Download entire DOUBLE ISSUE January 2009 Newsletter in pdf format

Issue #21 Jan 09

A Word of Encouragement for the Bride

As you develop your character through severe tests of your faith and much tribulation, you will see that I had been preparing you for what is ahead all along. For if I prevented you from going through what you did, you would not be ready to face what is ahead. For if you feel that you were harshly abused, then you don’t know how righteous and loving of a father that I AM.

For yes, I am a loving father, and I only allow what is necessary and beneficial for your future. For these are the end times, and through much tribulation shall you enter into the kingdom of God. You will face much persecution, and because you have been made ready, you will thrive in your spirit through it all. Even if some may be martyred, they will rejoice in their heart that they were made ready, and were able to stand firm in victory, and were able to overcome through the onslaught of the evil one.

Remember the many times you felt that you didn’t have what it took to be able to overcome; all the times you felt that you didn’t have the strength to go on? And you yielded to My spirit, and My joy was your strength, and My peace enabled you to rest in Me.

Just thank Me, My children, for this is a new day, a new hour in Me, and know that I AM all that you need to be able to carry you through the storm, the chaos, the confusion of the hour, the devastation, the onslaught that will come against My people to try to crush them. For as much as they will go through, they will only be made stronger, and as they receive much pressure, or crushing, they will only release the fragrance of My love, and My glory that will draw in those I’ve died for, and repel those of the wicked one.

So rejoice, My favored and most desirable ones, for I love you intensely, and I will be with you through all that you will face. I will stand before you. They will not see you, but they will see My glory. And when you will speak, they will hear only My words with such intensity that they will not be able to deny that I AM your God. And signs and wonders will follow you in spite of any or all persecution. They will not be able to quench the mighty flow of My spirit through you.

For these are the end days, and I have made you ready, My faithful ones. Do not fear what you see or what you may hear, but press in this final hour. Yes, press through, and shout out a victory shout for We win no matter what the outcome of what you go through!

So rest in Me that you didn’t escape My preparation through the trials and tests of your character. For yes, you have been made ready, and yes, you have been able to face the men, and yes, you will be ready to face the horses. Nothing by any means shall harm you or hinder you in this final hour. They may be able to kill your body, but they will never be able to crush out your spirit, or your love for Me, or My love through you.

Yes, you have been made ready through the fire of My love, and now you are a strong pillar in the temple of your God. Stand firm in My love. If I AM for you, who can ever be against you! Lift up a mighty shout of valor for We win.

Yolanda Ballard, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

December 31, 2008

“If Joseph had not continued to exercise faith in spite of the hopeless circumstances that he faced while held captive in prison [and through the false accusations that led to his imprisonment] he would have died there and, thus, fallen short of his destiny. In just the same way, my “elect” [those whose hearts are wholly given] must be found exercising an absolute faith in this hour. They must be found “holding fast the vision” [revelation] [Habakkuk 2:2-4] through a perfect love and patience. For truly I say to you, the vision [My perfect plan] will not tarry nor will it disappoint as it moves rapidly towards it perfect fulfillment in the lives of My faithful ones in this most glorious hour. Truly I say to you, faith and patience will SURELY inherit the fullness of the promise[s], and bear maximum fruit for the Church and the Kingdom—from now until the end of the age, and on into Eternity.”

Joseph’s faith has marked him through time as a visionary leader ... a dreamer who would triumph against all odds, who seized hold of his ultimate destiny through a series of events that would require ultimate forgiveness. Sold into slavery by his jealous older brothers, he would later find himself imprisoned unjustly as he walked into a trap laid for him by his master’s wife. Through years of hardship, misunderstanding and mistreatment we see Joseph latching on to the one thing that remains unchangeable: His God.

As Joseph presses hard into a radical relationship of devotion to God, we see God responding and charting his course even through disheartening years of treachery, abandonment, and finally prison. The tempter in Joseph’s life was not Potipher’s wife, but anger and bitterness. Joseph had to choose: God’s ways or his own.

Obtaining 20/20 Vision

God requires that we lay down our own desires to follow Him. Even though anger and bitterness seem at times to be justifiable, they never are. Strong emotions that emerge during times of painful shifting in life can cloud a man’s vision and effectively rob him of the peace and abundance that God promises to us through His Word. Unforgiveness can easily lead us onto paths that God never intended for us to take.

