The GateKeeper

A Prophetic Bulletin Published by GateKeepers Prophetic Network of Arizona

 

Volume 1, No. 1                                                                                                         January 2003

 

“Breakthrough at the Gates”

 

by Rob Winters

 

                The "Breakthrough at the Gates" conference held at Mesa's Word of Grace Church on January 24th and 25th could very well have been one of the most strategic and pivotal spiritual events in recent Arizona history.

          By a commission from the Lord, prophets Chuck Pierce and Dutch Sheets, who led the event, are on a tour of all 50 states this year to lead spiritual breakthroughs throughout America.  The prophetic insights communicated at the breakthrough concerning the state of the church in Arizona were strategic and the corporate prayer that followed united, effectual and fervent.

 

Faulty Connections

 

          One of the key revelations that came forth was concerning faulty, in­termittent connections in the Body of Christ in Arizona, that have resulted in an unsteady flow of revelation, and an inability to effectively reap the har­vest.

          The discontinuity, especially in Phoenix, is due to a claim-staking men­tality that was prevalent in the 1800s and is still present today, even in our churches.  In fact, this competitive mind set over time has allowed a spiri­tual stronghold of jealousy to preside, keeping true spiritual unity from be­coming a reality in the Body of Christ.

 

Spirit of Abandonment

 

          Many who have come to Phoenix with high hopes of starting a successful ministry or business have been repeat­edly rejected and shutout by the estab­lishment.  Arizona settlers are threat­ened by newcomers, and protect what is theirs by quickly putting potential "claim-jumpers" in their place. 

          Newcomers are first offended by their rejection and later become frus­trated with their failed attempts at con­necting and fitting in.  Under the weight of repeated rejection, many lose heart and eventually withdraw for a season or forever. 

          Feeling completely abandoned, newcomers tend to isolate themselves and at times yield to a spirit of grief because of their crushed dreams.  This pattern is prevalent in businesses, churches and almost every venue of life in Arizona, particularly Phoenix (See The Valley of the Son, Chs. 9 & 10.)

 

Premature Death

 

          One stronghold identified in the conference was a spirit of premature death.  That premature death may in some cases refer to physical death, but more specifically speaks of the death of ministries that never "got off the ground" primarily due to rejection. 

          The term "pots of death" used at the conference describes the condition that brings about premature death.  Rejection leads to withdrawal, and with­drawal leads to isolation. 

 

Psalm 92:13   "Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God."

 

Potted plants are isolated and can easily be moved from place to place.  On the contrary, field plants are deeply rooted in a field with other plants and are not easily dislocated.

          Isolation in turn often leads to deception.  Those who isolate them­selves due to the wound of rejection are left to their own introverted thoughts and often develop a warped sense of reality.  Separated from wise counsel and fellowship they open themselves up to a spirit of error.  Deception over time leads to death. 

 

Proverbs 18:1   "A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;  he rages against all wise judgment."

 

Hosea 4:6   "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

 

          Like the lion, the devil's tactic is to isolate weak sheep from the flock through rejection, confuse them through deception and devour them be­fore they can fulfill their divine des­tiny (I Peter 5:8).

 

Restoring First Nations

 

          Twice during the conference it was mentioned that the restoration of the Indian nations would be a key to revival in Arizona.

          Our efforts to bring reconcilia­tion to the Indian nations through identificational repentance have made a difference.  However, it will take a much greater sacrifice of Christian la­bor and love over an extended time be­fore the Indian people will fully trust the white man and believe in the white man's God. Currently, native pastors claim that less than 1% of American Indians are truly born again.

 

Proverbs 18:19   "A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city."

 

          If the restoration and regenera­tion of the Indian nations is truly a spiritual key to revival in Arizona, then corporate prayer needs to be continu­ally made for such a ministry or min­istries to be raised up by the Lord to make this great sacrifice and commit­ment to the Indian nations.

 

Surviving or Thriving

 

          Cheryl Sacks of BridgeBuilders Int'l Leadership Network and  Arizona Call to Prayer brought out that Arizona was a desert, both naturally and spiri­tually.  Arizona Christians were used to survival mode Christianity.  We so often have witnessed spiritual advances only to be followed by spiritual counter at­tacks resulting in retreats.

