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The Voice

Crying f One o
Vol. 41, No. 4 2010

A Call For Leaders

Will You Answer?

Pinecrest Bible Training Center

Dear Banner Readers,

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This cover of this Banner features some well-known Christian leaders, who, despite human shortcomings and failures, allowed God to use them to shape the Christian faith as we know it today. Of course, we could have included thousands of other faces, not to mention those who have loved and served God without recognition. We also certainly dont want to neglect to mention Jesus Christ, who is our ultimate example. In the church today, and even in the social and political realms, we see a cry for leaders. People are turning to celebrities, charismatic orators and the media for answers. But my question is, where are the real leaders the Lord has for today? Where are the men and women who will align their lives to the standard of Gods Word and who will declare His truth to our generation?

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Bible Training Center Salisbury Center, NY (315) 429-8521 info@pinecrest.org www.pinecrest.org The Banner is published quarterly by: Pinecrest Publications P.O. Box 320 Salisbury Center, NY 13454-9998 Third-class postage paid at Salisbury Center, NY Copyright 2010 All rights reserved.
All issues of The Banner are sent to you on a free-will offering basis. Suggested donation for The Banner is $20 per year. All Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version. Where the meaning of the text is not altered in any way, the archaic forms have been updated to current usage.

ne Crying e of O ic
Vol. 41, No. 4

Pinecrest

Contents
4 8 12 17 18 22 24 26 30
A Call For Leaders by Jack Picataggi Great Things Ahead by George Warnock The Secret of His Abiding Presence by Don Nori The Voice of One Crying Prophetic Words at Pinecrest The Manifest Presence of God: Face to Face by Walter Beuttler Trusting God During Turbulent Transitions by J. Lee Grady Christ in You is the Light of Inuence by Kelley Varner The Day of Delay by Rod Levey Words That Inspire: On Leadership

The title of this Banner reads, A Call for LeadersWill You Answer? My prayer is that we will allow God to mold and shape us into the men and women He has called us to be to impact the world for His glory and kingdom. May God bless you,

Jack & Joanne Picataggi

On the Cover
1) Billy Graham: Worldwide evangelist who has preached the gospel to more people than anyone in history 2) Amy Carmichael: Missionary to India 3) Paul: New Testament author and apostle 4) George Whiteld: Pioneering evangelist who helped spread the Great Awakening in Great Britain and America 5) Harriet Tubman: Conductor of the Underground Railroad who led many slaves to freedom 6) Esther: Saved Jews from annihilation 7) William Wilberforce: Abolitionist, politician and author 8) Hudson Taylor: Founder of the China Inland Mission 9) Martin Luther: Leader of the Protestant Reformation 10) Moses: Biblical leader of the Hebrew exodus from Egypt 11) William Seymour: Leader of the Azusa Street Revival 12) Corrie Ten Boom: Christian Holocaust survivor who helped Jews escape from the Nazis 13) Johannes Gutenberg: Inventor of the printing press who printed the rst Bible 14) George Muller: Cared for over 10,000 orphans in his lifetime 15) John Wesley: Founder of the Methodist movement 16) Rees Howells: Intercessor, missionary and founder of The Bible College of Wales 17) Jonathan Edwards: Preacher, theologian and missionary who helped shape the Great Awakening in America 18) Charles Finney: Called The Father of Modern Revivalism 19) William and Catherine Booth: Founders of The Salvation Army 20) George Washington Carver: Christian scientist, botanist, educator and inventor 21) John Wycliffe: Preacher, writer and Bible translator 22) Gladys Aylward: Missionary to China

Editor Jack Picataggi Publication Manager Francis Roche Graphic Designer Evie Kowalewski

POSTMASTER: Forward all changes of address and notices of undeliverable copies to:

The Banner, P.O. Box 320 Salisbury Center, NY 13454-9998, USA A limited number of previous editions of The Banner are available upon request for $2.50 shipping and handling.

Photograph of Corrie Ten Boom used with permission of the Baker Publishing Group. Photograph of Billy Graham supplied by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. All other pictures used are public domain.

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A Call for
by Jack Picataggi

Leaders

You may ask yourself, what kind of question is that? By all appearances, the church is ooded with leaders. We have self-proclaimed apostles and prophets by the bushel, certainly enough to start at least 15 new church movements.

Where are the leaders of today?

We have churches which attract droves of people but whose pastors dare not mention sin or the cross churches that are more seeker-friendly than God-friendly. We have men and women who rely on the guidance of angelic beings over the Holy Spirit, who promises to lead and guide us into all truth.2 We have present-day money changers who offer Gods blessings in return for money or prophecies for calling a 900-number. We have ignored the Bibles command that Christian ministers be the husband of one wife and have their house in order before taking on the house of God.3 Instead, we have averted our eyes when our leaders discard their spouses to get new ones, then elevate their new partners spiritual ministry to the same platform, all while hardly missing a beat in their itinerary. We have sacriced a call for the character of Christ in the lives of our leaders and satised ourselves with gifts and charisma. What a mess we have made! What in the world are we teaching the young Christians who are watching, not to mention the unsaved who turn away from the church in disgust? When did we reach the point where many of our church leaders have essentially become Christian superstars who use
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I am reminded, though, of the days when the Israelites clamored for a king so they could be like the nations around them. God answered their demands with Saul, a man attractive to the desires of the people. When Saul failed in his call, God sent Samuel to anoint the next king. As Jesses sons passed before Samuel, Gods approval rested not on the older brothers, who in outward appearance fullled every requirement for royalty, but on David, a man whose heart was right before Him. In our day, I fear we have, like the Israelites, too often succumbed to the temptations of our appearance-based culture and have looked to leaders who satisfy our craving for celebrity rather than the heart of God. How did we get here? We have apostles whose primary qualification for the ministry is not the Bible or the call of God, but administrative skills. We have prophets who predict something new thing each year, and we arent supposed to notice that their words dont come to pass.1

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the altar as a stage and who call for offerings over repentance?

