The Maturing of God’s Army

 An immature army is one that is easily defeated. Never having faced the actual battlefield conditions, they are not prepared for what they are thrust into and often end up retreating in fear and sometimes panic. No amount of training can prepare you for the real thing. Perhaps that is why the Church has seen so little fruit for all of its efforts in the past. Yet all of that has changed.

The Army of the Lord is no longer the army seen in Ezekiel 37:7-8. One in which the breath of God has not yet entered.   

Ezek 37:7-8 NKJV

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.

8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.

Dear one, for the past two decades the Apostles and Prophets have been doing their job and doing it extremely well. The lifeless army of Ezekiel 37:7-8 is now fully prepared and ready to engage the enemies of the Lord. Look with me at this passage Ezekiel 37:9-10:   

Ezek 37:9-10 NKJV

9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ‘”

10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.

Yes the past two decades have been about breaking down the barriers of division and teaching on spiritual warfare. These were the two things Ezekiel was commanded to do in Ezekiel 37:7-8. Indeed, we will need to continue to do this as new converts are won to the Lord and taught to fight in His end-time army. Nevertheless, the Lord has many battle groups that have had the breath of God breathed into them and are prepared and eager right now to take the ground our enemy illegally occupies.       

Let me illustrate this to you by sharing two dreams the Lord gave me about ten years apart. The first dream will tell us where the end-time army of the Lord was ten years ago and the second where that army is today.

In the year 2006 I had the following dream:

I was backing out of my drive way in a school bus loaded with wrestlers. The wrestlers had been well trained and were wearing new wrestling uniforms. The bus started and I thought we were headed to a wrestling match.   

Eph 6:12 KJV

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

To my surprise, instead of going to the wrestling match, we just drove around the block again and again. I spoke to the driver about going to the match, but he just kept driving around the block going in circle after circle. Eventually, to our left I saw an F18 fighter plane that was being built. The beautiful and powerful plane had everything completed except the aluminum skin. (I once worked as an air-frame mechanic and it was my job to repair the skin of the plane.) So the frame, the engines, and the landing gear were completed. In human terms it would have been the skeleton with all the organs but no skin.

To my horror, the driver swerved the bus and drove over the front of the plane and then just drove off. The dream ended.

This dream was over ten years ago. Let me share with you what the Lord showed me at that time. First, He said, “My Church has been going around in circles for a long time.” Secondly, He had me do some study on the F18 and I discovered it was called the Hornet. So I went to the scriptures to see if I could find any references concerning the Hornet. I was truly shocked and amazed at what I found. Here are the scriptures:   

Deut 7:20 NKJV

20 Moreover the Lord  your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed.

We, in the Church are about to be shown the hidden enemies that Satan has sown into the Church. They are like spies who are sabotaging the work of the Kingdom. I will share one of them at the end of this article.

Here are two more scriptures regarding the hornet:       

Josh 24:12 KJV

12 I sent the hornet before you which drove them out from before you,

Ex 23:28 KJV

28 And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.

Each of these scriptures is talking about driving out enemies that are opposing Israel and keeping them from possessing the Promised Land.

 

As I studied the F18 Hornet fighter bomber, I discovered that it was an aircraft that could engage any enemy whether in the air or on the ground. It had such a vast array of weapons that it was nearly invincible. Later, they developed what was known as the F18 Super Hornet.

Then why did this wrestling team try to destroy the very weapon that could give them victory? (Why does the Church often oppose the very weapons it so desperately needs?) Oh the amazing power of dreams and visions to clarify our situations. If you can imagine with me this F18 Hornet aircraft sitting with no aluminum and titanium skin and workmen beginning to start on the final task of putting that skin on, and then a bus running over the nose of that aircraft. (Nose speaks of discernment.)

There are two specific purposes for the skin. One, it unites and strengthens all of the parts of the aircraft, and second, it provides the surface area needed for the air to lift it and carry it into the skies. Yes, and this is where the Church was ten years ago. Yet there is another thing that skin accomplishes both for a plane and a human body. That purpose is to make it attractive. The sad truth is that for quite a time neither the ministry of the Apostle nor that of the Prophet has been attractive. There has just been too much carnality and immaturity among us. Thank God we have grown and matured. The bus driving over the nose of the F18 spoke of the resistance of the Apostolic and Prophetic community to the voice of correction. Thank God that has changed and the Lord has brought humility to the Apostles and Prophets and they have been receiving the Lord’s loving chastening. Now, let us fast forward to what the Lord has shown me in the past few weeks:

April 10, 2016

While I was praying, I had a vision of an army of hornets so vast they hid the sky. Millions upon millions were flying in unison and I heard in my spirit, “This army will now go with you wherever you go. They will find the hidden enemies in the Church and drive them out so that my people can finish the task I have given them to do.”

Dear one, the F18 hornet is no longer an unfinished fighter but a fully armed and dangerous weapon that numbers in the millions. Each time I pray I now see this vast army going before me.

May 26, 2016

I dreamed we were at a very large Church or conference. I was walking beside two women who are well known Prophetic Prayer leaders. Behind them was an extremely well trained and equipped prayer army. They had upon their faces a fierce resolve and confidence in what they were about to do. They were marching extremely fast as they went past a vast youth gathering and headed for the main sanctuary. I thought to myself, it is my responsibility to introduce them and if I am going to do that I will have to run ahead. Suddenly, they broke into double-time, out running me and they poured into the sanctuary equipped and ready for any warfare needed. Now, they all had that same fierce resolve and assurance on their faces. They would not be deterred or hindered or turned aside until the enemies were all vanquished.

When I awoke, I knew that the reason the prayer army outran me was because they did not want an introduction. Somehow, they knew the spirit they were up against was “manipulation” and that flattery is one of the main deceptive tools the spirit of manipulation uses to bring deception and control to the body of Christ and its leaders.

This leads me to a third dream I had.

Clarification – In most of my dreams my wife represents the Church.

I dropped my wife off at an upscale store in a mall. As I watched her enter the store she was met by a well dressed and very refined clerk. The clerk then began to flatter her and tell her how good she looked when she tried on the various items the store was selling. Each time she flattered my wife, she would buy more of what the clerk had and each time she bought what the clerk was selling she became more and more manipulated until she looked like a three year old who could be talked into anything. (Remember she represents the Church.) I went into the store very angry that my wife had been reduced to an undiscerning three year old child. Righteous anger rose up in me and I began to “prophesy in power.” Immediately all of the store personnel and customers violently rose up against me, and sought to kill me!

The dream ended and I awoke for fierce warfare prayer.

As I prayed, the Lord reminded me of the spirit of Jezebel and her manipulative ways. I then turned to this passage and saw that her husband Ahab was turned into a pouting child by her flattery and manipulation. I then heard the Lord say, “I am going to send my hornets to uncover the spirit of manipulation in my people – they have been so completely unaware of how this spirit works that they are almost fully controlled by her. Notice with me how King Ahab had been so deceived by the spirit of manipulation and control flowing out of his wife Jezebel, that he acts like a pouting child when he does not get his way. Remember, this is what the Lord said is the condition of the Church because of the spirit of manipulation and control.   