          These spiritual advances are not sustained because the Body of Christ is not walking in the unity of the Spirit.  Competitive attitudes must first be truly repented of by five-fold leadership if we hope to see the pulling down of the spirit of jealousy.  True repentance will bear the following fruit:

•        The participation of a myriad of churches in city-wide prayer initia­tives and evangelistic outreaches.

•        The incorporation and activation of all God-appointed, proven, five-fold ministry giftings.

•        The reconciliation and coopera­tion of  pastoral and prophetic min­istries resulting in spiritual break­through and community transforma­tion.

          The prophecy that Chuck Pierce corporately spoke over Cheryl Sacks indicated that the Lord was going to use her to help transform Arizona from a spiritual desert to a spiritual rain forest or oasis.  Churches and ministries throughout Arizona should therefore wholeheartedly support the BridgeBuilders efforts in bringing re­vival, restoration and reformation to Arizona.

 

A Spiritual Adjustment

 

          At the conference, reference was made to the Lord bringing a spiritual adjustment to the Body of Christ in Arizona.  Like a chiropractic adjust­ment, the Lord is wanting to put the Body back into alignment so that we are fully connected and operating prop­erly.  Fervent corporate prayer was of­fered as the Lord made this spiritual adjustment.

          However, just like any chiro­practic adjustment, it usually needs to be made numerous times so that the Body parts are trained to stay in align­ment.  The misalignment or dysfunction that the Body of Christ in Arizona has experienced is due to the disunity of it members.  This disunity is a product of the rejection many ministries and members have experienced because of a stronghold of jealously and competition. 

 

The Church in Arizona must begin to move in the prophetic dimension or we will miss our divine ap­pointment and destiny.

         

          If we are to stay aligned and unified as a Body, these issues of jeal­ousy and competition must be addressed, repented of, and our minds and hearts renewed to embracing all ministries and members of the Body.  If the Lord is exalting a newcomer's ministry or church in our midst, we must embrace them and make room for them.  If we continue to pull down, put down or shut out the ministries the Lord keeps send­ing to Arizona to help us, we will miss our time of visitation.

 

Spiritual Breakthrough

 

          During the closing session of the conference, Dutch Sheets spoke about natural and spiritual breakthrough.  He indicated that the Body of Christ in Arizona was proficient at doing all the natural planning and organizing ef­forts necessary to see a breakthrough.  However, the church in Arizona was lacking the spiritual or prophetic di­mension that was necessary to see a breakthrough that would bring true and lasting change. 

          Dutch Sheets also spoke on the importance of living in heavenly places and moving in the spirit realm.  As Christians, we have been entrusted with spiritual authority in the heaven­lies.  If we will exercise that authority through intercession and timely prophetic declarations, the gates of hell will not prevail and heavenly gates would be opened wide. 

          Dutch Sheets soberly exhorted the Church of Arizona that we must begin to move in this prophetic dimen­sion or we will miss our divine ap­pointment and destiny as a state.

 

2003 - A Year to See

 

          Chuck Pierce declared that 2003 was a year to see.  Seeing is character­istic of the Body of Christ's prophetic ministry.  Mature prophetic ministry provides the Body with a clear word from the Lord, not only providing reve­lation, but accurate interpretation of and practical application for the prophetic word that has been received.

          One reason for the impoverished state of the Church in Arizona is that prophetic ministry has remained in an infantile state and has been mistrusted and rejected by the majority of the Body of Christ in this state.

 

II Chronicles 20:20  "Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets and you shall prosper."

 

          Corporate prophetic training and a forum to receive, evaluate and pro­claim God's word to our state is crucial if the Body of Christ in Arizona is to fulfill its divine destiny and redemptive pur­pose. 

 

GateKeepers Prophetic Network

 

          After the conference the Lord began dealing with me about spearheading the establish­ment of a prophetic network in Arizona.  The network is to be a cooperative ministry network, working with other prophetic ministers, intercessors and pastors that have a heart to see Arizona transformed from a spiritual desert to a spiritual oasis. 

          In conjunction with my book, The Valley of the Son, this first issue of The GateKeeper is a pilot effort towards establishing a credible, effective prophetic network in Arizona.