"What is the way forward?" Over the last few years, I have heard that question asked many times. Some "ask" it in an attempt to avoid dealing with the spiritual reality of what God is doing in HIS Church and some ask it in all honesty because they have a certain sense that life in the Body of Christ is not going to be "business as usual" any more. They really do want to know because it is a question in their hearts.
That is a valid consideration when considering that what God may very well be doing in our midst is stripping down to it's bare essentials what we are accustomed to "knowing as church" but the real question is "What is God saying?"
We are living in a "day of preparation" for a move of God where Jesus takes His rightful place of exclusive preeminence in His Body, the Church (not an organization but the assembly of the saints on earth). We want to know the way forward but God want's us to prepare for the journey by stripping us down to the bare essentials that we will be able to carry with us on this path. He isn't, in many respects, giving us much information on where we are heading much like the children of Israel we only told that they were heading towards the promised land without a map of where they were physically going.
Surely the Israelites wondered about the same question "What is the way forward" but what God gave them instead of a road map was a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day to guide them in the way to where He was taking them. (being representative of Christ)
We want to know by our natures all the details before we embark on such a journey.
Jesus, when some asked Him where He lived, didn't give the men the address of where He was living. He merely responded to them, "Come and see." That set a right relationship between He and those men in that the only way they would find out where He was living was to "follow Him."
All over the scripture it is plain as day and so simple that a child can apprehend. "Follow Me."
Christ is the road map for us and has always been but we, in our insistence of being in control and our rebellion against that dependency upon the preeminence of Christ have always sought to know more than we needed to know in any particular day so we built roads to where we "thought" Christ should be heading rather than being satisfied with His daily directions and provision via the Holy Spirit.
Christ is our ONLY reality in this journey and there is no doubt that He is stripping down what is known as His Church to it's bare essentials leaving us with only one option. "To let Him lead us."
The reality of the answer to the question is "Today, if you hear my voice, follow Me..."
In many respects we have "been going around this mountain long enough." What is that mountain? The same thing it was to the Israelites that had been going around that mountain in the wilderness for so many years that they just -presumed- that they would do the same thing the next day as well.
It is would be fruitless to know the details of the way forward if we have not heard deep in our hearts the reality of the fact that we will be leaving what we are comfortable with behind.
When that reality hits the depth of our hearts, that there will be no turning back without God's displeasure and no other way forward apart from Christ, that reality will drive us into deeper communion with Christ than we have ever been in.
That is the way forward.
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Thursday, June 22, 2017
The "Papal Root"
There is an expression rumbling around in my spirit the last few weeks that I have never heard... "The Papal Root."
There are so many traditions, understandings and practices of even the modern day "church" that are rooted in essence to Rome. Over the last 40 years I have seen men of God and various groups attempt to remove those false traditions, understandings and practices and seem to succeed for a while only to see that a few years later those things have reappeared and established themselves - even in their own lives. They do not die easily. To me it has always been a mystery.
There is a plant here called "Blackberry Bush" and from just one plant an entire acre can eventually be filled with it. It grows prolifically to about 4 feet tall and branches out everywhere through it's root system - so thick that no one can pass through it. The branches have huge thorns and if one tries to pass through it the thorns catch onto the garment and soon the person cannot move away from it. They are trapped. They have to call for help for others to try and carefully remove the branches that have trapped them.
The other thing about the Blackberry root is that even if all the vine branches are cut to the ground and seemingly the plant is pulled up by the roots, the root goes so deep that it breaks off leaving a part of the root deep in the ground. Soon the Blackberry root is sprouting shoots and begins to take over the entire area again.
The only known way to permanently kill the Blackberry bush is to kill the root. But what exactly is the "root"?
The Papal root is the lie that a singular man has been appointed by God to rule over the Church as his sole authority and emmisary. It is the child of the fallen Church at Rome committing fornication with the "kings of the earth." The result was the Papal root - an Emperor (or sole authority) clothed in religious garments - a religious Empire. That root has branched out and, even though it has taken on different names and identities, that concept has elevated itself in almost all of what is known as "Christianity" till today.
The concept of a "singular pastor" in today's church follows it's lineage back to that "Papal root." There is nothing in the New Testament that remotely upholds that concept. The early church appointed elders (or more accurately recognized in the Holy Spirit those that were indeed elders in the faith.) Some of them had pastoral gifts. It was not a heirarchy of authority with one person at the top over all. It was all about common servanthood to the other believers with the resurrected Christ as the sole authority.
Now a little advice here for those who find themselves in the position above. Years ago working on an old house, I went around between the bushes and the back of the garage with my back to the bushes started working on something. Suddenly when I tried to move I realized that one of the branches of the bushes thorns had embedded in the back of my jacket. The more I turned and stretched to free myself the more other branches' thorns began to cling to me. I was soon completely unable to turn in any direction or to free myself. I was stuck! I had to wait and pray that another worker would come back to the jobsite to help me carefully get free. It was over an hour till someone came and helped me. The lesson in that is that if you are entangled in the blackberry branches, be very careful how you attempt to untangle yourself and if at all possible, get help from others you trust not to get entangled themselves.
ps the fruit of the Blackberry bush is very tasty and sweet despite the fact that it is a very agressive.... WEED.
There are so many traditions, understandings and practices of even the modern day "church" that are rooted in essence to Rome. Over the last 40 years I have seen men of God and various groups attempt to remove those false traditions, understandings and practices and seem to succeed for a while only to see that a few years later those things have reappeared and established themselves - even in their own lives. They do not die easily. To me it has always been a mystery.
There is a plant here called "Blackberry Bush" and from just one plant an entire acre can eventually be filled with it. It grows prolifically to about 4 feet tall and branches out everywhere through it's root system - so thick that no one can pass through it. The branches have huge thorns and if one tries to pass through it the thorns catch onto the garment and soon the person cannot move away from it. They are trapped. They have to call for help for others to try and carefully remove the branches that have trapped them.
The other thing about the Blackberry root is that even if all the vine branches are cut to the ground and seemingly the plant is pulled up by the roots, the root goes so deep that it breaks off leaving a part of the root deep in the ground. Soon the Blackberry root is sprouting shoots and begins to take over the entire area again.
The only known way to permanently kill the Blackberry bush is to kill the root. But what exactly is the "root"?
The Papal root is the lie that a singular man has been appointed by God to rule over the Church as his sole authority and emmisary. It is the child of the fallen Church at Rome committing fornication with the "kings of the earth." The result was the Papal root - an Emperor (or sole authority) clothed in religious garments - a religious Empire. That root has branched out and, even though it has taken on different names and identities, that concept has elevated itself in almost all of what is known as "Christianity" till today.
The concept of a "singular pastor" in today's church follows it's lineage back to that "Papal root." There is nothing in the New Testament that remotely upholds that concept. The early church appointed elders (or more accurately recognized in the Holy Spirit those that were indeed elders in the faith.) Some of them had pastoral gifts. It was not a heirarchy of authority with one person at the top over all. It was all about common servanthood to the other believers with the resurrected Christ as the sole authority.
Now a little advice here for those who find themselves in the position above. Years ago working on an old house, I went around between the bushes and the back of the garage with my back to the bushes started working on something. Suddenly when I tried to move I realized that one of the branches of the bushes thorns had embedded in the back of my jacket. The more I turned and stretched to free myself the more other branches' thorns began to cling to me. I was soon completely unable to turn in any direction or to free myself. I was stuck! I had to wait and pray that another worker would come back to the jobsite to help me carefully get free. It was over an hour till someone came and helped me. The lesson in that is that if you are entangled in the blackberry branches, be very careful how you attempt to untangle yourself and if at all possible, get help from others you trust not to get entangled themselves.
ps the fruit of the Blackberry bush is very tasty and sweet despite the fact that it is a very agressive.... WEED.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
LEARNING FROM THE BIRDS
Yesterday thousands upon thousands of birds flew in V-formations going south. There was almost a constant stream of them all day. They know that something is coming and their survival instincts tell them to flee from it to a place of safety. They know that Winter is coming.
We recognize the signs of natural times and seasons yet we fail to discern when signs are placed right in front of our eyes that the "season" we have lived in for decades is about to change. Why is it that we can understand the drastic changes that go on between summer and winter and yet cannot comprehend that our lives and the society we live in can undergo just as drastic a change.
