My name is Cesar Lagrimas 50 years old. I was born in Dawadwa, Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay Province, Philippines.

After much prayer and planning, it's great to be finally able to announce the final details of my visit to Kenya next month. This is an important visit and all prayers would be really appreciated. The purpose is two fold.

1. Formulation of final business plan for International Car Export business into Kenya

Just to say that I am flying out to Benin, West Africa this Thursday 12th August and then shall move on to Nigeria after the weekend. I shall be ministering at several Conferences and preaching at Crusades until the 30th August and will be back home in Cornwall on the 31st.

Chuck Pearce recently posted on The Elijah List this challenging message. In the light of the radical 're-structuring' process that we have been experiencing in Time Out Mission recently, we feel very encouraged. Can we encourage you to let the Holy Spirit make what changes He want to make both in your personal life and in your ministry and your Church.

Chuck Pearce recently posted on The Elijah List this challenging message. In the light of the radical 're-structuring' process that we have been experiencing in Time Out Mission recently, we feel very encouraged. Can we encourage you to let the Holy Spirit make what changes He want to make both in your personal life and in your ministry and your Church.

From a recent message by Francis Frangipane:

God Says, "I Do Not Remember"How little we understand of eternal redemption! How many times will God forgive you? If you have truly set your heart to follow Him, He will cancel your sins as often as you ask. Will He forgive you of the worst sin you can think of? Yes! You may have to live with the consequences of your misdeed, but the redemptive power of God is such that, even in your sin, there are many things of value to be reclaimed. As for the sin itself, if you deeply and sincerely repent of it, not only will God forgive you, He will blot it out of His memory.

Let me share an experience. A certain man of God had been gifted with revelatory insight into people's lives. During an evening service, he ministered to a Presbyterian pastor and his wife. By the gift of the Spirit, he revealed the couple's past, uncovered their present situation and then disclosed to them what was to come. This work of God greatly impressed the couple, and as the prophecies were fulfilled, one month later the Presbyterian minister brought two other pastors, each with their wives, to another service for personal ministry.

The word of knowledge was exceptionally sure that night, and the second minister and his wife marveled at the accuracy and truth in the prophetic word. The third couple stepped forward for ministry and again the word of knowledge was present. The prophet spoke to the husband, revealing his past, present and insight into his future. Then the man of God turned to this third minister's wife. As he began to speak of her past, suddenly he stopped. "There was a very serious sin in your past." The woman, with her worst fear seemingly upon her, turned pale and closed her eyes. The congregation hushed and moved to the edge of their seats.

The prophet continued, "And I asked the Lord, 'What was this sin that she committed?' And the Lord answered, 'I do not remember!'"

He Has Removed Our Sins as
Far as the East is from the West

The Lord had been faithful to His promise: "I will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25). Although many times this minister's wife had asked for cleansing, still she could not believe the depth of God's forgiveness. Christ had placed her sin in the sea of His forgetfulness. He removed it "as far as the east is from the west" (Psalm 103:12). From everywhere but the prison of her own mind, her sin had been paid for and removed. And now, in His great mercy, He removed it from there as well!

Oh, what burdens we carry, what guilt and limitations surround us because we do not accept God's total and perfect forgiveness. In Isaiah we read, "I, even I, am the One who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25).

How great is the God we serve. How wonderful is His love toward us. He is our Redeemer! Our Savior! If you are willing to forgive others and will but ask Him to forgive you, He will pardon your debts as often as you contritely turn to Him. He promises He will remember your sins no more.

Francis Frangipane
Ministries of Francis Frangipane
Email: francis1@frangipane.org

A VISION FOR OUR YOUTH

The Elijah Generation and the Gold Revolution

Background
This message is entitled the Elijah Generation and the Gold Revolution.

I feel so very privileged to share this message with you and yet I feel a tremendous weight of responsibility. God is doing something very exciting today. He is calling out a very special 'generatin'. He is declaring prophetically a message which will be either received or rejected by those who hear it. Their response will have eternal significance for themseves, the Church itself and for their own generation.
I want to motivate you and inspire you but I also want sound a real challenge. I believe that God is challenging this generation like no other generation in history. If you are of the younger generation then He is asking much more of you than those in previous generations. The stakes are rising, His expectations of you are higher than ever before, His demands greater. The challenge is awesome!
Firstly we need to realise that we are in the last days and maybe the latter of the last days. Time is short. The day of the Lord's return is approaching even if, depending on your iunderstanding of endtime events, it is just for those being raptured for the wedding of the Lamb. Do you understand how privileged you are to be alive as a 'saint', a believer, today? Can you understand the 'times and seasons'?
Never before in history has there been so much prayer and intercession rising up to the Throne of God from planet Earth. Never has there been so much praise filling heaven, pouring out from the hearts of men, women, youth and children on earth. Did you know that in India for example, in one State alone there is a Children's Prayer Network supported by a week TV programme and run by the children, of over 200,000 members? In China today they estimate that over 40,000 new converts are added to the Chinese Church daily. God is on the move and the 'Days of the Gentiles' is fast coming to an end and the 'Day of My People Israel' will have arrived. The Messianic Jewish movement is accelerating. The Prophetic Word is being fulfilled. Jesus will have His Church complete both in number (size) and in character (maturity). Then He will come for us, His Bride, as the Bridegroom King and take us to heaven for the Wedding Feast. These days are fast approaching but first there are many more to be saved and discipled and the Great Harvest must take place to complete this. A generation of dedicated warriors is required and He is calling them forth.

