CHUCK D. PIERCE: "Receiving Grace to ADVANCE Forward!"

New ways are now forming and new gates are now opening! Blockades are being removed. This Passover month is a time to CROSSOVER into the inheritance that has been promised you.

Joshua 3:15-17 says, "And those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the time of harvest)...and the people crossed over completely to the other side of the Jordan."

I believe we are moving in God's perfect time. Timing is so important. In Him, we move and have our being (Acts 17:24-26, Colossians 1:19, 2:9). I am praying for you to be in God's perfect timing. Honor HIS BLOOD, let Him lead you out into your New Beginning and keep advancing with Him in faith until you SEE your promise manifesting. There is a supernatural GRACE that is available to make this shift at this time.

GRACE is:

• Favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives, and in spite of what is deserved.

• One of the key attributes of God. The Lord God is "merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth" (Exodus 34).

• The source of help and the release that creates deliverance from distress.

• The redemption of the Hebrew people from Egypt and their establishment in the Promised Land in spite of their unrighteousness (Deuteronomy 9:5-6).

• Only enjoyed within the COVENANT--the gift is given by God, and the gift is received by man through repentance and faith (Amos 5:15).

• To be humbly sought through the prayer of faith (Malachi 1:9).

• Was supremely revealed and given in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the embodiment of Grace (John 1:14). Embracing Him is the only way mankind can receive salvation (Acts 15:11, Titus 2:11).

• The restoration of the broken fellowship between God and His people, both Jew and Gentile.

• Applied by the HOLY SPIRIT, who is called "the Spirit of grace" (Hebrews 10:29). The Spirit is the One who binds Christ to His people as they receive forgiveness, adoption to sonship, and newness of life, as well as every spiritual gift or grace (Ephesians 4:7).

RECEIVE GRACE!

Blessings,

Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion International Ministries


Catherine Brown: A Call to Consecration: Jesus Told Me, "It's Time to Go HIGHER, LOWER, DEEPER"

"'I tell you the truth,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I Am.'" John 8:58

When you waken in the "wee small hours," sometimes you just want to stay in bed all snuggled up and warm, but there are other occasions when the Lord draws near and you know that there is no other appropriate response than to rise from slumber and be awakened to the glory of His presence. I was blessed a few nights ago to have such an encounter with the Lord. I had wakened around 3:00am, but was unable to go back to sleep. I was enjoying communing with Christ, and during this time, I asked Him what He would like to say to His people. In response, Jesus appeared to me in a vision. I rose shortly after this, around 4:00am, to record the imagery I had seen and the words He had spoken to me.

As is often the way when we are with the Lord, time became irrelevant because the next occasion that I looked at the clock--it was 5:30am! As I returned to bed, I fell asleep to the beauty of the first dawn rays breaking through the skyline, along with the chirping of the dawn chorus of birds we are blessed to have near our home. Below is the vision and the words that the Lord communicated to me during the final watch of the night. May this vision stretch you, strengthen you, and surprise you in grace as it did me.

"It's Time to GO HIGHER"

Jesus appeared to me in the vision, walking up some rugged stone steps hewn into a mountain side. He reached out to me and smiled, offering His hand to me to follow Him and He said, "It's time to go higher." As I looked down, the ground seemed so far away and I experienced a brief moment of hesitation, but then my heart focused on the Lord. And as I took His hand, we began to make the ascent.

The initial steps were short and steep. As we climbed together, I realized we were on the Mount of Temptation (I recognized it from a visit there in 2007). It was dry, dusty and hot as we approached a darkened cave that had been hollowed into the rock. I felt concern rise in me as I contemplated entering the impending darkness I saw ahead, but Jesus looked at me with His eyes of reassuring love and said, "Fear not, My child, for the place of going higher with Me can, for a time, seem darkened. It is time to go lower."

