Antioch International Ministries

WE WIN or WE WIN

INSTEAD OF PRAYING FOR THE VICTORY, PRAISE GOD FROM THE VICTORY

Pastor Jim Sanderbeck

Nov. 16, 2020

In the midst of all the post-election flurry, I’ve been meditating on the word and on the prophetic utterance coming from so many voices.  And now, even in the midst of getting a Covid 19 diagnosis, we remain unmoved in the Word and in the common threads of the prophetic words coming forth.

How am I handling all of this that we are experiencing?

I’m a warrior and I realize not all are motivated that way.  Not everyone is designed to embrace the cultural collisions that happen when the Kingdom confronts the world systems.  But if you want, I mean really want, to achieve victory, you need to put on (in this season) the gear of a soldier.  If you don’t, you become potentially subject to the destiny of a prisoner of war and all the hardships that go with it.

We are in a war.  A war for our nation and a war for liberty and a war for our right to worship God and live by His truths.

A warrior fights aggressively and even in the face of overwhelming odds doesn’t quit the battle.  He endures, picks himself up and goes on.  I plan on getting up one more time than I get knocked down.

As an athlete competing at high levels of performance, I had to work hard and learn that principle of warfare.  In this hour we cannot have a recreational approach to the battle.  This isn’t a time for lukewarmness or finding the easy way.  We must be in it to win it!  If you haven’t noticed, this stuff is not recreational.

Look to the Word and to the examples of faith modeled by our believing forefathers.

Psalm of David – the warrior king

Psa 20:6  Now I know that the LORD saves (defends, delivers, helps, preserves, rescues,) His anointed (those consecrated persons who are purposed and set apart to walk in the power of God); He [God] will answer him [God’s anointed ones] from His holy heaven With the saving strength (force, mastery, mighty acts or power), of His right hand (infers the position of rank and authority that cannot be overthrown).

Psa 20:7  Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.

Psa 20:8  They [referring to all who have stood in opposition to the will of God] have bowed down and fallen, But we [referring to those who are purposed to walk in the power of God] have risen (been made to stand up, are stirred up, strengthen, and made to succeed by God),and stood upright.

Joshua – who took the people into the Promised Land

WHOSE REPORT WILL YOU BELIEVE?  THE 10 FEARFUL SPIES OR THE 2 WHO WERE FAITHFUL (JOSHUA & CALEB)?  AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL BELIEVE THE REPORT OF THE LORD

Joshua’s challenge for Israel to stay faithful to God in all things

Jos 24:15  “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

After the people made covenant to stay faithful to God, then Joshua erected a memorial that served as a witness before the people for all time.  NOW, THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK.  TURNING AWAY FROM THEIR COMMITMENT TO GOD WAS NOT AN OPTION.

I believe that what the Word and the prophets have said is going happen, is going to happen.  I don’t know the time frame but, we will see our nation preserved, our liberty ensured and our freedom to follow our God’s principles of Kingdom living confidently re-established BUT…

We Can’t Quit

Php 3:12  Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Php 3:13  Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

Php 3:14  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;

Php 3:16  however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

1Co 9:24  Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Heb 6:2  of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

Heb 6:3  And this we will do, if God permits.

Heb 6:9  But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.

Heb 6:10  For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

Heb 6:11  And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,

Heb 6:12  so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Heb 12:1  Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Heb 12:2  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

A Poem to Encourage

Don’t Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won if he’d stuck it out.
Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow –
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out –
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are –
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit –
It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.

– by Author Unknown

We love you all with the love of Jesus and…

WE’RE GONNA WIN THIS THING!

As we enter the month of September with the most important election in the history of our nation and under the veil of fear, hatred, disease and social unrest, I am posting a positive but challenging prophetic word from Pastor/Prophet Johnny Enlow.  It is time church:  time for unity, intercession and visible action to the world around us.  Thank You Lord for your presence and willingness to include us as your ambassadors on this planet.

