Paul Keith Davis writes about learning from the mistakes of others and to pay attention to the good that others did.

The world judges individuals by their mistakes even if it is only one notorious mistake. A person may have led a life of huge blessing in being giver and a blessing to others most of their life or the rest of their life. Yet the world will judge by the mistakes or mistake.

Thank God the judgment of God is filtered through the Blood of Christ and faith in His Resurrection Power.

This is an Elijah List article written by Paul Keith Davis:

JRH 9/10/07

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The Generation That Seeks God Will Know His Nature and Power

PAUL KEITH DAVIS

September 7 2007

Elijah List

Long ago, Israel's King David prophesied a generation that would seek God. Psalm 24 outlines this prophetic word and the prerequisites to participate. Those with clean hands and a pure heart and have not lifted up their souls to falsehood will become a generation of God's people that genuinely seeks Him. He said:

"Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek your face--even Jacob. Selah" (Psalm 24:3-6).

The question remains--what will it take to awaken and mobilize a generation of God's people into this mandate? Clearly one of the most effective ways to achieve this end will be through Heaven's Revelatory realm--personal encounters with God. The Bible tells us about a great king who continually sought God during days of perpetual prophetic revelation. 2 Chronicles 26:5 records that: "He [Uzziah] continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God prospered him."

This is a fascinating story and valuable lesson that existed between the teenage king and the elderly prophet. Some historical sources tell us that Zechariah was well up in age when Uzziah took the throne at the age of sixteen. There was something noble about the prophet's oversight of the young king that provoked Uzziah to continually seek God. As long as he did, God marvelously prospered him. There is an undeniable link between the revelations of Zechariah and the desperate heart of Uzziah that continually sought God. Zechariah's Heavenly access provoked Uzziah and propelled him into one of Israel's greatest kings.

Those same historical sources also inform us that it is believed Zechariah died when Uzziah was in his mid-40's. It was then that the King's heart was lifted up in pride and presumptuously offered incense in the Temple despite the priest's rebuke. Unfortunately, this awesome servant of God made a fatal mistake that cost him his life. As long as Zechariah provided spiritual understanding to the king, which he obtained through the visions of God, Uzziah continued to do right. Without that revelatory anointing, error resulted.

Even so, despite his mistake, Uzziah is remembered in Scripture as a worshiper of God and a great king who engineered creative inventions and exhibited military genius that he no doubt received through Zechariah and his own pursuit of the Heavenly realm.

Learning from the Prior Generations

A very interesting thing is spoken of Jotham, Uzziah's son who reigned in his stead. 2 Chronicles 27:2 records: "He [Jotham] did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; however he did not enter the temple of the LORD...."

Jotham followed his father's example in all the positive areas that exemplified a life of righteousness and stellar leadership but also learned from his mistakes and how to alleviate them. The Bible says that Jotham did all things right as his father had done but he did not enter the Temple to offer incense...that lesson had been learned well. He no doubt saw the agony of his father's leprosy and the grotesque condition of his body and resolved never to make such a mistake in his reign. That is the attitude we must have as we begin to reap in vineyards we have not sown and follow the example of God's greats that preceded us.

A Present Day Model

Recently, the Lord highlighted this passage to me as a prophetic model for this generation to emulate as we study and contemplate the leaders of the prior generation. Unfortunately, many harsh and critical books have been written concerning these wonderful and Godly people with unbalanced emphasis placed on their mistakes and thereby, tainting this generation's perspective of our heritage. It isn't our intent to encourage others to turn a blind eye to the mistakes that were made, but to follow the example of Jotham and learn from them and alleviate them.

I recently heard the Holy Spirit say, "You can get much further with God through honoring than by dishonoring." Despite Uzziah's fatal mistake, he was still remembered as a great king, though his son learned from his mistake.

I believe that is the stance we are to take as we study the lives of leaders of the Latter Rain Revival who did great exploits to God's glory, but also made human mistakes. We must do what they did right and alleviate the pitfalls.

Born to Lose--Bound to Win

One of the individuals of the Latter Rain Revival that was used most notably in the miraculous was A. A. Allen. It has now been my privilege to meet numerous people that knew this great evangelist on a personal level and have spoken of him in the warmest of terms. Although he has been one of the most dishonored leaders of the prior revival, I believe Heaven's records will recount a life of tremendous victories and Godly leadership.

Although there may have been a mistake made at the end of his life, none of us can judge him unless we put ourselves in precisely the same circumstances. Countless thousands are in the Kingdom today because of this man. Numerous others, many of whom I have met, were healed and are living today because he became a conduit for God's miraculous delivering power.

While studying his life, I discovered an incredible visitation he received from the Lord early in his ministry. He had been ministering as an evangelist with some success, but no clear evidence of the supernatural. The lack of power in his ministry provoked him to seek God with desperation. Finally, the Lord responded to the man of God with a visitation of His Spirit that was both tangible and visible.

