New Foundations Ministries
110 High Street
Fort Fairfield ME 04742

GOD'S ANOINTED VOICE
by George Kirkpatrick

Vital Words to the Body of Christ 
Freely We Have Received, Freely We Give
E-mail: vitalwords@aol.com
Alphabetical Listing of Books by George Kirkpatrick
http://www.newfoundationspubl.org/titles.htm

Home Page:  http://www.newfoundationspubl.org/newfound.htm

Chapter One

OVERCOMING THE RIVER OF DEATH

As we come to the end of the age of God's grace we hear more and more of what is happening on the earth, and we wonder what is God doing about it? 

Sometimes it seems God has forsaken the earth and His people. We witness government becoming more oppressive, violence is on the increase and man is turning completely away from God in his thinking, actions and emotions. As we consider the church that once was the center of community activity, a powerhouse to behold, it has now become a mockery and a byword. Its people are overcome by the slightest difficulty. Ministers were once the most highly respected men in the community. Today they are mocked and jeered at if they speak of a righteous way of life. 

Children were corrected and taught to have respect for their elders. They were expected to abstain from sex until marriage, to be clean and respectable. Their young lives were protected by being taught to shun smoking, drugs and alcohol. But today when these simple facts of life are taught wise pastors, teachers, and parents are called moral freaks, goody-goodies, and ancient thinkers. [see "Children at Risk" by James Dobson]

The world would have us believe their ways are the right way, and that any mention of God, righteousness, or morality was for another time. So what is God doing on planet earth in this last hour of time? Has our God forsaken the earth or His people? Absolutely not. God is about to raise His anointed voice in the earth that will shake all ungodliness to its very foundation. The Apostle Peter wrote:

God is not slack concerning His promises that He has made to His people in His precious Word. Paul revealed that all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him amen, *** II Corinthians 1:20. God has a plan and a purpose, not only for planet earth, but also for His people. His plan and purpose becomes evident in the ministry of John the Baptist. Scholars believe that John the Baptist's ministry lasted about eighteen months. At the end of John's ministry, John was beheaded. So everyone assumed that John's ministry was over. But John was only the beginning, a forerunner, of the ministry God is raising up in the earth. 

John was the son of a priest. Zachariah, John's father, was performing his priestly duties when Gabriel the angel of the Lord appeared unto him and foretold the birth of His Son, John. Both Zachariah and his wife, Elizabeth, were past child-bearing age. Because Zachariah doubted, he was struck dumb until the birth of John. 

As we view these events through Spiritual eyes, it becomes evident that Zachariah represents the old, religious system. This system is filled with doubt and fear. It has been struck dumb with no voice in community activities or in the government affairs. But from this old, dead, legalistic, ritualistic system a new birth was going to come forth in the earth to fulfill the Word of God. John declared a new day and a new ministry. John would witness the pouring out of the anointing without measure.

Gabriel informed Zachariah that his son John would be filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb, *** Luke 1:15, and that he would turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, *** Luke 1:16. Gabriel continued his revelation to Zachariah about this chosen son of God:

Gabriel revealed that John would go forth in the Spirit and power of Elijah. John would operate in the same anointing that rested upon Elijah. This is the same Spirit and power that came on the Day of Pentecost. 

Many feel that the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost was a new phenomenon. It was not new, it was renewed. The same Holy Spirit came upon many men in the Old Testament, and God used these men mightily. But on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to abide with us forever, *** John 14:16. Jesus revealed:

The law and the prophets are the Old Testament. The Old Testament (covenant) was in effect until the coming of John the Baptist. The New Testament (covenant) began with John's ministry. John's ministry was to be the forerunner of the anointing, power and authority that God would reveal in His new creation man. Jesus was the continuation of what John began. 

In order for us to understand John's ministry, we must begin at the beginning. Two Old Testament prophets, Isaiah and Malachi, prophesied John's ministry. As we view their prophecies we must look at them as being both physical and Spiritual; first as they pertain to John, and secondly as they pertain to the "John the Baptist" ministry God is raising up in the earth today; His anointed voice that He will raise up in this last hour of time. Isaiah prophesied:

Isaiah prophesied that John would be the voice of one crying in the wilderness. The word wilderness means "an uninhabited, desolate land." John was only the voice of the one crying in the desolate, uninhabited land. This is the same voice that is crying in our uninhabited, desolate existence today. The voice that is crying is the voice of the Holy Spirit. This voice is crying, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord".

We need to ask. "Who, or what, is the way?" Jesus declared, "I am the way...", *** John 14:6. God's anointed voice in the earth today is crying, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord in your uninhabited, desolate land". The Holy Spirit is desiring to come and make His abode with us forever. There is no eternal life outside the Spirit of God.

The voice in the wilderness declared many things concerning the Elijah ministry that God would bring forth in the earth. The Elijah ministry was brought forth in John the Baptist. The Elijah ministry is God's anointed voice in the earth today. God's anointed voice is declaring, "Prepare your uninhabited, desolate land for the coming of the Lord".

When Jesus came down from the Mount of Transfiguration He revealed who John the Baptist was. When Jesus was transfigured on the mount both Moses and Elijah met with Jesus in the presence of Peter, James and John. This event took place after John had been beheaded. Jesus' disciples were puzzled about the appearance of Elijah and Moses. They asked Jesus, "Why, then, say the scribes that Elijah must first come?" *** Matthew 17:10. Jesus answered with this revelation:

Jesus proclaimed that Elijah had come already and they did with him whatever they desired.

By Jesus' words the disciples had a clear understanding that John was the "Elijah ministry" spoken of by the prophets Isaiah and Malachi. The angel revealed to Zachariah that John would come forth in the Spirit and power of Elijah. Even though John came forth in the Spirit and power of Elijah, he did not fulfill all that was prophesied concerning the Elijah ministry. 

Jesus spoke of John being the forerunner of His ministry as the Elijah ministry. But He also spoke of another appearance of the Elijah ministry that would come upon the earth. Jesus revealed to His disciples as they came down from the Mount of

Transfiguration:

Jesus spoke of another Elijah ministry that God would raise up in the earth before His second coming. That ministry would restore all things. The Elijah ministry in the earth today is restoring all things that man lost in the Garden of Eden.

As we consider these things, we must remember that everything God does is perfect and complete. Three is God's number of completeness. All things are complete in three: 

His Spiritual Godhead Father, Son and Holy Ghost
The earth realm Sun, Moon and Stars
Time Past, Present, Future
Creation Animal, Vegetable, Mineral
The Elijah ministry, also, will be complete in three: 
1 Elijah, the Tishbite, brought forth the Elisha, Double Portion ministry in the earth.
2 John, the Baptist, was the second appearance of the Elijah ministry who proclaimed Jesus and His coming kingdom.
3 The Elijah Ministry in the earth today, God's anointed voice, who as Jesus proclaimed will restore all things.

This last day Elijah ministry will bring forth the Double Portion Ministry, with Christ as their head, and will rule and reign with Christ on earth for 1000 years. This Elijah ministry is proclaiming the beginning of God's Kingdom Age. During His kingdom age all things will be restored to their created place in God, including man himself, who again will dwell in the presence of God as man did in the beginning.

The prophet Elijah was an inhabitant of Gilead, *** I Kings 17:1. Gilead was on the other side of Jordan. It was not part of Israel's Promise Land. Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land of Gilead. Israel wondered forty years in the wilderness until they crossed the Jordan River. Gilead was considered part of the wilderness area. Elijah dwelt in this wilderness area until God spoke to him to go to Ahab and declare that it would not rain for three and one-half years, *** I Kings 17:1. 

The same is true of John's ministry. When Elizabeth, John's mother, came to the knowledge that she was with child, she left the city and went to the wilderness and remained there until the birth of her son John. On the eighth day from his birth, John was taken to the temple to be circumcised. The people cried out to call the child's name Zachariah after his father, *** Luke 1:59. But his mother proclaimed his name was to be John, as the angel Gabriel had spoken. When Zachariah, because he could not speak, confirmed this by writing, "His name is John", on a piece of paper, his dumbness left him.

The name Zacharias means "remembered of Jehovah". The name John means "Jehovah is a gracious giver". God had remembered His people, and He is a gracious giver. He sent John, His anointed voice, to prepare the way of the Lord in His people. John's message was, "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand". This same anointed voice is in the earth today to restore all things. These are not the big name ministries, but unknown, unrecognizable ministries. These ministries will only be known by the anointing. This anointing is being restored to God's priesthood. The Elijah ministry that God is raising up in the wilderness today is the third appearance of the Elijah ministry. 

Our God is a gracious giver, but before we can be restored to our created place in God, we must become obedient to His voice and to His will in our lives. We must reproduce the life of Christ instead of trying to reproduce self. When we become totally obedient to God's anointed voice, then all the promises of God will be yea and amen in our lives. 

How will this ministry be recognized? How did they recognize Elijah the Tishbite:

Elijah wore clothes made of camel's hair, and a leather girdle. Elijah's garments have come to be known as the prophet's mantle. A prophet's covering must be suitable for his wilderness ministry. It is not clothing that is pleasing in the sight of men, but clothing suitable to minister to God's anointed ones who look not on the outward appearance, but on the inner man. John stayed in the wilderness. His total ministry was a "wilderness ministry". 

