Crossing the Isaiah 58 Threshold by Kathi Pelton

Crossing the Threshold of Isaiah 58 by Kathi Pelton

Eugene, OR

A Testimony of Experiencing Breakthrough

Last November I was in Okinawa, Japan, attending meetings with a number of global gatekeepers. During our time together, an Asian leader shared a story.

The previous week, he had met with a remnant of Believers from his nation, so that they might seek the Lord together for breakthrough into victory over the many obstacles they have faced for generations. Churches had fasted, prayed, worshipped, and repented, and yet they were not experiencing the breakthrough that they were seeking.

This man told us how, in the midst of their meeting together, they became aware of several families among them who were in severe financial need. The entire group stopped everything that they were doing, laying down their agendas and schedules, and proceeded to take up an offering for these families. As the money was distributed to those in need, they received it with humility and gratitude, deeply touched and profoundly blessed.

Later, when they all regrouped and returned to prayer, crying out once again to the Lord corporately, everyone gathered sensed the witness from the Holy Spirit that they had received the breakthrough they were looking for.

As I listened to his story my spirit was moved and I heard: "They crossed the threshold of Isaiah 58."

It was like having water splashed in my face, awakening me to a vitally important truth that we often neglect as we contend for a corporate breakthrough. We forget that the Body is made up of individuals, and we can find ourselves rejoicing in a corporate victory even as many individuals leave and return home feeling the weight of oppressing circumstances upon them. (Photo via Pixabay)

Isaiah 58 is the chapter about God's chosen fast. It begins with passionate words to those who have fasted, prayed, and called out to God, but to no avail:

"Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to My people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins. For day after day they seek Me out; they seem eager to know My ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask Me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and You have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?'"

These words echo the cry of those who had stood on behalf of that Asian nation, and yet they were not experiencing breakthrough. But let's read further:

"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?

The leader I mentioned told us how, within his country, many churches competed with one another to see which was the biggest and best congregation. This led to leaders treating their people – and even their own families – in harsh and abusive ways as they strove to be the best. Leaders were dealing with divisions, offenses, and broken family relationships. They looked good on the outside, but the "family" within their walls was broken and divided.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: 'Here am I.'

"If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

When these leaders turned their hearts to the needs of individual families, putting aside their public agenda to meet the financial need, they crossed a threshold from the old way of doing things into the new "true" fast. They stopped striving for breakthrough the way they always had, and in doing so, became the breakthrough for others.

As they released the ones in need from the yoke of oppression, God released them from the yoke of oppression that was upon the whole. Already the promises of Isaiah 58 are beginning to come upon them as pastors and other leaders have begun to humble themselves and repent for their pride and harshness, seeking to repair broken relationships and release new freedom among their people. (Photo via Pixabay)

Maybe the poor are among us as an invitation into the corporate breakthrough. Will we remove the oppression from them, or simply ignore their need? Will we point a finger at them and wonder what they've done wrong to be under this yoke of oppression, or recognize that – just possibly – they are under that yoke because we have not taken it off of them?

Does all of our time and money go to building better ministries or do we first stop and build a strong family? Maybe our promises are found in Isaiah 58's wisdom...just maybe.

Give and It Shall Be Given Back to You

One of the first words the Lord gave me as we approached 2016 came fromLuke 6:38:

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

The Holy Spirit emphasized this verse again and again to me. I knew that God was about to deal with the poverty spirit that presides in the Church. This spirit is rooted in fear and unbelief. We must take God at His Word and truly know that to whatever measure we hold back, that creates the measure that is held back from us; but also, to the measure we give, so are overflowing blessings given back to us.

I often hear Believers say that they can't give because they do not have enough to meet their own needs, but this is the very thinking that often causes God's children to not have enough. It is as we give that it is given back to us. Remember the story of the widow's mite?

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. (Photo via Flickr)

Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on." Mark 12:41-44

Her small gift was counted as more costly than those who had given large amounts out of their wealth.

