One of God's wonderful assurances is His promise to release a special blessing and anointing

on those willing to dwell together in unity and fraternal affection.

Psalm 133 declares:
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing--life forever."

On Saturday morning before the Day of Atonement 2006, I received a spiritual dream that communicated a message consistent with this theme. Wanda and I were involved in the "Engaging Heaven" conference with our friends Brian and Candace Simmons in West Haven, Connecticut.

At 2 o'clock in the morning, the hotel fire alarm was activated requiring an evacuation of the hotel. This in itself conveyed a spiritual message for this season. Our enemy will constantly be activating false alarms to keep us in unrest. We must keep our minds focused upon the Lord at all times.

Once it was determined that there was no real danger, we returned to our rooms. As soon as I was able to sleep, I immediately went into a dream. The context of the dream was set around the TV program "Survivor." It was incredibly vivid and detailed. Every circumstance that we discover on this program was involved in this dream. A group of people were delivered to a remote island with little or no provision.

Each person was placed within a tribe with whom they would live, survive and depend. Part of the program scenario centers around challenges that promote teamwork and communication.

There is a reward challenge to hopefully acquire the essentials necessary for survival on the island. The other is a competition to determine which tribe must eliminate one of its members.

Immediately I recognized the only hope for survival in this context was to form an alliance with others that I completely trusted. I was able to locate three other men that shared common views with me. We committed ourselves to an unbreakable alliance built around trust and open communication.

The dream continued for four consecutive hours until the time came to be awakened for the morning conference meetings. When I was awakened, the only "survivors" that remained were the four of us in the divine alliance.

Instantly, I knew the heart of the message conveyed in the dream. The days ahead are going to be difficult and trying. Much of what we have readily depended upon for day-to-day life will be removed. Our hope for survival in the coming season is a willingness to form divine alliances and friendships with others we thoroughly trust.

Communication and trust will be two of the most indispensable commodities discovered in ministries and Churches that flourish. I remember thinking at the end of the dream that I was pleased to be awakened before another member was to be removed from the island. I do not believe any of the four of us would have broken the alliance.

Alliance Defined

An alliance is defined as a formal agreement that establishes a relationship or partnership between other parties to achieve a particular goal. It is an association built around common interests and goals. It is primarily established to advance a certain cause or agenda. An alliance is sometimes referred to as a treaty of friendship.

As 21st century Christians, we have the greatest cause of all…to advance God's Kingdom and the revelation of Jesus Christ. Many in the world are asking pointed questions concerning the conditions that exist in the earth. We as the Church must provide the answers.

It is now time for a transition to take place where we lead by example. Divine grace is being released from Heaven that will allow Christians to trust one another once again.

There is going to be the revelation of a high calling around which many will build their entire lives. This realization will so profoundly impact many that they will willingly lay aside personal agendas and ambitions to embrace this mandate.

Great strength and advancement will be discovered by those determined to enter in to such an arrangement. Divine alliances will not only produce substantial results but also a sphere of safety.

The uniqueness of divine alliances allows for Churches or ministries to maintain their own identity and vision while also joining in agreement with others to advance a common cause. If the Lord can find just three or four Churches in a region to dwell together in harmony and support one another in friendship, then great advancement can be achieved in that territory.

Avoid Unholy Alliances

The Bible also contains numerous examples of unholy alliances that were displeasing to God. These however were centered on compromise and idolatry. As always, our adversary seeks to pervert everything that is fruitful.

It has been our experience that those to whom we are to be joined in covenant relationship are made evident. Marriages in ministry are very similar in this context to the marriage of man and woman.

It must be a divine arrangement with those to whom we are equally yoked. Trust, communication and mutual vision are all essential ingredients that formulate a successful union. The Lord will bring into our lives those to whom we are to be joined in long-term relationship. It does not have to be something that we force into existence.

In the Order of David and Jonathan

The Bible provides numerous examples of New Testament leaders who established ministry covenants. Peter and John clearly functioned as a team as discovered in Acts 9. Paul and Barnabas illustrate one of the earliest examples following the Day of Pentecost.

However, one of the greatest alliances in the Bible that advanced God's cause existed between David and Jonathan.

"Jonathan said to David, 'Go in safety, inasmuch as we have sworn to each other in the name of the LORD, saying, "The LORD will be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever."' Then he rose and departed, while Jonathan went into the city" 1 Samuel 20:42

Jonathan recognized in David the future of Israel's prosperity. There was a cause that he discovered that was worthy of sacrifice and commitment to achieve. Furthermore, the LORD imparted genuine affection in their hearts for one another. Theirs was an unbreakable bond of commitment that resulted in David's survival and Israel's welfare.

The entirety of 1 Samuel 20 provides a vivid portrayal of the commitment that existed between David and Jonathan. They entered into a divine alliance that provided safety and strength. They enjoyed clear and concise communication that facilitated the plan of God and the future of Israel.

Joined in Fraternal Affection

The concept of fraternal affection and brotherly love is emphasized in the ascending pyramid of graces and Godly attributes discovered in 2 Peter 1:5-8; these are essential in our quest to become one spirit with the Lord:

"Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The Greek word for "brotherly kindness" in this passage is "philadelphia." It is defined as "fraternal affection; brotherly love (kindness) or love of the brethren."

From a position of fraternal love we move forward into the "agape" of God.

If it is our hearts' desire to participate in the harvest of the ages and the healing of the nations, then it must be from a position of authentic compassion birthed in love. These can only be imparted to us through the Holy Spirit.

As summarized through the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, we are to abide in faith, hope and love. We dwell in faith through the conviction and belief of man in his relationship with Heaven as well as hope, which is our confident expectation of redemption. But the greatest of these is the true affection for God and man expressed through saints; it is generated by a deposit of Heavenly virtue resident in us - LOVE.

