FROM PRESSURES AND PERILS TO BREAKTHROUGHS

© Morris Ruddick

Something is astir!

The transitions underway in the spirit realm are fast approaching a time of release. Yet mounting pressures in recent months have increased to levels, that for many, have gone off the charts. The Apostle Paul spoke of this in 2 Cor 1:8 when he said, "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life."

In the midst of divine alignments and the resulting reverberations comes a fresh recognition of the reality of Paul's admonition in verses 9-11 that relying on ourselves is not only fruitless, but foolhardy: "Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers."

In the process of facing and withstanding the pressures, we press in; cry out to the Lord; stand in the gap; and move into a time of travail. As we do, there is a growing realization of a bubbling-up underway; and a sense of a convergence of God's timing meeting with situations and opportunities bringing breakthrough. Indeed, in the midst of the pressures, reversals and deadly perils, God is not only in control, but in the process of releasing some of the greatest outpourings of His Spirit those of our generation have ever experienced. Yet those outpourings appear to have their birthing and context enshrouded by conflict and pressure.

BREAKTHROUGH IMMINENT

Something IS astir and on the brink of manifesting. Major God-initiated breakthroughs --- that will take place simultaneously on a number of levels and a number of fronts. Breakthroughs that will far surpass our expectations!

When this time of "breakthrough" manifests --- it is going to come through with a power; a velocity; and a suddenness that goes beyond anything we've ever known. It will be like --- bam!!! --- with the walls being smashed to smithereens as heavy tanks and armament come roaring through. The rumbling is getting more perceptible. Breakthrough is indeed imminent.

The mounting intercession; prophetic revelations; functional unity; and precision and definition of purpose taking place within key segments of the Body are resulting in a desperation from the enemy's camp. The result has been the unleashing of these pressures --- crushing pressures. Pressures so severe that the MOST spiritual thing for many, has been to just "hang on." Indeed, having done all --- to stand!

The Lord has been releasing His pacesetters and advanced guard to penetrate deeply into the marketplace and seize the gateways into what the enemy has heretofore considered his territory. As this time of breakthrough is approached, the enemy has been countering by releasing a Babylonian spirit --- in an attempt to mask, enshroud and create confusion. A Babylonian, religious spirit which carries with it rage-level anger, murderous division, and blinding judgmental attitudes. And the unleashing has been vicious. At issue has been God's appropriation and utilization of key aspects of the world's systems for a new era of His purposes.

REDEMPTIVE RELATIONSHIPS, CONNNECTIONS AND ISOLATION

Redemptive relationships during this transition have been under major attack. One of the enemy's objectives in all this has been an attempt to isolate those poised to serve in pivotal, strategic roles in the agendas the Lord is releasing for this hour. Isolating them from the support --- prayer, resource, and moral support --- needed for these forerunners to accomplish the purposes inherent in their callings. Isolate them from strategic connections needed to cause all the pieces to come together.

Recognizing the importance of strategic connections and avoiding the isolation trap will involve a need to overcome the worldly --- and often traditional ministry-ordained principles of success. It's not about personal credit, recognition and ownership. Indeed the foundations of traditional paradigms are being shaken and often uprooted.

Avoiding the isolation trap will involve the need to recognize the boundaries of our own spheres of authority and influence tied to our God-ordained calling --- and to have the wisdom to operate within the containment of those boundaries.

DEFINING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CALLING

Defining the parameters of our spheres of authority and influence is critical. When we do give appropriate focus to operating within our own sphere, there will there be protection, provision and power to supernaturally accomplish the objectives of what we've been called to do.

But in this mode will also be the means to support, in ancillary measure, the objectives of others who have complementary roles in the larger mosaic surrounding our calling. Throughout this transition, the Lord is weaving some intricate relational networks with hidden, but incredibly potent purposes. Interactive support networks. The bywords of which are obedience and relational connectivity! So the enemy wants to counter all this through isolation, so he can separate, weaken --- and divide and conquer those forerunners whose relationships strengthen one another and are redemptive in their purposes.

