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Day 2: Poverty Refuses to See God’s Best!
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Dear Friends:
The comments we are getting on these devotions are amazing. I want to be sure you gain momentum so that by Passover you have fully moved into the new, and are progressing toward the Lord’s best for this season. I have included again the prophecy over “The Roads Buckling” with a testimony from Tim Sheets. Yesterday, the President George Bush Turnpike buckled here in the Dallas area. The Lord is forming a new highway!
Lisa Lyons just wrote. She is in the process of moving here to Denton. She is doing the daily devotions, and this is what she shared: “During this moving process the last couple of weeks, the Lord has shown me some interesting things about how poverty operates. One is that you can never war or build effectively under its influence because it will not allow you to truly ‘count the cost’ of what is set before you...it causes you to underestimate, cut corners, and turn a blind eye to potential ‘giants’ in order to make the thing ‘affordable’ or ‘do-able’. Refusing to acknowledge the existence of the giants is just as bad as running from them!”
Yesterday’s Zebulun School is one of the best for this season. Trends and Prototypes are key for us to understand in any new season. Sign on and watch all month (see below). Here is today’s devotion:
Day 2: Poverty Refuses to SEE God’s Best!
The greatest spirit that we seem to be contending with in our material society is the second cord in the three-fold braid of captivity: poverty. (In the following days we will address the cords of infirmity and self-pity.) Poverty is refusing to become what God has created and destined us to be! Poverty includes the mindset of not believing that the Lord can branch us into the fullness of His plan.
Poverty is not just experiencing lack but also the fear that we will lack. Poverty occurs when we conform our circumstances to the blueprint that the world has surrounded us with. Therefore, we never SEE who God really made us to be. Poverty occurs when the god of this world surrounds and influences us with only a world perspective, causing us to forget God’s ability in the midst of our circumstances. Poverty is the voice that says, “God is not able!”
Poverty can occur through various means. Two of the most common are oppression and wrong authoritative structures (see Isa. 5:8). Fear can cause us to develop a mentality of covetousness or gluttony (see Prov. 23:21) and produce poverty. Poverty causes us to become indolent or lazy (see Prov. 24:33-34). Haste leads to poverty (see Prov. 28:22), which occurs when we fall into “get rich quick” schemes. Poverty can occur if we resist the Holy Spirit and therefore negate the blessings of the Lord.
What are the causes of poverty? The main cause for poverty in our lives is the failure to harvest. When we do not gather the harvest, a poverty mentality is set against us. Many times, the enemy will wait until our harvest time to develop strategies of devastation against us. Like the Midianites who always stole the harvest from the Israelites (see Judg. 6), the enemy has already devised a plan to eat up our assets and returns. We can plant. We can watch our crops grow. We can even have a time of harvest. But if we do not take our opportunity to gather and steward the harvest, a strategy of poverty will begin to develop against us. When we increase without developing the storehouses to contain what we have harvested, the enemy will gain access to our excess and to our future.
Other causes of poverty include: aligning with structures that cause interest rates to go beyond a godly mentality of interest (see Neh. 5:1-5), fear and an unwillingness to face our enemy (see Prov. 22:13), and (succumbing to) persecution of faith (see 2 Cor. 6 and 8).
COMMAND THE POWER OF POVERTY AND ALL BLINDNESS THAT HAS INVADED YOUR ATMOSPHERE TO LEAVE!
Read Judges 6.
Memorize Proverbs 28:22.
Meditate on Nehemiah 5.
You may go to our website (select the Devotion by Chuck “bullet”) or Facebook Fan Page to read each day’s devotional.
Understanding Trends and Prototypes!
