For the Prophets and Intercessors
Yesterday the Lord spoke to me about His Word having a purpose and a “target audience” (my husband Dave’s words). The Lord was displeased with His prophets and intercessors who only gathered amongst themselves, sharing God’s words to make themselves seem great. And there were those also who shared God’s words who didn’t want to take the risk of speaking to people who might not receive them. So those intercessors to whom God showed His will, and those prophets to whom God gave His words did not share with those who needed them. They were ineffective watchmen, and did not stand in the gap to work with the Lord the repentance for which He had revealed His word and His will. When God shows a watchman that the sword is coming, the watchman is to tell the city that everyone will be warned. Here are some of His words from that conversation:
The watchmen are praying and the intercessors are praying against the sword, each in their own little groups, for this seems good to them. But they do not go to those who err, to those rebellious children of God who sin, and warn them. They do not labor with the Lord to work repentance in His Church. And this is why the sword is coming: judgment has begun at the church of God. They hold the word of God as if it is theirs, and not the Lord’s. They do not give it to whom the Lord sent it for, so repentance is not worked and men and women are lost out of the kingdom of God . . . men and women who would have repented had they been confronted with their sin.
Did I not say “Make it plain, that the messenger might run with it”? But there is no runner, and the prophets and intercessors keep my words in the area of those who will receive them. They seek Me to repent of sending the sword. Why would they pray to a holy God, asking Him to be unrighteous? I am not unrighteous but have set the times in the earth for the judgment of the works of Man, first the church, and then the world. Justice will not return unto the earth except judgment be established. Who will take My word to the rebellious children of God to turn their hearts, that I might turn My hand of judgment? Work with Me, My people, that I might spare this land.
During the night the Lord gave me a dream where He showed me to more areas of ministry that prophets and intercessors have compromised. First, some with hold His words and knowledge of His will because it might seem offensive to share them. They care more about the ease of relationships and the acceptance of Man than serving their brethren the portion God has for them at that time. Second, some are lacking in integrity, stealing another prophet’s words and sharing them, without giving acknowledgement to the one whom the Lord originally shared the word with. These prophets and intercessors know that God spoke to another but value the acclaim of carrying the word of God, and to look great in the eyes of Man, more than being honest about the source of what they share. In the Bible we do not have reference to anonymous prophets; we have their names. A prophet is accountable to God and to Man for the words he speaks on the Lord’s behalf. Many times a prophet is given words that are ahead of the timing in which the Lord shares with other prophets. These first prophets are called “forerunners” and often suffer rejection from their brethren because the content of their prophecies is new, and often –precedent-setting. They have paid the price for the prophecy by faithfully delivering it and standing by the truth of the word. It is wrong for another prophet to share the word in his own name, having not paid the price and not being the one whom the Lord originally shared with.
As we serve the Lord, let us hold integrity in our hearts, clearing ourselves from those hidden sins which cause our ministry to be “our way” instead of “His Way”. He is dealing with His servants that He might have a people who effectively partner with Him, working His works until the end. Amen
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
black bears of California
Black bears of California
8-28-08
Last night I had a dream which I’d like to share with you. In it there was a narrator who walked along side of me. First I was shown various people, one at a time, whom the narrator would say of “this is a Christian”. The last one was an older woman who had what looked like a tear at the end of and underneath her nose. She told me that there was a plague in the bears.
Then I saw vicious black bears chasing people. There was someone behind these bear attacks. I saw a fire come from behind and consume them all (the bears and the people being chased). The second time I saw the bears chasing firemen, who ran across a log overhanging a cliff, leaping off the end. The bears chased them, one grabbing the last fireman in his jaws, as they also leapt off the end of the log off the cliff. The fire came from behind and consumed them all.
In the last scene of this dream I was shown a piece of charred wood, so badly burned that it looked like charcoal. This was the end of the dream.
In prayer this morning the Lord showed my husband and I that this was a dream about satan’s (the man behind the bear attacks) attacks on Christians in God’s kingdom. It is about having a way of escape from our trials (1 Cor 10:13), and about what materials we have built with (1 Cor 3:12-15).
In the dream, the elderly woman had discernment (focus on her nose), coupled with grief (tear). She relayed the story of what was happening to those who were guardians/protectors (firemen) over the work of God. Their job was to ensure that those whom they had care over would not suffer loss by fire. These could be ministers of God, encouraging others to build with gold, silver, and precious stones rather than wood, hay or stubble. But they themselves had not considered that their own work would come under the attack of the enemy and that their escape needed to be secure, and not built with flammable material. Because they had no secure plan (log leading over the edge of a cliff), and their escape itself was made of wood, their escape was a “Leap of faith” into destruction, as they knew not the plan of God for this event. The attack of the bears is an attack of satan’s kingdom, foretold in scripture (see Daniel 7:21 and Rev 2:8-10). These are the times we now live in, and we see the attack on the lives of Christians through illnesses and financial loss, as well as the attack on ministries by the same means, plus slander and all kinds of malice.
