Trials, Tests, and Superabundant Grace
As I sought the Lord about the new year, what I heard was that this will be a year of extreme trials and tests as the shaking continues (Hebrews 12:27–28), but there is superabundant grace that will be available for tremendous triumphs. This is confirmed by the symbolism in the numbers 5785 and 2025, which I will go into later.
The Holy Spirit emphasized to me the number 85, and I heard Him say that in this year many will fall, but many will rise up with the same spirit that enabled Caleb when he was 85 to declare, "Give me this mountain!" (Joshua 14:12). This refers to the inheritance promised him by Moses 45 years prior. I believe that in this year of 5785 we must stand strong in the same faith Caleb had at 85 to contend for our inheritance, for the fulfillment of promises that we've been waiting on! Give me this mountain!
Caleb's Faith
Caleb was the leader of the tribe of Judah and was faithful to God during a time of great trial. Forty years earlier, when the leaders of the 12 tribes went in to spy out the Promised Land, the majority murmured that the giants were too great for them. This was Caleb's response:
"Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, 'Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.'" (Numbers 13:30 NKJV)
How did he have this faith? He believed what God had promised! What has He promised you? This is a year to stand strong in faith, make bold declarations, and be victorious!
Caleb's mountain was Hebron. Joshua had taken Hebron in years past (Joshua 11), but the enemies of God (the Anakim in this instance) had returned and reoccupied the land. Caleb had to drive them out again (Joshua 15:14)!
Taking Ground and Keeping It!
We have to keep guard in the places where we have had victory! This applies to all areas of our lives: family, ministry, finances, health, etc. We have to be focused and spiritually alert to stay in faith and move forward, but also to maintain the ground we have taken and receive the promises we have been given by the Lord. We may have to war in areas where we once had victory, areas that have been reoccupied by the enemy! It is important to examine ourselves to see if we are in faith.
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV)
If we aren't in the faith, we need to identify what we are in. Is it sin, unbelief, the flesh, worldly influence, murmuring, turning to idols, weariness from the war? What is taking first place over God? The apostle Paul exhorts us in 1 Corinthians 10 not to fall in the same way that the Israelites did on their journey to the Promised Land!
Don't be discouraged if you haven't been in faith, just repent; change your mind, and take action to return to the Lord! Ask the Holy Spirit to help you! Stir up your faith, deny the flesh, take every thought captive, and renew your mind to the Word of God! Most importantly, stay in faith and live from a place of continual fellowship with the Lord!
How? Seek Him, talk with Him, listen to Him, and obey Him! (Photo via Snappy Goat)
Scripture records that Caleb fully followed the Lord! Let this be said of us in the annals of Heaven and Earth! The people that know their God from a continual, abiding relationship with Him will do mighty exploits (Daniel 11:32)!
Taking Ground Corporately and Nationally
Maintaining and retaking ground applies corporately and nationally also (not just the U.S.). It is obvious that the enemy has gained much ground in the last 50 plus years. We were once seen as a godly nation. Many have been deceived through the subtleties of satan and human reasoning, wanting to be like the world, having the love of money, and the desire for comfort and personal gain. There are other reasons, but the bottom line is the same.
It's time to wake up, see the result, receive the fear of the Lord, repent, turn back to God fully, and take a stand for righteousness. The Lord highlighted Psalm 85, which is a prayer for God's grace and mercy. Verses 7–9 really speak to this:
"Shew us Thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us Thy salvation.
"I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
"Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him; that glory may dwell in our land."
Let us not turn again to folly! When we put God first in holy, reverential awe (fear of the Lord), glory will dwell in our land!
A Year of Extreme Dichotomies
Hebron is the land that God gave Abraham. This is significant to the year 5785. Strong's number 85 is the name Abraham, and in the Hebrew language it means "exalted father." Throughout Scripture Abraham is noted as the father of our faith. Conversely, Strong's number 85, in the Greek, is ademoneo, which means "very heavy," "distressed," "to be sated to loathing," and "troubled."
This will be a year of extreme dichotomies in the realms of flesh versus spirit, faith versus fear, good versus evil, and love versus hate. It will be a year of intense tests and trials. We will battle against the oppression and heaviness from what we see in the natural, from the tumultuous times we are living in and troubles we will have, what we are feeling, and what others are saying, to contend for faith by the Spirit.
Caleb contended for his land at age 85. When Abraham was 85, he relied on natural, fleshly reasoning, had sexual relations with Sarah's maid Hagar, and Ishmael was the result. In this year of dichotomies (flesh versus spirit), which will we choose to prevail in our lives?
When we are going through great trials, we need to stand firm on what God has said, not what we see with our natural eyes.
Caleb and the other 11 leaders spying out the land all saw the giants. They all had the choice of fear or faith in God. Caleb and Joshua chose to keep their hearts and minds set on what God said: "I am giving you this land!" (Joshua 1:1–11). (Photo via Unsplash)
When we see our giants, we have to remind ourselves that "greater is He that is in [us] than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4, brackets mine). The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us (Romans 8:11)! The Lord our God is for us; He is with us. He has all the resources of Heaven and Earth, and a host of angels to help us. He will be exalted! He is faithful to perform that which He has purposed!
"The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand." (Isaiah 14:24 KJV)
Overcomers!