BE THE STORM OR FACE THE STORM

As we enter into the key month of September we have a choice before us. Here is what I heard the Spirit of Lord say today:

“Be the storm or Face the storm. You choose. For surely the enemy has many plans and supposed surprises for September. However, my children, I am inviting you to be the big surprise and the big storm of September. I am saying mobilize, move, march, meet, mix, meld and maximize. Maximize who I am in you. Weaponize who I am in you. Maximize by coming together in every way possible. Weaponize who I am by allowing me to stir up radical love in you. I will be looking at you and following your lead. I will go where you go. I will move where you move. I will target what you target. I will expose what you expose. We are doing this together. We are taking back your cities, your states and your nations. We are saying ENOUGH! to death, destruction, deception and darkness. We are not passively waiting to see what awful and cowardly thing the enemy will next do. ENOUGH!

You will do your part and I will do my part. I am teaching you how to be Deliverers. I am training you how to become Reformers. I am lifting you up to higher places and you must learn to remain and operate at that level. No more hunkering down. No more fear. No more dread. No more waiting for the other shoe to hit. No more passivity. No more pretend meekness. No more patronizing darkness. No more tap dancing with evil in government and calling it honor. No more. No more. ENOUGH!

You will now rise. You will now be the storm of all storms against the enemy. You will be active with your prayer life. You will be active with your praise life. You will be active with your engagement of society. You will not be quiet. You will not be silent. You will not remain muted. You will not be meek in this battle but you will be mighty. When Goliath is breathing down your neck is not the time to promote restraint. When Jezebel is on the prowl is not the time to embrace mildness. They operate together through your media today. Somebody blow a trumpet! Sound an alarm on My holy mountain. This is an enemy you must behead. This is a foe you must rise with courage against. I will stun him with your little stone but you will then use his very own weapon and behead him. How you say? Well, I say to you use your mouth, use your media, use your worship, use your praise, use your prophetic decrees, use your shofars, use your songs, use your tongues. Goliath’s sword was his mouth. Use it back on him. Break, once and for all, the lie of powerlessness. Greater am I in you than what you can imagine. No more hiding and waiting. ENOUGH!

Yes, the battle is mine, but I act when you show up on the battlefield. I respond to your courage to be there. I am teaching you that when you move on earth it moves heaven. Show up everywhere you want me to show up- and I will. We can set the agenda of the next three months and keep the enemy in continual flight. We can snuff out the big blows. Believe it or not we are closer to massive breakthrough than you can imagine. The angels I am now sending are mop-up angels. Their wings carry thunder and lightning and they are great golden angels— but it is mop-up time. The big enemies have already been dealt with. I have already moved heaven and earth on your behalf. Yes, it is all about the children and it is all about the nations. I am rescuing both, but move with Me. I am removing long standing deep darkness. I am securing the advent of a new day. I am releasing you into a new era. You will hold the ground we are now taking and you will launch forward from this new place. Today rise up and be moved deeply. Let Me through you, be the storm of all storms released on the enemy. He has it coming to him.”

Johnny Enlow

Positioned to Lead

Pastor Jim Sanderbeck

President, Antioch International Ministries

June 11, 2020

In this hour of chaos, moral, spiritual and social unrest fills the streets of the United States of America and the world at large.  Untold numbers live in fear and have questions that the world’s leaders cannot answer.  Additionally, we hear the Spirit of God say through current prophetic words that planet earth has entered a new season that will exemplify the Kingdom of God and embrace what has been called by a few, a new Great Awakening.  As this season fully manifests, it will produce a revival of many lukewarm and religious believers and a harvest of new believers that exceeds anything experienced to date.  Resultant lifestyles that reflect Kingdom truth and principle are going to emerge and capture the hearts of millions.

In the past four months, pandemic disease, murder, vandalism, and disrespect/dishonor for people, places, and things have dominated the media.  Media sources have been sources of disunity instead of instruments of unity.  Government politicians have shown themselves to be inadequate decision-makers and more interested in promoting useless ideology and self-promotion than workable solutions and justice.  This negative dark spirit has fanned the flames of anarchy and incubates just more of the same.

Although there have been a few powerful examples of Christian unity and compassion expressed through this time period, little has been publicized that has had a positive impact on lives.  Aside from the liberal and distorted media sources, this is because 1) the spirit of the kingdom of darkness that saturates the atmosphere today is trying to hold back the coming Awakening and 2) The Kingdom of God does not come with fanfare and overtly visible signs that gratifies the flesh.  (Luke 17:20-21)  I believe that is about to change!

