Persistently every night for the past few months I have been awakened by the sounds of bones cracking and for some strange reason, ignored it.  However, I found it increasingly difficult to ignore as it continued to occur.  One particular night while in prayer on the prayer wall, I distinctly heard that sound again just outside the front window of my house and it made every hair on my body stand up!  The Word from the Epistle of 2 Timothy chapter 5 verse (7) God had not given to you the spirit of fear but of power and of love and a sound mind.  Spoke at that moment as the LORD empowered me to labour on through the watches of the night to the breaking of the dawn.  I asked Abba Father, to reveal what I was fighting against and no sooner did I lay down to sleep in a vision.  I saw myself standing near the front room window, suddenly without any warning, a lion rushed through the front room window with such a fierce force, causing me to hit the floor.  The Word spoke from 1 Peter chapter 5 verse (8) Be sober, be vigilant; because of your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.  I pondered on the words of the Psalmist David from Psalm 57 verse (4) My soul is among lions, I must lie among those who breathe forth fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows and their tongue a sharp sword.  Then I cried, O God, shatter their teeth in their mouth; break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD.  More words poured forth from Psalm 10 verse (9) He lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his lair, He lurks to catch the afflicted, He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.  Then, I cried out to the LORD, from Psalm 35 verse (17) LORD, how long will you look on?  Rescue my soul from their ravages, my only life from the lions. Abba Father, beckoned me to take a closer look at the vision.  Amazingly, this apparent fall only looked like a fall, my feet were actually positioned on the floor in a crouched position and my hands were strategically on the floor.  In that instant, the Word spoke powerfully to me this time from Psalm 144 verse (1) Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; verse (2) He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.  ESV.

 Men and women of Yahweh, Beware of the Lurking Lion, the Apostle Paul warns every disciple of Jesus Christ to daily put on the full armour of God. (See Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10 to 18) We must make it a priority to live a life of prayer, study the Word, along with fasting regularly and Walk in Faith and Obedience.  We are required to be alert at all times because the lurking lion is always near and waiting for a moment of weakness to launch his attack.  But thanks be to Yahweh, the God who redeems, each time the lurking lion plans his attacks.  The real Lion of the Tribe of Judah intercepts him according to the book of Revelation chapter 5 verse (5)  And one of the elders said to me, stop weeping, behold, the lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.

 I glanced at myself standing near the window in my front room.  As the lion rushed through the window with such a great force, I was a bit startled and fell backwards but landed with transformed hind feet ready to war in the spirit but not without the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  What a showdown between the Lurking Lion and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  Beware men and women of Yahweh of the Lurking Lion!

I was at a place walking through thick engulfing darkness, there was absolutely no light, but I was singing the hymn written by John H. Sammis entitled Trust and Obey, here are the lyrics.

Trust and Obey

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there is no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey;

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away,

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay.

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,

But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay.

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,

Or we will walk by His side in the way.

What He says we will do, where He sends, we will go;

Never fear, only trust, and obey.

The telephone rang and awakened me; it was 3:30 a.m. It was a dream which seemed so real and before my feet touched the floor I heard these words, on the Potter’s Wheel!  Abba Father then drew my attention to the book of Jeremiah chapter eighteen where God had given Jeremiah a message for the house of Israel.  Let’s read it together beginning at verse (1) “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,” (2) “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.”  (3)  “Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.”  (4)  “And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make it.”  (5)  “Then the word of the LORD came to me saying,” (6) “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter?  Saith the LORD; Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”  (7)  “ At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it,”  (8)  “If that nation against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.”  (9)  “ And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;”  (10)  “ If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, where with I said I would benefit them.”  (11)  “Now therefore go speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you:  return ye now everyone from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.  (12)  “And they said, there is no hope, but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.”

The presence of the LORD filled the room and I sang again the hymn, Trust and Obey, only this time, the last two stanzas became personal as I put myself in each line.  Then as I sang the chorus, knelt humbly before Abba Father and repented for getting off The Potter’s Wheel.