In other words, getting a fix on the boundaries concerning the parameters of an individual's or group's particular calling --- will remove the threats of separation and isolation in a time the Lord is mobilizing His forces to work with a unison and precision as He coordinates and directs the results. It will remove the perilous consequences caused by the old competitive nature --- because the empire-building, along with the self-serving competitive approach has been superceded by a spirit of support and cooperation. It's not about achieving celebrity or superstar status, or even recognition, but rather the STATUS of a genuine SERVANT.

It is as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 12:18 --- that God has designed us each uniquely for a specific purpose. It's about understanding and faithfully operating within our own sphere. Paul's wisdom illustrates this in the analogy of the eye recognizing they are an eye, the ear accepting fully their role as the ear, and the foot as the foot; while simultaneously the eye coming to appreciate the importance of the ear and the foot in the big picture of the full operation of the body.

DISTRACTIONS AND MISDIRECTION FROM RELIGIOUS ZEALOTRY

Associated with the enemy's isolation strategy has also been the unleashing of subtle distractions --- that only a serious pressing into the Lord; accompanied by precision obedience can thwart. Wheel-spinning distractions that too often *appear* as integral to God's purposes in one's calling.

For example, ones prophetically sensitive to the Spirit of the Lord are being targeted for increases in their revelations --- resulting in an overload; an inability to process it all --- which is creating not only confusion, but misdirection, discouragement and dysfunction. All that to say, that it is one thing to get the revelation. But it is quite another to get the illumination and then the specifics on the direction. And that takes time waiting in His presence --- and a fresh recognition of when *the release is given* to even speak on certain matters --- no less to act. Getting a clear release on what a given revelation is for --- to pray, to speak or to act --- and when. The prophetic for this coming era MUST be tempered and operate in conjunction with compassion and wisdom. For some seeking their position in the prophetic, entrance into this emerging breakthrough will be a valley of decision. The prophetic is not about power, pride and ego; but service and servanthood.

WAITING AND ABIDING RELATIONSHIPS

The key is in all this is in the waiting --- and the waiting is based on relationship --- not on doing. And the relationship is based on a complete abiding in Him.

Breakthrough is indeed about to manifest.

THE PRAYER

Let's pray together! Father God, in the mighty, incomparable name of Jesus, we come into Your presence with thanksgiving and into Your courts with praise. Lord God, we need more of You. Lord, we are desperate for more of You! We need the grace to abide in You during the midst of perils and pressures. Lord grant us the wisdom and the focus to define and operate within our own spheres of authority and influence. Give us clarity Lord. And in so doing, bring us together Lord. Bring us together Father God, so that we might bring You pleasure in our individual roles as instruments of Your purpose.

Lord, we proclaim that something indeed is astir. Something very significant is in the process of being released from Your Throne-Room. Lord, may we be found ready and worthy of Your calling as we enter this new season of Your purpose.

Lord God, we stand against the evil schemes of the enemy. We renounce that divisive, judgmental, angry, religious Babylonian spirit sent to overwhelm, divide and destroy. By the authority of Your Word, we proclaim that although the wicked may draw their swords and bend their bows, to bring down and slay those whose ways are upright; their bows will be broken and their swords will pierce their own hearts. Lord, You are indeed cutting asunder every wicked scheme by which Satan has been trying to entrap, enslave, enshroud and defeat us with.

We affirm Lord, that you are bringing us each --- within our individual spheres --- into a greater level of coordinated unity than ever before. We proclaim that the purposes of the Lord, in and through us, WILL be established. Father, we thank You for the release of Your power into the situations and circumstances that appear on the surface as hopeless and without a future. We say, let God arise and let His enemies be scattered. Lord, release Your miracle working power. Refresh us each Lord and anoint us with the power and wisdom required to enter this new phase of your purposes. Lord, stretch us, to better receive and to operate more effectively in the flow of Your agendas.