The Widow's Mite

Many years ago, when my husband and I were living in another country with our four children, we experienced something similar to this story. We were living on missions support, and our monthly support base was much smaller than our monthly needs. One Sunday morning, as I sat in the morning service, I was feeling a great weight of oppression upon my shoulders as we only had a couple of dollars in coins left. We needed groceries and gas, and there were bills due.

When it was time for the offering, I wished desperately to give something, even though I really wanted to save our last few dollars for milk. But, as the basket came nearer, I remembered the story of the widow's mite, so when the basket was put into my hands I turned my wallet upside down and emptied all that I had. It was a very small amount and yet it was such a great sacrifice.

God is faithful, and we somehow got through that next week.

The next Sunday our church was filled with many visitors due to a large conference our fellowship had hosted. The pastor who was speaking that morning gave a brief message, and then called my husband and me up to the front. We were startled, and our surprise turned to astonishment as we heard him recount how he woke up that morning and the Lord told him that He wanted to pour blessings over us.

Ushers set two chairs in the front of the church, and we were instructed to sit down. The pastor then invited everyone assembled to come forward and pour money over our heads. People began to empty their wallets over our heads (just as I had done the week before with the offering), and then people set cash in our laps and checks in our laps until it seemed as though we were covered. When the cash and checks were counted, the amount was over $7,000! (Photo via Pixabay)

I gave my "widow's mite" and, in return, God sent hundreds of people to pour provision over our heads. "Give, and it will be given to you...running over, will be poured into your lap."

It was literally poured into our laps!

Your Faith Will Be Perfected

God is perfecting our faith in this hour. When His people begin to move forth in faith and trust in all that He has said in His written and spoken Word, it creates momentum that begins to move us forward. But moving forward requires action on our part. On February 22nd (2/22), I heard the Holy Spirit say, "It is a 2:22 time." I began to seek out what the 2:22 meant, and was led to James 2:22:

"You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works."

Here is the context of that portion of Scripture:

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works. And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,'and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone" (James 2:21-24).

Our faith is perfected when we obey by taking action on what the Lord has spoken. Many hear and believe, but do not add action, instead requiring proof through what they can see. Their attitude is "seeing is believing." But we believe even before we see. We believe, therefore we act as a result of our faith. God is looking for the remnant of modern-day "Abrahams" who put action and works to their faith.

When God called our family to move to another country, all we had was His Word to us. Our house hadn't sold, we didn't have support raised, and we only had temporary housing set up. But God made it clear that we were to go, and He would provide every step of the way, so we put action to our faith and moved. He was faithful to take care of us through the years. There were times we were afraid, but our fear was not because of unfaithfulness on His part but rather unbelief on our part.

Wrapping It Up

I believe we are in a kairos time, where we can cross over thresholds that have kept many of God's sons and daughters from breakthrough. Here are vital keys for all of God's people in this hour:

• Walk out the Isaiah 58 fast, where we remove the oppression off those in need;

• Give generously according to Luke 6:38, which breaks the poverty spirit; and

• Move forward in obedience to God's direction as stated in James 2:22, putting our faith into action.

We are called to be light and salt. I am convinced these truths written in the Book of Life will bring both light and salt back to His Body. They will be beneficial in breaking the orphan spirit, the poverty spirit, and the despair of hope deferred off of many. We were created in His image, and we must reflect His image in our private and public lives. We must put works to our faith, be generous in our giving, give care to those who are oppressed, and stop the pointing of the finger in accusation against those facing hardship. (Photo by Jennifer Page "Love's Preservation" via elijahshopper.com)

The truth truly does set us free, and His Word is truth.