Take a moment right where you are to reflect on all that is going on in this Bahama land and indeed the world.  I submit to you darkness is engulfing not only this nation but nations all across the globe.  This is a warning, it is time for the people of Yahweh to humble ourselves and pray, seek God’s face to hear His instructions like Jeremiah did in verse one of the fore mentioned scripture and it bears being repeated.  (1) “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,” (2) “Arise, go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.”  Jeremiah was obedient! (3) “Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.”  Will you this moment stop blaming the government for the darkness that is over taking our land, it is time for you and me to repent and seek for Yahweh, the God who has redeemed you and calls you His own;  The Word is speaking from 2 Chronicles 7:14  “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”  The question is though, do you (me too) really want healing in this land?  Are you subject to the changes which are being made while you are on the Potter’s Wheel?  Who knows, maybe Yahweh has a calling on your life and has chosen you to go and speak to the leaders of our nation to effect a change in the government but how will you ever receive His mantle of power if you continue on with your shenanigans?

I was at a place walking through thick engulfing darkness, there was no light but I was singing the hymn entitled, Trust and Obey; humbly I knelt in prayer and repented for getting off the Potter’s Wheel and for trying to follow God’s plan but was doing it my way!  Is it possible that you and I have become like the men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem in verse (12) who lost all hope?  Have we become presumptuous enough to tell the Potter, we will make our own devices?  Have we imagined evil things in our hearts and dare walk through it?  I reiterate, stop your shenanigans and stay on the Potter’s Wheel!

In the Judge’s Chambers during a closed session the plaintiff would state his or her grievance to have the defendant, who would have to be present, bound over to keep the peace and to stay away from the plaintiff.  This is a desperate move and many times it is done out of fear for one’s safety.  The Word is speaking from the book of Job chapter one beginning at (6)”Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.” (7)”And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?”  So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” This was a closed session; no one else was privy to this.  God issued Satan a challenge in (8)”Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”  It is of utmost importance to listen to Satan’s reply in this closed session, (10)”Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side?  You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.”  Satan continued (11)”But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to your face!” Do you see how cleverly Satan brought charges against Job?  But Abba Father had so much faith in Job that He actually gave Satan permission to launch an attack on Job with only one restriction  and that was he could not take away his life. (12)”And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”  So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.”

Where ever you are on your journey it may seem as if you are being stalked and attacked from outside and within but you cannot make an appointment with the Judge to bring charges against the stalker because he cannot be seen with the natural eyes but could it be though that Abba Father is in closed session bragging on you and your faithfulness to Him; and the battle which is raging has everything to do with you continuing to stand firm in your faith?  Take note you could be in closed session and how you react and the words you speak could determine how you come out of it.

Let’s take a closer look at how Job responded to the attacks which was launched against him in closed session.  It is also important to bear in mind too that in one day Job lost everything! (20)”Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.”  Now read what Job said from (21)”And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there.  The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”   During this most difficult time Job did not challenge God foolishly and unbeknown to Job the closed session was not yet over even though he had just lost all of his children and all of his wealth he was about to lose his health.  For Satan had returned to the closed session to attack Job’s health but what he really wanted was to take away Job’s life but God would not allow him.  Thanks be to Abba Father, Job stood the test and it must have been very painful especially when his wife approached him and told him it would be better for him to just curse God and die.  Still through this entire ordeal Job remained faithful to God.  Yet it must have broken Job’s heart when his three close friends lifted up their eyes when they saw him but could not recognize him because of the condition he was in and so they accused Job of having sin in his life still Job stayed the course and remained faithful to God!  In closed session the ruling was handed down and Job was cleared of all charges; Job had to do something for his friends who had accused him for God was very angry with them.  It is very important for you to have a forgiving heart toward those who assassinate your character and do evil abominable things to you.  Pray for them like Job so that God will turn it around in your favour. Job chapter forty-two tells of Job’s restoration, (10)”And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends.  Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.”  Get this; Abba Father even gave Job seven sons and three of the most beautiful daughters in all the land not only that God allowed Job to live to be one hundred and forty years of age, seeing four generations!

The Judge’s ruling may not have been in your favour because of the clever lies of the plaintiff but Yahweh is divinely intervening on your behalf in closed session and like Job if you remain faithful and obedient you will come out stronger and wiser!  I hear it resounding stay the course, you are in closed session begin at this very moment to state your case as if you are in the Judge’s chambers and yes, you may be desperate but you do not have to fear for you are in the Court of Heaven and Jehovah EL ROI, the God, who sees has already handed down His verdict!  You have been tried and your friends (even family members) have convicted you like Job, now you have been vindicated in closed session!

