Beloved Intercessors,
Love and greetings from Engeltal! We have just passed the most holy day on God’s calendar, Yom Kippur. We gave the staff the day off to pray and seek the Lord, and we felt to take a group to Prayer Mountain in the Ozarks to the prayer meeting that Billye Brim hosts every Wednesday. It is always so good to pray together corporately for the requests that are on the Holy Spirit’s heart. We prayed and cried out for law and order to be established once again in this nation, as well as many other things. As we drove to the exit of their land, a few sprinkles of rain began to spot our windshield. The sun was shining brightly so we begin to look for the rainbow. As we drove along, we were able to see that beautiful token of God’s promises, and felt that it was a sign that the Lord had truly heard our prayers.
A Season of Intercession
Before the World Convention, we were looking ahead on the calendar to set the dates for our annual “Harvest Gathering.” We wanted to make sure that we were not competing with any other ministries for that time. Billye Brim’s Autumn Assembly of Prayer is coming up October 17–22, so we set our event for the week before, just in case anyone wanted to attend both. I was waiting on the Lord for weeks regarding who should be the speakers, and I wasn’t getting any leading. Then I learned that Dutch Sheets is having “The Giants Will Fall” in Chattanooga at the same time as our event. I held it before the Lord for some more weeks, strongly considering to cancel. As I consulted with some of our elders, Bob Baldwin and my husband, Philip, both encouraged me that we must press on and have this event.
Then, as I spoke with Margaret in our office, she suggested that I reach out to Dr. Sam Matthews to see if he would be available to speak. After considering it in prayer, I was trusting that if he was to be our speaker, that he would be available for that time. His reply was, “I hear the Father telling me to come for this Harvest Gathering! I have just cancelled all my international travels to report to the “ramparts” (Hab. 2:1*) for September and October and to give special focus to the intercessions! I will be free to accept your invitation by that date.”
From that reply, I was quickened that the theme for this event should be “On the Ramparts of Intercession.” Then I saw the bigger picture that, rather than being in competition with Dutch Sheets’ event, the Harvest Gathering would be a complementary event in the Kingdom of God, multiplying the intercession.
Philip also felt that we should invite Claren McQueen, who is both an intercessor and a highly anointed worship leader, to participate in what God is doing in this event.
So we invite you to come here to Engeltal and stay with us October 10–13 to help press this battle to the gates as we meet at the Ozark Glory Tabernacle. You can click here for more information and click here to register, or call us at 870-446-2252.
A Season for Patient Continuance
As a part of my devotional time this morning, I was led to a journal entry from a couple of years ago. I believe it will be a blessing to you.
“…Patient continuance…” (Romans 2:7).
Because I am patient, My Holy Spirit will help you to develop this “patient continuance.” It is a steadfastness, a constancy, an endurance, a perseverance that will keep you on My path although all Hell maybe arrayed against you to push you off of it. It will keep you putting one foot in front of the other even when circumstances become so difficult that you are tempted to give up and quit. It is a quality of My heart that is activated to continue to give My beloved children yet another chance to try again to obey Me.
Patient continuance is one of My characteristics that I freely share by grace with My offspring. It is the root system of the Word of faith that hangs on and grows in good ground.
Keep on keeping on! Endure whatever comes against you, knowing that it will surely “work together for good” because you love Me and I have called you (Romans 8:28).
Draw from my endless store of endurance and strength by continually turning your eyes upon Me. Keep on coming back to an awareness of My Presence. The more you practice, the more you will succeed. I am your strength when you are weak, and My everlasting arms are right underneath you (Deut. 33:27). I will give you the grace to keep on doing the right thing as you keep on leaning on Me, acknowledging Me instead of your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Your patient continuance in well doing will bring you into an eternal life filled with glory and honor. Keep on keeping your eyes on your eternal goals to give you right perspective in the here and now. An eternal perspective is the safest, best “stress buster” you can have.
Draw on your future in eternity — pull it into your present. That is how you can have “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8) in your present circumstances, patiently continuing to follow Me into your glorious eternity now.
A Season of Gratitude
As we have just entered the biblical year 5779, and as we approach the celebration of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles (the last of the feasts of ingathering), we are so grateful for the harvest that has come in this past year and trust God for multiplication in the year to
come. Thank you to all who have been sowing with us in this year! Much fruit has come from it, and we bless you to receive multiplication back to you in health, strength, growth in God for you and your loved ones, and abundance in the provision you need to accomplish all God has assigned you to do!
Your handmaiden and servant,
Sharon and Philip
*“I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint” (Habakkuk 2:1 NIV). Come join us On the Ramparts of Intercession!