PROPHETIC WORD FOR 2008

THY KINGDOM COME IN 2008
The Holy Spirit is impressing upon me the season we are entering into in 2008. It will be a time of "kingdom building" and walking as a "new creature" in Christ Jesus. These past several years have been a time of contending for the things of God and standing against the wiles of the enemy, violently grasping for that which we know are ours through Christ Jesus but having to do warfare for it. This new season there will be a change in our approach for kingdom living. We will be like Elijah, praying for God to open the eyes of his servant that he might see God's army before them. This is the account that comes to mind: "And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, a host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. " 2 Kings 6:15-17

There will be many of God's people who will have their eyes opened to "see" the things of God and will be seeking Him to open the eyes of others that they might be aware of Kingdom truth, that God is on our side and the battle is His and the victory ours through Christ Jesus. Another Scripture is going to come alive to us in 2008 and that is Revelation 19:11: "And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war." There will be such a peace within the body of Christ this year as we come to know our Lord as Faithful and True, knowing that He has things under control and is judging and waging war on our behalf in righteousness. In the next year there will be less stress in the body of Christ and more praise. That does not mean that we will not have things come against us, for we will. It does mean that there will be more praise going up to Him Who is worthy of all praise, knowing that He is waging the war against our oppressors and that the victory is ours through Him. Hallelujah!

ANGELIC REALM OPENED UP
Over this past year we have been hearing more and more about angels, how they are visiting the earth with more frequency and are becoming more aware of them than we had been in the past.. Hebrews 1:14 tells us of angels, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” God will was always to establish His kingdom upon the earth and to have fellowship with man. That is why He sent His Son, that none should perish and would be restored back to Him and fulfill God’s purposes and will on earth as it is in heaven. When you read about angels in Scripture we see how they came forth to bring the message of God’s will upon the earth or to help in getting God’s will done. As we walk forth in kingdom building purposes and truth I believe we will be more open and sensitive to the angelic realm around us.

COMPLETENESS AND UNITY IN HIM
Often the Lord will speak to me through my family, showing their lives and happenings to have prophetic meaning. Back in August of last month He showed me that February was going to be an important month. In this month three of our four daughters are due to give birth. What is interesting is that our oldest daughter is going to be giving birth to her third child, after a span of nine years while our youngest daughter will be giving birth to her first child. The other daughter is giving birth to her sixth child. And on the same month these babies will be born, my husband will be celebrating his 60th birthday. There are a lot of 3’s and 6’s in this equation. Three (3) is representative of “completeness” while 6 is in regards to man. I believe we are going to see a “completeness” taking place within the body of Christ, bringing forth the mature sons/daughters of God that all creation has been waiting for. Since this will be our 13th grandchild, there seems to be significance in this as well. This next move of God will not come without a cost nor will it be free of opposition. But those in Christ will find a strength within that can only be credited to Christ Himself and many marvelous works will be brought forth through the hands of His people in the days ahead for His glory and for His kingdom. As a matter of fact, “Kingdom Builders” will be a familiar and popular phrase in the days ahead. An important note here on the number “13” as many consider it to be a bad omen or “unlucky”, it is impressed upon me that this number is preceded by “12” with “1” added (“12” is symbolic of “government” and “1” of unity.) We are entering a day of greater understanding and fellowship with Him who holds the government upon His shoulders. Denominations will fall as He rises within the body of Christ bringing greater unity than the world has known amongst His people.

GOD’S IS BIRTHING HIS GLORY UPON THE EARTH
We are headed into a time of coming to know God's greatness as His hand touches the earth. Many are coming out from a most difficult year in 2007. This past year has been a time of pain and travail as well as of preparation for the birth that is about to take place within the body of Christ. The pregnancy experience is very humbling and exposing! What you wouldn’t normally do or expose yourself to is now becoming a necessity to preserve the safety of the baby within you. The Holy Spirit has been doing a work in our lives to prepare us for the birth that is about to take place, humbling us and exposing the hidden sin in our lives - not to shame us but to prepare us for what is about to take place, the birth of God’s glory upon the earth! If you have been going through a difficult time and yet seeking the Lord through it, count it an honor. Not everyone is privileged to carry a child and give birth in the natural, nor is this so in the spiritual as well. Count this challenging time as a blessing and give Him the honor for it!

Keep the faith, literally. Giving birth can be the most painful part it all. Labor pains are not pleasant but are necessary to expand the birth canal so that the baby can come forth. The birthing process is a rather messy matter to say the least. I have always been amazed that the very thing that is given for a woman alone to do is very messy and unladylike! While women are taught to be “modest” God presents her with a task that forgoes the role of modesty. When that baby is about to be born that woman does not care about modesty. All she wants is for that baby to be born! And that is how we must look at the time we have been through and are yet going through. When I was in labor with my husband and my first baby I was very aware of another woman across the hall who was also in the process of giving birth. As one labor pain came after another, this woman was cursing her husband for the pain he had caused him, saying it was his fault! I was astonished at her words. Was not this baby conceived in love? Was not a baby a blessing? Well, I am sure she thought that after the baby was born but was taken by surprise by the actual birthing process. Dear ones, let us not be taken by surprise by the pain and discomfort we might experience before this “baby” is born. Let us set our eyes on our Beloved, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)” Surely, we can go through this process for His glory and honor, amen?

THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION
There are many out there who are lost and hurting; deceived and confused. While it is true many can be found in the church, there are also those outside the church that our Lord is crying for. I can hear in my spirit the Lord saying, “Adopt these as your own (spiritually, within your heart) and bring them to Me!” It is as if I see the Lord Jesus lamenting not only over Jerusalem but over the whole earth, desiring to draw all people and nations to His bosom. The Lord is asking us to stand in the gap for those who do not know Him and whose destination is eternal damnation without Him. It is not God’s will that any should perish and if we hold these lost ones up to Him, having a heart for them as He does as a loving Father, we will see many hearts turned to Him. Let it be, oh Holy One, let it be. Break our hearts for these precious souls and may we bring them to You, through prayer and supplication, for Your glory in Jesus’ name!

DON’T’ BE LATE IN 2008
There is also a warning, a cry not to be late for soon the door of "opportunity" will close. The vision I saw was of Alice in Wonderland, hearing the White Rabbit say, "I'm late! I'm late! I'm late for an important date!" While I sense that “Alice in Wonderland” also has significance for this year, I believe more will be given from the Holy Spirit at a later time on that.

We are living in a very specific and appointed time of the Lord. Individually, if we dilly dally with the things of God, it is possible to miss what He desires to do through us. Now, that doesn’t mean that we will hold up what God wants to do upon the earth for He will find willing vessels. If we are not in position and on time with what He is doing He will find another to do what He originally gave us to do. While the vision of the White Rabbit was enough to impress the importance of us not being “late,” He has given me many dreams to solidly verify that time is crucial - again, on an individual level, not a corporate level. God will accomplish and establish His will upon the earth. The question is, will we be among the ones who are “on time”- ready and able to carry forth His manifested glory? If we’re not sure, just call out to Him and say, “Lord, here I am. Use me.” And then be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in your life. It’s not too late yet, but we need to be mindful that time is running out.

THE AUTORITY OF CHRIST IN YOUThere is an new awakening taking place within the hearts of God’s children as they draw closer to Him. As God’s people mature, a greater awareness of our calling and purposes will become more evident. With maturity comes responsibility. In the first chapter of Genesis we see that God gave man a authority and responsibility. After He created man in His own image God blessed them and told them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; having dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air; and over every living that that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28). There’s no telling what would have happened if man had been obedient to do what God said from the very beginning. Praise God for being a God of second, third and many chances, amen?

Today we are to have dominion on the earth as well. But it will not be by our own authority that this will be done but by the that which is found in Christ.. Jesus took back the authority from satan that was lost by man in the garden and through Him and the leading of the Holy Spirit we can walk as the Lord desired that we walk so many thousands of years ago. The authority of Christ Jesus is not intended to be used for selfish purposes but rather to establish God’s Kingdom on the earth as it is in heaven. Those who are yielded to the Holy Spirit will grow in confidence of Christ in them and in His workings through them. They will understand the need to co-operate with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. To serve the Lord will be the greatest and deepest desire of their hearts for their love of Him will out shadow and outweigh anything else in their lives.

SIGNS, MIRACLES AND WONDER, WALKING IN POWER
In John 10:36-38 we read Jesus saying, “Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” Because of a deeper relationship with Jesus, a greater awareness will take place as we see ourselves as sons and daughters of the Most High God, and we will have a stirring in us by the Holy Spirit to do the things that Jesus did and greater things than that (John 14:12). The early church walked in signs, miracles and wonders because of the authority and power given to them by our Lord. I believe we are headed into a great harvest of souls, exceeding numbers and signs, miracles and wonders which took place in the book of Acts. It is already beginning happening in many nations and much more will take place in the days ahead.

A new wave of healing is coming forth as well as signs, miracles and wonders. Jesus walked in power and authority upon the earth. The apostles did the same, so did the early church that followed Christ Jesus. It will not be enough for those who have built a relationship with our heavenly Father and with our Lord Jesus to just speak the will of God. The Holy Spirit is nudging us to walk in power, to step out on faith for the fields are ripe for harvest but the laborers are few. The Lord desires to move through those who are humble, those who have submitted their lives to His authority and are not self seekers but rather seekers of Him. It will be through these willing servants and friends that He will do just that in the days ahead! “To God be the glory” will be their heart cry.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7

“ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10

While God is a loving Father, He is One who requires our respect and obedience. Too many have gotten overly familiar with the Lord and not walked in reverence to His Sovereignty and might. We must know Him in His entirety and not overlook Who He Is, the Great I AM. We are here for His purposes and not our own. In 2008 we will hear more about accountability before Him, about being holy as He is holy. He is requiring that we be like-minded with Christ, being transformed into His image. Those who love Him will want this as much in their lives as well.

There is great excitement and expectancy coming forth in the year 2008 and great things that God will do upon the earth. In all of this, let us remember what is written in Jeremiah 9:23-24, “Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD.” Let us take these words to heart.

In conclusion, as we seek Him Who is Great in 2008, let us not procrastinate nor hesitate to give Him all the glory and honor He so richly deserves. Lord Jesus, be established in our hearts and flow freely through us as we submit to You, joining in prayer and unity with You, saying,

“Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13)

In Him,
Joan Bowe