Delve into Discipleship in 2012!

The Word of the Lord:

“Delve into Discipleship in 2012!”

Matthew 28:18-20 – “Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age.  Amen (so let it be).”  (AMP)

Matthew 28:18-20 –  “Yeshua came and talked with them. He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age." (CJB)

            For many consecutive years the Holy Spirit has ministered a Word to me regarding the upcoming New Year.  This year has been unique in that He spoke to me several months ago, which is much earlier in the year than usual.  He has revealed to me that the year 2012 will be a year of Divine Discipleship.  In fact, the will of the Lord for the upcoming year is a continuation or result of His manifested Word for 2011 in the lives of His remnant.

            God spoke to me before the entrance of this year, “There is an Open Heaven in 2011”.  He also revealed that only those positioned properly would experience and receive from that Open Heaven.  The year 2012 will be a year of great impartation of what God has outpoured into His remnant into the lives of others through discipleship.  God is saying that just as 2011 has not yet passed, so the season of the Open Heaven continues.  Therefore, we must seek God’s face diligently and press into His presence to receive fully from the Open Heaven of this season, in order to be fully prepared for the season of discipleship that is coming.

            The process of receiving impartation from the Godhead through His Open Heaven and subsequently imparting into others through discipleship is a God ordained part of the Apostolic Process.  Once again, God has revealed to me the following Apostolic Process: Preparation, Revelation, and Reformation, which births and brings forth Reconciliation in our own lives and in the lives of others.  God is saying that discipleship can and will take on many unique forms in this hour.  Although relationship with God and man is the essential common factor of discipleship, God will manifest discipleship through His people in new and creative ways.  He will also connect His people in unique and creative ways.  Therefore, Proverbs 3:5-6 is crucial in this hour. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.  In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” (AMP)

We MUST be led by the Spirit of God… allowing Him to fully lead and direct our paths and relationships throughout the apostolic impartation and discipleship process.  God is saying BE READY for Divine appointments and connections as never before!  Expect the unexpected, and remember that true discipleship BEGINS and CONTINUES in and through Christ.  No matter the position to which one is elevated, we must remain submitted and surrendered to the discipleship of Christ, and the specific ways He chooses to impart into our lives.

This is a time of preparation for the fulfillment of God’s Word in our lives.  This is NOT the time to just sit idly by expecting things to “just happen”.  God is calling the INTERCESSORS to the forefront to BIRTH God’s Word and Will into manifestation!  It is time to stand as watchmen on the wall and SEE AS GOD SEES.  It is time to stand and function as God’s ambassadors in the specific TIME, PLACE, and POSITION to which He has called us individually and corporately.  God is calling the prayer WARRIORS to the forefront to war against principalities and powers that come to kill, steal and destroy the work and will of God in the Earth.  It is time to be strong and courageous, as we WAGE WAR against everything that is not like God… beginning in our own hearts and lives!  God is calling us, His Church, His Bride, His Remnant… to REPENTANCE.  For, we must set our own house in order before we seek to disciple others in setting theirs in order! 

© 2011 Christine Lombard, All rights reserved, Use only with permission

Come On! Let's Praise Him! - Spoken Word

Psalm 106:1-2 – “PRAISE THE Lord! (Hallelujah!) O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! Who can put into words and tell the mighty deeds of the Lord? Or who can show forth all the praise [that is due Him]?”  (AMP)

Come On!  Let’s Praise Him!

Come on!  Let’s Praise Him!

Halleluiah!

Come on!  Let’s Praise Him!

Praise the Lord!

Come on!  Let’s praise Him in the mornin’

Befo’ we walk out da’ do’!

Come on let’s praise Him

Like we ain’t eva’ praised Him befo’!

Come on let’s praise Him

Mo’ and mo’ till we reach the level galo’!  Yo!

Come on!  Let’s Praise Him!

Halleluiah!

Come on!  Let’s Praise Him!

Praise the Lord!

Come on!  Let’s praise Him

Throughout our day!

Come on!  Let’s show the world

That Jesus is the ONLY Way!

Come on!  Let’s praise Him

Come what may, and no matter what men may say!

Come on!  Let’s Praise Him!

Halleluiah!

Come on!  Let’s Praise Him!

Praise the Lord!

Come on!  Let’s praise Him

Through the thick and the thin!

Come on!  Let’s praise Him

Whether we lose or win!

Come on!  Let’s praise Him

Again and again!

Come on!  Let’s Praise Him!

Halleluiah!

Come on!  Let’s Praise Him!

Praise the Lord!

© 2011 Christine Lombard, All Rights Reserved, Use Only with Permission

Are You Ready for the Tower of Babel to Fall?

Are You Ready for the Tower of Babel to Fall?

