This word is submitted by Petru Prinsloo (saip@cis.co.za)

The Witness of the Stones
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Saints,

Do you remember why I told Joshua to take twelve stones from the Jordan? It was to be as witness for the next generation and all the peoples of the earth - so that you may know that My hand is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever. So too the children of Reuben and Gad built an altar which they called "Witness". They said it was for a witness between them and the children of Israel that the LORD is God.

Before the death of My servant Joshua, I challenged the people of Israel to serve Me - and again in the end a stone was set up to be a witness: "But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good." And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD!" So Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD for yourselves, to serve Him." And they said, "We are witnesses!" "Now therefore," he said, "put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD God of Israel." And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!" So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. Then Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. And Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God."

When challenged, I told the Pharisees that I was able to raise up children to Abraham from stones. Later when they tried to silence My disciples I told them that the stones would immediately cry out. I have also said that My children are as living stones, built up in a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up acceptable spiritual sacrifices.

Do the memorial stones of the OT speak louder than the living stones of today? Precious Children of Mine, the time to shout out has not just come, but is almost over. Allow Me to challenge you today: Have you been keeping silent in the face of adversity? Are you, as living stones, passing the witness to the next generation? Are you silent about the power of My hand simply because you fear persecution? Remember: blessed are those that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Shout My Beloved Ones. Shout from the valleys, shout from the mountain tops. Shout about My goodness and mercy that lasts forever. Shout to the world; "the power of the LORD, the might of His hand!" Shout "repent and be holy for He is coming soon!"

(Josh 4:24, 22:34, 24:19-27, Matt 3:9, Matt 5:10-12 Luke 19:40, 1 Pet 2:5)

- From the chambers of His heart
Petru