Tremendous triumphs will be ours if we overcome! The stakes are high! In the book of Revelation, Jesus spoke to all seven churches, representing the Body of Christ (past, present, and future), with the admonition to be overcomers and the rewards that it will bring. He also gave warnings for those who don't, with an additional strong warning in Revelation 21:7–8:
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
Don't be in condemnation if you have not been able to overcome in days past. Today is a new day, and this year there is superabundant grace and fresh anointing for victory!
A Year of Superabundant Grace and Anointing
In 5785, the first and last numbers are both the number five, which is the number of grace. Also, the numbers 5785 added together equals 25—five multiplied by five! Superabundant grace is available for us to do all that God has ordained for us to do to be victorious in every battle, no matter how fierce!
This year, avail yourself of a greater measure of grace to overcome what you have not been able to conquer in times past, and to take new ground—the promises you have not yet seen manifest in your life! I believe that this year we will see a great surge of salvations and supernatural moves of God throughout the earth in the midst of troubling times! Be expectant! Give me this mountain!
Five also represents the five-fold ministry: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher (Ephesians 4:11). This indicates superabundant grace available not just personally, but for the Church (Ekklesia). I believe this is a year where the Holy Spirit will work with the five-fold ministry to lay hold of His grace for unity in the Body of Christ and return to the biblical pattern He intended for His people. I declare the mountain of religion shall break, and true spiritual sonship shall be established!
This year, I believe the Holy Spirit will orchestrate divine appointments for the five-fold ministry to unite under the headship of Jesus and work together to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, making known to the principalities and powers the manifold wisdom of God by the Church (Ephesians 3:10) through the multiplied grace being given.
This was confirmed to me when I felt the leading of the Holy Spirit to look up the meaning of the word "Hebron" (Caleb's mountain). I was surprised to find that Hebron means "conjunction" and "joining," according to Gesenius' Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon. One of the greatest mountains I believe we need to corporately contend for in this year is unity in the Body of Christ, with the leading of the five-fold ministry to return to the biblical foundation and pattern! (Photo via Freepik)
2025: Fresh Anointing
As I sought the Lord further, I sensed the Holy Spirit strongly telling me to look up the meaning of the number 2025. Strong's number 2025, in the Greek, is the word epichrio, and means "to spread on" and "to anoint." The root means "to smear or rub with oil, i.e. (by implication) to consecrate to an office or religious service." This ties in with the five-fold office gifts working together in the multiplied grace provided by the Holy Spirit.
A fresh anointing is being released for consecration and service to the Lord and His people. Watch God move mightily this year. Be expectant and ready for Him to use you also!
Strong's number 2025 in the Hebrew is the word harel, which means "mount of God." The root word means "strength," "mighty," and "the Almighty"!
Give me this mountain! All that seems impossible in the natural shall be received through the power and anointing of the Spirit of Almighty God! Glory to His name!
"So he answered and said to me: 'This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD of hosts.'" (Zechariah 4:6 NKJV)
Remember, the Battle Is Spiritual
In this time when the enemy seeks to divide and conquer, and the Holy Spirit is providing supernatural grace to be united and victorious, we must remember this battle is spiritual. We take the mountains that are occupied by the enemies of God not by wrestling "against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12).
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled" (2 Corinthians 10:3–6 KJV).
Take back What the Enemy Has Stolen
This year remember who you are in Christ, and Whose you are! Recall what the Lord has said; remember His promises! There will be extreme tests and trials. Repent when necessary and return fully to the Lord! Pick up your sword (the Word of God), raise the shield of faith, lay claim to His promises, obey His leading, and you will have tremendous triumphs in every battle!
Receive His superabundant grace and anointing of the Holy Spirit, and proclaim, "Give me this mountain!" in every area of your life where the enemy is ruling and you have not seen the promises of God realized. The Spirit of Christ dwells in you, and He has overcome all things! You ARE an overcomer! This year, move forward in faith and take back what the enemy has stolen!
Whatever you do, don't miss another ELIJAH LIST email! Subscribe at this link: elijahlist.com/subscribe.
Alane Haynes
Eternal Truth Now Ministry
Email:Â eternaltruthnowministry@gmail.com
Website:Â www.alanehaynes.com
Alane Haynes was radically saved in 1981, when the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to her. She immediately received salvation, deliverance and a supernatural healing of her body and mind. An apostolic and prophetic teacher and speaker, Alane has authored four books. The first, "Moses – Shocked in the Desert," was birthed from a prophetic dream and many nights of Holy Spirit waking her to "Write what I tell you." She podcasts through Charisma Podcast Network; "Stirring of the Waters" is her show. Alane and her husband Kerry are co-founders of "Eternal Truth Now Ministry," and are broadcasters on Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network (hsbn.tv). They are passionate about the power of God's Word, and desire to see people fulfill their God-given destinies and bring His Kingdom to the earth. When they are not ministering, Alane and Kerry enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren, and outdoors enjoying the beauty of God's creation.
To receive more words like this in YOUR inbox, subscribe FREE to the Elijah List at this link: elijahlist.com/subscribe.
Thank you for making the always-free "ElijahStreams" possible. To partner with us, click here.
Your donations truly help us keep these emails free for you. Donate at:
Find us on:
* Facebook click here
* XAPiT click here