We are in the "FALL" (or transition period) right now. The once pretty leaves of the trees that gave shelter and protection to the biirds are now dying and falling off leaving the tree trunks bare and naked (and hopefully ashamed). Winter is coming... we should not be spending time lamenting the bareness of the trees. We should especially not be spending time getting caught up in admiring the changes in the colors of the leaves before they die. We should be trusting our spiritual instincts and begin to send out the call, getting into formations and fleeing to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He alone has all the answers for the times we are living in.
If you don't know Jesus, now is a good time to get alone and pray to the Living God for mercy and unearned favor to change the direction of your heart. God has given us His all in His Son Jesus but we have to reach out to Him in faith and accept all He has for us.
We recognize the signs of natural times and seasons yet we fail to discern when signs are placed right in front of our eyes that the "season" we have lived in for decades is about to change. Why is it that we can understand the drastic changes that go on between summer and winter and yet cannot comprehend that our lives and the society we live in can undergo just as drastic a change.
We are in the "FALL" (or transition period) right now. The once pretty leaves of the trees that gave shelter and protection to the biirds are now dying and falling off leaving the tree trunks bare and naked (and hopefully ashamed). Winter is coming... we should not be spending time lamenting the bareness of the trees. We should especially not be spending time getting caught up in admiring the changes in the colors of the leaves before they die. We should be trusting our spiritual instincts and begin to send out the call, getting into formations and fleeing to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He alone has all the answers for the times we are living in.
If you don't know Jesus, now is a good time to get alone and pray to the Living God for mercy and unearned favor to change the direction of your heart. God has given us His all in His Son Jesus but we have to reach out to Him in faith and accept all He has for us.
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Naked And Unashamed
I once got a word from the LORD about the nonprofit religious corporate status of church and ministry organizations in the USA.
"The spear that you are leaning on will pierce your hand."
The sign of it's coming would seen manifesting in the Boy Scouts of America. (Bear in mind that this was many years ago and I had nothing to do with scouting at all.)
I see it as a warning that there are going to be changes in the relationship between government and the Church. That it is not so much that non-profit status it is an "evil" thing of itself but that it will be turned into a liability - a method of control - a demand for compromise.
Please understand that when I speak of the "Church" I am not refering to the outer garment of "organizations" that will perish with the using. Organization has it purposes but when it's purpose is fulfilled or it ceases to align with God's purposes it will be discarded. Instead of submitting to God's plan we ultimately try to preserve that which He has discarded by building images of the now discarded garment. Nothing more than historical monuments along the road that leads to the return of the Messiah.[*]
Some of the garments that God will discard along that path is our love for our country, our denomination and our racial/ethnic background. Those three are very difficult to give up because they form a major part of our identity in the flesh. But those three also form barriers, sometimes very subtle, between believers as well. They can be, if not always, spiritually blinding and binding. Giving them up to God is about as welcome in us and the world around us as much as we would welcome having all our teeth pulled. We only allow the dentist to have his way when we are driven to submit in pain or danger to our own health.
Everything that God is allowing in this country is designed for the benefit of the believers. To shake us loose from that which binds us in spirit. To shake us loose from that which is temporal and release in us that which is eternal. God built into man the desire to identify with Him but because of the fall of man we are left with emptiness that drives us to find other things to identify with. We are, in the flesh, naked and ashamed. God is asking us, "Are you willing to be naked and unashamed before Him and all men. To have your sole identity formed within you be that which is W-holy reserved for Him."
We cannot be clothed by God in holy garments while we are still wearing those that are passing away.
Does that mean that we abandon our country, denomination or race? NO! (unless God leads you to personally) "Be in the world but NOT a part of it." It is only then that God can use us in those arenas effectively because we no longer have anything to gain from them. Our identity is hidden in Christ.
[*] The Kingdom of God is always in motion even if that motion is stillness which is just the preparation for the next wave. On earth it manifests as waves or moves of the Holy Spirit. Our tendency is to idolize the wave we have been priviledged to ride and when it discipates (and it will) we idolize that wave not noticing that there are many more waves to come. Our attempts to recreate a wave only serve to interfere with the next wave coming.
"The spear that you are leaning on will pierce your hand."
The sign of it's coming would seen manifesting in the Boy Scouts of America. (Bear in mind that this was many years ago and I had nothing to do with scouting at all.)
I see it as a warning that there are going to be changes in the relationship between government and the Church. That it is not so much that non-profit status it is an "evil" thing of itself but that it will be turned into a liability - a method of control - a demand for compromise.
Please understand that when I speak of the "Church" I am not refering to the outer garment of "organizations" that will perish with the using. Organization has it purposes but when it's purpose is fulfilled or it ceases to align with God's purposes it will be discarded. Instead of submitting to God's plan we ultimately try to preserve that which He has discarded by building images of the now discarded garment. Nothing more than historical monuments along the road that leads to the return of the Messiah.[*]
Some of the garments that God will discard along that path is our love for our country, our denomination and our racial/ethnic background. Those three are very difficult to give up because they form a major part of our identity in the flesh. But those three also form barriers, sometimes very subtle, between believers as well. They can be, if not always, spiritually blinding and binding. Giving them up to God is about as welcome in us and the world around us as much as we would welcome having all our teeth pulled. We only allow the dentist to have his way when we are driven to submit in pain or danger to our own health.
Everything that God is allowing in this country is designed for the benefit of the believers. To shake us loose from that which binds us in spirit. To shake us loose from that which is temporal and release in us that which is eternal. God built into man the desire to identify with Him but because of the fall of man we are left with emptiness that drives us to find other things to identify with. We are, in the flesh, naked and ashamed. God is asking us, "Are you willing to be naked and unashamed before Him and all men. To have your sole identity formed within you be that which is W-holy reserved for Him."
We cannot be clothed by God in holy garments while we are still wearing those that are passing away.
Does that mean that we abandon our country, denomination or race? NO! (unless God leads you to personally) "Be in the world but NOT a part of it." It is only then that God can use us in those arenas effectively because we no longer have anything to gain from them. Our identity is hidden in Christ.
[*] The Kingdom of God is always in motion even if that motion is stillness which is just the preparation for the next wave. On earth it manifests as waves or moves of the Holy Spirit. Our tendency is to idolize the wave we have been priviledged to ride and when it discipates (and it will) we idolize that wave not noticing that there are many more waves to come. Our attempts to recreate a wave only serve to interfere with the next wave coming.
Saturday, June 11, 2016
The Sin Of The Church of America
Perhaps 40 years ago a move began in Christianity in this country. The inaccurate expression, "The Moral Majority" seemed to catch Christians on a political fire. It all seemed great for a while. The trouble is it was based on the erroneous concept that most Americans are moral beings. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." "There is not one righteous." There has never been a "Moral Majority" in this country.
In God's eyes it was a tremendous sin for us to promote the deception that if one is a "moral person" one is righteous before God. We know that is scripturally not true.When that movement promoted joining forces with the Republican party we never questioned it. If we were to look at the reality of that time, the "majority" of the Church leaders that spearheaded that effort were very wealthy men. Their financial inclinations and loyalties were already towards the Republican party.
Unfortunately when the vast majority of professing Christians placed their loyalty in the Party, it took away a certain amount of their loyalty to God. It also left the Democratic party almost entirely unguarded and without much Godly influence.It also alienated over half the population of this country in a way that was extremely divisive. The fuit of which we are living with today. It eventually gave an excuse for over half the population to not be open to the gospel because they are "Democrats." Are all Repulicans saved?
We have committed the sin of creating a hybrid entity that is in spirit at emnity with God. It has the appearnace of godliness but denies the power and authority of God. Oh the Republican party talks the talk but when in 40 years have we seen them walk the walk? From what is apparent, the party has influenced (and disarmed) the Christians spirtually more than Christians have influenced the party.
It is the same sin that caused some church leaders in the 3rd and 4th centuries to merge with the political power of Rome. The "Christianity that evolved out of that time is a hybrid Christianity. Having the appearance of godliness but lacking the power of the Holy Spirit.
Both parties are ruled by the powers and principalities of the air. By greed and the lust for ultimate power. They are the right and left hand of evil. The "Good cop" and the "Bad cop." Both have a mutual contract with unelected principalities and powers to imprison the people into another form of government.
That "government" is standing at the door...
"God's hand is not shortend at all that it cannot redeem."
but
"Make no mistake, Given the choice between the purity of His Church and the longevity of this nation, God WILL choose the purity of His Church."