Kathi Pelton
Inscribe Ministries
Email: jkpelton@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.inscribeministries.com

Lull Before the Breakthrough by Lonnie Mackley

The Lull Before Breakthrough by Lonnie Mackley

While in prayer I saw a picture of someone on a ship that had been through a very long journey and many devastating storms where everything around them looked very weathered, broken, and spent. Then, as the view zoomed in on the person there you could see that they were in perfect peace and their view was fixed upon the horizon and the great light that was now visible and getting closer and closer to them. Their eyes, although weary and creased welled up with tears of great joy and relief as the land they had sought for so long finally came into view. Then the Lord began to speak to me.

Many of you are reaching the end of your long spiritual transition to maturity, and things are finally beginning to calm down and stabilize as the tormentors are backed off and we are able to catch our spiritual breath. But for some people we have entered a strange lull where it feels like everything is just kind of dead and empty, and even God feels very far away and undetectable. If this is you then be encouraged because you have entered the lull before breakthrough, and soon things are going to burst open as the Light of Jesus leads you all the way to the place of true oneness that you seek.

PS 131:2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

You see, God has brought us to a place of fuller emptiness and surrender where we are no longer thrashing or grumbling like we did when we were in the thick of it. Now our souls are settling down and trusting the Lord more just because He loves us, and we love Him. Now we are simply seeking Him and His presence, rather than seeking relief from trials, or for new things to happen that we’ve been pulling on Him for. And although this state may feel a bit miserable and bleak, it is actually a place of peace and acceptance where we can now just focus on seeking to abide in His love alone.

JER 24:7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

Know too, everything we do up ahead must rest upon God’s word and His abiding presence as we abide in consistent holiness and simple moment by moment trust in Him. We have been returned to our first love, and our First Love is returning to us in a greater way than we have experienced before. All that has happened has been to prepare you so that the Lord could save, heal, and deliver many people through you. So get ready for the main event now, and take this time to reflect upon all that God has given you on this tough journey. Enjoy your short lull, and expect real breakthrough soon!

R 23:18 There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Running from Jezebel by Elaine Tavolacci

RUNNING FROM JEZEBEL by Elaine Tavolacci

There is a story in the book of 1 Kings Chapter 19 about the prophet Elijah as he was running in fear from Jezebel. Jezebel threatened to kill Elijah because she heard that he had killed the prophets of Baal with a sword. Jezebel represents a demonic principality over the nations, the spirit of control and manipulation, and also one that is trying to abolish the voice of God and kill the prophets. Jezebel sent a message to Elijah threatening him that she was going to kill him the next day just as he had killed the prophets of Baal. She was so sure of herself that she said: "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them." When Elijah heard this he ran away in fear. Elijah was under such extreme pressure that he asked the Lord to take his life, and then fell asleep under a juniper tree.

The Holy Spirit is showing me that many of you are experiencing such vicious attacks from the enemy that you are actually asking Jesus to take your life. You are telling the Lord that the battles are too intense for you to handle and it would be so much easier to go and be with the Lord. There is a time when the warfare will increase just before your greatest victory and breakthrough, but as you remain immovable, steadfast and stand your ground, the Lord will show Himself strong on your behalf. The Lord says not to allow adverse situations to overwhelm you, but use these things as an opportunity to trust Him and strengthen yourself in His word.

Then the scripture goes on to say that an angel appeared to Elijah and told him to get up and eat. The angel left him hot bread and water, and then returned a second time and told him to eat again because the journey was too great for him. The bread represents the living word, fresh revelation, and Jesus who is the bread of life. The water represents the Holy Spirit. The food and water sustained him for forty days and forty nights. Then he tried to hide in a cave and the word of the Lord came to him.

The Lord is saying, that as you come out of hiding in fear and return to the promises and prophetic words that He once gave you, He will provide for you and sustain you in difficult times. He is your protection from those who rise up against you, and your advocate against every word curse that has been spoken over your life. No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that rises up against you in judgement you shall condemn. This is your heritage and your vindication from the Lord.

