Strike Force
April 30th, 2010
thru Priscilla Van Sutphin
www.upstreamca.org
tearsofthefather@att.net

Jer 42:1-3 NKJV  Now all the captains of the forces, Johanan the son of Kareah, Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people, from the least to the greatest, came near 2 and said to Jeremiah the prophet, "Please, let our petition be acceptable to you, and pray for us to the Lord your God, for all this remnant (since we are left but a few of many, as you can see), 3 that the Lord your God may show us the way in which we should walk and the thing we should do."

Jer 42:7-12 NKJV  And it happened after ten days that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. 8 Then he called Johanan the son of Kareah, all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, 9 and said to them, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition before Him: 10 'If you will still remain in this land, then I will build you and not pull you down, and I will plant you and not pluck you up. For I relent concerning the disaster that I have brought upon you. 11 Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid; do not be afraid of him,' says the Lord, 'for I am with you, to save you and deliver you from his hand. 12 And I will show you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and cause you to return to your own land.'

I heard the Lord say strike force and looked up some scriptures then waited for the still small voice.

“ My mercy endures forever.  My mercy endures forever !  I am forever watching for the heart that turns to ME, despite all the worldly circumstances.  And I have now created an army that will stand against the tide of wickedness.  Many of you feel weak. But it is when you are weak, like Gideon, that then I can be strong on your behalf.  Because now you cannot do it in your OWN strength, but HAVE to rely on Mine. 

It is by grace that I saved you, and by GRACE that I keep you. It is NOT by your efforts. If you think it is, then there is more pride I need to work out of you - Because there is NOTHING you can do apart from ME in you.  Many of you have bought the gospel of exclusivity.  Many of you have bought a gospel without grace.  You think that like the ancient Pharisees that it is by your knowledge of the Word, and your great prayers and fastings that you are kept.  You think it’s your efforts that matter.  But if it was by YOUR efforts you could sustain holiness, then you are still reliant on YOU. It’s not all about you !  It’s about ME. 

I AM THE CREATOR OF LIFE !
I AM THE SUSTAINER OF LIFE !
I AM THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE !
EVERYTHING YOU HAVE OR NEED IS FOUND IN ME !
I AM THE GREAT I AM, BECAUSE I CREATED THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING IN IT. 

I don’t need you to save the world. I already saved it.  All I need from you is to obey MY Holy Spirit’s leadings, and exhortations. And you can’t even do that without HIS HELP.  IT IS BY HIS GRACE THAT YOU HAVE ABILITY TO DO ANYTHING.  I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE ! Do you really understand this when religious spirits have taught you to try harder and try harder, and try harder ?

I AM NOW SHOUTING TO YOU !  IT IS BY GRACE YOU ARE SAVED AND KEPT.  IF IT DEPENDED ON YOU, THEN I DIDN’T NEED TO SEND MY SON TO DIE FOR YOU.  WHEN WILL YOU UNDERSTAND BELOVEDS ?

Don’t you understand that when you really know the depths of My love, you will KNOW ME. You will really KNOW ME !  Israel tried, and tried, and tried, and tried.  You can try to stay under the law and stay defeated if you like. But that is NOT the place I’ve called you to. I’ve called you to GRACE so that you can have freedom to live and rely on ME.  When you rely on yourself, then you are not relying on ME.  I’ve told you to be like a child.
Why did I tell you this ?  I told you to be like a child because children are innocent, yes. But mostly because they are dependent on their parents for instruction and direction, for learning all things, for sustinence, for everything in life.   THAT is RESTING IN ME.

I said:  “ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  Matt 11:28-30  NKJV

Gal 5:1-2 NKJV   Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

NT:1397 doulei/a douleia (doo-li'-ah); from NT:1398; slavery (ceremonially or figuratively): KJV - bondage.
“ I do not want you enslaved to men’s rules and man’s order. You are my sons and daughters. You are not slaves to religion any more if you put FULL TRUST in ME and desire in your hearts to obey ME.  The heart that wants obedience, wants to be FREE from bondage and enslavement to the do’s and don’ts of man’s law.  I FULFILLED the LAW. I TOOK THE CURSE so that YOU could be at liberty – so you could be free.  I gave you My HOLY SPIRIT inside you.  YOU ARE THE TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  So if you keep your mind stayed on ME, then you will be led of the Spirit and do what I would have you to do. ASK and it shall be given you.  If you desire diretion, it will be given.  If you desire more of ME, you will be given to.  If you desire holiness, I will make you HOLY.  I will pour out My SPIRIT and I will order your life so that you learn obedience to MY WILL.

Rom 3:20-24 AMP    For no person will be justified (made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable) in His sight by observing the works prescribed by the Law. For [the real function of] the Law is to make men recognize and be conscious of sin [not mere perception, but an acquaintance with sin which works toward repentance, faith, and holy character].