Matthew also recorded how John dressed:

Today many believe God's prophets should wear expensive suits with shined shoes and fancy hairdos. When Jesus spoke of John, He proclaimed:

The people were drawn by the Spirit into the wilderness to hear God's message that John spoke. When the people heard, they were baptized for the repentance of their sin. It should be understood that John's baptism did not forgive their sin. It took the shed blood of Jesus to do that. John's baptism only pricked their sin conscience so they could realize they had need for a Saviour.

John baptized in the Jordan River. The Jordan River is the symbol of "death". Baptism represents the "crucifying of the old man", that our body of sin may be destroyed, *** Romans 6:6. Israel could not enter into their Promise Land until they crossed the Jordan River. We cannot enter into our Promise Land until we overcome the river of death in our life. 

There are two sides of the Jordan River: one side is the "Promise Land", the other side is called the "wilderness", an uninhabited, desolate place. The old man must be dealt with in the wilderness before we can cross over the river of death into our promise land. We must recognize which side John baptized on. When the Jews sought Jesus to take him, it was said that Jesus: 

John baptized in the wilderness. Those who came out to hear John and to receive his baptism had to cross Jordan, the river of death. We cannot enter into God's promise land until we overcome the river of death in our lives. 

When we are baptized, we began to deal with the river of death that is in each and everyone of our lives. This is when we recognize the old man of sin. We must remain in the river of death until the old man is dealt with. We must become part of that river of death until the last enemy, death, is overcome, *** I

Corinthians 15:26. Only then can the new man which is created in righteousness and true holiness come forth. The anointed voice in the earth today is speaking in our uninhabited, desolate land to repent that the new creation man can come forth from the river of death. Then, and only then, can we enter into our Promise Land, the Kingdom of God.

Many who enter into the river of death fail to deal with the old, Adamic nature. These continue to wonder in confusion, causing strife and contention. These are ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, *** II Timothy 3:7. Only when we overcome the last enemy, death, will we become part of the River of Life that flows from the throne of God. 

John's ministry was a new ministry that God prepared in the wilderness. John was the son of a priest. He had every credential to become a part of the old religious system. But John chose to leave all the comfort and security of the religious system to be part of what God was doing in the earth. John's message was, "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand". Today God's anointed voice is being prepared in the wilderness to proclaim that the Kingdom of God is at hand. They have shunned the organized systems of religion that are acceptable in the sight of man. They have chosen to walk with God rather then to run with the world. The Elijah ministry in the earth today are those who have overcome the river of death and are ready to enter into their Promise Land. 

It is necessary that we possess our land, before we can inhabit the land that God has put before us. There is a preparation that must be made in each of our lives before we can inherit the earth, and become ruler's and reigners with God. God is preparing the Elijah ministry in the Jordan River today, bringing forth a people who are overcoming the river of death and are becoming part of the River of Life that flows from the throne of God. 

God's Anointed Voice Chapter Two 

Going All The Way With Elijah

The angel Gabriel revealed the birth of John the Baptist to his father Zacharias. Gabriel spoke that John would be filled with the Holy Ghost from His mother's womb and that John would go forth in the Spirit and power of Elijah, *** Luke 1:16-17. 

As we consider the life and ministry of the prophet Elijah and John the Baptist it becomes plain what God has revealed in prophetic terms upon whom the end of the age has come. It is necessary to understand how these lives relate to what God is doing in His people who will rule and reign with Him for the one thousand year millennium. Jesus spoke:

"...Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things" *** Matthew 17:11

The word restore means "restoration to its original condition or state". The Elijah ministry in the earth today is going to bring restoration to all God's creation. This includes man. In the beginning God created man in His image and likeness. It is God's intended purpose to restore man to his original place in creation. God will accomplish this through the Elijah ministry, His anointed voice. God spoke through the pen of Isaiah the prophet:

Isaiah spoke of a people who have been robbed and spoiled. These are trapped in their prison houses of organized, religious, denominational systems, where none crieth, "Restore". The message of Restoration is not going forth in the church system. God's people have been robbed and spoiled with false hope. Those who are trapped in their religious prison houses are being taught a plan of escape, instead of overcoming. They have been taught to believe in an old heaven, instead of the new heaven and new earth that God promises in His Word. 

They have not been taught that it is Christ in us that is our hope in glory, *** Colossians 1:27. The message that we are already seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, *** Ephesians 2:6, has been omitted. The only hope the people are given in this life is that of dying and going to heaven. Overcoming the old, Adam nature that separates us from God is not being taught in the church system today. Yet Jesus revealed unto John on the Isle of Patmos:

Only the overcomers are inheritors, and they shall inherit all things. If we are to become overcomers what must we overcome? We must overcome our wilderness existence and the river of death (the Jordan River) in our life. Only these will enter into the promise land, the Kingdom of God. We must be made whole and washed clean of the things of the flesh and the world. All the old flesh nature must be overcome in the river of death. If the flesh is not overcome we will never become part of the river of life that flows from the throne of God.

The prophet Isaiah proclaimed that John the Baptist was the voice of one crying in the wilderness. John was proclaiming, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord". Isaiah went on to declare what else John was to declare to those who came out to hear him: 

John was to declare unto all the people that all flesh is grass, and all their fleshly goodliness is as the flower of the field, or the flower of grass. When the Spirit of God blows upon the grass, the grass withers and the flower fades away. Only the Word of God is going to stand forever.

As we begin to see Isaiah's revelation through Spiritual eyes we can understand the co-relation between grass and the flesh. Grass is what covers the earth. Flesh is what covers our earth, or our earthly existence. When Isaiah proclaimed all flesh is grass, he was speaking of our earthly existence, the old, Adam, carnal existence that must be overcome in the river of death.

John cried unto the people that their existence in the flesh was as the grass. Their fleshly goodness was only as the flower on the grass. It appears a very short time and it fades, dries up and falls to the earth. Man's existence, too, is very short. James asks, "What is your life?" His answer is, "It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away," *** James 4:14.

John was to reveal to the people their need for God and His Word. God's Word is going to stand forever, and those who apply themselves to the Word are going to overcome the old fleshly, Adam nature. When the grass withers and the flower fades, their beauty is gone. Our hope in God is not in the grass (flesh), or the flower of the grass (our goodliness).

As we consider these things, we should remember the old saying about the snake in the grass. The snake in the grass is the effect that the serpent has in our fleshly existence. Our flesh is our Gentile existence. The name Gentile means "aliens of God". It is the snake in the grass that separates and alienates us from God. Our flesh cannot enter into the presence of God. We must learn to overcome the snake in our grass. 

James informs us:

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." *** James 4:7

We must learn to resist the devil. When we do, he will flee from us. But first we must be submitted to God. Then we will become the people King Solomon wrote of:

God has given us hope of the perfect day, and that is the Day of Restoration. The Apostle Peter also quoted the scriptures from Isaiah:

Jesus gave Peter the keys of the Kingdom. Peter's message is for the Kingdom Age of man. Peter quoted the words of Isaiah to reveal that the gospel to be preached in this day is the gospel of the Kingdom. The only gospel the people have been preached up to this time is the "Gospel of Salvation". Jesus proclaimed: 

The gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached into all the world, then shall the end come. God is revealing Himself through His Word. Those who have Spiritual eyes to see and Spiritual ears to hear are beginning to understand His prophecies, types, shadows and similitudes as He set them down in His Word. 

The Elijah ministry today is proclaiming, "Repent, grow up, deal with the old, carnal man. Be ye separate from the religious systems. Don't look to government. Look only to God and get prepared for the coming of the Lord."

As we begin to view the Old Testament through Spiritual eyes, we begin to understand the words that Jesus spoke through the pen of Mark:

The Old Testament prophet spoke, "Thus sayeth the Lord". Today's prophets are speaking, "Thus the Lord hath spoken." Today's prophets are revealing the written Word that has been hid from man's carnal eyes. God's revelation of this hour is now being revealed through the anointing. 

When the writers of the New Testament spoke, they used many of the Old Testament scriptures to reveal New Testament truths. The religious system of Jesus' day knew the Old Testament, but they only had carnal understanding of what was written. When the writers of the New Testament quoted the Old Testament, they added life to the scriptures because they added Spiritual understanding. The same is true today. God's anointed voice in the earth today is speaking life from the Old and New Testament. They are desiring to bring a people out of the darkness, and to deliver them from the old, religious system. There is a new way of life in Christ Jesus our Lord for all who seek it.

John the Baptist came as the forerunner of Jesus. John spoke to those in the religious system, to deliver them from form religion. John's baptism could not forgive sins. It took the shed blood of the Lamb of God to forgive their sin. So why did so many go out to be baptized of John? John was to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord. Those who refused John's baptism also rejected Jesus when He came. Those who refused John's baptism stayed with the their old, dead, religious systems and rejected the coming of the Lord. This was revealed when the disciples were going to replace Judas Iscariot before the Day of Pentecost: 

Only those who had received the baptism of John and had followed the Lord Jesus until He ascended up into the clouds of glory could be considered to become the twelfth apostle. Those who were not part of John's baptism could not be considered for this high position. Only those who deal with the river of death will go into the Promise Land, the Kingdom of God to rule and reign with Him. 