This is a year to LOOK and LOOK AGAIN! That is why last night’s class on
Understanding Trends and Prototypes was so important. Many
times we know circumstances around us are changing, but do not perceive the
shifts and trends that are taking place. Our class helped jumpstart our vision
so we could SEE in new ways. I began by sharing 10 Trends for the Watchman
Today. I also shared top trends to watch in the economic realm. Barbara
Wentroble also joined us and taught on "How to See Trends in your
Ministry". She exhorted us to perceive changing seasons, and to move
by faith into the “new” even when the “temperature” around us has yet to reflect
the new season. Her teaching was incredible, and provided key insights on
how to look for trends in tithing and giving, age, income, corporate attitudes
and favor.
If you were unable to join our webcast last night, it will be available as an "on demand" replay through the end of February. For more information on The Zebulun School, go to www.gloryofzion.org and select "The Zebulun School" tab, or call 1-888-965-1099 and ask for Rose. E-tickets are available on our MP3Store tab for $50.
Key Gathering in Ohio this Friday Night!
I am looking forward to being in Middletown, Ohio this Friday night. Apostle
Tim Sheets is hosting the Ohio Prophetic Summit at The
Oasis Church. This will not be a night of preaching or teaching. Rather,
it will be a night of worship and a time to allow the Lord to release His
Word over Ohio, the surrounding states, and our nation. Other guest ministers
include Dutch Sheets, Barbara Yoder, Mark and Nicki Pfeifer and many others.
Below is an invitation from Tim Sheets that he sent out on January 20. I
love the “buckling” account he shares! This is a time to watch Ohio!
WOW! This past weekend reveals the increasingly powerful and accurate word of the Lord through His prophets. In a 36 hour period the download was incredible. Below is just a part of it...
I was on my way to our Prayer Assembly Friday night in Cincinnati, when I began to notice that the traffic was horrible. In fact, I've lived here all my life and have never seen it quite like this. Even the back roads I was taking were jammed for miles. I told my wife, Carol, to turn on the radio and see what was going on. We heard on the news that a sink hole had occurred at the Middletown exit and northbound I-75 had buckled. This exit adjoins our church property, The Oasis.
Imagine my amazement. In fact, I was stunned, as Carol began to read me an email from Prophet Chuck Pierce. (She had just received it on her blackberry.) We could hardly believe what we were hearing. As we were in terrible traffic, just past a buckled highway, this prophetic word from Chuck came in!!
The Lord says, "Watch the highways that begin to buckle. For throughout the states and throughout nations as signs going into this season, I will buckle highways. You will say as my people, 'I can ride the change of the road that is changing ahead of me.' For it will be a spiritual sign to you, but it will be a frightening shaking to others. You will ride the sign of the buckling highways throughout the earth. I AM rearranging the order of the earth so that the covenant with My land can now manifest in a way that was stopped from manifesting in the last season. Watch the road systems for they will now begin to change." CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO
What a sign to us that God is beginning to move and bring awakening and reformation to our land! The next day (Saturday) I discovered Chuck had prophesied this in the middle of a message Cindy Jacobs was giving. He interrupted her message with "Watch the highways begin to buckle." She then prophesied this ... (Note: This was before the earthquake in California or Haiti.)
"I'm going to shake it. I'm going to shake it. I'm going to shake the earth. You will begin to see earthquakes in places and the news will say, 'This place isn't on that fault line. This place never shakes.' But I am coming to shake everything that can be shaken. There are things that you would say, 'Oh no that would never shake.' I am going to shake that which seems impossible to shake. When you hear this happening know this: there is a sound as a rushing wind coming and the nation will be shaken even as at Pentecost. It is time to wake up and listen and see and know. If you tarry in this year, if you use this as a year of prayer and fasting to establish a covenant root in the earth and in the heavens, I am going to blow with My wind and My fire. I am going to visit with new Pentecost.
"It seems as if I have delayed. It seems as if I have not answered, you think. You think I have waited and I do not hear your pleas and I do not hear your cries. You think I do not see. You have awakened Me. I am awakening on My holy hill. Surely I have awakened and I am arising in ways that you cannot imagine and dream!"