A. Introduction and explanation

The Elijah Generation:
Throughout biblical history the 'coming of the Messiah' has always been preceded by the appearance of Elijah or a type of Elijah
This 'appearance' is prophesied in scripture. Mal 3 v 1 'Behold I will send my messenger who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come' and Mal 4 v 5 'Behold I will send you Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord'. So it was in the time of Jesus when John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah to herald and announce His first coming. In fact John in quoting Isaiah 40 v 3-5 referred to himself as that ..'voice crying in the wilderness. Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for Him' (Matt 3 v 3).
In these latter days, as the sense of expectation of Christ's second coming increases, the expectation of another 'Elijah' appearing to herald in these events, is also increasing. However this time I do not believe this 'Elijah' will be one person but a whole generation, since the Spirit of God seems to be raising a generation of Elijah's who will be totally dedicated to heralding in His appearance. This is not somethig so new in that many have been sensing this movement of God now for at least ten years. Maurice Cerillio, the global evangelist to name just one person, has been raising an Army of young Elijah's for several years now. These young men and women will be a youthful generation of highly motivated young people, a generation of Levites who will position themselves to be the priests committed to serve the Lord in righteousness that Malachi referred to in Mal 2 v but who failed in their generation to fulfill their destiny. God willing this one will press through and fulfill the purposes of God. You may be one of those called for 'such a time as this' and to join this special Elijah Generation by enlisting in the Gold Revolution that's about to take place.

The Gold Revolution:
This revolution will be led by the Lord Himself but carried out through this generation, the Elijah Generation. They are those 'priests and kings unto God (1 Pet 2 v 9... 'a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation) who desire nothing else but the fulfilment of the purposes of God in their generation. Gold in scripture always represents royalty. In Ps 45 v 9 and 13 we see the royal bride, the Church, the Bride of Christ, in clothes embroidered in gold. 'Gold of Ophir'. This revolution will be a Royal Revolution executed by the true Kings of the Kingdom who as the Elijah Generation serve the King of Kings in total submission and loyalty. This generation will be the 'shakers and movers' of society, who will move in the power of His Spirit to usher in the Great Harvest of Souls that proceeds the Rapture and so prepare the 'Way of the King'.

B. The Marks of this Generation
What are the marks or characteristics of those who the Lord considers to be a part of this special generation. Now a generation can refer to all those living at certain time in history of whatever age. Or it can refer to those living for a set period of time usually considered about forty years. Or as in this case it can refer to a special calling of God upon a generation of young people who qualify by their positive response to that call and dedication to the cause. Not all believers who are living today will qualify and not all of the younger generation of Christians will qualify. It is always a case of all are called but few are chosen. The qualification for being called 'the chosen' resides in the correct response of the individual.
So......what are those characteristics that will qualify or disqualify?

Generally:
They will be those who are totally dedicated to Jesus and His cause.They will express unswerving loyalty to Him , willing to 'lay down their lives for Him. What is good for the Master is good for the servant as Jesus said in Jn 15 v 20. What is good for the mentor is good for the mentored....just as Jesus laid down His live or us..'obedient unto death' (Phil 2v 8). Jn 10 v 14...'I am the Good Shepherd and I lay down My live for the sheep'
They will have purity in heart and life. Matt 5 v 8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God'. Ps 24 v 4 ...'Who shall ascend to the hill of the Lord. He who has a clean hands and a pure heart'. Rev 'Come out from among them and be different'. 'Touch no unclean thing!' Proverbs 8 v 13 'the fear of the Lord is to hate evil'. Rom 12 v 9...'Abhor (hate) evil. Cling or cleave to what is good' Note the word 'cleave'. It is used of a marriage relationship (See Gen 2 v 24 ...'eave his mother and father and cleave to his wife') This could be seen as a reference to our relationship to Jesus as His pure bride.
They will be single minded, unwavering in their focus. 'A double minded man is unstable in all he does' James 1 v 8
Singularly focused people will be able to fulfill Gods purposes because clear focus:
-produces clarity of vision
-generates impetus and motivation
-gives stability
-instills confidence in others and in self
-feeds perseverance and faithfulness
-positions for blessing
-attracts God's favour
-breeds humility
-deepens dependency
-develops intimacy (NB dependency leads to intimacy) SS 8 v 5 'Who is this coming up from the desert, leaning on her lover' . i.e.The new
Bride, the Church, the company of believers, in dependent intimacy with Jesus.

Now let us look specifically at those characteristics that God is looking for. We will do this through an in depth study of the life and character of Elijah:

1) Elijah the non-conformist.
Elijah was a man who was the complete non conformist when it came to choosing between God's purposes and the pressures and expectations of the world.
a) He rejected the status quo, the accepted norms of the day if in any way they conflicted with those of his God. This is key issue and a key requirement. Everyone who wants to qualify for this 'generation' must settle this issue once and for all...Which Kingdom do I belong to? The Kingdom of this world or the Kingdom of God. Jesus said so clearly in Jn 15 that we are not of this world and that the world would hate us. We really are from another place born in heaven in the heart of the Father before the foundation of the earth and in the fullness of time 'downloaded' onto planet Earth. We are of a different kingdom, having been translated 'from the Kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of light'..Col 1 v 13
If we want to be of this special generation then we must 'reckon ourselves dead to self, the world and all its deception, its values and standards'. Rom 6 v 11 and this will be uncomfortable
especially when it comes to issues of fashion conformity, of media, of national culture or social/family customs which conflict with the kingdom. The issue is ....there is only one culture that in the end we belong to and that's the culture of the Kingdom.
This will effect the way we allow the culture of the world to affect both our decisions and our behaviour. It will affect the way we dress and the entertainment we enjoy, the life-partners we chose both in friendship and in marriage. Sexual purity and co-habiting before marriage is not a Kingdom practice.
b) He also challenged the status quo. Not only did he reject the immorality and idolatry of his day but actively confronted both the issues and the perpetrators. This generation will also challenge the unrighteous and idolatrous issues of their day. They will have their Mt. Carmels and will see the Glory of God prevail in a demonstration of the same supernatural power. The God who saves by fire! They will be the 'shakers and movers' of this generation. c) Like Elijah they will be ruthless in their exposure and dealing with sin and sinner. Just as Elijah destroyed all the priests of Baal so this generation will deal ruthlessly firstly with their own sin and ungodliness and then expose the unrighteousness in the Church. Its the 'little foxes that devour the grapes' Song of Songs 2 v 15.