Genesis 11:3-9 – “And they said one to another, Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly. So they had brick for stone, and slime (bitumen) for mortar.  And they said, Come, let us build us a city and a tower whose top reaches into the sky, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered over the whole earth.  And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.  And the Lord said, Behold, they are one people and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible for them.  Come, let Us go down and there confound (mix up, confuse) their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.  So the Lord scattered them abroad from that place upon the face of the whole earth, and they gave up building the city.  Therefore the name of it was called Babel--because there the Lord confounded the language of all the earth; and from that place the Lord scattered them abroad upon the face of the whole earth. (AMP)

Today as I began to partake of my Thanksgiving meal, I heard the Holy Spirit speak, “Are you ready for the Tower of Babel to fall?”  Now this certainly does not sound like a typical “Thanksgiving Message”.  Yet, this is what the God Head is asking the Body of Christ in this hour.  NOW is a time of PREPARATION for what is to come… when those things that CAN be shaken WILL be shaken.  Those things in our individual lives and corporate ministries that have been built BY and FOR the FLESH shall FALL.  The only thing that will remain are those things that are of the Spirit of God, which are Eternal in nature. 

Mark 8:35 – “For whoever wants to save his [higher, spiritual, eternal] life, will lose it [the lower, natural, temporal life which is lived only on earth]; and whoever gives up his life [which is lived only on earth] for My sake and the Gospel's will save it [his higher, spiritual life in the eternal kingdom of God].” (AMP)

1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And so faith, hope, love abide [faith--conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and divine things; hope--joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love--true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (AMP)

            A few days ago, I heard the Spirit speak, “The Economy of Heaven.”  Before I even had the chance to enquire further, He revealed Faith, Hope, and Love to be the Economy of Heaven.  Therefore, ANYTHING and EVERYTHING else CANNOT and WILL NOT withstand The Refiner’s Fire.  Rather, it will be SHAKEN or BURNT and ultimately FALL.

1 Corinthians 11:31 – “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”  (KJV)

Revelation 3:3 – “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” (KJV)

Psalm 51:17 – “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (KJV)

1 John 1:9 – “If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].” (AMP)

            Saints of God, now is the time to enter into a time of EARNEST and FERVENT REPENTANCE.  For, if we judge ourselves, we shall not be judged.  We must REPENT of every desire, will, thought, motive, word, action, and inaction that falls short of God’s Glory revealed in and through Faith, Hope, and Love… the Economy of Heaven.  We must cleanse ourselves through Repentance and the washing of our hearts and minds with the Blood of Jesus Christ.  For then and only then will be truly READY for the Tower of Babel to fall in our individual and corporate lives, as the Body of Christ, prepared for the Coming Bride Groom.  In fact, our repentant hearts will not MOURN or GRIEVE, BUT REJOICE when the Tower of Babel falls!  We will shout and rejoice, “Glory be to God, for great things He hath done!”

© 2011 Christine Lombard, All Rights Reserved, Use Only with Permission

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

The center of the Earth

Full of sorrow and mirth

You’re the apple of Mine eye

For which I humbly died

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

I hear your cry

Day and night

I feel your pain

As you cry out for rain

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

I feel the quake of your laughter

The morning after

The latter rain pours down

Washing away your lamenting sound

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

The bearer of glory and shame

I have called you by name

You are My chosen dwelling place,

And you dwell in My embrace

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

Of all the cities of the Earth

From which I could have given birth

I have chosen you alone

Through My anguish to atone

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

Of all the cities of the Earth

From which I could have given birth

I have chosen you alone

To bear my throne

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

The center of the Earth

Full of sorrow and mirth

You’re the apple of Mine eye

For which I humbly died

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

Where many seeds of prayer were sown,

It appears only weeds have grown.

Yet, within your borders

There lies a Divine order

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

Within your gates

Angelic hosts await

The commandment of the Lord

To wage war with their fiery swords

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

It is time for God’s glory to descend

That your sorrow may end

Through a Divine measure of praise

And worship of the Ancient of Days

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

It is time for God’s glory to arise

Opening your blinded eyes

Through a Divine measure of intercession

And repentant confession

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

May your streets be filled with adoration

Till singing and dancing spread throughout the nations

May your gates be filled with prayer

Till God’s presence and glory fills the air

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem

The center of the Earth

Full of sorrow and mirth

You’re the apple of Mine eye

For which I humbly died

© 2011 Christine Lombard

Lessons in Intercession: New York, New York - The City that Never Sleeps (Part 2)

Lessons in Intercession: 

New York, New York 

The City that Never Sleeps

(Part 2)

Times Square, Manhattan

“A Merry-Go-Round of Pleasure”

Hebrews 11:24-26 – “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward” (KJV).