It is time for Christian believers to arise and become active leaders in whatever sphere of influence they touch.  I’m not talking about just those Christians who occupy the pulpit or have large followings.  I’m talking about those believers who understand who they are as sons of God and ambassadors of the Kingdom.  Spirit Warriors who are willing to risk, rise up in demonstrations of faith led by the Holy Spirit, live by the Word of God and model the example of our Savior King Jesus.  Nothing held back.  Leaders who will visibly represent to today’s world the Ekklesia model of the 1^st generation believers.  Leaders that all of creation is crying out for.  (Romans 8:19).  These believers are positioned to lead.

The Kingdom of God comes to change culture and it is time to visibly do that and not just give lip service to it.  Jesus Himself said this in Matthew 10:34: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  Paraphrased, Jesus was saying I have come to change the culture of the world to the culture of His Father’s Kingdom.  For way too long, Christian leaders have talked about fishing, had conferences about fishing, and taught methods about how to fish.  However, whenever it comes to reaching humanity aggressively for the sake of establishing the Kingdom, very few leaders are fishing!  This is not how God has wanted it.  [Didn’t he say “go and take dominion?”  (Gen. 1:26).]  Likewise, this is not how the founders of this nation referenced it.  This is what they wrote in the Constitution at our very outset as a nation:

“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”  Is this statement not reflective of the Kingdom lifestyle we Christians are to model?  The Kingdom is within us!

To the church in general, I ask the question, “what in the world has happened here?”  Where did this fervor of the founders go?  Do we as a nation today even have an inkling of what this constitutional preamble says or means?  Do we understand what God meant when He commanded mankind to take dominion?  Christian leaders are necessary to advance the spirit of the Kingdom, but, sadly, the atmosphere over which the church hovers has been relatively silent while we built our fortresses, conducted our programs and worked on building our personal kingdoms.

To my question above of, “do we have an inkling…”, from what I have observed—NO, not really!  Certainly not as a whole nation.  Because the initial motivation of this nation’s founders was to be ruled from the inside out and from the bottom up, literally the culture has been turned outside in and upside down.  I realize the pandemic, violence, and governmental chaos is a global worldwide issue, but God has established our boundaries and seasons positioned here in these United States. (Acts 17:26)  Let’s start making our way back in Judea first and then go to the uttermost parts of the earth.  Liberal thinking combined with our abilities to meet our own needs has flipped the United States into Babylonian behaviors that mirror culture at the tower of Babel.  And, as Scripture clearly reflects in Romans 1:18-32, culture in these United States has reversed its original design of justice, domestic tranquility, common defense, general welfare and individual liberty to one that has forsaken dependence upon Him. Therefore, God has given the unsaved and unbelieving society in general “over to a reprobate (deprived) mind.” (vs 28)  Reprobate meaning “unapproved, that is, rejected; by implication worthless (literally or morally): – castaway, rejected, reprobate.”  (Strong’s Concordance reference G96)

Christian leaders, especially since prayer was removed from schools in 1962, have given some lip service but, face it, very little tangible results have occurred to protest and effectively change spiritual, family and social decline.  For true ministry leaders, it seems to me that the conditions that need examined are the conditions of the heart, conditions of the culture, conditions controlling life experience and conditions of responsible leadership that actually produces results.  The hearts in this nation have become self-satisfying.  The culture of this nation has drastically been eroded from its original intent and design.  The life experience of this nation (the wealthiest and most liberated of the world) has become arrogantly entitled and lacking in forgiveness while accepting cultural postures other than the Biblical example.

I’m calling for all of the believers in Jesus Christ to lead—not just the ecclesiastically called.  Get out of the bleachers and onto the playing field.  We need to lead in every mountain (cultural) sphere.  We need to impact our sphere of influence through intercession for the nation, through stepping publicly on to the platforms of every mountain in a way that influences Kingdom life, through the exercise of public worship, through the support of believing and actively practicing Christians in the government and in the marketplace, through service at the point of need, through the demonstration of honor where honor is deserved, and through the modeling of Christ-like attitudes and behaviors in our family and in our neighborhoods.  What if we all did this everyday in our own assigned roles and locations?  This is our land and it our destiny to influence the world for the Kingdom of God.  It is time!  It is time to go to work and to work God’s eternal plan.

