"EXCEEDING - GREAT JOY"
“EXCEEDING – GREAT JOY”
(For WATB Radio)
(To air January 8, 2016)
December 29, 2015, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
This Christmas season I received a visitation of “exceeding – great joy”. It was a “Presence” of the Lord like being baptized with the Holy Spirit, but yet “different”. I have discovered on my journey with the Lord there are many levels of faith and glory as we go from “faith to faith” and from “glory to glory”.
I have walked in realms of faith glory and love glory. I have been blessed with levels of joy unspeakable and full of glory that could only be birthed through travail and deep sorrow.
I have been raptured into the glory of God after seasons of deep broken-ness.
This Christmas I received a greater outpouring of joy.
When I was delivering the Christmas message on December 20th, the Lord spoke to me to watch for the sign of the Star of Bethlehem during Christmas. Little to my surprise, I, would discover this “sign” of “exceeding great joy” through a mystery.
I am persuaded for those who have been called out the past two years to walk through the shaking and transmutation of the “church”, you, too, can expect a great outpouring of JOY and enter into a greater visitation of “Exceeding great joy”.
I should begin at the beginning to tell the story. Last Christmas season, was the beginning of tribulation and a shaking in our Church fellowship. Perhaps I should be more accurate and say the beginning of this tribulation was in 2014 when we lost our church building of 15-years. This was a 100-year old historical church on federal land---long story, but not my story today.
The Lord graciously opened a door for us at a beautiful country club. We were made welcome. If you are in the ministry, you know that a congregation is shaken if they have to move or if there is a change in leadership.
The Country Club is by name the Willow Fork. We were unwittingly fulfilling scripture that we were hanging our harps on the willows as we overcame the grief of losing our beloved, “Little White Church”.
I sought the face of God for the “church”---the “church” being the Lord’s Body---for His Kingdom purposes. I laid it all on the altar to continue or to retire. The Word of Lord was “continue”. “Do not stop”. I am a woman who walks by faith, not by sight. Through this grace of the gift of Faith, I will follow the Lord wherever He asks me to go.
Just prior to this upheaval of our church, the Lord spoke to me. He said, “Carolyn do you love me as much as you loved Don, when you left everything and followed him?” Wow! All I could do was ask the Lord to help me love Him that much. I hoped I did. I prayed I would through the upcoming walk of faith.
Through 2014, there were many people who left the church for various and personal reasons. It is all between them and Jesus. I was at peace through those days of tribulation because I knew this was coming. I make no judgments. I had been called by God to make a faith journey. It was my duty, privilege and faith which had received the “call”. Others did not receive the “call”. I released everyone with my love, blessing and good will. I set my face like flint.
I watched as the Lord was re-structuring our church fellowship.
Then Christmas 2015, we took a hard “hit”. Tribulation and another shaking were upon us. We also watched as the Lord was shaking the nations of the earth with wars, tribulation, terror, etc. Surely everything that could be shaken was being shaken.
Heb. 12:25-29: “See that you refuse not Him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks from heaven; whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, yet once more, signifies the removing of those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire.”
As the year 2015 progressed, the shaking and tribulation in our church body appeared at times as though we were “pressed beyond measure”. Yet the Lord’s Presence and His Sweet Holy Spirit sustained and kept us. The joy of the Lord was our strength. A purified remnant began to emerge. We were going through a “transmutation”.
Then on December 1, 2015, a paradigm shift began to unfold. We had a visitation five (5) prophets, three within the church and two with prophetic words. All of this transpired within the first twelve days of December.
1. John Mark and Sandy Pool.
2. Keith Miller
3. Prophecy to me from Chuck Pierce
4. Prophecy to me from Marvin Barham
5. Visit to my home by David and Kathie Walters with Beverly Pickering.
God’s anointed ministers carry His Presence and Power. They are accompanied by angelic hosts who are sent to perform the ministry of the minister.
On Sunday, December 20th, the Lord gave me a Christmas message---telling the Christmas story. While I was studying, the anointing fell on the Star of Bethlehem.
This is a short excerpt from that message:
Bethlehem is perched on the top of a rocky ridge, with flat roofs, white walls, and a valley or meadow below it.
Only those who have been to Palestine know how bright the stars are in that Eastern sky. They look exactly, as the little child said, “Like holes in the floor of heaven to let the glory shines through.” On one such beautiful night, a number of shepherds were gathered on the grassy slopes under the town, watching their flocks.
Everything was quiet---with a strange, peaceful stillness. Nothing was heard but the occasional bleating of the flocks.
In the midst of these quiet solitudes, a glorious Light in a moment fills the sky and brightens the entire valley. The stars, which a moment before had sparkled so beautifully, are dimmed and hidden with the strange splendor.
What can it be?
It is an Angel sent down from heaven with a message to these keepers of sheep.
We understand they were at first struck with awe and terror. The Angel spoke kindly to them. He said, “Be not afraid; for I have good news for you; a very joyful message to you and to all mankind.” The angel told them the good news. They were the gladdest tidings the world ever heard; that “a Savior that day had been born in Bethlehem, who was ‘Christ the Lord.”
Just as the Shepherds were listening to the story of Jesus’ birth, a still brighter light filled the heavens, and a vast army of Angels, all white and glorious, appear in the sky.
The heavenly host sang “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will to men.”
Then all again was hushed. The heavenly music ceased; and the stars looked down as before from their silent thrones in the sky.