1 Kings 21:1-5 NKJV

1 And it came to pass after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

2 So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.”

3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord  forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!”

4 So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food. (Is this not pouting like a spoiled child and do not many of God’s children do the same if they do not get their way?)

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, “Why is your spirit so sullen ( Again, this is what a pouting child does.) that you eat no food?”

To my horror, the Lord spoke to me saying, “You were walking in the spirit of manipulation last Sunday when you thanked the people for their appreciation gifts for your 30th anniversary at the Church. I said Lord,  “What do you mean?”  He said, “When you said, ‘Thank you for all of the gifts and especially the restaurant certificates that you and Jane love, you had a hidden motive that they would give you more. Son that is manipulation!'”

I was shocked that something that seemed so innocent could be so wicked. Yet, I said, “Yes, Lord you are right – my motive was wrong.” He then said, “This practice is so prevalent in my Church, almost no one knows they are practicing it continually, and as a result their discernment is weak and in many cases non-existent.”

Let us ask the Lord to send His stinging hornets into our life to make us aware each time we are trying to manipulate others by our words, actions, and looks. We have much to say about this spirit in the next article. In the meantime let us fervently invite the Holy Spirit to do His work of uncovering this spirit and driving it from our midst!

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Apostle Robert D. Rogers

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The Renewal of Your Vision 2016

The recent article, “How To Maintain Your Vision” has received a tremendous response. It seems that this is an area in which many of God’s children have great difficulty maintaining.  Why is this? First, any vision from God will be fiercely contested by our enemy the devil. Indeed the fulfillment of the vision will result in great devastation to his kingdom. Second, any true vision from God cannot be accomplished by natural gifts or means. That means our carnal man will have to die, and he never does so without a great deal of painful whining and crying. Third, the world does not understand your vision, and it will ridicule and mock what the Lord has called you to accomplish.

When I first began to write, I never dreamed this journey would be so full, rich, exciting, or fruitful. Neither did I know the level of commitment it was going to take, the years it would involve, or the number of people the Lord would raise up to help accomplish this task. Thankfully the Lord has brought the right people at exactly the correct time so that I would keep going when I began to grow weary. Thank you so much, if you are one of those blessed helpers who hold up the hands when they grow weary. As Aaron and Hur did when the victory depended on Moses keeping his hands held high.

Sometimes we think the vision the Lord has given us is just too hard to accomplish and has too many difficulties associated with it. One of the reasons the Lord allows this is to remind us that we cannot do His work on our own. Again spiritual work requires us to do the things God has initiated by spiritual means—mainly by depending and obeying Him. Sadly far too many of God’s children are trying to accomplish spiritual things in carnal ways. How true this was of Jacob as he tried to connive and deceive his way to the very position the Lord ordained for him. I wonder how much we do to accomplish things for the Lord that are done with a motive that centers around gaining honor and glory for ourselves rather than giving the glory to the Lord?

Yet any vision the Lord gives will result in a life of fulfillment greater than anything one could ever imagine. Indeed the vision will be perfectly matched to the nature and spiritual giftings the Lord has placed within you. Your vision and that which makes you passionate, productive, and peaceful are the same thing. You were purposely and intricately designed by God to accomplish the task He has given you.

At the beginning of 2016 I heard the Lord say, “You have come full circle.” As I pondered the meaning of this phrase, I began to hear, “In the year 2016 you will be going back to the beginning of your journey with me. This time you will experience the same truths, teachings, visions, and dreams, but you will gain far more from them than you did the first time. This will be so  because you have grown and learned so much. This time you will win when in the past you lost. You will conquer where you were defeated, and you will succeed where you failed.”

Indeed since hearing this word from the Lord, I have truly felt like I have been born again. Excitement and faith that I have not known since my earliest days with the Lord have returned and grown. The following verse seems to fit what I have been experiencing.

Isa 40:31

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Dear one, it is time to renew the vision the Lord has given you. You are not too late or too old. Your time has not past. The failures you have experienced are but stepping stones and the defeats are lessons learned to apply in the next battle.

One of the most profound things I have learned about this word from the Lord is that I am much more focused on the “glory of the Lord” this time around. When I first started in ministry in 1970 I loved the Lord with all my heart. What I did not know, however, was just how much I needed to succeed for myself. How much I looked at the approval of others as a measurement of how well I was doing. I did not know just how much of the carnal man was involved in my service to the King.

Yet something very wonderful is taking place as I have come full circle. I can indeed focus on the “glory of the Lord” with much greater purpose. His glory and honor occupies my thoughts and actions to a degree I have never known. I hope the same will be true for you as you walk through this year and bring greater glory to God than ever before.

As you and I renew our vision in 2016 I would like to give you four practical steps we can take to accomplish this:

 

Review

Remind

Renew

Rewrite

As I have begun to review the dreams and visions of the past, I have found treasures that I did not know were there, when the Lord first gave them to me. Let me give you an example. In 1970 my wife and I were attending Bible College at what is now Lee University. Our home was right next door to the college, and I could easily come home for lunch. One afternoon as I came to eat lunch with my wife, the Lord spoke to me very gently and said, “Go pray and do it now.” I got up from the table and went to my little spot where I prayed and before my knees touched the floor I began to have this vision:

I was approaching a door and an angel was positioned on each side of the door. They looked at me and while opening the door, they swept their arms down in such a way as to welcome and direct me through the door. As I entered, I noticed I was in a long hallway about twelve feet wide and ten feet high. I also noticed there was a faint sound of rushing water. The further I traveled down the hallway the sound increased. Louder and louder the sound of rushing water filled my ears. Eventually it became so loud I had to place my hands over my ears. I soon came to a great rotunda like room perhaps 500 feet across. The room had a round dome at the top, very high and when I looked down I  saw there was no floor. It looked like a deep, deep well. All around the edge of this great room was a ledge about ten feet wide. The sound was now deafening. I began to walk to my left on the ledge and about a quarter of the way around the room there was a door, and I turned left and went through it. I was surprised to find that I was in heaven. The grass was so beautiful and green. The trees and flowers took my breath away. There was a path before me that led over a number of hills and small valleys. As I began to walk down the path, I saw what looked like a shimmering lake on my right. It was so calm it looked like glass. I topped a hill and looked down into what looked like a natural amphitheater. People were seated all around on the grass and were listening to someone teaching. As I looked up to see who was teaching, I found that it was Jesus himself. I walked down to where everyone was sitting and the Lord motioned for me to sit down. As I sat down the Lord looked right at me and said, “Do you understand what you saw?” I said, “No Lord.” He said, “That great room you saw is where all the prayers  my people have ever prayed are stored. I keep them all and they are all alive and active in that room. While you sleep on the other side of the earth people are fervently praying and while they sleep others take up the prayers. That room is never silent and those prayers are ever before me.” He then asked, “Do you know what the lake was that you passed”? I said, “No, Lord.” He went on to say, “Every tear that my children have ever shed is in that lake, and when the lake is full, I will return for my children and take them home to glory. And, son, that lake is almost full.” He then said, “Everywhere you go throughout your ministry, I want you to tell my people about this vision.”