Justwe dont agree withand who may let me know what fact misrepresenting Godbut youinandbeJacktruth is that the church feel the unfortunate has be appropriate given would promoted them andlies notthem a spotlight. The blame only for with them, but with :) of us who this text box those
have not held our leaders to a higher standard. The Scriptures tell us that the whole earth is groaning for the manifestation of the sons of God, but if we are honest, what we see going on cant be what the earth is groaning for. It might honestly be said that while the earth is groaning at what it sees, it is a groan of disappointment. I ask you: where are the leaders the Lord has for today? Where are the men and women of God who will restore character to the pulpit and represent God with integrity? Where are those who, like Phinehas and Jehu, will not tolerate evil and corruption, and like Jesus, will chase the money changers from the holy temple of God?4 Now, to qualify what I am saying, I believe there are many good, clean, honest ministers of the gospel who are giving their all for God. But I believe God still has more in His heart for His church. Not only is the earth groaning, but I also feel within myself a groaning for the full manifestation of the sons of God, and that I myself might be counted among those sons.5 We may read the Bibles criteria
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We can point our ngers at ministers

for godly leadership and despair of ever qualifying. Or, we might smugly acquit ourselves from the failures of other men. But Scripture tells us that all have fallen and come short of the glory of God.6 We all are cut from the same cloth, a lthy rag, and we all can only truly qualify by the blood of Jesus changing us from that lthy rag into those clothed in ne linen, which speaks to us of putting on His righteousness.7 Our human qualifications for leadership have failed in many ways. Men are saved and are shortly after catapulted to high-prole leadership roles. We choose leaders according to natural ability and even high spiritual gifting, yet we shy away from weighing integrity issues too deeply. Far too often, we feel the call to ministry, so we launch forward and make our wayinviting the Lord to come along, we build varying-sized ministries, yet what we do not realize is that almost from the start we have not allowed ourselves the time to be placed in His hand, where He can re-form us and change us into the image of His Son, not leaving one stone unturned nor one aw undone. Then the inevitable happens: in a weak moment, men fall because of weak foundations, and as a result, we lower the Bibles standard to t our condition. In the end we have what you see going on throughout the church world, yet we wonder how we got here. What happened is that we bypassed the time of testing and trying that truly qualies us for what the Lord has for
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We have to be changed by the Holy Spirit and learn to be obedient to the will of the Father, then tested, tried and proven, just as Jesus was, before we qualify for His purpose in our lives.
us. The value of preparation always outweighs the ministry. God has a better way. Jesus tells us that if we desire to be great among men we will have to become a servant.8 He also tells us that we are to pick up our cross and follow Him.9 John the Baptist left the religious system of his day and put himself directly into the hands of God and was prepared for a whole new order. That order was Jesus. In my First Principles class, I tell the students that at the age of 30, Jesus was nally released to start His public ministry. Here we have the perfect Son of God not being released until such an age. Why not? I believe that, though sinless and obedient to His Fathers will, Jesus had to be tested and proven, through time, to qualify for what He was called to do.10 Now, we are not called to die for the sins of the world; nonetheless, we have to be changed by the Holy Spirit and learn to be obedient to the will of the Father, then tested, tried and proven, just as Jesus was, before we qualify for His purpose in our lives.
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Second Chronicles 16:9 says that the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him (KJV). God will raise up leaders in the earth whose hearts are perfect toward Him. Let us pray that God will give us leaders who will truly be righteous men and women of God and through whom we can see His glory and be led to Him. One final question: will you go through Gods preparation and testing? Are you preparing your life to be an answer to our world? We have seen what mans way produces; let us draw near to God and give ourselves afresh to Him and see what He can do. Let us be answers to the call for leaders after Gods heart.
References
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 John 16:13; I Kings 13 3 1 Timothy 3:1-5; I Timothy 5:8 4 Numbers 25:1-13; 2 Kings 9-10; Matthew 21:11-13 5 Romans 8:19-23 6 Romans 3:23 7 Isaiah 64:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21, Revelation 19:8 8 Matthew 20:26; Mark 10:45 9 Luke 9:23 10 Hebrews 2:17-18
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Truly the Lord hath prepared great and mighty things for His people: things which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, and which have not entered into the heart of man (1 Corinthians 2:9, KJV). If Gods true children would only believe this one Scripture with all their hearts, how greatly it would help to release the riches of heaven, and unlock

Great Things Ahead

by George H. Warnock

the ood gates of glory!

