CROSSROADS AND FORERUNNERS

© Morris Ruddick

SUMMARY

We stand at an unusual crossroads in time. On the one hand, it has been an unusually difficult, and sometimes absolutely brutal time for a key element of the Body called to pave the way for others. Yet, there is an extraordinary shift underway in the heavenlies. An alignment designed to release a number of key agendas from God's throne-room for this day. And with that realignment will come an incredible release of His power to accomplish His initiatives.

Those who have been paving the way and breaking new ground for the agendas coming forth have been bearing a high cost. These are the pioneers. The advance warriors. The forerunners.

Those bearing the brunt are those who operate at the junctures in time to facilitate the release of God's agendas; who serve as the pathfinders for those who will follow.

As the Body is being prepared, alerted and mobilized for these God-initiated agendas, there is a timely and crucial need to establish a strong, impenetrable prayer shield for the advance warriors and pioneers paving the way. A prayer covering that will enable the breaking of the bars of iron and the opening of the gates for the transitions to be embraced; and the throne-room agendas to be released.

Let's give keen focus to interceding: * For the mobilizing of an impenetrable prayer shield around today's pioneers, advance warriors and pathfinders. * For a release of greater spiritual authority for those breaking new ground for the Lord's agendas for this hour. * That the devices and intentions of those raging against the pioneer elements of the Body be exposed for all to see --- and with the exposure, that their intricate webs, links and lifelines be cut asunder and rendered useless and impotent. * That the false teachers and infiltrators whose misguided actions undermine and disable those paving the way for God's leading edge agendas would likewise be exposed and rendered powerless. * For greater protection, discernment, and empowerment being imparted to today's pioneers; and protection upon those dear to them, as well as for those who support them. * For divinely orchestrated alignment, coordination and clarity of purpose among those elements of the Body called to release and facilitate the Lord's agendas for this hour. * And for a release of God's miracle-working power and the mobilization of new levels of angelic support to intervene on behalf of those paving the way.

THE PRESSURES, COSTS AND PURPOSES

Esther and Mordecai served at a juncture in time to facilitate an awesome release of God's purposes for His people in that day. Queen Esther and Mordecai understood the costs. Mordecai saw Haman for who he was. But when it was recognized that Haman's wicked schemes were being set in motion, God's sovereign intervention was the only possible solution. The desperation and need for God's deliverance was so great that whatever course of action was taken had to begin by mobilizing God's people to pray. That undergirding in prayer led to a timely series of bold, life-threatening steps for Esther and Mordecai --- those at the forefront.

Those paving the way for God's agendas today; like those in the time of Queen Esther and those of the early Church, are facing not only overt and covert enemies from outside the Body, but those who have infiltrated within. The Apostle Peter spoke of the false teachers, who promulgate destructive heresies and bring reproach upon the Body and the moves of the Holy Spirit. They are motivated by not only greed, but by pride and arrogance. They undermine and bring confusion and division. But the scriptures indicate that their days are numbered.

The Patriarch Joseph stood at a juncture in time and was used mightily to facilitate a pivotal throne-room agenda that defied all religious tradition of his people. The costs for Joseph were many and they were high. The series of betrayals he experienced --- by his brothers, by Potipher, and by the self-serving cup-bearer of Pharaoh --- became the gateways to the forefront of where God intended for him to be used in the release of His initiatives.

Yet Joseph remained the same; whether as a slave, or in prison, or sitting along side of Pharaoh. His character and greatness, which came from the time He spent with the Lord, was clearly recognized by those in authority over him --- whether in slavery, prison, or with Pharaoh. Joseph didn't waver. He remained steadfast and faithful with His fixed on the Lord. And he paved the way --- for a mighty deliverance for his people, which included those who had previously tried to destroy him.

We can't speak of today's pioneers without mentioning the remnant of Messianic Jewish believers in Israel paving the way for what God is doing among the Jewish people in the promised land. These brethren have paid an unusually high cost. Israel itself is a land of pioneers. But the cost of the remnant of Israeli believers is one of the higher costs of those laying the foundations for God's agendas. The unrelenting anti-missionary elements in Israel, though a minority, reflect the same spirits of rage and hatred that were operating against the early Jewish believers --- most notably through their alliance with Rabbi Saul before His Damascus Road experience.