In reviewing this dream with me, the Lord reminded me of a prophecy that provided our means of escape from an up-coming trial. We were then a part of a ministry which provided housing at a reasonable rate for its staff and students. They were also building new condos for staff who could afford it, and wanted those in the condos to be a prayer shield for those housed on campus. The third provision for staff housing was a set of apartments across from the campus. These had been divided up amongst private owners who rented their apartments out like condos, and many were rented to the ministry staff.
“Way of escape”: One day the Lord told me that the housing in the town that the ministry was in would “dry up”. It was not long after this personal prophecy that He directed my husband to buy land, and build a home. We built a 2 story house and rented the bottom floor to ministry staff at a lower-than-market price. The prophecy, and our obedience to buy and build a home, were the “way of escape” from the up-coming trial.
The trial: While our house was being built a housing boom began, driving the price of houses and rentals sky high. There was an untimely delay in the condos being finished which left staff waiting, without secure housing, for a year or more before they could move in. The escalating price of housing caused the private owners of the apartment-turned-condos to put their places up for sale. And the secure housing on campus was inadequate to house both students and staff.
How had the ministry prepared for this up-coming time? They did not heed the prophecy about housing “drying up” because they believed prophecy was only for strengthening, comfort, and encouragement (1 Cor 14:3). They did not see the need to be warned of an up-coming time of trial. Secondly, they had a provision for the future, which was the condos they were building. Though they were following the plan of God, they were unaware of the enemy’s plan to delay them. And finally, they did not see that certain men creeping in aware were corrupt, causing poor decisions to be made concerning the financing of the condo-prayer-shield, which resulted in the ministry being in terrible debt.
You might look at the trial above and say “this situation needs correction, but why the fire of God?/ or judgment on their works?” If you had been in the situation above you would have seen many Christians behaving coldly to their brothers and sisters in Christ. This was the bad fruit from being in the trial without a God-provided plan of escape. These believers did not want to share their housing, clothing, or food with their less-fortunate brothers. Their attitude was that “If it’s God’s will for you to be here, He will provide for you.” So the people who had secure housing did not lack, and those who had no housing did. Though not all ministry staff were cold-hearted, there were enough who were that many other staff left.
Plan of escape: I see that the Lord is faithful to warn us of events that will come up in our lives to thwart us, and to defeat us. He is also faithful to prepare us, if we will listen and obey. It is noteworthy that there is a warning repeated several times in the book of Hebrews which begins “Today, when you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts . . .” (Heb 3:7,8,15 & 4:7). Our plan of escape, and our success in His kingdom both lie in listening, receiving His Word, and obeying the steps He directs us to take. There may be black bears in our lives, but our escape will not be found in running from them. We will not find security in being properly clothed, like the firemen. All our skill, our refinement of the talents God gave us, and the good testimony of our faith will not cause us to survive if we heed not the spoken Word of God in this hour. Let us encourage each other as we see the Day drawing near, and have faith that He who leads us is Faithful. Amen.
8-28-08
Last night I had a dream which I’d like to share with you. In it there was a narrator who walked along side of me. First I was shown various people, one at a time, whom the narrator would say of “this is a Christian”. The last one was an older woman who had what looked like a tear at the end of and underneath her nose. She told me that there was a plague in the bears.
Then I saw vicious black bears chasing people. There was someone behind these bear attacks. I saw a fire come from behind and consume them all (the bears and the people being chased). The second time I saw the bears chasing firemen, who ran across a log overhanging a cliff, leaping off the end. The bears chased them, one grabbing the last fireman in his jaws, as they also leapt off the end of the log off the cliff. The fire came from behind and consumed them all.
In the last scene of this dream I was shown a piece of charred wood, so badly burned that it looked like charcoal. This was the end of the dream.
In prayer this morning the Lord showed my husband and I that this was a dream about satan’s (the man behind the bear attacks) attacks on Christians in God’s kingdom. It is about having a way of escape from our trials (1 Cor 10:13), and about what materials we have built with (1 Cor 3:12-15).