This article is written by AIM’s author, prophetess and intercessor Judy Bauman who is the founder of Jewels from Judy.  It is timely and appropriate to be printed here for your review.  Thanks Judy.

Jewels from Judy: “THE ERA OF GREAT HARVEST!”

Waiting on the Promise
Beloved ones, have you been waiting on the Lord during this global reset? I pray during this unusual time that you have found yourself living with and IN CHRIST and God’s faithfulness. Many of us have experienced hardships like we’ve never known, but through it all, whether we’ve realized it or not, the Lord has been near. Philippians 4:4-5 comes to mind where Paul tells the Ekklesia to rejoice for this very reason. The Lord is near – He is at hand! Knowing Paul was imprisoned when he wrote to the Philippians gives me great hope and encouragement, and I pray it gives you hope too. Certainly, if he could write the letter he did under those circumstances we can follow the rest of his directive in Philippians 4:6-9.

With that said, there are two things that I want to share with you that the Lord has made clear to me. Many of us have heard that we have entered “a new era.” There are a number of prophetic voices that have confirmed this fact over the past year or two.

THE ERA OF GREAT HARVEST!
Jesus warned us that Satan is a thief, and recently the Holy Spirit spoke to me, “Understand that the enemy seeks to redefine this new era as the ‘Covid/Post Covid-19 era’ saying this is the ‘new normal’. However, you are to call it THE ERA OF GREAT HARVEST!”

As we are celebrating Pentecost Sunday and preparing for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit, I received word that some wicked people are calling this, ‘Bloody Sunday’. While we are to be watchful, we are NOT to be in agreement with either of these demonic assertions. It is PENTECOST SUNDAY and we are in THE ERA OF GREAT HARVEST – that is our declaration, that is our stance! The only blood that matters is the Blood of Jesus that covers us! Hallelujah! Watchfulness and walking in wisdom is one thing, but paranoia is another. God has not given us a spirit of fear or timidity. He has given us His power, the love of the Father, and a sound and well-balanced mind – the mind of Christ. Amen!

The Dawn of the New Era

Today, my husband and I were watching the docking of the first manned space flight in years. They docked to the International Space Station. It was such an exciting moment and took me back to 1969 when NASA shared the moon landing. As they were addressing all the viewers and commenting on the international cooperation involved, they quoted Astronaut Anne McClain saying, “This is the DAWN OF A NEW ERA in human spaceflight.”

This so speaks to me about the Ekklesia! We are in the DAWN OF A NEW ERA – THE ERA OF GREAT HARVEST! I love when the Lord uses unusual events to confirm what He’s doing. Glory to God!

I pray this blesses and encourages you in the Father’s love,

Rev. Judy A Bauman

Pastor Jim Sanderbeck

Recently, I have released several very key prophetic deliveries through different Christian leaders to our active members of Antioch International Ministries.  ALL of these deliveries have been relevant and what I would call “NOW WORDS.”  They are NOW WORDS because they tell us what is going on spiritually and manifesting outwardly in the natural world NOW.  In addition to my personal “I Am Changing the Landscape” prophesy shown below in the AIM post dated 3/28/2020, here are two examples:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUAJiG9hg2M     (Mike Evans)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Usx6bOf0BIo&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR3c_-F7JTHIb-EfFzK6vL67GbzzrtWVJ42u1YCOPPsGL0aGWA-Vjd3rCKM     (Lance Wallnau)

In this very fluid season, things are reported both accurately and inaccurately.  Facts are fiction and fiction fact for many reasons (among which some are media speculation, political maneuvering, and, yes, sometimes even because of selfishly desired spiritual outcomes).  Be careful who you listen to!  It is a time when every Christian needs to be personally connected to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit of God as well as to the flow of natural things as they parallel the Word and the Spirit.  I believe we are on the cusp of a great awakening and the Christian who passionately pursues the truth for the hour is going to have the privilege of experiencing God perhaps like no one since the 1^st generation Ekklesia.  God has changed the landscape and He alone is about to direct the orchestra.

