) by the
earthly. It takes men and women of revealed insight to keep on the right path; people of
heavenly vision who will not give way to the earthly, even religious, vision. Joshua and
Caleb were two who had the correct heaven-sent vision. The other ten spies were taken
in by the earthly issue; fear of the giants in the land, etc.

What should have been a relatively quick entry into grander things (the Promised Land)
became a staggering hard learning curve of forty years! And even then many failed to
understand and fully enter in. In fact two tribes chose to remain on the other side, close
to entering in, but encamped on the eastern side of the River Jordan. Close, but not fully
in.

Remember, Judas heard all of Christ’s sermons. Close but not there!

Believing the right teaching, being part of a Holy Spirit inspired move of God, sitting with
anointed brethren and sharing, making choices of coming out of Babylon, pursuing
Biblical truth and excellence, associating with those of the worthy household – all these
are right choices but if the initial vision is not in accord with God’s pre-determined plan,
we will come close, but never fully arrive. When we come face to face with entering in
we will most likely choose to stay just over the river – watching from a distance, perhaps
even associating with the right brethren, but not quite there.

Therefore it’s vital to have a clear understanding of God’s grand plan, to have a heavenly
vision, a supernatural focus. We are to make sure we nurture what God has revealed to
us, treating it as precious treasure (which may sometimes cause us to act strangely) and
not cast it before swine.

In the end there is only one right way; there are not detours acceptable, no diversions
suitable, no options to be added. He has ordained one way and one way only for us to
arrive at His predestined place.

That vision He gives to one person, or a small group of people, and chooses to work
through them. Is that exclusivity on God’s part? No. He understands only too well that
crowds make compromising choices, that groups will debate and reconsider, that entities
will sway one s mind. So initially He chooses one or only a few, to reveal His plans to.

Moses was the only one of his generation to whom the Lord revealed His grand plan of
deliverance. God then had that shared with others, but Moses was the spokesman, he
was God ‘s voice. The Lord expected the people to listen to His spokesman. He intended
that they should listen to the vision Moses handed to them from Him.

They had to believe that Moses knew the vision. They had to accept he heard from
heaven. When their mumbling and grumbling caused them to disbelieve, they lost
confidence in the spokesman. They resisted what he spoke. They no longer accepted he
had the correct path clear in his mind. Heavenly purposes were soon displaced by
earthly considerations and short-term conveniences.

All seemingly valid, all seemed to have good considerations, after all there are women
and children stuck out here in the desert. “Think of them, Moses. We can ‘t let the elderly
who’ve been used to the houses, food, climate and the support of city life cope with this
desert wandering any more. Have some compassion Moses! Aren’t you a man of God!
And by the way, are you really sure you had a spiritual experience up there on the
mountain? We think you’re a good enough leader but are you certain it was God who
spoke to you and not your own imaginings? Let’s reconsider before it’s too late.”

Such is the talk of discouragement, of disbelief, of disobedience, and eventually, of disaster.
But Moses would not budge. Heaven had spoken. I have talked with you from heaven
said the Lord (Exo. 20: 22). Moses was enraptured by all its power and forcefulness. His
very mind was overtaken by heaven s ways, heaven s voice, heaven s plans. For forty
days and nights he was enveloped in the pure atmosphere of heaven with the Lord. For
forty days and nights his mind was increasingly adjusted and altered, his vision redirected
and his thoughts re-aligned to heaven. It permeated his mind and soul, even his
very bones. So much so that he was somewhat transfigured and his face actually
beamed with Shekinah light as he came down from that mountain. No wonder the Father
sent Moses to Jesus at His transfiguration (Matt 17:3).

You see, it does matter what heaven says. To substitute any part of the plan, to redirect
even one small measure of the vision, to make the focus a little more realistic ,
acceptable or balanced will always cause the disintegration of the purity of heaven’s
ways. It certainly does matter a very great deal that we stick to the revealed plan, the
predestined purpose, the heaven-sent vision, and never, never substitute any other way
for it. Ever!

It did matter a lot how Noah built the ark; it did matter a lot that Moses made certain the
Tabernacle tent was constructed after heaven’s own plan; it did matter that David
instructed Solomon to stick to the plans received from heaven for the Temple. It did
matter how Joshua captured Jericho, for no other plan to take the city would have
succeeded.

And of course it did matter absolutely that Jesus only did what heaven showed Him to do
and spoke what heaven spoke.

The pattern of heaven does matter entirely. It’s the only trustworthy pattern, the only
complete and competent design. Father does know best! Throughout His-story all who
have adhered to heaven’s voice have seen the result.