We k n o w, o f c o u r s e , t h a t Christians everywhere loudly profess to believe this, as well as the rest of the Bible; but in actuality they do not believe it. Yes, they will acknowledge that God has some great and mighty things prepared for us when we get to heaven, but Paul declares in the following verse that these unseen, unheard-of, and unthought-of things are revealed by the Spirit, and not by way of rapture or death.1 Let us, therefore, give all diligence to enter into the realm of the Spirit, which constitutes the real heritage of the saints. Truly the heritage is ours for the possessing. And if no man from the ascension of Christ until now has entered into it, it still does not make any difference. The fact remains, it is ours for conquest if we can believe for it and receive it. The universal church has rejected the possibility of possessing it; that is true, but the history of the church is by no means the pattern of spiritual attainment. Paul did not fully apprehend it either; that is true. But he beheld the glory of it, nevertheless, like Moses who stood on Mount Nebo and viewed the Promised Land. And furthermore, he pressed forward with all diligence by the Spirit if by any means he could apprehend it, and confessed that he had not done so.2 Thank God, however, for the assurance that some are going to possess the land! God is not going to close this dispensation until some really enter in and possess their heritage in Christ Jesus. Paul declared, Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein (Hebrews 4:6). The first generation that came out of Egypt by Moses failed to enter in because of unbelief, and God decreed that they should die in the wilderness.
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Excerpted from The Feast of Tabernacles

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However, He had already sworn that Abrahams seed would possess the land, and therefore He raised up a new generation who should go in and possess what their fathers saw but refused to appropriate. And they did. Gods purposes cannot miscarry. He will have a people who shall believe their God and possess their possessions. The early generation of Spirit-lled people at the turn of the century took their journey from the blighting wilderness of denominationalism and encamped at their Kadesh-Barnea on the very doorstep of Canaan-but they too failed to enter in because of unbelief. Some saw the vision; the majority did not, and they perished in the wilderness. True, there were a few Calebs and Joshuas who rested in the promises of God and continued to look forward to better things-and God will certainly vindicate His Word and His oath, and cause them to possess the land with the new generation that God is now raising up. But as a whole, the people who God chose from amongst the denomination and called apart into a new fellowship in the Spirit and baptized with the Holy Ghost-they failed to enter into
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the land, denounced those who exhorted the people to do so-and turned back into the wilderness like their predecessors in Israel. As surely, therefore, as Gods Word is true and His oath is immutable- so surely is the Lord now raising up a new generation who shall be empowered to take the Promised Land of spiritual power and authority and enter into the realm of the Spirit of God. Some must enter therein... If this new generation withdraws from the promises in the face of violent opposition, it too will perish in the wilderness, and God will wait for still another generation to take the land. Because some must enter therein His Word has declared it, and it must come to pass. We feel condent, however, that this time Gods people will not fail; that in this great hour God Himself will intervene in wonderful sovereignty on behalf of those who see the vision, and will take them through to complete and glorious victory. We cannot help but believe that this new generation will, by Gods grace, cross over the Jordan and possess the kingdom prepared for the little ock from the foundation of the world.
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In this great hour God Himself will intervene in wonderful sovereignty on behalf of those who see the vision, and will take them through to complete and glorious victory.
The powers of heaven are being shaken, according to the prophetic word. Great and momentous spiritual battles are being fought and won in heavenly places. Spiritual hosts of wickedness are beginning to feel the impact of the saints who are pressing in by the Spirit and beginning to possess their possessions in the heavenlies. And above all, the saints of God are receiving gifts of the Spirit, the gifts are developing into ministries of the Spirit-and these ministries constitute Gods only method for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:1213). Thank God for that inborn condence and assurance in the hearts of His people that the hour has come for the unveiling of the sons of God; that the eternal purposes of God in the
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Gods purposes cannot miscarry. He will have a people who shall believe their God and possess their possessions.

church are about to be revealed; that we stand now on the brink of Jordan prepared and ready to follow the priests of the Lord and the ark of the covenant into a new experience in Christ; down into death and humiliation and abasement in Jordan, but up on the other side into life and victory and authority in Canaan. Let us constantly bear in mind the rules and principles of Christian warfare; namely, that we conquer by yielding, we receive by giving, we overcome by being defeated, and we live by dying. There is no other way except the way of the cross.
References
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1 Corinthians 2:10 Philippians 3:12-13

George Warnocks books include The Feast of Tabernacles and Seven Lamps of Fire, as well as other devotional writings. Warnock and his wife, Ruth, have been blessed with four daughters, three sons and 17 grandchildren. They reside in Carnbrook, Canada.