I believe that for the Christian it boils down to two words—PREPARED & ALERT.  In Matt. 25:1-13, Jesus teaches the parable of the 10 virgins.  I have believed for decades that this is a parable for the last season, the end times, the Kingdom Age.  Let’s examine the Word: The Scripture says that 5 virgins were wise (I.e. literally: sensible, intelligent, discrete, practically skilled and prudent) and that 5 were foolish (I.e. literally: thoughtless, without forethought, closed up and heedless).  Because of those differences, 5 were prepared to enter into the celebration with the bridegroom and 5 were left unprepared, wanting and left out.  When the alert that called the bridal party to attention was delivered, a natural separation occurred.  Those who had prepared fully entered into the celebration while the unprepared were found to be wanting and searching.  They were all still virgins but there was a huge difference.  I believe we have reached a point in the seasons of God where we must continually be PREPARED and always on the ALERT.

I believe most Christians would say in this hour “I am sensible, intelligent, discrete, practical and prudent.”  Inference: “I’m prepared and ready.”  But, are you?  Are you praying for God’s input every day out of a fervent passionate relationship with Him?  Or, are you praying “superficial gimme and self-centered prayers”?  Are you praying for the victory, or, from the victory?  Are you examining the Word daily while pursuing rhema by the Holy Spirit and then applying it to your daily living?  (In other words, personally do all of your life experiences pass through the filters of the Word and the Spirit?)  Are you counting on others to hear and direct your actions or do you combine the witness to your spirit with those who, like the men of Issachar, have understanding of the times? Are you hanging on ‘til Jesus comes while looking to the clouds, or are you living a life of world occupancy and expectation?  Does your life display love, influence and power to the unbelieving and the desperately needy world right around you?  Are you looking for a miracle or are you the miracle?  Jesus said in Luke 17:20-21 “…”The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed;  nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!‘ or, ‘There it is!‘ For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

In this post, I want to encourage you to good deeds and good works AS WELL AS making sure you are connecting to the one and only true and living God.  In this era, there are no formulas and processes that will forever be carved in stone.  There are no big names to light up your sky, tickle your ears or demand your obedience.  There is, however, the unchanging Word, the Name above every other name, the counselor, the everlasting Father.  There is prayer that changes things.  There is faith.  There is opportunity.  Align yourself with all of these and you will be prepared and you will be alert.  “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh.”

 “I AM CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE”

Prophetic Word – Mar. 28, 2020

Delivered by Pastor Jim Sanderbeck

I was awakened from my sleep at 6:30 AM this morning by the sound of rain, low thunder, a BRIGHT flash of lightening and then a long low rumbling of more thunder.  Immediately, the Lord spoke to me and said “I am changing the landscape.”  He then said “when I lift this curse off of the land, you will see that I have brought the mountains low (which He identified as obstacles that have been in our paths, hard circumstances we have had to face, and difficult people and situations that have thwarted our efforts) and the valley’s up (which He identified as disappointments, discouragements, depressors, and grieving’s).”  That was the end of the prophetic release and the prophetic flow ceased.

I immediately went into my recollections of the Word that speaks of mountains and valleys being leveled and raised.  There are numerous ones in Scripture from the Books of Isaiah, Luke, Psalms and Ezekiel.  [I ultimately read them all but I really had to go no further than Isaiah to get the full impact and implications of what God was telling me/us today.  I’ll share that and those references further below.]

Personally, the sounds and flash indicated to me that the Lord was right then moving the spiritual atmosphere in such a way that our life experience as Believers is about to change from what was operational before the COVID-19 pandemic to a new operational “landscape” after the pandemic lifts.  I believe He was indicating that this would be a visible and experiential adjustment that will be “felt.”  That, as Holy Spirit empowered witnesses in the earth, there will be a much different open plain now in our circumstances, our witness in the planet, our personal and corporate situations, our health and our provision (notice I’m saying provision—not just finances).  This smooth plain will give us less resistance in our witness and greater acceptance in our communities than ever before.  I believe we will walk in the “double” portion spoken of in the Word.  I believe our walk will have greater influence and receive greater favor in the arenas in which we have been assigned. (I.e. business, profession, relationships, marketplace, etc.).  In all things, the signal light will have turned green for anyone bold enough to step into it.