You could asked Abraham about that, you could ask Moses, David, Josiah, Paul or any
other of the great heavenly-orientated saints and they will tell you the same thing.
Human considerations and balanced viewpoints and realistic agendas just do not fit in
with the plans of heaven. It s as stark and mind-affronting as that.

Why? Because heaven has a life all of its own. All things are seeded from heaven; all
things are born from that realm. And the greatest and most astonishing act of God
working in man is being born again from above .

Usually we omit those last two words and just say we’re born again. But the phrase
literally means we are born again from above , or from the top (Strongs G509). We
are born from heaven!

This is extremely important both to grasp and to proclaim. It s from above that we are
conceived. It s from the Father that we are seeded with an eternal life-seed.
…having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible
seed, through the living Word of God, and abiding forever.
1 Pet 1:23

Earthly-realm views cannot comprehend this. Religion says it accepts this doctrine, but it
certainly neither teaches it fully, or in fact really believes in it. So brother persecutes
brother; the earth-bound ones persecute the heavenly-dreamers (Gen. 37: 18-20).

The One having come from above is above all. The one being of the
earth is earthy, and speaks of the earth. The One coming out of Heaven is above all .
John 3:31
And He said to them, You are from below; I am from above. You are
from this world; I am not from this world.
John 8:23

The worldly and religious ones would not accept the Heaven-Man Jesus, God coming
and abiding in the flesh; today they still will not accept those in whom God and heaven
abide.

The earthly realm always wants its own way and always seeks its own recognition.
When heaven proclaims another way of doing things, the earthly realm will shout foul .
When heaven puts us through a particular spiritual experience (although we rarely see
the experience as spiritually beneficial at the time!), the fleshy realm in us protests
loudly. Why? Because the heavenly realm has only one way of dealing with the earthly.
It must subjugate it by attacking all its priorities, which are, self-importance, selfrecognition,
self-service, self-aggrandisement, self-pride, self-pity, self-sufficiency, selfbelief,
and self-serving vision.

Heaven does the exact opposite of what earth-realm people think is important. There is
a clash because heavenly-desired things cannot be accomplished by a mixture with the
earthly. Heaven confronts and re-moulds us so that we conform to its vision, to the great
Plan of the Lord.

This may take some time. In the case of the Israelites it took forty years wandering
(although it was certainly not an aimless wandering; God was the director), and the
death of one entire generation. In the case of David it took some fifteen years until Saul
was removed from the throne. Each time there was a period of learning heaven’s ways.

Not using earthly principles to deal with the issue, but allowing heavenly concepts to
take root before the fullness of time arrived bringing in the necessary change.
Heaven was the Governor, not earth! Those who are wise will always look to heaven for
their orders.

It’s a very wise person indeed who will take the necessary time to learn heaven’s ways.
And it takes a very courageous person to live habitually subjugated to God while He
prunes back the wild branches and re-shapes us to conform to His desired image.

There is no other way – this is it and this is how it will be! Bend to it or be broken by it.
In the end we need to remember that heaven has the superiority in all things. The
sooner we learn to live from the heavenly realm and see the heavenly perspective, the
better off we shall be in spirit, soul and body – and even socially.

Let us remember that the heavenly perspective of our sojourning on earth is this:
God has taken us out,
to lead us through,
in order to bring us into.

May you know His richest blessings!
In Messiah,
Peter McArthur

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By Peter McArthur

Some time ago the Lord showed me that the teachers of  The Word would be enriched by the coming forth of the Teachers of Revelation. This doesn’t mean that revelation will supplant the Word. Never! But it does mean that revelation insight (entirely in accord with the Word of God) will begin to come into play in a very rich way. Of course there have been teachers of revelation all through the ages, but there seems to be a time coming when great insight will erupt bringing forth wonderful understanding of the Word.

Not long after I received this from the Lord a had a very powerful dream. In the dream I was looking at a man standing before me. All I could see was his torso, not his feet or face. He was quite a tall, large man dressed in some sort of nondescript robe. He spoke no words.

He was holding an open book with its pages before me so I could see them. He flicked through this book until he came to a particular chapter, then held it open for me to see the heading. It simply read: Truth Re-visited

I instinctively knew that the man was a messenger angel. The dream abruptly finished having only lasted about 20 seconds or so. From this dream I knew that the Holy Spirit would begin to teach me the truths of Scripture that I had either become complacent about, or mis-understood. Since then I have been alert to study the Word carefully, slowly and with fresh revelation. The results for me personally, and the Fellowship, have been as dramatic as my conversion and Baptism in the Spirit.

I would like to share some of this insight with you now.

