When Will It Come To Pass?
When you pray for patience, God begins to put you in very slow-moving situations, doesn’t He? Or He puts you around annoying people, or some who just rub you the wrong way. It is the same when you pray for a gift of healing, prophecy, or any other gift – You have to go through an endurance period in order to get that gift. There are many different tests and things that happen in our lives that shape and mold us as the Potter’s Hands begin to do the work to get us to move into the work we’ve asked to do.
A lot of times we’ll murmur and complain and cry out about our situations, but we’ve forgotten what we’ve prayed and asked Him for. The process has begun. When things start coming apart, remember that we have many examples in the bible of people who went on quests that shaved off the flesh.
What Are We to do in These Volatile Times?
We have moved into a time that can be described as “discontent”, like we have lost our feeling of significance. Are we going to respond by running after things and doctrines that will make us feel better? Are we going to fight to hang onto the ways of doing things we are familiar with, or are we going to trust in God to take care of us? God is still in charge, and He will provide all our needs. We should not be anxious about anything.
A group of ministers gathered to discuss all that is happening in the world today and what we are to do about it. Kent Simpson with Prophetic Ministries Today interviews Martin Frankena with Rushing Stream Ministries. They discuss the basic ground rules to what we as Christians are to do in these days.
Stomping Grapes
Stomping Grapes is a prophetic sermon that deals with finding the best within us through the trials and tribulations that life deals us. Before a grape can become wine it first must be crushed. The thicker the skin of the grape, more pressure is needed for it to be crushed. Once the grape is broken and unable to hold on to its nectar, it begins the process of fermenting by decomposing. As the grape gives up its form the wine begins to turn into a source of powerful drink.
For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13)
The same applies to our flesh: just as it is hardened by worldly and unspiritual ways, like the immature grape, it is stubborn in giving up its outer shell. When we finally have had enough of the world’s pounding, we then begin to yield to God’s ways. Dying to ourselves allows God to manifest our newborn spirit, revealing the power within us.
Therefore, if life is crushing your image, emotions, and identity, you are in the grape-press of life, and that is a good thing. Know that God will bring your best out of you from this stomping experience. Keep in mind that this life is not really all that important, it’s the after-life that we are looking forward to.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)
Rejoice in Times of Trouble
When we are experiencing tribulations in our personal life, our business, our church, or our family, rejoice! It’s only going to get better and better. All of this has a purpose in the Kingdom of God, but how can it benefit us to go through these trials? It is the Spirit calling us out of the flesh and more into Him.
“My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.” (James 5:10 NKJV)
Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement
“And His mercy is on those who fear Him, from generation to generation.” (Luke 1:50)
One of the things Jesus preached the most was that we should take care of one another. Why is there so much judgment of each other, especially in the Church today? Why the political and racial tensions? We have all experienced the revelation of God’s judgment when we judge others. We have ridiculed and shamed others because of their inabilities… but there is always someone in our lives to remind us of our own frailties. God speaks in the words of our accusers, and that should be our conviction that we are showing judgment instead of mercy. We are not taking care of one another.
The last thing we need is to fall into one of Satan’s traps. When trying to hear the voice of God, the devil at times jams our mind with thoughts that can cause us to lose our blessings.
I have said it many times, “It is not enough to hear the voice of God, you need to know what He means.” You do not need the devil to be your interpreter of what God is saying; yet many times we fall victim to Satan’s scheme.
Have you ever had Satan beat you up with scriptures from the Holy Bible? You need to know when it is the conviction of the Holy Spirit and when it is condemnation from Satan. Who is the accuser of the brethren? Is it your mother, father, friend or pastor? Can we remove the plank from their eye?
(Video link goes here)