Father, we stand against the isolation strategies the enemy has been unleashing. Give us wisdom in recognizing the redemptive purposes in the relationships *You* have brought us into. Grant us the sensitivity needed to hear from You in keeping those relationships on course. We need one another. Forgive us for allowing distractions, pressures and overload to misdirect us.

At the same time, Lord, we recognize that new relationships are being set in motion by Your Spirit. Significant, redemptive relationships. For some, the inner circles are shifting --- may we see and respond well to what You are doing on each level O Lord. Roles are shifting. New strategic alliances required for this hour are being forged, while unholy alliances are being unmasked and dismantled. Lord, strengthen the new relationships You are establishing and lay an axe to the root of relationships sent to hinder and undermine Your purposes. Grant us the discernment to flow with You on these matters.

Lord, You change the times and the seasons. You raise up kings and You remove them. You give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. Father, grant us a oneness with Your Spirit --- to flow with the agendas You are releasing --- to recognize and honor those who labor among us.

Lord, make us genuine God-pleasures, not only in our relationships, and how we spend and redeem our time, but on the very worldview we operate from. Deliver us from man-pleasing tendencies. O God, give us Your heart on matters. Lord, things are changing --- paradigms are shifting at a rate requiring Your constant input to enable us to respond correctly and obediently. And in all this we need to be abiding --- and walking closer to You than ever before.

Lord, we need the grace to be able to think and perceive "outside the box" of the constraints of our own worldviews. Lord deliver us from the mind-sets that may have been appropriate a year ago --- but will not be for the days we are entering. Lord, Your Word tells us that we will walk not in darkness, for it will be given unto us to know the mysteries of the Kingdom. Lord impart Your mysteries and grant us the ability to be able to assimilate and respond to the revelations for this hour with wisdom and compassion --- with Your heart O God. Lord, may we be granted the wisdom to give focus to the issues of significance within our individual spheres.

Precious Lord, Your timing is always perfect. Those you have prepared are poised. Release and empower us Lord. Strengthen us for the hour we are entering. Impart the gift of faith needed for this season. Give us seeing eyes and hearing ears to recognize and embrace the new paradigms You are releasing. Lord, grant us an understanding of the times and a knowing of what to do --- and when, and with whom. May we have the discernment imparted to the servant of the prophet, when you opened his eyes to see the mountain filled with the chariots of fire. Indeed, they that are with us, are more --- much, much more --- than they that are against us!

Lord, penetrate the marketplace. Position the gatekeepers. Release the resources. Establish the strategic alliances. Bring promotion and right priorities and perspective. Establish Your new order as you bring the Body into a greater unity and knowledge of the Lord. Release Your power. And Lord we pray for Your agendas in and on behalf of Israel --- for the Body within Israel and for Jewish revival. Demonstrate Your power and love in the midst of the growing peril and chaos.

Lord, You soar on the wings of the wind. Out of the brightness of Your presence bolts of lightning blaze forth. The LORD thunders from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounds. You scatter our enemies, bolts of lightning rout them. You reach from on high & take hold of us; You draw me out of deep waters & rescue us. For the pillars of the earth are Yours O Lord, and You have set the world upon them. You will guard the feet of Your saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength, no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; from heaven You will thunder against them.

Father God, we thank You that we shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between the ones who serve God and those who don't. Lord, let your purposes come forth mightily. Let the manifestation of your agendas arrive.

Open the gateways we pray, O Lord. Release your agendas and empower your servants! Let the breakthrough come forth!!

For Yours alone O Lord is the greatness and the power and glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and earth is Yours. Yours is the dominion and You do exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You and You do rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to accomplish Your good purpose, to release Your agendas, to strengthen those chosen for this hour, and to bring mighty breakthrough. Now therefore our God, We thank you and praise Your glorious Name.