Reformation Day - Enter into Your Destiny!

I AM RESTORING THE PRIESTHOOD

“’And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel" (Exodus 19:6).

It was late February of 2001, and I was standing on the spot where Martin Luther declared his famous speech before the Diet or court, held in Worms, Germany. I was sobbing uncontrollably as I sensed the power of the Holy Spirit surge through me.  As His words gushed forth, I proclaimed:

“I am blowing my wind upon the church. 

I am restoring worship. 

I am restoring the priesthood. 

I will move upon My people in Germany. 

I will move upon My people in the nations. 

I am beginning a new reformation.”

I was in Germany on a prayer assignment with Intercessors International, co-founded by Floyd and Beth Alves.  We were getting acquainted with German businessmen who had invited us to be personal marketplace intercessors for their corporation.  While there, one of the businessmen took another intercessor and me to Worms, the site of Martin Luther's trial. In April of 1521, Martin Luther was called to make an appearance before the Diet.   Everything he had written and spoken about would be questioned. The Diet was not only a gathering of church officials from the Roman Catholic Church, but involved the Emperor himself. According to Roland H. Bainton, Martin Luther was “a simple monk, a miner’s son, with nothing to sustain him save his own faith in the Word of God.” (Roland H. Bainton, Here I Stand (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1950), p. 181.)

Over a two-day period, Luther underwent an extensive examination of his writings about justification by faith and the priesthood of all believers, among other doctrinal topics.  To the demand of the Diet, that he renounce his heretical beliefs, Luther responded by declaring:

“Since then your majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason—I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.”(Roland H. Bainton, Here I Stand (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1950), p. 181.)

Now, centuries later on the same location, the Lord was proclaiming a fresh wind of reformation and revival.  The focus of the Lord’s words was on the restoration of the priesthood of all believers –

 

not a priesthood that is defined by

clerical collars

liturgical robes

                                                      or religious rituals and liturgies. 

not a role filled by professional pastors and priests.

God’s desire for the priesthood is declared in Exodus 19:4-6 – the first reference of God’s chosen people being called priests.

“'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel." 

The Lord was speaking to the whole house of Israel.  He had delivered them from the clutches of the Pharaoh, and He was making covenant with them at His Mountain.  God declared that those who obeyed His voice and kept His covenant would, as a treasured people, have the privilege of

serving before Him as priests 

entering into His very presence

communing with Him*

AND NOW AS PRIESTS - ENTER YOUR DESTINY AS KINGS AND PRIESTS ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK - THE PRIESTLY ORDER OF OUR LORD AND KING JESUS! 

*Thomas Schlueter, Return of the Priests

A Statewide Fast - November 1-21

Over the last several weeks, we (Prince of Peace Church) have been getting confirming words that we were to enter a season of fasting.  But we were not certain of any details.  The timing did not seem right.  I felt that it was to encompass something bigger. Then I received a phone call from Gwen Aldridge of Lamesa (Southern Panhandle Region of TXAPN) and she shared how the Lord was calling her congregation (Lamesa Christian Fellowship) to a time of fasting, but she felt it was bigger than her local body. The Spirit confirmed in our hearts that it was for our local ministries BUT also for the entire State of Texas. This has now been confirmed by a half a dozen other ministries in the state. The fast will take place November 1-21.

What Are We Praying For?*

• Fullness of the Holy Spirit and unity throughout the Church (John 14:12; 17:2–23). 
Spiritual breakthrough with unprecedented unity, purity, and power.
• The great harvest (Matthew 24:14).
• Youth revival movement (Malachi 4:6). Worldwide revival, especially among the youth of the earth.
• Revival in Israel (Romans 9:1–11:36). Fulfillment of all the prophetic promises to national Israel.
• Houses of prayer (Isaiah 62:6–7). The release of “grace for fasting” with worship and prayer to establish 24/7 houses of prayer in the cities of the earth, including Israel
• Wealth of the nations (Haggai 2:7–9). Release of finances for the great harvest, the prayer movement, and the poor.
• A wall of fire of protection (Zechariah 2:5). Divine protection over all that is birthed through prayer.
• A Shifting of human governments into the Government of God, Nationally and in Texas Praying NOW for next year's elections that righteous men and women of God would come into Texas' leadership at all levels. (Matthew 6:10; Proverbs 29:2; 1 Timothy 2:2; Daniel 2:21; Psalm 75:7)
• That Texas would shift into alignment with the river of God that is flooding the state both naturally and spiritually. (Psalm 93; Ezekiel 47; Revelation 22; Psalm 65:9; Psalm 78:19-20; Isaiah 8:7-8; Malachi 3:10)