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he early morning haze rose lazily over the cornelds as Cathy and I walked back toward our home. The rst rays of the sun warmed our backs, chasing away the chill of the dawn. The Saturday morning ritual was about to begin. The smell of sizzling bacon would reach ve tiny noses as they slept. Soon, starving boys would run down the stairs and into the kitchen, wiping their eyes and yawning like they needed more sleep. They probably did. Cathy organized the labor force as they appeared in front of the stove, hoping for something to munch on. One started with the bagels and English muffins. Two set the table. The last two emptied the refrigerator of everything that could possibly be consumed at breakfast. Eggs, pancakes, French toastthe Saturday morning feast was truly a sight to behold. The noise and laughter was always a great start for the day. As the years passed, it would become a wonderful memory. As we returned to the house on this particular Saturday morning, we noticed a small face pressed against the picture window of the living room. His big brown Italian eyes seemed to take up most of his face. But today those eyes were moist with tears. As we walked through the door, he jumped into his mothers arms with a predictable question.
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When are Grammy and Granddad going to be here? Ive been waiting for them all morning. Donald, they are probably still in bed. I dont think they are going to be here until lunchtime. With a big sigh, he walked back to the window. I think Ill just wait here until they come. We laughed. Tell you what, Donald, come with me to the kitchen and you can break all the eggs for breakfast, his mother said. A smile streaked across his face. Mom knew that no little boy would be able to resist the chance to break eggs. Soon the tumult of breakfast was over and the kitchen, now a wasted, howling wilderness after ve boys were nished, was abandoned for baseball, bikes and tree houses. Except for Donald. He dutifully returned to his post at the living room window, waiting for Grammy and Granddad. He sat there for three hours, jumping every time a car drove past the land. But as Mom had predicted, they arrived just before noon. It is hard to describe the scene of dirty little boys running and shouting for joy with the arrival of their grandparents. Hugs, kisses, smiles and laughter made an unforgettable, albeit noisy, welcoming committee. The afternoon went by quickly with stories and games and a nap
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The Secret of His Abiding Presence

by Don Nori
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So here is a secret. If you only want a visitation, then plan for a visitation. But if you hunger for the permanent restoration of Gods Manifest Presence among His people, plan for Him to stay. Prepare for Him. Expect Him. Welcome Him. Yield to Him. Continuously make room in your heart for Him. He will come. He will come to stay.
for Granddad. Although they had to give up their playroom while he slept, the boys were happy to do it for their best friend. But it was a little harder for the boys when their playroomturned-bedroom had to be vacated far earlier than they expected. Mom, but its so early. Its just for the weekend. You can survive for a few nights. A few nights! Theyre staying a few nights? I dont want to give up the playroom for a few nights! Yes, you all knew they were staying until Monday. It will be ne. Think of all the fun you are having. Somehow, the fun they were missing was beginning to outweigh the fun they were having. But the playroom was not all that caused problems. Sunday morning had to be very quiet until Grammy and Granddad got up. Lunch was at a restaurant instead of their favorite hamburger shop. They all had to go to a concert in the afternoon, and they still could not get into their playroom. Life had quickly become so frustrating, and all because their
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justify the fact that the Presence of God does not abide among us. So here is a secret. If you only want a visitation, then plan for a visitation. But if you hunger for the permanent restoration of Gods Manifest Presence among His people, plan for Him to stay. Prepare for Him. Expect Him. Welcome Him. Yield to Him. Continuously make

room in your heart for Him. He will come. He will come to stay. References
John 14:2-3 Matthew 1:23
Excerpted from Secrets of the Most Holy Place, Vol. 2, by Don Nori, 2004. Used by permission of Destiny Image Publishers, 167 Walnut Bottom Road, Shippensburg, PA 17257.

favorite people had come to visit. Sunday evening, as we sat in the living room with my parents, I saw a small face pressed against the picture window. Donald was looking in the window with his large brown eyes lled with tears. I excused myself and walked out to the porch. Donald threw his arms around me and asked a predictable question. When are Grammy and Granddad leaving? It is a good thing that Grammy and Granddad came to visit and not to stay. This happy household would certainly have turned into a most unhappy place to live. A visitation from the Lord is just like this weekend with the grandparents. We never plan for a visitation from God to turn into anything permanent. Thats probably whey visitation is just thata visitation. Its easy to say that He comes for a season and then, for whatever sovereign reason deep in Gods heart, He leaves. But God never intended to visit us. He has always planned to stay. It is only our man-made doctrines of visitation that
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Don Nori has authored eight books. He has worked in the publishing industry and traveled internationally for more than 20 years, working with people of all races and nationalities. Don and his wife, Cathy, live at the foot of the Appalachian mountains in Pennsylvania where they have raised their ve sons.

Secrets of the Most Holy Place: Volume Two

by Don Nori
Prophetic parable matures into prophetic reality as His presence draws us into the realm of all God. Here, what we believe becomes what we experience and what we know becomes flesh in mere mortal man. When we leave Egypt, we leave the bondage we hate, but when we leave the wilderness, we must leave the sin we crave. But He will not condemn what He has redeemed. His Blood covers us until His Power delivers us. This book is not for the casual reader. It is for those who hunger, not for education, but for reality; not for religion, but for Him. To purchase, please visit destinyimage.com

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2010

Pinecrest Conferences
Youth Week (ages 14-20)
July 18-24

Summer Conference
August 6-8

Ladies Retreat
October 7-10

One Crying...
prophetic words at pinecrest
This word was given by Christy Molina in Chapel on January , , shortly after the earthquake in Haiti.

