“The Witness” 31 April 2008

- 1 -

Step out on the Water...

Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water(Mat 14:28)

When God speaks...

It is written,Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouthof God.

(Mat 4:4) KJV

God has chosen many ways in the past to speak to Hispeople. Jesus said that man shall not live on bread alonebut on every word that comes from the mouth of God. This“word” in the Greek is “ ” or “Rhema”, which meansthe spoken word or the living Word of God. God is notdead but alive. We are serving the true Creator of theuniverse who controls everything in every way. He knowsyour very thoughts from afar. Long before you have evenbegun to think what you will say God knows our thoughts.The writer of the book of Hebrews said: in these last days

He spoke to us by [His] Son, whom He appointed heir ofall [things], through whom also He made the ages [fig.,universe]; who being [the] outshining of His glory and[the] exact expression of His essence, and sustaining all[things] by the word of His power (Heb 1:1-3) TheNIV says by the power of His Word.

By His Word, God creates, changes and call the things thatare not as though they were. By this same word Jesuscalled Peter to come and walk on the water.

Has God ever called you to do something which youthought you cannot do it? When God speaks he moves usout of our comfort zone into His perfect will for our lives.

About a month ago the Lord gave me a word saying: Stepout on the water! We often want God to speak to us, butare we also willing to obey when God speaks?

“The Witness” 31 April 2008

- 2 -

If God speaks He can confirm...

The moment God gave me this word I knew that I wouldneed allot of faith to obey this Word from God. Three days,later I was at a prophetic school to fine-tune in hearing thevoice of God. It was during that night that God spokeagain...

Prophetic people were invited to come and prophecy to us.We were told by a prophetess that we should pray and askGod to show us who to approach for a word from God. Ihave had many words from the Lord Jesus, and felt like Ireally did not need another word from a person who waslearning to hear the voice of the Lord. As I sat back, theHoly Spirit spoke to me and said the one playing the guitarwould prophecy to me. I thought to myself that I would goto this person afterwards, since he was leading the worshipthat night. He was invited by theprophetess to come and minister to usthrough prophetic worship. After theLord told me this, this man stoppedsinging and started prophesying, saying:“God says: ‘There is a businessman in this meeting who isfrustrated with his job!’ But God says: ‘You are notfrustrated with your job; you are frustrated because the giftof God within you wants to come out! You have been givena pioneering spirit and a forerunner spirit and God says:‘Step out on the water!’”

This was a shocking confirmation, but what did it mean?Finally after I got this word I decided to go to one of theother people who were invited to prophecy to us. She saidto me: “The Lord says: ‘You do not need anyone to tell youwhat God is saying, for you can hear His voice. God says:‘Step out on the water!’” This was now the third timein three days that the Lord Jesus had brought this word tome.

The next day before I went to work I prayed and spoke tothe Lord Jesus Christ, my friend. I have heard God’s voicein many different ways, and His voice always brings newunderstanding and refreshes when He speaks. Thismorning, God did something really profound. God spoketo me and gave me a deep understanding of His purposefor my life. It was as if God wanted me to know that Hewas placing a stamp of approval on the fact that He hadcalled me to be in the full time ministry. I confirmed with

the Lord that I knew that this was His desire for me andthat it was also my heart’s desire.

Letting the word of God lay...

For seven years I have known that God had a specificpurpose for my life. It was on the 9th of May 2001 that Hecalled me to follow Him. And not long after this a prophetprophesied and said: “I can see how you are like a youngvine that grows up against a pole. But every now and thenGod has to bind this tender vine to the pole which has thepurpose of keeping the vine from falling to the ground.”Then he said: “People have seen you as rebellious and noone has been able to walk with you, but God has putleadership in you.” Then he said: “I can see an 8 to 5 joband after that self provision!”

This word was given to me about 6 yearsago, and since that time I have hadthree other jobs. I have waited for this 8to 5 job, which the prophet has spokenof, for nearly six years already. It was

about 7 years since God called me the first time. As weknow, God’s timing is not man’s timing. For, to God athousand years are as one day and one day is as athousand years.