Hear is the Word and the spirit of what God was revealing through Isaiah the Prophet:

Isaiah 40: 1-5, 9-11, 22-31; 41: 1-13 (NASB)  [I will highlight “keys” to interpret and meditate upon.]

Isa 40:1  “Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God.

Isa 40:2  “Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the LORD’S hand Double for all her sins.”

Isa 40:3  A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

Isa 40:4  “Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley;

Isa 40:5  Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Isa 40:9  Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”

Isa 40:10  Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him.

Isa 40:11  Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

Isa 40:22  It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

Isa 40:23  He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.

Isa 40:24  Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And the storm carries them away like stubble.

Isa 40:25  “To whom then will you liken Me That I would be his equal?” says the Holy One.

Isa 40:26  Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.

Isa 40:27  Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God”? 

Isa 40:28  Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.

Isa 40:29  He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.

Isa 40:30  Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly,

Isa 40:31  Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

Isa 41:1  “Coastlands, listen to Me in silence, And let the peoples gain new strength; Let them come forward, then let them speak; Let us come together for judgment.

Isa 41:2  “Who has aroused one from the east Whom He calls in righteousness to His feet? He delivers up nations before him And subdues kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, As the wind-driven chaff with his bow.

Isa 41:3  “He pursues them, passing on in safety, By a way he had not been traversing with his feet.

Isa 41:4  “Who has performed and accomplished it, Calling forth the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the LORD, am the first, and with the last. I am He.'”

Isa 41:5  The coastlands have seen and are afraid; The ends of the earth tremble; They have drawn near and have come.

Isa 41:6  Each one helps his neighbor And says to his brother, “Be strong!” 

Isa 41:7  So the craftsman encourages the smelter, And he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, Saying of the soldering, “It is good”; And he fastens it with nails, So that it will not totter.

Isa 41:8  “But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend,

Isa 41:9  You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.

Isa 41:10  ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Isa 41:11  “Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.

Isa 41:12  “You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent. 

Isa 41:13  “For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’

Additional References:

• Isaiah 2:12; 26:5, 29:4 (and surrounding verses)
• Luke 3:4-6
• Psalms 107:39
• Ezekiel 17:24

The Lord has spoken here a very encouraging prophesy.  In this hour, may it be that he who has ears, let him hear and he who has eyes let him see.  We are about to experience God lift this pandemic as a sign that the landscape surrounding you has been changed.  He is building His present day Ekklesia now.  The former things are behind us.  Wait on His initiatives and then with courage and boldness move forward.  He promises to favor you, sustain you, strengthen you, and empower you to be His witness right where He has you planted.  Praise God!  Rejoice!  Experience the reformation God is releasing to you.

SELAH!

AMEN!

SO BE IT!

If you haven’t noticed, the world is not beating a path to the doors of our churches—especially here in the United States. The number of churches closing their doors and consolidating is staggering. Income is declining and pastors are being forced to find personal income streams in order to meet their personal or family needs. Volunteerism is down in the church and many responsibilities are now being combined or eliminated. The number of people giving up on regular church attendance or being involved with church program life is dropping tremendously. Don’t get me wrong. I believe in the church. I love the church. Jesus died for the church. It’s just that I believe that the church is going to look different, act different and be different. This new church reformation will change the world. Some churches are catching on to what God is building and they are “reforming” in ways to come into agreement with what the Holy Spirit is doing today.

Around the world, in many different cultures, the “church” is growing in places religious leaders can barely imagine. People are being saved, healed, delivered and changed. This emerging church doesn’t look at all like it has looked here in the United States over the past several generations, but it is definitely making its presence known. And, where it is manifesting, earthly governments and others still estranged from God are trying their best to control that which is not controllable. Why? Two Reasons:
1. Because we are in a new season in God. The transition from what I call the Institutional Age of the Church is giving way to the Kingdom Age of the Church. All 5 office gifts to the church (apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, evangelist: Eph. 4:11-12 have now been restored and activated, and the equipping of the saints to full maturity in Christ is under way. This is a good thing!
2. In this new season of the Kingdom Age of the Church, God is going to do the building by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is not going to be built on the wisdom and knowledge of man. It will do things that to the carnal mind seem foolish. The church is reforming, and it is going to be reformed in the model taught and exampled by Jesus Himself and the first generation of believers under the leadership of the Apostles. The church Jesus called to “go ye therefore” is beginning to awaken.