The Voice of

Week of Prayer
January 4-7, 2011

Challenge (ages 14-20)

February 24-27, 2011
For more information about our conferences, please visit us online at www.pinecrest.org For reservations, contact Guest Relations at 315-429-8521 or reservations@pinecrest.org

A Call for Ambassadors

This morning we have been talking about the nations being shaken, and I really feel in my heart that we are the ones who need to be shaken, and that the Lord is shaking usHe is getting our attention. I dont believe it is because there is the threat of an earthquake in New York or even in our homes in the United States, but I think we need to be prepared. We need to wake up and realize that God is preparing us to go and be ambassadorsto go and heal the brokenhearted and uphold these churches. God is preparing us. We heard Bill Welker speak last week on the The Elijah Company, and God is calling us. How many of us stood up and said, Yes, Lord, we want to prepare the way for Your coming? The Lord wants to shake us and say, Get ready. Theres no time. Theres not enough time; we need to be ready now. We need to wake up and be shaken and let the Holy Spirit break us and prepare us to go. We dont know where were going to be called, or when, but with all that is happening in the nationspolitical and physical crises, we need to be ready.

CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL OF THE BIBLE

Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15
Pinecrest Bible Training Centers Correspondence School of the Bible was established to allow those who are not able to enroll in Pinecrests on-campus programs the opportunity to study the Bible from their homes. These courses are designed to draw you closer to our Lord Jesus Christ and to come into a fuller understanding of His purpose for your life. We invite you to set aside time to seek the Lord and to study His Word. If your hearts cry is to meet God and to know Him in a greater way, consider enrolling in our correspondence program!

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For more information, please contact the Admissions Ofce at 315-429-8521 or admissions@pinecrest.org

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T Manifest he Presence of God:

Face to Face
by Walter Beuttler
And Moses said to the Lord....Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You, that I may nd grace in Your sight: and consider that this nation is Your people. And He said, My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest. And he said unto Him, If Your presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and Your people have found grace in Your sight? is it not in that You go with us? so shall we be separated, I and Your people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth (Exodus 33:12-16, KJV). In this passage, Moses said, So shall we be separated. The idea being that the distinguishing mark between the Lords people and other nations was to be the presence of God. So also today, the presence of God should distinguish His
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(Part 4 in a 9-Part Series)

people from all others. Moses knew this people and was reluctant to lead them into the Promised Land, as they were a stubborn and rebellious nation. Therefore he asked, Show me now Your way, that I may know You. We can learn to know God through His ways-what He does and how He accomplishes it. Moses understood that, as we watch God at work, we learn something about His character and His nature. The Lords ways differ from ours. Some time ago, Hattie Hammond told me something that I will never forget. She had been in a large convention. A young man spoke and she said she had never heard anything worse than the way that young fellow harangued the people. Yet when he nished, the power of God fell and the people stood and worshipped as the Lord poured His Spirit out upon them. She was surprised and questioned the Lord, How can You bless a harangue like we just heard? Then the Lord explained that He was not blessing one word of what the man had said, but He was pouring the Spirit of rejoicing upon His people to help them forget what had been said. I thought, the next time I rejoice for the Lords blessing after I speak, I will consider that maybe He is just using His eraser. A word such as this
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teaches us something about God. There is such a thing as the personal knowledge of a personal God. We can come to know Him, and begin to understand His ways through the manifestation of His presence as He makes Himself known to us. Moses asked that he might come to personally know the Lord. He was not speaking about an intellectual knowledge of God. We do need to know and be informed, but Moses sought to have a personal acquaintance with a personal God, through a personal experience. My daughter had many books about Queen Elizabeth and sought to learn all she could about her. One year, I was able to take her with me to France. We stopped in London on our way to Paris. Because she was so fond of the Queen, I took her to Buckingham Palace to see the royal guard. She said, Daddy, do you think we will see the Queen? She was very disappointed when I told her it was not possible. The Queen was there, but because of a lack of relationship, we were unable to personally meet her. Although my daughter could share all kinds of things about the Queen, she still did not know her. But the Lord is available, and He
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desires us to experientially know Him. And the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus 33:11a, KJV). Moses had a personal relationship with the Lord, and the Lord was available to him. Here is a man so intimate with God that we are told that God spoke with him face to face. This means directly, not in a roundabout way through a vision, dream, or a prophet. Yet though Moses knew the Lord personally, he still prayed, Show me now Your way, that I may know You. In other words, Moses desired to know the Lord even better. In a morning chapel service, I spoke to the students about seeking God. Afterwards, I was challenged by someone who said, Why do you exhort these students to seek God when they have already found Him? This person did not understand the personal knowledge of God. My answer to him was that the students need to know the Lord even more. There is no limit to the disclosure of God to our hearts. There were three areas in which Moses had a special knowledge of the Lord. First, he had an intimate relationship with the Lord.
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And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like to Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face (Deuteronomy 34:10, KJV). Second, he experienced intimate communion with the Lord. And the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus 33:11a, KJV). Third, he had an intimate privilege. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses (Numbers 12:8, KJV)? Notice that the Lord is very concerned about how we talk about those who are His personal friends. Concerning this privilege, the Lord said, and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold. In my study, I use different translations to gain understanding, as they throw different rays of light on a particular subject. The jewels of the kings and queens of England are kept in the Tower of London. Among them is a huge diamond that I have carefully looked
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In the days of Israel, the Lord was more interested in their knowing Him than in all their sacrices and gifts. In Jeremiah 24:7, we have a pertinent statement: And I will give them a heart to know Me.