"It's Time to GO LOWER"

Just on the peripheral edge of my vision, I turned to see Christ revealed as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. I discerned some evil presence on the approach and Jesus arose to defend me. The Lord roared with such majestic authority. I was to face an enemy, and my Lord and Savior would not allow me to be overcome by such a trial. Without further explanation, the Lord entered the cave ahead of me, at this point still holding me by the hand. As we went into the cave, I thought of King David and how there was a God-appointed time for him to go into the cave of Adullam (the stronghold of the Lord) and, equally important, a God-appointed time to leave it (1 Samuel 22:1-5).

Each season of our lives lies in the capable hands of our mighty God. Before I could reflect further on this, the shadows of the cave were engulfed in deep darkness. I could do nothing but fall at the feet of Christ and clasp my arms around Him. There, at His feet, my face was pressed in close to the hem of His garment. The darkness seemed to bring weight and oppression with it, and at this time, I understood that my faith was being tested. I determined to hold fast to my Savior as the Anchor of my soul--and He who is immovable and incorruptible as the Ancient of Days became my strong Deliverer from that which sought to engulf me.

I clung to Christ in reverent awe and became aware of the movement and the in-breaking of His "Glory Light" into my situation as the atmosphere of the cave changed and became full of His light. Christ had raised His mighty arms and His light flowed all around us. The light shone in the darkness and the darkness could not overcome it or contain it. I realized while on my knees, that to know Him in the darkness is truly to know Him as the Light of the world. All those who experience "the dark night of the soul" must cling to this reality.

At the feet of Christ, my anxious silence gave way to a state of stillness and complete peace. The darkness had passed as quickly as it had come upon me and had now completely disappeared. Lifting me to my feet once more, Jesus looked at me and said, "It's time to go deeper."

"It's Time to GO DEEPER"

The Lord took my somewhat-crumpled-being to Himself and wrapped His mighty, healing arms around me and I was enveloped in His majesty. Just like a child, I rested in the faith and fortitude that was given to me in that moment as a gift from my King. Jesus spoke, "Listen." Intent on obeying my Master, I listened with all my heart. I clearly heard two words, "I Am. I Am. I Am. I Am..." echo through time, through nations and throughout all eternity as they reached me. I responded, "Lord, all I hear is, 'I Am.'" And with the wisdom of the Ages my King replied, "When all you can hear is 'I Am,' understand, My child, there is nothing more to hear." In that instant, I grasped the momentum of this divine revelation in a measure beyond anything I had previously known: All that matters is who He is. He is Life itself, Breath of our breath, and the DNA of all existence.

"Higher, lower, deeper" in Him--the only way to go is to trust the length, breadth, depth and height of the supreme authority of God's love expressed in the words "I Am." The dark night of testing and trial of a child of God through isolation, rejection, ridicule and persecution can only be born in the grace of "I Am." As we accede to His greatness, we are overcome by His goodness and washed afresh in His Blood. In wonder, we listen to the echo of Heaven that has resounded in the hearts of angels and mankind, and we become more deeply entwined in Him.

The call to "come up higher" is before the global Church. It is a holy call and the call of the Cross of our Beloved Savior. There will be both faith challenges and encounters to overcome and delight in. Each unknown step will ultimately be illuminated by the manifestation of God's glory in our lives, even if the path at times seems obscured or darkened. In choosing to come up higher, we must understand the passageway to this place of communion is made possible only in the humble posture of going lower.

Reflections

The willingness to take up our cross is a defining lifestyle choice for every believer. When the victorious Lamb of God is lifted up in us, we are embraced, cleansed anew, and enfolded in the journey of discipleship we come to know as a life of obedient faith. The Great Shepherd "I Am" tenderly and resolutely leads us to follow Him, and in trusting the path of transforming grace which He has placed before each one of us, we will come to know Him more fully as "I Am"--our strong Deliverer and mighty Provider. It is in "going" that we become more knowing and experientially aware of the great I Am.