            Throughout the mission to New York City, God showed me that many times we can discern the spiritual condition of a particular people group, or geographical area by the residents’ self-diagnosis or description of their culture.  This is true of individuals, as well.  The root of our bondage and our personal issues are often revealed in the words that flow from our mouths.  For example, New York City is commonly called, “The City that Never Sleeps.”  The Holy Spirit began to show me the multitudes and high concentration of people constantly active within the city literally 24/7, which is the fruit that bears witness of New York City’s prophetic title, “The City that Never Sleeps.”  The Holy Spirit began to stir my spirit to delve deeper through reflective inquiry.  What is the purpose of all this activity?  Why does the city never sleep?  Even Scripture states, “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2, KJV).  Yet, there is no rest for the wicked.  For, Isaiah 57:20 states “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt” (KJV).
            So many are constantly wearied by the lustful drive for sinful pleasures.  The wickedness of their hearts have them running a rat race for more and more of the sinful poison that fills their system with an energetic high that is just as DECEPTIVE as crack cocaine.  Yet, they are never satisfied with more, and there is never enough TIME in one’s 24/7 cycle of life to satisfy the insatiable desire for MORE and MORE…  Thus, so many pseudo lives are best described as nothing more than a round and round merry-go-round of pleasure… until Judgment Day OR Reconciliation Day (depending on which one comes first!) reveals the REALITY of TRUTH that the pleasures of sin only last for a season and then the judgment of destruction!

1 John 2:16 – “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (KJV).

            Unknowingly, the tour guide became a source of spiritual revelation pinpointing three demonic roots of destruction within the heart of Times Square.  He explained, “The culture of Manhattan (Times Square) is to Eat, Shop, and see a Broadway play.”  On the surface, there is no vice in these activities.  After all, everyone needs to eat to live.  We all shop for the necessities and desires of life, and most people take time out at least once in a while to enjoy a hobby or relaxing activity.  Yet, God stirred me to SEE beyond the surface to the HEART of this “refined culture” of eating, shopping, and seeing Broadway plays.  This is what He showed me:

The culture of Manhattan (Times Square) is to
1.  Eat (Feeding the Flesh),
2.  Shop (Consumerism and Materialism), and
3.  See a Broadway play (Entertainment).   

            Yet, this culture goes beyond Manhattan to the very heart of our nation.  Scripture reveals, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21, KJV).   So, all we have to do is look closely at the industries where Americans spend most of their money, and there lies the heart of our nation.  Yes, the wisdom of the tour guide speaks truth concerning the culture of our nation.  Our nation’s heart is driven by the lusts of feeding the flesh, consumerism, and entertainment.  The Holy Spirit also showed me that the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers through DISTRACTION, especially evident in the heart of Times Square…  The lust of feeding the flesh, consumerism or materialism, and entertainment BLINDS hearts and minds through DISTRACTION, so that lives are WASTED on the merry-go-round of pleasure represented in the temporal insignificancies of life.  The ultimate consequence is that souls are led daily straight to hell having been BLINDED by the DISTRACTIONS of this world’s system and culture: feeding the flesh, consumerism or materialism, and entertainment. 
            The most alarming truth is that these distractions have seeped into the church.  As God spoke to me, I began to see clear evidence of this culture and perspective in my own life!  Although, I have been born again and transformed by the intimate presence of God in my life, I still have not escaped from the stench of this world system and culture.  So, what must I do to be SAVED . . . I mean REALLY, REALLY SAVED?  I must fast MORE, in order to feast on God’s Word.  I must deny myself MORE, in order to spend my life as a drink offering before my Lord!  I must abandon myself unto Christ MORE, in order to be undone by Intimacy rather than the entertainment of my flesh.  Am I going too far?  Am I seeking to be so Heavenly minded that I am no Earthly good?  Yes!  A million times Yes!  We must SEE that in this particular statement, Earth and Heaven do NOT represent physical places.  Rather, Earth represents the world system and Heaven represents Christ’s Kingdom, and BOTH are REAL and EVIDENT right here on Earth!  I must SEE the Truth of this Message and apply it to MYSELF above all else!  For, it is so easy to HEAR and SEE the need for Truth in OTHERS' lives and miss the Truth that Judgement, Chastisement, and Correction comes FIRST to the House of God . . . not that building on the corner with a cross in the yard, but in ME the Living, Breathing Temple, Church and Body Member of Chirst! 
            Oh, that MY LIFE would be ALL JESUS and NOTHING of me, myself, or I!  Oh, that I would live the name that God has given me . . . C. Love, so that every eye that beholds me no longer sees me, but they SEE LOVE!  Oh, that I would TRULY DIE that CHRIST may fully LIVE in and through me!   

Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (KJV).