2) Elijah, a man who lived by faith, prophetic action and prayer.

a) By faith and by the supernatural:
The Scriptural record is full of examples
We first meet Elijah in ! Kings 17 when completely unannounced he confronts King Ahab with a warning and prophetic declaration of the coming drought. The fulfillment of this prophecy puts him in a desperate state too and he has no food or drink himself.
But as a man of faith he is feed supernaturally by the ravens which God commanded to meet his need and watered by the brook. (1 Kings 17 v 6)
Then when the brook itself dries up he is fed by a widow at Zarapheth, who obeys his instructions even though she has very little supply and another miracle occurs. (1 Kings 17 v 7 -16)
Later when her son dies unexpectedly, Elijah responds by raising him to life (1 Kings 17 v 17 - 24)
The Mt Carmel incident is perhaps the best known in the OT. (1 Kings 17 v 20 - 40). Here Elijah demonstrates his faith in the God that 'answers by fire' and exercises tremendous authority in God. He humiliates the priests of Baal exposing their falsehood and utterly defeats the ruling spirits that control them.
Throughout this confrontation Elijah really puts his faith on the line. Defeat for him would have certainly resulted in his own execution.
In 1 Kings 18 v 12 -14 we see the respect that Obadiah, the manager of Ahab's palace, had for Elijah as a man of the supernatural. He was frightened to go to tell Ahab that Elijah wanted audience with him in case Elijah was translated away by the Spirit of the Lord and he appeared both time waster and liar.

After the announcement of the end of the drought Elijah outruns Ahab's chariot all the way to Jezreel and breaks the land speed record. (1 Kings 18 v 46)
In 1 Kings 19 v 5 he is fed by an angel and in 2 kings 2 v 1 - 11 he strikes the River Jordan and parts the water. This was no ordinary fleshly man but a mighty 'Man of God'!
This Elijah Generation likewise will be a generation of mighty young men and women of faith who do mighty exploits for the Lord

b) By prophetic action
Our first meeting with Elijah is where, as a prophet, he announces to king Ahab that a few years of drought is to come (1 Kings 17 v 1)
Then in 1 Kings 18 v 1 Elijah announces its end even though there were no signs of it abating and in 1 Kings 18 v 41 he even declares that to the king. He heard the rain falling in his spirit and declared...'for there is the sound of heavy rain'.
In 1 Kings 17 v 14 he prophetically declared to the .widow that her 'oil would not run out' until after the drought.
Then in 1 Kings 18 v 43 - 45 Elijah confidently send his servant to see the approaching rain even tough the skies were cloudless
In Chapter 21 he condemns King Ahab over the murder of Naboth the Jezreelite and pronounces Jezebel's death and the eventual end of Ahab's family line.
Perhaps the greatest and most famous of his prophetic actions are seen in the whole of the My Carmel incident recorded in 1 Kings 18. He certainly didn't make it easy to burn his own sacrifice by the dowsing of it and the altar with so much water prior to his invitation prayer. NB the shortness of his prayer v 35 and the request that God would vindicate His Name and give glory to Himself.
Finally, notice how Elijah acted out the birthing of his own prophecy regarding the coming of the rain, when he took up the Hebrew birthing position as he 'travailed' in prayer on Mt Carmel.
The Birthing of Prophecy
It was revealed to me that most if not all prophesies have to be 'birthed' into being. They do not happen automatically. God announces his will through his prophet but it is the intercessor who releases or births that into being. Prophecy does not just come to pass unless there are those intercessor who will birth it by prayer. We describe the birth process for a women as the travailing process. We also describe intercession as 'travailing'. To intercede sometimes is to 'travail in prayer'. Elijah birthed the rain, Hannah birthed the miraculous conception of her son Eli, Simeon and Anna released the prophecy regarding the birth of Jesus. This emphasises the important significant role of the intercessor.
This Elijah Generation, this Royal Golden priesthood must be made up of courageous, daring, brave, young people who are prepared to say 'Thus says the Lord' even though it will cost them everything and cause them to risk their lives
Prophetic Gifts and their operation:
The gifts of the Spirit were given for ministry to the world and the building up of the Body. Most of Jesus miracles of healing were not done in 'church' but in the market place. Example of church and a miracle in the supermarket. Outside the box mentality. Church without walls.
Similarly, prophecy can be a powerful tool for evangelism. Example of students prophesying in the school dinner line.

c) By Prayer and Intercession
So Elijah was a great man of prayer. The Elijah generation must be a mighty army of 'Prayer Warriors' who know what it is to travail in prayer and to accompany it with fasting.
Although we have only three records of Elijah's prayers they are obviously examples of a lifestyle of prayer. No one could have authority with God like Elijah had nor an anointing like his unless he walked and talked prayer. All this comes out of relationship and relationship with God is developed by a prayerful life. These records are found in:
1 Kings 17 v 20 -21 where he implores God to raise the dead son of the widow of Zarapheth. Although the story is brief Elijah no doubt was desperate in His intercession. His action of laying upon the child three times was not a passive move.
1 Kings 18 v 36 and 37 where he invited God to destroy the Sacrifice on Mt Carmel and
1 Kings18 v 42 where he travails and births his own prophetic word about the rain into being

Such authority is received only in the Throne Room of heaven. Authority speaks of anointing and that anointing flows out from beneath the throne.
What is anointing?
One day I was seeking God about 'anointing. I was asking Him what anointing was. So many books written on anointing. So many sermons preached on anointing. I wanted to know His definition and to have it clearly and precisely.
After a while of seeking His face He spoke
"Anointing, Howard, is having authority with me. You preach it....I'll bring conviction
You teach it. I'll bring revelation
You command it. I'll do it....that' having authority with me!"
This comes out of relationship with Him alone and through constant prayer fellowsip. The Elijah Generation will be marked by the quality of their prayer life.

