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August 5, 2006
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Sandie Freed: "THE
FOUR TESTS TO THE DOUBLE PORTION ANOINTING WE'VE BEEN SEEKING"
 Increased
Anointing
This is the season when we are confronting demonic structures that we may have
once defeated. We have come full-circle once more and God is charging us to
fully put some old things under our feet...to fully put to death the works of
the flesh, tradition, and mindsets. We have a choice as to whether we will rise
up and get victory over the old things that hinder us, or circle-around again
next year, and battle once more.
For an increased anointing, one of the first things we must understand in
this new place with God's Spirit, is in order to INCREASE we must RELEASE. Once
again...Release to Increase.
What exactly does this mean? Well, we must release God to move in our lives the
way He wants to. We must release His Spirit to move in our families, our
churches, our businesses, and our government. If we release control, there will
be an increase. Everything in creation was made to be fruitful and multiply
(increase). If there are areas that are not increasing, God will judge that area
by His Word. In other words, if the increase is not in alignment, He will
convict us to change so that we willingly "let go." Most likely, we all have
dealt with control issues along the span of our lifetimes. We become fearful, so
we attempt to control the outcome. In most cases, it has become our
survival...at least up to NOW.
In this new place, there must be total trust. In
order to grow, we must let go and be submitted to His perfect plan. Because His
desire is for us to increase, He will keep leading us back to the same
situations, so that He can deal with heart issues and control issues. Our
ultimate survival requires that we totally yield ourselves to His Spirit, and
then for us to always follow the leading of His Spirit.
Secondly, we must release old mindsets concerning how WE think His Spirit should
move. Obviously, He is God and He can flow as He chooses, but our faith levels
have much to do with His visitation. Because of mindsets and judgments, we could
easily miss our hour of visitation. If a certain flow does not line up with our
mindset, we too quickly negate how God desires to minister. Remember, they
rejected Jesus because of their religious mindsets, and many missed the hour of
His divine visitation.
The Testing for the Increased Anointing
As I prayed about the increased anointing, I still heard Him speak to me
concerning the Glory and the double portions that Elisha received. Elisha went
through his "testing four different times." Let's look at the four different
tests and challenge ourselves to press into the overcoming power within us, so
that we also, can step into that increased anointing.
The First Test: Gilgal
One of the meanings of the word Gilgal is "circle." As I stated earlier, this is
a season of coming full circle. Whatever was in our hearts that was and still is unpleasing to
the Lord has come full circle, and the Lord will lay the axe to the root of that
situation. Unless we determine to rid ourselves of the works of the flesh, we
will go around this mountain again.
The enemy has a plan to continue to "shame" God's children. This is an old trick
of our enemy. Through the lie of rejection, he will speak lies of unworthiness,
shame, and words that speak "you are less than." Though Elisha was determined
that he was going to receive a double portion anointing, he was most likely
still tested with rejection. When Elijah and he stopped at Gilgal, Elijah
instructed Elisha to remain there, but Elisha insisted that he would not leave
his destiny link. At first, it appears Elijah did not desire for Elisha to tag
along with him. He actually told him to remain and not follow. However, Elisha's
statement was "I will not leave thee" (2 Kings 2:2). This is a kingdom--covenant
statement.
Covenant relationships are divine connections that have future
purposes for the work of God's Kingdom. All too often, we quickly leave a
ministry that was meant to be a destiny link. Maybe we feel left out and
rejected, so we leave a ministry or relationship prematurely. Well, please
understand that when we are in covenant with the Father, He will test our hearts
to determine how desperately we want the anointing. We must become focused and
set our faces like flint toward prophetic destiny. We must "hang-on" to our
destiny links and endure until we have received our double portions.
If we do
not pass the test at Gilgal, we will circle once more, and God will examine our
hearts. If the past heart issues were related to rebellion and a lack of respect
for authority, He will do whatever is necessary to properly align us with His
corporate body, so that we can pass the next test and move forward into destiny.
Many of us will be required to overcome obstacles and tests before increased
anointing can be imparted by our mentors. We must realize who our destiny-links
are, and be determined and focused to remain in covenant no matter what
tribulation occurs. Then, when it is our season to receive the double portion,
we will be properly positioned to receive the mantle of authority and increased
anointing.
The Second Test: Bethel
Bethel means "The House of God." In type, the house of God is where the presence
of the Lord is. One of the earliest recordings of Bethel in the Scriptures is
Genesis 28:16, where Jacob had a dream and experienced a divine visitation. He
was not in a synagogue, not in a temple; he was in the desert with his head
against a hard rock for a pillow, and God visited him in a dream. When he awoke,
he recognized that God was in that place and he named it God's house. Is it
possible that Jacob received prophetic revelation as to what the true House of
God was? Did Jacob recognize that God's house was within him (that he was God's
temple), and the revelation ministered so much to him that he dedicated the land
and built an altar?
Each of us "houses" the anointing. We are the temple of the
Lord because He lives in us. At that moment, in that dream, Jacob KNEW God. He
had become God's house. The house of God is within each of us, and in this
passage, it is revealing that we house His Spirit within us. Saints, this is why
we can minister wherever we are! Because we are God's temple, we are not limited
to any building, setting, or place. We should be ministering under the unction
of the Holy Spirit, being divinely led.
The New Testament believers ministered
all day long in their businesses! It was a daily part of their lives; they
incorporated ministry into their businesses. Just think of the spiritual shifts
that would occur if we got serious about ministering to the lost as we realize
that everywhere we go is an opportunity to show the love of God.