ELISHAS WHO WILL FOLLOW ON

God gave us the relationship that Elisha had with Elijah as an example of those who will enter into His Promise Land. There came a day when God spoke to Elijah to raise up a man who would replace His ministry. Elijah's ministry would come to an end.

Elijah found Elisha breaking up the fallow ground in his father's field. Elisha was plowing with the twelfth yoke of oxen. Twelve is the number of God's "government". The gift of government is a fruit of the Spirit, *** I Corinthians 12:28. Those who have received the gift of government are going to establish God's order in His Kingdom. Elijah passed by Elisha and cast his mantle upon him. Elijah knew Elisha was a true leader of God, but was Elisha ready to wear the mantle of Elijah?

Elisha had received the Elijah mantle, but he was not ready to wear it. It would take many days of walking and learning from Elijah before Elisha was ready to cross over the river of death. Many today whom God is calling refuse to leave their family or their organized religion. Elisha felt he must return to kiss his father and mother farewell. Elijah told Elisha, "Go back, for what have I done to thee". Elisha had not learned one of the basic principles of entering into the Kingdom. Jesus proclaimed: 

The word hate means "to love less". Was Elisha ready to forsake all, and make the commitment necessary to receive the mantle of Elijah? Elisha still had his plow stuck in the earth. His earthly labors had not ceased. He was still involved in fleshly activities. 

What was it that Elisha had to determine in his heart before he was ready to put on Elijah's mantle? All that had tied Elisha to the earth and his earthly existence had to be dealt with. Elisha had to determine to sacrifice all. And this Elisha did, totally sacrificing every attachment that held him to the earth. From that time on he never left Elijah's side. If we are to wear the Elijah mantle, we must see Elisha as our example of forsaking all to become part of what God is doing in the earth today. 

Elisha was totally committed to what God had ordained for his life. He had forsaken all to follow Elijah. No matter where Elijah went Elisha would be by his side. Elisha walked with Elijah for a number of years. 

When it came time for Elijah to be taken off the earth, and time for Elisha's ministry to take its place, God told Elijah to make a return journey to the Jordan River. 

Gilgal was Israel's first campsite when they came into their Promise Land. When Israel entered into their Promise Land God divided the Jordan River to allow Israel to cross over on dry land. Israel had not overcome the River of Death in their life, but God had overcome it for them. This is an example to us. It is only through God's ability in us that we can overcome the river of death in our life.

After Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry land, Joshua set up an altar of twelve stones and worshipped God in the midst of the river. This is God's example to us. We must learn to worship God in the midst of the river of death if we are to enter victoriously into our Promise Land, the Kingdom of God.

Gilgal was also the place where Saul was anointed King over Israel. Israel had rejected God as their king and anointed themselves an earthly king to rule over them. Many today have made their religious leaders and government their king.

Gilgal was also the place where Israel sacrificed the animals taken from King Agag. God instructed Israel to utterly destroy all the spoils of the battle, including the people, but Saul and Israel became disobedient. Gilgal represented the place where Israel rejected God as their king, and anointed another king. Gilgal also represents the place where God's people partake of the accursed things of this life. 

Many have gone into the river of death through baptism, but have never dealt with the accursed things in their lives. They remain at Gilgal. The word Gilgal means "a wheel". A wheel goes in a circle. This describes many whose lives go in circles. They run from one meeting to another, from one convention to the next, from this church to that church, ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. The truth is that they have never dealt with the old man in the river of death. Because of this they continue to go in circles. The prophet spoke of these who are going around in a circle at Gilgal:

Elijah told Elisha, "You can stay here (Gilgal)if you want to. But the Lord has sent me to Bethel."

The word Bethel means "the house of God". 

The sons of the prophets met Elisha. These were not prophets, but sons of the prophets. As we study the Word, we discover that priesthood was passed from father to son. This is not true with prophets. Prophets are a special calling of God. The office of the prophet is not passed from father to son. 

The sons of the prophets are those who are raised up in the religious system to carry on the work the prophet began. This is evident in the church system today. A prophet of God begins a work. Great things happen under the hand of the prophet. The prophet dies and they cut his teachings in stone and make it a work of man. They form a denomination, build a headquarters and a seminary, Those who are allowed to speak must complete their courses, only teaching what is allowed by their denomination. 

These become the sons of the prophets. They know something is going to happen, but they do not know why it is going to happen, or how it is going to happen. They just know something is going to happen.

The prophet Amos spoke of what would become of Bethel (the house of God):

When Israel was divided because of the sin of Solomon, Jereboam, the servant of Solomon took the ten northern tribes and established a Northern Kingdom. He made two golden calves. One he set up in Dan, and the other he set up in Bethel. He gave Israel an easy religion they could follow. He did not want them to return to Jerusalem (the true place of worship). The denominational church systems of today have done the same thing.

Bethel has become the king's chapel. The church and the church system has become the king's chapel. They have chosen another king, and set up the idol of the world in their hearts. Their systems are operated by the sons of the prophets. These are guilty of the sin of Jereboam. They have set up an easy religion for the people to follow, and they call it Bethel (the house of God). These depend more on government than they do God. These fear the government and subscribe to every dictate set down by government. Their house of God has truly become the king's chapel. 

Elijah told Elisha he could stay there, but God had called Elijah to Jericho. Elisha proclaimed, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." *** II Kings 2:4 

Those who receive the Elijah mantle must go all the way, not turning to the right nor to the left, but continuing on to the river of death.

Jericho was Israel's first victory in their Promise Land. The word Jericho means "a place of fragrance". The sons of the prophets were there also. Jericho is where the people hang on to their first victories in the Lord. They only speak of days passed when God truly moved in their midst. These stayed in Jericho, but God moved on. God spoke to Joshua about what would happen to those who attempted to rebuild Jericho:

God warned those who wanted to rebuild their last victories, that He would lay His foundation in his firstborn, and set up the gates in his youngest. As we view what has happened in the church system we discover that the only foundation the sons of the prophets have is their denominational doctrines. The gates of that system have shut them in, and all other knowledge of God has been shut out. Their children are perishing, falling away from the things of God, from the firstborn to the youngest. Why! Because the life of God is not in past victories, but in the reality of God moving in our midst today.

Elijah told Elisha he could stay in Jericho and relish in their past glories, but God had called him to Jordan. Elisha answered:

Elijah and Elisha forsook Jericho and came face to face with the river of death. The sons of the prophets were there also. 

God has revealed a Spiritual truth here. There were fifty of the sons of the prophets at Jordan, but they stood afar off. Fifty is the number of Pentecost. The fifty sons of the prophets represent those who have taken charge of the Pentecostal Movement that God raised up in the earth. These knew a change was about to take place, but they stood afar off. They wanted no part of that change. They were convinced they had all they needed. They wanted no part of the river of death in their lives. They saw no need to die to self. They were sure God had accepted them exactly as they were. After all, had not God revealed Himself mightily to them in the past? They held on to their past victories in Jericho. 

As the sons of the prophets stood afar off, where were Elijah and Elisha? They were standing next to the river. When Elijah and Elisha got to the river of death there was no decision for Elisha to make. He had already determined in his heart to go all the way with Elijah. Those who are going to be part of the change that God is going to bring in His people have moved next to that river to become part of it. 

Many who have moved on into what they believe to be the Promise Land refuse to return to Jordan and to the wilderness to deal with the old carnal man. These stand afar off from any change God desires to make in their lives. These proclaim, "We have already reached our apex in God."

God is bringing separation. Those who are content in their old, religious systems will remain afar off in their comfortable position. Those who are going on in God are by the river of death, dealing with those things that will keep them from entering into God's Kingdom. 

Elijah took his mantle. We need to recognize what our mantle is in Christ Jesus. Our mantle is our garment of power and authority to operate in the things of God. Our authority is in the name of Jesus. We have His signet, or seal, in our foreheads because we belong to Him. We are His children, begotten of Him. Our power is the Holy Spirit anointing, as Paul related to the church at Corinth:

Christ, the anointing, is the power and wisdom of God. In Christ, the Holy Spirit, we not only have the power to act, we also have the wisdom and authority to act. 

When Elijah took his mantle and smote the river, it parted. Elijah no longer had to deal with that river of death. He had overcome the river of death in his life by the power, authority and wisdom of Christ in his life. It is only by the anointing that we are able to overcome that old, sinful, carnal, Adamic nature. 

Elijah had gone all the way with God, and Elisha was by his side. Why? He had gone all the way with Elijah. There was no stopping off at any of the old religious dwelling places. He was unwilling to be satisfied with past victories. He was not willing to stay where the anointing had been. He did not stand afar off from the river of death. He knew that only by going all the way with Elijah could he overcome the river of death in his life. 

When Elijah and Elisha crossed the river on dry ground, Elijah spoke to Elisha, and said, "Ask what I shall do for thee", *** II Kings 2:9. Elisha had come to the place in God where he could ask for the desires of his heart and God would grant them. We, too, can come to that place in God. Jesus proclaimed to His disciples: 

Elisha's only request was, "Let a double portion of thy Spirit be upon me", *** II Kings 2:10. Elisha's only desire was to have the double portion anointing in his life. When our only desire is to have all of God in our life, then we are promised that anything we ask of God shall be done unto us. 

