Jan 4, 2003

Obviously, not all prophecy is for everyone. Often I am asked, "How do I know what applies to me?" As I have often said, "I am no expert," so test what I am about to say -

I feel that a particular word of prophecy that is spoken to the corporate church at large, in determining its potential personal application in my life, can only be determined by true and accurate discernment. The only way I will know if any of the word applies to me is by and through the Spirit of God within me. My spirit, along with God's Spirit within me, "catches the words" that are spoken or written that seem to have an application or direct involvement in my life.

In the past I have taken words that I wanted to apply to me, especially those that ministered to my needs, and tried to claim them as my own. Likewise, I rejected words that I did not like. In both cases I MISSED IT! But, in the process, I seem to be developing a better ability to separate flesh from spirit. So, for me, it seems to be a process as perhaps it is with many of you.

Be encouraged, God is indeed about to turn His Spirit in us 'up' a notch or two, shortening the process, but as every accurate prophetic voice is saying, we must spend time diligently seeking Him for this to happen in 2003. What now may seem like an option will soon be seen as a necessity: Perilous times are coming!

The end result of many on this earth hearing and obeying God is more than my finite mind can comprehend.

Accurate Prophecy is a mighty weapon of the Spirit, and a great form of communication from God to His people BECAUSE IT PREPARES AND DIRECTS. This gift is being mightily developed in the Body today and is strongly opposed by the devil, often manifesting itself through strong religious spirits within God's own house.

Interestingly, Prophetic accuracy does not seem to be coming from well known, well established Church leaders but rather from unknown men and women, who with little to no acknowledgment from man, are finding prophetic affirmation from God, and thus speaking His words to us.

Jan 3, 2003

The following article is written by a fictitious reporter at the end of 2003. He reports what he has seen during the year 2003. We are about to live out 2003 and obviously I am that fictitious reporter. Even though it is the beginning of 2003, I have written what I have seen for the year 2003.

Though this is somewhat of a different format for Prophecy, I think you can perhaps see 2003 better through Seer's eyes than Sikes' eyes. It will be interesting to look at this again at the end of year...

Blessings, Clay

Teddy Roosevelt once said, "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

As it turned out 2003 was not a year for "cold and timid souls." Perhaps 2003, more than any year in recent history, was a year that could be described as perilous, yet a year in which God drew His people to Himself in unprecedented ways. To this reporter, it seemed that those who had a 'developed relationship' with the Father faired very well in 2003; in fact, they received much in the way of blessing, especially those in business - debts were paid, creative financial miracles abounded, and much was put in storehouses for the brothers whose land continues in famine.

Many in the business sector came to realize for the first time that their years in the financial dungeon were necessary for just such as time as this. Their enormous successes were a sign of the 'Joseph' anointing upon their lives. Though not all Christian businessmen experienced this blessing, if fact many saw even more difficulty, those that moved by His Spirit, through their years of disciplined training, saw the hand of God as they heard His voice and did as He instructed. They lived by Psalm 32:8/Isaiah 11:2,3. This brought major success in a much-depleted economy. It was as if God blessed His people, the true remnant, in a time of famine.

Speaking of the economy, in the humble opinion of this reporter, perhaps we are seeing the first in a series of events that will eventually bring the prophetic word in Isaiah 47 to life, the fall of the Babylonian World's System. Ironically Iraq is the site of Babylon of old. Evidence of its crumbling actually started in 2001 and 2002 with the stock market scandals, corporate scandals, inflated values, and the downturn in the economy that resulted in so much unemployment. In 2003, wars and rumors of wars knocked the props out from under the already sagging economy, yet those true men and women of God steadfastly refused to look to anything but God as their source. They failed to let economic forecasters dictate their thinking, or look to man for their provision. AND GOD SUPPLIED THEIR NEED.

Many of those who experienced much success in the business world this past year seem to be advocates of a new system that will replace The Babylonian World's System; a system of God called The Kingdom's Way (Matthew 6:33). Strangely, the motive of these men is not profit but people. They deem the importance of every God-appointed business deal as one in which the priority is the people involved, not the money that will be made. Their motive is obedience to God's leading, and when they find themselves chasing the blessing, they are quick to repent and return to the "rest" of God. I should add here that the fire has tested these men and women who operate in this, and the fire has taken all selfish ambition and the desire to move outside of God's appointed boundaries.

This extraordinary blessing also seemed to extend to what many call "The Remnant Church," not to be confused with what we typically call "The Church." The boundaries of many ministries within this remnant group expanded greatly as virtual unknowns stepped forward in their divine calling, which was specifically ordained before the foundation of the world, for this specific time in which we now live. Blessings for this group, as with many in the financial arena, seemed to simply "SPRING FORTH," virtually out of nowhere. These "SUDDENLIES" were undeniably the hand of God.

If I could give 2003 a name it would be CHANGE. In fact for most of the remnant seed, 2003 and the word CHANGE were virtually synonymous terms. These changes were not limited to the physical world, though there were many, but more importantly in the spirit realm as many of God's elect began to see things truly from His perspective. I am told that many within these ranks were often used of God in the realm of the miraculous. Some were given the power to speak God's word specifically into a situation and see that situation change before their very eyes. Others were anointed to pray for the sick and dying and see immediate results of God's supernatural healing.