TRUTH BY REVELATION

Revelation-truth is actually a form of light. “Revelation” is the supernatural imparting of truth that sheds light on something that was previously either partially obscured, or totally hidden from view. The concealing of truth may be due to man’s inability to understand and receive that Truth at a particular season, or it may be because God had a pre-determined moment for that Truth to come to light, and hence withheld it until the appropriate time frame.

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son…” Heb. 1: 1-2

“When the time had fully come” would a suitable phrase to bear in mind.

Note also these other examples. Jesus said, “Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” John 7: 8 “

And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place”. Acts 2: 1

Revelation comes to us by God’s chosen moment of intervention, not by man’s methodology or twisting the arm of God. So it’s only by revelation that truths come to us, and this is dependent on God, not us. Understanding this principle will save us much heartache when we don’t see people respond to certain teachings the way we think they should. How often have we longed to see someone grasp a truth that’s revolutionized our own life, yet they don’t seem over excited about it.

Note the texts that highlight a principle here.

• “...the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, having been unvoiced during eternal times ” Rom 16:25

• “For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it except by a revelation of Jesus Christ.” Gal 1:12

• “...that by revelation He made known to me the mystery ” Eph 3:3

• “A revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him to declare to His servants things which must shortly come to pass ” Rev 1:1

The inspiration that accompanies such revelation enables the recipient to proclaim the truth as something directly received from God and therefore infallibly correct. It’s often this factor, along with the dramatic experience of receiving the revelation itself, which drives the recipient on his quest to impart the truth. This takes on a life of its own, so to speak. However, here lurks a subtle danger. As we receive a revelatory truth we are captured by it, often become entirely taken up by it. It can consume us.

That however isn’t so much the danger, although caution should apply here. The greater danger lies in discriminating against other believers who haven’t (as yet) received this truth. Judgmentalism, and finally elitism, so easily set in to the undiscerning. The process works like this: We receive a revelatory truth (often after much searching and prayer). It captivates us; we see the light and are thoroughly changed by it. Our thoughts and minds are transformed by this truth. It grips us and we cannot help but share it. Sometimes there’s an acceptance by others; more than not there’s rejection, or at least suspicion. Then comes the temptation to separate from those who have not, or will not, receive this truth.

This can be a literal, physical separation ending up in a church spilt. In moderate cases a sectarian group is established; in extreme cases a cult rises up. Or, the recipient of the truth remains within their congregation (for a time), physically part of the assembly but mentally (if not spiritually) separate. There’s a kind of spiritual divorce happening. It’s a bit like a married couple who are physically together but emotionally divorced. They stay together, technically “married”, but inwardly divorced from one another. I mention this because this role has been played over and over throughout church history.

As we delve into the wonder and excitement of the Mystery in this study, it can so easily grip and move us. We can be fascinated by it, consuming it, even seeing it as the final Truth of all Truth! A simple reflection of some of the events of church history, let alone our own spiritual journey and that of others, will show this attitude to be dangerous. We will require a wisdom borne out of maturity to keep balanced here. It’s natural to desire to share something new and exciting.

But spiritually speaking we need discernment when coming to share revelatory truth. Passing it on before it’s done it’s deep work in us first can be disastrous. So often Truth has been injured by the recipient declaring it too soon. Our soul will want to rise up, proclaim the message (often with more soulish zeal than spiritual wisdom), and wonder why others don’t rush forward to embrace it!

Like Paul, let’s humbly pray that spiritual enlightenment for others will come according to God’s timing. And be extremely wary of speaking and acting as if you have Truth others don’t have. Humility was a key-mark in the life of the Lord Jesus. Only after the work of Truth had done it’s work in Him was He called forth by the Father to begin His public ministry.

We see the same pattern at work in so many others recorded in Scripture. Let’s imitate them! Remember the principle: Revelatory Truth is granted by God according to His timing. You didn’t work it up. You didn’t make it happen. It was given, granted, offered and graced upon you by the Lord to you as a beloved one.

So be humble and act wisely. Paul had received many revelations during his sixty or so years of ministry. Yet at the end of his earthly life he received the revelation of a Mystery that totally realigned his purpose as an Apostle. He remained humble in this. He didn’t run off and start a new movement. When he met others who couldn’t fathom out what he was preaching, he didn t separate himself but prayed for them to have the eyes of their heart enlightened.

Let’s be exited about our bible studying by all means, but please be discerning and let the Mystery as found in Paul’s prison Epistles do its work deep in your heart first before indiscriminatingly force-feeding it to whoever you meet. I may sound strong here but I do desire you to act wisely, and with maturity.

In Him,

Peter McArthur

The Issachar Ministry

I also encourage you to read the following article by Lambert Dolphin

http:/issacharministry.org.au/teachings/truth-must-be-received-and-lived

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