I truly hope I am wrong but I do not see another president of the United States of America (at least not the USA or a president as we have know it)
FORNICATION WITH THE KINGS OF THE EARTH
It is not "Christianity" (in it's truest essence) that is the problem but the fact that in the first few centuries, some of the "bishops" of the gatherings committed fornication with the kings of the earth and merged a deviant "Christianity" with the power and consent of political government. That deal was cinched when Constantine was proclaimed "Head of the Church" (which was not the Church of Jesus the Messiah but a group that had fallen away from the Messiah in Spirit.) That false "church" "has the appearance of godliness but denies the power" of God Himself replacing that power with earthly political power and identity. (Replacing a relationship with God through the Messiah with a relaltionship to the politically created religious entity and identity.)
Instead of identifying with the Messiah (the Christ) they mearly took His name/title (the Christ) but were actually identifying with their own false image and earthly power. They traded the power of God for earthly power. That entity later had daughters who came out of her womb and committed fornication with the "kings of the earth" in the same way that their mother the Harlot had done. In that sense the name "Christianity" was hijacked and kidnapped. Those daughters birthed their own daughters and they birthed their own, etc. etc. etc. but the sin resident in their lineage of committing fornication with the kings of the earth is passed down generation to generation.
It is not Christianity itself but the organizational sin of fornication with the kings of the earth. That pattern of the Great Whore and her daughters replaced the missing Holy Spirit and the giftings of the Spirit with outward forms and positions (priests, "pastors (so called)," "bishops(so called)," etc.) Men created "church" identities and images solidified by the consent and authority of earthly governments. That trend has been passed down to "Christianity" even to this day - so much so that the inherited sin is viewed as righteousness.
"The day of denominationalism is over. That which is highly esteemed in the sight of men is an abomination to God."
But we need to be careful because God has always had a remnant in the midst of it all. "Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart." We need to be careful about pulling the weeds out and damaging the roots of the fruitful plants in the midst. God has times of harvest when the wheat and the weeds are harvested at the same time and He will separate the wheat from the weeds and the wheat from the stalk that supported it.
Monday, May 9, 2016
PRAYER: AMERICA NEEDS "A GREAT AWAKENING"
25 years ago I was living in a small town in Oregon where in the area racism was quite entrenched. Coming originally from Hawaii with it's mixed ethnic and racial culture, I really didn't have much of a clue as to all that.
I had a pastor/friend there and we used to joke around a little with each other. I called him one day but had to leave a message. I was going to say something funny but the strangest thing happened when instead of saying what I was going to I found myself saying, "My name is Katinka Motobu and I am from Nigeria. I am staying at the house of Paul Rapoza. The Lord has shown us to bring 400 African evangelists to come and aid the believers in your area and I would like to speak to you." I got off the phone and said to the Lord, "WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?" and "WHO is Katinka Motobu?"
I never heard from that pastor again and some months later we were warned to flee for our lives. Every once in a while I would remember that instance on the phone and being perplexed all over again I would ask the Lord, "Lord, Who is Katinka Motobu?" Probably a couple years after that happened, when I asked that question again, the words came to me, "Katinka Motobu is the spirit (or angel) of the Church at Nigeria." I didn't know exactly what He meant then but I do now over 20 years later.
The picture enclosed in this post is only a tiny glimpse of the work of the Holy Spirit through the "spirit" of the Church at Nigeria. Hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of small christian gatherings from miles and miles around all coming together for days in the Spirit of the unity of the whole Church once given to the early saints. Going from city to city and now spreading over many parts of Africa. Millions gathering together under the power of the Holy spirit with millions overall getting touched by God and being saved. Hundreds if not thousands being healed.
If we are going to pray and ask God for anything that is sufficient to save this nation, let us pray for this: A massive outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a "Great Awakening" the likes of which this country of 300+ million people (Christian or non-Christian) have ever seen.
"Without vision, the people perish." - Proverbs 29:18
Saturday, May 7, 2016
THE COMING STORM IS NOW COMING SOON!
It is with a heavy heart that I repost this but it is apparent to me that I have to and today. Other than Israel of old I cannot think of any nation or the Church within a nation that has been so thoroughly warned. If God has to chose between the purity of His Church and the life of a nation, He WILL choose the purity of His Church, even at the expense of our comfort.
DREAM: THE COMING STORM
Written Feb 20th 2014
Today, I found myself needing a rest in my heart and mind from things so I lay down on the couch for a "few minutes" and found myself in a state where I was neither awake or asleep. I had this very long dream unfold where I was trying to get into someone else's basement because I was aware that a "tornado" was coming because the sky had gotten very dark and ominous. Apparently the house had been abandoned because I got into the house very easily.
While I was pounding on the door of that basement to get to safety, I discerned that there was somebody down there but they wouldn't respond or let me in. I forced my way in and found I had interrupted a man who had kidnapped an older middle aged Asian woman and was attempting to rape her in that basement. Just as I was about to intervene, the storm and it's destruction came and I quickly pulled the woman into a small space in the basement for safety. The only thing I was aware of was the darkness, the incredibly loud noise of houses being destroyed and the sense of the fearful power of that storm.... When the storm seemed to have passed and we went out from that small space, the man had been pierced through with debris and was dead. The entire house had been destroyed.
We went out and saw devastation everywhere for miles and miles as we walked to find an area that was not devastated. Most of the dream (over an hour) was walking and seeing endless miles and miles of the devastation. If it was a "tornado," it was like no tornado on earth...
While we were walking, it became apparent that those who had survived the storm, (and there didn't seem to be many) had become desperate in their quest to survive to the point where they were acting like packs of animals. They were roaming about in the miles of devastation raping, murdering and stealing at will. Even from each other. They seemed to bear the same character as the man in the basement. Even though they were committing evil, they had no sense of remorse. It was like they expected their victims to submit to their evil as though they were somehow justified in what they were doing.
The woman had apparently suffered some kind of trauma earlier in her life and she could not speak as a result of that trauma. That is also why she could not call out when I was banging at the door of that basement in the beginning. Even though she had suffered trauma earlier in life, which I suspected was rape, she had an abiding air of purity to her and I had a deep sense that I needed to be her protector and reassure her of the purity of my intentions to do so.
Apparently we were walking to the place where the woman lived and when we finally got there, to my surprise, the house was completely intact. I asked her, "This is your home?" and she lowered her head like someone in shame. Discerning the situation, I then said to her, "You are a slave in this house?" She nodded yes. She had been a slave in that house all her life... It didn't seem like anybody was there but she insisted upon staying there despite the danger of the roving gangs finding her so I reluctantly went off to find my children...
Then I slid out of the dream completely rested and in a wonderful sense of peace. Ironically(?) my facebook news-feed was still on and when I went to the computer, there was a short post from an acquaintance who mentioned that he was having spiritual dreams of a very destructive tsunami... The thought went through my mind and heart, "Pay Attention!"
Several hours later, I had some insights come to me even though I wasn't especially looking for it.
-That the massive destructive storm was financial in nature and more devastating than anyone can even conceive of.
-The Asian woman was those people who live in a communist dominated Asian country (or countries) that had (have) suffered greatly during the communist takeover of their country and had been made to be silent and serve the communist agenda that has ruled their country all these years.
-Her purity is found in the believers in the Lord Jesus (the church) among them that has been purified through the fires of suffering and persecution.
-The rapist was trying to gain control of her and get her to submit to what he wanted from her.
-His terrible death was the judgement of God.
-Both the rapist and the gangs of lawless men are those who control the finances of the world through their wealth and power, so much so that some of them survive the financial destruction of the "storm."
-Their self-serving nature will no longer be subject to any form of conscience towards others.
Monday, April 4, 2016
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Years ago I had the pleasure and priviledge to observe something for about 6 months. We were back in Hawaii for 3 years living in an apartment building that was once housing for farm workers about 2 miles off the highway near some farms. In between two apartment buildings was some grass that a young lady kept her sheep fenced in. She loved her sheep.
One day a neighbor was hunting pigs nearby and his hunting "dog" (that was half wolf) got wind of those sheep while we were all gone and jumped over the fence and attacked them before his owner got him under control. When we came back those sheep were laying out in the grass with severe wounds. Some had gouges chewed out of them 2-3 inches in diameter and over 1/2 an inch deep. It didn't look good for them to live. The vet told her to put them down but she just couldn't do that to her sheep.
I watched that young lady nurse those sheep for quite a few months before enough growth was able to cover over those huge gapping gouges. Every day putting new dressing on them and trying to win the battle over the flies that would congregate around the wounds. Finally though they were all healed. It was slow and arduous progress.
