This “Burning Voice” is one of the most faithful people I have ever met. Chuck McDonald is not only an integral part of Fire on the Altar he also is a great brother in the Lord and a mighty man of faith! He has challenged all of us to consume more of the word of God on a daily basis, to believe for the dead to be raised, the sick to be healed, and for all that the word declares is available to the believer in Jesus Christ. He is an evangelist in the truest sense of the word! He lives and breathes Jesus and The Holy Ghost! He lives in Lake City SC with his amazing wife Cherie McDonald and they together are scaring the hell out of the Devil in these last days!  I pray you are greatly impacted by this word! ~Tammie Southerland

The Elite

Chuck McDonald

 

 

 While preaching this past Sunday morning, I got a revelation.
I was speaking out of the book of Judges, chapter 8 and verse 4.  While working through my message to the church, God began speaking to me about the 300 men God had dwindled Gideon down to in Judges 7.  This is the frustrating, yet exciting moment when God starts giving revelation while speaking.

 

    First of all let’s think about being “Elite”.  Coming from a military background I think of some of the most elite forces on planet earth, (ie.. The Green Beret’s, The Navy SEAL’s, the British SAS as well as others.).   In our natural mindset, to be elite is to be a cut above the rest or hold a position only few attain.  Astronauts, Sports stars, TV/Movie personalities, you know the “Rich and Famous”.

 

    Not so in the Kingdom mindset.  To be the elite in biblical times and most biblical stories are those who were not the best, not the fastest or not the most popular.  Look at the life of David.  A little shepherd boy from nowhere who with the anointing and unction of God on him became an icon in the faith for his heroics against Goliath and the military conquests he had. It’s these kind of men and women who become the “Elite” of the faith.

 

    So again I was talking to the folks about the 300 men God chose for Gideon in Judges 7.  God chose 300 men who scooped water into their hands and drank it instead of those who just plopped down, so to speak, and drink.  I was prophetically speaking about how God was going to get this particular church down to those who will be elite.  Then God showed me something.  In theology we have a principle called representation.  It is where something or someone can be represented by another.  So the thought came.  They were drinking water.   So my spirit went crazy.

 

    What can water represent?  Most often in scripture, using the principle of representation, The Holy Spirit can be represented by water.  Genesis 1, Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3 and John 1, 2 & 4.  So the thought then came to me, God chose men who were handling the Spirit accurately.  Not just flopping around in the glory or with a half-hearted attempt.  Men who took it seriously that “..the same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead now lives in our mortal bodies.”.   Men who were serious about holy living, consecration, being separate from the world and standing out.

 

    This is the “Elite” force that God is raising up in these last days that is going to usher in the end time revival everyone is praying and prophesying for. It’s this group that will shake each and every city in America with the fire of revival.  A John the Baptist generation that will see His kingdom come and His will being done.  So when we use the word “Elite” or “Remnant”, I believe this is what it is going to look like. A people consecrated and seeking the kingdom of God with all they have.  No other lovers in the way of true, intimate relationship with Jesus.  A deep love affair with the Holy Spirit that they are possessed by Him.  Look out, They’re coming!

 

Chuck McDonald

http://chuckmcdonld.webs.com

The joy of the Lord is my strength…

307828_238104912913313_1719219773_nHow many of us really feel that way one hundred percent right now?

I love it when God pours out His joy because something supernatural happens when He does. It truly strengthens you.

Do you ever question why some people are joyful and others are not? Sometimes we all need a fresh revelation of Gods love. When I am weary I take the time to be broken before God. I sow tears before the throne.

Sowing tears opens the well spring of love on the inside of us. The love of God has so captured my heart to a new depth, height, width and length as in Ephesians 3. This very love is beginning to pour out and overflow into the lives of those around me. Gods love has lavished upon me and these deep encounters in His presence are keeping me in a desperate cry for MORE.

I am reminded of the wife of the prophet who cried out to Elisha because a creditor was coming to collect her sons as slaves because of the debt her husband owed. God used Elisha in that moment and the woman and her two sons filled many vessels with olive oil. Elisha instructed her to pay her debt and live off the rest. Isn’t God good in the manner that he will rescue, he will supply the provision, pay our debt, and give us vessels that overflow to live “off of (2 Kings 4)”.

What a great depiction of this wife leaning on the Lord.

I would say the same for many  of my childhood years. I leaned on the Lord. I sowed many tears as a child. I used to make big promises to God in my heart. As if I were so convincing or that cute that God would do what I asked.

Of course, I’ve always asked “BIG” prayers and when God started answering those prayers as a child it overwhelmed me. It overwhelmed me that this Almighty God cared about me so much that He would give me the desires of my heart. He loves to answer our prayers. As a child, I believed He loved me so much. There was no doubt in my heart that He was real to me. I had desired to know Him intimately.

I had this love for God in my heart. It was like this knowing that I belonged to HIM. I believe there was a FIRE I had obtained by that FIRST initial love encounter as a little girl.

My love for Jesus still BURNS AND THE FIERY TRIALS TO BE ENDURED FUEL ME TO SEE JESUS FACE TO FACE.

To this day, my Father in Heaven still holds me and keeps me…

I believe we are in a season of receiving the fullness of joy. I believe it is the season that joy will overflow in our lives like never before to give a strength that in no other way we could have obtained on our own.

The joy of the LORD is truly our strength.

Shout for joy!

May our weeping also be in repentance that we may grow closer to our God.

My heart weeps for this generation to know God.

Does your heart move with compassion for this generation?

Could you experience a BURNING passion to be a doer of Gods word not just a mere hearer? Have you taken the time to sow tears that you may reap an eternal joy?

Think of a few things that touch your heart with compassion. Think of that as similar to the compassion God feels for you. I know God desires for you to live a life of purity and to follow Him no matter the cost.

Jesus paid the price for our tears. He knows each tear drop. A heart that BURNS for God is also bold to CRY for Him. Cry out for His will to manifest in the Earth. Cry out for lost souls to enter the Kingdom of Heaven today. Cry out with a fierceness in your voice. Cry out to have MORE JOY!

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!
Psalm 126:5 ESV

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
Psalm 47:1

Though you have not seen, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
Philemon 1:7