Keeping your vow to the Lord...

That same day I said to the Lord: “Yes Lord, I know thatyou have called me into the full time ministry, but I alsoknow that your time is not our time. Therefore I made onerequest from the Lord Jesus that day.

I made an agreement with God saying that I know that Hehas called me into full time ministry. Then I requested thisone thing from the Lord, saying that, the day He wantedme to start in full time ministry, that day, He should onlyspeak the word, and I would follow Him.

Do not say 4 months more...

Two days after the Lord, through prophetic song,confirmed that He wanted me to step out on the water,while spending time in the Lord’s presence, the Holy Spiritspoke to me again. This time I did not understand what

“Today if ye will hear hisvoice, harden not yourhearts!”

“The Witness” 31 April 2008

- 3 -

the Lord Jesus was saying to me. Often, before I startreading my Bible, I will give the Lord Jesus Christ chanceto speak to me. I allowed the Lord to lead me to a passageof scripture and through this, God spoke to me. This wasthe passage of scripture which the Lord gave me thatmorning:

Jesus saith unto them,My meat is to do the will of him that sent me,

and to finish his work.Say not ye,

There are yet four months,and then cometh harvest?

Behold, I say unto you,Lift up your eyes,

and look on the fields;for they are white already to harvest.

(Joh 4:34-35) KJV

When God speaks through Rhema word He is only tryingto speak very specifically to you. He is not always trying touse the context of the scripture. Remember God knows thevery way you reason and understand the thoughts anddesires of your heart before you even mention them.Consider the words of David: “For there is not a word inmy tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest italtogether”. (Ps 139:4) KJV

I did not understand what the Lord was speaking aboutthis morning. Was God trying to speak about someonewho must come to Christ that day I wondered? Then Icontinued enquiring from the Lord Jesus. Asking Himanother clue to what He was trying to say? God neverspeaks in confusion and neither do we always immediatelyunderstand what God, through the Holy Spirit, is trying tosay. I have learnt not to jump to conclusions immediatelyafter God spoke. Jesus always spoke in parables andaccording to Moses: If there be a prophet among you, I theLORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, andwill speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is notso, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speakmouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in darkspeeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall hebehold: (Num 12:6-8) KJV Sometimes God speaks to usin dark and difficult sayings.

Then the Lord gave me another verse: “Be strong and ofgood courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed:

for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he willnot fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finishedall the work for the service of the house of the LORD.(1Chr 28:20)

Then I realized that the Lord Jesus was still speaking aboutHis calling to the full time ministry. Not everyone is calledinto fulltime ministry, in which you do not work in order toearn wages. I believe one must be called to ministry andtherefore cannot appoint oneself into ministry. Paul oftenspoke of His calling which Jesus Christ had given Him.

Obedience is better than sacrifice...

Was God really saying what I though He was saying? Ireasoned in my mind, wondering whether this was reallyGod calling me to stop working.

Then I asked the Lord one more confirmation and God wasfaithful and answered accordingly: “Today if ye will hearhis voice, harden not your hearts!” (Heb 4:7) KJV

The day on which God spoke was the 28th March 2008.This was three days before the end of the month. God hadgiven me just enough time to resign.

Two are better than one...

Fear took hold of my heart. I, like Peter started lookingat all the waves around me, reasoning that this could notbe. I must be making it up. I have always had a wildimagination. I knew what I heard, but was in unbelief.Many thoughts rushed through my mind. I have manyexpenses and I am married. I reasoned to myself: “surelyGod would not only speak to me, but also to my wife?”

The word of God said:“that in the mouth oftwo or three witnessesevery word may beestablished.” (Mat18:16) KJV

Truly two are betterthan one. That is whyGod had put manybrothers and sisters in

“Be strong and ofgood courage,and do it: fearnot, nor bedismayed

“The Witness” 31 April 2008

- 4 -

our lives. Like I have said before He is not a God ofconfusion. If He really did say something to you He willconfirm His word. Whether it is through another Spiritfilled child of God is His choice. I told my wife about allthat had happened. She became even more afraid and saidthat God had not yet spoken to her. I had a dilemma. WillI obey God or will I wait until the Lord has confirmed thisword through my wife also?