Elijah complained that he was so zealous for the Lord, but he felt as if he was the only prophet left. He also complained about Israel breaking Covenant, tearing down alters, killing prophets and how his life was in jeopardy. The Lord then sent a wind, a fire and an earthquake but He was in neither one. But then Elijah heard a still small voice. The voice was so powerful that when he heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of a cave. Some of you are trying to hear the Lords voice in a monumental way but He wants to speak to you in a profound way in a still small voice.

Then the Word of the Lord came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Elijah foolishly repeated his complaint once again. Many of you feel as if everyone else has left and you are the only one serving God. Some of you have prophetic voices which are being silenced in fear by the enemy. The Lord told Elijah that He has reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him. The Holy Spirit has many hidden today who He is raising up, who will walk with you and help to strengthen you.

The Lord then used Elijah to anoint other prophets as well as he anointed Elisha who received a double portion of Elijah's spirit after he was caught up by a whirlwind into heaven. 2 Kings Chapter 9:33-37 speaks about the violent death of Jezebel which was prophesied by Elijah. Many of you are frightened by the reports that you are seeing on the news. Don't be moved or shaken by what you hear. In the same way that Jezebel planned on executing Elijah, the Lord says, I will rescue you and deliver you, and My plans will be accomplished in your lives and ministries says the Lord.

1 Kings 19:1- 21

1 Kings 19:11-12 

Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 

Be aware and Prepared from Beverly Juelsgaard-Fischer

Be Aware and Prepared given through Beverly Juelsgaard-Fischer

  

godsblessingstoyou@yahoo.com

Hear Ye!  Hear Ye!  Hear Ye!  I say to you this day that the time has come for an even greater change to come over the earth.  Time draws nigh, and the time for My Son draws ever nearer.  

I am talking of My end time celebration, when the heavens open over everyone at the same time, regardless of your time zone.  Remember, I don’t work in time zones, because I have My own zone.  Though no man knows the day or time of the arrival of My Son, do not be afraid, because I know.  I know.  I know.  I know, and I haven’t told that secret to anyone.  Not even to Jesus Himself!  Even though I know He could keep a secret of this magnitude that affects all of mankind and the whole earth all at the same time.  There are those who claim to know the day and time and allude to it in their writings or as they speak, but I tell you there is no person, who is above Jesus, and I promise you, were I to tell anyone, He would be the One. 

It is wise to be prepared, but it is not wise to be afraid of what it coming, unless it is a holy fear that you have of Me.  Unholy fear runs amuck over the earth.  Understand even as the spirits of fear and other spirits run all over the place, they are looking for an entry point or opening into each person.  It is part of the end time games that are being played by the enemy.  He knows that each person that allows fear or other spirits to enter them, they will bring with them seven other demons or spirits that also enter or come along for the ride to harass, torment, and torture you, until you have had enough of them and are delivered from them, or you fall to them and their influence over your life. 

One that is sure to enter with fear is confusion, because it then keeps you from thinking clearly and as long as you aren’t thinking clearly, you won’t think of evacuating spirits or getting deliverance, you just continue being more confused as time passes on.  You become frustrated and stagnant, because you aren’t moving forward, and often are instead moving backwards.  The enemy knows the ways of man well, and it is well documented in My Word of the ways that he has tried to interfere in My plans and purposes for man since the beginning of time.  

I am on your side, remember that.  I will give you wise counsel, but you would be wise to have a relationship with Me, so that you hear Me clearly, and not your own heart.  Too many are steered the wrong way, because they listen to their emotions / fears / their own heart, and not My Heart.  Time is so precious now, as the days continue to grow closer to the end.  I say again, it is more important than you think, to have a relationship with Me.  Understand also, I don’t mean five minutes a day, although that may be where some of you need to start.  I mean a real relationship with Me, Your Father, Your Best Friend that we talk with each other on a consistent basis daily, not just when you need help.  You need to seek My Face, not My Hands.  Do you understand what I mean?  Think of Me, as your roommate or companion that never leaves you, even when you go out, and you think you are alone.  Well, I hate to break the news, I’m right beside you then too.  That is the choice I have made for each of My Beloveds.  For you are My Beloved and I have made the choice that I will never leave you.  

