This word is submitted by Bret Wade (bretwade@theprophets.org)

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Possess Strength to Run

It's a time of revealing the hidden things. God is bringing new fruitfulness to areas of gifting within members of the Body of Christ. Many of these gifts have been dormant. The Lord has begun calling these gifts forth into greater levels of service. We will see many individuals who have been on the sidelines or hidden within the ranks continue to arise to areas of servitude. This is a season for those who are hidden to come out of obscurity! Get ready for more activity among the people of God who follow Him with a passion!

"I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions". Joel 2:28

The Lord began speaking to me recently about the year 2001 in relation to the year 2000. He began by speaking to me about the number 2000. Two means to divide, to separate, and to discern.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

Thousand represents maturity, full stature, mature service, and mature judgment.

"But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." 2 Peter 3:8

"But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18

The Lord then said to me that the year 2000 was the tenth year of the decade. Ten represents measuring or testing for the purpose of accepting or rejecting.

"So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess." Deuteronomy 4:13-14

The commandments were the standard by which things were weighed as if on scales "hanging in the balance". We have been hanging in the balance for our response to be seen. Our present response determines our future outcome. The Body of Christ has been tested in 2000. Who would enter into His rest? It's a time to rest from our own labors to allow Him to flow through us at the next level he has prepared. Be determined to enter into the rest of God!

"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins (pure judgments) who took their lamps (exposing with light) and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise (accepted), and five were foolish (rejected)." Matthew 25:1-2

"He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10

God was looking for those who have passed the test of obedience (in our ways) to go into full maturity and stature, to a place of full service in the kingdom of God. Those who could execute mature judgment without partiality. He is looking for those who can be stewards that experience the miraculous manifestations of His glory without becoming prideful and claiming it as theirs.

The Lord highlighted the number five as I was listening to news reports regarding the United States presidential elections. It was five weeks since the electoral process began until it ended. The Lord told me that it was not a mistake that the electoral process had gone that long. He was using it to make a statement to the world. Please understand that I am not specifically referring to the candidates here, but merely what the Lord spoke to me. First, He is the judge who raises one up and sets another down. Next, it took "five" weeks to chose between the "two". Five is "works, service, motion". He was declaring that He was weighing us in the balance according to our present attitude of service, works or acts.

Many think that they do not have to go through God's process of being "chosen". In reality, who we are does not make any of us an exception to how things are done. We cannot change the process to fit preference or idealistic thinking. Many are called. Out of that many, few present themselves as candidates to be "chosen" or commissioned. Our actions testify of our character. In the end, God will testify that our actions were done in Him rather than in our own ability if we learn to rest in Him.

"For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." John 3:20-21

We should hide nothing from our Lord. Any such attempt is in futility. God rewards those who endure His process or test with a right spirit. All the while, revealing their failures and shortcomings asking for help. This facilitates our crossing over into a new realm of His grace for "service" in our calling. He will work through those who labored to enter into His rest.

"For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience." Hebrews 4:8-11

Weary in the test? He's looking for your best! Get ready to run in 2001! We're entering into a new grace for the race! Acceleration is here once again. He's stepping up the pace!

"If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the flood plain of the Jordan?" Jeremiah 12:5

In our own ability, we cannot run at the pace the Lord has for us. But if we are obedient to run, he will give us His grace for the pace. He will be the ability for us!

This time will mark the beginning of the full release of maturity in the apostolic and prophetic mantles. We will begin to see a greater prophetic accuracy with miraculous manifestations. The apostolic mandate for unity will arise with a demand for reconciling differences worldwide, but especially within regions. A true Spirit of unity is being released upon the Body of Christ. Kingdom of God governmental authority will begin to come into place as the Spirit of God orders structure regionally, nationally and internationally.

It's a time for those with a Joshua spirit to arise to possess. God's grace to displace our enemies is upon us. Let us be promise possessors! It's time to break free from the past generational curses and tolerated hindrances. Let us walk in the blessings of God!

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13 -14

It's time for reaping the rewards of the process and patient pursuit. After passing through the confined difficult place, we enter into the enlarged place of dwell. Let's enter the enlarged place! He'll restore more than ever before! While being tested, the Israelites were told to gather their quota of manna daily. On the sixth day, they were told to gather and it would be doubled because of entering into the rest of the Lord.

Shake off the hindrances and embrace the grace for the race! Let the weak say I am strong! Possess Strength to Run in 2001!

Reaching for Heaven & Reaching the Nations,
Bret Wade