This was written years ago but have been being reminded of this and it seems some can be encouraged in hearing this right now.
Vision of Ulcers (early to mid 2003)
During a time of worship and intercession I was praying and all of a sudden I saw a picture of our bodies with ulcers inside of them. These were extremely painful looking ulcers; deep and hidden in the body. As I prayed I asked God what it was. I felt Him say that these represented deep rooted, painful sins, iniquities, hurts, resentments, bitterness, unforgiveness that we have hidden so far down inside. I saw that as He was explaining this, the ulcers began to come to the surface and as the sunlight hit them they began to dry up. Likewise, when those painful sins stay in the darkness they grow and grow and in the same way a small canker sore in the mouth can cause such great pain, and it’s not until it dries up that it is not painful. But when we lick it or keep agitating it, it gets bigger, deeper and more ulcerated. Then I was reminded of this verse:
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
The Lord does what He says He will do. He has spoken that to follow Him there is a price to pay, but the reward is greater.
Then I was warned to be careful of opinions, the Lord was going to start bringing up those sins in our lives that have held us captive and it wasn’t going to be pretty. It was going to be painful and humbling. As this process is going on each other’s weaknesses will be apparent. We ask God to purge us and this is what He was doing. Our opinions don’t matter, what the Lord says does. He warned to be careful about judging during this time. That was later confirmed through another sister at the following gathering and I had yet to share about the ulcers.
In this time you may be experiencing brokenness, rocky relationships, feeling in a “slump”. God is revealing to us those things and it’s His timing for us to repent, confess and be healed. His reward is great, but He disciplines the ones He loves.
Hebrews 12:3-11
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
“MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD,
NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;
6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,
AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.”
7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
James 1:2-5
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
The Lord is not done with us, and is only doing what He said He was going to do. Be encouraged that He is faithful and as we pray that He teaches us His ways, He will.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
“DON’T HATE ME BECAUSE I AM A CHRISTIAN”
August 3, 2011
John 15:19
"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you."
Translation according to concordance:
If you were from this ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ (the "world" as translated in concordance), they would approve, like and befriend their own. But because you are not of this "world" instead I (Jesus) have taken you for Myself out of this "world" because I did this, the "world", detest and pursue you with hatred .
I have often faced difficulty with this when I remind my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ of the words of Jesus. Nobody wants to be hated. I know I don’t. I like when I am well received and liked. I have been a Christian my whole life, I have had 2 basic ways in which I have walked. I have walked as a compromised Christian and I was loved, befriended, well accepted by the “ungodly multitude: the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ”. My life was easier among the worldly; conflicts didn’t occur. Things were “peaceful” so to speak. My walk, however, was far from God, I struggled hearing Him, knowing His will in my life. I justified sin and my life was my own. I set my own standards of what was OK. I was saved, professed Christ if asked, I prayed occasionally, and even attended church.
But a strange thing took place as I began to draw near to God and purify myself as it says to do in 1 John 3:3 “And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” The conviction of the Lord came into my life and I responded to that still small voice. My walk with Christ was fruitful, the Lord began using my gifts, increasing me in wisdom of His Word. I could hear Him, had intimate fellowship with Him and the things that break His heart began breaking mine. What a wonderful relationship to know God, to seek Him and find Him. However, at the same degree I increased in my love and relationship with the Lord, the more I decreased in my “approval rating” of the world and even some Christians. My very life stood for Christ and His ways. These spoken and non-spoken ways clash strongly with the world, as I began to be labled "confrontational, rogue". It took me many many years to realize the very nature of God in us will convict others. My life stood in strong oppostion to the "world". Among compromised Christians I was reminded of the verse in 1 Corithians 11:19 "For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you." Meaning even among Christians there will be factions to basically show those who are approved of God (not talking bout salvation, rather those who are actually doing the will of the Father)
For a season I withdrew because I found myself in the middle of conflict, gossip, and feeling so out of sort of being able to relate to the “world” that the pain I was feeling was too great a sacrifice for me. Again, I watched my relationships in the world come to peace, felt accepted again, conflicts ceased. But something inside me was feeling desperate and alone. It seemed no matter how many people were around, how much fun was being had I felt stuck in a world I didn’t belong; like a fraud; pretending to be someone I wasn’t. It was like standing with one foot in the world and the other on Christ. I couldn’t fake it anymore. I returned to Him. Realizing I was the one that turned my back on Him and He was right there to accept and forgive me when I turned around. Funny how during that time I would complain that I can’t see God moving or hear Him talking. Here I was running from and ignoring Him.
The cost of the uncompromising Christian walk does cost. It may cost you acceptance, your reputation, your friends, your own way of doing life. I recall one night when I surrendered my will back to Him we were having a worship night the Lord revealed His truth. He spoke to us about the cost being great but the reward even greater. I hold to this truth as I struggle in the flesh of still wanting to fit it. I have before thought of my life and how much easier it was when I didn’t really make Christ my LORD instead He was only my Savior and I was fine with that. But the price of making Him LORD of your life… is your life. Its everything.