In the encounter, the Lord audibly outlined a list of prerequisites that were required of this saint in order to see the same power that rested upon Peter, John and Paul. Two of the thirteen items were of a personal nature that related specifically to his life. The remaining eleven were Kingdom principles that are to be applied through every believer.

A.A. Allen's Visitation in His Own Words

According to Allen, his desperation for God's power became overwhelming. He said:

"I must do more, go beyond prayer--if that were possible. I must have a direct confrontation with God. I must speak to God. If I could speak with Him, He would tell me why my meetings were not blessed with signs and wonders, with healings and with greater numbers of conversions."

"Therefore, I entered my prayer closet, shut the door behind me, and determined not to come out until God spoke to me. Would God satisfy the hunger of my soul? Or would I have to admit defeat? No. Defeat was unthinkable. Seconds locked into minutes, minutes telescoped into hours, and then I lost all track of time."

"Never had I known a darker place than my prayer closet, and so when it suddenly was suffused with light, the contrast was all the more startling. The light was the most brilliant, beautiful, incandescent I have ever seen; blades as white as the robe of Christ, shards more yellow than the sun. I knew instantly. The light was God's glory streaming in from Heaven. I had called upon God, and He had come. His presence was so real and powerful, that I felt I would be either blinded or stricken dead any second. I tried to see Him and was afraid I would."

"Then, like a whirlwind, I heard His voice. God's voice speaking to me! God spoke rapidly, as if He had urgent business elsewhere...and not only spoke rapidly, but at great length. He spoke faster than any mortal, faster than my mind could follow. My heart cried out, 'Please God, speak a little more slowly, I want to remember it all.'"

Prerequisites for the Miraculous

With that request, Allen was able to locate a pencil and a piece of cardboard upon which he transcribed the prerequisites given to him directly from the Lord in order to walk in supernatural power.

After giving Brother Allen the requirements, the Lord spoke to him saying, "This is your answer. When you have placed on the altar of consecration and obedience the last thing on your list, you shall not only heal the sick, but in My name, you shall cast out devils, you shall see mighty miracles, and in My name, you shall preach the Word, for behold, I give you power over all the power of the enemy."

Following this visitation, Allen set his heart on meeting each of those requirements in order to demonstrate Heaven's virtue. The many years of powerful ministry and wonderful testimonies provide clear evidence that he met the Lord on His conditions and became a vessel through which the miraculous could operate. These requirements, given directly from the Lord and His Word, are as follows:

Requirement One:

THE DISCIPLE IS NOT ABOVE HIS MASTER, NOR THE SERVANT ABOVE HIS LORD.

"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!" (Matthew 10:24-25).

We are promised a greater works generation. Nevertheless, that primarily denotes a larger number of people doing the same works that Jesus did. Who can expect to be above his Master? With this generation, there now can be thousands who canvass the earth with the same anointing Jesus had and doing the works that He did. Even so, if we walk in the reality of Matthew 10:8, then we must be prepared to endure the persecutions outlined in Matthew 10:18-25.

We are not above our master! If they persecuted Jesus Christ, then they will persecute us when we do the works of Christ. To contend for the miraculous, we must also reconcile in our hearts that misunderstandings, harassment and personal attacks come with the territory. We must be prepared to handle it in a Christlike manner. That was the first qualification given to A. A. Allen for a supernatural life.

Requirement Two:

THE DISCIPLE IS NOT ABOVE HIS MASTER: BUT EVERYONE THAT IS PERFECT SHALL BE AS HIS MASTER.

Allen stated, "My spirit which had been humbled and almost crushed by the Words of the first message was suddenly lifted up in a blaze of glory as I realized that although I could never be above my Master, God had said I should be AS MY MASTER!"

"A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:40).

According to God's Word, we have been directed to live above the spirit of this world. Our decisions, reasoning and lifestyles can be free from the influence of this world and live in perfect harmony with the Holy Spirit. That is the perfect example given to us by the Lord that He has said is accessible. It comes only by being joined with the Holy Spirit in fullness.

Requirement Three:

BE YE THEREFORE PERFECT, EVEN AS YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT.

Allen wrote, "These words seemed even more startling than the ones which God had already spoken. Surely, this was too much! Could any mortal ever hope to be perfect? Yet, surely, God would not ask me to do something which He knew I could not do! And without doubt, this was the voice of God. I had asked bread of my Heavenly Father, and I knew that He would not give me a stone. How thrilling to my soul when I learned that this, too, was a quotation from Scripture! I found it in Matthew 5:48 saying, 'Therefore you are to be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.'"

The message this requirement conveys directly relates to many of the things I have written in my book, Thrones of Our Soul. It has to do with the full and complete sanctification of spirit, soul and body. Our spirit is redeemed when we are born again; then follows the process of having our mind, will and emotions sanctified in accordance with God's Word. We are then being fashioned in the condition that existed in Adam before the fall of man. God was fully enthroned in the spirit, soul and body of Adam as He was the last Adam, Who has made a way for us to know this place in God.