Too many are only desiring what they can get from God without first becoming a part of God. They are not allowing His power, authority and wisdom to become evident in their life. They are not overcoming the old, Adam nature by the anointing. They are not entering into he river of death and coming out the other side victorious in Christ Jesus. 

Those who stand afar off from the changes God desires to make in their life will perish in their man-made promise land. They are serving the system that scratches their religious itch. But God has a people who are going all the way with Elijah. These will receive the double portion anointing and will rule and reign with God for the one thousand year millennial reign.

God's Anointed Voice Chapter Three 

All those who will enter into God's Promise Land, the Kingdom of God, must face the river of death in their life. There must be a total dying to self if we are to inherit the Kingdom of God. Jesus was given to us as an example. Before Jesus began His earthly ministry, He went to where John was baptizing:

When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John resisted, stating, "I have need to be baptized of thee." After all, John had just proclaimed to those along the banks of the Jordan:

John knew Jesus was the one who would baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire. What need did Jesus have for the baptism of repentance? Jesus did not need John's baptism because of sin in His life. Jesus went into the river of death as an example to us of overcoming, so we, too, may enter the Kingdom of God. When Jesus came to John, He made a very profound statement:

Jesus was our example of fulfilling all righteousness. Jesus knew the Elijah ministry was to bring forth the Elisha ministry. When the Double Portion anointing comes upon the Elisha ministry, they will fulfill all righteousness in the earth.

John had the firstfruits of the Spirit. The firstfruits of the Spirit are also referred to as the earnest, or the down payment of the Spirit. Paul spoke of the firstfruits of the Spirit in his letter to the Romans:

Paul referred to the anointing received on the Day of Pentecost as the earnest of the Spirit twice in his second letter to the Corinthians:

The firstfruits, the earnest of the Spirit, is the cloven tongues of fire baptism. This is the cleansing fire baptism that God sent on the Day of Pentecost. This baptism came so that man could deal with his sin nature. Jesus did not receive the cloven tongues baptism on the banks of the Jordan. It is recorded: 

Jesus received the baptism of the dove. The dove is the baptism of peace. This was not the firstfruits, or earnest, of the Spirit. The dove baptism is the fullness of the Spirit of God that came upon Jesus. John recorded:

Jesus received the Spirit of God without measure. It was only then that God spoke, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." When we come into this place in God, we, too, will receive the fullness of God's anointing. Then we will hear the Father say, "This is my beloved Son who will inherit all things." 

Jesus went down into the river of death to be baptized as an example to us of overcoming, not because there was sin in His life. When we overcome the river of death then the double portion anointing will be waiting for us also. Elisha received this baptism, Jesus received this baptism and those who deal with the river of death in their life will also receive the Spirit without measure. 

The double portion anointing will empower us to completely overcome our wilderness experience. The double portion anointing will be ours when we overcome the river of death. When the river of death is destroyed then we will become part of the river of life that flows from the throne of God. The beloved John recorded Jesus' words:

Those who overcome the river of death will receive the double portion anointing. The river of life that flows from the throne of God will issue forth from their innermost being. That water of life will produce life in everything it touches. Jesus is our example of overcoming. Once He overcame the river of death, death had no more dominion in His life. He could state:

Jesus came to the place where death had no more dominion in His life. Physical death could not hold Him because He had eternal life dwelling in Him. Physical death was only a temporary experience in Jesus' life because of the anointing He had received on the banks of the Jordan River. 

When Jesus received this anointing the ministry of John was complete. The Elijah ministry had brought forth the Elisha ministry. The resurrection power of God was brought forth in a human vessel as an example to all those who will walk into God's new day. Paul spoke of this resurrection power in his letter to the Philippines:

Paul desired the anointing that would bring forth the power of resurrection in his life. He desired to become part of the river of life that death cannot destroy. Elisha had this resurrection power in his life. It is recorded in the book of Second Kings: 

Even though physical death had overtaken Elisha and his body had returned to dust, the resurrection power he had received on the banks of the Jordan River was still resident in his bones. 

The body of Christ must come to a place of total commitment. All must be laid on the altar of sacrifice if they are to partake of the Elijah ministry that will bring forth the Elisha ministry. Until we deal with all the things that tie us to the earth, we can never cross the river of death. Those who will be part of the Elisha ministry have determined to go all the way with God. The prophet Hosea proclaimed:

The Elisha anointing comes after two days. The Elisha anointing will come upon those who follow on to know their God. They will know Him, not just know about Him. We may know Him by coming into a personal relationship with Him. These who know their God are going to receive the early and latter rain anointing. That anointing is coming on the third day to the body of Christ. This is the Double Portion Anointing that God is going to pour out on those who overcome the river of death, those who have come out of their wilderness experience victorious in the Kingdom of God. When Elisha requested this anointing Elijah stated:

When Elisha made his request, Elijah declared, "Thou hast asked a hard thing". Was Elisha automatically granted his request? NO! There was a going on that still had to be accomplished in Elisha's life. The same is true today for those who are desiring to walk into the Double Portion Ministry. Not only must we lay everything on the altar of sacrifice, there must be a total commitment to follow God's anointed voice. Even though Elisha had received the Elijah mantle, it was not enough for the job that God had set before him. The first fruit anointing will not take us into our Promise Land, the Kingdom of God.

Elisha never took his eyes off Elijah, and as they walked horses and chariots of fire parted Elijah and Elisha. Horses and chariots are symbols of God's power, might and authority. Fire is the cleansing power of God. Our God is a consuming fire, *** Hebrews 12:29.

When these instruments of God appeared, Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind. The wind is the Spirit of the living God. It appears in various forms and various strengths. This is the same all- powerful wind that appeared on the Day of Pentecost. It came as a rushing, mighty wind from heaven, *** Acts 2:2. That mighty wind became a whirlwind on the banks of the Jordan, and carried Elijah off the earth. That same mighty whirlwind is going to bring forth the Elisha Ministry in all its glory.

As Elisha stood and witnessed this awesome sight of God's delivering power, he cried, "My Father, My Father! The chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof!" Elisha recognized the horsemen and chariot of Israel. Elisha no longer saw Elijah, but God Himself in all His power, might, glory and authority. Elisha's Spiritual eyes were opened and he was able to Spiritually see and understand who was in total control of the horses and chariots of fire. God is the mighty whirlwind that carried Elijah off the earth.

As Elisha stood, awestruck by this tremendous event, still basking in the Spirit of the Living God, he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. Elisha knew he had to shed the covering of the flesh. Elisha knew the old, fleshly, Adam nature can never stand in the presence of God. Elisha had come face to face with God and he stood naked, no longer depending on his fleshly covering or his fleshly achievements. Elisha had removed the garment of the flesh. He stood transparent before the Father. Elisha had prepared himself to receive the Double Portion of the Spirit that was on Elijah.

When Adam sinned he lost His Spiritual covering, God clothed him in skins. God clothed Adam with a beast nature. When Elisha shed his fleshly garment, Elisha regained the Spiritual covering Adam lost. If we are to go all the way with God, we must shed our fleshly garment to regain the Spiritual covering that all mankind has lost because of sin.

God has His anointed voice in the wilderness today preparing those who will receive the Double Portion Ministry of Elisha. Today the Elijah ministry is searching the Father's field for those who are willing to sacrifice all and follow on to know the Lord. The Elijah ministry is ready to pass on its mantle to the Elisha ministry. Those who have never taken their eyes off the Elijah ministry are standing at the river of death, ready to overcome all the old fleshly nature. They are ready for the Elijah ministry to part the waters that they may cross over on dry ground. They are being prepared to receive their double portion anointing of the Spirit. This anointing will be poured out without measure. 

God's Word records that the prophet Elijah, who had the first fruits of the Spirit, performed seven miracles. Elisha, who received the double portion anointing, was credited with fourteen miracles. Jesus, who received the Spirit without measure, was credited with twenty-eight miracles, not including His deliverance ministry. The beloved John recorded Jesus' words:

The Elisha ministry God is raising up in the earth today will do the greater works, greater than Elijah, Elisha or Jesus. God has ordained that those who totally lay down the flesh and follow on to know the Lord will be endued with the early and latter rain on the third day. These will do the greater works.

The "Greater Works" Ministry lies just ahead for those who will hear God's anointed voice in the wilderness. These are those who are willing to follow the "Anointing" all the way. Those who refuse to follow on will turn aside to their old religious orders. They will follow the mouth of false prophets who have risen up in the earth to declare, "We have it all now, and there is no need to change". Only those who follow on, totally willing to shed their mantle of flesh, will receive the Double Portion Anointing. 

When Elijah was taken off the earth, Elijah's mantle fell from his shoulders. A change of authority and ministry had taken place. His authority was permanently passed on to Elisha. This same event happened when Jesus was baptized by John. John was the last of the Levitical priesthood. When Jesus came to John to be baptized He proclaimed, "For thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness". When John baptized Jesus, the mantle of authority changed. That mantle of authority was the priesthood. When John baptized Jesus, the Levitical priesthood ceased, and a new priesthood took its place. The writer of Hebrews made this proclamation:

For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood." *** Hebrews 7:12-14

When John baptized Jesus, John's Elijah ministry had come to an end. Jesus came forth as the Elisha ministry. Jesus was the beginning of a new priesthood. The writer of Hebrews continued: 

Jesus brought forth the Melchizedek priesthood. This priesthood came forth after the power of an endless life. Who was this Melchizedek? Melchizedek was the priest who met Abraham returning from the battle of the kings. Abraham had been victorious in that battle. Abraham paid tithe to Melchizedek of all the spoils that had been taken in the battle. 