Luke 9:58-59 (NKJV) ⁵⁸ And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” ⁵⁹ Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”

Mark 4:18-19 (NKJV) ¹⁸ Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, ¹⁹ and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Heard the voice of the Lord saying:

“This year there will be many reversals in the Kingdom. The last will be first, and the first will be last. Those who have been shoved aside, and put down by sensual church government systems, and have overcome their bitterness and pride will be exalted, because they will put ME first. I have preeminence in their hearts, not men.

This year I am taking home many heroes of the faith, in the eyes of the people, for I have an army I am calling forth that will not bend to mammon. I have an army that is humble and uncorrupted by the riches of this world. They will not make the church like a luxury hotel that only the rich can afford. Those who refuse to help the poor even in their own congregations will have their doors shut. Many churches will also go bankrupt this year because they built according to world systems and standards. Many of those who have been in forefront of ministry will find themselves learning humility again.

On December 29, 2008, the Lord showed me in a vision a new place in heaven, which was a huge room and the door was opened in front of me, and the Lord, who was also standing beside me. I looked into the vast room and it was lined with tall ornate looking cabinets as far as you could see. The cabinets held swords. There was row upon row upon row of cabinets full of swords. The cabinets were dark, kind of like cherry wood, but when I went up to look at the cabinets, the wood was not ordinary wood but it was alive. You could feel the Spirit flowing through them as it flowed through all things in heaven.

The cabinets held swords. Each was upright with the base on the bottom and the tips pointing upwards. The swords bases were gold, but the blades were like clear diamonds. The blades also seemed to be filled with fire that pulsated within the blade when you touched it. I noticed that the swords all had the same inscription on them. I looked closer to read it, and it said, “The Whole Counsel Of God,” on the sword blade. Even though the blade was like a diamond with fire in it, I could read the inscribed words with no problem, as the fire within only enhanced the letters.

I wondered at how there could be so many here in heaven and why they were not being used already. Maybe they were for those yet to be born? I earnestly desired to have one for myself if they were not yet determined for someone, or if the Lord waited for someone to claim one, I would. The Lord nodded, and said, “These swords are for those who desire to walk in the Whole Counsel Of God. Many walk in My Truth, but they do not walk in My whole counsel. They only desire the portions of My Word that fit their theology or that fit into their visions or that will help them accomplish their goals. Many only want to believe in what is easy to believe in, but also do not truly believe all of My Word is true. I am separating those who believe from those who will not believe.

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope.” Romans 8:18-20

“The time of the great forces of my kingdom are soon to be released upon the earth. For the elements of this earth of rain, fire, smoke, and wind will soon be poured out in fury. This is the time of great changes and upheavals. For the earth itself will be going through upheavals as it waits in eager expectation for the sons of glory to be revealed. For the Son himself has appointed many to shine like the stars in the heavens. He has appointed some to walk as Enoch did, who never tasted death. For you see, it is in this lifetime that he will come back.

As darkness gets darker, light gets brighter.

There are two forms of unity and as a result two forms of power arising. One is like the Tower of Babel, the other is like the church of the book of Acts. One is man-made as people with various gifts, skills, influences and resources come together to build. There is much power when man unites in this way. It is done in man’s strength, however, and is like the Tower of Babel. (Gen 11:3-7) It is man having faith in what man can do. I am not found in man’s strength. I am found in man’s weakness. This is where you will find My power, in those who are uniting by My Spirit, as was in the Book of Acts. Jesus prayed for THIS kind of unity in Gethsemane. “Father, let them be one as we are one.” These are individuals and communities small and big, who hunger to become one with Me. Born again by My Spirit, they do not go back to their carnal understanding, they continue their journey the same way —led by My Spirit. They are crucified in Christ and they no longer live but Christ lives in them. (Gal 2:20) By their choice and surrender, I AM their only strength and source of power.

“So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong” – Hebrews 12:12

“My precious Church, the past year and beginning of this new year has been a time of refining for many of you. A time of deep fire to bring forth your character and your testimony’s as pure gold. Many of you have undergone intense pressure and heat but you have continued to walk with Me, seeking My face, even when your knees were weak and your strength had gone.

