Dear Partner,

Many people have been asking what the Holy Spirit has been telling me since tragedy was unleashed at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11th. In my times of prayer and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, He has been emphasizing the importance of our remaining in "peace," no matter the events that are transpiring in the world. One of the passages of scripture that keeps floating up in my spirit during these times of fellowship is:

Col 3:15-16  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

It is imperative that we allow the "Peace Of God" to rule in our hearts, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. Sadly, for many Christians, their level of peace is still dependent on their circumstances. That sort of "peace" is "peace as the world gives." Jesus told us that He has given us His peace … not as the world gives:

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Did you notice in that statement that Jesus declared it was "our choice" whether or not we would remain in a state of peace? When He says LET NOT your heart be troubled … that indicates it is OUR CHOICE! We can either LET our heart be troubled or we can LET NOT our heart be troubled. It is up to us!

I'll never forget the day that the Lord spoke to me during one of my seasons of prayer at the Ugly Building when He said, "My leadership is found in My peace."  Where do we hear the voice of the Lord to obtain His leadership? In our spirit … what the bible often refers to as our heart. If we allow our hearts to be in turmoil and fear because of circumstances, we are going to have a difficult time hearing the Lord as He speaks His leadership in that "still, small voice" within us. But if we remain in peace, no matter the circumstances, we will be able to discern His leadership quite easily.

Let me take this opportunity to remind you … Nothing ever catches our Lord by surprise! He is the Alpha and the Omega. He knows the end from the beginning. In August of 1998 the Holy Spirit said to me,

"A time of unrest, turmoil, uncertainty and increased darkness is coming upon the world. Upon that platform, upon that stage of darkness shall the brightness of His glory be revealed through those who have spent time in His rooms of fellowship. The world shall have few answers. Many shall be in darkness and looking for light. Vessels are now being prepared through whom that light can shine. For those who shall be seeking light, He is working now by His Spirit preparing vessels of light, where from the vantage point of darkness, these people shall know where to turn. They shall come to the light. They shall come to Him Who is the brightness of the glory of the Father as He is revealed and shines through the earthen vessels He has prepared in the rooms of fellowship. Rejoice and be glad! Rejoice and be glad that you have chosen this path of fellowship, says the Spirit of Grace."

"It shall come to pass during that season of darkness that the most sought after treasure on the face of the earth shall be the anointing of the Almighty God! The world shall have few answers. There will be confusion and gnashing of teeth, pain and suffering. The world will have few answers. They will turn toward the God of heaven and say, 'Where is your help?'"

"He shall answer, 'In those who have been schooled and trained by the Spirit and have been molded in the rooms of fellowship to conform to His image.' They shall be the light of the world, even as He has said. I am raising up these lights. I am raising up these lights all over the world and placing them in My school, bringing them into the rooms of fellowship with the Lamb. I am preparing them now for that hour which is shortly to come."

"For those who will seek the light of Jesus Christ must find Him through the vessels I have prepared, says the Spirit of Grace."

This is not a time for the church to allow fear and anxiety based on circumstances to intimidate us. This is a time for pressing further into God, not shrinking back based on fear. We were born for such a time as this! We are to be beacons of love, peace, joy, wisdom, anointing and light in the midst of a lost, dark and dying world. We are to be vessels of light, reflecting the glory of the Lord within us, in order that those in darkness will know where to turn. As Paul wrote long ago:

2 Cor 4:6-7  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Your friend and co-laborer,

Gary Carpenter

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