As I thought on this dream and remembered the Lord had said, “Revisit the dreams and visions of the past because there is much that you missed the first time,” I then said,“Lord there must be more to this dream – there must be a second part.”

Then through quite a supernatural way, I was told this second vision. I was in heaven and saw a great warehouse. The warehouse stretched out as far as the eye could see. I entered the doors and saw boxes and file cabinets. They literally filled the warehouse from top to bottom from front to back. I saw an angel and asked, “What are all of these files doing here?” He took down a box that had the name Shirley on it and then said, “This is where the answered prayers of the children of God are and never claimed. This vision was the second part of what the Lord spoke to my heart in 1970. It carries such implications, it will take me all of this year to grasp the significance of why answered prayers were never claimed.

Dear one, it is of vital importance that you and I begin to review the vision the Lord gave us at the beginning because He has so much more to reveal concerning our vision than we ever imagined. Hopefully we have outgrown the need for self-promoting and selfish ambition and are ready to focus on His glory and His glory alone. As you and I do so, who knows the depth of revelation that awaits us. I encourage you right now to sit down and Review you vision with the maturity and growth you presently have and receive the second half of His word to you.

In the writings that follow we will cover the other three steps to Maintaining our Vision and carrying it forward. Review, Remind, Renew, and Rewrite.

Habakkuk 2:1-3 (KJV)

1  I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

2  And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  

3  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

 

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Apostle Robert D. Rogers

www.onemillionvoice.org

 

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THE $12.95 BREAKFAST

Have you ever considered that you and I can be used of the Lord to bring divine order to the Church? Further that we can co-operate with the Holy Spirit to ensure that every member of the body of Christ is functioning in the way and the place for which they were created?

Ezek 37:7 KJV

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.

When God desires to accomplish something in the earth, He searches for a vessel who will “speak” His desire. We call this “prophesying.” To prophesy as we are commanded is to speak God’s creative power into dry, divided, and chaotic situations and see them come together in divine purpose. How often has God set us down into a dry and divided situation in order that He might use us to change that condition, but instead of speaking words of power and faith we criticized, complained, and proclaimed somebody ought to do something about this?

Acts 2:17-18 KJV

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God; I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

I have found that one of the greatest frustrations of many Christians as well as pastors is the failure of the church to work in harmony together. Is it not the dream of every believer for each member of the body to be content and happy to labor tirelessly in the capacity God created them? There is a thrilling verse in I Chronicles that talks about an army that “did not break rank.” What a joy it must have been to behold this army in which every man knew his place and did not quit, run, or get discouraged when they went into battle together. An army where there was no envy, jealousy, criticizing, or grumbling.

1 Chron 12:33 KJV

33 Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.

The reason this army was so powerful is because they had found a man of God they could fully stand behind and support. The men and women we are looking for are those who know how to reveal Christ to our hearts, and when we leave their presence, we are not thinking of who or what they are, but of the Christ they lifted up.

The Lord spoke an amazing word to me the other day that transformed my thinking. He said, “Son, every time you boast on yourself or draw attention to what you have done you weaken your own faith.” He went on to explain that pride is Satan’s substitute for God’s eternal love and acceptance of us, and that to draw attention to ourselves is to separate us from the very presence of God that we need so desperately. Further that this is a vicious cycle – that is – the further we get away from God, the more we feel a need to tell others of our importance and to talk about ourselves. In fact the title of this article is the very essence of this truth. Are you wondering what a $12.95 breakfast has to do with any of this?  We need to understand the meaning numbers can have when the Lord gives them to us. The number 12 is the number of divine government (the twelve apostles), the number nine is the number of harvest, and five is the number of grace.

I was shown these numbers in a dream as a man came to me and said, “You should buy the $12.95 breakfast. I thought that is pretty expensive, I don’t know if I want to spend that much for breakfast. I woke up from the dream and the Lord said, “I want you to prophesy every morning to the church you attend, the church in the city, in the state, in the nation and in the world to come into the divine government under my Son. When that begins to take place, the harvest will come in through my grace.” In other words prophesy, that the church will see the authority and power of Jesus Christ as never before, and for all of us to love being submitted to the authority the Lord has placed us under. As I prophesied and prayed the words from theLord, He began to teach me to love authority by saying, “Son, when you come under the authority I have ordained, you will receive their covering, their protection, their provision, and their instruction.”

Most of us do not see authority as a good thing. We often resist and dishonor the authority the Lord has placed us under and as a result lose the very thing we need so desperately. Now it is true that many in authority are not providing the things the Lord placed them in these positions to accomplish, but have we done what the word of God says?

1 Tim 2:1-3 KJV

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Although I am not in agreement with most of what our president is promoting, I am still called to honor, respect, and pray for him. This was quite a dilemma until I began to pray this prayer, “Lord I pray that You will enable our president to accomplish the plans for which you have placed him in this office.” Who placed him into office? The Bible says our Lord did. He put him there for a purpose. As I honor him I am then eligible for the protection, provision, and teaching he was ordained to bring to those under him. Can you see it?

As I am prophesying every morning for divine government my eyes are being opened to see Christ in a much fuller more powerful way. I am also beginning to see the authority He has delegated to His church and to exercise that authority on His behalf. To obey in these matters is to break the control Satan has over the cities of our nations and over our churches. Dear one, the government is upon His shoulders and He is in absolute control of all things. I can go to bed every night knowing all things are under His control and by His grace exercise the authority He has put into our hands.

Isa 9:6-7 KJV

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Lord, we stand and prophesy the divine government of our Lord Jesus Christ. First, I prophesy to myself and my wife that we will stand in the exact place Christ has ordained for us and will function there with divine contentment and power. Next, I prophesy to my family that each one of them will serve in the exact place in the body in which you have called them. Next I prophesy to the leaders of my church that they will come into the full measure of their office and anointing. I prophesy to the churches of our city, “Let us all come into divine order, functioning in the way and in the place the Lord ordained for us.” Above all, I prophesy the government is upon His shoulders and He will rule with His power and grace!

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Apostle Robert D. Rogers

www.onemillionvoice.org

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A Question of Mixture Part II –What are we chasing?

From the Archives.

A great deal of the writing that the Lord has allowed me to do in these articles is a result of revelation that has come through dreams and visions. I have had these ever since I was a small child and have thought that everyone experienced them to the same degree. I now realize that is not true. When the Lord said to Aaron and Miriam:

Num 12:6 KJV

6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

He was seeking to make a point about “revelation”. He went on to say that His servant Moses had a higher “revelation” than dreams and visions.

Num 12:7-8 KJV

7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
The ultimate goal of the Lord is to be able to speak to us “face to face”, and that should be our goal as well. Still, we have much to learn through the ministry of dreams and visions.

I often tell others a of a very important truth regarding supernatural manifestations that the Lord gives us, and this is what I say, “Do not seek after a supernatural guidance with the Lord because, the clearer the “revelation” the more accountable we become to obedience, and that the Lord gives us these experiences because we are going to need them!” By that I mean, the battle is going to become so intense that we will need very clear and precise words to move through to victory.

Nevertheless we need and must have “revelation”. The Church has always moved forward through “the spirit of revelation”.