“Many of you have walked battles that seem to have not ended, battles that seem to have taken faith, determination and endurance that you have never known before. My precious ones, as you were faithful to keep seeking My face I continued to empower you and strengthen you, not by your might, but by My Spirit.

“I am calling you to keep holding on, do not let the frustrations, anxieties, battles and unexplained circumstances stop you from seeking Me, My Church. I know that many of you are tired, and continue to cry out to Me about when this time will end.

Vision — January 06, 2009

In the vision, I was looking at the world from a suspended position. I could see people and areas from a panoramic position and also at times, I saw things close up. The position varied as it did with the scenes and with the messages that I was given to understand by the experiences given to me.

I saw what looked to me like great fiery rain coming from heaven and it came in great drops or elongated streams. It was not like the natural rain that we know of, but it was like spiritually infused living molten lava, a real fire, but it was Living Spirit; the living fiery essence of the Father that was raining down towards the inhabitants below.

As I watched, I saw that it fell simultaneously in one great event all over the earth. But it did not fall everywhere, and it did not upon everyone. It rained down suddenly and I saw that many people did see it coming from above as it happened, as it was a real physical event that men could actually experience and see, but it was also a divine event that not all men would experience, but I understood that men would know that God had entered into the corporate natural affairs of men divinely again.

As I was listening, I heard the Father speak. His tone was gentle and kind and as He spoke I had a keen sense of being in the presence of Wisdom. I had never thought of wisdom as tangible and alive before, but as I experienced this, in awe I realized that indeed God is Life and everything in Him and about Him is alive and yes, wisdom is referred to as a person in Proverbs.

The word I received:

My children, as I ask you to spread the Gospel, it is not your knowledge of Me that I ask you to share and impart, it is your relationship with me that I ask you to spread. This is not something that you can do, it is something that you are. You see My children, you cannot give out what you do not have. You cannot be what you are not. If your doctrine does not match your experience—there is only so far that you can you go with that. What you believe in your mind about Me only dresses you up on the outside—it has no power to transform you from the inside.

Jesus lived a holy life filled with power to overcome sin and do great miracles. He did this as man in right relationship with Me—not based upon His carnal understanding of Me—but based upon His spirit’s ability to hear my voice and follow My instruction. The desire of His heart was to see through My eyes and reason through My understanding.

Press in and do not hold back from going even deeper, for I am calling My people higher to press in like never before. You must guard your heart like never before, and be discerning. Wait upon Me, and I will show you the schemes, the tactics, the plans of the enemy to hinder you going deeper in Me.

When you find yourself in an apparent setback, rejoice for I am using it for your good! Rejoice for I am setting the captives free, and opening the blind eyes, and causing them to be able to hear My still small voice.

Rejoice for this is the day of My visitation. For I have seen your heart, and I have seen your hunger for wanting more of Me. More than the air you breathe, you want Me! And because you have pressed in, I will reward you.

In a vision, I saw a freshly painted, white, screened door. It had no doorknob with which to open it.

“I am the Lord your God. I open the doors that I require you to walk through in this hour. These doors have been prepared beforehand. Walk through them, according to My will and know that the Lord God Almighty’s finest hour is approaching. This is an hour when you will behold My goodness and know the wonder of belonging to the great and holy One, the King of glory.

“I am the door. Let Me expound on these words: I am the One Whom you enter in order to be in the safe haven that I have provided. Entering this door will take you along many corridors, corridors that eventually lead to My kingdom of delight. Many enter and wander aimlessly; nevertheless they are safe in My domain. Many wonder why their progression through this domain does not go faster and more smoothly. They fret over their progress. They whine and complain. Let Me tell you, beloved, whining and complaining will never speed the progress of one of My own. It only hinders. Put your trust in Me, knowing that the One Who provided the door of entry is well able to lead you into the hope that is promised.

John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

The following is what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me about what will take place in the Church in the year 2009. However, the revelation begins with the year 2000 and reaches into the year 2012.