21 But now the righteousness of God has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the Law, although actually it is attested by the Law and the Prophets,  22 Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah).  [And it is meant] for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 

23 Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.  24 [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,

and…
1 Cor 4:4-5 AMP   I am not conscious of anything against myself, and I feel blameless; but I am not vindicated and acquitted before God on that account.  It is the Lord [Himself]  Who examines and judges me. 5 So do not make any hasty or premature judgments before the time when the Lord comes [again], for He will both bring to light the secret things that are [now hidden] in darkness and disclose and expose the [secret] aims (motives and purposes) of hearts. Then every man will receive his [due] commendation from God.


Gal 3:19-24 AMP   What then was the purpose of the Law? It was added [later on, after the promise, to disclose and expose to men their guilt] because of transgressions and [to make men more conscious of the sinfulness] of sin; and it was intended to be in effect until the Seed (the Descendant, the Heir) should come, to and concerning Whom the promise had been made. And it [the Law] was arranged and ordained and appointed through the instrumentality of angels [and was given] by the hand (in the person) of a go-between [Moses, an intermediary person between God and man].

20 Now a go-between (intermediary) has to do with and implies more than one party [there can be no mediator with just one person]. Yet God is [only] one Person [and He was the sole party in giving that promise to Abraham. But the Law was a contract between two, God and Israel; its validity was dependent on both].

21  Is the Law then contrary and opposed to the promises of God? Of course not! For if a Law had been given which could confer [spiritual] life, then righteousness and right standing with God would certainly have come by Law.   22 But the Scriptures [picture all mankind as sinners] shut up and imprisoned by sin, so that [the inheritance, blessing] which was promised through faith in Jesus Christ (the Messiah) might be given (released, delivered, and committed) to [all] those who believe [who adhere to and trust in and rely on Him].

23 Now before the faith came, we were perpetually guarded under the Law, kept in custody in preparation for the faith that was destined to be revealed (unveiled, disclosed),  24 So that the Law served [to us Jews] as our trainer [our guardian, our guide to Christ, to lead us] until Christ [came], that we might be justified (declared righteous, put in right standing with God) by and through faith.

“Beloveds, You have swallowed flies [ lies of the enemy] !  You have bought a gospel of condemnation and guilt, self condemnation and religious striving. But anyone under the law is cursed. Those who strive and strive and strive never come to a place of rest in ME. They are constantly searching, constantly accusing and condemning not only themselves, but others. They cannot seem to understand the TRUTH, and keep coming under a curse due to giving in to condemnation of the enemy, and guilt and all kinds of perversion of religious spirits and their torments.  They cannot believe the LOVE that I have for them, they think the only way to be accepted is to strive and try harder, as if I am a GOD with a whip in my hand beating them into submission.  They continue under the yoke of bondage because they cannot accept the POWER of MY LOVE to transform and change mankind.
They cannot imagine that I am “that good”, that it would not depend on them.  

You must come to the road of FREEDOM under the yoke of My LOVE and peace and JOY in the Spirit, and come out from the yoke of bondage to sin and death under the law.  The law is a harsh taskmaster.  But I AM NOT a harsh taskmaster thought it may seem to many I am. I am not that one. Satan uses it in Islam to cut off the hands of children who steal a loaf of bread. Forgiveness comes hard to those who cannot imagine the depth of love I have for those who are Mine.  I KNOW what is in the heart of a man.

I KNOW.  It is not always for you to know. YOU are called to trust in ME.
I will only tell you what you need to know. It is not for you to judge and condemn those who are already under judgment.  For a man who lives in striving, and cannot keep the law, because his heart is far from ME, through yokes of slavery to the enemy, is MY concern. Your concern is to pray, and to love EVEN YOUR ENEMIES. THAT IS MY WORD.  LOVE YOUR ENEMY !
Be good to those who HATE you !  It is NOT for you to sit as judge.  Discern, yes, but judge, NO !  I AM the ONE Who sits on the Great white throne of judgement, NOT YOU.”

MY STRIKE FORCE, MY GIDEONS need to be cognizant of their own failures, their own weaknesses in order to be dependent on ME. I DO NOT WANT PRIDE in My SWAT TEAMS. How can you work together if you are constantly competing with one another and lacking in respect and love for one another ? 

UNITY is where I bring the blessing, but it is not in a false or pretentious unity.  It is in the unity of the Spirit that My STRIKE FORCE will function.  They will KNOW one another the way they KNOW ME. They will respect one another. So few in the church are respectable, because they have believed lies.  Knowing My grace will make you love Me more. Knowing My heart will only make you more humble.  So walk in the way of humility. Embrace the cross, and embrace My GRACE in order to walk in FREEDOM and to be led by the TRUTH of My Holy Spirit. The SERVANT OF GOD MUST BE SERVANT TO ALL.  You cannot walk in pride and be a servant. 

Come now, and render your hearts to me to do with as I WILL, and I will bring you freedom and MY GRACE, MY POWER will transform you to be all that I want you to be.”

Rev 22:17 AMP   The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost. [Isa 55:1.]