Rev 19:10 KJV

…worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

And:

Matt 16:17-18 KJV

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

It is through ever increasing knowledge of who Jesus Christ is that the Church becomes triumphant. And I tell you this: only “revelation” can help us to “see Jesus”. The Holy Spirit is now revealing to the Church the absolute necessity to be “without mixture” in these last days. He will no longer accept the mixed ministry that is now being offered Him through His Church. Purity always precedes power and He is purifying His bride to be without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.

I would now like us to take a look together at a dream the Lord gave me some time ago that speaks to the present situation the Church finds itself in, and what we must do to change it.

The dream begins with me watching – A full grown dog and four puppies are chasing a cat. The puppies are having a great time following the mature dog . They are barking and running, their little tongues are hanging out and they are having a great time running behind the full grown dog. They eventually catch up to the cat, but instead of it being a cat it is a “skunk”, and it sprays all over them. I walk over, pick up two of the puppies, and, somehow I know that they represent the “prophets and apostles” and that it is my job to clean them up.

I have written some on this revelation yet, the Lord asked me another question that has clarified what needs to be further addressed and what speaks of “a question of mixture”. The Lord asked these two questions: “Why were the puppies chasing a skunk?” And, “Why did the mature dog not know the difference?”

One of the first notes of clarification that we must make here is that I somehow knew that these four puppies and the mature dog represented the “five-fold ministry” of Ephesians 4. Now, let’s begin to examine this portion of the dream based on the questions the Lord asked.

1. Who is the mature dog? The mature dog represents those who the young ministers are looking to to train and guide them. Young animals learn what to eat and what not to eat by watching their mothers and fathers. They learn what to chase and what not to chase as well, from “grown-ups”.

Can you see the serious implications from this simple dream? If those who are training our young ministers are chasing the wrong thing, the “puppies” will grow up imitating them. Because we are pursuing the wrong things, we now have a stench that causes those we are called to reach to want nothing to do with us. Many of the present day ministers have not only a poor reputation in the world, but a stinking one.

2. The second question we ask is, “Why doesn’t the grown up dog know the difference?”
The answer to this is even more frightening. He doesn’t know, because he was taught to “chase the wrong thing”. We are now at least two generations down the road from knowing what the Lord values. This is exactly what the Lord said would happen to the end-time Church.

Rev 3:16-18 NIV

I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

If the Lord Himself is sick of us, can we blame the world for wanting nothing to do with our self-seeking and extravagant religion?

Still, there is great hope. The Lord would not be speaking to us with such clarity if He were not about to do something wonderful to cleanse us from our “stench”. He said as many as I love I chasten.

Rev 3:19-20 KJV

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Deut 8:5 KJV

5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.

2 Sam 7:14 KJV

14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

This last verse says, He will use “the world to chasten us”. Surely that is where we are.

Dear ones, we have a very delicate task before us. We must acknowledge that our “spiritual fathers” have taught us to pursue the wrong thing. And yet, at the same time we must honor the good things they have accomplished and taught us. We cannot throw the baby out with the wash as the old saying goes.

Somehow our spiritual fathers have tried to dress in linen and wool at the same time. They have had some very carnal goals and have flowed in some great anointing at the same time. Because these anointings have brought them into wealth, fame and success, we have been blinded to the “mixture”, and very few are able to discern the difference.

The present day Church is now being called into the Holy of Holies where no mixture is allowed. God is raising up a “priesthood” that will be without “mixture”. This will result in a bride without, “spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing”. The three things the Lord calls us too, are the following:

I counsel thee to buy of me
(1) gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and
(2) white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and
(3) anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:18 (KJV)

We are being called to ask the Lord for His fire to burn the dross out of our lives. To burn every carnal goal we have been seeking from our heart. To repent for wanting to be well known and travel having others clamor after our gift and anointing. What kind of fire will it take to burn out the mixture of wanting to impress men and have the approval of the Lord at the same time?

I am looking forward to hearing what kind of mixture you might see in your own heart and the Church that the Lord will no longer accept – please respond with your insights.

Prayer – Oh, Lord, You have told us to “buy gold tried in the fire”. Please send the kind of fire that will expose the dross of my heart. Uncover and burn out whatever mixture you find. Please help me not to draw back from the fire until your work of purification is finished, and until you have a generation without mixture. I repent of goals that have a mixture of selfish-ambition and holy zeal for the Lord. Please, Lord, do not cease to let the fire burn because I cry from the heat. I truly want the purity that only You can produce in me and the Church.

MORE TO FOLLOW –
Dear ones – it is crucial that the word of the Lord get to as many as He desires. If you know of someone who will profit from these writings please direct them to our blog: onemillionvoices. May the Lord raise up His “One Million Voices”.

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The Coming Glory of the Church and the Next Wave of God- Part 3

A great deal of the writing that the Lord has allowed me to do is a result of revelation that has come through dreams and visions. I have had these ever since I was a small child and had thought that everyone experienced them to the same degree. I now realize that is not true.

When the Lord spoke to Aaron and Miriam in Numbers 12:6: “And he said, Hear now my words: if there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream, He was seeking to make a point about “revelation”. He went on in verses 7 & 8 to say that His servant Moses had a higher “revelation” than dreams and visions:

My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? (KJV)

The ultimate goal of the Lord is to be able to speak to us “face to face”, and that should be our goal as well. Still, we have much to learn through the ministry of dreams and visions.

I often tell others about a very important truth regarding supernatural manifestations that the Lord gives us, and this is what I say, “Do not seek after a supernatural guidance with the Lord because the clearer the “revelation” the more accountable we become to obedience, and that the Lord gives us these experiences because we are going to need them!” By that I mean that the battle is going to become so intense that we will need very clear and precise words to move through to victory. Nevertheless, we need and must have “revelation”. The Church has always moved forward through the “spirit of revelation.”

Revelation 19:10

…worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. KJV

Matthew 16:17,18

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed are thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. KJV

It is through ever increasing knowledge of who Jesus Christ is that the Church becomes triumphant. And I tell you this: only “revelation” can help us to “see Jesus”. The Holy Spirit is now revealing to the Church the absolute necessity to be “without mixture” in these last days. He will no longer accept the mixed ministry that is now being offered Him through His Church. Purity always precedes power, and He is purifying His bride to be without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.

I would now like to take a look together at a dream that the Lord gave me some time ago which speaks to the present situation in which the Church finds itself, and also what we must do to change it.

The dream begins with me watching. A full grown dog and four puppies are chasing a cat. The puppies are having a great time following the mature dog. They are barking and running with their little tongues hanging out, and they are having a great time running behind the full grown dog. They eventually catch up to the cat, but instead of it being a cat, it is a “skunk”, and it sprays all over them. I walk over, pick up two of the puppies, and somehow I know they represent the “prophets and apostles”, and that it is my job to clean them up.

I have written some on this revelation that it is my job to “clean up the puppies”, but the Lord asked me a further question that has clarified what needs to be clearly addressed and what speaks of a “question of mixture”. The Lord asked these two questions: “Why were the puppies chasing a skunk?” and “Why did the mature dog not know the difference?”