One afternoon as I entered the parking lot of a local business establishment, a man positioned himself on the pavement and had decorated a tray with a scrumptious meal, it was as if he was sitting at his dining room table. The reality, this was the man who had cursed me with horrendous words that burned within my ears. My response to avoid any type of confrontation was to leave the area. Abba, Father interrupted my thoughts with instructions, tell this drug addict it is possible for him to get to Heaven before I did. A bit apprehensive about this, I became hesitant but Abba, Father Spoke to me again from the Gospel of Luke chapter 13 verse (30) And behold there are last which shall be first and there are first which shall be last. As the Word of God were spoken out of my mouth. A radiant glow permeated the man’s countenance, and while I drove my car away Abba, Father gave me a revelation of many people who are being held captive but are now being set free. Drug addicts, prostitutes, homosexuals, and lesbians to name a few will get to Heaven before many of us Christians.  Yahweh Himself is healing and delivering them from the trenches of sin. God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse from all unrighteousness. I was paraphrasing read from the book of 1 John chapter 5 verse (17) All unrighteousness is a sin, and there is a sin not leading to death. God is faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. No more telling lies, stealing, fornication and adultery, no more backbiting, gossiping. Every work of the flesh is being demolished, there will be an increased hunger for the Word of God which shall overtake the land. True revival is being ushered in with a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Your children, who may have caused you sleepless nights are returning home delivered and completely whole. Your spouse who left or abandoned you shall come back, keep a forgiving heart. Salvation, Healing, Deliverance and Restoration is taking place in their lives because Yahweh has stepped in and is setting every Captive person free. Hallelujah! The Captives are being set free.

Jesus told the parable of the lost sheep, and it is relevant today from the Gospel of Matthew chapter 18 verses (10) Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones. For I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. Verse (11) For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.  Verse (12) How think ye? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?  Verse (13) And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep than of the ninety and nine which went astray.  Verse (14) Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. Elizabeth C. Clephane wrote the hymn text entitled:  There were Ninety and nine is so appropriate. “But none of the ransomed ever knew how deep the waters were crossed, nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through ere He found his sheep that was lost. ‘Out in the desert, he heard its cry, sick, helpless, and ready to die, sick and helpless and ready to die. ‘And all through the mountains thunder riven and up from the rocky steep, there arose a glad cry to the gate of Heaven, “Rejoice! I have found my sheep! And the angels echoed around the throne, Rejoice! For the LORD brings back His own! Rejoice! For the Lord brings back His own!

The captives are being set free.  God is working His Mighty works through you, who will yield completely to His perfect plan and purpose. The Gospel of Mark chapter 16 verses (17) And these signs will follow those who believe:  In My name, they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; Verse (18) They will take up serpents; and drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them.  They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.  Yahweh has given you and I Power over all the Power of the enemy. Luke chapter 10 verse (19) Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Perhaps if you have not taken your rightful place in Christ, you too are being held captive without realizing it. The Apostle Paul wrote in his Epistle of Ephesians chapter 2 verse (6) And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” As I close:  Always be mindful of this fact, you (me too) have Power and Authority when seated in Jesus Christ, therefore, make a decision to renew your mind daily and put on the mind of Christ through the Word of God.  The Captives are Being Set Free!

7:28 p.m.

Monday

15^th December 2014

In many countries all around the world especially here in the Bahamas people are busy shopping and preparing to celebrate the festive season of Christmas.  Vehicular traffic can be seen lined up for miles and in the malls windows of shops are dressed so elegantly as if to say, “Come in here and sample my wares!”  Children are looking with great anticipation for their gifts and of course all of this with much more is good in its place but I heard these words as they rang out so urgently, “Use the secret weapon!”  Immediately the Word spoke from the book of 1 Kings chapter 17 from verse (1)” And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” Can you imagine Elijah being so bold and having so much confidence in Abba Father?  Now read the instructions that were given to Elijah after such a daring declaration in (2)”Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying,”  (3)”Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.”  (4)”And it shall be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”

Truth be known all around the Globe while hundreds if not thousands are able to celebrate and shop generously, there are far more others who are not in a position to do this and sadly they may not even have enough food to eat for there seems to be a drought in the land.  Many men and women are not employed, much more are uncertain about their future.  Young people are frustrated and are beginning to lose hope.  Far too many people are being displaced, the electricity has been turned off and the water is about to be disconnected!  I hear it again, “Use the secret weapon,” do what Elijah did.  Elijah prayed that it would no rain except at his word.