            While sitting on the tour bus asking God to help me to SEE as He SEES, I heard the voice of God speak, “Everyone is selling something, while I’m giving the BEST thing away for free.”  He continued to speak as we surveyed Ground Zero, and my enquiry continued, “How does God see GROUND ZERO?”  I am so glad that God never tires of my questioning!  Rather, He faithfully replied, “A wake up call to REPENTANCE!”  Then He showed me the anthem posted for all to see, “We will never forget!”  The Holy Spirit led me to enquire further, “Forget what?  America, what is the LESSON that we have learned from 9/11?”  We must open our eyes and SEE . . . We are living in 9/11 TIMES!  It’s time to CALL UPON HIM!  It’s time to repent!  It’s time to forsake the DISTRACTIONS of the world's system and culture and completely yield ourselves to the ONE who died to set us free from the bondage of this world's system that we can live as citizens of Heaven . . . Christ's Kingdom right here on Earth!  

© 2011 Christine Lombard, All rights reserved, use only with permission

A Closer Look At John the Immerser - A True Witness Indeed

A Closer Look

At John the Immerser

“A True Witness Indeed”

Matthew 3:1-3 - It was during those days that Yochanan the Immerser arrived in the desert of Y'hudah and began proclaiming the message,  "Turn from your sins to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!"  This is the man Yesha`yahu was talking about when he said, "The voice of someone crying out: `In the desert prepare the way of ADONAI! Make straight paths for him!'"

            As I was reading John chapter one today, the Holy Spirit illuminated John the Immerser’s ministry to me in a new way.  Just as Yeshua spoke concerning Nathanael,  “Here is an Israelite indeed [a true descendant of Jacob], in whom there is no guile nor deceit nor falsehood nor duplicity!” (AMP, John 1:47), the Holy Spirit revealed to me how John the Immerser was “A True Witness Indeed.”  Also, in the same way that God raised up John the Immerser to prepare the way for the first coming of Yeshua Christ, He is raising up a generation of “Immersers and True Witnesses indeed” to prepare the way for the second coming of Yeshua Christ! 

           John the Immerser’s voice was a single voice.  Yet, this Generation of Immersers and True Witnesses Indeed will be a SINGLE HARMONY of voices UNITED as ONE VOICE crying out, “In the desert make the way of ADONAI straight!”  (CJB, John 1:23)  John the Immerser was not only positioned “in the desert,” but he was crying out a command for the people to make the way of ADONAI straight “in the desert”!  I pray that we SEE and HEAR the distinction!  While some sing and focus on the by and by glory of Heaven, and others preach the material prosperity of experiencing a man-made perception of Heaven on Earth, the TRUE IMMERSERS AND WITNESSES INDEED are crying out, “In the desert make the way of ADONAI straight!”  (CJB, John 1:23)  We must MAKE WAY for the coming and manifestation of ADONAI’S presence and glory in the Earth every day, and ULTIMATELY His Second Coming into the Earth to REIGN as the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. 

         The nation of Israel spent FORTY YEARS in the desert, because they were not ready to ENTER into the Promised Land.  Though our souls long for Heaven, we must honestly consider the fact that we, the people of God and Body of Messiah are NOT READY!  The Israelites had to WAIT FORTY YEARS for an entire generation to DIE OFF, in order that the next generation could GO FORTH!  YET, WHAT IF A TRUE IMMERSER AND TRUE WITNESS INDEED had risen up and cried out, “In the desert make the way of ADONAI straight!”  WHAT IF A TRUE IMMERSER AND WITNESS INDEED had risen up and not only CRIED OUT with their PHYSICAL VOICE, but ALSO cried out as a LIVING DEMONSTRATION OF TRUE REPENTANCE, IMMERSION, and WITNESS of ADONAI?  (Please, understand that I am not negating or underestimating the value of Moses’, Joshua’s, and Caleb’s voices in the wilderness, which are tremendous, YET DISTINCT from John’s Voice of Immersion and True Witness Indeed.)  I truly believe that the story would have played out in an entirely different way.  For, although God is sovereign and just, He has given mankind a liberty to CHOOSE their path and destiny by the choices that they make daily.  Therefore, we can CHOOSE to BE that generation of IMMERSERS and TRUE WITNESSES INDEED!

            Now let us take a closer look at what the Holy Spirit revealed in John chapter one, concerning John the Immerser’s ministry as “A True Witness Indeed.” 

John 1:6 - 8 “There was a man sent from God whose name was Yochanan.   He came to be a testimony, to bear witness concerning the light; so that through him, everyone might put his trust in God and be faithful to him.  He himself was not that light; no, he came to bear witness concerning the light.” (CJB)

John 1:6 - 8 “There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.  This man came to witness, that he might testify of the Light, that all men might believe in it [adhere to it, trust it, and rely upon it] through him.  He was not the Light himself, but came that he might bear witness regarding the Light.”  (AMP)

         The Apostle John’s introduction of John the Immerser distinctly identifies him as “a testimony, to bear witness concerning the light”.  According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary (1996), the words testimony, evidence, and witness derive from the same Greek word “maturia”, which is most often translated as testimony.  Whereas, the Hebrew word “ud” translated “to bear witness” can also be translated “to take as witness, repeat, admonish, warn, assure protection, relieve.”

