The Lord has highlighted an integrity issue for leaders that marks those allowed to continue in preparation to participate in what is coming. 1 Peter 4:1,2 outlines a signpost along the road required of every leader. It says, “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”

In mid-2010, the Lord took me to the seven churches of Revelation. The final three, Ephesus, Smyrna and Pergamus end with the same progression, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give…” Hearing precedes overcoming in the first three churches signifying for those who do God’s word, they overcome the dictates of the flesh to qualify for God’s purposes. Those who honor what they hear by applying it to overcome finish their race hearing what God has to say!

Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea all reverse the order of the first three churches. Overcoming precedes hearing in the last four churches. Those who overcome the lusts of the flesh finish their race hearing!

The Lord told me that mid-2010 through mid-2012 was the time frame for the National prophets to overcome if they were to continue hearing. Mid-2012 – mid-2014 would be the qualifying period for the remainder of the five-fold ministry.” Leaders who fail to overcome the dictates of their flesh forfeit hearing the Holy Spirit.

May great grace come on all leaders who must choose to overcome the dictates of their own desires. May great grace also come on all leaders who must choose to embrace God’s standard of self-denial. The harvest awaits all who choose God’s standard of, overcoming so they can hear the spirit.