The breakdown of these years is as follows:

2000-2006 were named (by the Spirit) “The Years of Teaching and Learning.” This was a time in which many of God’s people began to be taught by the Holy Spirit according to 1 John 2:27. Those who made the Holy Spirit their teacher received understanding of this present visitation as revealed in Hosea 6:1-3.

2007-2008 were named “The Years of Preparation.” That which was learned in 2000-2006 was beginning to be practiced by those who were taught by the Holy Spirit. The prophetic words that came in 2007 and 2008 will carry on into a completeness in 2012.

2009-2011 are called “A Time of Equipping.” This will be a time in which the Church will begin to live in and manifest the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s fruit and gifts. Miracles will become more common as God’s people grow into a fullness of faith and gifting.

2012 will be “The Year of Divine Government.” Those who are equipped during the fourth watch (2009- 2011) will find themselves living under the power of divine intervention. The Lord will establish His rule over a people who have moved from the Church Age to the Kingdom Age, His kingdom in manifestation among His people. The Church Age represents man’s rule in religious institutions; the Kingdom Age represents God’s rule over His people by the Holy Spirit.

Dear Friends,

I was pondering what 2009 might bring when the Holy Spirit broke into my thoughts with this phrase, “It is a year of increase for some and decrease for others.”

Immediately following these words, I had a vision in which I saw Jesus looking out to the horizon. He handed me a pair of binoculars. I put them to my eyes “right way round” and was able to see clearly. Everything was magnified just as one would expect with a functioning pair of binoculars. Everything increased. Just after this the Lord took the binoculars from me and turned them “wrong way round”. I put them back to my eyes and everything in my vision became smaller, decreased and what was near seemed even further away that when viewed with the naked eye. The Lord looked at me as if pre-empting my next question and said, “Whether you experience increase or decrease will depend on your focus.”

As we enter into 2009 God is calling us to see things through His eyes. There are a number of things that I believe the Lord is speaking about 2009. I will list these (in no particular order) mindful that we see in part, and what I bring today is only a small part of what the blessed Holy Spirit is speaking to His bride at this time.

Part One, October 16, 2008

You have entered into a new season of fruitfulness in a dynamic way. Do not be dismayed or distracted by living in the past when it comes to pruning. If you want to be fruitful for My kingdom then you must be pruned each season. The fruitfulness of your life and relationship with Me will be greatly diminished in the coming season if you do not release the pruned branches and let the new growth come forth in its time with its fruit. Many take a branch that I have loped off and try to stick it back in the Vine. Do you not know that once I have removed it, it will no longer live or thrive? At that point one would be guilty of dead works and will fall into judgment (see Matthew 7:21-23). So let it go, release it to Me, and grow into the fruitfulness of this season with Me!

Did Jesus tell you that you are the branches and He is the True Vine? Is not your Heavenly Father the Vinedresser? Do you trust your Father to know what you need, or do you trust yourself more? If you are not pruned back and trained by My skilled hand, then you will become unruly and unfruitful. Because the pruning needed is important to the growth of the branches of the Vine, it takes One who is courageous, has a trained hand and eye, and has your fruitfulness in mind when cutting. I know, says the Lord, the exact number of buds which should remain for the maximum fruitfulness in the coming season. I correct, train and discipline those I love. What you believe to be productive growth in the past season, I see as what needs to be pruned back to the Vine for the fruitfulness of the next season.

I have been thinking a lot about Wells, Fountainheads and Rivers. It all started when our Pastor friends in Rotorua New Zealand took us to a fountainhead called Hamurana Springs. The water that flows out of the ground there comes out with such a flow that you can drop coins into the fountain head and they take several minutes to sink because of the upward pressure. Apparently the water that flows out has been traveling underground for a very long time and is very pure.

The Lord spoke and said “I would have my Children drink from the fountainhead. Many dig wells and draw water from the underground rivers and that’s good water but few drink from the fountainhead, many draw water from the rivers and lakes but it’s not as pure as the fountainhead.”

The thing about a fountainhead is that all the water contained in that stream comes out in one place, its fresh and it’s pure. The thing about a well is that you can only draw a certain amount out at a time, its good but it’s very limited. The thing about a river is that other polluted sources combine with the flow and spoil the water.

