The Spirit of Issachar
Recently while ministering in Cincinnati, Ohio, with Jeff and Bob and Bonnie Jones, I was reminded of an encounter that I had several years ago. I actually dreamed that I was preaching and sharing this encounter at the conference we were ministering at. The next morning I woke up wondering why I had dreamed of preaching this now. The Lord spoke to me and said, "The word is for NOW and is meant for this season in time."
Regarding the encounters, I remember the Lord actually coming to me on two separate occasions. First, the Lord came to me in the night in a red convertible. He said, "Get in," so of course I did. As we drove He began to tell me how important it is to discern the times and seasons we are in and said, "I'm giving you the spirit of Issachar, so you will know the times and seasons" (see 1 Chronicles 12:32).
We continued down a very long and straight road that had evergreen trees on both sides. When we came to the end of the road, He asked me to get out. He pointed to the horizon and said, "Look." As I gazed at the gorgeous horizon all around me, there was a straight line in the middle of the sky between earth and heaven (heaven and earth were aligned perfectly). He told me that THIS is what perfect balance looked like—perfect harmony between heaven and earth. He explained that in everything there must be balance. He told me that the church has been out of balance, but He would be restoring balance in the coming season. A couple definitions for the word "balance" in Webster's dictionary are, "to equal or equalize," and "a means of judging or deciding." The Lord made it clear that this judging and deciding period was coming upon us in the very near future to restore balance in the body.
The Plumb Line for the New Temple
In another visitation just a few days after the first, the Lord spoke again and said that during the time of this "judging or deciding," the enemy would come against the church in a strong way and would use the religious spirit to lead away many. The Lord said, "The plumb line is falling," and immediately in this visual encounter I saw the plumb line fall into place. It was like a heavy weight had fallen among God's people. Webster's describes a plumb line as a line (cord) that has at one end a weight (plumb bob) which is used especially to determine verticality—to find out if a wall is perfectly vertical.
Zechariah 4:10 says that the plumb line is in the hands of Zerubbabel, the King of Judah, and that the finishing gable or cap stone will be brought forth for the new tabernacle with shouts of Grace! Grace to it! (see vs. 7).
Zechariah 4:6 says, "'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD of hosts." This plumb line will fall as a result of God bringing the cap stone for the "new temple" which is just and true. It's not a man thing, it's a God thing. It's not by might or by power, or by the strong arm of the flesh or by the works of any man—it's "by MY SPIRIT" says the Lord! God is building an end time temple in accordance with the word of Haggai the prophet:
"'...and I will shake all the nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts. 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the LORD of hosts. 'The glory of this latter temple [You and I] shall be greater than the former...'" (Haggai 2:7-9, NKJV, emphasis added).
This plumb line that sets the cap stone of the latter day temple will be greater and more beautiful and majestic than the glory of Solomon's temple. All the Kings of the earth and even the Queen of Sheba came to marvel at the sight of Solomon's temple and to hear his profound wisdom. But the nations will stream into the house of God to see the Glory of His splendor in the temple of the Lord manifested in and through His people—the "Perusia"—the ever increasing presence of God and indwelling Glory of God in us. The church will be greater in splendor, wisdom, and glory than even Solomon's temple! But for this to happen there must first be a reestablishing of balance in His body according to the fallen plum line set in eternity.
A Time of Choosing Sides
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."
Notice the Bible never says it's the spirit of anti-Jesus, but anti-Christ. The word "Christ" means "Anointed One." The spirit of antichrist is anti-anointing. It is a religious spirit that is viciously against genuine demonstrations of miracles, healings, and the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom. The enemy will often use the religious spirit or the spirit of unbelief to bring about a cloud of deception during the times when the Lord speaking—unbelief cuts us off from the promises He is speaking—it cuts us off from His rest (see Hebrews 3:12 – 4:16).
The next thing the Lord showed me was 3:11, which specifically means, "The return of the Glory of the Lord to the church." He specifically gave me Ezekiel 3:11—"And go, get you to the [Jewish] captives [in Babylon], to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, Thus says the Lord God, whether they hear or refuse to hear" (AMP, emphasis added). We all know Babylon is a state of confusion. The Lord was telling us to go to those who are confused and speak the truth of the Lord God regardless of whether or not they would receive it. I woke up and looked at the clock—it was exactly 3:11 am.
After the Lord visited and spoke to me these things, I knew the word was for this appointed time and He wants His church to have the spirit of Issachar so we will know His appointed times and seasons.
Standing on the Side of the Supernatural
The Lord is saying this is a NOW word. In light of recent events in Lakeland, many have already chosen which side they will be on. Many are deciding what they believe about power. We must ask ourselves, "What do we believe about supernatural encounters and experiences?" "What do we believe about angels and the Kingdom of God?" In their minds they are choosing a side of caution, but beware lest the enemy sneaks in and attaches a spirit of doubt—it could quickly turn into a full-blown spirit of unbelief. I'm seeing people throw the baby out with the bath-water, so to speak, for fear that standing on the truth they once believed would be standing on the mistakes a few ministers have made. Don't throw out truth because of fear—if you are making decisions because of fear, you're not being led by the Spirit. God is much more capable of keeping us from deception than the enemy is of leading us into it. Moreover, we must take that first step of faith—making the decision to stand on the RIGHT side of the plumb line—the RIGHT side of the issue. Standing on the Truth will keep us from entering into the confusing state of Babylon.
Father I pray in the name of Jesus that You would impart to us the spirit of wisdom so that we would truly know You and recognize Your Spirit and be able to discern the Truth from a lie. Deliver us from the spirit of unbelief, and give us a spirit of boldness to preach the truth fearlessly. We thank You for Your Glory which transcends all that we could ever experience! We invite You into our hearts and into our lives in all Your Splendor! We want all that You are! Please do not withhold Your presence from us! Come Holy Spirit!
Come Lord Jesus!
