The year 1999 was a "Year of Preparation" not only for us to prepare ourselves for the imminent return of the Lord Jesus, but for what lies ahead in these last days. Jerh. 12 vs 5 & 6 (Amp).

This year, I believe the Word of God is saying this to His people at this time :
"ARISE FROM THE DEPRESSION AND PROSTRATION
IN WHICH CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE KEPT YOU : RISE
TO A NEW LIFE ! SHINE ~ BE RADIANT WITH THE
GLORY OF THE LORD : FOR YOUR LIGHT IS COME,
AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS RISEN UPON YOU" !
ISAIAH 60 ~1 (also vs 2 Ampl)

The second scripture is :
" FOR THE OPPRESSION OF THE POOR, FOR THE
SIGHING OF THE NEEDY, NOW WILL I ARISE,
SAITH THE LORD, I WILL SET HIM IN SAFETY
FROM HIM THAT PUFFETH AT HIM".
PSALM 12 ~5.

I think that for most of God's children who really mean business with Him, 1999 has been the worst year for them. Last year the Lord showed me that the Winnower was going to come into the churches to do some sifting. This I have seen happening. The Lord has sent a spirit of "dissatisfaction" into the midst of His people.

I believe it is for GOOD !!

Firstly, I believe that the remnant has been brainwashed with so much intellectual teachings, man's opinions, formula's, hype etc. and this spirit of dissatisfaction has caused them to retreat. Some have just decided to withdraw from everything ~ church included, others have become passive and dry in spirit and soul.

Confusion and distrust has set in and the very difficult process of being "un-brainwashed" is taking place. I have found that many have become over-cautious and critical and this is causing them to lose their joy and belief ~ They are so afraid of what's going on that they are forgetting that the Lord is still a miracle working God. He does not change. Might I say ~ they are on very dangerous ground.

Secondly, in the midst of all the above, the enemy knows his time is short, and has issued an onslaught on the Body of Christ like never before. It has come from all sides at once.

Well, the good news is that the Lord is saying " Arise" for " I AM Arising" !! Yes, it is time to AWAKE and ARISE. Those of you who have been through the fires and storms ~ the Lord is saying " ENOUGH" !

When the children of Israel crossed the Jordon into the Promised Land, they had to fight battle after battle. Then God took them to a place called "Shiloh". Easton"s Bible Dictionary describes Shiloh like this ~ "Shiloh, a place of rest, a city of Ephraim, on the north side of Bethel. Here the Tabernacle was set up after the conquest. No place in central Israel could be more secluded than this early santuary." Here was a place where the people could put down their weapons and rest, without the fear of being attacked. I believe that this battle weary Remnant has at last come to Shiloh ! The Lord is allowing them a breathing space.

NOTE - Shiloh did not mean the end of their battles - but it was a place where they could rest, feel safe and get ready for whatever lay ahead.

So ~ Do what the Word says in Jeremiah 6 ~ 16 - "Thus says the Lord, Stand by the roads and look, and ask for the eternal paths, where is the good, OLD WAY : then walk in it and you will find rest for your souls".

BACK TO THE CROSS ~ BACK TO THE WORD ~ BACK TO REPENTANCE.
BACK TO REVERENCE ~ We serve a HOLY GOD ~ BACK TO THE OLD WAY. !!

This is what we are going to see happening this year, if we are willing. :

Kings ~ 18 vs 41 to 46.
"And Elijah said to Ahab, Go up, eat and drink for there is a sound
of abundance of rain. So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And
Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, and he bowed himself down
upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, and said to
his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up and
looked and said, There is nothing. Elijah said, Go again, seven
times. And the seventh time the servant said, A cloud, small as
a man's hand is ARISING out of the sea. And Elijah said, go up
say to Ahab, Hitch your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop
you. IN A LITTLE WHILE, the heavens were black with windswept
clouds, and there was GREAT RAIN. And Ahab went to Jezreel
The hand of the Lord was on Elijah. He girded up his loins and ran
before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel (nearly 20 miles)
Amen.

1. Elijah said ~ "there is a sound of abundance of rain" He never saw it in the natural - it was in his spirit. You need to hear with your spirit. ( The season is changing Eccl. 3.).
   

2. He bowed himself down ~ put his face between his knees ~ He was praying ~ He hid his face ~ no distraction or negativity ~ he was serious.
   
3. He told his servan "Go up now, look toward the sea" ~ He had faith.
   
4. The servant saw nothing ~ Elijah was not discouraged at the length of time it was taking ~ He never gave up ~ He knew what he had heard in his spirit.
   
5. The seventh time the servant went to look he saw a small cloud ~ Elijah now saw the supernatural turning into the natural and he saw the manifestation of it ~ IT STARTED RAINING !!!!
   
6. Lastly, the hand of the Lord was upon Elijah ~ he girded up his loins and ran before the chariot.

This is what we need to do ~ WAKE UP ~ ARISE ~ and run with the things of God in this year. If you do not arise you will be left behind. God gave Elijah supernatural strength to run in front of that chariot. He will do the same for you, if you are willing. This year we need to pray like never before ~ get into the Word like never before ~ be committed to the things of the Kingdom like never before. Our God is alive, and exciting. Pew warming will get you nowhere. ~ We need to put all petty offences aside and keep our eyes on Jesus and not man. Man is going to let you down even more in these last days as the great "falling away" takes place.

There are three things that the Lord requires of us ~ Repentance ~ Holiness and Readiness. He is coming back for victorious church. Command your spirit to ARISE ~ even as David did.

Let me close with this : Nothing is going to get better in this world that we live in. In fact you know what the Word says about the end times ~ we are seeing the manifestation of the end time phophecy undolding before our very eyes. By the looks of things, the final "Peace Treaty" between Israel and the Arab nations will be signed this year. The countdown has already begun. Just keep your ears open to what is happening in Israel to-day, it is an end-time barometer. Russia is set to take centre stage by the end of July. If you thought the bear was dead ~ you are mistaken.

We are living in very exciting times. If you are part of the Remnant you have nothing to fear ~ in fact ~ "Look up, your Redemption is drawing nigh".

Nobody knows when Jesus is going to retun ~ but this I do know ~ His return is immanent and we need to be ready. Only the Remnant is going to be caught up with Him ~ that is ~ a small percentage of "Christians".Lord help us to be ready !

Just by the way, I found it so exciting to see what the cross reference to the Year 2000 scripture is ~

Zech. 8 vs 23.
"Thus says the Lord of Hosts : In those days ten men, out
of all languages of the nations, shall take hold of the robe
of him who is a Jew, saying, Let us go with you, for we have
heard that God is with you. "

AMEN.

From
Sonia Keown, Seaview Mission Outreach, Mount Zion Chapel.
Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
E-mail sgft@global.co.za
Website www.pechurchnet.co.za/church/mtzion.htm
posted 12 January 2000

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