The apartments faced that grassy area and their decks were about 6 feet off the ground. One day I was out in the parking lot (also facing that fenced in grass and the sheep) while fixing a car early in the morning I witnessed something that was utterly precious. The sheep were in there eating grass as usual but every minute or so they would all stop and stare the deck in front of that young lady's apartment. She hadn't woken up yet. This went on for over a half an hour every minute or so.
Suddenly, the young lady came out of her apartment and surveyed her sheep from the railing of the deck. I saw something amazing. From the second she stepped out on the deck those sheep stood motionless for quite a while staring at her in what appeared to be utter admiration for their shepherd, their healer, their protector. It was like they were in awe (and so was I) locked into their gaze of her appearance on the deck. It was as though they worshipped her and lived for her appearing every morning on that deck.
I couldn't help but equate what I saw to Jesus and His sheep. He will never leave or forsake us. He will never abandon us no matter how wounded we are or what it takes for us to be healed - even if others give up on us. And we should be watching and patiently waiting for His appearing and awestruck at even a glimpse of Him. The whole experience was such a wonderful picture of the Good Shepherd.
Now this was a beautiful picture of spiritual reality but I have to be honest and also mention that quite some time later, there came a day when this precious young lady had to move elsewhere and had to turn over her sheep to the care of another. That must have been really hard for her.
Now if you were God and you had some human "sheep," what kind of a shepherd would you pick to take care of them?
Well I better end this story but I should tell you that a few years later, at about 19 years of age, God called her to a mission field in a South American country where she has been ever since, working with young people and adult villagers. (over 15 years now)
I hate to even tell you how many times in my life I have given up on people only to have the LORD later prove me utterly wrong. He never gives up on us. That is a lesson each and every one of us should consider every day.
"Christ died for ALL sin, for ALL mankind, for ALL time."
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Willing To Ask? To Truly Hear The Answer?
 |
| © 2013 - 2016 ClipArt Best (altered by PDR) |
I haven't written anything for some time now while focusing on other edeavors but I was reminded of something this morning. May you be blessed in the reading of this in Jesus name.
Years ago I had found a severely fire-damaged house and purchased it with the intent of restoring it. A dear friend of mine and brother in the LORD had decided to help me by financing the restoration of if in which I would do the work.
One day he, some other brothers and I were meeting in a restaurant discussing this investment and the brother asked me what would seem like a normal question. He asked me, "What do you want out of this house?"
For some strange reason, when I tried to answer that, I found very powerful emotions rise up inside me so much that before I could speak even a word, I would break out in uncontrollable tears to the point of having to fight back the urge to break into deep sobs. Each time I collected myself, I would try to answer and the same overpowering emotions would overwhelm me. This went on for perhaps five minutes and it was a mystery to me and them. (and quite embarassing)
I finally managed to collect myself and gave an "answer" but it was not one from my heart. What was really wanting to come out from my heart was, "Nobody has ever asked me that." but in the context of our fellowship that didn't make any natural sense.
I pondered this for several days as I was left with two things:
1) A question - "What do you want out of this house?"
2) An answer accompanied by deep emotions - "Nobody has ever asked me that."
To understand my true answer to that question, one would have to understand the background. Over the prior perhaps 30 years we had moved many, many times and lived in many dwellings of all kinds. We have never really had a "certain dwelling place" for very long in our lives. (ie for many years)
When I found the house I would have to say that despite that fact that it was severely fire-damaged, I was notably drawn to it. I saw it as our home not just another house. A "certain dwelling place" for me and my family.
Circumstances were, however, that I couldn't finish it by myself so we had decided we would have to sell it after it was restored. That was our agreement with my friend the investor so when he asked the question I felt hindered from saying what was really on my heart. (I didn't realize that at the time.)
Now I have got to say here that brother loved me and I'm sure he would have had no problem with me expressing my inner desires at all. I am firmly convinced he wanted nothing but God's best for me so what was this all really about?
I have many more times than once lived in circumstances that God orchestrated to reflect something that He was saying. This was what I was left with in this instance.
We are all "investing" in building God's house which is in all actuallity consists of human beings touched by His Spirit and saved by the shed blood of His Son. God's house on earth is not a physical building, a collection of organizations or even a collection of ideologies and imperfect understandings.
We are all eager to "invest" in restoring it but have we truly ever asked Jesus what He wants out of this "house" and what would be his answer if we were even remotely willing to hear it? Are we really investing in it only for the one who will rightfully occupy it or are we inwardly working towards our own gain?
Throughout the history of the Spirit of God's revealing of Jesus to human beings, that movement and work of the Holy Spirit has moved from "house to house" and over the centuries has not had a "certain dwelling place" (external) that anyone who is truly honest can point to. (there is a long list of organizations who would claim they have always been the ones but by and large the Spirit of God has moved on to where there is greater openness. He always has.)
This is especially true since the inception of what is called "the Reformation" which is an ongoing thing and at no point since can we point to anything along the way and say "It is finished!"
The Spirit of God moves on when we reach a point when we are unwilling to hear the answer of Jesus to the question of "What do you want out of this house." I dare say that in all reality we have never truly asked that question of Him in totality without reservations. I'm not ever sure if we are totally capable of hearing His complete answer.
Part of that answer is that ALL external houses (organizations and movements) that Jesus has resided in over the entire history of "The Church" are nothing more than temporary dwellings.
Even though there has been movement from house to house over the centuries, Jesus is building His house out of human beings who have followed him. They are chosen and faithful. That is the house He is building.
The other part of that answer is that it has been a long time and a long history of moving from external house to external house. Jesus is longing to be with his WHOLE family in one place. That longing has been growing for centuries.
His answer: "I want a CERTAIN, PERMANENT dwelling place for Me and my family and I am coming back soon to live with them. No one will dare lay claim to them. They are mine."
Jesus has a very large family and the vast majority are now "asleep." He has all along been building a living, ever expanding building not made by human flesh. He is coming back to resurrect those that "sleep" and transform those yet alive to dwell with them forever.
Everything else is temporary....
The earth is being harvested by the sickle of choice. If any man or organization of men is laying claim to the people of God, henceforth let them fear the judgement of God to come.
Monday, January 18, 2016
OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS LIKE FILTHY RAGS
"The day of denominationalism is over. That which is highly esteemed in the sight of (religious) men is an abomination to God."
One night in 1980 I had this desire burning in me to stay up late to read the scriptures. As I was reading, it was like the Holy Spirit took over and suddenly I found myself opening the scriptures randomly and my eyes focused in the dim light of the oil lamp on the words, "To the Church at _____ (a locality)" then just as quickly I found myself opening the scriptures to yet another passage with the same words.... Over and over and over again until I had opened to every passage in the new testament with those words. I could not have possibly done so in the natural.
While this was going on the thought was burning inside me, "Lord, what does this mean?" "What are you saying?"
A Dream/Vision I also had In 1980...
In this dream/vision I was suddenly caught up very high in the air overlooking what appeared to be a subdivision of houses. The houses were all basically the same and were on both sides of a straight road. There were many, many of them. All of them had driveways that led to the road but I couldn't see where that road went to. Being a builder, I was somewhat impressed with all this.
I found myself observing this scene from high above for a time then just as suddenly as I had been caught up in the air, I found myself inside another huge house in the midst of a large crowd of believers worshiping God. I didn't recognize any of them but we were all caught up in the presence of God so much so that it was beyond anything I had ever experienced. I had been ushered into the presence of God many times before this in gatherings of believers but nothing anywhere near like this.
The presence of the Jesus was so powerful, so real, so permeating that if anyone had a question in their heart towards Him about something while they were worshiping , the answer was instantly revealed. As I looked around in awe at all this, a question came into my heart. "Where did all these people come from?" Instantly the words came into my mind,
"These are the ones that have come out of the houses you saw." (in the subdivision) [Note: I much later realized that this coming out was in our hearts]
I looked around in awe at the multitudes that were gathered in the presence of Jesus. He was there in the midst of it all. The gathering went as far as I could see. The house was like no house I had ever seen. God was the foundation and the floor. He was the very roof of the building. It was expandable for as many who would come to gather in His presence because the building had no walls. The foundation was laid on the earth but the roof was suspended from above so it didn't need any walls to hold it up. It was built by God and held together by Him and it was filled with the Glory of God Himself.
