The Son Shall Arise in 2005

In 1996 after receiving direction from the Lord to relocate to Phoenix, Arizona from Charleston, SC, the Lord related to me that a part of our mission was to define Christ’s redemptive purpose for Arizona in the 21^st Century. This was to be facilitated by a book that I was to write and entitle, “The Valley of the Son”, which was completed and released in the year 2000. The unfolding of Christ’s redemptive purpose for Arizona was hallmarked by the following scripture.

Malachi 4:2 “But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.”

The Lord has foreordained certain cities to be "cities of refuge" wherein people can flock to first be healed, then empowered and finally commissioned to fulfill their divine destiny (Joshua 20). This calling can even extend to entire states. Phoenix is one of these "cities of refuge" and Arizona is a “state of restoration” wherein the healing of the broken-hearted is to be administered and abandoned divine destinies are to be recovered and re-birthed.

The degree of healing that the Sun of Righteousness can bring to the Church in the Valley of the Sun is directly proportional to the degree to which the fear of the Lord is wrought in us. Jesus delighted Himself in the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:3). Since it is our goal to be conformed to the image of Christ, we should make it our aim to pursue the fear of the Lord.

The fear of the Lord is the Master's prescription for healing the Church and a lost and hopeless world. The fear of the Lord is wrought in us by the Spirit of judgment and burning through the baptism of fire (Isaiah 4:3,4, Matthew 3:11). Through the Spirit of the fear of the Lord, the grace of repentance is imparted to us, resulting in our conviction, confession and forsaking of sin (Malachi 3:2,3, Proverbs 28:13). Personal repentance allows the Sun of Righteousness to arise in our hearts to heal and revive our spirits and restore our broken dreams. Likewise, corporate repentance produces healing and revival in the Church as a whole.

As the message and Spirit of the fear of the Lord is welcomed in Arizona in 2005, the Sun of Righteousness will arise suddenly in all of His glory to purify and heal the Church here (Malachi 3:1). Then the Lord will more fully empower and commission the Church throughout Arizona to begin to bring healing to our growing multitude of refugees.

The Suns as a Sign

The year 2005 will mark the beginning of the fulfillment of Phoenix and Arizona’s redemptive purpose respectively as a “city of refuge” and “state of restoration”. Through a prophetic sign, the Lord will confirm that the “Sun of Righteousness” is arising to bring healing not only to the state of Arizona, but more importantly through the state of Arizona.

God is always speaking. He speaks through His word and through His ministers. When we are not tuned into Him, the Lord often speaks through our idols. Over the past few years, the Lord had communicated many prophetic messages through major sporting events, including the 2001 World Series, the 2002 Major League All Star Game, and the 2004 NBA Finals. I encourage you to keep your eye on the Phoenix Suns professional basketball team this year. Even as we are experiencing a remarkable recovery from the drought Arizona had been experiencing, the Phoenix Suns will have a record breaking season in 2005 that will serve as a sign to Phoenix and the rest of the world that He is accelerating the fulfillment of His redemptive, restorative purposes for our state and bringing an unprecedented spiritual outpouring here.

Establishing Cities of Refuge

For a number of years I have witnessed the relocation of many to Phoenix for a “new start”. With crushed dreams and relationships, thousands come to Phoenix and Arizona to begin again and dream again. Although many of these refugees come from within the United States, many more now are coming from Mexico. These destiny seekers are in desperate need of refuge and restoration, but in general are not finding it here.

Luke 4: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because . . . He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted.”

Although there are many political implications with regard to illegal refugees, the Lord is calling the Arizonan church to arise and administer healing to the legal and illegal refugees that are flocking here. Current projections indicate that within 10 years, the population of Phoenix will be 50% Hispanic. Therefore, the acknowledgement and activation of the Hispanic church, with regard to their divine calling to bring spiritual regeneration and restoration to Hispanic refugees, is an important key to fulfilling the redemptive purpose of the Arizonan church. Let the healing begin!