As God's Word begins to reveal itself, we discover who Melchizedek really is. The writer of Hebrews said of Melchizedek: 
1 He is the King of the Most High God
2 He is the King of Righteousness
3 He is the King of Salem (Peace)
4 Without father and mother
5 Without descent (genealogy)
6 No beginning of days nor end of life
7 Made like unto the Son of God who abides a priest continually *** Hebrews 7:2-3

Who did Abraham pay tithes to? The writer of Hebrews revealed Abraham paid tithes to God's eternal priest, Christ Jesus our Lord. When Jesus was baptized by John, He was the beginning of the eternal priesthood that God was raising up in the earth. As we stated before, the priesthood passed from father to son. Since John was the last of the Levitical priesthood, he was the only one who could pass on the Levitical priesthood. John had been anointed from his mothers' womb to perform this duty. The writer of Hebrews declared:

Jesus made the new covenant with His creation man, and the old covenant, along with its old priesthood had to pass away. Jesus was the beginning of the new. The old had ceased. In essence, the old religious system under the first covenant ceased to function. It could no longer meet the needs of the people. It had become more political than godly. As the writer of Hebrews proclaimed: 

Jesus was the beginning of a more excellent ministry based on better promises. 

When Elijah was taken up in the whirlwind, Elisha saw him no more, *** II Kings 2:12. Elijah's ministry was over. He had accomplished what God had ordained him to do. When John baptized Jesus, his ministry was over, complete, finished. But John did not allow his ministry to end. Therefore the ministry of John the Baptist had to be beheaded. In John's own words, he stated: 

John's ministry was to proclaim the coming of the Lord. John was to proclaim to all who would hear that Jesus was the Lamb of God. John was the voice of the one crying in the wilderness; and all this he did. But we need to ask the question, "What happened to John after he baptized Jesus?" John got involved in politics. Luke records:

John got involved with the sins of the government leaders. This is not what God had ordained him to do. John informed Herod it was unlawful for him to take Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. John also pointed out all the other evils that Herod had committed. Because of this, Herod had John committed to prison. John's ministry was not to those in the city, his ministry was in the wilderness proclaiming, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord." His ministry was to prepare a people. Now he was in the city, pointing out the transgressions of the politicians. Matthew records: 

The anointing had left John and he began to doubt. "John sent two of his disciples...". Disciples are "learners". John's ministry had not ended because he still had disciples. John was still teaching his followers his ministry which should have ended. This very thing is happening today. When a man of God dies, his teachings are cut in stone. A religion begins based on what he taught, and the whole order is brought under the headship of man. Their whole purpose is to perpetuate this man's revelation, instead of going on with God. Because John was not willing to end his ministry, he fell into the hands of man and government; and it cost him his head.

Many of God's chosen today feel they need to get involved in what government is doing, pointing out their sins and short comings. Getting involved in politics cost John his head. Those who have made Caesar their King will also lose their Spiritual head. God's people cannot serve God and government. We must heed the words of Joshua, "Choose ye this day, whom ye will serve". [See "Higher Powers" by G. Kirkpatrick]

Elisha was determined who he was going to serve. He followed the anointed voice all the way. He had overcome the river of death and was ready to enter into his Promise Land with all the power, authority, and glory that the Father had promised.

As Elisha stood naked in the sight of God, having shed his fleshly mantle, he picked up the mantle that had fallen from the shoulders of Elijah, and stood by the bank of the Jordan, *** II Kings 2:13.

Elisha was no longer just a follower of Elijah. He began to operate in the "Double Portion Anointing. He picked up the Elijah mantle and smote the river of death, declaring, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" The waters parted and Elisha went over on dry ground. There was nothing of the old, flesh nature that hindered the anointing of God in Elisha's life. He overcome the river of death, and was victorious in all he accomplished from that day forward. 

When Elisha crossed the river of death, the sons of the prophets were waiting for him. They knew a change had taken place, and they had not been part of that change. But they recognized the Anointing: 

When Elisha crossed the Jordan, these fifty sons of the prophets bowed at his feet. These sons of the prophets did not bow before the man, Elisha. They bowed before "The Anointing" that was on Elisha. When the double portion anointing is poured out upon those who have followed on to their God, then the sons of the prophets (those religious leaders who refuse to change but stand afar off from the river of death) will recognize the anointing they have missed. They will bow at the feet of those who have received this fresh anointing from God. 

Those who receive this anointing will go through times of great testing. No testings were recorded in Jesus' life until He received the Spirit without measure on the banks of the Jordan. When Jesus came out of the River Jordan, Mark recorded:

When the anointing came upon Jesus, it drove Him into the wilderness. There He was tempted of the devil forty days and forty nights. Upon His return from the wilderness, Jesus had overcome the whole spiritual realm of darkness. From that day forward the spiritual realm of darkness had no control in Jesus' life. The devil was defeated. The demons recognized who Jesus was and everyone who met Jesus recognized something different about Him. When He spoke they listened, because they could not gainsay nor resist His words. 

When the temple guards were sent to arrest Jesus, and returned and had not brought Him, they were asked why they did not bring Him?

"The officers answered, Never man spake like this man." *** John 7:46

The Roman soldiers who stood by the cross replied, "Truly this was the Son of God," *** Matthew 27:54. They did not recognize the man. They recognized the Anointing.

The Elijah ministry is in the earth today to restore all things and to prepare a people to receive the Double Portion Anointing in their earth. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the day when God is going to glorify His people with Himself:

When we arise from the Adam sleep and put off the old, Adam, carnal man, then we will arise and shine. We will shine because the light of the glorious gospel of truth will have completed its work in us. The river of death will no longer have a hold in our lives. We will become part of the river of life that flows from the throne of God, that will bring life to everything it touches. Isaiah went on to prophesy what will happen to those who are part of this Double Portion Anointing:

Those who have afflicted and despised us because of our total commitment to our God will bow down before us. These will not bow before us because of who we are, but because of "The Anointing" that rests upon us. 

God has a new day, a new time, a new anointing for those who are going all the way with Him. Those who are determined to go all the way with God will not turn to the right hand nor the left. They will not stop to see what the old religious system is doing. They will not look to past victories. 

Those who are determined to go all the way with God will have dealt with the river of death in their lives. These are those who will restore all things. These are those who have grown tired of God's provision in the wilderness. They are desiring to partake of the old corn in their Promise Land, the corn the ancients have planted, the corn that will produce fruit in their new land on the other side of the Jordan. It takes the old corn to feed our new creation man who is created after righteousness and true holiness. 

Christ Jesus is standing at the Jordan River, beckoning all who will come to the river of death to shed the old nature and become part of that new day. The Double Portion anointing is waiting for those who are willing to follow on to know the Lord. Only those who will never take their eyes off Him will overcome victoriously. We can only enter into the Promise Land that God has prepared for us if we keep our eyes on Him.

Jesus overcame the river of death as an example to those who are going to enter into His Kingdom age, those who have heard the anointed voice and prepared the way of the Lord in their life. Jesus informed His people that if they try to save their life they will lose it. If we try to save and maintain our old life, we will lose our new life in Christ. But if we lose our old life, then we will save our new life which is our inheritance in God.

God's anointed voice is proclaiming, "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand". We are admonished seven times in the book of Revelation to hear what the Spirit is saying unto the church. We need to hear, heed and repent if we are going to enter into the Kingdom of God.

God's Anointed Voice Chapter 4 

LAY THE AXE TO THE ROOT OF THE TREE

As we come to the end of this age we discover that God is unveiling many important revelations hidden in types shadows and similitudes. God is also revealing much of His prophetic Word. We have received the prophesy of Isaiah concerning the Elijah ministry of John. We have also received prophesy concerning the Elijah ministry God is raising up in the earth today to restore all things. The prophet Malachi also prophesied of these ministries: 

The Old testament was finalized with the words of Malachi. These words bring hope to all who will become partakers of the promises of the New Testament covenant.

After God spoke these words through the pen of Malachi, their came a period of 400 years when God was silent. God did not speak to man again until He spoke through the angel Gabriel to Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist. Gabriel appeared unto Zachariah and informed him that his wife Elizabeth would conceive and bear a son. Both Zachariah and Elizabeth were past their child-bearing years. Zachariah doubted, and was struck dumb until the birth of John. Gabriel revealed to Zachariah the ministry that his son, John, would perform for the Lord:

Malachi had prophesied:

What the angel Gabriel spoke to Zechariah concerning John's ministry would only fulfill the first half of Malachi's prophesy. The angel Gabriel said nothing about John's ministry fulfilling the second part of Malachi's prophesy of turning the hearts of the children to their father. 

When Jesus proclaimed, "Elijah truly shall first come and restore all things", He was speaking of God's anointed voice in the earth today. God's anointed voice will fulfill the second half of Malachi's prophesy of turning the hearts of the children back to the Father. It is the Father's desire to once again walk in a close intimate relationship with His creation man as He did in the Garden. This relationship cannot be restored until the hearts of God's children are turned back to their Father. God's ways must be reestablished in His children.