Men have done their best to grow the church. Men have done their best to control the church. But, Scripture clearly tells us building the church is not going to come by the hands of men. Ps 127:1 says “Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.” (NASB) Matt 16:18 Jesus speaking says, “…and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven”;…”(NASB) Finally, Rev 11:15 declares “…there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” (NASB)

What Jesus envisioned for the church was not a building or a program or an event. The Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus preached was a people, moving in the power of God, loving, evangelizing, and teaching those who would receive. A people who lived life only for the glory of God by loving intentionally, meeting felt needs, sharing from what they had, and living Jesus’ prayers of “Let thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven, and Father as you and I are one, let them be one.

The word translated in Scripture as church 79 times is “Ekklesia.” It means “a called out assembly and in the vernacular of today and terms of what we are seeing today, this “called out assembly” would be defined as those believers who are called out of the world and into His marvelous light to demonstrate the powers of the Kingdom of God in a way that will impact and change the kingdoms (or cultures) of this world. 1st Corinthians gives us the clearest picture of what the Ekklesia honored. Their gatherings and outreaches included 1.)fellowship, 2.)praise and worship, 3.)honoring Jesus command of communion, and 4.)equipping of the believers to exercise their spiritual gifts as empowered by the Holy Spirit. In approximately 70 years, without the conveniences of computers, internet, telephones or television, the Ekklesia touched the entire known world of that time period.

In closing, let me summarize by saying the church of this new season will be characterized by intentional love, fellowship, small group gatherings with occasional times of coming together, prayer, evangelization, and equipping of the saints. It is not going to be centered on a building, protocols and processes, programs, events, legal requirements and traditions. It is going to be centered on Jesus, and giving glory and honor to God who has given us life so we can be in an operational covenant relationship with him and one another. Father, let thy Kingdom come and let your church reflect your glory.

I am greatly moved by God in this season to focus in on leadership and our leadership assignments.  I’d like to share with you for a season of time about leadership because I truly believe that there has been a mantle passed to us and a baton handed to us for the running of a final lap.  As I look back at all the things I longed to see and experience in my life, I realize I desired all of that in order to be able to recognize those things I so desired when they appeared.  Now, as I look around my world, I realize as we enter into this season in God that “this is that” for which I longed.

As an AIM leader of a ministry, of a small group, or of individuals, you need know how important your leadership role is in advancing the culture of the Kingdom of God—locally and beyond.  Experience has taught me that advancement is always based on the leader.  Advancement turns on leadership and therefore advancement is directly proportional to what that leader does and how that leader leads.

The assignment on Jesus’ life was to bring the Kingdom of God upon the earth.  In the 4 Gospels and in The Acts of the Apostles, there is more teaching about the Kingdom of God than any other subject.  Jesus came to change earthly culture (which had become immersed in religion and filled with oppression and pain) to heavenly culture (which is immersed in relationships and filled with freedom and wholeness).  He accomplished his mission by his representation of Father God (“if you have seen me you have seen the Father”), his teaching (“They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes”) and his lifestyle (“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me”).  Jesus was a Change-Agent leader who passionately lived to fulfill his assignment.

• Because of Jesus the Christ, we know salvation saves people, the Holy Spirit fills people, and the Kingdom changes people.

Do you as a leader burn with passion for God’s presence?  Do you model worship, praise and prayer before your family, constituents and community?  Are you actively engaged daily with what the Holy Spirit is revealing to you about the world around you?  As you lead, what is it about your assignment that gives you traction?

Advancing the Kingdom of God is going to take a new breed of leader.  As leaders in AIM, we have been given a cutting-edge challenge to watch God’s movement in the earth and then prepare to lead our constituents accordingly into growth and understanding.  Change-agent leadership is a leadership style that is based on the Word of God and is exemplified by many tremendous Biblical characters).  This change-agent leadership style is interlaced with the movement and instruction of the Holy Spirit and touches people right where they are found.  I hope the forth-coming blogs are an encouragement to every one of you who leads in this hour and who are such an integral part of Antioch International Ministries.