An Expected End
I am going to continue sharing something that took place last Thursday, April 29, 1999, that was a big overcoming for me. I do thank God for His mercy and grace and how He leads in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. And these paths are to restore our soul as it states in Psalm 23. And as our soul's are restored, we are able to overcome the world.
But when I woke up on Thursday morning, I could tell inside of me I felt like there was a void or emptiness in me. For a couple of days I had felt that way, but did not really pay much attention to it. On this particular morning, though, it was quite noticeable. In all honesty, I felt like I did back in February 1985 when I was sharing about what a hunger and thirst I had for the Lord, and how there was a void inside of me that was not being filled, although I did not know for what. As I have shared on numerous occasions, six months later God brought us to Water of Life, and God started filling me with the gospel - which is the death, burial and resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
So last Thursday morning I went and sat on the sofa before I was getting ready to go drive and pray. As I sat there, I just started weeping, and I knew that the emptiness I was feeling inside of me was for the fulness of His power - I mean this came up out of my heart. I absolutely have no other desire in this earth - except to see the fulness of the blessing of the gospel manifest in my life. Nothing else in this world matters to me, and I know that there is nothing else in this world that can 'fill' that void except the power that raised Jesus from the dead manifested in its fulness. As I sat there weeping, I could tell I was breaking through and I then left to go drive and pray.
Every day since God has been leading me to go pray, I fight the whole time I am driving. And as it says in Ephesians 6, we wrestle with powers, principalities, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness. And I have overcome some tremendous things in doing it. But last Thursday morning I knew I had broken through and the whole time I was driving I was able to just worship and praise the Lord. Most of the time there is such a war in the Spirit, that all I am able to do is fight, fight, fight - in prayer. But this day was a real victory to have overcome to the point where all I did was worship and praise God and give Him thanks (and have been ever since). And as I was praising Him, I said, "Jesus, you cannot deny manifesting the fulness of that power that raised you from the dead - TO ME - (I decided to get personal)! You will have to do it, because your Word says you are no respecter of person's. And those that seek you must praise you, and you are a rewarder to those that diligently seek you!" I continued on, "Your Word also says that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much, and your eyes are on the righteous and your ears are open to their prayers. You also say that the prayer of the upright is your delight, and the prayer of the righteous shall be granted, and I know I am righteous (by faith in the blood of Jesus) - so you cannot deny me this." All I can say, is that it was a big break through in the Spirit. I am sure I am breaking through my own soul, too.
Last summer when God led me those 2 1/2 months to go drive and pray, this same thing happened. I fought powers, principalities and wicked spirits every single day (and night), but towards the end of that time frame, I remember the day I broke through to where I was able to just worship and praise God, and the war that I had been in was just about over (at least for that battle). And shortly after that day is when we got out of that apartment. So after what happened the other day, I was greatly encouraged because I know a big victory is 'nigh' and I do thank God. There is still much pressure, but I know that pressure comes for the Word's sake and all the praying I have been doing fighting these spirits. But I have to believe that one of these hours that pressure will lift. Jesus did say His yoke was easy and His burden was light, and I look forward to that day. It has to come!
In Ephesians 6, it also says that after we have done all (or overcome all), to stand praying. You do not ever quit praying until you see the victory and the manifestation of what you are believing for. Every day I am overcoming and standing fast in my believing the gospel. One thing I know is this - that the manifestation of the fulness of the blessing of the gospel is nigh, and that does encourage me! And with the fulness of that power, there will be perfect soundness in our spirit, body, and soul's - just like the man in the book of Acts (3:16). At Water of Life that is what we are expecting every day, and out of this apostle and prophet ministry it will come forth, no question about it.
There have been days when it looked like there was no end, but that is when you have to keep believing this gospel, and know that God is faithful to perform every word that has gone forth out of His mouth, and by His Spirit. There is a scripture that just came up in my spirit, and it is in Jeremiah 29:11. This verse says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." I looked up the word 'expected' in Strong's concordance, and it says, "the thing that I long for." I also just read the next couple of verses (the Lord wanted me to see this) and I am going to share them with you because they are so good. Verses 12-14 continue on with, "Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive." Praise God - I do appreciate the Lord - Amen!
One thing I have learned about trusting in and relying on this gospel, is that it will always produce results - maybe not as fast as we would like to see them, but we will see them, if we faint not and are not weary in well doing. Well, I will close for now, but remember, "The kingdom of God is at hand - Repent and believe the gospel."