One of the first notes of clarification that we must make here is that I somehow knew that these four puppies and the mature dog represented the “five-fold ministry” of Ephesians 4. Now, let’s begin to examine this portion of the dream based on the questions the Lord asked.

1

. Who is the mature dog? The mature dog represents those who the young ministers are looking to for training and guidance. Young animals learn what to eat and what not to eat by watching their mothers and fathers. Also, they learn what to chase and what not to chase from “grown-ups”.

Can you see the serious implications from this simple dream? If those who are training our young ministers are chasing the wrong thing, the “puppies” will grow up imitating them. Because we are pursuing the wrong things, we now have a stench that causes those we are called to reach to want nothing to do with us. Many of the present day ministers have not only a poor reputation in the world, but a stinking one.

2

. Why doesn’t the grown up dog know the difference? The answer is even more frightening. He doesn’t know because he was taught to “chase the wrong thing”. We are now at least two generations down the road from knowing what the Lord values. This is exactly what the Lord said would happen to the end-time Church.

Revelation 3:16-18

I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing’. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked… NIV

If the Lord Himself is sick of us, can we blame the world for wanting nothing to do with our self-seeking and extravagant religion? Still, there is great hope. The Lord would not be speaking to us with such clarity if He were not about to do something wonderful to cleanse us from our “stench”. He said as many as I love, I chasten.

Revelation 3:19, 20

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. KJV

Deuteronomy 8:5

Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. KJV

II Samuel 7:14

I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: KJV

This last verse says, He will use “the world to chasten us”. Surely, that is where we are.

Dear ones, we have a very delicate task before us. We must acknowledge that our “spiritual fathers” have taught us to pursue the wrong thing. And yet, at the same time, we must honor the good things they have accomplished and taught. We cannot throw the baby out with the wash as the old saying goes.

Somehow our spiritual fathers have tried to dress in linen and wool at the same time. They have had some very carnal goals and have flowed in some great anointing at the same time. Because this anointing has brought them into wealth, fame and success, they have been blinded to the “mixture”, and very few of them are able to discern the difference. The present day Church is now being called into the Holy of Holies where no mixture is allowed. God is raising up a “priesthood” that will be without “mixture”. This will result in a bride without “spot or wrinkle, or any such thing”. The three things the Lord calls us to are the following:

Revelation 3:18

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich: and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and  anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. KJV

We are being called to ask the Lord for His fire to burn the dross out of our lives, to burn from our heart every carnal goal we have been seeking, and to repent for wanting to be well known and well traveled, having others clamor after our gift and anointing. What kind of fire will it take to burn out the mixture of wanting to impress men and have the approval of the Lord at the same time?

PRAYER – Oh Lord, You have told us to “buy gold tried in the fire”. Please send the kind of fire that will expose the dross of my heart. Uncover and burn out whatever mixture you find. Please help me not to draw back from the fire until Your work of purification is finished and until You have a generation without mixture. I repent of goals that have a mixture of selfish-ambition and holy zeal for You. Please, Lord, do not cease to let the fire burn because I cry from the heat. I truly want the purity that only You can produce in me and the Church. Amen.

MORE TO FOLLOW……

Apostle Robert Rogers

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When We Agree With God

For a number of days as I waited upon the Lord, I felt a witness in my spirit that I needed to come into agreement with what the Lord had spoken over my life for the past many years. Not only my life, but my children, and the ministers, and ministries with which I am involved. So that night I reminded myself of the prophetic words spoken over me through dreams and visions, as well as through the prophetic anointing. I fell asleep prophesying and declaring these prophetic promises.

As a result of this obedience I had a dream in which I had discovered a great treasure of jewels and gold doubloons. Each doubloon was worth $4,500.00. In the dream I filled my pockets to overflowing, and there was still much treasure to be had. I did not have to dig for this treasure, but I did have to get it before the tide came in. Before I found the treasure, I was traveling with a great many people who were poverty stricken and all walking towards a cafeteria. The cafeteria was large and could seat thousands of people.

When I awoke from this dream, I had such a great sense of the pleasure of the Lord, and a powerful peace flooded my heart. Dear one, we live in a world that surrounds us with a constant barrage of bad news, broken hearted situations, near constant criticism, and a negativity that can be crushing. If we are not careful, we will find ourselves agreeing with all that we are seeing and experiencing in the natural and will fail to proclaim the spiritual truth in God’s divine word. In the dream, I believe the cafeteria represented the church that only ministers the logos word but fails to minister the “rhema.” A cafeteria serves the same food to everyone. Yet, the Lord desires to give to each one of us a “rhema” meal for our own particular situation. How much better for a gourmet cook to prepare our meals to meet our own special needs than to just eat in a cafeteria.

The interesting thing in the dream was that anyone in the cafeteria could have spotted this treasure, but none did. I tell you this, the Lord indeed has a powerful word that is waiting for you to proclaim over the life of yourself, and your family, over your ministry, and those to whom you are called to minister. If we fail to do so, the dark spirit of this world will overwhelm and drag us to despair.

One of the first principles we must come to understand is that even those things that come against us are designed to form us into the image of Jesus Christ. We are called to look into the darkness and see the light. We are called to face the impossible, and see the miraculous. We are called to face the giants and overcome everyone of them.

Take a look with me at these verses that tell us to exalt in our trials because we know they will work in us the character and nature of our precious Lord:

Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

The words “we glory in tribulation” are truly amazing. It means to boast, or exalt to rejoice. How can we do this? We can do this because our trials are working in us the very glory that we seek. Yet, this is not what some people think. Some who read these words will say, “Well I will just suffer and somehow endure it.” No, that is not what these passages are telling us. They are saying that if we will approach our trials in a biblical fashion, that is discovering through them the principles of the “over comer,” we will grow from every trial. Please look at another verse with me that says the same thing:

James 1:3-8
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

We may not understand what it means to be double-minded. Yet, I have found that most of us perpetuate a double-minded mindset on a regular basis. How do we do this? Many times we find ourselves quoting the positive verses of God’s inspired word while questioning, complaining, and murmuring about our situation. Dear ones, we cannot have it both ways. Either the Lord is the sovereign Lord, or He is not. Either He has all things under control,or He doesn’t. Sometimes we are careful with our words, but very careless with our thinking. The word clearly states that the double-minded man will not receive anything from the Lord.

However let me say very clearly that I am not in agreement with those who deny that great problems exist. No, when young King David faced Goliath there was a very real giant who if the Lord did not anoint David would surely kill him. Yet, how did David approach this situation?

I Samuel 17:45-51
Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

Indeed, you and I face many giants. Mental, physical, financial, and psychological giants with weapons that could destroy us in an instant. We do not deny that. Yet, what we affirm with great power and authority is that: “If God be for us who can be against us?” “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” “If God spared not His own Son how shall He not give us freely all things?” And Davids own words:

Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee.

Do you see the difference? We must agree with God if we are to live a victorious life for Him. We cannot quote scripture and then enter back into unbelief. We cannot be double-minded. Lord, deliver us from this terrible habit. In our next writing we will take up some more of God’s great servants whom in the midst of impossible situations refused to allow themselves to speak unbelief and as a result became “more than conquerors through Christ who strengthened them.”