The truth to be greatly emphasized in this generation is the transference of our lost nature for His divine nature. We have the precious and magnificent promises by which we become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption of this world and its lusts.

By virtue of being joined with Him as His Body in the mystery of incarnation, we likewise share in His heart of love and desire for the brethren as well as lost humanity.

As the Lord declared in John 17:23, "I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me."

We are being sent in this generation in like fashion as the Lord Himself was commissioned by His Father. We are to be carriers of His heart.

Paul Keith and Wanda Davis
WhiteDove Ministries

A Vision of a Man in a Race Car…He's Ready to Go

Since the start of this year, a vision keeps coming back to me. I keep seeing a vision of a man sitting inside a race car, wearing a helmet and racing outfit, as He waits at the starting line of a race track. I can clearly hear the sound of His car engine running, shifting into higher gear as the Driver is ready to start the race. I believe this vision has spiritual significance for the time we are in. As I have continued to watch and listen to what God impressed upon me, below is the message I received. I pray it will bring encouragement to you as it has to me.

The Driver is the Holy Spirit, and as He set to go at the starting line, this represents the coming move of God. Our Heavenly Father has shifted to a higher gear, and He is inviting His people to join Him in this ride. This move will be both exhilarating and intimidating. To those who totally trust God and His leading--this ride will be the greatest joyride of your lifetime. God is telling us, "It's time to move forward."

The question is: Are you ready for the ride? Do you have total confidence in the skill of the Driver?

What Makes Us Qualified to Ride with God?

God is looking for people whose hearts and motives are pure and who do not hide their weaknesses from God. These are people who, when convicted of their shortcomings, are quick to let God deal with their hearts in complete surrender to Him. Just like when God chose David, He said to Samuel, "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

Therefore our present success will not be His basis for choosing us; it will be the condition of our hearts which will matter to Him. David failed greatly when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and plotted the death of Uriah (2 Samuel 11). Yet despite David's shortcomings, God continued to use him greatly, and he was fondly remembered as "a man after God's own heart."

Great News for God's Children

Presently there is a big group of God's children who, in the past, experienced the mighty moving of God in your life and ministry. But due to various circumstances, some of you had to give up works or ministry, and may now find yourself seemingly bereft of any success. Despite the difficulties you had to face, the sacrifices you had to endure, the seemingly barrenness of your life right now, quietly, you continue to worship and honor God as best you know how. Yet you cannot deny there is a greater longing in your heart to do more for God's people, to do more for His Kingdom, and to implement all the ideas and plans God has planted inside of you to do. The dreams and visions God placed in the innermost parts of your heart for so long seem to be unattainable.

But there is great news: God had you in His mind! If you can identify with this group, the great news is that God had you specifically in mind and will call you to be on the forefront when His Holy Spirit makes the move. As you have been faithful to God, holding nothing back in the process, laying down everything at His feet, it's now His time to respond. He has not forgotten His promises and His calling for you and your family, and you will see Him opening doors and opportunities which you thought were closed or lost.

Luke 1 Connections

We are coming into a time of connection just like Zechariah and Elizabeth, and Joseph and Mary were intertwined with each other (read Luke 1). These were two different couples at various age levels, facing different challenges, yet both families' lives were intertwined with each other and linked by God for each other's comfort, confirmation, and for a common cause. So will it be in the coming days.

God will use the wisdom, skill and experience of those from the older generations, and He will link them with the new ideas and innovative ways of the younger generations. The experience and expertise of each will "complement," not compete, and they will blend perfectly to fulfill God's Kingdom for the nations.

What Peter had spoken to the crowd about during Pentecost will once more be manifested in our midst. This is both to the older and younger generations: "This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people, your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy'" (Acts 2:16-18).

Prophetic Insight As the Driver Moves

As in the days of Jesus' disciples:

• The people of God will ride this wave and will once more impact the community where they have been planted by God.

• Holistic endeavors connected with education, skills training, community development, poverty alleviation, indigenous inventions, environmental protection and many other projects that the community will need, will once again be spearheaded and pioneered by God's children who will have an important role in these projects.

• God is releasing a marketplace anointing where your skills, talents, hobbies and spiritual gifting will be used extensively by God to impact the people that you are and will be working with in the coming days.

• Ministry, business and job opportunity, which you had given up on before and thought had been lost, will once more be brought back into your path by God Himself. He will network you with people whom He has chosen to work beside you for these projects.

• Just like in Jesus' time, God's work will start off "small," and may not seem significant in the beginning. But as you continue to press in and faithfully do what has been assigned to you, the impact and effect of these works will catch the attention of the secular world.

• You will experience our God going before you and preparing the way. You will hear Him clearly guiding you as He says, "This is the way, walk in it."

Our Prayer

Our Father, we thank You for quickening our hearts once more with this message. We await this day with great expectation. Come Holy Spirit, even today, prepare us for the work that You have chosen for each one of us to do. Just like David cried out to You with these words: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24), so we cry out to You in the same manner today.

As a watchman waits for the dawn, so we also wait and long for You. Move as You have in the days of old. Summon Your power, and show us Your strength as You have done before.

Be exalted once more in the midst of the nations. Raise up the standard of Your people. Pour out Your favor upon us so that people around us will know that Your Presence is with us, and they will be able to distinguish Your children from the people of the world.

Thank You for revealing Your plans and Your heart to us for the coming days. We wait for them with great expectation and with thanksgiving in our hearts. Unto You and You alone, be all glory and power and might for all that You have done, are doing and will do in our lives. In Jesus Christ's name, we say, "Amen!"

Ching Ten L. Co
Cebu City, Philippines