at. From one view, it appears to have a yellow sparkle. From a different angle, it is green. From another, it is red or blue. There are different colors, but it is the same diamond. These translations are to me as this diamond. In the King James Version the term the similitude of the Lord is used. In another version, the form of the Lord shall he behold. A different translation reads, the shape of the Lord shall he behold. Even though God is a Spirit and does not have a material body, He has a localized appearance. The Lord gave Moses the privilege to behold this similitude, likeness, shape and form of God. Jesus prayed, And this is life eternal, that they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent (John 17:3, KJV). He desired His disciples to know God. For I desired mercy, and not sacrice; and the knowledge of God
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more than burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6, KJV). In the days of Israel, the Lord was more interested in their knowing Him than in all their sacrices and gifts. In Jeremiah 24:7, we have a pertinent statement: And I will give them a heart to know Me. In the final analysis, the true knowledge of God is a matter of the heart. This involves an inner capacity and capability to enter into a personal relationship with God. This is my prayer for all of us: Lord, give us a heart, the capacity and the capability, to know You in personal experience.
Walter Beuttler was a Bible school teacher who traveled the world ministering the Word of God for over forty years.

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such times right now because of the economic downturn. Some are facing job loss, nancial hardships, foreclosures or unusual spiritual challenges. Churches are nding it hard to navigate change. More people than ever are in a season of transition because old business models dont work and ministry paradigms are shifting. Some of us nd ourselves digging our ngernails into the armrest while the plane bounces all over the stormy sky. And when we look out the window we see nothing but darkness. I have found my comfort in the words David penned after he escaped from Sauls pursuits. He wrote in Psalm 18:4, 6: The cords of death encompassed me, and the torrents of ungodliness terried me.In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears (NASB). In describing Gods just-in-thenick-of-time rescue, David borrowed vivid imagery from the day when God opened the Red Sea to deliver His children from Egypt. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice. Then the channels of water appeared, and the foundations of the world were laid bare.He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me (Psalm 18:13, 15, 16, 19, NASB).
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Davids transition was not easy. In the most difcult moment he noted that God had made darkness His hiding place (v. 11). We must remember that darkness is not a sign that God is not with us. It became stormy just before the Red Sea split open. Yet God was working behind the scenes, even when the clouds were black and the wind was violent. If you are in the midst of a turbulent transition, hold tightly to this promise. You can trust Him. In yet a little while He will intervene. Dont focus on your job crisis, the bad economic news, your lack of options or the bumpiness of the ride. When His lightning ashes, He will split the obstacles in front of you and make a dry roadbed in the midst of the sea. He can make a way where there is no way. Ask the Lord to transport you. Eventually you will hear the sound of wheels touching down on the wet runway. Although you are helpless to make this transition on your own, your Deliverer will safely carry you from your present crisis into a broad place of future fruitfulness.
From Fire In My Bones online, November, 2009. 2009 Strang Communications; all rights reserved. Used with permission.
J. Lee Grady is a contributing editor for Charisma and was the magazines editor for 11 years. Also an author, Lees book, 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, published in 2000, opened a unique door for him to preach internationally. He has since traveled to 12 nations, challenging the church to release women in ministry and to end abuse and gender discrimination. He and his wife live in Atlanta and have four daughters.

Turbulent Transitions
by J. Lee Grady
In this stormy economic season, trust the Lord to transport you to the other side. I despise airplane turbulence. Even though I enjoy high-speed roller coasters, there is something about hurling through stormy skies in a commercial jetliner at 37,000 feet that turns my knuckles white. This is why I always ask for a window seat. Whenever we hit rough air and the seatbelt sign ashes on, I feel safer if I can look outside. But that didnt help me last week when I was flying into Canada. I was not aware that rough weather was raging below and that parts of Vancouver were ooding. All I knew was that our journey through Canadian airspace reminded me of Doctor Dooms Fearfalla theme park ride I have enjoyed many times with my daughters. (That ride lasts only a few seconds, and it is rmly bolted to the ground. The turbulence over British
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Trusting God During

Columbia lasted half an hour.) It was 11 p.m., and I couldnt see anything outside my window except horizontal rain. I kept reminding myself that the pilot was using radar and other high-tech instruments to avoid crashing into the side of a mountain. But my knuckles did not believe this. I clutched the armrest, prayed andfor a few secondswondered how my wife would plan my funeral. Of course the plane did not break apart in midair. When we descended below the cloud cover, and the lights of the city became visible, all my color returned. I breathed a prayer of thanksgiving when I heard the familiar sound of wheels touching the runway. You may not share my fear of turbulence, but all of us have walked through scary times in life when we couldnt see the path in front of us. Many people I know are going through
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Christ in You is the Light of Influence

by Kelley Varner
Ye are the LIGHT of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth LIGHT unto all that are in the house. Let your LIGHT so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 4:14-16, KJV, emphasis added throughout). The Christ within is a River and a Rock. He is also the Light that shines forth, influencing every one and every thing in our lives. Synonyms for influence are: authority, pressure, sway, weight, effect, inspiration, impact and encouragement.
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Roman prison, but his natural bonds were no limitation to his worldwide spiritual influence. He boldly admonished us all to be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom (we) SHINE AS LIGHTS in the world. The dark cave of Adullam did not hinder the power of the Song of the Lord within David. Running for his life from angry King Saul, his inuence never waned as he continued to sing: The LORD is my LIGHT and my salvation; whom shall I fear?... (Psalm 27:1, KJV). The City that John saw in Revelation 21 was the Lambs wife. The endtime church has global inuence, for the nations shall walk in the light of it!5 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great LIGHT: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the LIGHT shined (Isaiah 9:2, KJV).

