Posted: 11/21/2013 at 10:22am | IP Logged

OpenHeaven.com Digest Publication

In This Issue
1. From Where We Are to the Kingdom
2. Facing Persecution
3. Mesage Board
4. News Headlines

SUBSCRIBEOpenHeaven.com Digest

1. From Where We Are to the Kingdom

By Ron McGatlin

Throughout history there have been pivotal climactic events that have occurred with a crescendo of intense impact of change in this world. One of those events was the great flood of Noah’s day. Another is the most significant event of all time, the life and cross of Christ Jesus. Many other events and people have brought greatly significant change to the world, such as the life events of Abraham, Joshua, Jacob/Israel and Moses, to name only a few. God brought great impact of change to this world throughout history and is still doing so.

In this season, God is revealing another major intervention that is another pivotal series of world changing events. Prophets are going to be speaking words of these events that are far too significant for their minds and hearts to handle. The Spirit of Holiness and Truth will replace their willing humanity with Spirit life speaking the oracles of God. As if in a trance, the prophet will be a spectator and hearer of what God is doing and saying through them.

The great transformation to kingdom of God reality is even now consuming hearts of chosen vessels to abandon the past to receive the extraordinary Spirit of Holiness (Holy Spirit) empowered change reforming the world to God’s originally created form and condition. Mankind will return to the purity and holiness of God’s design to fulfill the purposes of God without the hindrance of fallen human contamination. The awesome process of redemption of man and the world from the grip and ravages of evil is moving into a season of heavenly empowered cleansing and restoration.

People are abandoning the sinking ship of godless secularism, humanism, and religious fascism of self-seeking materialistic democracy and imperialism. The Christian church ship has been boarded and taken over by spirit pirates. The precious cargo has been stolen or thrown overboard and the people locked up in bondage. The course of the ship has been set to soon smash upon the rocks of shallow seas. That which was once governance under God is infiltrated by anti-God usurpers through decades of spiritual and mental contamination with lies of darkness cunningly wrapped in a fabric of pseudo freedom proclamations.

The powerful intervention of God is in cooperation with the cries of the suffering saints and incessant prayer of devout intercessors. The pure and holy remnant of God’s people is the seed and catalyst for the Spirit of Holiness’ invasion of supernatural reclamation of the hearts of God’s children. The hearts of the children are being turned to their Father and away from the evil of the father of lies and the false religions that he has fostered.

The real kingdom of God is invading earth, and it does not exist in showmanship and organizational structures or hyped-up “revival meetings.” The invasion is in the hearts of people transforming them into pure and holy followers of Christ, mature sons of God.

The kingdom is where we are going. However, the journey must begin where we are and start moving from here to the next step in our journey toward kingdom reality. The heavenly invasion of the Spirit of Holiness is that which we need to begin our journey and to accomplish each step of the way from where we are now to where we are going. This journey is only accomplished by the work of the Spirit of Holiness bringing the ministry and life of Christ Jesus in and through His people. The Spirit of Holiness, the Holy Spirit who is invading earth is the ship that will carry us safely over turbulent seas into the reality of the governance of heaven again ruling on earth in God’s people and into the entire world.

The beginning of the new year of 2014 will see the ushering in of the beginnings of the great exchange – the beginning of the evil of this world exchanged for the glory of God.The deeper the evil – the stronger the persecution, and the greater the number of martyrs - the brighter and greater the glory of God will eventually come forth.

Purification of the soul is often painful to the flesh. The pain of the turbulent time is only a part of the hammer and chisel of God shaping us into the perfect jewel to reflect the brightness of His love and glory in His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Be ye holy as I am holy, says the Lord. All those who remain will say to one another “The Lord has done this mighty work.”

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit - Rom 5:25.

Live in the Spirit, Walk in the Spirit,

Ron McGatlin

archive.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net




2. FACING PERSECUTION

Kriston Couchey

“Are you able to take of the cup which I am about to take?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “Truly, you will take of my cup…”

THE KINGDOM BY FORCE

I am convinced that we have crossed a threshold into the age where the kingdom of God is being fully established on earth even as it is in heaven. The Spirit of God has been speaking that in this particular time we must be prepared to face persecution beyond what we in the western world have known before. This persecution is not increasing because the enemy is getting stronger, but because the Kingdom of God is coming forth more forcefully.