I spent the day, Saturday, in prayer and meditating on these prophetic words. Late in the afternoon I decided to call Dutch and get his take on things. When I asked about the highways buckling and told him about Middletown's exit buckling, he said, "Why not ask Chuck himself. He's standing here." He handed the phone to Chuck who began to prophesy that a new kingdom extension would begin to flow from our region. A mighty move of God is now coming forth. Then he said, "I'll prophesy it more fully Feb. 5th. Tell God's people to pray and be there." Then he gave the phone back to Dutch who said, "This is big! No! This is huge."
That's why I say WOW!! I believe our prayers are being answered. A new Pentecost is being sent out of Heaven. I believe we are on the verge of the 3rd Great Awakening. Days we've longed for are upon us. God is sending new wind from Heaven - new strategy, new opportunity, new anointing, and new direction. The best days in church history are before us.
Here at The Oasis we have begun the year with a 40 day fast. I know others are fasting also. Please consider fasting and praying with us. We desperately need a new move of God in our land. If we pray, God will give it to us.
Please be here Friday night, Feb. 5th, at 7 p.m. It will be a time of worship and prophetic decrees for our state and nation. Don't miss it. Tell everyone you can. There is no cost! Bring carloads. Let's hear God's word. Pastors, please come. Bring your people with you. I know they will leave inspired by the Holy Spirit for our times. Great days are upon us. Let's join together, synergizing our efforts and faith to declare Jesus is Lord!
Blessings,
Chuck D. Pierce
Key Resources to Help You See Your Way to Victory
Jumping in the River of Increase! Break the Power of Poverty (Judah School)
There are certain gatherings which propel you to a new level of victory
and breakthrough. Jumping in the River of Increase was truly a time
of incredible revelation and ministry. Chuck Pierce and Robert Heidler
were joined by Jerry Tuma and Peter Wagner. Sessions covered:
1. How the economy will continue to shift
2. The Twelve Models of Wealth Transfer
3. Breaking the Spirit of Poverty
Also included in this set are the Pentecost blessing associated with the month
of Sivan released by Robert Heidler during our Firstfruits celebration and
both messages from Sunday morning. The “Power of Lift” service included
powerful worship and a message by Linus Vaughn on “Walking through Transition.”
In the “Power of Use” service, Chuck Pierce shared on “Coming In and Out!
Victory from the Hidden Place or Triumph in the Cave!”
Special: $50 for the CD or DVD set (regularly $80)
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty by Chuck D. Pierce and Robert Heidler
God wants to set you free from the poverty cycle! Poverty is not a
lack of money. Poverty is a strategy of the enemy. Poverty occurs
when the "god of this world" surrounds you and influences you with
only a worldly perspective, and causes you to forget God's ability in the
midst of your circumstance. Poverty has a voice that says, "God
is not able!" In this series you will:
* learn what the cycle of poverty is and how the spirit of poverty takes you
captive.
* learn what holds you in a cycle of poverty.
* learn how to break barrenness and recognize your opportunities.
* learn how giving breaks the poverty cycle.
* learn the KEYS to escape Satan's oppression and experience success.
Special: $20 (regularly $25)
"My Life Will Profit" – Anointing Oil and Candle
To profit is to yield yourself to God in a way that you will experience gain and increase. We designed this oil and candle to encourage you to catch a new wind and reach the destination He has for you. Notice the Scripture references superimposed over the ship: Is. 48:17, 1 Cor. 12:7. The anointing oil is made with all essential oils.
Roll-on anointing oil: $10; bottle of anointing oil (2 oz.): $14; candle: $12.
Thou Shall Prosper by Rabbi David Levine
This book covers three general areas: self-help, personal finance and career development. The material is organized into 10 chapters of advice, beginning with the notion that "business is moral, noble and worthy," and ending with the admonition not to retire. Throughout, Lapin urges behavior that will produce more business and, thus, more money.
($16)
These and many other resources are available by going to www.gloryofzion.org or by calling (888) 965-1099 or (940) 382-7231. Specials are valid through February 15, 2010.