CMM, the Spirit of Issachar and His Sons

Given a new sword and seeking a sharper focus at CMM in this new season the Lord is showing us fresh ways of how we can connect and strengthen as we anticipate and see more fruit with our network friends, our family, in the nations as we align with heaven for the glory of the Lord.  Everything in every sphere in the world is changing fast. We sense a real acceleration in available revelation and grace from Daddy to be more and do more to prepare ourselves, the Bride and the Body for what lies ahead.

Sidney and Helen Correll were loving visionaries raising up nationals in many nations to reach their own people for the cause of Christ. Many of our leaders and staff have grown in their hunger and realization of the necessity of knowing his voice and discerning the times as read about in the ‘sons of Issachar.’ We have been blessed to see tremendous growth at CMM in hearing the voice of our Shepherd without losing the vital, preeminent ‘love’ factor the Apostle Paul speaks about 1 Cor 13.

Bold Flames of Fire

Missionaries are called to be ‘flames of fire’ everywhere we go. We are called to be humble and life giving-speaking ambassadors of Heaven.  Some missionaries fall into a thing of ‘false humility’ and that’s when we get into danger. We are called like the Apostle Paul says, ‘to be all things to all people in order that may win some.’  Knowing our identity in Christ and that we are seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus gives us faith and courage to go beyond the veil into the throne of grace to get help, mercy, and grace in time of need. Heb. 4:16.  But, we must walk out with all the authority we have been given by Christ our Lord.

We want to bring joy every day to our Father’s heart and real, lasting relationships are built on mutual respect, honoring each other and trust that lead to an authentic, vibrant, organic, Spirit-led life in Christ.

CMM-Equipping the local church on a global scale.

CMM is Building and Strengthening the Net globally.

Recently the Holy Spirit has been giving me more clarity on what some of our next steps are to be.  We are thankful and really blessed with deep and trusted friendships with truly amazing and anointed leaders on fire for God, who have gotten closer with us on life-changing mission trips and in our CMM College of Theology.

The Council of Issachar

The Lord gave me a name for this new, focused initiative-The Council of Issachar. We have heard many teachings about the sons of Issachar and discerning the times, but let’s not forget their ‘father’ Issachar himself and what transpired in his life to make the way for his ‘sons’ to be so blessed. We all want our children, natural and spiritual to go beyond us in every area. The Word says we have many teachers but not many fathers.  Often real, godly fathers are the best teachers.

Chuck Pierce writes this: “Issachar was the ninth son of Jacob and the fifth son of Leah. The tribe of Issachar was positioned strategically with Judah and Zebulun (Numbers 2:5; 10:14-15). Zebulun, the tenth son of Jacob and the sixth and last of Leah, meant “dwelling, habitation.” Zebulun was the tribe of war, ships, and trade. Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. His name meant “may He [God] be praised.” Judah prophetically was always destined to go first as the warrior tribe that would conquer.

You can see now why the famous Scripture from 1 Chronicles 12:32, “And of Issachar, men who had an understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs; and all their kinsmen were under their command” (Amplified version), had such significance at the time. The tribes were in tremendous conflict and transition. The government was changing. They were moving from the government of the house of Saul to the government of the house of David. David was of Judah. Issachar could give great insight into how to make this shift. The Issachar tribe had several distinct characteristics in its DNA.”

Much can be said about Issachar the father of this tribe. He had a governmental anointing.  He was a burden bearer, compared to a donkey. A donkey was often used to guard the sheep, as it needed little attention or care from the owner.  It didn’t take from the sheep or harm them and needed little supervision to fulfill its assignment. Issachar was known as a real scholar of the Torah and the tribe of Zebulon was strongly connected with them supplying funds to the tribe of Issachar for their scholarly pursuits and thus the 200 ‘sons of Issachar’ became leaders in the Sanhedrin.

These sons are watchmen over the sheep. Their father, Issachar was able to bow his shoulder and serve as the burden bearer for future generations.  Joe Shrewsbury adds: “Donkeys are also known for bearing burdens. This speaks of intercession.  This is not the stereotypical intercession that consists of requests and petitions before God, but acts of intercession.  Just as the donkeys attack the coyotes and wild dogs who attack the sheep, the sons of Issachar are responsible for actively engaging in warfare to protect the body of Christ.  When the predators are too big, the loud braying of the donkey alerts the Shepherd to get involved.

Another aspect of burden bearing is related to the presence of God.  Twice in scripture, we see a donkey carrying Jesus into a city.  The one everyone thinks of is the ride into Jerusalem when the crowd was throwing palms onto the ground in front of Him.  A less momentous time was when a donkey carried Jesus into Bethlehem inside the womb of Mary.  This entrance was not accompanied by people praising Him, but the heavens were full of angels singing praise to Him.  The first time He entered into a city it was on a donkey, and the last time was also on a donkey.”

CMM In The 21st Century

This is similar to CMM in the 21st century in watching over and caring for the fullness and completion in all those we minister to in the nations. Col. 2:10 is what the Apostle Paul wanted to see in each one he ministered and raised up, that was ‘to see everyone complete in Christ.’ Holiness is essential. Every person is a unique creation of the Lord and his desire is for us to be ‘our selves’ as in that we each are fearfully and wonderfully made, conformed to the image and DNA of Jesus Christ, not mere men.

