So many attacks and battles. So many things and people falling apart and falling away around me. Even many of the things I have built in my own life and the lives of those around me are seemingly falling apart. So many questions, so many tears. Things I know may never be repaired, answers I may never have this side of eternity. I feel like the injured runner who needs someone to come alongside me, lift me up and help me finish the race. But instead I see the backs of another pair of shoes as they walk away offended by the sound of the alarm.
But, I know I must get up, we must get up!- for greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world!
Yes, the shaking is in full swing- " in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.-(Hebrews 12:27)". We are being pressed on all sides as Paul says-but "this light momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison."(2 Corinthians 4)
I know I am not alone. I know many of us feel this pain. It is a grieving we have been given for the perishing. We know time is accelerating. We sense it, we feel it.
That is why it hurts so much: To be given a message to share with the body of Christ-for the building up of the church, a message that is not heeded. So they may be strengthened to handle the difficult journey ahead. So that they may equip the saints, that the saints may help the lost to the loving salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ. But many of our churches don't believe or don't want to hear the warning. And how can they prepare when their is no warning? How do they heed the warning when they won't listen?
I know I am not alone. I know many of us feel this pain. It is a grieving we have been given for the perishing. We know time is accelerating. We sense it, we feel it.
That is why it hurts so much: To be given a message to share with the body of Christ-for the building up of the church, a message that is not heeded. So they may be strengthened to handle the difficult journey ahead. So that they may equip the saints, that the saints may help the lost to the loving salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ. But many of our churches don't believe or don't want to hear the warning. And how can they prepare when their is no warning? How do they heed the warning when they won't listen?
I have experienced this personally. It breaks my heart- To have a revelation or a word of knowledge that must be shared with the body and be ignored or dismissed. Some do not believe many spiritual gifts exist today- especially the "spiritual " ones. Ha-haha! Yeah, it makes absolutely no sense! Never mind it's laid out plainly for us in 1 Corinthians 12 (specifically) in the New Testament. So I suppose it's no surprise to have so many 'doctrines'. Some don't believe there is a distinction between what we commonly call the rapture and the second coming of Christ. Some think we are already in the tribulation. Some think we are in the millennial reign. And truthfully without the Lord opening our eyes and ears we wouldn't know the hour either. I don't take that lightly- for it is He who opens the hearts of men!
But there is a serious dysfunction in the original, biblical order of church, there has been for a long time. No, many do not follow the order written out for us in 1 Corinthians 14 (12-14), or adhere to the structure laid out for us in Ephesians 4, or even the flow of grace spoken of in Romans 12. They reject the gift of revelation(verse 26), among others. But the Word tells us plainly in Proverbs: "Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.". They say to us: "I have no need of you."(1 Corinthians 12). Why? Because we are a foot or some part of the body that seems dispensable perhaps. But Paul writes by the Spirit: "But God so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored all rejoice together." (1 Corinthians 12:24-26). Yes, the Word of God is so amazing and powerful! Given to us so that we may know how to live, even after the fall. Imagine how much we could've done in the Lord as His church had we just stuck to His instructions, following after His ways... Still He is merciful and gracious to us all. For we all fall short of His glory-daily! Even as our brothers and sisters cast us out because of whatever reasons, we too should show mercy and grace. Jesus encouraged us in the sermon on the mount when He said: "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11).
But there is a serious dysfunction in the original, biblical order of church, there has been for a long time. No, many do not follow the order written out for us in 1 Corinthians 14 (12-14), or adhere to the structure laid out for us in Ephesians 4, or even the flow of grace spoken of in Romans 12. They reject the gift of revelation(verse 26), among others. But the Word tells us plainly in Proverbs: "Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.". They say to us: "I have no need of you."(1 Corinthians 12). Why? Because we are a foot or some part of the body that seems dispensable perhaps. But Paul writes by the Spirit: "But God so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored all rejoice together." (1 Corinthians 12:24-26). Yes, the Word of God is so amazing and powerful! Given to us so that we may know how to live, even after the fall. Imagine how much we could've done in the Lord as His church had we just stuck to His instructions, following after His ways... Still He is merciful and gracious to us all. For we all fall short of His glory-daily! Even as our brothers and sisters cast us out because of whatever reasons, we too should show mercy and grace. Jesus encouraged us in the sermon on the mount when He said: "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11).