Gabriel also informed Zachariah that John's ministry would turn the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. John's ministry was to prepare a people for the first coming of Jesus. John's baptism was the baptism of repentance. John's ministry was to prepare the people to receive the wisdom of the just. 

Who is the one called "Just"? The Apostle Peter proclaimed: 

In Peter's words, Jesus was the Holy One. He was also the Just One. Stephen proclaimed the "Just One" just before they stoned him:

The Apostle Paul also revealed the Just One:

John was to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. This would be accomplished by turning the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. Disobedience began in the Garden when God's original creation disobeyed the voice of God. Man has been walking in disobedience to the voice of God every since. 

John was to proclaim the wisdom of the just. Paul proclaimed: 

Paul revealed that Christ, the Anointing, was the wisdom and power of God. When John proclaimed that Jesus would turn the people to the wisdom of the just, he was speaking of the anointing that would rest on Jesus. The Apostle James declared:

If any man lack wisdom, he can receive it from God. Paul spoke of the Anointing that is resident in God's anointed voice in the earth today:

Today the Spirit of wisdom and revelation is speaking through God's anointed vessels. This voice is turning the hearts of the children back to the Father because they are proclaiming the wisdom of the Just One.

John was ordained to prepare a people for the first coming of Jesus. He was the voice that proclaimed man's need for a Saviour. The law could not forgive their sin. Until the coming of Jesus, man's sacrifices could only cover, placate, or set aside their sin. It was only by the shed blood of Jesus that man could have forgiveness of sin. John proclaimed to all who would hear: 

"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." *** John 1:29

John was commissioned to do only two things: to proclaim the coming of the Lamb of God (The Just One), and to baptize the people with the baptism of repentance. John was the Elijah ministry that would turn the heart of the Fathers back to His children so they could again have a relationship with their heavenly Father. The ministry of John brought forth, prepared and proclaimed the ministry of Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb of God. 

It was Jesus who proclaimed that another Elijah ministry would come and "restore all things". It is God's anointed voice in the earth today that God is raising up to restore all things. This is the day God will fulfill every unfulfilled prophesy concerning the Elijah ministry. God's relationship with His children will be restored by turning the heart of the children back to the Father. 

How will this phenomenon take place in the Spiritual realm? The prophet Isaiah proclaimed that the voice crying in the wilderness would cry, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord! Make straight in the desert a highway for our God," *** Isaiah 40:3. 

God's anointed voice in the earth today is certainly crying in a wilderness of religious confusion. God's people do not know what to believe or where to turn. The worldly takeover of the minds of God's children has become complete. They are confused as to what is right and what is wrong, what is moral and immoral, what is acceptable and unacceptable to our God. Confusion reigns in the hearts of God's children because the way of the Lord has not been prepared in them. They have become more worldly than godly. 

God's anointed voice in the earth today has been commissioned to "prepare the way of the Lord" in His people. Their commission is to turn the hearts of the children back to the Father. As we asked before, "Who is the way"? There is only one who proclaimed, "I am the way". There is only one who proclaimed, "I am the truth". There is only one who proclaimed, "I am the life". If the people's hearts are going to be returned back to their Father, then God's way, God's truth and God's life must be reestablished in our lives. 

We can only have the way of the Lord prepared in us when the life of Christ is our only goal. The way of Christ is the kingdom that comes within God's children, and it is coming without observation. It comes from a changed heart. It comes when our way of thinking changes to desire the things of God more than the things of this world. As long as our hearts are on the things of this life and the lust of the flesh, then the way of the Lord has not been prepared in us.

There was no evil in man when God created him. Man was created perfect. When God viewed His creation, He declared that it was good. God planted a garden and put man in that garden. In the midst of the garden God placed two trees:

Two trees grew in the midst of the Garden of Eden: one was the Tree of Life, the other was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The fruit of the Tree of Life produced life in those who partook of its fruit. The fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil brought forth mixed fruit. It contained the knowledge of God, but it was mixed with the knowledge of evil. Every time man walked in the garden he had to pass these two trees. 

When God revealed the secrets of His creation, He declared, "The tree yielding fruit whose seed was in itself," *** Genesis 1:12. The seed of the tree is in the fruit of the tree. When we partake of the Tree of Life we will produce righteous fruit. But if we partake of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil we will produce corrupt mixed fruit. We need to ask which of these seeds has been planted in our being?

The seed of both trees will bear fruit in anyone who partakes of them. There was good in the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This is the "good" that man does that makes him think he is acceptable in the sight of God. This becomes self-righteousness in man. Either the Tree of Life is producing seed in our life, or the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is producing seed in our life. God reveals many Spiritual truths in the fruit of His trees: 

Whatever tree we partake of, the seed of that tree produces fruit. In the beginning Adam was allowed to eat of the Tree of Life. But after Adam had partaken of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and evil, God pronounced a curse upon His whole creation. To the serpent he spoke:

Again God spoke of two seeds: the seed of the woman, and the seed of the serpent. When man partook of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, both seeds were planted in him. These two seeds have been producing seed in mankind every since the Garden of Eden. 

When satan tempted Eve through the serpent, what were his tactics? Did he try to get Eve to kill Adam? Did he try to tempt her to start drinking, to take drugs, to smoke or become a prostitute? These are some of the things we think of when we say people have fallen into sin. But all satan wanted to do was to get Eve to fall into disobedience, and doubt the Word of God.

God had warned Adam and Eve that if they partook of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, or even touched it, they would die, *** Genesis 3:3. This was the Sure Word of God. Satan was subtle, he only wanted to bring doubt into Eve's life. Doubt is always the first step to disobedience. Satan replied: 

"...Ye shall not surely die:" *** Genesis 3:4

Satan only had to plant the seed of doubt. Then satan watered the seed of doubt when he spoke:

Satan knew if he could get God's creation man to partake of the mixed fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, that doubt, fear and disobedience would be planted in mankind. All satan needed to do was to get Eve to doubt, then disobedience would follow. Doubt and disobedience would establish all the attributes of sin in her life. When the seed of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is planted in lives, the fruit of this tree brings forth death. Paul revealed to the Romans:

"For the wages of sin is death;" *** Romans 6:23b

God tried to protect man from the knowledge of good and evil. Man had no way to deal with evil in his life. Only God could deal with evil. After man had partaken of the mixed fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, he was not allowed to partake again of the Tree of Life:

Man was set out of the Garden and cherubims were set as sentries to keep man from the Tree of Life, *** Genesis 3:24. God determined that until man was given a way to deal with the mixed fruit of the knowledge of good and evil in his life, he would not be allowed to partake of the Tree of Life. But praise God, He has given us His promise. He revealed to John on the Isle of Patmos: 

To those who overcome, God will again give access to the Tree of Life. What must man overcome? He must overcome all the things of this life: doubt, fear and disobedience in order to be restored in his relationship with the Father.

Since the Garden of Eden man has been trying to please God with his goodness. It is not our goodness that makes us acceptable before God. It is our humbleness. If our goodness does not come from a pure heart, then our goodness is a fruit of Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that is planted in our life. 

God told satan He would put enmity between the seed of the woman and his seed. The word enmity means "hostility and hatred. In other words there would be a constant battle going on between these two seeds. This is what is referred to as "the warfare of the mind". This warfare is constantly going on because of the two seeds that have been planted in mankind. These two seeds are bearing fruit in each life, and until we deal with the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, we can expect this warfare to continue. God has sent forth His anointed voice into the earth to reveal to God's chosen how they can eliminate the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in their life.

Jesus gave many examples of dealing with the corrupt tree in His Word. The fig tree is the symbol of the Gentile nations. The word Gentile means "aliens from God". Gentiles are those who are separated from God. Jesus came to a fig tree that did not bear fruit:

Jesus came to this fig tree and expected fruit because the tree had leaves. The fig tree is unique in that it bears figs before the leaves appear. This fig tree possessed leaves, but there was no fruit on the tree. The fig tree, like many who are called by His name, stood their in all its pomp and glory. But it bore no fruit. Those today who look good in the eyes of man, but are bearing no fruit before God, can expect no more than what the fig tree received. Jesus cursed the fig tree and declared it would never bear fruit again. Mark recorded:

The fig tree dried up from the roots. When the root of the tree is killed, the tree can no longer receive nourishment or water from the root, and the tree dies. God is wanting to curse that old Gentile nature in each of us, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that is bringing forth the mixed fruit in our lives. This mixed fruit is alienating us from the life of God that should be flourishing in each of His creation. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was planted in each of us in the Garden of Eden. That tree must be destroyed if we are to return to and dwell in our created place in God in the paradise of His existence.

When the religious system came out to John's baptism he declared:

John knew the wrath of God would be poured out on those who did not come to repentance. John went on to declare:

The Spirit and power of Elijah that rested upon John

proclaimed that every tree that does not bring forth good fruit in our life must have the axe laid to its root. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and evil must be hewn down and cast into the fire. Our God is a consuming fire. The anointing that came on the Day of Pentecost came as cloven tongues of fire. The axe must be laid to the root of the corrupt tree in our life, and it must be totally destroyed by the anointing fire of the Holy Spirit. Jesus proclaimed:

The word corrupt means "decay or rot brought forth by death". The corrupt tree is producing death, rot and decay in our life. If we are to deal with the power of death in our life, the axe must be laid to the root of the corrupt tree. Only then can the good tree (the Tree of Life) produce fruit in our life. 