In the dream, the elderly woman had discernment (focus on her nose), coupled with grief (tear). She relayed the story of what was happening to those who were guardians/protectors (firemen) over the work of God. Their job was to ensure that those whom they had care over would not suffer loss by fire. These could be ministers of God, encouraging others to build with gold, silver, and precious stones rather than wood, hay or stubble. But they themselves had not considered that their own work would come under the attack of the enemy and that their escape needed to be secure, and not built with flammable material. Because they had no secure plan (log leading over the edge of a cliff), and their escape itself was made of wood, their escape was a “Leap of faith” into destruction, as they knew not the plan of God for this event. The attack of the bears is an attack of satan’s kingdom, foretold in scripture (see Daniel 7:21 and Rev 2:8-10). These are the times we now live in, and we see the attack on the lives of Christians through illnesses and financial loss, as well as the attack on ministries by the same means, plus slander and all kinds of malice.
In reviewing this dream with me, the Lord reminded me of a prophecy that provided our means of escape from an up-coming trial. We were then a part of a ministry which provided housing at a reasonable rate for its staff and students. They were also building new condos for staff who could afford it, and wanted those in the condos to be a prayer shield for those housed on campus. The third provision for staff housing was a set of apartments across from the campus. These had been divided up amongst private owners who rented their apartments out like condos, and many were rented to the ministry staff.
“Way of escape”: One day the Lord told me that the housing in the town that the ministry was in would “dry up”. It was not long after this personal prophecy that He directed my husband to buy land, and build a home. We built a 2 story house and rented the bottom floor to ministry staff at a lower-than-market price. The prophecy, and our obedience to buy and build a home, were the “way of escape” from the up-coming trial.
The trial: While our house was being built a housing boom began, driving the price of houses and rentals sky high. There was an untimely delay in the condos being finished which left staff waiting, without secure housing, for a year or more before they could move in. The escalating price of housing caused the private owners of the apartment-turned-condos to put their places up for sale. And the secure housing on campus was inadequate to house both students and staff.
How had the ministry prepared for this up-coming time? They did not heed the prophecy about housing “drying up” because they believed prophecy was only for strengthening, comfort, and encouragement (1 Cor 14:3). They did not see the need to be warned of an up-coming time of trial. Secondly, they had a provision for the future, which was the condos they were building. Though they were following the plan of God, they were unaware of the enemy’s plan to delay them. And finally, they did not see that certain men creeping in aware were corrupt, causing poor decisions to be made concerning the financing of the condo-prayer-shield, which resulted in the ministry being in terrible debt.
You might look at the trial above and say “this situation needs correction, but why the fire of God?/ or judgment on their works?” If you had been in the situation above you would have seen many Christians behaving coldly to their brothers and sisters in Christ. This was the bad fruit from being in the trial without a God-provided plan of escape. These believers did not want to share their housing, clothing, or food with their less-fortunate brothers. Their attitude was that “If it’s God’s will for you to be here, He will provide for you.” So the people who had secure housing did not lack, and those who had no housing did. Though not all ministry staff were cold-hearted, there were enough who were that many other staff left.
Plan of escape: I see that the Lord is faithful to warn us of events that will come up in our lives to thwart us, and to defeat us. He is also faithful to prepare us, if we will listen and obey. It is noteworthy that there is a warning repeated several times in the book of Hebrews which begins “Today, when you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts . . .” (Heb 3:7,8,15 & 4:7). Our plan of escape, and our success in His kingdom both lie in listening, receiving His Word, and obeying the steps He directs us to take. There may be black bears in our lives, but our escape will not be found in running from them. We will not find security in being properly clothed, like the firemen. All our skill, our refinement of the talents God gave us, and the good testimony of our faith will not cause us to survive if we heed not the spoken Word of God in this hour. Let us encourage each other as we see the Day drawing near, and have faith that He who leads us is Faithful. Amen.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The Honest Heart
The Honest Heart
8-24-08
This morning I was full of regret over hurtful words I had spoken to my husband the night before. Though we resolved our disagreement, I had felt the need to be honest throughout our conversation and shared my misgivings concerning the course of events that currently affected both our lives. I wished I could have been holier, somehow nicer. The Lord led me to 1 John 1:7 where it talks about walking in the light, and that our fellowship will cleanse us from all sin. “Fellowship?” I thought. It didn’t seem like fellowship. The Lord interrupted my thoughts with the following;
“You don’t know the value of an honest heart, nor the strength of grace and love. Man was meant to forebear one another’s weaknesses. It is satan who uses man’s weakness as a tool in the hands of his brother, defeating the weaker man. But love and grace cause the strong man to forgive and help the weak one. I designed it this way, and therefore see the honest heart as the valuable one, for it will be cleansed of all evil. The man who hides evil in his heart deceives himself that he is good. His appearance is one of carefulness against sin, but his greatest care is that satan will use his sin as a tool in the hand of his brother against him. He doesn’t trust enough to walk in the light, so his fellowship does not cleanse him from sin.”