Messianic Jewish believers in Israel are faced with unusual persecution from these anti-missionary elements; whose tentacles of influence in Israeli governmental, media and legal circles help support their vicious, oppressive efforts. Jewish believers immigrating to Israel are deported if they are found out prior to gaining their citizenship. Once recognized, they are treated by many as outcasts. They are no longer considered Jewish by these outspoken elements who hate them and want them removed. They are too often treated as second class citizens. The oppression directed at our Jewish brethren in Israel is so bad, that it has far too often resulted in them being ignored and not recognized by misguided Christian groups currying the favor of elements within the leadership of the Israeli infrastructure.

THRONE-ROOM AGENDAS

At the top of the list of the Throne-Room agendas for this day are:

* The transfer and release of the world's wealth into Kingdom initiatives;

* The release of Joseph and Daniel-type strategies that will penetrate the systems of this world to touch nations for the Lord;

* The call and release of uniquely chosen and prepared women of God into strategic roles in redeeming significant hidden resources;

* The merging of strategies, initiatives and key groups within the Body to fulfill the command in Isaiah 58:10 to reach out to the hungry and oppressed;

* The mobilization of the Gentile Church to stand with Israel and the growing Messianic Jewish segment of the Body, as the Lord releases revival among the Jewish people;

* The identification of keys, gatekeepers and gateways through which select Josephs and Daniels will enter the seats of power within the world's systems; and

* The creation of strategic alliances with the King Cyrus and Pharaoh types of our era serving as gatekeepers for resources to be used for God's redemptive purposes and the building of His Kingdom.

PENETRATING AND DIFFUSING THE ENEMY'S INFRASTRUCTURES

For God's agendas to be released today, the forerunners operating in enemy-held territory must first cut the lifeline supports and the connecting links that empower and hold together the enemy's intricate webs. The accomplishment of these tasks begins with the links and lifelines of the enemy's infrastructures being exposed. And with exposure will follow confrontation, dismantlement and diffusing. Indeed, may it be according to Jeremiah's prophecy against Moab, "Fear and the pit and the snare shall be upon you," says the LORD. "He who flees from the fear shall fall into the pit, and he who gets out of the pit shall be caught in the snare."

Today's pioneers have infiltrated deep into enemy-held territory and are in position. A time of great release of God's agendas is before us. And much as in the days of Queen Esther, it's the time to mobilize prayer for those paving the way.

A TRANSITION OF MOBILIZING AND EMPOWERMENT

Evil only has limited seasons and defined boundaries. Today's God-initiated paradigm shifts will release the committed elements of the Body from being an in-bred, defensively positioned entity to one operating strategically and in great power. The transition will be toward that spoken of in Revelation: "and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives to the death." In other words, a bold, fearless, potent Body that will spit in the face of every strategem of the enemy, including death. A purposeful, proactive, powerfully anointed Body that will make it's impact in every sector of society, among every tribe and nation, and across every corner of the Globe.

Isaiah 66 indicates that "The hand of the LORD shall be known to His servants, and His indignation to His enemies. For behold, the LORD will come with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire." We are entering the day of His power. The Lord is releasing His heavenly hosts. It's time.

It's time for the Elijahs of this day to confront with power the prophets of Baal who have been deceiving and leading far too many astray. It's time for mighty, fearless champions of the Lord's purposes, after the spirit of Jehu, to boldly enter the enemy's lairs and inner sanctums. Indeed as Jehu stated in 2 Kings 9, "How can there be peace as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of Jezebel are all around us?" It's time. It's time for today's Jehu's to challenge and command the casting down of today's Jezebels, with all their lies, deceptions, intimidations and witchcraft.

A FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT REQUIREMENT FOR THE FORERUNNERS

The pivotal time we are entering is requiring the mobilization and focus of intercession toward reversing the curses and attacks being leveled at the forerunners --- those paving the way for God's initiatives for this day. We stand at a juncture in time much like Mordecai and Esther.

The time is now. It's time to mobilize a powerful, ongoing intercessory prayer shield for those boldly paving the way. It is time for the awesome power God to be released against the schemes and attacks being levied against today's pioneers and advance warriors. It's time to establish an impenetrable prayer shield for those chosen as the Esthers and Mordecais, the Josephs and Daniels, and the Nehemiahs of this day --- those called to pave the way and facilitate the release of God's agendas for this hour.