Requirement Four:

CHRIST, OUR EXAMPLE.

"For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously" (I Peter 2:21-23).

This requirement of Brother Allen dealt more with the issues of the heart as it relates to our day-to-day activity. Oftentimes, we are confronted with difficult issues, betrayals and false accusations. As Christians, we openly acknowledge forgiveness against others while harboring resentment in our hearts that secretly hopes the Lord disciplines them. The purest form of Christianity would be to forgive them with our words and with our hearts and genuinely be able to bless them from the heart without reservation. This is the mark of the true son of the Kingdom.

Requirement Five:

SELF DENIAL.

"If any man will come after Me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23).

The path that Jesus walked was a way of self-denial. The issue self-denial, as mentioned to A. A. Allen, has to do with individual lives and the things that become pet projects--which are time-consuming lifestyles occupying our time that could have been spent in a more fruitful way. For Allen, it was the discipline to live a sacrificial lifestyle of prayer and fasting. For others, it may require different disciplines, but the spirit of the matter is the same. We must learn to utilize our time fruitfully and alleviate spiritual "black-holes" that rob our time and energy.

Oftentimes, self-denial requires Christians to pull away from enjoyable company and personal pursuits in order to spend time with God. If we draw near to God, He then promises to draw near to us.

Requirement Six:

THE CROSS.

There will be very little gained by self-denial unless you also take up your cross, and follow Jesus. Luke 9:23 declares, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY and Follow Me."

The Cross of Jesus Christ was a mystery hidden from the foundation of the world. Each born-again believer needs a vision of the Cross that will transform our faith in notable ways. I once saw the Lord forging the streets of Jerusalem, bearing the weight of His Cross. I watched as Simon of Cyrene stood in the very spot ordained in his destiny when the Lord fell under the weight of the Cross for the last time.

Simon was destined before the foundation of the world to be standing in that precise spot on that eventful day. His destiny was to step into the greatest human drama of all time and carry the Lord's Cross for the remainder of the way to Calvary. As I watched in my vision, it seemed my heart screamed out from within me, wishing I could have been the one privileged to carry the Cross that day. Nevertheless, only this one man was given that honor in 33 AD. Even so, as I watched Simon bearing the Cross, covered in the Lord's Blood, I heard a voice say, "My Cross is still available for those who choose to carry it."

It is our privilege to take up the Cross daily and follow Christ in the achievement of our individual destiny.

Requirement Seven:

I MUST DECREASE.

"He who 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. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:29-30).

Allen recorded, "Under this heading, God began to deal with me about my pride. I had never felt that I was proud. If such a thought were suggested to my mind, either through preaching or by direct accusation, or even by the faithful dealing of the Spirit, I, like so many others, excused myself by calling this thing 'self-respect,' 'poise,' 'good breeding,' or 'high-mindedness.' But God called it 'SIN.' Proverbs 21:4 states, 'A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked are sin.'"

"God made me realize my utter dependence on Him, and how little my own efforts were worth. I was made to realize, as I had never realized before, that even the best of my efforts was puny without Him. God ordered me to give Him full control of my life, but before that could happen, whatever talent, knowledge and natural ability I had, must be submerged (decreased) before Him."

Requirement Eight:

"HE MUST INCREASE" (John 3:30).

A. A. Allen, "Did you ever drive across the prairie and note in the distance, a mountain? At first sight, the mountain seems very small. But as you drive on, and come closer to the mountain, you are astonished to see how rapidly it seems to grow. Really, the mountain isn't growing. It is still the same size as when you first observed it. The difference is that you have drawn closer to the mountain. This is exactly what takes place when God 'increases.' He is the same God to all men. But to some people, He seems to be a little, shriveled up, impotent God, who can scarcely be expected to do anything that really matters. The reason for this is that these people are living TOO FAR AWAY FROM HIM! This is why we are instructed, 'Draw nigh to God' (James 4:8)."

"God is far away from many people because they have allowed so many things to come in between. Some even draw nigh to God with their mouth, while their heart is far from Him (Matthew 15:8-9). Of these He says, 'In vain do they worship Me.' The only way that it is possible to draw near to God, is to begin to earnestly, with all your heart, search out those things which come between, and GET RID OF THEM!"

Requirement Nine:

IDLE WORDS AND FOOLISH TALKING.

"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment" (Matthew 12:36).

"Nothing more quickly and thoroughly reveals the lack of real spirituality than does foolish talking, jesting and IDLE WORDS. There is nothing that will more surely label the shallow Christian as one who has no concern for others, nor any burden for the lost and suffering-- than his perpetual flow of foolish talking and nonsensical joking. Although in the eyes of many, this seems to be a small matter, there are few spiritual diseases more devastating, nor more contagious," says A. A. Allen.