Whose lives-in your family, your neighborhood, or your church-have you impacted for Christ? What dark corner have you enlightened? What is the measure your influence?
Do you know God? Has He lit your candle?6 Has He brought you out of darkness and death into His marvelous light?7 Whose livesin your family, your neighborhood, or your churchhave you impacted for Christ? What dark corner have you enlightened? What is the measure of your inuence? Footnotes
John 8:12 John 1:1 3 1 John 1:5 4 Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5 5 Revelation 21:24 6 Proverbs 20:27; John 1:9 7 1 Peter 2:9
1 2

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the LIGHT of the gospel of the glory of CHRIST, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:3-4, NIV). Jesus Himself is the Light of the world.1 Jesus is God,2 and God is light; in Him is no darkness at all.3

More of Dr. Varners teachings are available on his website, www.kelleyvarner.org.

We are His followers and disciples. We, too, are light in the Lord, and are to walk or live as sons of light, sons of the day.4 So James calls our heavenly Father the Father of lights (James 1:17). The Apostle Paul sat in a darkened
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Kelley Varner was a pastor to pastors and a mentor to leading ministries in America and other nations. His degrees included a B.S. in Guidance and Counseling, a Th.B. in Theology, M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees and an honorary doctorate. Dr. Varner founded Praise Tabernacle of Richlands, NC, and during his lifetime, he wrote and distributed over 50 books and booklets internationally. He travelled throughout the United States and the nations.

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How are we going to conduct ourselves while we wait for Him to show up? Do we become casual and lazy? Do we work something up in our own strength? Do we compromise and take something close enough? These are very legitimate questions we have to ask ourselves. Abraham was promised by God that he would be the father of a multitude. Abraham and his wife Sarah were both well-along in age; I think it would be safe to say past childbearing years. They devised a plan because they couldnt wait for God to move. They chose to do things their way. We all know that Abraham went into his wifes maidservant and she conceived and birthed a son by the name of Ishmael. Ishmael was blessed of God and became a great nation; however, he wasnt Gods original plan. What Abraham and Sarah had done in their own timing and in their own strength became more than they bargained for.1 This is denitely building on a wrong foundation. If we do these things, the end result is normally a nightmare. If God isnt moving, or isnt moving fast enough, do you manipulate things or take things into your own hands to produce something that looks like His creation on the outside but was never of His genesis? Saul was set in as king because
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the elders of Israel wanted a king like all the other nations.2 After Saul was anointed as king, Samuel gave him direction to go down to Gilgal and wait for his arrival.3 Upon his arrival, Samuel was going to tell Saul what he should do. Saul waited the appointed days in Gilgal and Samuel didnt show up; therefore, King Saul took things into his own hands.4 He felt compelled or we could say, he forced himself to present a burnt offering, the very thing that Samuel was supposed to do. Samuel arrived and appeared to be a bit perturbed and asked Saul what he had done. Here are Sauls reasons, or what are really excuses, why he did what he did: 5 1. He saw the people were scattered from him 2. Samuel didnt come within the appointed days (he did nally arrive on the scheduled day) 3. The Philistines were gathered for war against Israel Things didnt look too good in the natural. We, as leaders in the community of the King, should realize that God will delay His coming to see if we will trust and obey Him, or if we will instead work something up that appears to be very spiritual in the delay. Hes looking for those who will obey Him and wait for Him, no matter what it looks like or what is surrounding them.6
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The Day of Delay

by Rod Levey
Sometimes we dont know what to do in the delay. Youre waiting for a loved one and theyre held over at a connecting airport because of bad weather. Supper is on the table and youre waiting for your husband to get home from work. He should have been home 45 minutes ago but hes caught in trafc. Lets turn it up a notch. You need a miracle and its not happening. Your churchs nances are on tilt, you need a job, a healing, etc. We can go on and on. The bottom line is we need Jesus to show up on the scene and we need Him to arrive nowor preferably yesterday.
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When God delays, do you get moved by what you see or dont see around you in the natural? Can you hold your position and not be moved to enter into spiritual activities that you shouldnt? God is looking for those who can keep their head in the midst of pressure and His delaying.
When God delays, do you get moved by what you see or dont see around you in the natural? Can you hold your position and not be moved to enter into spiritual activities that you shouldnt? God is looking for those who can keep their head in the midst of pressure and His delaying. In the parable of the ten virgins, they all slumbered and slept as they awaited the bridegroom. They nodded off.7 This particular setting doesnt depict them in a place of rest, which would be good, but rather a state of idleness and laziness. They enjoyed the life of ease. They kind of got caught off-guard when the call came that the bridegroom was coming. The foolish virgins certainly had not made purchases while they had the time and opportunity. They were lacking the oil which was necessary.8 Im sure they were wishing they would have done things differently after they showed up late and the door was shut. As Jesus delays His return,
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off all restraint. Im sure there was great excitement and stimulation as they worshiped.9 There is much available in these days to dabble in while we wait for our Lords return. Ezekiel speaks of a people set apart to God who will teach between the holy and the unholy and will cause the people of God to discern between the unclean and the clean.10 This is relevant for us in our day. What are you joining in? What will you join yourself to, or allow to be joined to you? We all so desperately want God to move in our midst. We all desire something fresh in God. Im afraid we will jump on board with just about anything that makes itself available if we arent careful and in an attitude of testing the spirits. First, let me say there are genuine moves of the Spirit in the church today. But there are also manmade moves that elevate angels, manifestations and men above Christ. My question is this: are the children of God sitting down to eat and drink of the esh and blood of

