Desert Storm
 

Thousands of Christians have been refreshed and renewed in their spirits and their walks with God since the visitation of the Holy Spirit in 1994. There have also been many who have received Christ into their lives for the very first time. God has been so good to His Church.

Many of the Lord’s prophets were declaring the coming of this great visitation, which has changed the lives of countless Christians around the world.  How beautiful of the Holy Spirit to reveal His secrets to His prophets that they might proclaim of the things of God to come.

Thousands around the world have given testimony of changed lives according to the work of the Holy Spirit during this great visitation. The Church has cried out for visitation and God has honored her.  There must now come forth a new cry, a cry for habitation.  The Holy Spirit has honored the Church once again with a visitation. But the desire of God’s heart is habitation.

When God comes to visit His people, He makes Himself known in our midst.  People respond to the Holy Spirit in different and unique ways.  Some fall down under His great power as He takes their strength from them.  Others shake, even tremble greatly.  Others stand in quietness and confidence while He touches them with His great peace.  During these awesome times of visitation, praise and worship has come forth with powerful new songs and a dimension not known before.  Even a new sound rocks the heavens and the earth as God’s people worship Him in new levels.

The greatest prophetic word ever spoken in our time is that there is MORE.  What is the MORE?  It is the desire that He may have HABITATION with His people.

The renewal is far from being over, but there is certainly a change as to how The Holy Spirit is moving.  When the renewal of God’s people began in 1994, there was a sense that the Church had been drawn down to the river through the call of the Spirit to experience a real Jordan baptism.  We have certainly experienced a baptism of the fire of His great love.

As I am writing this article I am reminded of Jesus and His desert experience after John had baptized him in the Jordan River.  It was at that time that the Voice of the Father came from heaven declaring “This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.”  Jesus was immediately led into the desert to experience confrontation with the devil.   

As the Church, we have experienced a fresh baptism.  As we have stepped down into the river we have experienced God's great love and healing.  But, just as Jesus was mandated by the Father to meet in real confrontation with the enemy, so are we, His Church.

I believe we are in a season of being drawn into the desert by the Holy Spirit.  We are about to experience confrontation with the enemy like we have not known before.  This desert experience is not like that of the Israelites as they wondered in the wilderness.  This time we are in is much different from the wonderings they experienced in the wilderness. 

Jesus was drawn into he desert after he was baptized in the river.  He went into the desert full and He came out full.  He went in in the power of the Holy Spirit and came out in the power of the Holy Spirit. He came out with a message to the world – to those who sit in darkness.

I believe we are in a season where the dealings of God are more severe than ever.  This is the time when the souls of men are truly being tested and dealt with by the Holy Spirit.  God is calling for a oneness within; spirit, soul, and body.  The soul of man can no longer be in the lead.  We must be led from within our spirit.  This desert time we are in is a challenge.  It is a time of the revealing of the Sons of God to all creation.

I believe some of you have questioned the Lord as to what is going on in your lives.  I’m sure His Presence and the manifestations you’ve experienced in the beginning have somewhat changed.  I’m sure you have questioned the Holy Spirit and asked if there is something wrong with you.  No, the course of the renewal has changed, and we as a church are being led into the desert, just as Jesus was.

True intimacy with Him is being put to the test. Will we declare during this desert storm, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”?  Will we declare during this time of confrontation, “Get behind me Satan, For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”?  When temptations of power and fame come from the enemy, will you declare “It has been said, you shall not temp the Lord your God.”?

The title of this article is Desert Storm.  There are those who will go in and come out full of the Spirit as they weather and overcome this time of confrontation with the enemy.  We overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony.  Purpose at this time to come out with the message of deliverance to the world declaring as Jesus declared:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because he has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To preach deliverance to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord."