STANDING IN POSITION
STANDING IN POSITION
Sunday, November 26, 2017, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
We will have just listened to a prophecy given to Pastor Carolyn Sissom by Prophet Johnny Barham of Little Rock, Arkansas, Sunday, November 19, 2017. I don’t have a copy of the prophecy for our readers. The prophecy is sobering, humbling and profound (length 20 minutes). He prophesies fulfillment of my spiritual destiny, and the Eastgate Church. The prophet does not tell me what that spiritual assignment is (over and above Pastor of this church and national and international travel); only that the Kingdom ministry entrusted and deposited in me will not be completed until the assignment is finished.
Hebrews 10:7: Then I said, Behold I have come---In the volume of the book it is written of Me---to do Your will, O God.
We know that each of us is a special one-of-a-kind word out of the mouth of God before we ever had a body. Even as He chose us (actually picked us out for Himself as His own) in Christ.
Hebrews 11, though a chapter of faith, is also a passage of spiritual history of men and women standing for Jesus and His Kingdom purposes in their assigned places. By faith these elders received a good report. Not a perfect man/woman in the bunch, but they finished their Kingdom assignment.
Hebrews 11 begins with the “will of the Lord” expressed in creation. God established the universe using His Words which were the outward expression of His inward will. He created a stable universe operating on sound principles so solid that it can bear scrutiny from the brightest scientific human minds.
We were created and chosen by God to exercise faith and stand by that faith against a faithless world. Just as every part of this universe was positioned by Him and will maintain that position until the seal is broken, so we are each set into His Kingdom purposes by position, time and place.
The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 stand as markers of the Lord’s Kingdom purposes being worked through faithful men/women. Faith cannot be released from a heart of disobedience.
Heb. 10:23: Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised.)
Heb. 10:36: For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
For as many heroes of Faith there are in the Holy Writ of God, there are also those who did not finish their assignment. As we heard the words of the prophet, we are prepared all of our life for our Kingdom assignment.
If we fail and fall short, it can delay the Lord’s time. Yes, He can raise up a donkey or a stone to take our place; but that instrument will have to be prepared.
The prophet used the analogy of Anna waiting at the Temple, serving in prayer and fasting. Anna means grace or favor. She was the daughter of Phanuel which means the face of God. She was from the tribe of Asher. She was a widow after 7 years of marriage. She saw what was not yet apparent to anyone except the shepherds and Simeon. The Baby Jesus was the Christ Child, the redemption of Israel (Luke 2:38). She declared this to all who would hear; and her words live through the ages; written in eternity.
She was faithful to serve in the temple for over 60 years before her Kingdom assignment was fulfilled. She was in place, on time, in her Kingdom assigned position. She and the prophet Simeon sealed the Old Testament prophecies of the Christ Child; the end of one age; ushering in the new age of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.
Let none of us fail to stand, fail to endure, fall away, drift, compromise to the world, and cease to do the will of God.
Every soul mentioned in Chapter Eleven is in the “cloud of witnesses” found in Chapter 12:1. The faith that began with God standing and declaring His Will in the Universe becomes our faith to stand and declare His Will in our time in His universe.
There should be no need for the Lord to say; “who will stand in the gap and make a hedge? (Ez. 22:30)” Every man and woman who declares him or herself to be recipients of salvation have a territory given to them. Faith hears the assignment, locks into that assignment, and stands within that assignment until His Will is one on earth as it is in heaven.
We are not seeking the approval of man or the promotion of man. Our eyes and hearts are set on heavenly things.
Isaac’s blessing was based on future position. Jacob’s blessing was premised on the same. Joseph’s instructions declared his continuance with Jacob’s blessing.
Moses’ birth mother stood against kings and man’s odds and was not afraid. Is it any wonder Moses stood against kings and priests, wizards and wandering as he endured (11:27)? There is no domino effect in the Kingdom of our God. The true kingdom is only populated with those who stand. Pillars stand.
