Intro from Julie A. Smith:
Let's face it, we've all walked through hopelessness and despair. But in the midst of these trials, God is completing us; He is finishing the good work He started. One thing I've not only learned yet witnessed with my very own eyes is that God does nothing without purpose. It is in the depths of despair that He has a plan and purpose - for us to trust, lean on and rely on Him and to remember that you're only passing through this desert - it is NOT a dwelling place. Selah!
I like what Tiffany Ann Lewis shares here:
"Do we trust that all these tribulations are destined to produce joyful confidence and eternal hope? Will we follow Him into the wilderness knowing that our only door of hope is a door of troubles and tribulations?"
Our door of hope is a door of "troubles and tribulations?" Sounds backwards, doesn't it? It is by no coincidence that a few days ago, Steve and I were praying and one of the verses he received while praying was Revelation 3:8:
"I know your deeds; Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name."
The next doors before us will be doors which No One Can Shut! You have been faithful to God wherever He has led you, even through doors of troubles and tribulations. Because of your faithfulness to Him, now watch Him as He faithfully opens wide - New Doors for you - filled with His blessing and favor!
As the title of this article indicates, we are being prepared as a Bridal Army. Tiffany Ann shares: "He is forming an army that does not worry about problems but worships because we know and trust God alone."
I pray this word deeply encourages you - that God is faithful, no matter what He is leading you through!
We've also included two of our latest products, one is Kiss Your Bride by Hal Leath and friends, and the other is our very own ElijahSeasons 2008/2009 16-Month Calendar, which has been our top-selling product this year and is now on sale for $11.99. Today is also the last day of our teaching and download sale. All teachings and downloads are 33% off through today only! We hope you take advantage of these great offers!
Blessings,
Julie A. Smith, Editor
The ElijahList & ElijahRain magazine
http://www.elijahlist.com
Tiffany Ann Lewis:
"I See a Bridal Army Resuscitated by the Breath of God"
"Therefore, behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; she shall sing there...as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt." Hosea 2:14-15
The Lord is alluring, yes alluring, us into the wilderness to be formed into a worshiping weapon - a warrior bride. He is forming an army that does not worry about problems but worships because we know and trust God alone. With eyes locked with His, this bridal army will release Kingdom authority as she dances with her Bridegroom King, Jesus Christ.
Worship is not your typical warfare, but it is an effective strategy and one the devil is hell-bent on destroying. I'm not talking about turning on some music. By definition, worship means to bow down, to prostrate oneself before a superior in homage. Worship is a weapon that has the power to change the atmosphere from hopeless to hopeful.
Our worship gains power as we remember what God has done and why He did it. I am talking about entering into a realm in the Spirit even in the midst of trials and tribulations, pain and suffering, because we know the truth of God's nature and character. It is this truth that sets our hearts free to worship our Bridegroom.
Bridal Worship
The Hebrew word for bride is Kallah, which comes from the root word Kalah, meaning: to finish, complete, prepare, to make perfect (in the sense of totality rather than of being unblemished) and to consume. One of kalah's derivatives translates into the word used for kidney (a vital organ) and speaks metaphorically of the heart, soul, mind; man's inner self.
It's interesting to note that Jesus considered the first and greatest commandment to be, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). Bridal love is a vital desire of God's heart.
The marriage covenant is the most intimate of all human relationships, and throughout Scripture the bond between God and Israel is compared to the marriage relationship between man and wife. As Jesus hung on the cross He declared, "It is finished!" or in keeping with our Hebrew word, "It is kalah!" The covenant that was broken has now been restored, thanks to the shed blood of Jesus Christ and the finished work of the cross.
Therein lies a paradox: "It is finished" as spoken from the cross; yet it has only just begun. The bride needs to be forged into a worshipping weapon - the warrior bride. Connected to the Hebrew root word bride are the words: vessel, tools, jewels, instrument, and weapon.
It's no wonder King Solomon looked at his bride and said, "O my love, you are as beautiful as Tirzah, lovely as Jerusalem, awesome as an army with banners!" (Song of Solomon 6:4). A piece of iron doesn't just suddenly become a weapon; there is much work to do before that lump of iron becomes a gleaming sword.
The Flame of Yah
This is what "Dancing with the Flame of the Lord" is all about. Beloved, the weapon is formed as we dance with the refining Flame of Yah. The same Flame that awakens our love refines it as well.
To allure means to powerfully attract. I have a picture of the Lord dancing us into the wilderness. Because we are so captivated by Him, like a moth, we fly into the middle of His Flame. The dross is purified as unhealthy thoughts, words, and deeds are crucified.
Anything that keeps us from experiencing Him more completely is laid on the altar of sacrifice to be consumed by the Jealous Flame of Love - the Flame of Yah. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to us, during this process we are being formed into a weapon that destroys the works of the enemy while simply worshiping and waiting on Him.
The Valley of Achor
The valley of Achor is a physical location but it offers us a wonderful spiritual lesson. Achor means trouble and disturbance. Do we trust that all these tribulations are destined to produce joyful confidence and eternal hope? Will we follow Him into the wilderness knowing that our only door of hope is a door of troubles and tribulations?