          In other words, God is calling forth a Chosen Generation of True Witnesses Indeed to repeatedly testify and bear witness of the Second Coming of Yeshua by admonishing and warning a crooked and perverse generation of coming judgment.  They will cry aloud and spare not!  They will assure the protection of the pure Truth and nothing but the Truth!  They will usher in Yeshua Christ’s coming, as they relieve, ease, alleviate, reduce, lessen, and lighten the presence and and influence of sin, perversion, and deception by crying out, “In the desert make the way of ADONAI straight!” (CJB, John 1:23) with the powerful evidence of true repentance revealed through their words AND lives.   

John 1:15 – 18 – “Yochanan witnessed concerning him when he cried out, "This is the man I was talking about when I said, `The one coming after me has come to rank ahead of me, because he existed before me.'"  We have all received from his fullness, yes, grace upon grace.  For the Torah was given through Moshe; grace and truth came through Yeshua the Messiah.  No one has ever seen God; but the only and unique Son, who is identical with God and is at the Father's side -- he has made him known.” (CJB)

John 1:15 – 18  ^{- “}John testified about Him and cried out, This was He of Whom I said, He Who comes after me has priority over me, for He was before me. [He takes rank above me, for He existed before I did. He has advanced before me, because He is my Chief.]  For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.  For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.  No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him [He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known].  (AMP)


            Notice the testimony of John the Immerser!  He has a one track mind and speech… It’s all about Yeshua – the ONE who is coming.  Then when God revealed who Yeshua was to him he proclaimed, "This is the man I was talking about”!  In other words, he had spent ALL of his energy and time telling the people of the ONE who would come.  He waited expectantly and IMMERSED others in the SAME EXPECTATION of the ARRIVAL of YESHUA CHRIST (the Messiah). 

            Therefore, this new generation of IMMERSERS and TRUE WITNESSES INDEED will be DRENCHED and SOAKING WET with EXPECTATION of the Second Coming of ADONAI!  This EXPECTATION will be contagious!  Others will come, having been drawn to this remnant for one reason only… to be IMMERSED in the expectation and reality of the Son (YESHUA ADONAI), Who is sure to come!  Although the promised physical return of Christ will be their focus of expectation, they will WAIT on the LORD with such expectation that VISITATIONS OF ADONAI will IMMERSE them many times over even before the physical “Second Coming” of ADONAI in the Person of Resurrected YESHUA.  I now see that this is the clarified VISION that the Lord has given to me of gatherings of His people coming together as ONE with ONE purpose… to WAIT on the LORD…  WAIT on His VISITATION in their midst.  Their focus is on HIM, not their agenda or order of service!  It is out of this place and position of WAITING that TRUE WORSHIP will be birthed and miracles, signs, and wonders manifested, though they will NOT be seeking these.  They will ONLY seek ADONAI! 

John 1:19-28 – “Here is Yochanan's testimony: when the Judeans sent cohanim and L'vi'im from Yerushalayim to ask him, "Who are you?"  he was very straightforward and stated clearly, "I am not the Messiah."  "Then who are you?" they asked him. "Are you Eliyahu?" "No, I am not," he said. "Are you `the prophet,' the one we're expecting?" "No," he replied.  So they said to him, "Who are you? -- so that we can give an answer to the people who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?"  He answered in the words of Yesha`yahu the prophet, "I am The voice of someone crying out: `In the desert make the way of ADONAI straight!'"  Some of those who had been sent were P'rushim. They asked him, "If you are neither the Messiah nor Eliyahu nor `the prophet,' then why are you immersing people?"  To them Yochanan replied, "I am immersing people in water, but among you is standing someone whom you don't know.  He is the one coming after me -- I'm not good enough even to untie his sandal!"  All this took place in Beit-Anyah, east of the Yarden, where Yochanan was immersing. (CBJ)

 John 1:19-28   ^-  “And this is the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you?  He confessed (admitted the truth) and did not try to conceal it, but acknowledged, I am not the Christ!  They asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not! Are you the Prophet? And he answered, No!  Then they said to him, Who are you? Tell us, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?  He said, I am the voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness [the voice of one shouting in the desert], Prepare the way of the Lord [level, straighten out, the path of the Lord], as the prophet Isaiah said.  The messengers had been sent from the Pharisees.  And they asked him, Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?  John answered them, I [only] baptize in (with) water. Among you there stands One Whom you do not recognize and with Whom you are not acquainted and of Whom you know nothing.  It is He Who, coming after me, is preferred before me, the string of Whose sandal I am not worthy to unloose.  These things occurred in Bethany (Bethabara) across the Jordan [at the Jordan crossing], where John was then baptizing.” (AMP)

           
              Notice that John the Immerser had absolutely no confusion about who he was and what he was sent by God to do!  He was SECURE in God’s purpose for his life!  He repeatedly stated, “I am not! . . .  I am not! . . .  No!”  Oh if we, as the people of God could only GET THIS!  The testimony of this harmony of unified IMMERSERS and TRUE WITNESSES INDEED will be, “I am not you.  You are not me, but we are we!”