3) Elijah the man who was just like us.
In James 5 v 17 we read these telling words 'Elijah a man just like us'. Despite all the authority that he had he was also a man of vulnerability and weakness. In 1 Kings 19 after the success of Mt Carmel and the threats of Queen Jezebel, we see Elijah reduced to a frightened whimpering mess having a 'pity party'. But that's encouraging for us because it reminds us that it is only by grace that any of us has any credibility.
How did Elijah fall so quickly from his position of authority and confidence?
Firstly, beware of 'spiritual success'. Dwelling on it can promote pride, distort our self image and cause us to BE DEFLECTED FROM SEEING AND FOCUSING ON JESUS. It can lead to all kinds of deception and temptation. Spiritual experiences are good but have their dangers attached to them. It is after such experiences of God that we are at our most vulnerable.They tell us that most young people are more likely to get into sexual immorality immediately after they have been at prayer or praise meetings which have lifted them both spiritually and emotionally, especially if the experience has been a shared one between boy and girl friend.
Secondly, success is a worldly thing anyway. What is success? How do we evaluate it? Is there such a thing as 'success' in the things of God?
Example1. A pastor walks everywhere. Then he owns a bicycle. He then appears with a motorbike, then an old car. Everyone considers that he is obviously successful in ministry. The class of car improves as time passes and eventually arrives at church in his own Mercedes Benz. Now he has 'arrived'. BUT....we have evaluated his 'fruitfullness', his 'success', by worldly criteria.
Example 2 . The Numbers Game: I often illustrate this point by asking various Pastors who may be present how many people they have regularly attending their Sunday services. Those present applaud increasingly according to the increasing numbers. It becomes obvious that we all equate the greter the number with a greater essure of success. We have entered 'Babylon' and followed the value systems of the world. There is no place in the Elijah Generation for this sort of behaviour or mindset. In fact we do not use the word 'success' in the Kingdom context any more. I don't want to be successful but I DO WANT TO BE ETERNALLY SIGNIFICANT!

Elijah feared 1 Kings 19 v 3
He took his eyes off the Lord and onto himself and his circumstances. In Song of Songs 2 v 14 Solomon, a picture of Jesus describes, His precious Bride to be, as a dove. Why? Well yes they are pure and gentle but more so they are the only bird that has only peripheral vision. They can only see things directly in front of them. They must always focus on the thing they want to see. Like the dove we too must only have one thing. one person in view. That's Jesus. The Shunamite girl only had 'eyes for the King' and so must we too! Looking at the circumstances and not at Him can lead to disaster. Compare Peter walking on the water story.
Elijah ran 1 Kings 19 v 3
Elijah ran away from the place of his calling....the place where the provision and anointing was.
Elijah organised a 'pity party' for himself until firstly the angel turned up uninvited and sent him to Horeb, where the Lord also turned up to listen to Elijah's feeble excuses and complaints. Self pity and complaining is unbelief since it questions the goodness and faithfulness of God. For Elijah it deteriorated into suicidal thoughts, the worst of all deceptions. The Elijah Generation must be wary of this trap.

However......although we see Elijah's weakness in the story, vulnerability has a positive side to it. We are reminded that 'in my flesh there is no good thing', as St Paul said. We see so clearly that the 'flesh profits nothing'. Only God can produce God successes. Eternal things can only be achieved by eternal means. At the best it is 'Christ in us the hope of Glory' Col 1 v 27 that enables us to see any victory or gain. 'Our strength is made perfect in weakness' 2 Cor 12 v 9 ETERNAL ASSIGNMENTS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY ETERNAL RESOURCES. It is arrogance to think otherwise.
So this throws us onto the Lord and humbles us. The Elijah Generation will be a company of those who are totally dependent of the Lord.

4) Elijah the man of humility
Certainly Elijah was humbled by the Lord. Humbled but not humiliated. Was he a better person for it? I'm sure he was but scripture doesn't tell us. He just picked up from that defeat and continued in his obedience, going as instructed to anoint Hazael King of Aram, Jehu King of Israel and Elisha as his successor. However John the Baptist who is said to have come in the spirit of Elijah, said about himself in relation to the Lord Jesus..'I must decrease but He must increase. I am not worthy even to unstrap his sandals'. He was the most humble of men...a true Elijah Generation for-runner.

And finally,
5) Elijah the man of intimacy
After all the noise and the drama of his life, we meet Elijah on Mt Horeb. He had to learn that God was not in the 'earthquake, wind or fire' but in the still small voice of calm which could only be heard as he quietened himself humbly before his God. Intimacy with Him can only be developed in the humbling of ourselves and in the stillness of our souls as we wait upon Him. It begins as we recognise our own vulnerability since vulnerability produces a dependency upon Jesus which causes us to continually 'seek His face'. Then the consequent result of that will be 'intimacy with Him'....and this is what He prizes more than anything. We will also have discovered the key to 'spiritual significance' and the fulfillment of our personal and collective destiny.
'Find me a man' called the Lord God through the OT prophet. Today He is calling again but this time its...'Find me a generation'. A generation of true 'sons' who will be totally dedicated and single minded. These are they who are miracle working, devil destroying, kingdom taking, God glorifying, humbly bowing, interceding, praising, mankind serving, righteousness championing and corruption fighting.

WILL YOU BE THAT GENERATION?

Howard Barnes
Co-Director

‘Its time to awaken the Deborah Army’ July 2010

Background and Introduction

During the past century the position of a women in 1) the family, 2) in the church and 3) in society in general has undergone great changes. ‘Women’s rights’ and ‘Equality for women’ are phrases well known right around the world. Many have struggled to bring about these changes and many have died or been imprisoned as a result of their efforts. Some nations have made great advances towards equal opportunity for women. Other nations are still struggling hampered by years of prejudice that are reinforced by unjust cultural and traditional attitudes. Much of this injustice even within the church is based upon a wrong understanding of both the relationship that God intended between man and women and of the terms and exercise of ‘authority and submission’.
This seminar is aimed at encouraging the raising up of a Deborah Army within the Church. We will look at the life, character and gifting of Deborah, this OT prophetess, stateswomen and judge and see her as the type of women God wants to raise up today as He seeks to equip His Church to influence and change the world around it. The Church is Gods only vehicle for change in His world. Through it and it alone He desires to bring in His glorious Kingdom of peace and justice, of health and prosperity here to planet Earth. HE HAS NO PLAN ‘B’, ONLY PLAN ‘A’, and for Him the Church is neither male nor female. It is made up of His truly born again children, whether they are His sons or His daughters. In fact He calls us, irrespective of gender, His ‘Sons’, in that we are all made in His image born by and from Him just like any other son of a father, and have the potential to be truly like Him.
In the Kingdom of God and in the Church there are no differences of value or of Holy Spirit’s outpouring and gifting between men and women. God has declared in scripture in Gal 3 v 28 that ‘there are neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus’. Acts 2 fulfilled the prophecy of Joel 2 that ..’your sons and daughters will prophesy’ when God poured out His Holy Spirit. God is no respecter of persons and it appears of gender too. But this doesn’t mean that God has made man and women identical either in physical form, emotional makeup or spiritual character. He has made both man and women uniquely special with unique differences and giftings, but He has done so in such a way that each needs to be in the correct relational order with each other as He has designed, for those qualities to be released. He is a God of order!
However, the movement of God in these last days towards bringing in His divine order into gender relationships has been greatly resisted even within the Church. Equality of value and function is still not fully accepted. There has been a deep seated resistance against women taking their full role in these three areas (family life, church ministry and as world shakers and changers). This resistance however is mostly based upon a false understanding of what God intended and a misunderstanding of the concepts of submission and authority. Before we look at Deborah’ life, we need first to address these issues and correct our thinking.