Requirement Ten:

PRESENT YOUR BODY.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service," (Romans 12:1).

To the degree that we are not yet fully yielded to God, is to that extent the enemy has access to our soul. The apostle Paul outlined our privilege and admonition to live a yielded and wholly submitted life.

William Branham was once asked what his most notable spiritual gift was. Many thought he would say the ministry of spiritual discernment or word of knowledge, or even the gift of healing. Instead, his answer was, "My greatest gift was the ability to step aside, so He could step in." This trait will earmark the Last Days generation that seeks God as sons of the Kingdom.

Requirement Eleven:

A PARTAKER OF HIS DIVINE NATURE.

"For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust" (2 Peter 1:4).

To share and participate in the Lord's nature is a promise, and like all other Biblical promises, it must be believed. It seems inconceivable that sinners saved by grace cannot only enjoy Heaven, but also be free from the corruption of this world on this side of Heaven. Even so, that is our promise, and a generation of the righteous will come to know its fullness. The power of the Cross is so tremendous, that weak, fallen humanity can be joined to God in a holy union that produces His nature and life while still in these mortal bodies.

To know His nature is to know His power--and become a conduit of His blessings.

Paul Keith Davis
White Dove Ministries
Email: inquiries@whitedoveministries.org

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Are you a moron for Jesus? Okay. Okay, I am asking in jest.

Rick Renner in a Sparkling Gem from the Greek devotional addresses the Biblical concept that you do not need a huge intellect to be a mover and shaker for God under God's guidance.

JRH 9/12/07

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The ‘Morons' of the World Are God's Kind of People!

Rick Renner

Rick Renner Ministries

September 10, 2007

For ye see your calling, brethren,
how that not many wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But God hath chosen the foolish things
of the world to confound the wise....
- 1 Corinthians 1:26,27

If you feel that you just aren't smart enough to be used by God, then today's Sparkling Gem is written just for you! Get ready, because you're about to be abundantly blessed when you see exactly whom God delights in choosing and using to do mighty things in His name! In First Corinthians 1:27, the apostle Paul writes, "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise...."

The word "foolish" is from the Greek word moraino. It depicts someone who is dull, dense, or slow. It was used in New Testament times to portray a person who was stupid or foolish - hence, a fool. It could also picture a person who is mentally ill or mentally deranged. The word moraino was used derogatorily to make fun of people or to put them down for being intellectually inferior. It comes from the same word from which we get the word moron. My thesaurus gives these other synonyms for a "moron": idiot, imbecile, halfwit, numskull, dimwit, dunce, blockhead, dope, ignoramus, lamebrain, jerk, or twerp!

The truth is, no one is an idiot in God's view. But the world often has a scathing opinion and view of people whom God chooses. It is simply a fact that the world regularly ridicules us as being nitwits, lamebrains, and idiots. This is precisely the way the word moraino was used in Paul's time, depicting people whom the world scorned, made fun of, and treated with contempt.

Because much of the Early Church was comprised of servants and slaves, most of the people in the local congregations were very uneducated, uncultured, clumsy, crude, awkward, and unpolished. It wasn't that they were stupid. They had simply never been exposed to or taught about manners, culture, and refined behavior. Reared and treated as servants since birth, they'd never had a need to know these skills. As a result, it is a historical fact that the vast majority of the Early Church was uncultured.

Although there was a logical reason why many of the early believers were so uncultured, this lack of polish made them look stupid in the world's eyes. In fact, at first the Roman Empire looked upon Christianity as the religion of stupid, poor people because it grew so rapidly among the lower
slave classes.

Yet Paul says, "...God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise..." (1 Corinthians 1:27). The word "confound" is the Greek word kataishuno. It means to put to shame, to embarrass, to confuse, to frustrate, or to baffle. The word "wise" is the word sophos, referring to those who are naturally brilliant, intellectually sharp, or especially enlightened. Paul is saying that God calls people whom the world considers morons in order to put to shame, embarrass, confuse, frustrate, and baffle those who think they're so smart!

Taking all these Greek words into consideration,
an interpretive translation of First Corinthians 1:26,27 could read:

"God selected people who are idiots in the world's view; the world sees them as imbeciles, jerks, real twerps. Yet God is using them to utterly confound those who seem smart in the world's eyes."

If anyone has ever called you an idiot - if you've ever been called a stupid imbecile, a jerk, or a twerp - it's time for you to rejoice! This makes you a candidate! You are exactly the kind of person God wants to use!

So don't let anyone put you down or make you feel badly about yourself. A lack of education, culture, or polish has never stopped God from using people who have a willing heart. If your heart is right and you are willing for God to use you, you are the very one He is seeking right now! Just say, "Lord, here I am! I'm ready to be used!"

My Prayer for Today
Lord, I thank You for choosing to use people like me! I realize that I may not have the education, skills, culture, or high-level training that others may possess, but I do have a heart to be used by You. I want You to take me and use me for Your work in this earth. Today I surrender to You anew, asking You to take me and to use me mightily in this life!