Then as quickly as I had been caught up, I was back from where I had been before the dream/vision.
The houses of men are built for the pride of men but the House of God in Jesus the Messiah is built for the glory of God Himself. There are no walls in His house. There is only the glory of God that fills those that believe from every nation on earth.
Is it possible that everything we are so proud of about "where we gather" and "who we gather with" named or unamed, that very thing to God is an abomination?
Even the Roman soldiers, when Christ was being crucified did not take a meat cleaver and chop HIS Body into pieces yet we think nothing of doing so ourselves.
Before this, I used to think that "ecuminical unity" was the unity that God desired but ecuminical unity is the upholding of the concept of the "subdivision." God's unity of the Holy Spirit is given to all believers in our hearts. The two are diametrically opposed to each other. In the one we endevour to create a unity but in the other the unity IS and we are commanded to maintain it.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
THE ARTIFICIAL OR THE REAL THING?
If we only knew how much mental and emotional manipulation goes on through music, TV, ads, internet, etc.... "1984" has been here since 1984. It's even imbedded in some of our modern "worship music." It all looks innoculous but it is all training the brain to respond to externally enhanced stimulation for a desired result. (especially visual stimulation...) It may be the government and corporations (maybe even some churches have fallen into it) but in reality our addiction to it is orchestrated by the "god of this world."
It is all built on the science that the brain through the eyes and ears stores far more information than what we consciously see or hear. A lot of actors today admit that they do not act the part. They "channel" the character they are "playing." That's why there is such an emotional element to movies and even cartoons today that hardly existed decades ago. Back "in the old days", while watching a movie, one pretty well knew it was only acting but today we are drawn into the movie or even cartoons as mental and emotional participants. I hate to say it but what we view on the internet, even yes Facebook, has that element to it. It is replacing normal thought and emotional patterns with artificial stimulation. We are becoming and thinking what we are being artificially stimulated with. We have artificial news, information, emotional and even spiritual stimulation. It's all designed to create a society that is controlled by artificial stimulation. Once established it makes for a very high degree of control of human beings.
If we were to actually think about it, a century ago, mankind did not have this volume of aritificial stimulation working on their thought processes. Children grew up with little or none of it. Adults lived their whole lives without it. Everything in life was real and tangible. They lived in a world where everything in it was touchable. They were in touch with the expression, "The real world." There was almost nothing about life that was artificial. Even their imaginations were fairly healthy. They imagined real things.
If we are aware of third world countries, children there are not imagining their latest digital input. They imagine things like "going to school" or a different life having the things they need. They are quite comfortable playing with a stick. Adults by and large imagine a better life. They are by far more focused on real things or real things that are at least tangible in their imaginations.
We have become slaves of the digital world and digital imagery input. Artificial sensory input and our memories and imaginations have been made captive to what is constantly injected into our minds with a volume and intensity that the world has never before known. That's why things like porn have become so prominent in society. It is artificial stimulation. It is not even remotely real. People's minds are tuned to the digital and artificial for satisfaction in life.
There's a spiritual element to much of all this. It kind of is reflected (for example) in the news people absorb. By and large the news media personel (that we see) are not "trying" to deceive us so much as they are already deceived themselves so become conduits of deception.. The bottom line is if we are filled with deception we become channels of deception. If we believe a lie we will pass it on to others. That is probably 90% of what is going on in the world around us politically, socially and even religiously.
Years ago, I use to tell people, "If you want to have visions from the Lord, TURN OFF YOUR TELEVISION!." Go on a fast from digital, video and audio input. You may find out (and very uncomfortably so) that you will be entering into an awareness of a battle for your own mind. Like a food fast, you will very likely find yourself craving for digital stimulation.
If I had the influence on church gatherings today in the west, I would encourage (and I do) that you turn off all the electricity at the gathering except necessary lights for safety. Do it for a month! You will quickly find out what is being orchestrated by the Holy Spirit and what is artificial stimulation. (and what is artificially induced "worship" and "annointing"). Unplug the band and all the fancy video presentations and maybe some if not most preachers need to unplug themselves for a while.
The "god of this world" (Satan) is saying "Let it go!. Don't resist." and Jesus is saying, "No! Submit your hearts to God, Resist the devil and Come to ME! I am the way, the Truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me."
It is all built on the science that the brain through the eyes and ears stores far more information than what we consciously see or hear. A lot of actors today admit that they do not act the part. They "channel" the character they are "playing." That's why there is such an emotional element to movies and even cartoons today that hardly existed decades ago. Back "in the old days", while watching a movie, one pretty well knew it was only acting but today we are drawn into the movie or even cartoons as mental and emotional participants. I hate to say it but what we view on the internet, even yes Facebook, has that element to it. It is replacing normal thought and emotional patterns with artificial stimulation. We are becoming and thinking what we are being artificially stimulated with. We have artificial news, information, emotional and even spiritual stimulation. It's all designed to create a society that is controlled by artificial stimulation. Once established it makes for a very high degree of control of human beings.
If we were to actually think about it, a century ago, mankind did not have this volume of aritificial stimulation working on their thought processes. Children grew up with little or none of it. Adults lived their whole lives without it. Everything in life was real and tangible. They lived in a world where everything in it was touchable. They were in touch with the expression, "The real world." There was almost nothing about life that was artificial. Even their imaginations were fairly healthy. They imagined real things.
If we are aware of third world countries, children there are not imagining their latest digital input. They imagine things like "going to school" or a different life having the things they need. They are quite comfortable playing with a stick. Adults by and large imagine a better life. They are by far more focused on real things or real things that are at least tangible in their imaginations.
We have become slaves of the digital world and digital imagery input. Artificial sensory input and our memories and imaginations have been made captive to what is constantly injected into our minds with a volume and intensity that the world has never before known. That's why things like porn have become so prominent in society. It is artificial stimulation. It is not even remotely real. People's minds are tuned to the digital and artificial for satisfaction in life.
There's a spiritual element to much of all this. It kind of is reflected (for example) in the news people absorb. By and large the news media personel (that we see) are not "trying" to deceive us so much as they are already deceived themselves so become conduits of deception.. The bottom line is if we are filled with deception we become channels of deception. If we believe a lie we will pass it on to others. That is probably 90% of what is going on in the world around us politically, socially and even religiously.
Years ago, I use to tell people, "If you want to have visions from the Lord, TURN OFF YOUR TELEVISION!." Go on a fast from digital, video and audio input. You may find out (and very uncomfortably so) that you will be entering into an awareness of a battle for your own mind. Like a food fast, you will very likely find yourself craving for digital stimulation.
If I had the influence on church gatherings today in the west, I would encourage (and I do) that you turn off all the electricity at the gathering except necessary lights for safety. Do it for a month! You will quickly find out what is being orchestrated by the Holy Spirit and what is artificial stimulation. (and what is artificially induced "worship" and "annointing"). Unplug the band and all the fancy video presentations and maybe some if not most preachers need to unplug themselves for a while.
The "god of this world" (Satan) is saying "Let it go!. Don't resist." and Jesus is saying, "No! Submit your hearts to God, Resist the devil and Come to ME! I am the way, the Truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me."
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
I Once Had A Dream
I once had a dream that as I understand it, the outward form of what is known as the church fell into a bottomless chasm leaving us totally reliant on the pure light of Jesus to carry us across that chasm. That day the Lord spoke a confirming sign: That the doors to Russia were going to open... But someday they would close as quickly as they had opened. That was in 1987. In 1991 or 1992 the doors to what was formerly the USSR suddenly opened to everyone's shock. I'm not much of a betting man but the relationship between the USA and Russia has of late relatively soured and that door is being prepared to slam in the face of the USA.
If my understanding of all this holds true (we see in part and know in part), the non-profit corporation that the "church" has been leaning on is about to pierce our hand. It will either not exist or we will be forced to choose between keeping it and denying God or following Him and letting it go. My sense from another vision is that the decision to hold on or to let it go will not have any in-betweens but comes with serious eternal reprocussions. It will be like a fire that will force us to one side or the other.
I am not by any means saying that we should at this time abandon the outward form and the non-profit status but rather to be very vigilant in the coming times and allow God to teach us how to do without it. We do need to recognize though that it will be God allowing these things to prepare us for the 2nd coming of the Messiah. That is very important so we can keep our discernment sharp. If we are all bent out of shape and blaming governments, political parties, Muslims or even other "churches" we will not see the day of our visitation coming. It is in spirit much like 9/11. A few saw it for the warning to this nation that it was (God's hand lifted for a second) and unfortunately many were found (and still are) blaming scapegoats to avoid the conviction and have totally missed the warning of the LORD at that time..
