From the desk of Steve Shultz:
God uses the dark times in our lives...I know this well. It's what's been called "the dark night of the soul." We can come up on top of our seasons of trial and into His marvelous light. Be encouraged by this in Al Thomas' latest word.
Also, would you do me a favor? Please help us keep sending you words by buying as many prophetic items as you are able to from the Elijah List at this link: www.elijahshopper.com. You might save a buck by buying it online through Amazon, but you'll help us build the Kingdom more effectively if you buy things through us. Will you consider that "proposal"? Thank you for supporting us!
 |
NEW!
What Is God Saying for 2013?
by Chuck Pierce, Dutch Sheets, Garris Elkins, Bobby Haaby, and Denny Cline
Entire 2013 Elijah List Conference Set
|
Al Thomas:
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
Going through a dark time? Don't panic and think all is lost. Our God works in the dark also. You may be weeping now, but joy comes in the morning (see Psalm 30:5).
God Sometimes Allows the Dark For a Greater Light to Come Forth
Before Jesus died it became dark: "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour" (Matthew 27:45).
This was an extraordinary phenomenon when you realize that the Greek epi pasan ten gen (over all the land) literally means over all the earth. The entire globe was in darkness – as if it was shocked at what was taking place, seemingly to bow down in shame...knowing its very Creator was being put to death by His highest creation. The sun went backward in Hezekiah's time (see 2 Kings 20:8-11), and the sun stood still for Joshua to win the battle (see Joshua 10:12-14). The point here (for you and I) is that God can move on our part in light or darkness.
If you find yourself in a place where you cannot see where you are going, rest assured that He does know (see Psalm 139:1-4). Not only will He bring you through the dark – you will be the better for it. Trust that He is madly, passionately in love with you (see 1 John 4:8; 1 John 3:1). Yes, the crucifixion was the darkest moment in history. And it was followed by the greatest burst of Light (resurrection) the world has ever known.
In like manner, when the Lord moves in your predicament (and He will), it will be so glorious you will forget the darkness and rejoice at your deliverance into His light. Hard as it is to believe now, one day your faith will be rewarded – don't stop trusting Him now. He is in control of everything...don't waste your tears; praise Him in the light and the darkness. He is good. Now is when faith is needed.
In Your Darkest Days He Is Doing His Deepest Work
The apostle John wrote, "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). We are commanded to "walk in the light" (1 John 1:7). Yet, here is the paradox, "...Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was" (Exodus 20:21). It is significant that "the people stood afar off" and they left one man (Moses) to travel all alone. Moses knew beyond that darkness God dwelled. Can you see behind the darkness?
David wrote, "If I say, 'Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee'" (Psalm 139:11-12). God is not afraid of the dark and neither should we be because of what Jesus did!
Whenever there is darkness about us (not sin), God is doing a deep work in us. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by the prince of darkness and then returned in the power of the Spirit (see Luke 4:14) to heal, teach, and deliver others. We often learn more, gain greater revelation, etc., when we come through the darkness.
"Let the night teach us what we are, and the day what we should be" (Thomas Tryon, 1691).
Darkness shows what we are: Children of the Light and bearers of that Light. We all have dark nights of the soul. St. John of the Cross wrote a book on the subject. One of the things he emphasized was "Often, the dark night occurs after seeking for more of Him. Sometimes there is a lengthy and profound absence of light and hope. In the dark night you feel profoundly alone." Too often we give up when things are dark, just when God is ready to reveal Himself. Hold on to your faith (see Mark 11:22), and don't give up for the light is about to burst forth.
Do Not Resist the Darkness; Hold Your Ground, Press Forward
If you are praying, reading the Bible, etc., and still the darkness hovers, rejoice, God is refining (see Malachi 3:3) and preparing you for a greater anointing to further His Kingdom. Darkness is akin to pruning (see John 15:2). God prunes those who are bearing fruit. We can expect sharp snips when we are doing well. Paul was thrown down (see Acts 9:4) and his eyes darkened so he would not be a soul in Hell but a saint in Heaven and a vessel on earth that would lead many into God's light. Paul had faith that the darkness would fade and Jesus' promises would come to pass. Soon the scales will fall off of your eyes (see Acts 9:18). Satan is called the prince of darkness, and his evil works should be avoided at all costs, but God's darkness (unlike the devil's) is designed to bring us into greater light and should not be fought or resisted.
In 2 Samuel 22:10 & 12 we read, "He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under His feet... And He made darkness pavilions round about Him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies." Sometimes we think we know what God is doing in our lives when often we really know nothing at all. If you hold on just a little longer, you will reap. Remember, anybody can start something...God is looking for finishers. Don't complain about the dark instead, start praising Him by faith, and the Lord will show up.
God says to you: "Keep pressing on (see Philippians 3:12), looking up (see Luke 21:28), and trusting Me (see 2 Corinthians 5:17), because in spite of what looks like darkness, My light is about to come." Have faith in God!
And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord,...call you by name... Isaiah 45:3
Al Thomas
Celebrating His Life
Email: a.thomas@myactv.net
Al and Sherry Thomas travel extensively in America and Southeast Asia. Al and Sherry have a prophetic and healing anointing and have seen many miracles. They founded Celebrating His Life Ministries in 1997 and are gifted teachers of the Word. Prior to that date they served at Mount Hope Prison Ministry for three years. Al has pastored in Wisconsin and California and was associated with evangelist Jim Spillman, a great man of God who was known for miracles happening in his meetings. Al has walked in the healing anointing since 1997. They have seen blind eyes healed, deaf ears opened, and many other healings. They minister gently and practically, with no fanfare or dramatics. They currently minister in approximately sixty churches a year.