The advancement and establishing of the Kingdom of God poses a threat to the systems and seats of power from which principalities exert their will in the lives of men and women. The proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom judges the enemy and his works; dismantling strongholds and dethroning spiritual forces. When the powerbases of these demonic forces become threatened, the enemy uses these systems and seats of power he controls to bring suffering and persecution in an attempt to stop the threat. It is a spiritual battle we are engaging in. Because of this, all of God’s children are and will be affected by persecution to some degree.

We see this dynamic throughout scripture, and clearly in the life of Jesus. His preaching and demonstrating the kingdom threatened the system of power in Israel and led to his death on a cross. I have experienced this in the church, and know what it is like to be persecuted by brothers and sisters in the Lord.

PERSECUTION BY BROTHERS

Years ago as worship leader in an institutional church, I was given a specific word to share with the congregation that greatly upset an individual who wielded an inordinate amount of power over church decisions. I was pressured by this women and her husband to recant, but the Spirit of God would not allow me to recant. It was then I had a night vision in which the Spirit of God revealed to me a spirit of antichrist controlling the church that He was having me confront. Because I was threatening its power base through the prophetic word it was attacking me through the woman and her husband.

Things began to get tumultuous as my refusal to recant upset them so much they used their influence over the elders to force me give answer to the elder board. Before I was to meet with the elders the Spirit of God spoke to me and said, “Son, I want you address the elders with the truth that this couple is controlling and usurping the spiritual authority in this church.”

I followed Father’s instructions and shared this with the elders. I was immediately dismissed as the worship leader and over the next months there was a power struggle on the board. One day at work in the midst of this turmoil I was feeling down about everything and suddenly I was filled with joy; joy so great I wanted to literally jump for joy. Shocked at this I asked Father what was happening. Immediately this verse came to my mind:

Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

I continued to worship with saints of this congregation while great changes took place as to how spiritual authority was exercised in the church. As a result of the changes I was eventually restored as worship leader. The pastor later confessed to me after all the trouble, “You were right Kris.”

YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

It is the testimony of Jesus and the apostles that doing the will of God and following Him comes with persecution. I testify to you that God is speaking to His people right now that we must be prepared to face persecution of every kind in the coming days.For many today, the persecution they face is people simply opposing and reviling their doctrines and practices. The enemy tries to take us captive by causing us to take offense by this opposition. We are called to respond in love to the persecutors, but remain resolved concerning the truth.

It is important to know that we are not wrestling with flesh and blood, but principalities and the powers they wield. These are powers that men and women look to for safety and security apart from Christ and His kingdom. The Spirit has shown me that the powerbases by which principalities rule over and take men captive fall into any of four categories as follows:

POLITICAL POWER– Power that influences the formation and administration of institutions by various interest groups and their agendas. This is achieved through legitimate or illegitimate authority and leadership within the institution.

RELIGIOUS POWER– Theologies, practices, regulations, ideologies, doctrines or worldviews that unite, motivate, and empower people.

ECONOMIC POWER - Money and/or its representative physical resources or possessions and the power and influence it wields.

MILITARY POWER (WORKS OF THE FLESH)– Exerting influence over others through intimidation, dominance, control, coercion, and extortion, military might, threats, and bullying, etc.

I have found that many of the messages I am given for the body of Christ confront or expose principalities and the powers they use to oppress and keep people captive. I have also seen that these threatened bases of power can be the very means by which persecution comes.

It is important to see beyond the people who are being used as pawns and recognize the authority we have been given to overcome all the power of the enemy. The enemy can only wield power, but the sons of the kingdom walk in authority. Christ in me is greater than any offense or attack the enemy may bring against me.

Jesus is our greatest example of the uncompromising determination to do God’s will in the face of the persecution of the devil. He is also an example of our attitude toward those who are used to persecute. But more than that, we are one with Him and have all we need in inside of us to face and overcome it with joy. Jesus said of the people used to kill Him, “Father forgive them for the do not know that they are doing”. Then He went on to defeat the evil one by this same instrument used to kill Him.It was love that ultimately won the day and it is love that causes us to execute the victory Christ has won over all the power of the enemy and set captives free.

In His Love

Kriston Couchey
kcouchey@gmail.com
archive.openheaven.com

3. MESSAGE BOARD - for people wanting to connect with others to form clusters of kingdom minded people in your area.

If you would like to locate kingdom minded believers in your area for fellowship, please send your email address and general location to clusters@earthlink.net.

We will establish a private list at OpenHeaven.com and send you an email of any potential contacts in your general area. They may or may not be near enough for regular visits. However, they may be of use for occasional visits or in email or Skype contacts.

Please be aware that we will not personally know all of the people on the list and exercise caution in making personal contacts. All of the people on the list have responded from the OpenHeaven.com Digest publication or from the OpenHeaven.com Forums.

All information on the list is stored only on my personal computer and a backup device. Individuals will only receive information of others who have signed up on the list in your general geographic area. None of the information on the list will be posted anywhere on the web. All information on the list will be deleted from my computer and backup device at some point in the future after it seems to have served its purpose.

Ron McGatlin
clusters@earthlink.net




4. News Headlines


Hackers to Congress: 'Shut Down HealthCare.gov'- 11/20/2013
Paid professionals hackers and cyber security experts have one suggestion for Obamacare's federal website: "They advised shutting it down at least until major security risks are addressed. They warned that there are critical flaws and exposures on the site that could easily give hackers access to social security numbers, birthdays, income, and more.


Texas Abortion Restrictions Stay; NM Ban Rejected - 11/20/2013
In what Texas pro-lifers are hailing as a victory, a third of the Lone Star State's abortion clinics will remain closed after the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to intervene. In July, the state legislature passed a law requiring doctors who perform abortions in clinics to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. Making clinics meet higher standards protects patients.


Pastor Saeed Allowed Unexpected Prison Visit - 11/20/2013
Pastor Saeed Abedini's relatives were allowed to visit him at Iran's infamous Rajai Shahr prison Monday, where he was transferred earlier this month. Saeed's condition remains dire, adding that the pastor has been denied medication prescribed for his internal injuries. It's "a positive sign that international pressure continues to work to keep Pastor Saeed alive."


Tornadoes and Thunderstorms Leave Midwest Reeling—6 Killed in Illinois - 11/18/2013
"I think my attitude was in the next minute and a half, we're either going to be in Heaven, we're going to be in the hospital or we're going to walk out of here. Completely in the Lord's hands…"dozens" of tornadoes that ravaged a path through Illinios, Missouri, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin in Washington, Illinois 400 homes were destroyed or damaged.


Shock Sets In as Midwest Clean-Up Continues - 11/20/2013
Rescue and cleanup efforts continue Tuesday after a series of deadly tornadoes wreaked havoc across 12 states in the Midwest. At least eight people were killed, and thousands are now homeless. Now the shock is beginning to set in as residents pick through the remains of their homes. "This is the deadliest series of tornadoes Illinois has ever had in the month of November."


Exhausted Philippines Survivors Turn to God for Comfort - 11/20/2013
Families in the Philippines are facing the task of finding each other. As some begin to lose hope they'll find their family alive, many rely on another hope. Two women searched for days to find their mother. Exhausted from the search, they discovered her body in the street. They grieved for only a few minutes then walked away. Thousands are looking for missing loved ones.


News From British Isles, Ireland, Europe and Worldwide - 11/21/2013
Google and Microsoft agree on measures to block abuse images - Burkina Faso: 80 churches planted, 1000 baptised - Evangelise or fossilise - Christianity faces extinction in Middle East - NSS seeks to block Christian coronation - Launch of Euthanasia Prevention Coalition - Europe - Philippines: Healthcare - China: Police detain pastor of ‘state-approved’ Church - More>


God cured baby with HIV, former medical missionary believes - 11/20/2013
She served for six years as a medical missionary in the Horn of Africa, and credits God for the first case of HIV remission in a child, as documented by The New England Journal of Medicine. “When I treated this baby I was not even thinking of curing the baby.” I was simply trying to prevent infection and I failed at what I was trying to do.”


Will it change anything? - U.S. finally declares Boko Haram a terrorist - 11/20/2013
After four years of jihad, the U.S. finally declares Boko Haram a terrorist organization. The decision came last week it's not clear why this designation took so long. What is clear is that across the board, our government hesitating on calling out Christian persecution, wherever it's happening across the globe. Boko Haram has been attacking churches in Nigeria since 2009.


50,000 Bibles Drop From Sky - Christian Group Takes to Sky to Sneak Gospel into North Korea - 11/20/2013
A 40-foot homemade balloon carries Bibles to North Korean underground Christians. The balloons, made from a large sheet of “farm plastic.” filled with hydrogen before the Bibles and “tracts” are attached at the bottom inside a sack or box. Timers are then used to release the materials in stages, dispersing them at high altitudes across North Korea.


MORE NEWS HEADLINES