I pray this in Jesus' name!

My Confession for Today
I confess that I am exactly the kind of person God wants to use! My heart is right; my attitude is willing; and I deeply desire for God to use me in a special way in this life. I am willing to learn and ready to be corrected. I want God to shape me to become a mighty instrument in His hands. Because of my attitude and willing heart, God is going to use me mightily to further His Kingdom on this earth!

I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!

I grew up in Ellensburg, WA. E-burg (as many of the locals called it) is a combination college-cow town. Between the College students, College employees and the indigenous population; the town's population is about 14,000 to 16,000 (12,000 when I was a kid). I went through the school system in E-burg including the local college - Central Washington University.

I still resided in E-Burg when Jon Kitna played football at CWU. As a CWU alumnus I was a rabid football fan and did not miss the home games. In Kitna's Senior year he took little CWU (NAIA at the time, now NCAA) to the college playoffs. Kitna finished his CWU football career as the NAIA all time passing champ and Co-Champ in the NAIA National Championship game (I can't remember why but the rules allowed playoff games to end in ties back then and that is what happened).

Now I have to be clear. I am now and always will be a Seattle Seahawks fan (where Kitna played for a short while as an undrafted free agent); nonetheless Kitna is a successful NFL player that graduated from the same University as I. I definitely follow his career.

I am unhappy the Seahawks are 1 - 1, but I am happy for Kitna to have the Detroit Lions starting their season at 2 - 0.

I am even happier that Kitna attributes the clearing of his mind from a concussion to the healing power of God to come off the bench to lead the Lions to victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

JRH 9/18/07

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Kitna proves toughness on, off field

By Tom Kowalski

Tuesday September 18, 2007, 12:15 AM

DETROIT LIONS: The Latest News, Updates and Opinions

ALLEN PARK -- OK, let's get this on the table right from the start: I don't really believe Jon Kitna's return from a mild concussion was a "miracle" or the "hand of God."

I think Kitna, the Detroit Lions quarterback, returned to Sunday's 20-17 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings because he's one tough customer and the cobwebs he endured during a big hit had simply cleared.

However, I am 100 percent convinced Kitna believes it was the work of a higher power.

"You guys will probably snicker and laugh and have a good time with this, but it was a miracle. That's really what it is," Kitna told reporters on Monday. "You can call it whatever it is, whatever the official diagnosis of it was, but I've never felt anything like that and for it clear up and go right back to as normal as I can be, it's nothing short of a miracle in my life. I definitely feel the hand of God, that's all it was.

"You can't explain it, you can't talk about it, I have no headache, I have no symptoms, no lingering effects. That's the worst my head has ever felt and the worst my memory ever was in the second quarter yet, after halftime, there was nothing. It's nothing short of a miracle and you can take that as you wish."

Regardless of whether you believe it was really a miracle or not, this is what you should take from this episode: Kitna is one of the toughest players the Lions have ever had, physically and mentally. That's not an exaggeration.

In the final 15 minutes of regulation and overtime, Kitna played with complete disregard for his safety and his body. He was deliberately putting himself in harm's way. Not only didn't he shy away from big hits, but tried to crash through them to get extra yards.

Even more than that, though, it's Kitna's strong faith in the coaching staff and his teammates that is really the amazing thing. This started late last year when Kitna could see all the problems in the locker room and how the coaching staff was fighting to change the losing culture. He saw some of the young players continue to give it everything they had, even though some of their teammates would ridicule them for the effort.

Kitna would see that and his blood would boil, but he knew there was nothing he could do.

Lions head coach Rod Marinelli has often said that you can't be a leader unless you have a group of followers and Kitna fully understood there was a small group of Lions last year who had no intention of being led anywhere positive.

As Marinelli dumped some of the bad apples and added players of strong character, Kitna's belief in the team continued to grow and that was the root of his 10-win prediction. Kitna knew he'd take plenty of heat for that and while some people think he did it for motivation purposes, the truth is he said it because he really believes it.

Now, many people might consider that a little foolish but, again, we're talking about a guy who has incredible mental toughness and does not waver from his belief system even if it means he will be the object of ridicule.

That's the one thing that binds Marinelli and Kitna. They have such a deep faith in what they really believe in, the things that are truly important to them, that they're unbreakable. You cannot bend their will.

That doesn't make them perfect and it doesn't even make them winners. But what it does mean is that even if you don't believe in miracles or the hand of God, you've got to believe what you saw with your own eyes on Sunday.

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Lions QB Kitna said he returned from concussion thanks to "miracle"

By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer
September 17, 2007

Yahoo Sports

Updated on Monday, Sep 17, 2007 6:03 pm, EDT

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) -- Detroit quarterback Jon Kitna expected people to snicker and laugh when they heard his explanation for his comeback against Minnesota after getting knocked out of the game with a concussion.