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Apostle Robert D. Rogers

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Where does True Courage Come From?

  When Joshua was told by the Lord that Moses was dead and that he would have to lead the children into the promised land, the Lord told him four times that he would need strength and courage to do what he had been called to do. It is very important when the Lord tells us even one time that something is important or needed, but when He tells us four times we better listen with both ears to all that He has to say; because we are going to need it.

Joshua 1:1-3

1 Now after the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses ‘minister, saying, 2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

 

Joshua 1:6-7

Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

 

          We are writing on the subject that when our hopes and dreams seem to be the farthest away from being fulfilled, we are the closest we have ever been; and that when we are the closest to seeing our dreams come to pass we will face the greatest difficulties.  Why is this? First, it is because we have come to a place where we have to make a choice. Either we give up on what we believe the Lord has for us to do or we face the fact that we must change if we are ever going to realize our dream. It is right here where we must find the courage to go on.

        If our goals have been less than Christ-like, then they need to either die or be purified. Someone said when we come to the end of ourselves we are finally at the beginning of the things of God. Our wonderful Lord has a way of challenging us to do things that we cannot do. When we come to a realization that we cannot do it, this scripture truly comes alive.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 

          Dear one, it takes a long time to convince our carnal man that we cannot accomplish what the Lord has called us to. Our carnal man is much like Jacob in that we are filled with “plans” and “strategies”. If one plan doesn’t work, we have another. Like Jacob we must be exposed to an Uncle Laban. Someone who is just like us but we at first do not know it. Finally the day comes when we say, “I hate the way that guy does things”, and then the Holy Spirit says, “Look in the mirror.” It is right here that we lose the courage of the carnal man and learn that true and lasting courage and strength is found solely in the character and nature of Jesus Christ. Our focus no longer is the dream of accomplishment, but the dream of being formed into the image of Jesus.

Romans 8:29

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

 

1 Corinthians 15:49

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

 

2 Corinthians 3:18

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

           At first we do not hate the seemingly inexhaustible imagination for how we can get our way and fulfill our dreams. Yet, the Holy Spirit is faithful no matter how many years it takes to wear us down. Year after year passes and still we want our way. Still the carnal man dominates. Test after test comes and we continue to want attention and the praise of men. It seems that no matter how empty this glass of men’s praise is, we always believe the next glass will satisfy us.

Still, the faithful Holy Spirit whispers into the ears of our heart these words.

John 12:43

For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

 

John 5:44

How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

 

          We have said that all of us will need at least four things in order to possess the promises the Lord has placed in our heart. They are – courage, an increased love of the word of God, abiding in His presence, and a new understanding of Spiritual warfare. We have stated that unless we grow in these things we can never hold onto what the Lord wants to give us. Further than that the first thing we need is courage. Not the bluffing, bragging courage of so many, but the humble knowledge that I cannot do anything except what the Lord has given me the strength to do. Yet, this kind of courage comes from a knowledge and understanding that is tempered with the experience of the wisdom that the Lord indeed is always ready to give us His strength if our goals and motives are pure.

One of the most important scriptures for our generation is found in the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

           This verse deals with the power of God’s word to give us discernment. Deep, lasting, penetrating discernment. Our generation desperately needs this discernment because so many of the leaders that the church now looks to lack true discernment. As a result of this they are unable to communicate to the young leaders the values that the Lord holds so dearly and wants to reward so abundantly.

One of the tragic evidences of this is that segment of the Church that so easily distorted the faith teaching into the so-called prosperity gospel. It seems that great segments of the church easily swallowed the doctrine that the Lord wants everyone rich in material goods, fame, and prosperity. We were so blind that we passed over this passage as though it never existed.

          1Timothy 6:5-11

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

 

          The errors that have the greatest potential for deception are those that contain a great deal of truth but also have just a little “leaven”. Leaven is used in bread to puff it up and make it soft and easy to chew. Even so, the errors that have been promulgated to this generation have contained the false leaven of easily chewed and digested error. It tasted good to the carnal man and feeds him continually. The Lord once spoke to me through a vision that many of today’s leaders have taught the young ministers to “chase the wrong thing”. He furthered challenged me to cleanse these young ministers by teaching them true discernment. A discernment that can tell what direction the Holy Spirit is truly moving in and not the hype and manipulation that accompanies so many of the Lord’s so called “projects”.

In order to do this I will indeed need the four things we are teaching on and especially the courage to confront the established and recognized spiritual leaders of this generation. The courage the Lord is speaking of here is the courage that flows from a humility grounded on the knowledge of how easily we are prone to the deception that caters to the carnal man- the Jacob in all of us. This kind of courage must be willing to be taught, judged, and corrected. This kind of courage must wear the spirit of humility while at the same time walk in the boldness that comes from a commission that has come from the Lord. The knowledge that “if God be for us who can be against us”. Dear one, it is a very tight rope when we are called to both abide in divine order and challenge that order at the same time.

Indeed, true courage comes from ever increasing measures of God’s humility worked into our lives through personal failure that abides in and receives God’s grace. Not just the grace that knows we do not deserve this favor, but the grace that also gives us both the desire and power to accomplish His will.

MORE TO FOLLOW

Apostle Robert D. Rogers

www.onemillionvoice.org

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What Happens Just Before We Gain Our Most Significant Breakthrough

Did you know that most Christians miss their most important breakthroughs as a result of not understanding the ways of the Lord? It is my experience that just before we finally get the promise we have been believing for we will face our most difficult and challenging times. How often have you been expecting a great breakthrough only to find yourself going through the most trying challenge to your faith you have ever faced? It is right here that most believers give up and fail to receive what they have been believing the Lord for.

This is truly sad for a number of reasons. One of the chief reasons is that perhaps the Lord has put this dream into your heart and He desires that you and I reach it as much or more than we do. Second, many who fail to experience their victories assume that it is impossible and just quit believing that anything can ever really change and settle down to a life of lukewarm faith, and we know how the Lord hates lukewarmness. Third, perhaps your dream involves the future of others and without you realizing your fullness they will never find the Lord or become who they were intended to be.

We stated at the beginning of this article that the chief reasons we fail to reach our dreams and goals is because we do not “know the ways of the Lord”. What do I mean by this? You see, our focus is on the fulfillment of our dreams and goals yet the Lord also has a dream for us. Which do you think is the most important – our dream or His? Indeed, our heavenly Father’s dream has never changed. It was revealed in the garden of Eden and will have its ultimate fulfillment in eternity. What is that dream?

Genesis 1:26-27

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Romans 8:29

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Do you see it? We are concerned about the promises and the fulfillment of our dreams. The Lord is concerned about forming us into the image of His dear Son. Our dreams and hopes are but the journey by which we are supposed to be changed into the likeness of the Lord. Our focus is on what we do not have or have not achieved. The Lord’s focus is on character and nature. Indeed, the great difficulties that are placed before us – just before our dream is within our reach – are designed to develop a greater likeness of Jesus into each of us. How we deal with those problems determines what degree the Lord can fulfill our dream. The following scripture says it far better than I ever could.