PART ONE Women’s role in the marriage and in the Church

‘Man is head of the women’
Scripture refers to man as head of the women but what exactly does this mean?
Misconceptions: The word Head is interpreted as ‘master’ or ‘chief’ and so gives rise to the concept of ownership, of control and of her subsequent loss of personal rights. It suggests that man is more important and of greater value than her and even more gifted and better equipped for leadership. He subsequently can hold greater responsibility. So....men are the natural leaders of society.
Attempts are made to justify this view on many grounds.
a) God made man first which implies a natural order of importance.
b) She is the ‘weaker’ sex, since born out of Adam’s rib she is from him (‘wo - from - man) and owes her existence to him. She is therefore dependant on man and consequently ‘under’ him.
These are completely false interpretations and inspired by hell itself. Satan loves to dominate, manipulate and control. These are his characteristics and wherever there is subversion, or unhealthy control resulting in the lack of freedom and personal development you can guarantee that he is behind it. Even the contentious scripture found in 1 Cor 14 v 34 where Paul says that women should keep quiet in church and not be encouraged to speak (teach?) must be seen against the whole wait of scripture, the particular issues that Paul was addressing in this letter to the Corinthian Church and in the light of the experience of Church history. No one can doubt for example the teaching gift that Joyce Myers has in today’s Church and the incredible contributions made by people like Cathrine Booth of the Salvation Army or Aimee McPherson of the USA.
So....what does God mean when He says that man is head of the women. If it is true that in the family man is given authority or headship over the women what does that mean in concept and in practice. However before we can understand this we need first to understand some things about the nature of authority itself.
Authority:
1) Authority is always delegated. That is, authority is representative in that the one who holds it, acts on the behalf of and in the place of the one who gave it. This bears a great responsibility and holds an accountability towards the authority giver. It is always linked to accountability and cannot exist in isolation.
2) Authority is a gift. and as a gift it is not achieved, merited or owned but bestowed and must be held with awe and fear.
3) Authority can only be exercised correctly by those who have experienced being under authority first, if not to earthly authority certainly to God. A man who has not submitted to God in obedience first cannot function correctly as the head of his wife. In Luke 7 v 6-9 describes how this works. The Centurion understood about authority. It released in him a sensitivity to recognise those around him who where either in authority and under authority. This experience both enabled him to recognise Jesus’ authority, where it came from and lead to a revelation of whom Jesus actually was.
4) Authority in a God fearing family is given both to husband and wife, mother and father, but their authority is exercised over different areas of responsibility. The Jewish wife had greater responsibility and therefore authority than many western wives today and certainly many African wives. Not only did they manage the home and children and educate the girls but they could prepare, plan and oversee the development or extension to the buildings of their home or estate. The husband was responsible to work and earn a wage and resource the family and had overall authority for its health and prosperity. As ‘head’ of the family and his wife, he had the final authority and consequent accountability to God for her and family members.
5) Authority is not a matter of control or domination.
Men have often made it so, very often being misled by culture, tradition, their own arrogance or fear, compensating for their own feelings of inferiority by suppressing and ruling over their wives. When authority is exercised correctly it has exactly the opposite effect. It releases potential and promotes and encourages development. There is great freedom and fulfilment under such authority!

Man is head of the women is best understood as ...man is the covering of the women
Headship involves covering or protection rather than dominating and controlling. Long hair worn by a women in the early Church denoted that she was covered by her husband or church leaders. She had a submissive spirit and was not in rebellion.
Headship has connotations of ‘Lordship’ whereas ‘covering’ has connotations of serving.
This is what Jesus meant when He said that you call me Lord and so I am but as the Good Shepherd I lay down His life for the sheep....’I came not to be served but to serve’. To be head of the women is to exercise a covering by serving her in love.