Hebrews 11: 36-40 emphasizes the “unnamed.” Their acts of faith were characterized in their resoluteness in the face of death and mistreatment. The writer describe them as “tortured,” trials of mockings and scourgings, “chains and imprisonment,” “stoned,” “sawn into,” “tempted,” “slain,” “wandered about,” “destitute,” “afflicted,” “tormented.”
Standing in the “will of the Father,” means declaring that no matter what comes to us, “we will be faithful unto death.” Christianity is not “every man for himself” but rather, “every man faithful to Christ unto death.” Simeon when he had finished his Kingdom assignment prophesied, Lord, now allow your servant to depart in peace, according to your word; For mine eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. (Lk. 2: 29-32).
Heb. 12: 1-3: Seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds.
Jesus Christ sets the bounds of our habitation. He is the one who places His people in spheres of authority and places of faith. He, alone, is the sole owner of History and has the right to put His people in position around the globe.
Heb. 12:25: See that you do not refuse him that speaks. For if they do not escape who refused him who spoke on earth, how much more shall we not escape, if we turn away from him who speaks from heaven.
The prophet spoke of city, state, national, global ministry and outreach. Through the internet, we are reaching the world with the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Had one of those Hall of Fame saints failed, spiritual history would have been written differently. They were globally positioned. They were men and women yielded to God and carrying out His Divine Command. The occupied a position in time, locale, and spiritual history which could be filled by no one else but themselves. Every believer, who truly loves the LORD, has a similar position in spiritual history.
Though Sarah and Abraham through lack of faith brought forth an Ishmael (outside the will of God), the word of God says that even in old age, Sarah received strength to conceive seed, and delivered a child because she judged him faithful who had promised. (Heb. 11:11)
Joshua defeated the thirty and one kings of Canaan, yet he did not destroy all the kings to totally possess the Promised Land. To this day, the land has yet to be totally possessed by Israel. The Lord blessed him and honored him, yet today the global community is still affected.
C. R. Oliver wrote in his book, En Punto, of a vision he had: “The spirit of the Lord came upon me and a wonderful vision ensued. The Lord showed me a wonderful vision of the end time. He pointed out that as the end approaches, those who truly follow Him will be perfectly aligned in His Will. They will be globally positioned.”
“Each person may not know the logistics of any other person in the great plan. He or she may only be able to attest to his or her personal stand. Many will be unaware that across the globe other true believers will be standing exactly where they should be, full of faith, and listening intently to the voice of God. Global positioning under this definition will mean: “Everyone in position around the Globe.”
Revelation 22:20: “I saw in this vision, the force of that awesome specter acting like a great magnet drawing upon the heart of the Lord Jesus. Visualize the result of every man and woman, standing in his or her place of authority, standing faithful to God and crying out: “Lord Now!”
“Gideon and his men surrounded the camp of the enemy, each man standing in his appointed place. Each man was equipped with a sword, lamp and shout. Each man knew the value of being in his appointed place when the battle became the Lord’s. Without this faithfulness, there would have been no victory for Israel.”
The Lord has spoken through his prophet, Johnny Barham. We are to have a “big white church.” All things will again come full circle for those who have judged me and/or the church. The LORD is extending and enlarging our tent pegs. We are to have a national as well as international ministry. This will all be done through the power of Jesus Christ and the power of His life.
Hebrews 10:7: Then I said, Behold I have come---In the volume of the book it is written of Me---to do Your will, O God.
I count it all joy. I pray that those whom I love, my family, my friends, the members of this congregation, that each one of us will be “standing in place, in position, on time for our Kingdom destiny.” Yes, the prophet said Satan will try to sabotage. I have had a lot of training by Satan and his demon forces in his evil maneuvers of destruction, sabotage, persecution, rejection, traps, etc. The LORD has brought me through for His Kingdom purposes. The church is secure in God’s plan.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. – I referenced a prophecy given to me by Prophet Johnny Barham on Nov. 19, 2017. I entered into the labors of C. R. Oliver, En Punto. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those who I entered into their labors.