Already in this New Year, many are sensing that this will be a year of apostolic release!? As apostolic people, we have within us pioneering DNA.? We are of the company that will forge a new pathway for the apostolic to be released into our communities and even our nation.? The apostolic is linked of course to the prophetic. During our last election, I remember reading an article in one of our national magazines. It was an interview with one of our national leaders. He was asked what role he felt the church played in the country.? This leader is not a professing Christian, however, he answered that he felt the church’s role was to be the prophetic voice in the land. He was actually being prophetic himself at the moment, even if he? didn’t realise it.
The church must rise up in this season, and take her place, and not become complacent. It’s much easier to wave placards, than it is to get into intercession, and pray through the purposes of God.? We have been mandated by the Lord, to GO OUT!? We like to have little holy huddles, where we can just be together and have fellowship. It’s so safe and o so cozy to be with people who are like minded. However as my husband often says two thirds of GOD is GO!
We are to speak the mind of God, in our work places, in fact wherever we find ourselves, day after day. The gospel of the kingdom must be preached, and yes, with signs following.? This is what apostolic release should look like. We are so used to hearing apostolic and prophetic direction just in church gatherings, but it’s time to go viral?
I have been so blessed by two verses in Isaiah 49, verse 1 and 2.
The Lord has called me from the womb; from the body of my mother He has named my name. And he has made my mouth like a sharp sword in the shadow of His hand has He hid me and made me a polished arrow in His quiver has He kept me close and concealed me. AMP
Apostolic people must have mouths like sharp swords, full of the word of the Lord.? That word, according to the writer of the Hebrews is alive and full of power. It energizes, it’s operative, and sharper than any two edged sword.? Its effect is that it penetrates the deepest part of man’s nature, exposing the purposes and thoughts of the heart.
Have you experienced your mouth being a sharp sword used by the Lord, speaking words that are beyond you, in fact, that even surprise you, when you are speaking to a person who has not yet come into faith, or with someone who is having difficulties with their Christian walk. If you have, then you are being that apostolic, prophetic vehicle that the Lord wants to use in this day.
Being apostolic, is far more than being? members in an Apostolic movement, it’s using and flowing in the apostolic DNA that God purposed for you even before the womb.? May this be a season for us all, when we draw from the prophetic well, and allow our tongues to be used, to bring sweet release to those who are being held captive by the enemy.
He has been hiding us, and polishing us as mighty arrows, in fact he has purposely concealed us, so that we can come to this place of humbly being used for His glory.? This is the day of the Lord!? Be released in His name.
Not even a week has passed since the devastating earthquake in Haiti. It’s been painful to even watch the news coming out from there.? One of the things that struck me the most, was watching people after the earthquake, probably with no homes left, mud and dust streaked across their faces, lifting up their hands in praise, singing ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord’. The song that we are familiar with, says ‘He gives and takes away, Blessed be the name of the Lord’. These people now surely understand what this means.
It was Job that spoke these words, after he had lost everything. We read in Job chapter 1 verse 20
‘Then Job arose and rent his robe and shaved his head and fell down and worshipped’?
Imagine, he had just lost children, all his possessions, and he falls down to worship.? The last verse of that chapter, says that in all of this, Job did not sin neither did he charge God foolishly. In other words he didn’t say ‘why me God, don’t you know that I’ve been a serious servant of yours for many year’?.
The enemy had asked God for permission to test Job. The intent was to see if he would curse God if things didn’t go so well for him.? God granted permission, however Job’s life was not to be taken.
He passed that test with flying colours.? He knew that serving the living God, was not a good luck charm. Rather it was a lifestyle.? I’m sure we have all heard people grumble and complain against the Lord. In fact we all have, on occasion, especially when going through hard times.? However, the Lord is calling us to serve Him, not for what we can get from Him, but to serve Him voluntarily, just for love’s sake.? He longs for relationship, and for a committed life, which if walked in love while on this earth, will go on for eternity.
People, who haven’t yet come into faith, are looking for such committed people; people who are strong and dependable, not wishy-washy, up one day, down the next.? The world is looking for strength. There is only one true strength, the strength found in Jesus Christ.? In fact His strength is made perfect in our weakness, when we are weak, then we are strong in Him.
Job was not given very good advice from his friends. Their counsel was not good counsel.? How wonderful that Job had a made up mind about who his God was.? I love what he was able to say in Chapter 19. Verse25-26.
‘For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives and at last, He the Last One, will stand upon the earth. And after my skin even this body has been destroyed then from my flesh or without it, I shall see God’?
He was prophesying about the supreme sacrifice of Jesus, and His triumphant resurrection,? long before the event happened.? Hallelujah!!
The Lord is forming His nature in us.? This causes me to totally rejoice in the God of my salvation.? When we finally were able to speak in person to our friend, John Dieubon, over the phone from Haiti, the first words out of his mouth were ‘Pastor John, O praise the Lord, praise the Lord’.? His work at the moment is picking up the wounded and transferring them to the overcrowded hospital, some of the children he is picking up are dying in his arms.? How wonderful that Jesus can trust John Dieubon with His treasures.
I am humbled by the reaction of some of these dear people in Haiti. Having lost all, they still find it in themselves to worship, and bless the name of the Lord.? How would we rea
ct? We, who have so much. My hope and prayer is that we will be a people who will not find ourselves being negative to our surroundings, or negative to others around us.?? May we be a people that our Lord can trust with His treasure, because He has so much for us to do.? May we walk in His love and in His strength.