            OK!  John the Immerser, so you are NOT any of these . . . THEN WHO ARE YOU???   “He answered in the words of Yesha`yahu the prophet, "I am The voice of someone crying out: `In the desert make the way of ADONAI straight!'" (CJB, John 1:23)  Yes!  John the Immerser reduced the essence of who he was down to “THE VOICE” . . .  a single MESSAGE . . .  `In the desert make the way of ADONAI straight!'" (CJB, John 1:23)  He came in the name of the book that was written of him AND revealed in the Holy Scriptures.  Saints of God, if we would diligently search the Scriptures we would find ourselves . . . our voice . . . our purpose . . . our calling . . . our ministry . . . God's VISION for our lives, just as John the Immerser and EVEN Yeshua Himself demonstrated through their testimony and lives!  We will come in the name of THE BOOK (the Holy Scriptures) that was written of us!  This is in light of God's word to us through Apostle Theresa's recent post (on the Scribal Anointing Network)!  Let us reread this word and reflect on it in light of John the Immerser and True Witness Indeed and in light of God's call for a Chosen Generation of Immersers and True Witnesses Indeed to ARISE and proclaim, `In the desert make the way of ADONAI straight!'" (CJB, John 1:23) 

           Yet, the RELIGIOUS folk, who came to interrogate him, (sound familiar?) were more focused on who John was NOT than who he was or his purpose in the Earth.  Their words said they wanted to know who he was, but their actions revealed they only wanted to DISCREDIT him!  In essence, they said, “You are NOT . . . You are NOT . . .  You are NOT . . .  So, if you are NOT any of these, then why do you do what you do?  What right do you have to IMMERSE people?” 

           Please, forgive me for diverting in another direction for just a minute.  Saints of God, Have you been surrounded by people, circumstances, and situations telling you who you are NOT?  Well the TESTIMONY of John the Immerser is here TODAY to set you free from man’s expectations of you, in order that you can be IMMERSED in the GODHEAD and RELEASED to fulfill His EXPECTATIONS of you, which far surpass anything man could ever think or imagine in  . . . through  . . .  and for you!  So, be encouraged to keep goin’ on in the Lord, in order to BECOME a chosen Immerser and True Witness Indeed!  Yes, I emphasize the word BECOME, because God has revealed to me that our Educational focus (Christian AND secular) has been wrong all along!!!  Get this!  How often do we ask children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  The Holy Spirit showed me that this is DETRIMENTAL, because this line of questioning is focused in the wrong direction.  Rather, we ought to continuously ask our children AND ourselves (as children of the Most High God) this ESSENTIAL question:  WHO ARE YOU BECOMING?  Holy Spirit will address the clear distinction between these two questions through the 24/7 LIFE Academy teaching series at another time.  For now, I will just drop this nugget of Holy Spirit revelation into your spirit for further reflection and meditation.

          So, who was John the Immerser and True Witness Indeed?  He was THE VOICE of PREPARATION, REVELATION, and REFORMATION!  My!  My!  My!  Yes!  Get this!  HE WAS THE APOSTOLIC VOICE OF HIS TIME!  For God has revealed to me that the APOSTOLIC PROCESS is none other than . . . PREPARATION, REVELATION, and REFORMATION . . . not compartmentalized into distinct segments of time, thought, or space, but intertwined into ONE just as the GODHEAD is ONE LORD OVER ALL!  This threefold process of PREPARATION, REVELATION, and REFORMATION leads to RECONCILIATION, the work of True SALVATION in the Earth.  
     
          Furthermore, John explained that he “only” immersed with water (cleansing and PREPARATION), but THE ONE who they really needed to know (REVELATION) was coming.  Thus, his message of REFORMATION:  `In the desert make the way of ADONAI straight!'" (CJB, John 1:23)  In other words, John the Immerser was saying, “You religious folk are so focused on ME, and it’s NOT ABOUT ME!  I am just a WITNESS of the ONE you really need to know!”  John the Immerser walked in a spirit of HUMILITY that was ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for him to fulfill his purpose and calling as an IMMERSER and TRUE WITNESS INDEED of Yeshua Christ (the Messiah), the ONE who was coming as THE APOSTLE (ABBA’s Sent One) of Reconciliation!  Likewise, this Chosen Generation of Immersers and True Witnesses Indeed that the Godhead is raising up to prepare the way for the Second Coming of Yeshua MUST walk in a spirit of HUMILITY, in order to fulfill their HARMONIOUS PURPOSE in the Earth. 

