Knowing the Lord as a Friend

Periodically it is our desire to articulate prophetic “bullets” that we have shared that seem to be emphasized during the present season. We are currently in a climate of heightened spiritual activity with many signs and wonders. The signs are amazing and appreciated but they always point to the Word and the revelation of the Lord that we are to embrace.

The following is a brief outline of some of those areas of emphasis.

Knowing the Lord as Friend

We are presently living in a season that will emphasize the intimate relationship afforded to those who know the Lord as “friend”. These will be disciples who are partakers of His divine nature. It is through His Holy character that divine power is granted to us that provides everything we need pertaining to life and Godliness.

The scriptures point out we have received His precious and magnificent promises by which we become partakers of His divine nature and escape the corruption of this world and its lusts –

Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and Godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust — 2 Peter 1:3-4

A friend is someone who is a close companion or comrade; those having a reciprocal relationship or mutual exchange one with another. Exodus 33:11 states the Lord spoke to Moses face to face as a friend speaks to a friend.

A friend is also one the Lord loves and can trust. I Corinthians 4:1-2 calls us not only to be stewards of the mysteries and power of God, but to also be trustworthy stewards. The Lord must be able to trust His friends with His power and this divine message that is going to be delivered to the people.

Those who are mature and virtuous will perceive this to be a season of visitation and camaraderie with the Lord. The friend of the bride-groom is one who assists in the planning and arranging of the soon coming marriage.

A Season of RESTORATION

The friends of Christ will begin to restore that which has been stolen from the church.

Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; this very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you. For I will bend Judah as My bow, I will fill the bow with Ephraim. And I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece; and I will make
you like a warrior’s sword — Zechariah 9:12-13

The Lord is even going to begin to restore that which has been stolen from individuals. Past relationships that the devil has destroyed will begin to be reconciled. Associations destroyed by rumors, gossip, and propaganda will be supernaturally mended by the Lord during this
season of the Spirit.

The restorer of the breach will recondition us with the Spirit of Truth and a new wall of protection will be constructed to surround the true church. The Lord is the restorer of the breach and the repairer of the broken walls…He is the repairer of former streets and dwellings and the One who un-stops old wells.

And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell. Isaiah 58:12

The Lord is indicating that it is His desire to restore and renew the breach between Heaven and earth through His church. We will likewise begin to find those of our brethren who have fallen and begin to rejuvenate them into a new walk with Christ.

Today if you Hear His Voice

The Lord is preparing to speak and the voice of God is about to be heralded. Those who hear His Voice are warned not to harden their hearts as was done in the day of provocation.

Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would hear His voice,Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the wilderness; “When your fathers tested me, they tried me, though they had seen My work. For forty years I loathed {that} generation, and said they are a people who err in their heart, and they do not know My ways. Therefore I swore in My anger, truly they shall not enter into My rest.” Ps 95:6-11

This nation saw the power and heard the voice of God in a mighty way during the late 40’s and early 60’s. The Lord spoke to this nation calling her to reject manmade teachings and traditions that denied the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

It has now been fifty years since that door of opportunity was offered. Now He is giving us Zechariah 1:4 and Psalms 95:8-9 as a double witness declaring, today if you hear His voice do not harden your heart as was done in the prior generation. We are back at Kadesh-Barnea and another chance to get it right.

Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”‘But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the LORD— Zechariah 1:4

This is the covenant that the Lord will make with us during these days. He will put His law in our hearts and will write His word upon our minds and our sins and lawless deeds He will remember no longer. (Hebrews 10:16)

The Anointed Priesthood

Ezekiel 44 outlines a form of priesthood who remained loyal to God during times of apostasy. As a result, a wonderful privilege was granted to them. The Zadok priests were allowed to enter the Lord’s presence and minister to Him. From that place they emerged with the discernment and anointing to separate the precious from the profane and the clean from the unclean.

These priests will be like those found in Malachi 2:6-7. True instruction will be in their mouth and unrighteousness will not be found on their lips. They will turn many back from iniquity and will preserve true spiritual knowledge. Instruction will resound from their mouth for they will be the messengers of the Lord.

Overcoming Ambition, Competition and Division

Ambition is a spirit of strife and selfishness condemned by the apostle Paul in II Corinthians 12:20. This type behavior is alien to the Spirit of Christ and inappropriate for Christian believers. Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing…But the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace – James 3:16-18.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in
peace by those who make peace.

The apostle Paul identified the spirit of competition and jealousy among the Corinthian believers and called it fleshly immaturity and destructive to growth in Christ — (I Corinthians 3:3). He reminded them that no foundation is laid but that which is Christ Jesus and each man’s work should build upon that foundation by the Holy Spirit. Fleshly thoughts and motives result only in division.

Division is simply defined as dissension or schisms and is normally the result of strife and selfish ambition. The Lord calls for agreement without divisions among us so that we can be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment – (I Corinthians1:10).

The Lord is saying our main enemies are ambition and division and He is going to anoint His leaders to pull down these strongholds producing the reality of Psalm 133.

The Bible declares that where brethren dwell together in unity, there the Lord will command the blessings and it will be as the anointing oil poured upon Aaron’s head.