God revealed Himself in new ways during 2003 by allowing His people a revelation of the one who lives in them. As many continued to struggle with the teaching of 'Who We Are In Christ,' The Lord, by His Spirit, ushered in a new revelation to His people; 'Who He Is In Us.' With this new revelation now stirring the Body, for the first time, many of God's people began to think in terms of "All things are possible with God" who is in me. Human thinking no longer interfered with God's plan for man: God's men (and women) began to think in the realm of the miraculous with no limit on what God could do through them. Miracles normally reserved for third world countries are now being seen in the USA.

2003 was a year in which 'The Church,' as a whole, was challenged on both a corporate and individual level. Scandal and exposure of wrongdoing seemed to rock leadership, continuing in the Catholic, then in much of the Protestant Church, especially in Charismatic and Pentecostal circles. Many pastors were exposed for wrongdoing ranging from extramarital affairs to inappropriate use of church funds. On a positive note, a select few pastors repented of their own lofty ambitions in ministry, promoting their personal agendas that didn't come from God, viewing other churches and pastors as competitors and enemies, and not acknowledging the five-fold ministry. These pastors seemed to be spared the destructive fire that has hit many churches today. Ironically, those who seemed to suffer the most were pastors who had little acceptance for a true prophetic voice.

Those besought by a stout religious spirit spent the year binding the devil as one traditional belief after another bit the dust during these difficult times. Some failed to realized that their own greatest enemy was themselves and their 'old order' belief system, while others came to the end of themselves and repented, only to come into a right relationship with the Father.

Many pastors who had depended on the tithe (man) for provision were thrust into the arena of faith, and for the first time in years, had to trust God to keep things going. Many, unfortunately, were so tied to the tithe that they abused their already financially abused congregation for more and more money. These pastors lived in much anxiety and fear throughout 2003, and the thing they feared the most came upon them, losing most of their congregation. Many of these pastors ended up leaving the ministry.

Both congregants and pastors in 'The Church' were faced with literally having to trust God for almost everything. No longer were programs, hype and emotionalism, entertaining choirs, famous TV evangelist, or ear tickling messages getting the job done. Many congregants felt for the first time, "I really need God and I am not finding Him in my traditional Church setting!" Most had known for years that something was missing but didn't know what it was. 2003 changed all of that, and we have since learned during these tumultuous times, that somehow God had been left out.

2003 was a year in which many parishioners began to seek spiritual haven in other and often obscure places; small and intimate ministries, cell groups, home groups, and Bible studies. Those that finally found "the rest" of God began to hear His voice and His call to worship in unprecedented ways, and consequently broke ties with many of their spiritual traditions and emotional attachments to man. Miraculously, many of these were spiritually and supernaturally connected to those in the Body of Christ that seemed to edify and encourage them, but most importantly, helped bring them into their destiny and calling. If I may comment here, it had been my observation that there were more 'callings' in the pews of churches than in all the seminaries in the world combined, yet many pastors, like Pharaoh, refused to let God's people go. 2003 moved many of these people into their rightful positions in the Body.

For all of us who call ourselves Christians, we found in 2003 that 'time with God' is no longer an option. We must know Him, worship Him, and seek Him and His will, in order to peacefully exists in this temporary home called 'the world.' We learned that the chaos and destruction that seems to be rampant everywhere, couldn't come near our homes or families if we remained in the secret place of the most high. Even amidst such chaos, we found that in developing our inner court ministry to the Father, that God's perfect order was established in our lives for the first time. Despite all we have endured this year, we saw the blessing of God in our lives. we came through what many will remember as a difficult year, but a year that gave us a powerful one-on-one relationship with the Father. It seemed as if God's Spirit was available to anyone who came to Him with a broken and contrite heart.

During January, February, and March - the first quarter of 2003, many of the remnant felt uncomfortable with what they saw as their marching orders for 2003, but several of God's prophets were sent to tell them that the enormous changes they were seeing were God called and God ordained, therefore, "Do not kick against the goads." Though at first these changes were a bit uncomfortable, as the year wore on, these changes proved to be profitable and productive, and "ordered steps" into their divine destiny.

Many who had lived in sadness and deprivation for years (worn grave clothes), were promised by God that they would wear grave clothes no more. 2003 spawned a joy in these people that seems to have an eternal attachment. This joy has produced a consistent strength that they had never experienced in their walk with God.

There were many significant things I could continue to write about 2003, but most significant is the UNITY I see coming to the Body of Christ irrespective of denomination, age, education, gender or race - GOD IS JOINING HIS PEOPLE, and as His people yielded themselves to His Spirit in 2003, He joined them to those of His choosing, thus strengthening and building His people into a powerful force upon this earth.

As we look back on History and reflect on 2003, we can safely say it was the first real significant year in which God began to build His Church from a fragmented, disoriented, selfish and powerless people, to the most awesome force of humanity ever seen in the earth's history. Men and women who spent years in training were called out to start this move of God. The Davidic Order was birthed and the Joseph's came forth.