"It was a miracle," Kitna said Monday.

Kitna left the game in the second quarter, returned in the fourth and led the Lions to a 20-17 win over the Vikings in overtime on Sunday.

He said it was the third concussion of his NFL career, and the first since 2001. Kitna said he also had a concussion playing for Seattle against San Francisco in a 1997 preseason game.

"I've never felt anything like that, and for it to clear up and go right back to as normal as I can be, is nothing short of a miracle," Kitna said. "I just definitely feel the hand of God. That's all it was. You can't explain it.

"I have no headaches, no symptoms, no lingering effects. But that was the worst my head has ever felt, and the worse my memory was in the second quarter. Yet, after halftime there was nothing."

The NFL recently announced new guidelines on dealing with concussions, including creating a telephone hotline to make it easier to report when a player with a head injury is being forced to practice or play against medical advice.

Concussions have become an increasingly high priority for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and team officials in the past year.

"It's about players' safety, and it's good," Lions coach Rod Marinelli said.

Kitna said the team's medical staff followed proper procedures, evaluating him with several questions and by shining a light toward his eyes. The team cleared him to play in the third quarter and he came back in the fourth.

"They did exactly what they're supposed to do, and that's why I didn't push it very hard because I knew how touchy of a subject it is in the league right now," Kitna said. "Finally in the fourth quarter, basically I said, 'I don't have anything. I'm as clear as I was when the game started."'

He was knocked out of the game in the second quarter and appeared to be out for the rest of the day, standing on the sideline without a helmet.

"I was out of it. I didn't know anything. I lost coherence," Kitna said. "It's one of those things, you shouldn't even been able to go back in the game, but it went back to normal and cleared up like it never happened."

After saying he knew who he was during the game, a reporter asked Kitna if he knew where he was.

"Barely," he said.

Kitna passed a follow-up examination Monday morning.

"He's fine," Marinelli said. "He didn't have any symptoms, no headaches."

Marinelli said it was up to the doctors -- who said Kitna had a "very, mild concussion -- to walk the fine line between listening to Kitna and protecting him.

"They were overly cautious and they went through everything they're supposed to do," Marinelli said. "Even when Jon wanted to come back, they held him down until they were convinced and felt good about it."

Kitna ran the ball twice on the final possession, taking even more hits, and led a game-winning drive when Detroit trailed or was tied for the third straight game, including a win last season at Dallas.

"It was a courageous effort," offensive tackle George Foster said.

Kim Clement prophesies about peace in America that has not been experienced for some time.

The Word of the Lord has come about Iran as well. This one is a bit surprising to me because the evidence of human wisdom projects some kind of conflict with Iran, particularly involving America and Israel.

I pray Clement has interpreted the Holy Spirit correctly for geopolitically increased violence appears to be increasing and that violence is perpetrated by Iran and Iran's influence on terrorists and Syria.

The interesting line Clement hears in the Spirit is that Iran becomes neutralized by a Christian revival among college age Iranians that thwart the power of radical Islamofascist Twelver Shia Muslims.

Clement touches on China, unfortunately I do not have a clue what the Holy Spirit is saying about China. If any of you do, leave a comment.

JRH 9/23/07

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'Something unusual, it's never ever happened before-in the month of October!' And 'Do Not Fear Iran'

Kim Clement

September 23, 2007

Elijah List

"The cherry on the cake is October, and what could not happen--has to happen."

September 1, 2007-San Jose, California

God says, "This is a season of receiving." There was a time when it was not a time to receive, but God says, "Now is a season of receiving, now is a season of restoration. Now is a season to gather. Now is the season to bring in, now is the season to rejoice, now is the season of joy."

The Spirit of God says, "Hear the words that come from My heart. America has endured much agony and much pain. This nation has caused life to come even though death may call." Now God says, "You are about to enter a season of peace, as I have said before, but I shall begin with My people. It is the end of tears. It is the end of war. It is the end of a season and now grace has begun. Understand when I say it is your time, then it is your time," says the Lord.

When I landed in San Jose, God said, "February 2008 is a huge month of miracles--specifically designed for this house and the people in this city and the surrounding areas."

"For the month of October will bring about things in this nation politically. Now I will, once again, shake this nation and bring your enemies out one-by-one, so that you may rejoice in your Thanksgiving and so you may rejoice and sing, 'Joy To The World' over your Christmas. That we may say, 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.'"

God says, "One of the greatest years is about to be bestowed upon you, and therefore, I am preparing you now and giving you a glimpse of it. Therefore, do not tolerate anything that contradicts what I have spoken. The Heavens have opened up, gold shall appear in the form of a faith that you have never had before. Unusual miracles shall take place. Get yourselves ready and prepare yourselves, for even as I have spoken it and you have heard it, it shall surely take place and you shall rejoice greatly," says the Lord.