What about you where ever you are on your journey, it’s time to use the secret weapon of prayer.  I challenge you (me too) in these trying and difficult times to not only continue to pray persistently and consistently but to also seek to make a difference in each life you cross paths with.  Speak a kind word to every angry face you encounter, you do not know the pain and suffering angry people are going through.  As you prepare this Christmas dinner reach out and share with those around you.  This winter is colder and the nights are increasingly draffy if you have extra warm clothes and blankets please, seek out those who have need of them.  Call a friend and your relatives whom you have not talked to for the entire year and speak a word of encouragement to them, keep hope alive.

It is time for the Church to be the Church not only at Christmas time but during each day of the year, the Word is speaking again this time from the book of Joel 2: (15)”Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly;”  (16)”Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her dressing room.”(17)”Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, weep between the porch and the alter; let them say, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them.  Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?”  The Church (me too) must live a consecrated life in Christ to be empowered effectively to use the secret weapon of prayer to not only call down fire from heaven but to purge the land from crime and every sin of omission and commission; Do you not know the power lies within you?

I hear it resounding even though you may be very busy with your preparations for the Christmas Holidays but it is now speaking louder from the book of Joel 2:15-16, (15)”Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly;” (16)”Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her dressing room.” Pause right where you are……..quiet; Can you hear it? Hear what you may ask……..Listen, “Use the secret weapon of prayer to effect a change right where you are!”  Do not procrastinate your prayer is needed and who knows it will cause the land to be revived.  The Word is speaking from verses eighteen and nineteen of Joel chapter two. (18)”Then the LORD will be zealous for His land, and pity His people.  (19)”The LORD will answer and say to His people, ‘Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.” But there is something you and I have got to do; we must USE THE SECRET WEAPON OF PRAYER!

Be it known to you this day whenever Yahweh is breaking through on every side that you maintain your threshing floor. Never get caught up in the detail of attempting to number what or how God is winning the victory. For He far exceeds your expectation of Him. Be always alert! Let us read what happened to the children of Israel when King David numbered the people in the book of 1 Chronicles chapter twenty- one beginning from, the verse (1) “And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. (2) “And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people. Go, to the rulers of the people. Go number Israel from Beersheba even Dan, and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.”  (3) “And Joab answered, The LORD make his people a hundred times so much more as they are: but my Lord the King, are they not at all my Lord’s servants? Why then doth my lord require this thing? Why will he be a trespass to Israel? It is a dangerous thing not to listen to wise counselors whom God has placed in your life. Let us read about how King David’s word prevailed over Joab’s wise counsel given to King David. Verse (4) “Nevertheless the King’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.”   (5) “And Joab gave the sum of the number of people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was for hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew the sword, and Judah was for hundred thousand men that drew a sword. (6) “But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them:  For the Kind’s word was abominable to Joab.”  This thing that King David had done had angered God and it caused the entire nation to

Suffer, many died too. (7) “And God was displeased with this thing:  therefore, He smote Israel.”  Take careful note, God spoke to David’s seer whose name was Gad. Verse (9) “And the LORD spake unto Gad, David’s seer, saying,” (10) “Go and tell David, saying, thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.”  (11) “So, Gad came to David, and said unto him, thus saith the LORD, choose thee (12) “Either three years famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coast of Israel.  Now, therefore, advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.”  Pause for a moment to inhale, now exhale as you read of David’s reply to his seer from the verse (13) “And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.”  (14) “So, the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.”

Where you are on your journey you may be experiencing a bountiful harvest, you may have become extremely popular and busy in your ministry. On the other hand, there are some people who quietly go about doing mighty exploits for the LORD, but I hear loudly, where is your threshing floor? Kindly bear with me as you read verse (15) “And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and He repented Him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, it is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. What happened next is incredible. Verse (16) “And David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. The anger of the LORD was still kindled against King David. Verse (17) “And David said unto God, is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? Even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed, but as for these sheep, what have they done? Let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house but not on thy people, that they should be plagued. I hear it again, where is your threshing floor?

No matter how busy you may have become do not allow yourself to become absent from your threshing floor. Take careful note of where the LORD stopped the angel of the LORD to stop killing. It was at Ornan the Jebusite threshing floor. Read now what David seer’s message of instructions from the LORD in response to His repentant plea from the verse (18) “Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. Obedience is key to your breakthrough on the threshing floor, but where is your threshing floor? Verse (19) “And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD.”  

It was early in the morning when Abba, Father gave me this word from Chronicles chapter twenty-one and He asked me this question, where is your threshing floor? I was away from home, but in the room that I was in it became my threshing floor! Listen, you will not only experience breakthroughs, but the supernatural power of Yahweh will envelop you but where is your threshing floor?