In thinking about the Lord’s words, I realize that we shouldn’t sin so that His grace would abound. However, we should not hide our sin either. The admonition to walk honestly with our brothers (and husbands) in Christ is the way God designed for us to walk. This takes humility, and should be followed with prayer, not presuming on grace. It puts us in the hands of God, from whom we desire cleansing and acceptance, and man, to whom we are being reconciled. Amen.
8-24-08
This morning I was full of regret over hurtful words I had spoken to my husband the night before. Though we resolved our disagreement, I had felt the need to be honest throughout our conversation and shared my misgivings concerning the course of events that currently affected both our lives. I wished I could have been holier, somehow nicer. The Lord led me to 1 John 1:7 where it talks about walking in the light, and that our fellowship will cleanse us from all sin. “Fellowship?” I thought. It didn’t seem like fellowship. The Lord interrupted my thoughts with the following;
“You don’t know the value of an honest heart, nor the strength of grace and love. Man was meant to forebear one another’s weaknesses. It is satan who uses man’s weakness as a tool in the hands of his brother, defeating the weaker man. But love and grace cause the strong man to forgive and help the weak one. I designed it this way, and therefore see the honest heart as the valuable one, for it will be cleansed of all evil. The man who hides evil in his heart deceives himself that he is good. His appearance is one of carefulness against sin, but his greatest care is that satan will use his sin as a tool in the hand of his brother against him. He doesn’t trust enough to walk in the light, so his fellowship does not cleanse him from sin.”
In thinking about the Lord’s words, I realize that we shouldn’t sin so that His grace would abound. However, we should not hide our sin either. The admonition to walk honestly with our brothers (and husbands) in Christ is the way God designed for us to walk. This takes humility, and should be followed with prayer, not presuming on grace. It puts us in the hands of God, from whom we desire cleansing and acceptance, and man, to whom we are being reconciled. Amen.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The Noble Mind of Man
The Noble Mind of Man
God has made men noble (Acts 17:11). The mind of man seeks understanding, based on knowledge. His mind will search for the true order of things and dig deeply for the foundations of which came this knowledge. When the mind is satisfied that none of these things come from his own vain imaginations then acceptance comes into his heart (a true approving) and truth is established. And “blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves”. (Rom 14:22b). The noble man’s truth will become like a sure peg on his wall on which many other truths can be hung.
Ignoble men love their own imagination more than the labor of the mind which establishes truth. These men develop superstitions and believe fate and other forces control their lives. Their minds remain simple and undeveloped, turning to fables instead of searching for truth. Their own fears guide them, in contrast to the curiosity of the mind which leads the noble to establish truth. Because the ignoble mind is not satisfied by the establishing of truth, it finds relief in its own imagination’s inventions. But this relief, brought by the inventions of the mind, is not acceptance. And time tests the imaginations of the mind, proving them false. There is not peg on the wall of the ignoble man’s heart, and no peace that reigns there . . . only fear that his false comforts will be discovered.
Fear then becomes a tool in the hand of the enemy. Satan uses fear to lead a man into deception. The ignoble man will then begin to love his deceptions and the reward of sin; pleasure and self-acceptance. He will develop his own standard whereby to measure himself because he finds Mine too hard. This man will not be transformed into My image by the renewing of his mind, but instead will develop justifications for remaining in his own image. This is the very reason I will say “I don’t know you” to some who now serve Me, for they refused My glory, loving their own instead (Mt 7:23 & 25:12). But the noble man quests after the knowledge of God and thereby will be filled, and satisfied. Amen.
God has made men noble (Acts 17:11). The mind of man seeks understanding, based on knowledge. His mind will search for the true order of things and dig deeply for the foundations of which came this knowledge. When the mind is satisfied that none of these things come from his own vain imaginations then acceptance comes into his heart (a true approving) and truth is established. And “blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves”. (Rom 14:22b). The noble man’s truth will become like a sure peg on his wall on which many other truths can be hung.
