PROSPER – PROMISE – PROVISION & THE GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES

By Bonnie Jones

August 2022

And all of these, though they won divine approval by [means of] their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised, because God had us in mind and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they [these heroes and heroines of faith] should not come to perfection apart from us [before we could join them]. (Hebrews 11:39-40 AMP)

We are living in the most exciting yet challenging times in the history of mankind. The veil between heaven and earth is thinner than ever before. The interaction between the heavenly hosts and the great cloud of witnesses has increased tremendously. Hebrews 11 speaks of many men and women of faith during biblical times and each one’s testimony pointing to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Each generation walks in a measure of the fullness of Christ’s testimony yet no generation is complete without the prior generation’s testimony. Nor is their testimony complete without the next generation. It becomes a layer upon layer till Jesus returns. Take Moses for example, God chose him to deliver the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. Moses was anointed and appointed to bring the children of Israel to the Promised Land. However he was not anointed or appointed to take them into the land of promise. Moses completed all that he was anointed to do and his journey ended in the wilderness. His successor Joshua was anointed and appointed to take the children of Israel into the Promised Land. In the same way today this generation carries forward the anointing from past generations. As the writer of Hebrews said, “The testimony cannot come to perfection apart from us.” (Verse 40) And ours will not be complete apart from the following generation.

EXPERIENCE WITH CLOUD OF WITNESSES

Recently I had a powerful experience with three of my ancestors who are part of the great cloud of witnesses. Let me explain. In this experience I was walking hand-in-hand with my Aunt Ruby across a bridge. She was wearing a red dress and red heels. My aunt would never where a red dress or red heels because she was a very plain lady. As we walked she explained to me how she was never accepted in church. She had a powerful gift of healing and faith but the denominational church never recognized her gifting. Although they called upon her for prayer when someone was sick, she was only permitted to play the church piano. My aunt married my Uncle Russell upon his return from duty in France after World War II. He went to seminary and became a Church of God Pastor 50+ years.

After crossing the bridge we walked into my mother’s house and into her bedroom. She was awake and sitting in her bed. She was so happy to see us and immediately embraced us. Across the room in another bed was my Uncle Bob, the brother of my mother and aunt. He was sound asleep. This is where the dream ended.

BRIDGE OF TIME TO ETERNITY

BRIDGE OF THEN AND NOW

BRIDGE OF WHAT WAS AND WHAT WILL BE

Here is what I understand from this experience. These three members of my family are part of the cloud of witnesses however I was able to interact with them. I believe the bridge my aunt and I were crossing is “The Bridge of Time to Eternity, the Bridge of Then and Now, the Bridge of What Was and What Will Be. ”This bridge is known by many names because it’s the Bridge of the Holy Spirit linking heaven with earth. The fact that she’s wearing red indicates being redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. And her heels indicate women being exalted by the Lord. My mother represents the church and she’s welcoming women in ministry. Where my aunt was rejected I am now received. (I simply represent women in ministry and in the church.) My Uncle Bob represents male domination and the religious spirit that is being put to sleep. (Remember, he’s in my mother’s house.)

GRACE TO FINISH THE COURSE

Shortly following this experience I had a dream that includes my sister and one of my brothers. (All of my siblings are living) In this dream my brother was driving my car and I was in the passenger seat while my sister was seated behind me. When my brother parked the car in front of Rite Aid my sister got out to pick up a prescription. Then my brother handed me a $5 bill. (End of dream)

This is what I understand my dream to mean. My brother represents Jesus and He is behind the wheel driving and motivating my direction/ministry. He is granting grace ($5) to complete the assignment. My sister represents wisdom. (Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” Proverbs 7:4) And Wisdom is behind me providing the right aid or assistance needed. I prefer to say angelic hosts that I need to complete the assignment. God is granting grace and the whole host of heaven interacts to complete the work necessary in the end times.

Here is what I believe the Lord is saying.  Both the experience and dream are family related and involve spiritual inheritance. Each generation walks in a measure of anointing but cannot be complete without the next one. This includes the cloud of witnesses and what we do with what was entrusted to us? It’s as if that old anointing was laid down but now being picked up through the bloodline.

BRIDGE OF WHAT WAS & WHAT WILL BE

Example: In reality my Aunt Ruby and Uncle Russell we’re unable to have children. I believe her unfinished work is being offered to me as an inheritance because her gift of faith healing lay dormant, the church literally shut her gifting down. Therefore the remaining measure of her gift is still available. She did not walk in the full measure of her anointing. There’s probably 90% still untapped.  In the experience we were crossing the bridge of “what was and what will be.” “What was” never got off the ground because religion bound the anointing. But the other side of the bridge “What will be” is unlimited anointing of faith and healing. I believe the hand of God is on women to bring forth this next move of God. It is time for women to step up and step out in their anointing.

I believe that through our obedience to carry fourth the spiritual inheritance from past generations we will interact with the great cloud of witnesses. And through our obedience to complete the testimony of Jesus, we will prosper through His promise of provision. He has already provided everything we need to complete the task set before us. I believe that it is a time for women to arise as the body of Christ embraces them. The church at large has been male dominant however the Lord is going to shine His light upon the women and man will no longer be able to ignore the anointing. Let me make this clear, I’m not saying women are going to dominate the Church. I’m saying God will open the eyes of male dominant leadership to recognize “Jesus anointing” upon women. And male leaders will embrace the anointing and make room for “the anointing” to speak. I believe there is coming a balance of male and female leadership roles in the church.

INHERITANCE IS TIED TO LOCATION

I also saw Bob Jones and he spoke two things to me. “Inheritance is tied to where you are. Being in the right place releases it.” The second thing he said was, “Even in the desert there will be running water.” Isaiah 35:6

I believe our inheritance is tied to our location and the Lord may send us to a particular place to receive it. Although I won’t go into details now, the Lord sent me to San Antonio to receive a gift Bob laid down about 30 years ago. I believe we may go through a difficult time but remember this, even in the desert when it looks like everything is against us, God will provide running water. In fact He’ll provide living water. (John 7:38) Isaiah 35 is the highway of holiness. Verse 6 says, “that water will break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” He has provided everything we need to complete our destiny in Him. Our obedience is vital as we carry forward the anointing from the past generation and cross the bridge of “time to eternity.” Remember all of His promises are “yes and amen.” When this generation answers their call to pick up their inheritance God will release His promise to prosper the kingdom.