Jesus is our fountainhead, the Father is the source of the flow and the Holy Spirit draws us to the fountainhead.

This is the year that many of you in the body of Christ are about to be released into the callings and ministries that The Lord has for you. Several of you have been serving God for years and have been obedient in the secret place. This is the place where you have spent time with Jesus in prayer and communion and have held steadfast in His Word without wavering. This is the year that those of you who have been obedient in your private time are going to be rewarded openly. You were obedient to the conviction of the Holy Spirit every time you turned off the ungodly movies. You were obedient when you helped that person in need even when you did not know them. It was obedience every time you kept your hands clean and your heart pure. To those of you who have been diligent this is your year to soar. You may feel like all your effort has been in vain but Jesus wants you to know that your labor was not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15: 58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Everything that you did in private whether it was praying, fasting, tithing or even reading the Word of God has been a time of sowing seeds. As you have been sowing into good soil this will be your year for reaping. Each seed contains a tiny plant waiting for the right conditions to germinate before it is brought out into full manifestation. When you plant seeds in the natural you must first have the proper soil. After you deposit the seed into the soil there will be no evidence of anything immediately because during that time the seed is in hiding and it is forming roots.

There is a clearing ahead. The fog that has been pressing in around you will be swept away by the wind of My Spirit. New things are coming as you have never seen before, and you will enter into the next season with vision and clarity, focused upon Me.

Press in and worship as I reveal more of Myself to you. Many revelations await you, but I will only give you what you can handle.

The seeds that I planted within you long ago will bear fruit. The harvest of all your labors for Me will be sweet. You will see doors open and many come into My Kingdom with greater ease. The foundation has been laid, and I am building upon it for My plans and purposes.

The Lord has led me into a new season of both rest and new activity. I have been given far fewer prophetic words to release but instead the Lord has opened up many doors of training and equipping which have been bearing much fruit.

One of these new activities is a training, equipping and prayer ministry, we call Prayer Mountain. We basically started by meeting once a month to spend three hours to soak, intercede, seek the Lord for prophetic insight, share these revelations, and lay hands on each other in small groups to impart and stir up gifts in each other and generally to spend more time getting to know the Lord better personally.

Now we meet twice a month and are praying to start mission trips, seminars and other activities to share what the Lord has been revealing to us, if the Lord wills.

What I want to share in right now is something the Lord revealed in one of these meetings, which has the potential to actually change your life.

12-30-08 In a vision, of what I can describe as a misty scene, I saw a dappled horse running towards me.... as this horse began to turn I saw a wooden ‘toy soldier’ perched on the horses back; it’s wooden joints banging around, with extremities and head flopping this way and that....

Oddly though, this ‘toy soldier’ seemed to be the size of a ventriloquists dummy (that is, much larger than a child’s real toy-soldier; more the size of an actual small child)

This white-ish/silver-ish horse had the faint darker splotches of color on his body (back and mid-section) which I believe would make this a ‘dapple’ horse. (not sure, but I think so?)

As they finished turning / changing direction, close in front of me making a fairly sharp turn, this ‘toy soldier’ fell to the side tumbling off the horse’s back. I could not see more of him, yet I could and did assume this odd sized ‘toy soldier’ fell to his ruin, due to the horse’s running speed, and that toy’s wooden crafting ... the dappled horse continued off to my right, and this vision portion faded.

Excerpt: The Lord then began to speak to me about His Glory. He said with this plumb line “everyone” will be forced to choose which side they are on. Those who choose His Glory will receive it in a greater measure than they ever imagined! I saw a joyous celebration taking place with spectacular manifestations of the Glory of God! Those who chose God would go to higher and higher levels in Glory and into intimacy with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—they would be qualified to go to the next level.

However, sadly enough, the Lord also said that those who didn’t choose His Glory would not only miss out on this glorious level of God’s presence, but they would also be drawn away into deception of the enemy. I saw how the enemy would begin to infiltrate their thought-lives and then entire beings through harbored unbelief in their hearts. The enemy would cause them to increase in legalism—the religious spirit would begin to dominate. These were people once full of faith and belief… even the elect if possible.

The Lord spoke to me and said, “The religious spirit IS the spirit of antichrist.”