Christ,11 which would mean walking in the way of the cross displayed by crucifying their esh, or are they sitting down to fulfill the lusts of their esh and of their idolatrous spirits with something termed this is God? As the Lord delays His return, many are running after the experience of some god or spirit. Others are running after the experiences of God instead of the God of the experience. What will our choice be? My hope and prayer is that we will not compromise in the esh or the spiritual in the day of delay. Footnotes
1 2

are you in a place of passivity or activity? Oil (the Holy Spirit) increases in our lives as we actively surrender to the Lord and walk in obedience to His will. This is a costly affair in which we can pay now or pay later. After Moses, who is a type of Christ, spent time with God up on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments, he came back down only to find that the congregation got a little antsy. Moses was taking too long. In the postponement they started to partake of, or join in, some activity that was impure. They were playing with fire. Gods Word says that the Israelite children sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. This playing was a form of spiritual fornication. The children of God were now flirting with, or making sport with, another god (spirit). Gods children were in a state of defenselessness. Their spiritual discernment was void. They entered into a state of looseness. They had abandoned themselves to the experience at hand. They had cast
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Genesis 15-17 1 Samuel 8:4-5 3 1 Samuel 10:1-8 4 1 Samuel 13:8-9 5 1 Samuel 13:11-12 6 Judges 7:4 7 Matthew 25:5 8 Matthew 25:8-9 9 Exodus 32:1, 6, 25 10 Ezekiel 44:15, 23 11 John 6:53-56

Rod Levey and his wife, Wendy, are Pinecrest faculty members and live at Pinecrest with their two teenage children. Rod directs the Pinecrest Ministerial Fellowship and is a prophetic teacher who desires to strengthen and equip the body of Christ.

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Words That Inspire On Leadership

Spirit lled souls are ablaze for God. They love with a love that glows. They serve with a faith that kindles. They serve with a devotion that consumes. They hate sin with erceness that burns. They rejoice with a joy that radiates. Love is perfected in the re of God. -Samuel Chadwick

PINECREST CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE

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The Feast of Tabernacles: $5.00

George H. Warnock
This book is a study of the three annual feasts in Israel and their fulllment in the church.

Seven Lamps of Fire: $5.00

George H. Warnock
As I read and reread the seven letters to the seven churches, I cannot help but know that here in the free world at least, our Lord is calling His church to repentance- and for the same reasons He called ve of the seven churches of Asia to repentance. -George H. Warnock

Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven upon earth. -John Wesley

We need a baptism of clear seeing. We desperately need seers who can see through the mist-Christian leaders with prophetic vision. Unless they come soon it will be too late for this generation. And if they do come we will no doubt crucify a few of them in the name of our worldly orthodoxy. -A.W.Tozier

The Beatitudes: Developing Spiritual Character: $9.00

John Stott
The beatitudes reveal to us eight qualities that bring Gods blessing: meekness and mercy, poorness in spirit and purity of heart, mourning and hunger, peacemaking and persecution. As we study these qualities and integrate them into our lives, we will receive the blessing Jesus promised His followers then and now.

Jesus Christ: Teacher, Servant & Savior: $9.00

John Stott
This study guide is designed to help you explore the Christ of the New Testament. You will discover Him as the proper object of worship, witness and hope. He is the incomparable Christ.

What the church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use-men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not ow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men, men of prayer. -E.M. Bounds
Give me the love that leads the way, the faith that nothing can dismay, the hope no disappointments tire, the passion that will burn like re; Let me not sink to be a clod: Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God. -Amy Carmichael
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Walter Beuttler Notes

Complete Set in Binder: $60.00

These notes are intended to be seed for the sower, and bread to the eater (Isaiah 55:10), and not a dry analytical commentary. Also available by individual section: $15 each Section I - Pentateuch, Old Testament, Typology Section II - Job, Major Prophets, Minor Prophets Section III - New Testament, Ministry Section IV - Spiritual Life
You may order by phone with a credit card, check or money order. S & H fee is $4 for up to $20.00, $5 for $20.01 to $50 and 10% for $50.01 and up (add extra $1 for priority shipping) in U.S. funds, plus 8.5% sales tax for NY residents. All prices are subject to change without notice.

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PINECREST
Bible Training Center
Before Moses led the Israelites out of bondage, he turned aside to meet God at the burning bush. Before John the Baptist declared Gods heart to a generation that had not heard His word for 400 years, he went out into the wilderness to listen to God.

There is a call today for leaders after Gods heart.

Will you respond?

Pinecrest is a school to come apart to be with God to learn His voice, study His Word, and seek His heart to allow Him to transform you in His presence to build a life foundation for ministry to God and to others to prepare your life as an answer to the call for leaders after Gods heart

Programs
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