There is something we need to understand about God's ways. If it comes down to it He WILL sacrifice a nation to accomplish the purity of His Church. If we don't understand that we will stumble. Jesus is not coming back for a Church that looks like it just got chopped up at a butcher shop. He is going to have His way with His Church and our flesh is NOT going to like that one bit.
The Church is going to enter into this time of refinement as a huge ocean pleasure cruise liner with lots of room for passengers but it is going to come out of this time we are entering into as a sleek, much smaller fighting ship and everyone on it will be a functioning part of it's crew.
Monday, September 7, 2015
The Basis of Marriage and the Church
This is not perfect but then we should never presume anything written as perfect except the scriptures. Please consider this in that light. I did not really feel comfortable altering it from the way it came out. Also as the the last section on "marriage", let it not be abused and taken as license to sin....
"My sheep hear my voice and they follow me."
A brother and I were praying in the spirit one day in an old fire damaged house I had bought back in 2002 when suddenly there appeared a line of fire between us. It was forcing us to choose what side of the fire we were going to be on and then it got so big that there was no way to jump over it. Then the vision was over.
I worked on that fire damaged house for four long hard years and by using older materials from houses that had been torn down and some new material was able to not only restore it but it was the most beautiful structurally stable house in the neighborhood inspiring many others to improve their houses.
But the cost of restoring the house became so great that My wife and I struggled to make the payments to the bank and though we lived in it about 5 years, we finally had to put it up for sale for far less than it was worth.
When we walked out of that house after it was bought by two homosexuals all we had left was enough to start over. So for all my hard labor to build that house, the house was then occupied by what I detested (not the people themselves).
He who has ears to hear let him hear...
I didn't understand how God was using all this prophetically. I just lived through it and He formed the situation. The external "houses of God" and country that we have built after 9/11's warning from God went unheeded by both the country and the church as a whole is about to be divided between the profane and the holy.
I do know that "the spear that we are leaning on is going to peirce our hand." with sorrows. That the decisions that He is going to bring us to will also force us to choose between the "houses of God" built by men and the "HOUSE OF GOD" He is building in Spirit.
Years ago the LORD showed me that the non-profit status in relationsionship to the government of churches and ministries was going to change dramatically and that those who were not willing to "compromise" with the "fire" he was going to allow would not retain that status and that the boy scouts of America would be the first one to fall by either compromising or losing their NP status by standing against an immoral and unlawful demand.. At the time decades ago I didn't know what that would be.
According to law a non-profits disolution [disolving] ] (funds, building, etc) has to go to another NP corporation. Many will not be willing to count that cost as true gain.
But the beauty of all this was that the True church connected by the Spirit would rise up in that day and be seen in it's true form and glory.
But then knowing that eventuality, why are we so relying upon political influence and power? What is wrong with us that we embrace something that should not even once be named among us. Our connection to the government is the very thing that allows us to divide endlessly into 10's of thousands of legal independent identities - something that is no different than the world system we now live in.
So that being said brings up an important point:
Are we married when we have a "ceremony" saying so or the government says so or is it the decision to come together as one as God designed even in our physical beings to be outfitted and honored not for our external status with the world or even our status with an external church that itself is living in adultery with it's own governments but rather our faithfulness to live out our lives together unto death.
Then much more so should the CHURCH and those of us who believe rely upon our status with HIM and faithfulness to HIM unto death and NOT our status with the government or even the external religious form of the church?
When JESUS died upon the cross and shed HIS blood, HE said, "IT IS FINISHED!" HE set indelibly the relationship between His church and Himself forever. No ceremonial or legal status can ever "further" or deny what he has done. We are saved solely by faith in the shed blood of Jesus and His Promise (or binding betrothal) that He will keep His word to us.
So if a marriage is not determined by ceremony or legal governmental status but by faithfulness to one's promise unto death, so it is with God's Church.
"My sheep hear my voice and they follow me."
A brother and I were praying in the spirit one day in an old fire damaged house I had bought back in 2002 when suddenly there appeared a line of fire between us. It was forcing us to choose what side of the fire we were going to be on and then it got so big that there was no way to jump over it. Then the vision was over.
I worked on that fire damaged house for four long hard years and by using older materials from houses that had been torn down and some new material was able to not only restore it but it was the most beautiful structurally stable house in the neighborhood inspiring many others to improve their houses.
But the cost of restoring the house became so great that My wife and I struggled to make the payments to the bank and though we lived in it about 5 years, we finally had to put it up for sale for far less than it was worth.
When we walked out of that house after it was bought by two homosexuals all we had left was enough to start over. So for all my hard labor to build that house, the house was then occupied by what I detested (not the people themselves).
He who has ears to hear let him hear...
I didn't understand how God was using all this prophetically. I just lived through it and He formed the situation. The external "houses of God" and country that we have built after 9/11's warning from God went unheeded by both the country and the church as a whole is about to be divided between the profane and the holy.
I do know that "the spear that we are leaning on is going to peirce our hand." with sorrows. That the decisions that He is going to bring us to will also force us to choose between the "houses of God" built by men and the "HOUSE OF GOD" He is building in Spirit.
Years ago the LORD showed me that the non-profit status in relationsionship to the government of churches and ministries was going to change dramatically and that those who were not willing to "compromise" with the "fire" he was going to allow would not retain that status and that the boy scouts of America would be the first one to fall by either compromising or losing their NP status by standing against an immoral and unlawful demand.. At the time decades ago I didn't know what that would be.
According to law a non-profits disolution [disolving] ] (funds, building, etc) has to go to another NP corporation. Many will not be willing to count that cost as true gain.
But the beauty of all this was that the True church connected by the Spirit would rise up in that day and be seen in it's true form and glory.
But then knowing that eventuality, why are we so relying upon political influence and power? What is wrong with us that we embrace something that should not even once be named among us. Our connection to the government is the very thing that allows us to divide endlessly into 10's of thousands of legal independent identities - something that is no different than the world system we now live in.
So that being said brings up an important point:
Are we married when we have a "ceremony" saying so or the government says so or is it the decision to come together as one as God designed even in our physical beings to be outfitted and honored not for our external status with the world or even our status with an external church that itself is living in adultery with it's own governments but rather our faithfulness to live out our lives together unto death.
Then much more so should the CHURCH and those of us who believe rely upon our status with HIM and faithfulness to HIM unto death and NOT our status with the government or even the external religious form of the church?
When JESUS died upon the cross and shed HIS blood, HE said, "IT IS FINISHED!" HE set indelibly the relationship between His church and Himself forever. No ceremonial or legal status can ever "further" or deny what he has done. We are saved solely by faith in the shed blood of Jesus and His Promise (or binding betrothal) that He will keep His word to us.
So if a marriage is not determined by ceremony or legal governmental status but by faithfulness to one's promise unto death, so it is with God's Church.
Friday, August 7, 2015
The Ingathering Of The Sheep
One of the most beautiful animal things in nature I have ever seen happened years ago when we were living in the center of Oregon. It's sheep country and almost everyone who lives in that area has sheep. I used to do a lot of carpentry for a huge sheep ranch (30,000 acres) and one day the manager who was a friend of mine told me to come with him to see something.
Mitchell is known for it's hills and highlands with a few canyon-like lowlands.
My friend pointed my attention to a hillside which is actually the edge of a highland. As a watched for a while the most amazing thing I have ever seen animal-wise in my life happened. The side of that very long hill suddenly was becoming covered with sheep coming over the top and down into the lowland. Over 3000 of them. All at once together decending the steep side of the canyon. It was like a wave of sheep decending until the whole side of the hill was alive and moving. I can't even begin to describe the suddeness or the beauty of it or how massive it was.
Sheep are wonderful creatures. Unless they are restrained by man-made fences, they naturally do certain things well. They know how to search out food and as a general rule will eat together. They also do not have to be encouraged to reproduce. A small flock over some years can become quite large and yet remain together. Some may wander off and get into all sorts of trouble but by nature especially when they begin to spread the alarm amongst each other over a danger they will flock together. They are natural flockers.