How are we to fast?*

• Seek the Lord regarding your fast.  is it food?  The internet? TV?
• A very confirming word has gone out that we should fast from negative words and thoughts which are the primary cause for the breaking of covenant.
• Especially meditate on Isaiah 58.

 *These guidelines for prayers were suggested by Connie Fisher of Houston, Gwen Aldridge of Lamesa, Merrie Cardin of Granbury and myself.

We Decree Floods

Yesterday at Prince of Peace Church, the Lord released a "flood word."  It started when I started proclaiming that God desires to break through our man-made barriers and limitations.  As we have been praying for rain over the State of Texas we have had several of us declare: "Lord, send your rain but no floods."  I know that the decree was birthed out of a desire that no property or lives be destroyed or endangered, BUT the Lord wants to send floods.  I remember when I was serving a congregation in Abilene, Texas that the streets literally needed to flood in order to fill the area lake.  The city streets were built for floods.

In October of 2006, Chuck Pierce prophesied: 

"Watch where the Heavens open and the floods "physically" reach the earth, and document those places! Those are places targeted for a Holy Spirit invasion. Rising flood waters will cause you to move to higher ground. As the River of Holy Spirit rises, you will find yourself moving to the high places. I will position My people on the high places this year. As you worship, I will cause ruling thrones of iniquity to topple. Like Dagon, their heads will fall before My Presence! Get ready! I shake loose wicked structures." 

So yesterday we asked to Lord to move outside of our banks, boundaries, limitations and fears.  We asked Him to flood us in the natural and the physical.  We decreed floods. 

As we continued in worship, the Spirit of the Lord broke forth on one of our young men and

he began to laugh in the Spirit.  It then moved into a powerful word in tongues.  The interpretation was interesting and powerful, It was not an interpretation of words but of a picture.  The Lord released His fountains from the deep and caused His glory to rain down on us.  We had over a dozen people experience manifestations or visions of flooding waters in our place of worship.  

• One person saw a large dam filled with water crack open and flood the land.
• Another person saw a tsunami come upon us and the Lord told him "...to move with the water (do not resist it) and it will cleanse everything in your life."
• Another person had water rise up around them and engulf them in love.
• Another person saw water and lowered their head to drink of it.  As they did they noticed a beautiful lion drink as well.  Then the Lion raised its head and shook its mane - sending water over everyone.
• Another person saw water gushing out of "an eternity candle" that hangs from our ceiling. 
• Another person saw a tuning fork rising up out of the water

There was a tremendous sense of joy, life, forgiveness, healing and excitement released through everyone.

The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty;  

The Lord  has clothed and girded Himself with strength;  

Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. 

Your throne is established from of old;  You are from everlasting. 

The floods have lifted up, O Lord,  

The floods have lifted up their voice,  

The floods lift up their pounding waves. 

More than the sounds of many waters,  

Than the mighty breakers of the sea,  

The Lord on high is mighty. Your testimonies are fully confirmed;  

Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, forevermore. (Psalm 93)

Lord, forgive us for limiting You.  We not only declare but we fully receive Your flooding waters in both the spiritual and natural. We are "targeted for Your Holy Spirit invasion." And please NOTE: we are being flooded in order to carry His kingdom into every sphere of influence in our lives. Decree that the Lord flood your life - flood your city - flood Texas - flood our nation.