September 2, 2007-San Jose, California

"I will shake the earth. The five powers that have tried to control My people are being shaken now," says the Spirit of God. "You may wonder what it is. I'm giving them to you--what the enemy stole at the turn of the century. Azusa, this they called the revival of the beginning of the last century." Now God says, "A greater than Azusa revival, greater than any century has ever delivered because I am bringing down the five powerful forces and they will never control My people again."

"I will come into your home over the season that they call My birthday, nevertheless, I will come into your house and what you have lost in 2007, I will give back to you in 2008," says the Spirit of the Living God.

September 7, 2007-Albany, Oregon

"I know there's a time. Now is the season for restoration in your homes. Now is the time to gather together in the season you give thanks. You will say Thanksgiving was never quite like this. What I'm about to do is show My face to the entire human race."

God says, "This is a season and a time where it shall be proclaimed and said about you, 'Your ventures, your business, your ministry-this has never ever happened before.' Governments and councils will say, 'We've never done this before, this has never happened before.' This is the epitome of favor," says the Lord, "where governments, societies, cultures and businesses dictate, and yet, they will come to you and say, 'This has never ever happened before.'" You've got the favor of the Lord and God says rejoice in this great favor.

There are wells that are being stopped up--they've been closed. God said, "They said to him (the son), 'These may have been dug by Abraham, but now they belong to us.'" Therefore, God says, "Will you do as my servant of old did? Dig a new well, let them keep their wells." God said, "There is a new fountain of life that comes from a well that has been dug. It has been dug by the praise and the proclamation of the people of God. 'Spring up O well, Spring up O well,' they sang to it, and the nobles and the princes--they dug, and as they dug, so the water came forth. Sing to this well."

For the Spirit of God says, "Hear this, as I speak from My precious Oregon." God says, "Hear these words again. There is a well of life and in it contains five graces." I've spoken of these before, out of this fountain--out of this well that has been dug over these years by the prophetic people as they have sung to something that seemed like nothing, even like Moses who struck the rock and it seemed like nothing. The reason water came forth was that he saw the water in the rock. God said, "The reason water came from a well that had nothing in it was because they saw the water. Where are the seers of this day that would see something in nothing?"

God says, "Fear not, for all the wells that have been captured and taken by the religious system--let them keep it for now, for you have dug a brand new well and in that comes the healing fountain." God said, "Miracles as the Body of Christ has never ever seen." The Spirit of God said, "Do not say, 'We've heard this before.'

This is as a result of the pioneers of the prophetic that have dug and dug and dug, and said, 'Even though we have lost ourselves, we will continue prophesying to the well; we will continue prophesying, 'Spring Up O well,' even though there is nothing.' The princes and the nobles, the prophets and the apostles--they dug and they dug, and the people watched as they sang. "

God said, "Now the well must spring up. It must bring forth the most miraculous signs and wonders that shall appear. Even as I have said this to you in this place, it will go on for weeks and weeks and weeks and it shall not stop. I have begun something called, 'Resurrection,' and it can not be stopped," says the Lord.

"I shall bring it into science, scientific discoveries in these next few months and years. Where they will say, 'We cannot look away from it. We have again proven that God exists (they will say the various places). They will say, 'We've tried to disprove God and we have found Him again.'" God says, "Watch Me, as I show My face to the entire human race. They've taken the Internet. They've taken all they can to hurt My people, My children, little kids. Watch how I turn it around on the Internet and show My face."

September 8, 2007-Albany, Oregon

The Spirit of God says, "Some of you have said, 'We have waited for too long.' And some of you have said, 'This cannot be possible, that in a time of great ingratitude, in a time of where there is very little praise on the lips of the citizens.'" But God said, "This is how I work. Where there is a rock, I will bring water forth. Where there is an impossible situation, I will thrive. Do you want a testimony?" God says, "Do you want a testimony? Then prepare yourself, because I am preparing a testimony to be born in its time--and now is the time. Now is the time!"

For the Spirit of God said, "Is it not becoming for Me to receive adoration and praise from the lips of those that have beheld My glory and My power? This is a strange thing that unbelief would settle into the nests of the eagles so easily," but God said, "I am shaking the nests, so that the little eaglets can come forth. Yes I am." For the Spirit of God said, "Even in this nation where people have looked upon you and despised you, I have brought vindication. I have brought righteousness. Now the promise that I have given to you, you don't have to wait for it anymore. Your tomorrow has arrived and become your present. Do not reject it, embrace it, rejoice in it, for a testimony is about to be born in time," says the Lord.

The Spirit of God says, "A testimony is about to be born in its time. What is this that I am saying? You are a testimony about to be born in its time. You are a testimony about to be born in its time. Now is the time. Something unusual, it's never ever happened before-in the month of October!"