The longing to be Christ-like will cause us to cling to Him just like the woman who bled for twelve years (Mark 5:25-34). She clung to God in recognition that she had come to the end of herself, her resources and her strength, and as she fell at Jesus' feet, she experienced the reality of God's extreme love, meeting her in the place of her extreme need. Her miracle was born out of her desperation for breakthrough. The Lord Jesus endured His whole life that our lives might be freed from such suffering.

The devil will take us to the edge of hell, but God will deliver us safely if we will trust Him and persevere. Even as we pass through such trials, God uses them to refine our faith, which is worth more than gold, to prove it genuine and result in praise, glory and honor to God. Apostle Paul encourages both the Corinthians and Believers today with these poignant words, "For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows" (2 Corinthians 1:5).

"Deeper" is a costly realm of exquisite blessing, brought forth in our being found willing to identify with Christ and become more like Him. Having died with Christ to sin, we are now raised with Him in baptism of new life (see Romans 6:4). As we reflect on the price our Savior paid to ransom us, we become conscious of the inestimable value He has placed on each one of our souls. What love is this that flows with sacrificial mercy? It is the love of the Great I Am that takes us into the depths of knowing Him and being known by Him.

This word is a call to consecration--to leaders and to all Believers. Jesus says, "I Am coming back and I will return to a beautiful Bride." Beloved, it is not our works that will win the world, but His work of holy passion in us that will turn the tide of wickedness and lawlessness in the nations as the floodgates of His mercy open wide.

Join me today in this simple prayer, knowing how much our Father in Heaven loves you:

Father of all creation, I reach out in faith in response to the call to come higher, lower, and deeper with You. I trust You completely and surrender my whole life afresh to You. My only desire is to bless You and serve You in obedient Love. Have Your way in me and be glorified in all that I think and say and do. May my faith and actions flow from the grace of knowing You and being known by You. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

Catherine Brown
Gatekeepers Global Ministries

What Do You See?

I have a question for you today--I believe it's a question God is asking you. God actually asked Jeremiah this same question I am going to ask you. Ready?

First, a little background. Remember that at the beginning of Jeremiah's ministry, he didn't exactly have a great established ministry. I mean, he wasn't running around Israel speaking at big conferences and doing seminars. He was a kid, really. Well, a teenager, anyway.

When God first talked to Jeremiah about his calling to preach, He said, "Jeremiah, you know I called you before you were born and ordained you to be a prophet to the nations." Well, Jeremiah freaked out. He heard this before--after all, his dad was a preacher. But, you know, in your mind it's always, "Sometime down the road, when I am more mature."

Jeremiah answered the Lord and said, "You've got to be kidding. I'm just a kid, don't ask me. I can't do anything." Now, I know this is the Walters Translation, but go read it--that's what it says. If you want the King James Version, Jeremiah said, "Then said I, 'Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child'" (Jeremiah 1:6). But, you know people didn't speak in King James English then, just like we don't do that today.

God ignored Jeremiah's vision of himself as a useless kid. He said, "Don't say that, because I have put My word in your mouth." Then God gave him a pretty heavy-duty commission right there. Did He say, "Now, Jeremiah, go off to Bible school and study hard. One day you will mature enough to qualify to be used in the ministry"? No, no! Out of the blue, God said to the teenager, "Oh yes, I've called you to go to the nations; in fact, I've set you OVER nations and OVER kingdoms" (kingdoms usually include several or many countries). "You can pull down and uproot stuff and all kinds of powerful things." He told Jeremiah not to be afraid of their faces; He said, "I'll be there for you." When it says the face (or eyes) are a mirror of the soul, let me tell you, it really is.

Without even stopping to ask if Jeremiah was okay about it all, God suddenly said, "Well, what do you see, Jeremiah?" Jeremiah's dad was a priest, so he was used to God stuff--but not at that moment. God said, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" Jeremiah had to get into faith, quick. That is, you have to see by faith. Young Jeremiah had a vision, "I see a rod of an almond tree."