Ignoble men love their own imagination more than the labor of the mind which establishes truth. These men develop superstitions and believe fate and other forces control their lives. Their minds remain simple and undeveloped, turning to fables instead of searching for truth. Their own fears guide them, in contrast to the curiosity of the mind which leads the noble to establish truth. Because the ignoble mind is not satisfied by the establishing of truth, it finds relief in its own imagination’s inventions. But this relief, brought by the inventions of the mind, is not acceptance. And time tests the imaginations of the mind, proving them false. There is not peg on the wall of the ignoble man’s heart, and no peace that reigns there . . . only fear that his false comforts will be discovered.
Fear then becomes a tool in the hand of the enemy. Satan uses fear to lead a man into deception. The ignoble man will then begin to love his deceptions and the reward of sin; pleasure and self-acceptance. He will develop his own standard whereby to measure himself because he finds Mine too hard. This man will not be transformed into My image by the renewing of his mind, but instead will develop justifications for remaining in his own image. This is the very reason I will say “I don’t know you” to some who now serve Me, for they refused My glory, loving their own instead (Mt 7:23 & 25:12). But the noble man quests after the knowledge of God and thereby will be filled, and satisfied. Amen.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The Voice of God
The Voice of God
8-13-08
Jesus’ sacrifice purchased the gift of His voice within every believer (Jn 14:26 & 16:13). This is the Spirit of Prophecy, the Testimony of Jesus, and comes to the listener through the Holy Spirit. Satan tries to discredit all that the Holy Spirit tells us. He is more effective in paralyzing the kingdom of God through the doubt of the believers than by killing them off. In fact, he leaves strong doubters so that he can perpetrate false teachings through them and paralyze the effectiveness of the Body of Christ.
A man who doubts that he hears from God would rather listen to others. It makes him feel safe, and he avoids the torment of satan working against his faith. In fact, eventually this man will fall prey to the lying spirits which hold up his filthiness as the reason not to come to God in prayer with a true listening heart. You see, satan knows how great the value of the free gift of God is, this voice inside the believer. His goal is to discredit that treasure within.
God chose to fill the believer with an exceedingly wonderful treasure. His plans for each one of us begin before we are born. He has all of our successes perfectly planned out so that we may prosper. So great are the plans of God that, should we look at them and know them, we would be amazed at their glory. This glory is alluded to when Paul writes about the transcending power which is exceedingly great (2 Cor 4:7). God’s plan is that we will become His righteousness, embodied in our flesh (2 Cor 5:21). The manifestation of God’s glorious righteousness can only be seen in the life of those who walk in faith, not doubting.
It is certain that God intended us to hear Him. The strength of our faith is tested in our obedience to what we hear from God. If we do not mix His Word with faith in our hearts, His words do not benefit us (Heb 4;2). Also, He is a just God and would not punish us wrongfully for hardening our hearts and not listening to Him. Yet God warns us 3 times that “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts . . . “ (Heb 3:7,15 & 4:7).
We know that we have an enemy that works to defeat our faith. Since satan seeks to defeat our faith by discrediting the free gift of Christ (His voice within us) and by holding our sins up and invalidating Jesus’ blood sacrifice for them, how should we answer him? First we must hold up the sin-sacrifice, Jesus’ blood. It is stronger than satan’s accusations against us. When we resist him strongly and firmly, he must go. But if we hate the struggle and become double-minded, loving the comfort of doubt, he will not go. This battle is ours, not the Lord’s, for it is written “They overcame him (satan) by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony . . “ (Rev 12:11). We overcome our enemy by believing in the work Jesus accomplished for us on the cross, and by believing His Life is in us, speaking Life-giving words to us. This is the fight our faith takes on: believing.
The second answer we give to our enemy is the Testimony of that glorious Life within us, the Word of God. We hear and obey Him, being transformed through our obedience from glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18). We have mixed the Word of Life with faith in our hearts and have successfully resisted satan’s plans, desiring rather to believe God has a wonderful plan for our own life, as well as for a kingdom to come. The temporary discomfort of battling satan’s lies and our own doubts and fears then gives way to the prize of overcoming and living a victorious life. It is a battle worth winning.
8-13-08
Jesus’ sacrifice purchased the gift of His voice within every believer (Jn 14:26 & 16:13). This is the Spirit of Prophecy, the Testimony of Jesus, and comes to the listener through the Holy Spirit. Satan tries to discredit all that the Holy Spirit tells us. He is more effective in paralyzing the kingdom of God through the doubt of the believers than by killing them off. In fact, he leaves strong doubters so that he can perpetrate false teachings through them and paralyze the effectiveness of the Body of Christ.