Now that we understand that we are God's temple, please also know that any area
in our heart where the door is locked to God's Spirit, will be tested. Hidden
motives and attitudes will be exposed as God's truth searches every room of our
hearts.
At Bethel, Elisha was tested once again. Did he fully want the double
portion? Did he give the Lord his entire heart and life? Was there any area of
rejection that rose up when his mentor once more said, "Stay here...you can't
come." Once again, Elisha responded with a covenant reply, "I will not leave
you." We must press into staying with our assigned positions, assigned destiny
links, and assigned callings.
The Third Test: Jericho
When I think of Jericho, I am always reminded of the WALLS that had to be shouted
down. Though we know that mindsets can be walls and God will have us move beyond
our natural thinking, the word Jericho means much more to us in this season.
Jericho also translates as "sent." The word apostle means "the sent one,"
implying that in this season, we must apostolically be sent out with an apostolic
assignment. When we are truly sent, we are actually similar to an ambassador who
is "sent" to represent one in authority. As we become "sent" by the Father, we
go forth in His authority. The anointing can only truly flow when we are under
legitimate authority and sent out with that same authority.
As a five-fold
minister I meet many ministers who are not truly "sent." Rather than being
"sent," they "went" on their own accord, and with no accountability. This is
very sad because unless we are released and sent with authority, there will be a
lack of authority as we minister the Word. Without authority in the Spirit, we
are simply preaching another message with no anointing, or we are teaching the
Word with no manifestation of the Spirit. Saints, there is no time to waste.
Jesus IS coming soon!
Just as Elisha approached his test at Jericho, so will we be tested. Are we
waiting to be sent ones, and are we pressing into the fullness God has for each
of us? Being obedient to WHEN we are sent, is just as important as to WHERE we
are sent. So, it is very important that we are obedient, and only go WHERE we are
sent, and must complete our assignment before we can move to the next place.
Elisha knew his destiny was to receive double portion and so, once again, he
pressed past any possible hindrances, and chose once again to remain in Kingdom
covenant with his destiny link. Though Elijah once again tried to convince him
to remain in Jericho, Elisha responded with "I will not leave thee." I believe
that deep inside of Elijah there was a silent joy! Finally, a prophet-in-training that was fully committed to his mentor! Elijah might have had this
planned all along, thinking, "I'm going to see just how much this young
prophet desires this anointing. It's not as easy as he might think to get this
kind of anointing...let's see if he makes it 'till the end." The Lord has a test
for each of us...how much do you want the anointing?
The Fourth Place of Testing: Jordan
Most of the time, we think of Jordan as a place of fresh baptism, and the parting
from old behavior and mindsets. Once more, I believe God is releasing more
revelation concerning Jordan and how it relates to the anointing. Since Elisha's
whole desire was for the increased anointing, the place of Jordan was very
significant because it is more than leaving the past behind; it also refers to
being properly positioned to receive the mantle of anointing.
Jordan means "descending" or "flowing down." Now, this really gets exciting to
me, because the only way the anointing flows (according to
Psalm 133), is downward.
The anointing will always flow from the head down. If you are properly positioned within the Body of
Christ, if you find your place and remain there, the anointing will flow
(descend) down upon you. Finally, Elisha had come to the place where the
anointing would fully flow downward upon him!
The reason that Elisha received double portions is because Elijah told him that
if Elisha "saw him" ascend to Heaven, he could receive the double portion
mantle. This meant that Elisha had to remain faithful, determined and properly
positioned so that the anointing could truly flow down upon him. Elisha pressed
past all rejection, possible abandonment issues and different tests to endure
until the very end. He would not let go of God's anointed Elijah!
Also, Elisha's life had to be in unity with God's plans and purposes for all of
this to take place. If we are also in unity with God's Spirit, the anointing
that is upon Christ, will flow over us, and we can receive double portions of
anointing. The anointing of your mentor will flow down upon you if you remain
faithful to the end of your testing. Ultimately, we know that Christ is the
head. However, when we are submitted to Christ, we are also submitted to those
He has placed in authority over us, and we are in UNITY. It is only then, that we
are properly positioned for the flow of anointing.
A Song of Degrees of David
Psalms 133:1-3, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the
head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the
skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended
upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life
for evermore."
Hallelujah! Are you excited yet? Well, you should be! Get ready, get positioned,
God is about to release you in a mighty way. Get ready for your double portion
so that in 2007, you experience your open Heaven and receive your double
portions!
In Him,
Sandie Freed
Sandie Freed
Zion Ministries
Email: info@ZionMinistries.us
www.zionministries.us
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Sandie Freed's Upcoming Itinerary:
August 19 - 31, 2006
Christian International Churches
Mid-Atlantic Region
Contact: Pastors Steven and Melodye Hilton,
(717) 362-4523.
September 1-2, 2006
Mid-Southwest Regional Prophetic Apostolic Conference
Embracing His Grace Church
1001 Airport Freeway; Bedford, TX,
Contact: 817-284-5966 (registration required)
September 16, 2006
Higher Ground Ministry
Ethan Allen Inn
Danbury, CT
Contact: Elaine Flannery, 203-994-8130
"The daily prophetic words that are sent to our 131,000+ subscribers are made possible by the purchase of products like those featured in this email. You may purchase them directly from this email, or visit our online store at www.elijahshopper.com."
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