From the desk of Steve Shultz:
Theresa Phillips is a dear friend, and she shares a powerful and prolific message for us. We are priests AND we are called to be the harvesters. I'll probably say this time and time again: the harvest has already begun.
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Theresa Phillips:
The Emerging Priesthood - Consecrated and Ready!
A Prolific Vision of the Priests and the Ark
I was in the Spirit when I was swept away in thought. As I felt captivated by the presence of the Lord, I found my spirit looking at a river. While looking at the river, I noticed four men dressed in the robes of the royal priesthood, wearing the miters, the ephod, the tunic, bells, and pomegranates on the hems of their garments (see Exodus 28). The whole garments of the priesthood were present. I was in awe of their majestic beauty.
These four men were bearing upon their shoulders the Ark of the Covenant. I felt I was almost intruding in a moment of sacred holiness when suddenly I noticed that each priest was standing ankle deep in water. The water which was flowing over their feet was so clear I could see the riverbed beneath their bare feet.
Then the water began to deepen. As it was rising to their knees, it started to cloud. These priests still had the Ark on their shoulders. Each priest kept their focus straight ahead, not even aware they were being watched. Suddenly, the water began to flow faster and deeper; it began covering the knees of the priests. When I saw this, I noticed that the water was now flowing with a lot of debris floating past them.
I felt myself almost panic from what I was seeing. These faithful priests began to lift the Ark so that the contaminated water would not touch the Ark. The water began to move as a current of rushing water all around them. The priests were neck deep in water, each holding the Ark above the water with their arms outstretched. Still, they kept their focus straight ahead of them. I was holding my breath. I felt my heart stirring, "Protect the Ark! Protect the Ark!" when I noticed a sound swept past me and I heard the words, "Protect the Ark!" I was certain it was an angelic sound that was emanating from above me.
Instantly a majestic hand appeared from the sky. It was perfectly groomed and strong. This hand swiftly grabbed the Ark while these priests were holding on to it; they maintained their position.
The hand began to raise the ark and the priests above the waters, and I was now looking up at these priests who happened to be suspended in air. I then noticed something: People from all walks of life began to jump into the dirty river. As they looked up, they were watching the priests being taken up. Fear began to grip each person. I too felt fear. I looked at the water and noticed more people were running to the water. Desperate for something, they came from all over the world. As they began to get into the water, some began to cry out, "Don't leave me behind. Don't take Your Word from us." Some cried, "That's my promise! Don't take Your promise."
Some began to weep in the water. People had begun to sway, causing the waters to move. They were covering their heads with their hands and with the water as if to bathe. When the waters began to move, people began to move in the water. As this continued, the muddy water began to clear. The priests were now looking down at the people. Compassion had evoked them – they began to weep for the people. The hand on the Ark was not moving, yet these priests began to weep. I too felt tears flowing down my cheeks. Passionately, I began to say, "THE PROMISE, THE PROMISE! Don't take Your promise from me!" I had chimed in and was now a part of those calling to the Ark, "Don't go! Please don't go..."
I was weeping like Rachel for her children (see Matthew 2:18). I was being moved...for in that moment I began to weep, I noticed many were weeping, repenting and loving each other as if it was their last chance.
While this was continuing on, I noticed the muddy, dirty waters were receding. The water was clearing! The people were continuing to cry out. Then they began to praise and worship Jesus, crying, "Here I am, Lord! Here I am! Come and visit me! Here I am, forgive me! Cleanse me! Change me! Deliver me from the sins of Your enemy! I have sinned!" I too felt that urge to cry, "I need You more than ever before."
A Royal Priesthood Emerging as David – With Passion, Reverence and Praise
I saw the hand moving slowly; He was releasing the priests and the Ark. He said in a beautiful voice, "I will release the priesthood unto Me, whom I have chosen. I will build My Kingdom on the Word as I have promised. I will give My people times to choose Me, for a movement has begun. I have awakened My Church to the impossible, and now what seems to be impossible will become possible, for I am releasing fresh miracles, signs and wonders.
"I have hidden many who have walked and focused straight upon Me, and they are about to come forth. I will see many come to repentance, for the Church is getting a visitation from Heaven and I am pouring fresh fire on the old and young. I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, and they will prophesy, and they will train, and they will govern much.
"I am using My menservants and handmaidens. I am washing them in the rivers of joy, for I am removing sorrow (see Joel 2 and Acts 2).
"The land is filled with ancient sorrow, but I am opening up ancient doors; and emerging will be a royal priesthood where man will serve me as David did with passion and reverence and praise. I will also put in man the heart of holiness and purity that will change many they are around. For they have cried unto Me. Hear Me – I have heard the cries of My people!
"I am about to increase the sphere of influence for My people. Many will walk as kings, many will walk as priests, and many will walk as servants; ALL will become subjects."
I began to cry, for I was in the presence of our Lord and I sensed He was describing the outpouring that is starting to flow from the rivers made glad.
Psalm 46:4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
A Steadfast Priesthood
I was being made aware that He is calling for this movement to start. Yes, this type of priesthood that is steadfast, unmoving, forever abounding... willing and ready.
I began to reflect upon the priests carrying that Ark and how focused they were, and I cried, "Jesus, keep me focused!"
I thought about the bare feet standing in the river which soon became unclean, and cried, "Jesus, make my path straight and clean. Wash me new daily!"
Luke 11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
I was mesmerized by the ascension by the hand of God from the heavenly realm.
Matthew 24:36 [No One Knows the Day or Hour] But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of Heaven, but My Father only.
"Dear Jesus," I cried, "make me a bondservant! Take not Your Holy Spirit from me!"
Genesis 6:3 And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh..."
I became convinced that I needed to change.
Then I reflected some more about the multitude that ran to the water, desperate for it. No matter how it looked, they knew that river was the place to be. I cried, "Make me desperate, so desperate that I will cherish every moment with You... I pray to NOT grieve Holy Spirit."
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
"I pray to find favor in Your sight; if I have found favor, let me give favor..." I waited in His presence, I lingered there, and I looked back on the four priests. They never lost their focus; they held their ground. They were willing to protect the burden (their calling), and they were protected by the hand of the Lord.
Then I was standing in the sanctuary of our church. I had just given this account, and I felt myself want to find a secret place and intercede for us all.
I reflected on this for a few days when in my office He spoke to me to write this account to the people...yes, writing while my heart is beating so hard with godly fear and a renewal of passionate soul-winning! Yes, I am to remind us all once again that He speaks through his Holy Writ – a promise for the willing ones, these precious ones who had doubt, and to those who are desperate for Him...
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
God, save us! Protect us. We are so thankful You will never leave us or forsake us. Amen.
Theresa Phillips
Chicago Prophetic Voice
Email: info@ChicagoPropheticVoice.net
Theresa Phillips is the presiding Bishop of Praise Ministries. She recently formed The Encounter, a sub-ministry of PMI Glory Institute that reaches out to area churches to develop intimate relationships with Jesus. Theresa is dedicated to helping you encounter the living God and be filled with His never-ending glory. Pastor Theresa and her husband Robert have started an online publication called Chicago Prophetic Voice. This online publication is intended to help you see and hear the unseen and unheard realms of God as they are portrayed in the written Scriptures of the Holy Bible.