A man who doubts that he hears from God would rather listen to others. It makes him feel safe, and he avoids the torment of satan working against his faith. In fact, eventually this man will fall prey to the lying spirits which hold up his filthiness as the reason not to come to God in prayer with a true listening heart. You see, satan knows how great the value of the free gift of God is, this voice inside the believer. His goal is to discredit that treasure within.
God chose to fill the believer with an exceedingly wonderful treasure. His plans for each one of us begin before we are born. He has all of our successes perfectly planned out so that we may prosper. So great are the plans of God that, should we look at them and know them, we would be amazed at their glory. This glory is alluded to when Paul writes about the transcending power which is exceedingly great (2 Cor 4:7). God’s plan is that we will become His righteousness, embodied in our flesh (2 Cor 5:21). The manifestation of God’s glorious righteousness can only be seen in the life of those who walk in faith, not doubting.
It is certain that God intended us to hear Him. The strength of our faith is tested in our obedience to what we hear from God. If we do not mix His Word with faith in our hearts, His words do not benefit us (Heb 4;2). Also, He is a just God and would not punish us wrongfully for hardening our hearts and not listening to Him. Yet God warns us 3 times that “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts . . . “ (Heb 3:7,15 & 4:7).
We know that we have an enemy that works to defeat our faith. Since satan seeks to defeat our faith by discrediting the free gift of Christ (His voice within us) and by holding our sins up and invalidating Jesus’ blood sacrifice for them, how should we answer him? First we must hold up the sin-sacrifice, Jesus’ blood. It is stronger than satan’s accusations against us. When we resist him strongly and firmly, he must go. But if we hate the struggle and become double-minded, loving the comfort of doubt, he will not go. This battle is ours, not the Lord’s, for it is written “They overcame him (satan) by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony . . “ (Rev 12:11). We overcome our enemy by believing in the work Jesus accomplished for us on the cross, and by believing His Life is in us, speaking Life-giving words to us. This is the fight our faith takes on: believing.
The second answer we give to our enemy is the Testimony of that glorious Life within us, the Word of God. We hear and obey Him, being transformed through our obedience from glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18). We have mixed the Word of Life with faith in our hearts and have successfully resisted satan’s plans, desiring rather to believe God has a wonderful plan for our own life, as well as for a kingdom to come. The temporary discomfort of battling satan’s lies and our own doubts and fears then gives way to the prize of overcoming and living a victorious life. It is a battle worth winning.
Monday, August 4, 2008
our groanings
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Cor 4:7)
“For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, . . .”(2 Cor 5:4)
Today while I was resting after a hard and long day I thought on the attitudes of my heart. Often I am disappointed, or frustrated, and then repent of these attitudes. But they come upon me often enough that they are like near-by companions, and I wondered what the sin might be that these are founded on. I would have guessed impatience. But while I was musing the Lord interrupted my thoughts and I’d like to share what He spoke to my heart.
Forerunners are impatient, because they know things ahead of time. Issachars (1 Chron 12:32) are lonely because they know the times and what people should do, and they need people to share this with. Men of vision become too big for the space they occupy because they can see beyond it. Warriors are too hasty for grace, and children too naive for wisdom. The wise man is too careful for love . . . and on it goes. Each man’s gift causes his excellence to become a source of dissatisfaction with the ordinary, and a longing for more of the Source of his excellence.
You will never be able to tame the dissatisfaction and the frustration of waiting if you are a forerunner, any more than the Issachar can remain in solitude when he has so much to share. It is the song I put in My servants’ hearts, and it’s called groaning. Try as you may to scrub yourself up and live in peace and contentment upon this earth, you would be false to yourself if you did not become discontent at times. For the kingdoms of this earth are passing away, and Mine are being established. You are caught between the seen and the unseen, and are without the reward of stepping into that which I am teaching you is really real.
You want to use your gifts and be part of making it materialize on this earth. What is so fascinating to you is often out of your sight in the daily activities of your day. Yet your life is the earthen vessel you live in, the jars of clay which surround My glory in each one of you. Groan. Be honest before Me. I can take it. I will never change, and do not ask you to stop being disappointed in waiting, and frustrated in silence. If even the righteous dead martyrs say “How long, Oh Lord?” should you not also? Be honest before Me and don’t pretend to be little Buddah’s with peaceful ignorant smiles on your faces at all times. Yes, smile. Yes, have My peace. But do not repent of wanting more of Me in you, of wanting My kingdom upon this earth, of wanting My City to be established here, and of wanting so much more. Doesn’t the man who tastes of something good want more? I have given each of you a taste, and I will not charge you with sin for wanting more.