God's anointed voice in the earth today is proclaiming to God's chosen to deal with the power of death in their life. Death is produced by the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God has given us the power through the Holy Spirit anointing to overcome the last enemy death. He has given us the authority in the name of Jesus and He has given us the knowledge through His anointed Word. God's anointed voice is declaring that it is the Father's will that the childrens' hearts are turned back to Him. John the Beloved wrote:

If we do not deal with sin in our life, then we are allowing the fruit of that which was planted in mankind in the Garden to flourish. God revealed that the devil sinneth from the beginning. We know he was in the Garden, but he was also in us, sinning from the beginning of our life. We will keep on sinning until we lay the axe to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. That tree must be hewn down and cast into the fire which is provided by the anointing in our life. 

How do we nourish the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in our life? We nourish it when we partake of everything we hear, read, and watch that does not produce life. That which does not produce life comes from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We need to ask ourselves if what we are hearing, reading and watching is nourishing the Tree of Life, or is it nourishing the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

John revealed that Jesus was manifest to destroy the works of the devil. The word manifest means "to make clear, visible and known". We need to ask, "Is the Son of God being manifested in my life to destroy the works of the devil?" Have you heard God's anointed voice proclaim that God is bringing forth His new creation man? It is God's desire to curse that old Gentile nature in each of our lives, so His new creation man may come forth in His new day. Jesus proclaimed:

The sun is the revelation of God in our life. The sun rises on the good and the evil in our life. The rain is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been given so we may discern the just and the unjust things in our life. The just things are those things that fulfill our duty before God. The unjust things are the things that do not conform to the will of God in our lives. The just and good things are brought forth by the Tree of Life; the unjust, evil things are the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We need to hew down the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We need to quit nourishing that corrupt tree. We must cast it into the fire that God has kindled in each of us through His anointing. 

God is revealing how to overcome by His anointed voice in the earth today. This voice is proclaiming, "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand". When Jesus cursed the fig tree, He proclaimed: 

Jesus assured His people that if they believe they can curse that old Gentile nature. They can also cast down every mountain in their life. The prophet Isaiah prophesied of the Elijah ministry that God would raise up in the earth before the great and terrible day of the Lord. Isaiah proclaimed:

God is moving in His earth today to give everyone of His chosen the power, authority and knowledge to overcome the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Then God's creation man will again be allowed to partake of the tree of Life that is in the midst of the paradise of God.

God's Anointed Voice Chapter 5 

CURSING THE GENTILE NATURE

The Old Testament not only proclaimed the first coming of Jesus, but also His second coming. Isaiah prophesied much about the coming kingdom when all things will be restored back to their original state of existence. Isaiah gave much insight into God's people being reconciled back to the Father.

When Isaiah prophesied of the Elijah ministry, he foretold not only the ministry of John the Baptist, he also proclaimed the Elijah ministry that would come upon the earth just before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Isaiah prophesied:

Much of this prophesy was not fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist. Isaiah proclaimed, "Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain shall be made low, the crooked shall be made straight and the rough places plain". These events were not fulfilled in John the Baptist's ministry. John was the voice of the one crying in the wilderness who proclaimed the first coming of Jesus. But the balance of Isaiah's prophesy will be fulfilled in this last hour of time by God's anointed voice. 

How will the mountains in our life be brought down? God will bring down our mountains by exalting our valleys. When the valleys in our life are exalted then the crooked ways in our life will be made straight, and the rough places in our life will be made smooth. The Psalmist David wrote:

The valley we must walk through is when God brings judgment in our lives. God promised He would take us through the valley of the shadow of death. Many believe that when God's judgments are in their lives, they are going to die; or, maybe they would choose to die. Some say, "I wish God would let me die to get me out of this mess." They do not realize that if they died in this condition, they would be in a bigger mess than they are now. They say this because there is no overcoming in their life. God takes us through our valleys so we may learn to overcome. 

When some go through their valleys they begin to cry out for the second coming of Christ to get them out of their valley. Again, if the Lord came when they were in this state of mind, they would not be ready to become part of Him, or His kingdom. God is returning for the overcomers, not the overcome.

God takes us through the valleys that we may learn to overcome.

Many use God as an "escape plan". As long as everything is going well they do not have much need for God. But when God exalts a valley in their life they begin to cry out, "If only God takes me out of this life, then He will make everything all right." They fail to realize that God gave us this life to overcome the flesh and the old Adam nature. If this is not accomplished in this life, then we will stand unprepared before the judgment seat of Christ. The prophet Isaiah informed us:

When God's judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. God's judgments are already in the earth. He did not say on the earth, but in the earth (the flesh) of His people. The apostle Peter proclaimed:

Peter's words were, "Judgment must begin at the house of God". We are the house of God, and God's judgments must come upon our house, (our earth). When God's judgments are in our earth, the inhabitants of the world are going to learn righteousness, because they will witness the righteousness of God coming forth in us. 

Peter asked, "What shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?" Peter was not speaking of those who had not received forgiveness of their sin. He was not speaking to those who did not know the gospel. His question was to those who had received the saving grace of God and had been enlightened in God's Word. Peter asked, "What shall be the end of them who obey not the gospel of God?" Peter is speaking to those who are walking in disobedience to God's Word. These will not be able to plead ignorance to His Word or His ways.

Our God is a righteous judge. He never promised to take us out of our valleys, nor did He promise we would never have any valleys. He promised He would take us through our valleys that we may learn to overcome. We do not need to fear God's judgments. This is how God is going to prepare His way in each of us who are going to be part of His kingdom reign.

Box: God promised to take us through our valleys so that we may learn to overcome

Some may ask, "Why do we have so many valleys in our lives? Valleys are the result of mountains. If there were no mountains, there would be no valleys. What do mountains represent in our lives? Mountains represent kingdoms. Mountains speak of the kingdom we are serving, knowingly or unknowingly. Mountains also represent the authorities we have set up in our minds. God speaks of two kingdoms in His Word:
The kingdom of light 
The kingdom of darkness
God has revealed these two kingdoms so we may know what we are dealing with, and why we have valleys. Twice the kingdom of darkness is exposed in the Word. Luke recorded these in the words of Jesus:

"If satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?" *** Luke 11:18

Jesus spoke of satan's kingdom, the kingdom of darkness. The word kingdom means "king's domain". The Apostle Paul warned us: 

"Neither give place to the devil." *** Ephesians 4:27 

When we give place to the devil we are allowing satan to have dominion in our lives, and we are serving the kingdom of darkness. Jesus revealed the kingdom of darkness to John on the Isle of Patmos:

Luke revealed that satan had a kingdom. Jesus revealed to John that satan's kingdom was full of darkness. There is no light in satan's kingdom. Those who are serving the kingdom of darkness will gnaw their tongues when God's judgement is poured out on the seat of the beast in their lives. The seat of the beast is where satan has been given authority. If satan is given authority in our minds, then it is us who have granted him that authority. We have given him entrance into our thought processes. James informs us: 

The first step in our spiritual warfare is submitting ourselves unto God, then we can resist the kingdom of darkness. After we submit ourselves to God, then we can resist the devil, and he will flee from us. We will cast out his seat of authority in our minds. Many have valleys in their lives because they have not submitted themselves to God. When we do not submit ourselves to God we cannot resist the devil, and when this happens the valleys appear. 

God has promised to pour out His judgment on the kingdom of darkness. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth:

If we allow Him, God will bring to light all the hidden things of darkness in our walk, that we may deal with the seat of darkness that satan has established in our life. We never need to fear God's judgment in our life if we have a heart to change. When we allow the kingdom of darkness to operate in our life, then God allows the valleys. Our valleys must be exalted if we are to overcome. Our valleys must be brought to the light to dispel the mountains of darkness in our minds. 

God's kingdom is a kingdom of light. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians:

To the Ephesians Paul wrote:

God's kingdom is made up of the children of light. Jesus declared:

Jesus made a further revelation in His Sermon on the Mount. He proclaimed to His followers:

"Ye are the light of the world." *** Matthew 5:14

God's kingdom people are full of light, and there is no darkness in them. For them to arrive at this point, they must allow God to bring down the mountains of darkness and exalt the valleys of sufferings. We must cry out, as Paul:

Unfortunately many have not submitted unto God, and because of this they cannot deal with the kingdom of darkness in their lives. They are still allowing both kingdoms to operate in their lives. The prophet Joel declared:

When the day of the Lord comes, the multitude of God's people will still be in the valley of decision. They do not know if they want to walk with God or run with the world. These are double- minded. The Apostle James declared:

"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways". *** James 1:8

Many wonder why there are so many valleys in their life. It is because they are unstable in all the ways of God. The way of God has not been established in their lives. James stated: 

"For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." *** James 1:7

Those who are in the valley of decision can expect to receive nothing from God. Those who are dwelling in the valley of decision must come to a decision. Two kingdoms are operating in their lives. They must come to a decision as to which one they are going to serve. Each kingdom seeks to establish itself. We must choose which kingdom we will serve. We must submit to the ways and the will of God, or the kingdom of darkness will establish its seat of authority in our lives.