There were other heralds already on their way from remote Gentile lands, to do homage to this mysterious Infant, whom aged, Simeon had recently sung of as “a light to lighten the Gentiles,” as well as “the glory of God’s people Israel.”
In the countries Far East of Palestine and the Jordan there lived a number of men called “Magi”.
On the night of the appearance of the star, the Magi observed the new star, brighter than the rest.
“When they arrived in Jerusalem, they inquired of Herod the King, saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship him.”
These kings of the east were men of God. They knew the God of heaven was speaking to them and guiding them by His own star.
“The star which they say in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”
As I was researching the Star of Bethlehem, I discovered a flower which grows in the meadows of Bethlehem. In the spring the meadows of Bethlehem are covered with a carpet of red, blue and white flowers. The pretty white one is called “The Star of Bethlehem”.
I researched the plant, “Star of Bethlehem”. It is a fragrant, white flower with a star shaped leaf.
Star Of Bethlehem Flower
The star of Bethlehem flower is best known for its biblical associations. Because of its pure white, star-like shape, it was named after the star that rose over Bethlehem to reveal the birth of the baby Jesus. However, these plants are not only fantastic in name, but fantastic in function. Although it is not widely known, these flowers have many uses in both the culinary world, and the world of folk medicine. Although star of Bethlehem are considered highly toxic to animals, most species are thought to be perfectly safe for human consumption, and the bulbs are frequently dried and ground. The flowers themselves are occasionally baked into uniquely-flavored breads. The bulbs of this plant are also used to treat some forms of cancer; while the essences created from the flower are used in aromatherapy. In fact, Dr. Edward Bach prescribed this flower’s essence for those suffering from shock.
The star of Bethlehem flower is, of course, most frequently associated with the symbol of purity. However, these blossoms are sometimes used in weddings, and given as gifts for special romantic occasions, as they are also representative of hope – a hope for a new life, or the continuation of happiness and love. In addition to purity and hope, these flowers are thought to be an expression of atonement and reconciliation, and are sometimes given as a gift to say, “I’m sorry.”
After hearing the message, Tim and Carol Sherbeck gave me a serum from the flower from Whole Foods with these natural healing properties.
My oldest daughter, son-in-love, and his sister arrive at my home on the 23rd. I give them a little time, and then I tell them about the Star of Bethlehem serum and ask if they would like to have a prophetic “shot” of it. To my surprise, they said “yes”. We prayed and then dropped a few drops in water. From that moment on joy and laughter broke out in my house. On Christmas morning, they asked me to read the Christmas story, so I read them the full Sunday morning message. We again took another “shot” of the Star of Bethlehem---laughter and joy continued.
They had to leave early to get ahead of the West Texas blizzard. But, my youngest daughter, son-in-love, and my grands were on their way. The “exceeding, great joy continued.”
For the first time, Kelly (my daughter) was to deliver the message at Sunday church. During worship, I told the Lord, “My cup of joy is overflowing. There may be other walks of faith and greater joy to come, but for today Lord it is enough.” Tears of great joy streamed down my face.
After Kelly delivered the message, I offered a healing service to those who would drink from the cup. The usher handed out the cups, and poured water in the cups. The congregation lined up as I administered drops of the serum in the cups.
I count it all joy ---this exceeding, great joy within my Spirit exceeds other joys I have experienced. There are many joys of life, when we fall in love, the day of marriage, the day of the birth of our children, when we are born again, when we received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Each experience is great joy. But I have received a new baptism of Joy.
None of the tribulations and sufferings of life move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
There is one post script to this message. When I answered the call to Pastor in 1990, Prophet Roger Teale gave me a word. He said, “If you will start this church, your children and your husband will follow you and help you. And everyone who helps you, their children will also be saved. If you do not, they will go the other way.”
I died to who I thought I was at that time. I died to my life as I knew it.
I have been faithful. I haven’t backed up, slacked up, or sit down. My God is more faithful than me. This Christmas I experienced God’s covenant with me and my family coming into fruition in great joy. This covenant with me will also include all those who have helped me through the years.\
There are many.
May you “enter into the joy of the Lord?”
P.S. – While Dr. June Night with WATB was interviewing me, this revelation came to me. She asked me for a message for the Bride.
John 3: 28-30: Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said; I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him. He that has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
“The forerunner is saying, “that I bore witness to you that He is greater than I. If the Bride does not cleave to the Bridegroom, then I, the escort of the Bride, would grieve. Christ the Bridegroom is calling to His people (the bride) and teaching them, and I rejoice that the Bride comes to Him. John deliberately says that the friend of the Bridegroom stands. Christ increases as He reveals Himself by miracles. He does not increase by progressing in virtue. He discloses that He is God. “Therefore my joy is fulfilled in the Bridegroom”. John says, “for I see the work entrusted to me---escorting the Bride—successfully completed.” The Bridegroom of every soul is the Lord. The bridal chamber is the Church. This is where the union of baptism takes place. The betrothal gifts He bestows upon the Bride are the forgiveness of sins and the communion of the Holy Spirit. Even greater gifts of perfection will he bestow when He will initiate those who are worthy into mysteries more sublime. Christ alone is the Bridegroom. Every other spiritual teacher, like the forerunner, is merely an escort of the Bride. Only the Lord is the bestower of good things; all others are middlemen and distributors of His gifts.” (Theophylact)
Note: A great joy is released upon the forerunner and the escort of the Bride (ministries). The friend of the bridegroom (ministries) stands, hears, and rejoices greatly---joy is fulfilled. There must be a visitation of great joy on the friend of the bridegroom.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church