Personally, if an unbeliever 'utters evil" against me it doesn't hurt as much. In fact I remember the last time I was offended. In 2008, my husband and I began our music/arts ministry where we would literally be in the throes of the same music scene the Lord pulled us out of speaking of the love and salvation of Christ( a very short description actually). But during and after one of our first shows, there were some unpleasant moments. While I was welcoming, thanking folks and praising Jesus, a seemingly intoxicated man yelled out something to the effect of worshipping satan. I remember getting distracted by the heckling but it wasn't until after the show that I became upset and really sad. As we walked out of the building I saw someone had used the same chalk we brought to make the set list and tagged the outside wall profaning Jesus. I angrily told my husband and then began to cry in confusion. He took me aside and said " Why do you think we're here doing this? They don't know any better.". Then I understood. Yes, they didn't know any better. Just like we, before Christ, didn't know any better. But do we now?!
Yes, I believe we do.
So it's no wonder why it hurts so much to be persecuted by our own brethren. Yes, it hurts to be uncertain about who you can count on in the church. It's almost like it's programmed in us to not only need one another but need to know we can come to a brother or sister with anything and be admonished or encouraged, always with the purpose of being reconciled in relationship and everything pointing us back to our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. I'm not talking about perfection. But I do believe there is some measure of standard written in Scripture for us to know how to handle disagreement between brethren. Still, we live in a reality that is beginning to manifest itself in the physical.Yes, we are being refined in the highest level of heat. Why? To be found spotless before our Bridegroom, our King!!!!
A big instruction I received very early this year was to ask for discernment between being attacked and being refined. In fact it has become a prayer and perhaps we should all have daily. We are all at different places in our walk with the Lord but we are all (hopefully) allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us to be the faithful servant, the wise virgin- the readied bride!
It is the last hour and we must rend our hearts o the Lord! A rhema word the Lord gave me last Summer(2014) for the body of Christ came from Joel 2:12-17. It is a very detailed and specific instruction for the time we are in. You bet I shared it with our local church at the time! Sadly, apart from a few sisters, it was not heeded. But after wrestling with the outcome and asking the Lord "why?!" He humbled me and reminded me that I am not responsible or in charge of whether or not the message is received, I'm just a messenger. It is He and He alone who opens eyes and ears and awakens the hearts of men.
We must follow the Lord. He has us at different places, with different assignments. For those whose soul is still full of pain- this message is for you:
We must follow the Lord. He has us at different places, with different assignments. For those whose soul is still full of pain- this message is for you:
This is the time to rend our hearts to the Lord.
Rend: tear (something) into two or more pieces
The Lord has shifted my focus recently to the root of this ministry He entrusted me with in 2009- to tell the broken of His restoration.
I like many am still surrendering pain. What's more we all need to. Pain (be in spirit, soul or body) was not supposed to be carried by us. That is why the Lord Jesus carried our sorrows and bore our griefs.
All we have to do is rest in Him and surrender all!!
I like many am still surrendering pain. What's more we all need to. Pain (be in spirit, soul or body) was not supposed to be carried by us. That is why the Lord Jesus carried our sorrows and bore our griefs.
All we have to do is rest in Him and surrender all!!
I continue to write about The Great Deception and The Great Tribulation. Both are quickly approaching. Only the Lord knows exactly when. And His timing is perfect. Let's. submit to Him in all things and trust Him with everything. His ways are not our ways.
" All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word."
-Isaiah 66:2
Amen, Linda. I hear and understand the struggle. The Lord called me out of mainstream churches many times, and I have been completely out for over a year again ( and happy to still be called out.. though it's not easy having few to none like minded believers around) Anyway, I send my prayers that the Lord gives us all strength in these difficult times when people just don't even want to discern the truth.. It is hard. Jesus, fill, heal and strengthen us... Love and hug in Christ
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