But I would be cheating you out of a part of the picture of those sheep I saw coming over that huge hill if I didn't tell you about the shepherds that guided and cared for them. Unlike the other sheep owners in the area, these men came from generations of sheepherders. Many of them were Basque's who were brought in. They ate together and lived together and worked amazingly well together. They knew that there was only one flock and that flock belonged to their master. I never once in over 5 months saw them quarreling over whose sheep were whose. They were men who would spare no lengths to go out and reflock those who had wandered off.
But if I might take the liberty to express. There was one sad thing about that day. Unlike the sheep over thousands of acres who gathered together, the sheep who were fenced in by their shepherd's claims were unable to attend. All they could do was stand longingly at the fences that held them from gathering with the rest of the sheep. Because men had fenced them in they were unable to join the others...
...in that Great Ingathering of the Sheep.
* In case you didn't notice, all the sheep in the picture above are looking in the same direction. The same thing is happening with the flock of God's sheep. They are all starting to long to gather together as one flock and their attention is being drawn longingly in the direction of their coming Master. If you get in the way of that or start building new fences (or refusing to tear down old ones) you may end up on the side of a hill somewhere tending goats... And that my friends is a warning of things to come... Claiming God's sheep as your own in the day that is coming is to risk the wrath of God...
Mitchell is known for it's hills and highlands with a few canyon-like lowlands.
My friend pointed my attention to a hillside which is actually the edge of a highland. As a watched for a while the most amazing thing I have ever seen animal-wise in my life happened. The side of that very long hill suddenly was becoming covered with sheep coming over the top and down into the lowland. Over 3000 of them. All at once together decending the steep side of the canyon. It was like a wave of sheep decending until the whole side of the hill was alive and moving. I can't even begin to describe the suddeness or the beauty of it or how massive it was.
 |
| Photo from www.raisingsheep.net/ |
But I would be cheating you out of a part of the picture of those sheep I saw coming over that huge hill if I didn't tell you about the shepherds that guided and cared for them. Unlike the other sheep owners in the area, these men came from generations of sheepherders. Many of them were Basque's who were brought in. They ate together and lived together and worked amazingly well together. They knew that there was only one flock and that flock belonged to their master. I never once in over 5 months saw them quarreling over whose sheep were whose. They were men who would spare no lengths to go out and reflock those who had wandered off.
But if I might take the liberty to express. There was one sad thing about that day. Unlike the sheep over thousands of acres who gathered together, the sheep who were fenced in by their shepherd's claims were unable to attend. All they could do was stand longingly at the fences that held them from gathering with the rest of the sheep. Because men had fenced them in they were unable to join the others...
* In case you didn't notice, all the sheep in the picture above are looking in the same direction. The same thing is happening with the flock of God's sheep. They are all starting to long to gather together as one flock and their attention is being drawn longingly in the direction of their coming Master. If you get in the way of that or start building new fences (or refusing to tear down old ones) you may end up on the side of a hill somewhere tending goats... And that my friends is a warning of things to come... Claiming God's sheep as your own in the day that is coming is to risk the wrath of God...
Sunday, June 21, 2015
The Trumpet Blast
Like no other, the trumpet blast is heard.
The sound of all the trumpets in the universe,
blowing at the same time...
From the highest pitch beyond reason,
To the most uncomfortable deep bass.
From the softest, almost inaudible sound,
To the loudest sound imaginable,
They all blow their trumpets together as one.
The earth trembles and shakes at the sound,
Men fall on their knees in fear and trembling -
And every thought is laid captive,
to what is coming.
The mountains are leveled, the valleys filled,
And there is no place to hide from the sound.
It is the sound of the Body of Christ together with
The hosts of Heaven all crying out with one voice,
"The day of the LORD is at hand..."
The earth is being prepared for that day,
The day of the return of it's Messiah (Saviour).
Those awaiting His return are crying out with one voice,
From the softest whisper to the loudest scream,
At the same time, with the same mind and heart,
with their voices beginning to sound out,
"Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!"
Blow, trumpets! Blow!
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
THE LAST WORD TO AMERICA
Left unheeded, this is the final word to the nation called "America."
I listened to this in tears yet a certain joy of expectancy. This is the FINAL word to this nation. If it goes unheeded the judgement is set.
But I was very clearly reminded of a vision I had when we were praying in a fire damaged house one day. I was shocked for a minute when a ditch with fire appeared right in the living room we were praying in. The fire was so hot that no one could ever cross over it to the other side. As the Church in America, we have underestimated the day we are living in and the ONE whom we say we are serving.
The other thing that came to me was a fearful sense that the day is coming soon that the "spear that the church is leaning on is about to pierce it's hand." Our reliance and confidence, even our own church identities is leaning on the strength of our relationship to the government but that is about to pierce our hand instead.
We have invested in politics, our worldly strengths and our non-profit status with the government but all that is about to fall into the pit. We will be faced with doing without it and our politics, worldly strengths and organizational strengths and retaining our relationship with God or falling into the pit with those things we are holding onto. Oh the image of the "Church" may still remain but it will not be God's Church - it will be another's.
The remnant Church is about to be stripped naked of it's unclean garments and given another - one that is holy and acceptable to God - but it will be substantially smaller than the one we perceive as God's today. It is that fear that will drive many "leaders" to lead many astray to save their outward form instead of preparing those they have influence over to face the day that is fast approaching.
What Jesus is counseling us to do is to "buy gold refined in the fire." Those who have suffered for the Lord's name sake, overcome and prosper, by nature will have greater wisdom of God...
I listened to this in tears yet a certain joy of expectancy. This is the FINAL word to this nation. If it goes unheeded the judgement is set.
But I was very clearly reminded of a vision I had when we were praying in a fire damaged house one day. I was shocked for a minute when a ditch with fire appeared right in the living room we were praying in. The fire was so hot that no one could ever cross over it to the other side. As the Church in America, we have underestimated the day we are living in and the ONE whom we say we are serving.
The other thing that came to me was a fearful sense that the day is coming soon that the "spear that the church is leaning on is about to pierce it's hand." Our reliance and confidence, even our own church identities is leaning on the strength of our relationship to the government but that is about to pierce our hand instead.
We have invested in politics, our worldly strengths and our non-profit status with the government but all that is about to fall into the pit. We will be faced with doing without it and our politics, worldly strengths and organizational strengths and retaining our relationship with God or falling into the pit with those things we are holding onto. Oh the image of the "Church" may still remain but it will not be God's Church - it will be another's.
The remnant Church is about to be stripped naked of it's unclean garments and given another - one that is holy and acceptable to God - but it will be substantially smaller than the one we perceive as God's today. It is that fear that will drive many "leaders" to lead many astray to save their outward form instead of preparing those they have influence over to face the day that is fast approaching.
What Jesus is counseling us to do is to "buy gold refined in the fire." Those who have suffered for the Lord's name sake, overcome and prosper, by nature will have greater wisdom of God...
Saturday, March 21, 2015
MUSIC: SECULAR OR SACRED?
A brother posted a really nicely done worship song recently and I found myself posting this in the comments:
Such a guideline for us who listen to and perform music that in all things we do them to glorify God and not for the admiration of men!
When the Lord touched me and saved me decades ago, I was a musician playing in clubs in the hotels in Hawaii. That was my life but it was also my emptiness because performing in the secular world (and unfortunately in the "modern christian pop world" is a barren life craving for the attention and admiration of men.
When I first started going to a gathering sometimes they would sing a song out of the old "hymn book" and I couldn't appreciate the words because I just couldn't stand the music. Three months later, I had no desire at all to play or to listen to secular songs (and never did again after almost 40 years.) BUT I started loving to play and sing those old hymns and worship choruses and it didn't matter if people cheered the music or admired my person, whether there was a whole crowd or just me before the Lord.
I discovered that the whole reason God placed that desire in us to sing and appreciate music was solely to express worship and to glorify God.
There was one song from my secular musical past that I used to sing with all my heart in my early years. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's "Find The Cost of Freedom." but I had changed the words to glorify God.
That is the only secular song I ever performed (besides "happy birthday to you".) in almost 40 years. Nobody influenced me or taught a "rule". It is just what God did from the beginning of my walk and I love Him for it.
It's funny because I have never shared that part of my testimony in words before today. I just found myself blessed with the living of it. Nobody ever taught on the subject. It was just pure grace and still is. It wasn't a "Thou shalt not." it was a "thou shalt." The work of God in us in that way can be expressed so beautifully in the scripture:
"Whatsoever things you do, do them with all your heart
as unto the Lord and not as unto men."
