On June 5th, 1999 the Belmont Stakes took place in Elmont, N.Y. I have never been to a horse race and know nothing about them, and know that the Lord doesn't condone gambling! But when I heard the name of the 'favored' horse, Charismatic, I sensed the Lord telling me to listen because He was speaking about the church in all this. I looked over 2 articles in the paper and what I read was such an obvious prophetic statement regarding the church and some of her leaders today that you would have to be totally without discernment not to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. I have been saying for several years now that the Kingdom of Saul was crumbling as the Lord was bringing forth the Kingdom of David. I believe this race is a confirmation of this.

    Here is what I saw in the facts surrounding this race. I have underlined what the newspapers reported in the following numbered observations.

• Charismatic brought out the best in thoroughbred racing , in the end he also brought out the worst, the horses dream of glory turns into nightmare.
  Meaning: I do not see this as a statement on the Charismatic movement or worship style as much as I see it as a description of 'charismatic personalities' in the church. I see many people following 'personalities' instead of Jesus. This is exactly what happen to the Israelites when King Saul arrived on the scene, even to the point of building an altar to honor himself (1Sam 15:12). We cannot present OUR agendas and ask the Lord to bless them, we must have His agenda to have His Glory.
  
• Charismatic aborted his Triple Crown when he stumbled at the Throne with fractures to his left front leg which occurred a few strides before the finish.
  Meaning: All Saul's begin as true David's, but because they rely on their own strength and talents, they will abort what God has purposely impregnated them with. We cannot go to the throne in anything fleshly or we will stumble before we get there. As forerunners preparing the way of the Lord, when we stumble we will get our forelegs fractured and not be able to win or sometimes finish the race, it is not how we begin that counts most, but how we finish.

• It appeared that Charismatic had a mind of his own, even in the paddock he tried to break free as the crowds began to cheer him for his durability and strength.
  Meaning: Saul's do not have the mind of the Lord and will not even inquire of Him, thinking they do have His mind and ways. Waiting on the Lord is a must, if we break out of our stalls before the appointed time we may not be strong enough to withstand the temptation of pride which can come from people exalting us because of our giftings. While our gifts will demonstrate His power and help to bless and set others free, it is the fruit that we allow Him to grow in us that will sustain us and those we minister to.

• Charismatic's jockey stated that the horse began to go head to head with another horse too early in the race and at the end the jockey said he stopped whipping him knowing he wouldn't win.
  Meaning: There will be no room for competition in these last days. We cannot go head to head with other Christians, trying to outdo them. We must realize we have a common enemy and unite to fight effectively. There are many leaders that have been warned by the Lord and His prophets that they are in rebellion and they have refused to repent. The Lord will now stop the whipping or the discipline and give them over to the consequences they have invited by not heeding the warnings, thus disqualifying themselves from the forerunners race.

• Breeding and time for maturing was credited in the underestimated Lemon Drop Kids' win.
  Meaning: There are many hidden David's' about to be brought forth as the end time forerunners because they have been transformed while waiting in the hidden place. Now they have truly become their Fathers children, looking, speaking and being like Him. Lemons are fruit, the necessary ingredient to balance the powerful giftings required in the Lords' endtime army. Lemons are sour, but those who have allowed the Lord to take the bitter disappointments of their lives and desire instead to have His character pressed into them to be more like Him will not be bitter. Instead He will add the Sweetness of His Spirit and we will NOT be sour lemons, but lemon drops, sweet to the taste. The most important factor is to remain as a kid, or child in our dependence on the Father. Not childish, but childlike, for to such belong the Kingdom of God. (Matt 19:14)

• The jockey riding Lemon Drop Kid was Jose' Santos.
  Meaning: Santos means HOLY. Holiness has everything to do in qualifying for forerunner, endtime ministry. Psalm 24 says 'Who will ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands a pure heart.' Isaiah 36:8 calls us to walk on the Highway of Holiness. God is calling forth a Bride that will be pure, spotless and holy as He is holy. Go forth encouraged by this!

      Together, we will shatter the powers of darkness as long as we remain at the highest place, which is eternally at His feet.