Why the need for covering and covering from what?
God in His wisdom has made man and women equal but uniquely different. (NB There is no middle or alternative gender. Gen 1 v 27 ‘God made man in His image. Male and female created He them’) These differences have great value. Each partner desperately needs the other in order to function properly. Without each other they are not ‘whole’. They are incomplete and very vulnerable. God has designed it that way. He has designed a flaw in both partners which can either be the key to one another’s individual fulfilment or the cause of the lack of it. That is why He said in Gen 2 v 24 ‘Let a man leave his mother and father and cleave to his wife and the two will become one‘ (complete) This vulnerability or incompleteness is beautiful because it promotes equal inter-dependence....and causes each to appreciate the value of each other.
Generally speaking man is ambitious and is a visionary and a dreamer. He thinks ‘out there’ and is sometimes very unrealistic and impractical in his plans. He loves to romance with the new ideas he has totally oblivious to their impractical nature. He also has inherent pride and a spirit of Independence that can cause him to not hear God.
Women, generally speaking, is very practical and astute. She sees the flaws in the ideas and can deflate his dream bubble so quickly and sometimes painfully. But her greatest gift is her spiritual sensitivity. God has designed her to have a sensitive spiritual anteni or aerial. She is more naturally sensitive to spiritual input and has a natural openness to God. Satan knew this so targeted Eve in the garden with his deceit rather than Adam. Adam was probably too busy surveying wonders of the new creation and trying to understand how things were made, taking them apart in order to learn how they worked. He wasn’t to be concerned with just a piece of fruit. His world was much bigger! Here lay his flaw!
Eve however was aware of the presence of a spirit and she heard his voice but failed to discern the deceit. She had spiritual awareness BUT.......and here is her flaw, a vulnerability to hear every spiritual voice whether demonic or angelic. Without Adams ‘covering’ she was unable to filter out the false from the true! With his covering she could discern so clearly and become such a counsellor to Adam. Because Adam had been delegated authority from God over his wife, then that authority, if exercised within the loving, caring, servant-like relationship he had with Eve, would automatically prevent the ‘enemy of our souls’ from deceiving her.
She needs his covering in order to function and fulfill her role as his ‘helpmate’ (adviser, counsellor, encourager, motivator).
He needs her wisdom and guidance and spirituality in order for him to function at his best and fulfil his destiny. A man that despises the counsel of his wife is a fool. A man who fails to cover his wife will never receive her wise counsel nor see her released into her own God given ministry. True covering releases potential in every area of life.
I will always wonder at the wisdom of God that designed marriage relationship and gender relationship in Church and society that way. God is certainly a God of order and the balance between ‘difference and equality’ seen here is beautiful. The built in flaws in our characters and the consequent need for mutual dependence is a masterpiece of design.
When this order is applied to Church ministry it must be said that a church that is male dominated or either fails to recognise and, worst still, suppresses the exercise of the spiritual gifting pored out on its ‘daughters’, deprives that church of so much and prevents it reaching full maturity.
Some would still say a women ought not to teach but if God gifts a women with such a gift for the Body, is she just to use it to teach the women? In these ‘last days’ we are moving into a new arena where providing the woman has a submissive heart and is in right relationship to her husband and/or pastor then she can exercise any of the gifts of the Spirit and even those of the fivefold gifts of the ascended Lord Jesus, Apostle, Prophet etc.
How such prejudices must break the Father’s heart and grieve the Lord Jesus, the Lord of the Church and the giver of those gifts.

Accountability, the final authority and the place of submission.
Obviously there will be times of decision making when there are disagreements between partners in marriage or between congregation or a church member and their church leadership. God in His wisdom has provided a solution which avoids conflict and its all in the context of submission.
a) Submission is a matter of the heart. There is such a thing as an ‘act of submission’ but a Godly women develops a submissive heart out of love for God and for her husband. She respects God’s order and His provision. To submit is to loose no position but rather to gain it. Its all about chose. A Godly women chooses to submit...is not forced to submit. She voluntarily accepts that there are disagreements and gives way. Example: Buying a new car.
b) Most times submission in practice between all parties is mutual. Decisions are made by consensus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, after prayerful consideration. Negotiations and compromises are made and solutions found. However where there are differences of opinions etc God asks the women to submit and the man will take the responsibility upon himself knowing full well that he is accountable to God for that decision. Like wise with the Leadership within the Church

How is covering exercised and demonstrated?
Really all our men folk ought to read this!
a) Authority is exercised in humility otherwise its not a covering
b) Covering is exercised and demonstrated by servanthood. If the exercise of this area of authority is truly of a servant-like nature then the implications are great for both the man and the women. The rules and practises of the Kingdom are not nationally, culturally or traditionally constrained. Sometimes we will have a clear choice between the culture of the Kingdom and the culture of our nation.
I often tell those attending Pastor’s conferences, especially if the majority are men, that all Pastors should learn to cook or help with the housework. A man covers his wife by his love and care for her. What better way is there to demonstrate that love than to prepare her a meal...even the family meal.

PART TWO The Godly Women’s Role in Society at large (Raising the Deborah Army)

Introduction:
Having understood God’s provision of covering for the safe exercise of ministry by our Godly women, we are now able to explore the extent and scale of that ministry opportunity outside of the Church and family. If a women lives in this context of humility and with a spirit of submission and is in right relationship to her husband and her Pastor, she is liberated and released to function at the highest level of leadership and responsibility and in every one of the seven ‘mountains of society’.
Society can be seen to be made up of seven mountains. Religion, Media, Celebration and the Arts, Education, Finance, Family and Government. As these days of equal opportunity for women is increasing, its time for the Deborah Army to arise out of the church seats and out of their homes and to take their stand in the market place, in the corridors of Government, in Education, in our strongholds of Industry and Commerce and Media......and to take them for Jesus. Too long these bastille's have been under the control of demonic forces. They have been progressively stolen from the Lord by the enemy since the fall and used to promote the corrupt values of his Kingdom of Darkness. As these end times that we are living in threaten an increasing darkness let us raise a Deborah Army and begin to take back the ground.

God has used women mightily throughout history to fulfill his purposes. NT Scripture records how it was women who were specially favoured by God. Although some were like Martha (pre-occupied and stressed with unimportant things) many were like Mary who longed to hear and learn more of Him. These Godly women were available to be given special privileges like:

Those women who were the last at the cross of Calvary (Mk 15 v 47)
Those who were first at the tomb (Jn 20 v 1)
Those who were first to proclaim the resurrection (Mat 28 v 8)
Those who were the first to witness to the Jews (Lk 2 v 37 and 38)
Those who attended the first prayer meeting (Acts 1 v 14)
Those first to greet Paul and Silas (Acts 16 v 13)
The first European convert (Acts 16 v 14)

God is looking for a generation of women who, in our day, will make themselves available to Him, an army of women who will rise up and position themselves in God for Him to use in a mighty way. We will call this the Deborah Army because they will be women who displayed the character and courage of Deborah, the OT Prophetess, Stateswomen and Judge. This army will be an army of Godly women who are different to the norm. They will be endowed with special gifts and anointings and will be marked by their Godly character. Deborah was one such women and as we study her life let us resolve to be like her and ‘do mighty exploits’ for the Lord.

