Eternal Life Now!
About 25 years ago, a prophet spoke over me that I would write a book telling of all we’ve seen in Rochester, N.Y. It took me 20 years to start! But then I heard the Lord say, (as we also started this website last year) “I told you to do this 25 years ago and then gave you the miracles and victories to share.” Truly the Good News!
Again, it chronicled what seemed to be the darkest period of our lives. We were a group of women who supernaturally assembled from 8 different churches because we had the same thing in common – our husbands had left us for other women. We were led to seek God’s help (after seeking His opinion!) on having our covenantal marriages restored. But more on that another time!
Then one day a couple of years ago, the Lord clearly said to me, “Now finish your book and make the last chapter your first chapter, “for the end of the thing is better than the beginning ever was” (Ecclesiastes 7:8). It turns out the end of that verse reads “and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit”. No wonder it took 20 years – lots of pride and little patience for Him to work me through!
This is the spring of 2023. The world is still battling covid and this is a very different America. Today some are continuing to shred our Constitution as they chase our beloved former President as Saul chased David for 10 years. (again another story). The world is on the brink of nuclear war, demons are manifesting through both cooperative and victimized people and most people have great personal challenges and God said “the end of the thing is better than the beginning ever was”.
And He is God. He is never wrong. Humbly and unapologetically, I heard Him correctly on this and on other issues, as have so many others. Why? We’re His sheep. His sheep know His voice. Sheep may not be highly esteemed by most (sometimes they can smell and sometimes they wander) but they know their Shepard if they stay close to Him. He’s faithful to lead and take care of His own. (So don’t waiver if you sought Him and heard Him!) Anyway, I digress – but truth be told the Shepherd has patiently revealed Himself to us in ways we could never imagine and never appreciated as we all should. He has become the object of our focus – loving Him, living in union with Him – and not for being the means to some desired end.
Since it’s Resurrection week, please let me draw a parallel. After what seemed to be a sound defeat on Good Friday, two disciples were walking back to Emmaus. From Jerusalem (Luke 24:13-35). They were brokenhearted and confused. Jesus, their Hope and Expectation had been crucified. It seems they were not convinced that He had risen. But they were travelling this hard and disappointing trip with the One they had wanted all along, and didn’t even know it was Him. (Now that sounds familiar at some point in our own journeys too). He taught them about Himself through expounding on the scriptures, not choosing to directly reveal Himself as Jesus to them yet. He wanted them to see Him in and as the Word – the way the rest of us would learn to, once He ascended to be with His Father. And then, the most important point, when He blessed and broke the bread at their table, later that evening their eyes were opened and He disappeared. Their hearts, they said, had burned within them as He had spent hours revealing His true nature and purpose to them. See, it’s His Presence that’s the real blessing, not the intended answer – though we usually get it “later” in the journey.
And that brings me to the wonderful word from God spoken to me about 20 years ago. He said, “When it gets close to the end make sure you live in John 17.” So most recently I started John 14-17 and couldn’t stop crying every time I read it.
One day, through Sid Roth’s TV show, his guest, Chad Gonzales, said that God told Him to study John 17 twenty years ago and he’s been living in it ever since. It’s the prayer Jesus prayed in the Upper Room right before His arrest and death. While Jesus was on earth, He spent untold hours alone in prayer with His Father, but this is the only time we get to hear all that He said to Him. In Chad’s opinion, THIS is the real Lord’s Prayer. A man’s last thoughts and words in life are most significant. In John 17, we learn most importantly that as Jesus was returning to His Father, He left us a deeper understanding of our identity and union with Him, and the Father, through salvation. The purpose of His coming was not just so we could go to Heaven someday – but to give us the same life as God Himself has – eternal life which starts the moment we receive Him here on earth. With that life comes all knowledge of and intimacy with the Father that Jesus has. In union with Them, we have all the authority and all the blessings that the Father always intended that union to bring right now. As we grow in the revelation of this truth, we can be the conduit of the Father’s blessings to others. Jesus can be glorified through us as He said “All Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. . . Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is Truth. . . (John:17). He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works, because I go to the Father (John:14:12).”
The Father desired always a blessed family. Jesus regained it for us. The Holy Spirit continues to teach and strengthen us. So because of that, we’ve already seen in 30 years or so blind eyes open, tumors disappear, dead people move their eyes, brain injured people restored, marriages and families restored, huge debt release, and we’re believing one loved one will be raised from the dead even as I’m writing this, and so much more.
Before Jesus returns for us very soon, “the end of the thing will be better than the beginning ever was” and Jesus will be more loved and glorified. We only have to believe!
P.S. Please check out Chad Gonzales’ ministry. I believe God’s revelation to him will be a blessing to us all as so many get healed as he simply shares who we really are in Christ in a deeper way.
Be Blessed!
With love from one of …