"In the month of October, there will be the most unusual favor. The cherry on the cake is October, and what could not happen--has to happen. The door that was locked to you must be unlocked. The retardation that has taken place on your divine promise will suddenly accelerate. This has been promised to us. In the month of October, because of the favor, and because of the revelations and because of the things that are going to unfold, even in the United States of America, causing your Thanksgiving to be one of the most thankful Thanksgivings."

"Because of the disruption of political powers, the disruption of a force that has held strong in Iran, in Iran," and God says, "I will spite the devil. I will spite the devil and instead of blowing up and destroying as many wish, Iran-I will raise up hundreds of thousands of Christians amongst the young people in the schools, in the colleges, in the mosques. Young men and women-I will raise from within." For God says, "Why would I do it any other way? Wrong came down because of what happened from within." And God says, "Do not fear Iran. Do not fear what they are trying to do for China, oddly enough, will stand a firm ground." And God said, "America shall say, 'We never dreamed that China would stand for a season in this crisis.'"

For God said, "There is a crisis about to happen, but quickly and swiftly shall it be placed under your feet." And God says, "And do not despise the Bush, your President too soon--for there shall be a massive vindication. And because of a certain thing that shall arise and a diplomacy that shall take place, there shall be a peace that America never dreamed would happen. Look to who were your enemies, and they shall stand as your friends for a season," says the Spirit of God. Something unusual!

Something unusual, it's never ever happened before.

Kim Clement
Prophetic Image Expressions
Email: hope@kimclement.com

Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.

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What is Liberty? Gloria Copeland says the Word of God says Liberty is the Will of God.

Sounds like a lot of hear say as a lawyer would say in a court of Law; nonetheless if one follows the line of the hearsay, the Bible agrees with the "he said/she said" Gloria defines as Liberty.

JRH 9/24/07

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God's Will Is Liberty

Gloria Copeland

September 24, 2007

Devotional E-Newsletter

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
(2 Corinthians 3:17)

Liberty. If you could put the will of God into one word, that would be the word. God wants people to be free. Free from sin, sickness, poverty, oppression and every other curse.

That freedom is what Jesus came to provide. He said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor...to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised" (Luke 4:18). That's what He trained His disciples to do. And if you're a born-again believer, that's what He wants you to do too!

Some people say, "Well, I don't know about that. That may not be God's will for today."

But listen, the Bible says God never changes. He hasn't changed His will for the earth. He doesn't do one thing awhile and then go do another thing awhile. Jesus' life was a perfect picture of God's will 2,000 years ago-- and it still is! That's why He left instructions for us to go and do the works that He did. That's why He sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to do them.

Jesus still wants to do the will of the Father here on earth--but He does it through us. He has to work with us until we're willing to lay down our traditions and let Him do His thing. That's what the early Church did. They started out with a bang because they did as Jesus taught them. Everywhere they went people became free.

Let's pray for the Church of today to deliver the liberty of God to the world. Let's quit questioning the will of God and start carrying it out instead. He said the works that He did we would do also and even greater works (John 14:12). It's time for us to take up where Jesus left off and set the captives free!

Scripture Study:  Isaiah 61:1-11

Here is a concise explanation of spiritual warfare as opposed to wrestling with flesh and blood. There is even an excellent explanation based on the Word of God on how that old defeated adversary Satan can reside in heaven.

All of this is the courtesy of a Kenneth Copeland devotional.

JRH 9/27/07

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Spiritual Armor for Spiritual War

Kenneth Copeland

Devotional Email

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

September 27, 2007

"For we wrestle not 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)

Unfortunately, most of us don't know the first thing about fighting the kind of war in this scripture. For, as Ephesians 6:10-12 says, it's not a battle of flesh and blood, but of the spirit.

Most believers are so earthly minded (or carnally minded) that they never even realize the actual source of the enemy's attacks. They blame circumstances and people. They waste their energy fighting natural conditions instead of supernatural causes.

We need to wake up to the warfare that's going on in the heavenly realm!

We can get a glimpse of it in Daniel 10:12-20. There, we find that Daniel had been fasting and praying for 21 days, awaiting a word from the Lord. Then, an angel appeared to him 21 days later with the answer. What took him so long? He was fighting the enemy in the heavens.

That confuses some people. They say, "Devils fighting in heaven? I thought God reigned in heaven!" What they don't understand is that the Bible teaches there are three different areas called heaven:

1. The heaven where God resides.

2. The stellar heavens (what we call "outer space").

3. The heavens around this earth (the atmosphere surrounding this planet).

This last heaven is where spiritual war takes place. (That's why Ephesians 2:2 calls Satan the prince of the power of the air.) The air is where wicked spirits operate. From there, they attempt to rule the nations assigned to them.

And rule them they will unless the prayers of God's people keep them from it.

God has an army marching in this land. If we band together, we can prevent the wickedness in high places from ruling our nation. The time has come for us to pray. So, put on your full armor and take your place in the ranks of the faithful in intercession for our country and the nations of the world!

Scripture Study:  Daniel 10:1-14