2 Peter 1:4

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

As I meditated and thought on the truth that the Lord will send us through a number of great challenges in order to more fully form us into the likeness of His dear Son, I thought about the children of Israel just before they entered into their dream, the “Promised Land”. As I reread their experience, I found four powerful principles that each of us will probably face just before we enter into the fulfillment of our dream. They include the necessity of growing in courage and a love for God’s Word, a call to walk more fully in the presence of the Lord, a call to greater purity, and finally the spiritual warfare lessons we will need to conquer the difficulties that keep our dream from being fulfilled as well as the lessons we need to hold onto and develop those dreams.

We will discuss these more fully in our next writing. In the meantime, please read through the first three chapters of the book of Joshua before our next writing. Dear one, this truth is so exciting I can hardly stop writing. For you see, it is one of my dreams to see a million voices declaring the heart of the Lord and the only way I can see that fulfilled for now is through the written word. May the Lord bless you with increased insight as you and I focus on the changing of our character more than on the fulfillment of our dreams.

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Apostle Robert Rogers

www.onemillionvoice.org

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WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE

          When the Apostle Peter was inspired by the Holy Spirit to quote from the book of Joel as he was explaining the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to those gathered in Jerusalem, I am sure he did not understand the full implications of what he was saying. How could he? Truth from the Lord is an ever-expanding revelation of who Jesus is. For my part I never dreamed that this truth would have such joyous and exciting implications.

Acts 2:17-18

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 

   

For those who have never experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit it will be difficult to grasp what I am writing. Nevertheless, may the Lord grant His precious anointing in such a way that many will be hungry for what is revealed in the above passage. For those of you who have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and know the great power and joy that results in praying in the heavenly language as well as the power to be a better witness, I want to share with you something the Lord said to me about Acts 2:17-19. As so often is the case when the Lord wants to teach us, He does so by asking  a question first. As someone once said, “When the Lord asks a question He is not looking for information.” No, He is seeking to lead us into a discovery that will not only enlighten but empower also.

As many of you know the years around 1906 and following, ushered in a truth that has literally transformed the Church. In Azusa, California, and Shear Creek, North Carolina, as well in parts of Europe, God’s people began to experience a phenomenon that they did not know or understand. As they waited patiently on the Lord, they began to speak in languages that they did not know. As a result, they broke up into little groups to study the scriptures to see if what they had experienced was in the Bible. Soon they came to Acts, chapter 2, and there they discovered what the 120 in the upper room had experienced as they obeyed the Lord and waited for the promise given by the Lord Jesus. This promise was sent back to the earth as an evidence that Jesus had returned to heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father.

Today there are approximately 600 million believers who have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Yet, many of these same Pentecostal believers are missing two of the most important parts of the promise given concerning the fullness of the spirit. Now, back to the question the Lord asked me concerning the Apostle Peter’s inspired words when he quoted from Joel. The Lord asked this question, “Why doesn’t Peter talk about speaking in other tongues as he uses the passage from Joel as evidence of what has just taken place?” As I meditated on this question the Holy Spirit gave me a little phrase that has helped me immensely. The phrase was this, “The second half of Pentecost.” He went on to explain that many Pentecostal believers had received the first half of Pentecost that is the “speaking with other tongues”, but few had received the understanding of the call to Prophesy and to receive dreams and visions.

I don’t know about you, but I want all that the Lord has for me. I have learned that anything the Lord has for us is valuable beyond comprehension, and although I have experienced the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, I desired with all my heart to walk in what He called “the second half of Pentecost”. Since that time, the Lord has graced me with a deep understanding of what it means to prophesy for him as well as to be taught through the ministry of dreams and visions.

Just as the Apostle Peter needed a vision to break his religious strongholds regarding the Lord’s desire to bless and reach the gentiles, I, too have found that I  needed the ministry of dreams and visions to destroy and tear down the false doctrine and teaching that comes as a result of a religious stronghold. I have such a love for dreams, visions, and prophesying that I cannot imagine living without these blessed truths as part of my everyday life. Truly, my life and ministry has been transformed by walking in the fullness of all that Acts chapter two has taught me.

Still, the greatest dream I have ever received has not been the result of the action of the gifts of the Holy Spirit on my life, but rather in the joy of beholding the work of the Holy Spirit through my children. My sons and daughters are all grown now with children of their own. They have all labored with me through the years in the ministry the Lord has called us to and all of those years have been like the warmth of the sun on my life. I am now in the twilight years of my calling and yet I am so proud of all my children and grateful for their love for the Lord. Below you will find an article my oldest son wrote. Over the years he has heard my life story many times over. It is a story of both tragedy and joy, of dark nights and long bouts with depression, yet ends in great victory. As a result, he sat down and wrote the following. This has become one of my greatest treasures and the fulfillment of my most important dreams.

I trust you will be moved by the measure of insight and tenderness found in its passages. My greatest dream has come true.

          A little boy runs the streets tonight, the city lights guide his path as tiny feet run here and there. Scaling this and scaling that, he is soon running the rooftops high above. What is right and what is wrong is a vague memory now as he leaps from roof to roof, his heart beats fast, what an amazing time he is having. Free from the pains and cares at home, out here nothing hurts, and he feels so alive. His confidence is soaring as he leaps again, but this time the span is too great, a flash of panic floods his face, as gravity begins its unforgiving law. Suddenly, like lighting, a strong hand flashes out and grasps his hand and saves him from a life-ending fall. Their eyes lock as a little boy dangles in the air; a hero, an older brother yanks him back from the abyss. A quiet understanding falls between them this night as they seek for something more, something that is lost, no, not something they can grasp for now, but a void, an emptiness, still the same. So, as tired and weary eyes bring his night to a close, a little life has been spared. And though he knows it not, an angel of mercy sleeps with him tonight. The years pound on and on, shuffled from home to home, house to house. A fragile mom does what she can do for her boy. But her demons are larger than she can bear, strong drink and the unspeakable becomes a way of life, and much of what a little boy sees should not be. She tries, but there are other mouths to feed as well. Hit and miss love soon brings what can be called a family into utter chaos. Shattered and scattered hopes and promises are a way of life. A little boy grows into a young man. And that which is lost is still missing. A young man’s mind begins to search for answers, there has to be something more than what is right and what is wrong. Waves of up and down emotions crash over his breaking heart, Adrift in life it is too difficult for a young man to face, depression drives deeper into his soul.  And though he knows it not, a angel of mercy loves him tonight. Life is not all bad though, a loving grandmother is there in his youth, and a beautiful young woman in high school named Jane, begins to bring new life to a troubled young man. She in many ways is a physical manifestation of an angel of mercy to his life. Filling voids and gaps, love begins to blossom, and soon the two become one. A job, a car, and a home, yes, very nice, and even  two little ones to call his own. The young man on the outside is looking pretty good. But that which is lost still can not be found, so desperately does he search, but alas, still in vain. And the depression of his past begins again to its overpowering place. And though he knows it not, an Angel wars for him this tonight. A hard and tragic life has caught up with his mother, her body broken and fading fast lies in a hospital room tonight and though mom is barely there, something is different about her. A settling peace, a quiet in her soul, is evident. Mom has found what her family has been looking for, longing for so long. A sense of purpose and belonging that has not been, is finally there.  And as a brother’s hand reaches out again like so many years ago to save his life, their hands grasp, their eyes lock, and a brother speaks the words that bring salvation to a young man’s life. There in a hospital room, the boy that was so lost is now a man that is found.  Then, as a warmth and a soft presence fills the room, angels of mercy and deliverance wrap mom in their loving arms and bear her home. And though he knows it not, an angel of assurance and divine love stands with him tonight.    Hope, forgiveness, and love floods his soul; his feet set anew, a man is changed. His marriage cemented in this new truth, a family begins to blossom. Where once there was chaos, love prevails. As mercy and and faith fills the home, a calling on his life emerges. And though they sell all for the call, a harvest of love and faith are ever present wherever there home may be. They are blessed with two more beautiful children as they labor in love for their Savior. Truly the Lord is good. Many years have passed, this man and wife have reached out their hands also and have saved many from the abyss, and know they truly know a strong and mighty angel stands with them tonight. So as I sit in my chair tonight and finish this true tale of mercy, I am overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit and his love for for my life; for I am an offspring of this mighty man and woman of God. This  is my heritage and my inheritance. And yes, I know now that a mighty angel of mercy has been assigned to me tonight