The prophet Isaiah proclaimed, "Every valley shall be exalted, and the mountains shall be made low". Our mountains can only be removed when we allow our valleys to be exalted. When our valleys are exulted the mountains will disappear. Jesus spoke concerning our mountains when He cursed the fig tree:

When we allow God to curse that old Gentile nature in us, then we can deal with the mountains in our life. When we have dealt with the Gentile nature that alienates us from God, then we can speak to the mountains in our life and say to them, "Be cast into the Sea of Forgetfulness", and our mountains must obey.

As we allow God's judgments to become evident in our life, the kingdom of darkness and the authority we have given that kingdom will become less and less. Then the mountains that the kingdom of darkness has created will be made low. How? The mountains will be made low when we allow God to exalt, lift up, and bring to light the valleys of suffering in our life. Then the mountains and the valleys will disappear all together. It is God's desire that we have a level walk with Him, not one that is filled with mountains and valleys.

Box: God desires for His people to have a level walk with Him, not one filled with mountains and valleys. 

Many get weary with their walk with God. How can this be? It is because they are continually trying to overcome the mountains that have been created by the valleys in their lives. When God wants to exalt their valleys so they can deal with their mountains, they choose to hang on to the valleys that have pushed up the mountain they cannot deal with.

It is only when we allow God to curse our old Gentile nature, that we can deal with that corrupt Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that was planted in mankind in the Garden of Eden. Then we can say to the mountains in our life, "Be thou removed". Then God will exalt every valley that the kingdom of darkness has created in our life. This is when the mountains will be removed and cast into the Sea, dealt with forever in our life. God is desiring to curse the root of the corrupt tree if we will allow Him. This is His desire for each of our lives. 

God's anointed voice, the Elijah ministry in the earth today, will restore all things to their created condition. God's anointed voice will bring forth the Double Portion Elisha Ministry. Those who become part of the Elisha ministry will have allowed God to pour out His judgment on the seat of the beast. These will become that city set on a hill that cannot be hid. Their light will shine into every corner of this darkened world. As Jesus stated, "Ye are the light of the world." Jesus was our example of the light. Peter wrote:

Jesus was the light of the world as long as He was in the world. He left us His life as an example that we, too, could become the light of the world. Jesus proclaimed, "I am the way". He did not say, "I am a way", or, "I am one way". He is the only way, and if we walk any other way, then we are not walking in His way, and we are only getting in His way.

Many of the valleys in our life are a result of things that have happened in our past. Some valleys may be the result of events that go all the way back to our childhood. Some may have been formed in our teenage years. Many have been created in our dating and premarital years, and of course marriage itself has created many, many valleys that must be dealt with. There are other valleys in our life we must walk through that we do not know where they come from. Many valleys in our life are spiritual. A few of the things that create valleys in our lives are:

All these valleys exist in the old Adam nature. These valleys in our lives must be brought before the judgment seat of Christ. God must exalt these valleys if we are to bring down the mountains we cannot deal with. Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

When the valleys appear in our life, the Word of God shows us the way to deal with them. First we must cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We have the knowledge of God because we have His Word. By and through that knowledge, we can cast out the seat of the beast we have allowed to be resident in our mind. This seat of the beast must be brought into judgment. We can accomplish this by bringing every thought into captivity, into the obedience of Christ. 

God is wanting to change the way we think. When Jesus walked the earth, He demonstrated physical healing. Over the centuries multitudes have been healed physically by their faith in Jesus. God is doing a new thing. He is desiring to bring healing to our soul. This He can do if we allow Him to exalt our valleys and bring our mountains low. God is desiring to restore all things to their created condition in our life.

God is desiring to bring healing to our soul

God's anointed voice is proclaiming, "This is the way, walk ye in it". When we bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, then we can deal with those things that happened in our childhood, our teen years and our present problems. When we allow our valleys to be exalted and our mountains to be overcome, then we have victory over the kingdom of darkness. David declared, "...Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil..." *** Psalm 23:4.

When God is exalting our valleys we are truly in the valley of the shadow of death. God is trying to bring an end to the old, carnal man so that the new man created in righteousness and true holiness can come forth. How many times God takes us through this valley is up to us. He will keep us in the valley until we learn to overcome. We must realize that God is not angry with us, nor does He take us through these times to punish us. What God does in our life is for our good. Paul informed us in his second letter to Timothy:

If we live godly then we are promised we will suffer

persecution. In the same letter Paul wrote:

If we expect to rule and reign with Christ, then we can expect to suffer as our example Jesus suffered. God revealed through the writer of Hebrews:

If we desire to be sons, then we must expect chastenings and scourgings. Our lives must be cleansed of all unrighteousness if we are to be acceptable in the eyes of the Beloved.

Only those who have allowed God to exalt their valleys and have allowed Him to curse the old Gentile nature will rule and reign with Him. These have allowed God to bring judgment on the seat of the beast. These have dealt with the spirit of darkness in their lives. Their hearts have been cleansed by the washing of water by the Word. These have allowed God to make their crooked ways straight and their rough places smooth. 

God's anointed voice in the earth today has been set forth to proclaim, "The kingdom of God is at hand. Prepare ye the way of the Lord in your life." God's anointed voice has come forth at the end of the age just as God promised, and as Isaiah prophesied. God's anointed voice is proclaiming that God's judgments are in the earth. Allow your valleys to be exalted so that the mountains in your life may be made low. Let God make your crooked way straight and your rough places plain. 

The word plain means "a wide, level valley between mountains". God does not promise we will never have a mountain to deal with, but as we allow God to exalt our valleys and bring them into judgment, we will soon discover that we can have a level valley to walk through, before God gives us another mountain to deal with. 

If we desire to be great in the Kingdom of God, we must overcome the Valley of Death and come out victorious on the other side. When we overcome the Valley of Death, then the River of Death will have no more dominion in our life. Then will we come forth into our promise land, the Kingdom of God. The Double Portion anointing of Elisha will rest upon each of us and the overcoming power of Christ will reign supreme in our lives. 

Let God have His way in your valley and witness the mountains being cast into the Sea. God's total desire in us is that we overcome. He is wanting to set our feet on higher ground when our walk through the valleys is completed.

God's Anointed Voice Chapter Six 

THE ADAM SLEEP

Jesus made a remarkable declaration concerning John the Baptist and those who would enter into His kingdom age:

Jesus proclaimed to His disciples that John was greater than all who had lived before; greater than Moses, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Solomon, greater than any man of God who ever lived. He went on to declare, "...the least in the Kingdom would be greater than John". Then Jesus revealed how to enter into the kingdom of God:

The word violence and violent mean "to strive by the utmost eagerness and effort to obtain the kingdom in spite of extreme opposition". The violent (the eager who put forth every effort) will take the kingdom of God by force. The violent are those who will seize hold of and press into the kingdom with a determined spirit. The violent have their minds set, and no matter what the price, they are willing to pay. These will press forward

continually until they have entered into the kingdom that God has promised His people through His Word. These will not look to the right hand nor the left. They will keep their eyes on the one who is able to empower them with the kingdom that cometh within, without observation.

The angel of the Lord appeared unto Zachariah the prophet, and showed him two olive trees. The angel asked Zechariah:

Then the angel made a remarkable declaration:

The Word of the Lord to Zerubbabel was, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, sayeth the Lord of hosts. The word Zerubbabel means "those who are called out of confusion". God is speaking to all who He has called out of their religious confusion. 

When Jesus spoke that the violent would take the kingdom by force, He was not speaking of physical force. No physical force on earth could ever force its way into God's kingdom. As the angel revealed unto Zechariah, "It is not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit." Only those who are endowed with the power and authority that God has given us through His Holy Spirit anointing can enter into his kingdom age. Those who have the Holy Spirit operating in their life are pressing in to obtain the kingdom. 

Paul was our example of those who will obtain the kingdom. No one in history faced more fierce opposition then Paul. Paul related his sufferings to the church at Corinth:

Paul suffered as no man has ever suffered. Paul was

determined to press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, *** Philippians 3:14. Today when any mention is made of suffering or sacrifice, God's people draw back. The slightest inconsistency will deter them from their goal. 

From the time Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was never the same. He never thought the same, he never acted the same. He was a totally different man. It was said of Paul: 

When Paul arose from the earth, or his earthly existence, his eyes were opened. He saw no man. Paul had been blinded by the glory of God. Paul's physical sight had been taken from him and his Spiritual eyes were opened, and he never got his eyes on man again. He kept his eyes on the one who could give him the Kingdom. He did not look to the sons of the prophets. He did not glory in past victories. He sought the kingdom with every fiber of his existence, and nothing deterred him from his goal. 

When Paul came to the end of his natural life, this was his testimony:

Paul knew he had obtained his crown of righteousness. That same crown of righteousness is there for all who love His appearing. When Paul came into the presence of the risen Christ, He was struck down by the awesome power of His presence. Up until that time Paul existed in his Adam sleep. When Paul met face to face with Christ Jesus, he was awakened out of his Adam sleep. From that day forward, Paul never again allowed himself to enter into the sleep of death.

Man entered into his Adam sleep in the Garden of Eden at the time God created Eve. The book of Genesis reveals:

"The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept:..." *** Genesis 2:21

God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam. The word used for deep sleep is the Hebrew word TARDEMA and means "a sleep caused by the intervention of God". God put Adam into a deep sleep from which the Adam cre