John 1:29 – 37 – “The next day, Yochanan saw Yeshua coming toward him and said, "Look! God's lamb! The one who is taking away the sin of the world!  This is the man I was talking about when I said, `After me is coming someone who has come to rank above me, because he existed before me.'  I myself did not know who he was, but the reason I came immersing with water was so that he might be made known to Isra'el."  Then Yochanan gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and remaining on him.  I myself did not know who he was, but the one who sent me to immerse in water said to me, `The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining, this is the one who immerses in the Ruach HaKodesh.'  And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God."  The next day, Yochanan was again standing with two of his talmidim.  On seeing Yeshua walking by, he said, "Look! God's lamb!"  His two talmidim heard him speaking, and they followed Yeshua.”  (CBJ)

John 1:29 – 37 – “The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!  This is He of Whom I said, After me comes a Man Who has priority over me [Who takes rank above me] because He was before me and existed before I did.  And I did not know Him and did not recognize Him [myself]; but it is in order that He should be made manifest and be revealed to Israel [be brought out where we can see Him] that I came baptizing in (with) water.  John gave further evidence, saying, I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and it dwelt on Him [never to depart].  And I did not know Him nor recognize Him, but He Who sent me to baptize ^[j]in (with) water said to me, Upon Him Whom you shall see the Spirit descend and remain, that One is He Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.  And I have seen [that happen--I actually did see it] and my testimony is that this is the Son of God!  Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, And he looked at Jesus as He walked along, and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God!  The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Him. (AMP)

            Notice John the Immerser’s Purpose Statement for his ministry!  I bet you didn’t know they had strategic planning way back then in Yeshua’s day!  “The reason I came immersing with water was so that he might be made known to Isra'el." (CJB)  Yes, true Immersers and True Witnesses Indeed have a PURPOSE for what they do!  It is to MAKE YESHUA CHRIST (the Messiah) KNOWN to a generation hanging out in the wilderness.  Yes!  Even today there is an ENTIRE GENERATION (which include a whole lot of church folk) hanging out in the wilderness that need to hear,  `In the desert make the way of ADONAI straight!'" (CJB, John 1:23)   For Yeshua Christ (the Messiah) is coming AGAIN . . . ‘The ONE who immerses in the Ruach HaKodesh.' (Holy Spirit – God with and in us)”  Yes!  Yeshua, Who is seated on the right hand of ABBA, making intercession for us, is STILL in the business of  Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) IMMERSION.  In fact, Yeshua returned to ABBA for this purpose . . . in order to SEND and IMMERSE His disciples in the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit)!

            Saints of God, what is your voice?  Do you know your voice?  Are you willing to lift your voice in HARMONY with the UNITED voices of IMMERSERS and TRUE WITNESSES INDEED of the Second Coming of Yeshua Christ (the Messiah)?  Who will WAIT on ADONAI in order to SEE HIM and cry out, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!”?  The FRUIT of this UNITED and HARMONIOUS VOICE in the Earth will be the SAME FRUIT as the FRUIT of John the Immerser’s Testimony . . . The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Him . . .

An entire generation will come to intimately know and follow Yeshua! 

What greater testimony or witness is there in the Earth?  NO NOT ONE!

© 2011 Christine Lombard, All Rights Reserved, Use Only with Permission

References

Vine W. E. (1996).  Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words with Topical Index.  Nashville, TE:  Thomas Nelson Publishers.

WAITING (Acrostic Poem)

Isaiah 40:30-31 - "Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."  (KJV)

 

Isaiah 40:30-31 - "Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired."  (AMP)

WAITING

(Excerpt from "What's in a Word?")

Written May 23, 2011 8:45 P.M.

W illing and wholehearted
A  bandonment 
 I   llustrated
T  hrough one’s fixed gaze of total faith, hope, love,
      submission, surrenderance, obedience, dependency,
      expectancy, and trust
 I  n the manifest Presence, Power, Providence, Truth,
      Word, Wisdom, Will, Judgment, Glory, and
N  ever-ending Love of the
G odhead
     

© 2011 Christine Lombard, All rights reserved, use only with permission

New York, New York - Seeing Intercession As God Sees (Part1)

New York, New York 

Seeing Intercession As God Sees

Part 1

1 Corinthians 13:11-12 – “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”  (KJV)

            By the leading of the Holy Spirit, Prophetess Vera Paul and I recently travelled on mission to New York City.  Part of the prayer that constantly echoed in my spirit before, during, and after the mission to New York City was “Father, help me to see as you see!  Jesus, help me to see as you see!  Holy Spirit, help me to see as you see!”  As strange as it sounds, the more that God teaches me about prayer, is the LESS that He leads me to “pray”, IF one measures prayer by the number of words that one prays!  Yet, THIS is a very limited and INACURATE way of defining, measuring, and most importantly UNDERSTANDING prayer.  We must not only SEE the Godhead, ourselves, and our assignment as God SEES, but we must SEE (perceive and understand) prayer and intercession as God SEES, as well.  Then we will SEE that Strategic Intercession and Warfare is SO MUCH MORE than the words that we say when we pray. 