The Life and Character of Deborah

All we know of Deborah is contained in two chapters of Judges in the OT (Judges 4 and 5) but her influence and contribution to Israel’s history is impossible to evaluate. Her life has also has been an inspiration to thousands throughout Church history.
We first meet her in Judges Ch 4 where as a result of Israel’s cries to the Lord for help because of the cruel oppression of Israel by Sisera, the commander of the armies of the King of the whole of Canaan, God raised up a deliverer, a women called Deborah.
Deborah the Judge: Judges 4 v 4
Now Deborah was ruling or ‘Judging’ Israel at that time. We do not know how she came to be a Judge of Israel, whether by inheritance, by popular choice, by gifting or after a particular successful demonstration of her leadership in a moment of history. Most Judges at this time came to power because of some mighty battle they had led and won but Deborah seems to be quietly and consistently going about her responsibilities in offering counsel and settling disputes under the Palm of Deborah where she held court. No doubt she had great credibility and her fame for her wisdom and tact had become well known but basically she was doing what she was expected to do and doing it faithfully and conscientiously. It was a case of ‘Be faithful in little and I will make faithful in great’. ‘Do not despise the place of small beginnings’.
As women of God we must be faithful and ‘full of faith’ for ‘without faith it is impossible to please God’ in the present place of appointing whether that is in the home or college or the office. It was while she was faithful to her present calling that ‘promotion’ came.
Like her we need to be obedient, dependable, trustworthy, faithful and consistent.
Deborah the Prophetess: Judges 4 v 4
Deborah was also known as the Prophetess. Later in Ch 4 v 6 and 14 we see how she prophesies to Barak giving him orders from the Lord to go to Mt Tabor with 10000 soldiers where he will defeat Sisera and his army. She also prophesies that because of Barak’s fear and unbelief he will credited with Sisera’s downfall but the honour will ...’go to a women’. (Judges 4 v 9). NB the contribution of another women AND that women succeeded where man failed.....ouch!
These are records of how she used her prophetic gifts on the national stage but I believe that she was always using the gift that God had given her. It resided within her and the outworking of that gift had become natural and spontaneous. As a judge when giving advice and settling issues I can imagine her moving in the prophetic, discerning truth from untruth with words of knowledge, settling issues with words of wisdom and declaring the outcomes of disputes. Her prophetic skills were developed and honed by use in the everyday activities of her work and her responsibility.
Example: Students in dinner line....prophetic evangelism.
We need to think outside the walls of the church and think ‘kingdom’ and use his gifts in everyday ways.
The Deborah Army will be made up of women who are 24/7 alive to the Spirit, living under the anointing, and using the gifts of God to break through the demonic resistance to Kingdom advance. Why shouldn’t we use the gift of the Word of Wisdom to settle industrial disputes or bring clarity to the confusion there may be at a board room planning meetings or to receive revelation of His strategies for success in our business or commercial life. Why not believe for the downloading of heaven plans for the development of new inventions, the discovery of new materials or systems or methods or cures and the creation of new ‘sounds and sights’ in the media or creative arts by revelation and the Word of Knowledge. Women open to the inspiration and creativity of the Holy Spirit, His wisdom and understanding can invade the world of the Media, of Education, Industry, Government and make a major contribution. Its time to raise ‘Apostles in the Market Place’.

Deborah the Stateswomen:
Deborah seems to be very much at ease in dealing with affairs of state. As Judge she was the ruler of Israel and was not intimidated by this position simply because she was a women. Judges 4 v 4 states that ‘Deborah the wife of Lappidoth was leading Israel at this time’. There are at present in the world women Prime Ministers or Presidents and in the last 100 years we have seen over take that position. History is peppered with great women leaders like Bodicea of the Media, Ancient Britain, Nafititi and Cleopatra of Egypt, Joan of Ark of France.
We need to see more and more members of the Deborah Army entering this very strong and influential ‘mountain’ of society...Government....and like Deborah judging with Godly wisdom and righteousness, fighting corruption and injustice and employing only the tactics of God, without compromise.

Deborah the courageous women
In verse 8 of Chp 4 we read that Barak received Deborah’s prophecy about the battle he was to conduct and its assured victory but that he refused to go unless she accompanied him. His unbelief resulted in him being rebuked and denied honour. However Deborah agreed to go and so put herself into what could seem a life threatening position. She displayed both great courage and total faith in God’s ability to protect her and fulfill His word.

Deborah the humble women of God:
I was intrigued to find this verse in Ch 5 that...‘Village life in Israel ceased, until I, Deborah arose, a mother in Israel’.
This is Deborah’s evaluation of herself. She is but a ‘mother in Israel’! What humility? What grace? She gives herself no titles, expects no honour or reward but is content to ‘sing to the Lord and make music to the Lord, the God of Israel’. Her gracious humble spirit allows her to appreciate and praise the work of others too. She is not centre-stage in her own self-image but conscious only of the purposes of God being fulfilled through her and others that He chooses. Hence her effusive praise of Jael (Ch 5 v 24 -27) who Jael had killed Sisera, Deborah describes as ..’the most blessed of tent dwelling women’ v 27. This is grace!

Deborah the praising, worshipping women of God: Ch 5 v3
Deborah loved to praise God and to encourage others to do the same. She is obviously very gifted musically v3 and Ch 6 is an example of her song writing skills and poetry. But this one example suggests a lifestyle of worship which she has developed. It is from this place of praise that she sees things from God’s perspective, feels His heart, shares His dreams and burdens. Praise positions you. It places you in the courts of the Lord (Ps 100) ‘I will enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise’. Praise leads to worship and it is in worship that the Glory is experienced and it is only in the Glory that true revelation and understanding is granted. That the place of rest, the place of power, the place of anointing and authority. Godly exploits and divine assignments flow from that place. Promotion flows from that place. Without developing a worshipful lifestyle we will never be able to take up the positions of responsibility in government and business management, for example where He longs to position us so that we can become like Deborah the stateswomen or politician or manager than He has planned for us. Remember anointing is always for assignment. It is never a reward or given for personal gain. However we have the responsibility to position ourselves to receive that anointing. How can we position ourselves and maintain it?
Personal example: Study of Moses at the burning bush...‘stepping aside’...and therefore got into position to hear...not pre-occupied with important role of chief shepherd for Jethro...I asked how I could always remain in that position of availability and sensitivity...’Tell me that you love Me!’ Loving God and expressing it to Him is the highest form of worship.
The Deborah Army will be an army of worshippers and lovers