          Indeed, very few fathers will ever know the joy of having a son who will so well know and understand the forces that formed their father’s life. Fewer still will have a son who can express it with such beautiful words. I have the blessing of both. My dream has come true.

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Apostle Robert Rogers

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TO WHOM WILL THE LORD GRANT AUTHORITY TO IN 2012 ~ Part III

 One of the reasons I have been writing on the subject of authority is because it is a result of the things the Lord spoke to me for the year 2012. I heard Him say, “I will do four major things in 2012. First, I will begin to bring my sons and daughters into places of authority where they can rule and reign on my behalf. Second, I will impart supernatural wisdom to all who seek me with their whole heart. Through this wisdom I will show them how to accomplish the things I have commissioned them to do. Third, I will restore broken relationships this year in an unprecedented way; and Fourth, I will cause dreams that have died in the heart of my people to revive and resurrect to the degree that their dreams are focused on my glory.

As we have believed, received, and ministered these truths, we have begun to see the Lord begin to fulfill these four things in the most remarkable ways. I have seen Godly Christian business men begin to be sought out for their wisdom and counsel by their competitors. Christian sports personalities have gained unprecedented opportunities to give testimony to their faith. Some have gone from an altogether unknown to a world-wide phenomenon. I have watched as many others are being positioned to enter into the next phase of fruitfulness in their ministries. These are truly exciting times.
 In the past six weeks I have seen restoration of scores of relationships and watched as people who have not been to our church in twenty years return. Every week we see families who were once estranged being reunited to the body of Christ. I could go on and on, sharing testimony after testimony of the things the Lord promised would take place in 2012 happening before our very eyes. No longer do I have to say the Lord is about to do this or that but now have the joy or reporting of what He is doing. How long we prophetic people have waited for this season. Even so only those who have “eyes to see” will be able to rejoice at what the Lord is doing. It will still take faith and confession to receive and hold on to these truths.

 
As I see it, the next thing to begin to take place on the prophetic calendar will be the restoration of the Lord’s power. First, we will see the anointings and moves of God of past generations hungered for and honored. We will see these truths ministered again with the same force and anointing we have seen in the past. For those of us who have wept and cried through the night seasons for the Lord’s power to be manifested once again in the earth; this will be like a dam of stored up power breaking forth.  We will then see another level of the power of God not seen on this scale before being ministered throughout the earth. There is an Old Testament passage that parallels what the Lord is doing, it is found in the book of Isaiah and testifies that during a time of great darkness the Lord will send a remarkable revelation of His power to the earth.

Isaiah 60:1-7

1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. 6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord. 7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar and I will glorify the house of my glory.

 

The key phrase of this passage is the very last line, “…and I will glorify the house of my glory.” From here I want to take up a very serious issue. This issue has in the past limited and watered down the power and authority the Lord has desired to release. In simple terms we have come to a place where we can no longer touch His glory. We can no longer draw attention to ourselves no matter how great the anointing is that has manifested through us.  Sadly, there are still many ministries today that are not built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. They, in many cases, are rather built upon personality and manipulation. The worst part is that they often become the patterns by which young ministers build their futures; the result are ministries that are further and further away from the foundation God intended.

 
Much has been written on the role of Apostles in the past decade and rightly so. Yet, the true and most important role of an Apostle is to restore the Church to the foundation of Jesus Christ. The true Apostle will burn with holy fervor and prophetic action at anything that detracts from the glory of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:20-22

Because you have been built a on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,  with Christ Jesus himself as  the cornerstone. 21 In him a the whole building,  being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

 Some years ago it pleased the Lord to reveal the condition of the five-fold ministry that makes up much of today’s Church to me in a very detailed dream. As a result of this, I was given the divine perspective of the role the Apostle. I was shown a foundation so out of alignment and weak that nothing could be built upon it. I was given this dream about fifteen years ago.  I believe that the year of 2012 has brought the maturing of the Apostolic ministry. We will see Apostles this year whom the Lord will position and raise up, who will not be seeking those who will obey and serve them, but rather who will build upon the truth, “He that will be greatest among you will be the servant of all.” It is time to expose those who “demand” they be honored above others.

Revelation 2:2

I know your works as well as your labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have even put to the test those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false.

Dear ones, the greatest leaders I have known are the ones who have been the most humble. Yet, if it is in our hearts to honor and value these men and women of God, let us do so. Indeed, there is a time to exercise both authority and power over the rebellious, there is a time to confront the wolf with holy anger, there is a time when the zeal for the house of the Lord will cause all those who are walking in disobedience to scatter. I believe there will be times when the anointing and power will so manifest through Godly Apostles this year that the result will be a holy awe at what God has done.

I have heard in my spirit their will be places where the following will manifest.

Acts 5:1-12

And a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the price, his wife also knowing, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles ‘feet 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart for you to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own authority? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God. 5 And hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came on all those who heard these things. 6 And the younger ones arose, wound him up, and carrying him out, they buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours afterward, when his wife (not knowing what was done) came in. 8 And Peter answered her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. 9 Then Peter said to her, How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door and they will carry you out. 10 Then at once she fell down at his feet and expired. And the younger ones found her dead, and, carrying her out, buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came on all the church and on as many as heard these things. 12 And many miracles and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.

I realize these are frightening words. A long time ago I was praying fervently for the power of God to manifest once again and I waxed so bold I said, “Let what happened in the day of Ananias and Sapphira come again.”  The Lord spoke to me saying, “Son, if I did that, half of your congregation would not survive.” Needless to say I quickly changed my prayer. Nevertheless, that kind of judgment will come this year to the leadership of the Church beginning with the Apostles. Ananias and his wife wanted honor that was not due them and the Lord would not have it. Did you see what happened after this cleansing came?  Great awe and holy reverence came to the Church followed by many miracles and wonders.

Dear ones, if we are ready to be judged by the Holy Spirit we will once again see the Authority and Power return. Are you ready? If ever there was a time to pray for leadership it is now!

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Apostle Robert Rogers

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