Aaron's rod was made from the branch of an almond tree, and in Hebrew it means "an awakening one." Jeremiah was seeing his destiny in his faith (but he didn't realize it yet). He was called to be an "awakening one." God told him to prophesy and challenge the people of Israel about their calling and destiny. God told him to go and wake them up. Personally, I would have asked God to send someone else and pleaded ignorance. Well, he tried that anyway--but it didn't work.

You know what? Often people don't like to be woken up. Not too many people are woken out of a slumber and get up in a good mood. You are mostly unhappy with the cause of the "awakening." "An Awakening One" was a good name for Jeremiah. "Mr. Popularity" wasn't exactly a good description of him.

So then...this is my question from the Lord to you: "What do you see?" I am not talking about the natural realm.

Take some time to chill out--take a break, go out for a nice meal, relax, take a couple of days--then go sit at the feet of Jesus. "Snuggle, don't struggle," is one of my favorite sayings, or, "Nestle, don't wrestle." Then get into rest and ask the Holy Spirit to show you what He sees for YOU. Not for your town. Not for your church. Not even for your husband or wife right now--but for you personally. Your vision has to start with you, doesn't it? If you don't have a real vision for yourself, then you won't be able to believe with someone else for their vision.

The Thing About Vision

Do you remember those old TV sets? They had a tube, and when they got old, the tube would start to go. Do you remember what happened when the tube was going out? The picture would gradually get smaller and smaller. No one wanted to buy a new tube because it was expensive, so you waited until the last minute. You were leaning over sideways to see the wide but shrunken picture.

So what are you seeing? Most people are seeing a shrunken picture. My husband, David, says, "Most Christians aim at nothing and hit it." You can only aim at what you see. If you see a small call or a small destiny or a small vision, that's all you will aim for.

My challenge for you is this: See what God sees for YOU. He has a great vision--He has a big vision! We see our town, our family, our little place in the grand scheme of things. But God sees nations, God sees a place without walls. God has no limitations in His vision. He sees no limits for you--you can have what you believe and you can believe what you see--IF you can see by faith. You have God's faith in you--believe it! Because "...to every man is given the measure of faith" (Romans 12:3).

What Is Your Adventure?

The Bible says that the will of God is delightful, "I delight to do Thy will, Oh my God" (Psalm 40:8).

God puts His desires in your heart. In other words, He puts His desires in your heart so that when you do according to your heart, it's delightful, it's wonderful, it's full of adventure and it's full of God. All you have to do is allow the Holy Spirit to show you what He sees for YOU. You have a wonderful, awesome, big and great destiny to fulfill.

If you are doing something tonight in the way of serving God and it's not delightful, forget it--it's just works. And, sorry to say, God is not interested in your works, He's interested in His works. He is not going to anoint your works, He anoints His works. The glory of God will never come on what you do--the glory comes on what He does. It's not trying, it's yielding to the anointing.

Isn't it easier to yield rather than to try and strive and work at it? Trying can be very trying. God is not running around your city trying to recruit workers for the Kingdom, He is just wanting His sons and daughters to rise up and be who He called them to be. You're not a sinner saved by grace--you were a sinner saved by grace, but now you are a son or a daughter of Almighty God. You are royalty of the Royalty, an heir of righteousness and an heir of the Kingdom. You don't have to earn it, you can't qualify for it--Jesus gave you this inheritance, freely. He paid for it 100% when He died and rose again.

But First, Enjoy Him

I nearly forgot to remind you--your first calling is to enjoy God. He called you to first enjoy Him. Don't go out and serve Him unless you enjoy Him. Do you know Jesus is in love with you? He totally adores you--He doesn't just tolerate you. He made you of His divine nature--eternity is in you. He has given you His power and righteousness and clothed you with the beautiful garments of Salvation.

This is a new and living way--walk in it and begin to see what HE sees for YOU.

Kathie Walters
Kathie Walters Ministries