Such a guideline for us who listen to and perform music that in all things we do them to glorify God and not for the admiration of men!
When the Lord touched me and saved me decades ago, I was a musician playing in clubs in the hotels in Hawaii. That was my life but it was also my emptiness because performing in the secular world (and unfortunately in the "modern christian pop world" is a barren life craving for the attention and admiration of men.
When I first started going to a gathering sometimes they would sing a song out of the old "hymn book" and I couldn't appreciate the words because I just couldn't stand the music. Three months later, I had no desire at all to play or to listen to secular songs (and never did again after almost 40 years.) BUT I started loving to play and sing those old hymns and worship choruses and it didn't matter if people cheered the music or admired my person, whether there was a whole crowd or just me before the Lord.
I discovered that the whole reason God placed that desire in us to sing and appreciate music was solely to express worship and to glorify God.
There was one song from my secular musical past that I used to sing with all my heart in my early years. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's "Find The Cost of Freedom." but I had changed the words to glorify God.
"Find the cost of freedom...
Nailed upon the cross..
Jesus Christ has won it all.
Laid my burden (of sin) down."
That is the only secular song I ever performed (besides "happy birthday to you".) in almost 40 years. Nobody influenced me or taught a "rule". It is just what God did from the beginning of my walk and I love Him for it.
It's funny because I have never shared that part of my testimony in words before today. I just found myself blessed with the living of it. Nobody ever taught on the subject. It was just pure grace and still is. It wasn't a "Thou shalt not." it was a "thou shalt." The work of God in us in that way can be expressed so beautifully in the scripture:
"Old things are passing away.Behold, all things are new!"
- (2nd Co. 5:17)
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Gathered Together In Him
 |
If the West will not respond to God's call for this hour we are living in, Africa and other 3rd world nations will...
|
The picture above is almost overwhelming I still cannot get over such a sight. That is how God looks over the entirety of the Body of Christ.
This morning I had a flash of this picture in my mind out of the blue and the Holy Spirit said, "How many people do you see?" The thought was staggering to imagine how to count that many people and before I could answer (I am not sure I actually could) the answer came from Him and overrode everything in me. The Father's answer:
"I see ONE..."
"I see my SON..."
God has gathered us from many nations and kindreds into His Son. He is in us and we are in Him. And we are all ONE in HIM. The Father looks out over the expanse of all of us gathered together in HIS SON and sees only ONE!!! He sees Jesus! Let us all see ourselves together as ONE in HIM.
Because anything else is SIN...
Saturday, January 3, 2015
My Early Testimony
40 years ago...
Trapped and drowning in a car turned upside down in a ditch. No hope. I'm going to die! Fear. No air left. No strength to try to get out anymore. I pass into the unknown. I am ushered into the presence of God. You know. The one I cursed and ignored. The one I didn't believe even existed. The one when others mentioned Him, I would laugh to scorn. The brunt of my jokes is now my judge. I have no lawyer. I am not allowed to speak. Every breath I have taken. Every thought, every motivation. Every secret wrong I have done. All played out in living color. I cannot hide. I realize I am a condemned man and there is no hope. There is no escape from the truth. It is utterly terrifying.
Suddenly there is great indescribable power displayed. I am whisked from certain death to life. I have a new breath of air. My body passes through a space that only a few minutes before I couldn't even get my arm through. All within less than a split second. My two passengers are sitting on a rock above the water. Their backs turned to the wreck. They are sad. The tow truck driver arrives. He looks shocked when I pop up to the surface. I didn't tell a single soul for years. I had no words to describe. I know now it is called, "The Mercy of God..."
I had a back injury from the accident so no one would hire me so I went up to Alaska to work. I tried to clean up my life but I kept falling on my face in the mud. No matter how I tried I knew that it wasn't enough to please God. I finally gave up but I was so empty. Came back home. Played in a band in the hotels. On the surface everything was great but inside I had no life in me and had to deal with constant back pain.
One night we had a 45 minute break and I went outside in the garden between two hotels and I stood there alone, empty, wondering if there was even any real meaning to life. Suddenly everything around me was filled with the presence of Jesus. Yes there was a certain fear but I was numb to it now. I knew I was a condemned man. I had nothing to look forward to in that way. But His presence was so beautiful, so loving and life was pouring out of Him towards me. I was awestruck. Then He said to me,
"Come into My Kingdom..."
and those words were so full of life and forgiveness that all I managed to say was, "YES!" as I stood there basking in His presence. Then as I was standing there, the same power that had ushered me out of that car and out from the water that night went through me like a bolt of lightning and my back was instantly and permanently healed and my life was turned upside down in a wonderful way.
I was thinking today how sad it is that this generation seems to have turned it's back on God but then can we really blame them? Have they ever seen even one miracle (in "church" or out on the street) Have they heard the Gospel go out in power where man stands out of the way and let's Jesus run the show? (He is very good at it!). I think God is hearing a heart cry inside this generation. One that by and large we are ignoring. They want the real thing. They want evidence.
For decades now, by and large people have been hearing the Gospel of 2000 years of defiled churchianity but soon they will hear the Gospel of the Kingdom of God preached in power. Power to save. Power to turn people's lives around. Power to heal and all that will be found in God's power to forgive and cleanse from sin. That is one purchase that has already been made for us and it was Jesus that paid the price to make it possible. People cannot see that because often we are obscuring their view. But that is all about to change...
Jesus is saying something but with all the noise we are not hearing Him.
"Come into My Kingdom or get out of My way!. There isn't much time left and I am not willing that even one perish..."
Trapped and drowning in a car turned upside down in a ditch. No hope. I'm going to die! Fear. No air left. No strength to try to get out anymore. I pass into the unknown. I am ushered into the presence of God. You know. The one I cursed and ignored. The one I didn't believe even existed. The one when others mentioned Him, I would laugh to scorn. The brunt of my jokes is now my judge. I have no lawyer. I am not allowed to speak. Every breath I have taken. Every thought, every motivation. Every secret wrong I have done. All played out in living color. I cannot hide. I realize I am a condemned man and there is no hope. There is no escape from the truth. It is utterly terrifying.
Suddenly there is great indescribable power displayed. I am whisked from certain death to life. I have a new breath of air. My body passes through a space that only a few minutes before I couldn't even get my arm through. All within less than a split second. My two passengers are sitting on a rock above the water. Their backs turned to the wreck. They are sad. The tow truck driver arrives. He looks shocked when I pop up to the surface. I didn't tell a single soul for years. I had no words to describe. I know now it is called, "The Mercy of God..."
I had a back injury from the accident so no one would hire me so I went up to Alaska to work. I tried to clean up my life but I kept falling on my face in the mud. No matter how I tried I knew that it wasn't enough to please God. I finally gave up but I was so empty. Came back home. Played in a band in the hotels. On the surface everything was great but inside I had no life in me and had to deal with constant back pain.
One night we had a 45 minute break and I went outside in the garden between two hotels and I stood there alone, empty, wondering if there was even any real meaning to life. Suddenly everything around me was filled with the presence of Jesus. Yes there was a certain fear but I was numb to it now. I knew I was a condemned man. I had nothing to look forward to in that way. But His presence was so beautiful, so loving and life was pouring out of Him towards me. I was awestruck. Then He said to me,
"Come into My Kingdom..."
and those words were so full of life and forgiveness that all I managed to say was, "YES!" as I stood there basking in His presence. Then as I was standing there, the same power that had ushered me out of that car and out from the water that night went through me like a bolt of lightning and my back was instantly and permanently healed and my life was turned upside down in a wonderful way.
I was thinking today how sad it is that this generation seems to have turned it's back on God but then can we really blame them? Have they ever seen even one miracle (in "church" or out on the street) Have they heard the Gospel go out in power where man stands out of the way and let's Jesus run the show? (He is very good at it!). I think God is hearing a heart cry inside this generation. One that by and large we are ignoring. They want the real thing. They want evidence.
For decades now, by and large people have been hearing the Gospel of 2000 years of defiled churchianity but soon they will hear the Gospel of the Kingdom of God preached in power. Power to save. Power to turn people's lives around. Power to heal and all that will be found in God's power to forgive and cleanse from sin. That is one purchase that has already been made for us and it was Jesus that paid the price to make it possible. People cannot see that because often we are obscuring their view. But that is all about to change...
Jesus is saying something but with all the noise we are not hearing Him.
"Come into My Kingdom or get out of My way!. There isn't much time left and I am not willing that even one perish..."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)