I decided to wait until God had given my wife theconfirmation she required from the Lord.

One week later the Lord answered my wife in this way:“And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year ofthe captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfthmonth, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, thatEvilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began toreign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah outof prison; And he spake kindly to him, and set his throneabove the throne of the kings that were with him inBabylon; And changed his prison garments: and hedid eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.And his allowance was a continual allowance givenhim of the king, a daily rate for every day, all thedays of his life. (Ki 25:27-30) KJV

That evening my wife asked me whether I was 38 or 37

years old. I explained to her that I was 37 years old, butwould become 38 in the next 4 months. Alwaysremember, God’s Spirit will not lead you where His gracecannot keep you. Thus God will always provide for thecalling in which He calls us.

The Accuser of the brethren...

…the accuser of our brothers [and sisters],the one accusing them before our God day and night

was thrown down!(Rev 12:10) KJV

The next morning on my way to work I was very excitedthat the Lord had called to stop working and that I couldstop working for an earthly master and start working formy heavenly Master. Then a thought came up saying:“Who am I that I can stop working while others have towork for a living?”

As I came to my place of prayer, where it was my custom topray, I allowed the Lord to speak to me first. Then, theLord answered my thoughts, which I did not even realize Ihad. I had felt guilty, because I wanted to stop working.Then the Lord gave me a passage of scripture whichexplained the responsibility of the Levites, and specificallygave me a verse which would refute the devil’s accusations,confirming that He did call me not to work any longer:“Some Levite families were responsible for the Templemusic. The heads of these families lived in some of theTemple buildings and were free from other duties forthey were employed in that work day and night. (1Ch9:33) (GNB)

When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of theLord Jesus Christ will rise up a standard against him.Praise God who protects those who are willing to obeywhen He calls them.

The Harvest is ripe...

About 4 years ago, during a long fast, I had a dream. Inmy dream I was responsible for a large plant. I was giventhis responsibility which was nearly too much for me.Suddenly I saw a large garbage truck coming down a steep,crusher road. In the road was a big tree. When the truckcame down this road, on its way towards me, it smashed

“The Witness” 31 April 2008

- 5 -

this tree out of the road, up rooting it, removing itcompletely from blocking the road.

Many times God places us in very specific positions inorder to change our character more and more into theimage of our Lord Jesus Christ. God places us in the workor position we are in so that He could remove something,which we could not remove in your own strength. Paulonce said: For this reason, we do not become discouraged,but even if our outward person [fig., body] isdecaying, yet the inward [person] is being renewedday by day. For the momentary light matter of ouraffliction [fig., our insignificant affliction] is producingfor us an eternal weight of glory more and more [fig., farbeyond all comparison]! (2Co 4:16-17) ALT

Even though outwardly we cannot understand why Godhad allow us to go through momentary suffering, yetinwardly God is building something into our character,which will make us become more like Jesus Christ.

The writer of Hebrews once said: “No discipline seemspleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however itproduces a harvest of righteousness and peace for thosewho have been trained by it. (Heb 12:11) NIV

Do not leave the circumstances in which God has placedyou, until God has confirmed that He has achieved theperfect discipline which He wanted to achieve in andthrough you. Remember God is training you to be comelike His son. You are more important than your ministryand what you can do for God.

In conclusion, God said that His time for my life has cometo step out in faith and fulfill the calling upon my life. Onemonth later, on the 25th of April 2008, I resigned.

May God open the ears of those whose destiny it is to stepinto the full time ministry in order to minister before Himday and night!

When Jesus calls you to follow Him, will you obey thevoice of God and give ear to the voice of the Holy Spirit?

This is my prayer as Jesus once said: “Therefore said Heunto them, the harvest truly is great, but the labourersare few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest

that He would send forth labourers into his harvest.(Luk 10:2) KJV

To God be all glory for preparing us for the destiny He hasfor our lives.

From the director “The Witness”