Joe Shrewsbury writes “This combination of mystical visions, faith to end barrenness, and a workman who receives a return is a theme we see woven in all that we learn about Issachar. The men of Issachar are further described in the oral traditions of Hebrew teachings.  These oral teaching tend to speak more to the mystical aspects of Hebrew teachings.  The men of the tribe of Issachar were frequently associated with mystical insight.  They were able to observe things in the natural and see spiritual connections, and they were able to observe in the spirit and make natural connections.”

Because of the anointing the Lord put on the father, Issachar, his sons were given their anointing to discern the times and seasons.  So too, CMM is called to provide a broad spectrum of ministry services: love, the Father’s heart, revelatory education, Kingdom worldview, humanitarian aid, love of Israel, stopping human slavery, safe water, hygiene training, caring for widows and orphans, sustainable agriculture and community development etc to our Missionaries globally. We seek growing intimacy with our Daddy so we may be able to lead others into heavenly encounters aligning ourselves with the Lord of the harvest for the end times.

The ‘sons of Issachar’ prophetic anointing is one of the callings CMM is appointed to equip and release to establish and strengthen the ‘net’ globally.  In addition to the prophetic ministry, CMM provides there are all the rest of the five-fold ministry gifts at work to impact and transform individuals, students, graduates, and the lives of those in the many house churches, schools, congregations, businesses, communities and movements in the many nations we sow into.

How Will The Council Of Issachar Work?

Teams serving on the Council of Issachar will pray for and minister, often in online video conferencing to a region, ministry leadership, or a topical theme, depending on the focused need.  Anointed men and women will be asked to pray and seek the Lord for wisdom and prophetic insight and speak the word and heart of the Lord to recipients in the nations.  Team members will come from our friends who are available at that time and have a heart or special word from the Lord for the people receiving the council or the topical theme or purpose of the call.  Follow up will be allowed to be organic and free as the Spirit leads so team members may rotate in and out depending on availability and being led for each call by the HS.  Relationships can organically develop and team members will be welcome to conduct for further follow-up, training, impartation or possibly visit that nation for conferences, in-depth training, prophetic summits and fellowship.

Chuck Pierce goes on to say this about Issachar: “They moved toward their promise as the trumpet sounded and His presence, which was central, shifted them toward their destiny. Three of the twelve tribes moved together. Judah, the apostolic warring leadership tribe who understood sound, moved first. Then came Issachar, the Torah tribe, who would bear the burden for victory and wages. This tribe understood the time and could interpret the Word of God in time. They were connected to Zebulun, the wealth tribe because the provision for the journey and the supply for victory were important.”

Welcome to the Council of Issachar with CMM to reach and bless the nations for the glory of the Lord.  We’re glad you are here and look forward to all the Lord has for us to build his Kingdom together, for his glory.  Jorge Parrott October 2018

“G‑d has given me my reward.” (Genesis 30:18)

Leah’s fifth son, Issachar, embodies the notion of the reward that comes from hard work. The painting takes us to the Jezreel Valley in the north, where the quilted landscape shows the lush reward of the pioneers and farmers who labored to transform an arid land into a productive one. The valley unfolds before us like a scroll or a book, mirroring the role of the tribe of Issachar as Israel’s scholars and educators. Through the labor of Torah study, we harvest the richness of G‑d’s wisdom, which provides us with guidance, sustenance and direction, allowing us to see far into the peaceful distance. The deep blues of the painting reflect Issachar’s gemstone, sapphire, which was also the material from which was carved the Tablets of the Ten Commandments, the Divine source of our wisdom and scholarship.

The Twelve Tribes of Israel-Issachar is represented as the donkey.

The Blessing of Jacob

Before each Jacob’s twelve sons left to form their own tribes, Jacob bestowed a prophetic blessing upon each of them. This blessing defined the characteristics and fortunes of each son, as well as the tribe that would bear their name for generations. Jacob’s blessing of Issachar was something like this:

Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between two burdens; He saw that the rest was good And that the land was pleasant; He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden,  And became a band of slaves.

We See In Part…95% of the matter in the universe is invisible and unknown to us.1 Corinthians 13:9-12 New King James Version (NKJV)9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is [a]perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now, we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

95% of the matter in the universe is invisible and unknown to us. All we know about the universe is from the 5% of the total.  The Word unlocks many mysteries and reveals even more mysteries we are yet to know or understand. Through Jesus’ life and words and example, we are given access to explore what is unseen, eternal and true. How humbling it is to know where we are now and the unfathomable riches he holds for us to truly be like Him. See 2Kings 6:15-17 Elisha asks the Lord to open his servant’s eyes2 Kings 19:35 185,000 Assyrians and Angels. As you study the Word and the supernatural life Jesus gives us allow the faith keys and revelation the Lord gives you to ignite your hunger and desire to know and receive all He has for you in your studies to show yourself approved.2 Timothy 2:15 New King James Version (NKJV)15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

In Christ, Jorge Parrott,
Ph.D. President of CMM.world and CMMTheology.org