I am bringing together prophets, intercessors, apostles, judges, and more, so that they can share together. These will be the groaners, those who will not be satisfied chatting. They have a big plate and I have filled it for them. They are ready to serve. Oh what a feast I am preparing for those who will come. Amen.
“For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, . . .”(2 Cor 5:4)
Today while I was resting after a hard and long day I thought on the attitudes of my heart. Often I am disappointed, or frustrated, and then repent of these attitudes. But they come upon me often enough that they are like near-by companions, and I wondered what the sin might be that these are founded on. I would have guessed impatience. But while I was musing the Lord interrupted my thoughts and I’d like to share what He spoke to my heart.
Forerunners are impatient, because they know things ahead of time. Issachars (1 Chron 12:32) are lonely because they know the times and what people should do, and they need people to share this with. Men of vision become too big for the space they occupy because they can see beyond it. Warriors are too hasty for grace, and children too naive for wisdom. The wise man is too careful for love . . . and on it goes. Each man’s gift causes his excellence to become a source of dissatisfaction with the ordinary, and a longing for more of the Source of his excellence.
You will never be able to tame the dissatisfaction and the frustration of waiting if you are a forerunner, any more than the Issachar can remain in solitude when he has so much to share. It is the song I put in My servants’ hearts, and it’s called groaning. Try as you may to scrub yourself up and live in peace and contentment upon this earth, you would be false to yourself if you did not become discontent at times. For the kingdoms of this earth are passing away, and Mine are being established. You are caught between the seen and the unseen, and are without the reward of stepping into that which I am teaching you is really real.
You want to use your gifts and be part of making it materialize on this earth. What is so fascinating to you is often out of your sight in the daily activities of your day. Yet your life is the earthen vessel you live in, the jars of clay which surround My glory in each one of you. Groan. Be honest before Me. I can take it. I will never change, and do not ask you to stop being disappointed in waiting, and frustrated in silence. If even the righteous dead martyrs say “How long, Oh Lord?” should you not also? Be honest before Me and don’t pretend to be little Buddah’s with peaceful ignorant smiles on your faces at all times. Yes, smile. Yes, have My peace. But do not repent of wanting more of Me in you, of wanting My kingdom upon this earth, of wanting My City to be established here, and of wanting so much more. Doesn’t the man who tastes of something good want more? I have given each of you a taste, and I will not charge you with sin for wanting more.
I am bringing together prophets, intercessors, apostles, judges, and more, so that they can share together. These will be the groaners, those who will not be satisfied chatting. They have a big plate and I have filled it for them. They are ready to serve. Oh what a feast I am preparing for those who will come. Amen.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
slaves of righteousness
Slaves of Righteousness
8-3-08
You have heard you are a servant, and a friend, but also a slave of obedience, which leads to righteousness (Rm 6:16). What is the difference between how a servant is treated, and how a slave is treated? And what is the difference between their service?
A servant’s master has regard for his life, making provision to sustain him while under service to the master. A good master will seek to better his servants who will, in turn, improve their service to him. And a servant is free. A slave has a harsher life, with an emphasis on performance. There is no freedom of choice, and no chance to better his life. Though some masters may be kind, or better their slave’s life, still the master owns the slave and determines the course of his life with a focus on what he, the master, can be benefited by.
In regards to sin, a person is a slave to whatever they are mastered by (Rm 6:16 &2 Pet 2:19). The master, sin, seeks a certain performance from those under its bondage. There is an obedience to the promptings of sin on the part of the slave, and thereby the slave cannot be free from the expectation of his master.
Righteousness is also something that a person obeys, coming under the slavery to its promptings. Neither sin, nor righteousness is something that can be reasoned with or put off. They are not in the category of friendship, in which a person would discuss the topic and gather information, making a decision later; nor are they in the category of servanthood, where a person would think on what is the best outcome for his master and how to best accomplish it with the skills he had acquired. Rather, obedience to sin and obedience to righteousness are choices, and the ensuing actions reflect those choices. The behavior of sin is its fruit, just as the behavior of righteousness is its fruit.
One of the hallmarks of slavery is punishment for disobedience. The master will deal severely with any deviation from his will. For the Master’s first course of action against sin, God has placed the punishment of unrighteousness in the slave’s hands. For one whose obedience to righteousness is accomplished, that one will punish his own disobedience (2 Cor 10:6). He will recognize the promptings of evil that come to his mind to seduce him to follow the steps to sin; evil desire, sin and then death (Jms 1:19). It is another master that seeks to draw the slaves of righteousness into sin by the thoughts of evil desire he brings (see 2 Cor 10:3-5 for our course of action against him). Those who are obedient to the Master who leads to righteousness, His thoughts being righteous, will fight the good fight, pulling down evil desires. His actions will bear the fruit of righteousness. He will not reason with the evil thoughts or consider in his mind which master to serve, for his success lies in the singleness of mind in which he serves righteousness. His obedience is complete, and he will catch any slip in his obedience, meeting it with repentance and restoration to obedience to the One he serves.