            Just after Proph. Paul and I boarded the airplane on our flight to New York City; I had a conversation with God that TOTALLY BLEW ME AWAY... AND BLEW AWAY THE WAY THAT I HAVE PRAYED FOR YEARS!  As I watched the passengers board the plane, a group of young people passed by...  I instinctively prayed, "LORD SAVE THEM."  Immediately, God replied so sweetly and tenderly, "Christine, I am in the business of saving people.  You DO NOT need to ask me to save people.  PRAY THAT THE HINDERANCES BE REMOVED THAT ARE KEEPING THEM FROM BEING SAVED!" 

            The lesson that God taught me through this experience was both simple and profound.  Although, praying for the lost is essential, we must FIRST seek God’s face to KNOW HOW to pray STRATEGICALLY and EFFECTIVELY!  God showed me how often we pray in ignorance, without the higher level of knowledge, understanding, and strategy that comes ONLY through SEEKING GOD'S FACE and MATURITY.  Although God is pleased with our act of conversing with Him, we must MATURE in prayer in order to make an IMPACT.  God is pleased with our prayer, just as parents are pleased when their toddler son or daughter speaks to them in their gibberish language.  God is pleased, because He LOVES us, and even the most elementary form of prayer builds our RELATIONSHIP with Him.  God hears and answers His children when they pray.  As our loving Father, He meets us on our level, and rejoices in each stage of our spiritual development.  Yet, there comes a time when we must move past the mere practice of praying into the wisdom and maturity of praying according to the revealed heart, mind, and Spirit of the Godhead.  This is the fruit of the mature stages of intercessory development.  This is the evidence of strategic intercession and warfare.  

1 Corinthians 13:11-12 – “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”  (KJV)

If we look closely at this Scripture, we find four stages of development. 
1. The childhood stage of SPEAKING and UNDERSTANDING,
2. The MANHOOD stage of PUTTING AWAY CHILDISH THINGS (such as childish
    SPEAKING and UNDERSTANDING),
3. SEEING through a glass, darkly (SEEING a reflection, and KNOWING in part,
    but not AS clearly AS),
4. SEEING face to face and KNOWING even as God knows us. 

            As we move towards the final stage of intercessory development, there ought to be evidence of growth, maturity, and development of our VISION, or ability to SEE as God SEES.  The PICTURE of TRUTH and REALITY ought to become increasingly clearer day by day, as we DEVELOP into the intercessors that God has called and ordained us to be in Christ Jesus.

            God is saying that SEEING, HEARING, and DOING are just as much a part of PRAYER as SPEAKING or uttering WORDS.  Therefore, strategic intercession and warfare requires a GREATER PORTION of LISTENING in order to HEAR the Voice of God, and WAITING to SEE what God is showing us.  This truth reminds me of what I often teach my elementary students.  “God created us with two ears and one mouth for a reason.”  Likewise, He created us with two eyes for a reason.  This natural distinction reveals a SPIRITUAL TRUTH that we ought to spend at least twice the amount of time SEEING and HEARING with our God given Spiritual eyes and ears than we spend uttering words in prayer!  Without spiritual HEARING, DISCERNMENT, and SIGHT, we are behaving as mere infants speaking to God in our gibberish language.  We are ineffectively talking loud and saying nothing! 

Numbers 13:1-3 – AND THE Lord said to Moses, Send men to explore and scout out [for yourselves] the land of Canaan, which I give to the Israelites.  From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader or head among them.  So Moses by the command of the Lord sent scouts from the Wilderness of Paran, all of them men who were heads of the Israelites.”  (AMP)

            Likewise, if we examine further, God gave us two arms and hands to perform acts or works of service.  He also gave us two legs and feet to GO where He would quicken us to GO, in order to SEE, HEAR, DO, and SPEAK just as HE WOULD SEE, HEAR, DO and SPEAK.  Why?  Because we are His Ambassadors and Representatives in the Earth!  In other words, the call of the INTERCESSOR takes on a completely new meaning far beyond the words that we say when we pray!     
   
            As a result, God revealed to me that His purpose for our mission to New York City was to “scout the land,” by HEARING, SEEING, and DOING as He led us.  First, God led us to the center of Times Square.  The following day, He led us on a bus tour throughout Times Square and Manhattan.  The two primary places that God spoke and revealed His VISION to me were Times Square and Ground Zero.  These were also the primary places, where He led us to WALK, SEE, and HEAR as He SAW and HEARD these strategic intercessory sites.  Yet, the very first lesson in intercession was the importance of SEEING INTERCESSION as God SEES… as SO MUCH MORE than the words that we say when we pray!

© 2011 Christine Lombard, All rights reserved, use only with permission

Part 2 (Discussing “The City That Never Sleeps”) will be released

by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

http://intercessorsintimatechamber.blogspot.com/