Most don't welcome this part and would prefer to skip it, but it is the bridal relationship that becomes the weapon. Please don't misunderstand me; yes, there is power in His Name. However, we cannot overlook when Jesus turned to those who did many miracles in His name and said, "I never knew you; depart from Me..." (Matthew 7:23).
This phrase has bridal overtones! The word "knew" is a Jewish idiom referring to intimate relations between a man and a woman. It describes a relationship that knows each other personally and thoroughly. The Lord wants us to know Him, but He also wants to know us. There is a bond that is formed in vulnerability. As we discover the blazing Love that death could not quench, nor the grave keep bound, we gain a trust that turns worry into worship.
An Exceedingly Great Army
This is not a work of the flesh lest anyone should boast; it is a work of the Spirit. As the Holy Spirit pours the flaming Love of God upon our hearts, our hearts will begin to burn and our spirits will sing, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." (Job 13:15).
I find the study of Hebrew language so "chuwl" (pronounced cool). Chuwl is a Hebrew word that, like most, has many shades of meaning (Strong's #2342). Its primary meaning is to twist or whirl in a circular or spiral manner specifically to dance. However, because of words like: to be pained, to tarry, to wait anxiously, to wait longingly, to be born, and to bring forth, which are used to describe chuwl, many scholars consider it a word that also describes "intense intercession."
It gets even cooler considering the word chuwl is found in Ezekiel's mystifying vision of the valley of bones. As Ezekiel surveyed the valley of very dry bones, the Lord told him to speak. Ezekiel obeyed and told the bones to hear the word of the Lord. After he prophesied, he saw the bones come together and saw breath come into them. This breath is the same Spirit (Ruwach) that moved upon the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2. After this Breath came into them, the bones lived and were "an exceedingly great army" (Ezekiel 37:10).
Army comes from the root word chuwl!
Psalm 37:7 also uses the word in the phrase "wait patiently for Him." "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way..." Here chuwl speaks of someone who is in a difficult situation, one who is suffering and distressed, who longingly waits while in pain. Beloved, rest and be still; don't fret. God is faithful - don't give up! Keep your eyes on Him and worship your way through the wilderness.
Chuwl seems like such a paradox, but then again, doesn't God use the foolish things of this world to confound man's wisdom? Beloved, chuwl is how we will see it done on earth as it is in Heaven.
I see a bridal army that has been resuscitated by the Breath of God after receiving the kiss of life within their inner man. As we worship Him, warfare is taking place in the spirit. I see the silver sparkle of a sword as it swirls around the dance floor breaking through the opposition.
O' HalleluYah!
God Says, "May I Have this Dance?"
As I prayed about how to deliver this message, the Lord said, "...Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended..." (Isaiah 40:2a). Jesus said, "It is finished!" There is a spiritual battle, yes, but it belongs to the Lord.
The Lord says, "Stop warring; start worshiping. Worship Me, magnify Me. Stop looking at the situation and look at Me, the only One who is able to fix it."
Remember Peter when he was walking on the water, he began to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on his problem. Worship Him in the full sense of the word, willingly surrendering to the only One who is able to help us, God Almighty. Our help does not come from technology, it does not come from the doctors, and it does not come from the government. Our help comes from the Lord.
I'm telling you, this will change everything. Our weapons are not carnal but mighty in the hands of God. Our battle is now keeping our eyes on Him and not our circumstances. As we fix our eyes on Him and remember what He has done and why He has done it, our worry will turn to worship and our panic into praise.
The Lord is asking, "Will you will be a weapon in My hand?" He says, "As we dance this dance keep your eyes locked with Mine. Don't look to the right or the left. Don't be concerned about what we are bringing down, or building up. Stay by My side, My bride. Keep gazing on Me and together we will stand in the gap and see My Kingdom come in your life, in your family, and in your region. May I have this dance?"
Yes, Lord. Amen.
Tiffany Ann Lewis
Dancing with the Flame of the Lord Ministries
Email: TiffanyAnn@tiffanyannlewis.com
Tiffany Ann Lewis is a worship leader and speaker whose heart has been passionately awakened by a God who sees us in our shortcomings and loves us in spite of it all (Ezekiel 16). It is this message of Hope - God's burning love for humanity - that she desires to share through word or song wherever she goes. Tiffany Ann has been ministering for over 10 years in prophetic worship throughout the Body of Christ. She worships with her family at Northway Church in Malta, New York, where she serves on the worship team.
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Hal Leath |
Kiss Your Bride is new and exciting contemporary Christian music inspired by the fiery love between Christ and His Bride, the Church. It is an eclectic mix of 12 great original tracks with 6 unique Lead vocalists on various songs
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After the tremendous popularity and success of our first ElijahSeasons calendar last year, we have gone the extra mile to bring you an even better Prophetic/Jewish calendar this time around!
The expanded 16-month ElijahSeasons calendar for 2009 actually starts in September 2008, the beginning of the Jewish year 5769. Each of the 16 months features full-color prophetic artwork, suitable for framing, from such artists as Linda Harris-Iorio, Akiane, MaryBeth Stafford, Lillis Boyer, Donna Smallenberg, Robert Bartow, Chris Fields, plus the ElijahList's own Willow Finney and Shelly Holbert .... (more)
You May Also Call Us With Your Order- 8am to 4pm- Pacific Time, Monday-Friday
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(Outside the USA) |
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