The Deborah Army will understand the meaning of loving God and will experience ever increasing ‘intimacy’ with Jesus
The law of Moses was summed up in the command ..’Hear oh Israel. The Lord your God is One God...You shall Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength’. The Jew wrote this upon a small tablet of stone and posted it on their doorposts as a constant reminder that they were a covenanted people. Even today they fix a small metal box containing these words to door posts of their homes.
Loving God passionately and emotionally was the basic requirement and the very beginning of relationship or covenant. All was done out of genuine love. It has not changed! Today for us, loving the Father and the Spirit and His precious Son, the Lord Jesus, is still the bases of our relationship with Him and the springboard of all service.
But in these end days He is calling us to a new and deeper ‘intimacy’ with the Son and awakening our understanding of our true identity and destiny as His precious Bride. Even though this Deborah Army will be very courageous army and do ‘mighty exploits’, it will also be made up of those who are intimate with God and desperately in love with Jesus.
We need to understand the times and seasons we are in. Everything points to the clear fact that these are the last days and He will soon return to earth as the Bridegroom King for His Bride. This will be a return of the Lord Jesus unseen by the world but fully experienced by the believers who will be raptured to heaven for the marriage feast of the Lamb. The tragedy is that, broadly speaking, the Church of Jesus Christ seems to have an identity crisis. She doesn’t know who She is!
If we do not know that we are the Bride then we will not get dressed for the wedding.
Jesus longs to be united with His Bride. It is only after the consummation of that marriage in heaven when the ‘two become completely one’ Jn 17 v 21 and 23, that we will be fit to return with Him .eing on te Bideroom' (SS Ch 8 v 5) to reign for a thousand years on planet Earth and see in that dispensation...’the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our God and His Christ’.

Above all the Deborah Army must be made up of Godly women who are desperately in love with Jesus....lovers of the Son and who are prepared to spend much time in intimacy with Him...satisfying His heart and His desires, for it is out of this relationship that all anointing flows and destiny fulfilled.

Howard Barnes
Co-Director

Recently I read a message posted by a Christian Ministry website. I was much blessed by it. It was talking about 1) the wonderful provision that Christ has procured for us on Calvary, at great cost to Himself 2) the Holy Spirit given to empower us for living now and 3) the provision of a place in heaven with Christ when we die. It was an encouraging message for all believers and an incentive to the unsaved to respond to the gospel invitation.
However, as I pondered on its central message I became more and more concerned with the emphasis given on ‘going to Heaven when we die’. It made me re-examine the whole issue of our destiny and our future and final destination as individuals and as a company of people He calls His Church.

Is heaven our final destination when we die, as many of us have been taught or is planet Earth? What does scripture say? The writer had commented that the Lord has made provision for us…’ to live with Him in a heavenly paradise and, ultimately, as sons of God, to reign with Him in a new heaven and a new earth forever’…..but where do we live….in the new heaven or on the new earth?

The bible teaches us that one day God will indeed restore and re-create all things…the ‘new heaven and the new earth’ …..and then the new Jerusalem will descend from Heaven, dressed like a Bride, to earth. Then God will dwell or ‘tabernacle’ ON EARTH (the place He has always wanted to live) for ever and ever amongst His people. Yes we will live with Him here on planet earth. This is our final destination!

This however will not take place till after another awesome series of events take place. Scripture tells us that before the final restoration and re-creation events take place, when the new heaven and the new earth is created and everything will have been ‘reconciled to Christ’, we, His Bride, will first be raptured to heaven for the marriage feast of the Lamb. At that point we will be totally released from the sin principle within us, being ’without spot or blemish’, the umbilical chord being cut that ties us now in life dependency to Christ in the womb of the Church (His Body)…. and we will become like Him. In this pure state and union with Him, we will become ‘One’ with Him and will be then able to perfectly partner with Him in mission. This will fulfill the prayer in Gethsamene…. ’that they may be one (with each other and with the Father and the Son) even as we are one’ (Jn 17 v21 and 23). Then as a perfect Bride ad patner we will return with the Lord Jesus to reign with Him. During this time Satan will be chained and we, with Him, will reign for a thousand years and see ‘the Kingdoms of this earth become the Kingdom of our God and His Christ’. Finally after the short release of Satan again and the events leading up to the battle of Armegedon, the intervention by the Lord Himself and the final judgement of Satan, heaven and earth will be renewed and we live with Him on earth for ever.

Contrary to popular teaching it seems to me that when we die we do go to heaven but just for the period of time while we wait for the marriage feast to take place. At that momen we will be taken to the marriage, along with the raptured saints who will be still living on earth. Afer all prophesied events have taken place and the New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven, we will live on the new planet Earth in the new Jerusalem with the Lord God Himself who 'makes His tabernacle with man'. Revelation 22 v 5.
These are very important issues. In general the church is unfamiliar with these things. It is so important that we understand them especially in ‘these end time days’. The Church has an identity crisis. She doesn’t know who she is! She is His beloved Bride and He is the coming Bridegroom King. The Church needs to understand Her identity and destiny as His Bridal partner. We have a great future together!

It is so important that, despite the fact that there are various interpretations of these events in terms of order and outworkings, we do not preach a wrong theology. For too long the church has preached an ‘escapism theology’……that is… a ‘Pie in the sky when I die’ etc that developed in times of persecution or suffering. This is demonstrated so well by the songs sung by the slaves during the great African slave period and have been influential in promoting this wrong theology in our times. The slaves used to sing……….
‘This world is not my home I’m just a passing through.
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue’.

Even the great hymn Amazing Grace has the lines….. ‘When we’ve been there ten thousand years bright shining as the sun. We’ve no less days to sing His praise than when we’ve first begun!’ It implies that we spend those endless days in heaven.

The heart and focus of Time Out Mission is to awaken the Church, the Bride, to Her identity and prepare Her for effective mission both now and during Her eternal future. She has an amazing destiny and Her final destination is closer to us than we think….in fact we are living there right now.

Your Kingdom come Lord Jesus! Your will be dome on Earth as it is in Heaven’

‘Come Lord Jesus Come!…..’The Spirit and the Bride say Come!’

Howard Barnes

Co-director

In a time of intercession and prayer for Cornwall this week I had an overwhelming sense of God’s presence and I believe a prophetic unction or anointing came over me. What I saw in the Spirit I will try to describe as follows: