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October 3, 2006
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Paul
Keith Davis: "A DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL--PREPARATION FOR GOD'S ARMY OF
LIGHT"
 A
dark night of the soul! That is an expression I often hear as I travel
throughout the U.S. and abroad. Seemingly, many believers are going through a
process that is difficult and painful. Nevertheless it is for a fruitful cause.
The following revelatory encounter that I had several years ago has helped me
through this process. I believe it has specific application to leaders but also
the body-at-large.
Many leaders have experienced some measure of success in ministry who have
suddenly discovered themselves in the midst of "the dealings of God." The
good news is that the end result will be a much more intimate fellowship with
the Lord and greater spiritual authority.
The Vision of the Army of Light
In the vision, the army of light was aligned in an open field, standing in
battle formation about to engage the army of darkness. Throughout the ranks,
soldiers of light could be admired, clothed in ancient battle armor each having
a sword in his hand.
When the battle ensued, it was intensely aggressive in what we perceived was the
great "end-time battle." With each blow of our swords, we were seemingly driving
the enemy back to what appeared to be a sure victory for us.
Although the fighting was forceful and even brutal, persistent progress was
being made as we continued to press the enemy and steadily take ground. Because
of our ability to push the enemy back, we perceived that we were winning the
"end-time" confrontation and we were suitably equipped for this great battle.
Withstood by the Holy Spirit
Suddenly, the Holy Spirit arrested us and would not allow us to advance any
further. There was a feeling of shock and dismay as we were halted in our battle
progress, not by the enemy, but by the Holy Spirit. As I was standing directly
before our enemy only a few yards away, I was seemingly paralyzed and unable to
advance.
Confused and dismayed, I asked the Lord why He was withstanding us. With that
question, the Lord caused the clouds above to part, and our eyes were opened to
the great and massive "guns" of the enemy that were hidden and leveled in our
direction.
In reality, we were not driving the enemy back because of our great strength.
Rather, we were allowed by the enemy to push them back as a deception to imply
we were equipped for the battle. In the condition that we remained on the
battlefield, we possessed a measure of strength and virtue imparted to us
through our walk with the Lord, however, we did not embody the full dimension of
His provision essential for this long foretold conflict.
One of the things most adamantly opposed by the enemy is the complete release of
God's Spirit upon the Church. Our adversary knows that when God's people are
anointed with the prophetic mandate to be clothed with the fullness of His
revelation and power, we will return to the Lord and He will heal us. That
healing will not merely consist of physical and emotional restoration, but also
fully mending the breach that has existed between God and man since the Garden
of Eden.
Once accomplished, the reality of "CHRIST IN US--THE HOPE OF GLORY" becomes
apparent and we walk in the prophetic destiny foretold in the Scriptures. That
explains why there has been so much opposition to the emerging prophetic
generation.
The enemy recognizes his only chance for victory is to entice us into battle
prematurely. Once the Bride of Christ obtains the revelation of the whole
measure of Christ available and enters that place of habitation, the enemy will
have no chance for victory. In that place we can stand alone as a raid against
all the forces of hell, not because of our own strength, but because we are
drawing on the unseen resources of Heaven and His ultimate overcoming victory.
It was the mercy and grace of God that we were not allowed to advance any
further. It would have been to our demise. The Father's love is so great, He
will not allow us to enter this conflict without first having the opportunity to
be fully clothed with Christ and the armor of His provision. If we had advanced
any further, the massive weapons of the enemy released for the great end-time
battle would have easily destroyed us.
The Operating Room
With this discovery, we were transported to what symbolically appeared to be a
Heavenly operating room and training facility. Uniquely, in this extraordinary
room, I was both lying on the operating table and also standing behind the
angels who surrounded the table. I watched as they prepared to do "surgery."
There were perhaps six to eight angels standing approximately seven feet tall
encircling the table. Each worker was intently focused on the task at hand.
Namely, to perform the spiritual "surgery" essential for us to be prepared for
our eminent battle.
The attendants in the room immediately began to "strip" layer after layer of
flesh, removing the issues of carnality and worldly conformity. I watched as my
own identities, agendas, ambitions, and desires were extracted and discarded. I
was permitted to understand that there is no place for mixture in the coming
battle. We cannot allow the leaven of our own thoughts and ideas to be injected
into the purity of His truth. It must be untouched by the hands of man.
This process continued until I finally pulled myself over the shoulder of one of
the angels and asked the question, "Where am I, for I no longer see myself?" A
voice spoke, pointing to a small yet vibrant seed of life that remained on the
table. All that was allowed to exist after their deliberate work was the
impartation of life given to me from God.
This stripping process had in essence carried us back to the very origin of
life, removing all fleshly attributes born in the Garden of Eden with the fall
of man. This was done to enable us to "put on Christ" and become spiritually
qualified to stand victorious in battle with the armies of darkness.
Flesh of His Flesh
The attendants began the assignment of putting us back together, now using
divinely powerful attributes mighty in God and adequate for the awesome battle.
The angels undertook the reconstruction procedure with the same vigor and
determination as the stripping process. Except now, the materials were "bone of
His bone and flesh of His flesh." Any other preparation, than the one here
described, would result in certain defeat.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full
armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the
devil." Ephesians 6:10-11
When the restoration process was complete, we were returned to the battlefield.
Now, in lieu of having a sword in our hands, we WERE the sword or weapon in the
Lord's hand. Instead of having a "promise," we BECAME the promise.
The sword in Scripture is indicative of the Word of promise. Presently, we are
attempting to battle the enemy with our promises. It is the Lord's intent to
MAKE us the promise. We are to become the Living Word.
"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard
to its lusts." Romans 13:14
Christ in Us
One of the greatest mysteries that will be fully realized is the wonder
of Christ in us, the hope of Glory. We recite the words, but very few
experientially discover the absolute and complete reality. However, the
Scriptures have promised, an entire company of believers will soon emerge
anointed with this certainty. They will walk in the fullness of truth with great
power and authority and, more importantly, radiate the nature and character of
Christ through His manifested Glory.
For many being enlisted in the Lord's army, this transformation process is
presently taking place. The new divinely powerful make-up represents the
increased dimension of the Spirit of Revelation and Power enabling us to call
upon Him, that He would answer us and show us great and mighty things which we
presently do not know. This will provide the Heavenly strategy and blueprint for
ultimate victory.
There are a number of saints who are being given spiritual experiences featuring
themselves stripped and re-clothed with brighter and more glorious garments as
we enter this new day in the Spirit and progress from Glory to Glory.
"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the
Lord, the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18
The Audible Voice
An audible voice then spoke in the vision declaring, "The weapons 'set against
you' are much more powerful than you ever imagined!...The divinely powerful
weapons 'provided for you' are also far more powerful than you ever imagined."
One of the foremost strategies of the enemy in this hour is to deceive the
Church into thinking we are properly equipped for the coming battle. The enemy
knows his only opportunity for victory can result by keeping us from the
absolute realization of God's provision. This birthright can only be released
when we allow the Holy Spirit to purge the carnal nature and align with Christ
as One Spirit, becoming a recipient of the divine nature
(2 Peter 1:4).
When this occurs, the Lord finds His abode in us, living out His life through us
in perfect union.
The cost is great--death to self, yet the reward is
exceedingly greater than our human minds can comprehend.
Paul Keith and Wanda Davis
White Dove Ministries
www.whitedoveministries.org
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Paul Keith Davis' Upcoming
Itinerary:
October 8, 2006
Fulfillment Fest
Presented by The Cause USA and One in Christ Ministries
Moravian Falls, NC
Contact: www.fulfillmentfest.com
October 12-14, 2006
Declaring the Kingdom
Syracuse Airport Christian Fellowship
Cicero, NY
Contact: www.sacfm.org
October 18-21, 2006
Releasing Breakthrough
Freedom Christian Center
Melbourne, FL
Contact: 321-631-1000 or
www.houseoffreedom.org/index.htm
"The daily prophetic words that are sent to our 133,000+ subscribers are made possible by the purchase of products like those featured in this email. You may purchase them directly from this email, or visit our online store at www.elijahshopper.com."
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"Life's
best moments are always characterized by peace, fulfillment, and blessings--an
experience treasured only by those who have truly discovered their destiny or
purpose. Paul Keith Davis excellently conveys this age-old principle in his
profound work, Books of Destiny. This powerful book will incite you to
walk in the special plans God has designed for you. I highly recommend it!"
--Dr. Kingsley A. Fletcher, International Speaker, Government Advisor, Author,
Pastor
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