Your choices though may be something different.  Remember I gave you the power of choice, so that you can choose between right and wrong.  So if I’ve truly told you to do something, My protection, and whatever you need, will be with you.  You will be safe and I will bless you because of your obedience to Me.  It will be for you to continue to be obedient to Me, so that you can get to where you need to be to complete My Calling on your life.

But know also, if I’ve not told you to do something, and you are waiting for an answer, then you need to continue to wait for the answer.  Going ahead of Me, means you go on your own, and it means you are not moving in obedience to Me.  I will still go with you, but you are not moving in My ways, and you may find yourself in trouble, because there are consequences for the choices you make, that aren’t Mine.  Obedience to Me may save your life or the lives of those you love in the days ahead, so again, it is important to stay on the right track with Me.  You need to be making the “best” choices or My choices in the days ahead, regardless of what your heart is telling you, there will be times, when you won’t have time for a second chance.  Your heart can be your greatest enemy at times.  Understand, the enemy does and will use your heart to destroy you, if at all possible.  

Understand again, fear and confusion are two of the end time spirits that are being poured out profusely now and silly as it might seem, they are being embraced by many, due to the choices being made by humans.  So be ever alert to the enemy’s plans.  He is not for you.  He wants your demise and destruction and will do whatever he has to do to get it.  He does not love you, nor does he do anything for you, without you paying the price for it in one way or another at some point in your life, or the life of someone you love, so that it will still affect you.  Remember, if he can’t get to you, he will try to get to you through those you love, be it family, friends, prayer partners, pets or whatever you love most.  He loves to watch as My Beloveds suffer.  He is an expert at the survival skills of manipulation and control, and at doing whatever he has to do to get his way. So beware. Again, it is better to be prepared and aware, than to be unaware and destroyed. 

Many do not see through My eyes, and many do not care to see through My eyes, nor understand My heart, because they do not fully understand My ways or My heart and walk in fear of knowing too much.  But I say to you, if you know the plans and purposes of the enemy you can then ask Me what to do about the enemy’s plans and purposes.  Next you can follow through in obedience to do whatever I tell you to do.  Again, then you are not caught unawares, so that you have to play catch-up, and try to recover what was lost during the enemy’s attack, because you failed to do anything to protect yourself and those you love, due to disobedience, or from doing it your way, again due to disobedience, or from being paralyzed with fear.  

Surely you understand now how important a relationship with Me is for you.  So ask me for the enemy’s plans and purposes and I will reveal it to you.  But be prepared to ask Me what to do about it, and then to follow through in obedience to My instructions.  Do not be too fearful to act upon My instructions and do not move out by yourself, thinking that you know how to deal with the enemy, because that is pride and rebellion working in you, thinking that you know best for you.  I am the only One who knows what is best for you.  Remember, I do not work like humans do, nor do I do the same thing twice, so that there will be times that I will tell you to do something, that will make no sense to you whatsoever at the time.  But at a later time, you will see the value in My plan and with your obedience, you will see the fruit of your labor.  I have already won this war in the end and I am not about to lose any of the smaller wars in between, if you will only follow the path I have laid out before you and not go your own way.  Then WE can complete My assignments for you as ONE, so that you will accomplish My plans and purposes for you to achieve the calling I have placed on your life. 

I know that it is hard for you to understand the capacity of My unconditional love for you.  However, I do love each of you and I will fight for you to help you win the war that is within each of you, that is trying to keep you from becoming fully Mine.  You only have to ask Me.  Remember you have not, because you ask not (James 4:2).  Come, get to know Me for who I am, so that I can reveal My secrets to you about you and about Me.  Wouldn’t you like to know Me more?  

Love, 

Abba

Bill Johnson Sermons 2015, The Spirit Of Breakthrough