One who is unsuccessful in serving righteousness has not recognized the slave-relationship he is under. He reasons with the promptings to sin because he is familiar with his evil desire, and has not caused it to submit to the Word of God, his Master. Therefore he cannot be complete in obedience to righteousness. In time the first course of action, self-correction, will eventually give way to the second course of action; correction under God’s hand. This is more painful, but leads to righteousness (Heb 12:11). Yet a slave can be embittered under painful correction if he does not become conformed to the will of the Master Whose concern is for righteousness.
We serve a God who is good, Who has given us all things that we need for life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3). In asking us to become slaves of righteousness He is not asking us to do something impossible, for He has made provision for us. We need only to recognize that He has set before us a choice of whom to obey, and the ability to become more like His nature each time we obey righteousness. It is a battle of the mind, this act of choosing, but a battle worth winning, rendering our thoughts obedient to the One who can make us righteous. Amen.
8-3-08
You have heard you are a servant, and a friend, but also a slave of obedience, which leads to righteousness (Rm 6:16). What is the difference between how a servant is treated, and how a slave is treated? And what is the difference between their service?
A servant’s master has regard for his life, making provision to sustain him while under service to the master. A good master will seek to better his servants who will, in turn, improve their service to him. And a servant is free. A slave has a harsher life, with an emphasis on performance. There is no freedom of choice, and no chance to better his life. Though some masters may be kind, or better their slave’s life, still the master owns the slave and determines the course of his life with a focus on what he, the master, can be benefited by.
In regards to sin, a person is a slave to whatever they are mastered by (Rm 6:16 &2 Pet 2:19). The master, sin, seeks a certain performance from those under its bondage. There is an obedience to the promptings of sin on the part of the slave, and thereby the slave cannot be free from the expectation of his master.
Righteousness is also something that a person obeys, coming under the slavery to its promptings. Neither sin, nor righteousness is something that can be reasoned with or put off. They are not in the category of friendship, in which a person would discuss the topic and gather information, making a decision later; nor are they in the category of servanthood, where a person would think on what is the best outcome for his master and how to best accomplish it with the skills he had acquired. Rather, obedience to sin and obedience to righteousness are choices, and the ensuing actions reflect those choices. The behavior of sin is its fruit, just as the behavior of righteousness is its fruit.
One of the hallmarks of slavery is punishment for disobedience. The master will deal severely with any deviation from his will. For the Master’s first course of action against sin, God has placed the punishment of unrighteousness in the slave’s hands. For one whose obedience to righteousness is accomplished, that one will punish his own disobedience (2 Cor 10:6). He will recognize the promptings of evil that come to his mind to seduce him to follow the steps to sin; evil desire, sin and then death (Jms 1:19). It is another master that seeks to draw the slaves of righteousness into sin by the thoughts of evil desire he brings (see 2 Cor 10:3-5 for our course of action against him). Those who are obedient to the Master who leads to righteousness, His thoughts being righteous, will fight the good fight, pulling down evil desires. His actions will bear the fruit of righteousness. He will not reason with the evil thoughts or consider in his mind which master to serve, for his success lies in the singleness of mind in which he serves righteousness. His obedience is complete, and he will catch any slip in his obedience, meeting it with repentance and restoration to obedience to the One he serves.
One who is unsuccessful in serving righteousness has not recognized the slave-relationship he is under. He reasons with the promptings to sin because he is familiar with his evil desire, and has not caused it to submit to the Word of God, his Master. Therefore he cannot be complete in obedience to righteousness. In time the first course of action, self-correction, will eventually give way to the second course of action; correction under God’s hand. This is more painful, but leads to righteousness (Heb 12:11). Yet a slave can be embittered under painful correction if he does not become conformed to the will of the Master Whose concern is for righteousness.
We serve a God who is good, Who has given us all things that we need for life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3). In asking us to become slaves of righteousness He is not asking us to do something impossible, for He has made provision for us. We need only to recognize that He has set before us a choice of whom to obey, and the ability to become more like His nature each time we obey righteousness. It is a battle of the mind, this act of choosing, but a battle worth winning, rendering our thoughts obedient to the One who can make us righteous. Amen.
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