I have not only seen this acceptance/rejection in the “world” but also among Christians. I have been considered “extreme, fanatical, intense” among my fellow brethren. It made me second guess, question, constantly repent, back-off etc. But then my eyes were opened to the fact that these same Christians would be the ones that were living that life I recognized when I was walking as that compromised Christian. I remembered where I was, how I was accepted and well liked too. How I really didn’t like the “holy roller” Christian that couldn’t do anything but speak of the Lord and His ways. “Couldn’t they talk about anything else?!” I would wonder. No they couldn’t, because they were consumed by the Living God. They communed daily and ate fresh meat of His word daily. Their lives didn’t belong to them, they were sold out. Their lives without words were a conviction to mine, therefore I steered clear of them; possibly even out casting them, making fun or priding myself that I wasn’t “one of those Christians” that the world hated so much.
At this point the very complement that was said of me so many years ago; “you’re not like those Christians... we like you”, would have to be a sincere indictment to me now. To know the cost of lack of fellowship with the Father is what it takes to be accepted is now something I cannot bear. So whatever relatively short walk I have on this Earth, I will serve my King of Kings. I will declare His holiness, His just ways, His love, His forgiveness, His Word, His Truth. I will purpose in my heart to not compromise even if the cost is great. With the grace of God, I will forge forward with the full armor of God, meet resistance, stand when nobody else will, speak the Truth when nobody else will, and be willing to be seen as a fool. I will not trade the closeness I have with the Lord for the acceptance of others through the mediocre or compromised Christian walk.
Luke 6:46 "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?”
If today you feel the gentle conviction of the Spirit saying to you these words, just turn to Him. Respond to His voice. Realize the response will cost you your life, but KNOW that the reward is greater.
John 15:19
"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you."
Translation according to concordance:
If you were from this ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ (the "world" as translated in concordance), they would approve, like and befriend their own. But because you are not of this "world" instead I (Jesus) have taken you for Myself out of this "world" because I did this, the "world", detest and pursue you with hatred .
I have often faced difficulty with this when I remind my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ of the words of Jesus. Nobody wants to be hated. I know I don’t. I like when I am well received and liked. I have been a Christian my whole life, I have had 2 basic ways in which I have walked. I have walked as a compromised Christian and I was loved, befriended, well accepted by the “ungodly multitude: the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ”. My life was easier among the worldly; conflicts didn’t occur. Things were “peaceful” so to speak. My walk, however, was far from God, I struggled hearing Him, knowing His will in my life. I justified sin and my life was my own. I set my own standards of what was OK. I was saved, professed Christ if asked, I prayed occasionally, and even attended church.
But a strange thing took place as I began to draw near to God and purify myself as it says to do in 1 John 3:3 “And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” The conviction of the Lord came into my life and I responded to that still small voice. My walk with Christ was fruitful, the Lord began using my gifts, increasing me in wisdom of His Word. I could hear Him, had intimate fellowship with Him and the things that break His heart began breaking mine. What a wonderful relationship to know God, to seek Him and find Him. However, at the same degree I increased in my love and relationship with the Lord, the more I decreased in my “approval rating” of the world and even some Christians. My very life stood for Christ and His ways. These spoken and non-spoken ways clash strongly with the world, as I began to be labled "confrontational, rogue". It took me many many years to realize the very nature of God in us will convict others. My life stood in strong oppostion to the "world". Among compromised Christians I was reminded of the verse in 1 Corithians 11:19 "For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you." Meaning even among Christians there will be factions to basically show those who are approved of God (not talking bout salvation, rather those who are actually doing the will of the Father)
For a season I withdrew because I found myself in the middle of conflict, gossip, and feeling so out of sort of being able to relate to the “world” that the pain I was feeling was too great a sacrifice for me. Again, I watched my relationships in the world come to peace, felt accepted again, conflicts ceased. But something inside me was feeling desperate and alone. It seemed no matter how many people were around, how much fun was being had I felt stuck in a world I didn’t belong; like a fraud; pretending to be someone I wasn’t. It was like standing with one foot in the world and the other on Christ. I couldn’t fake it anymore. I returned to Him. Realizing I was the one that turned my back on Him and He was right there to accept and forgive me when I turned around. Funny how during that time I would complain that I can’t see God moving or hear Him talking. Here I was running from and ignoring Him.
The cost of the uncompromising Christian walk does cost. It may cost you acceptance, your reputation, your friends, your own way of doing life. I recall one night when I surrendered my will back to Him we were having a worship night the Lord revealed His truth. He spoke to us about the cost being great but the reward even greater. I hold to this truth as I struggle in the flesh of still wanting to fit it. I have before thought of my life and how much easier it was when I didn’t really make Christ my LORD instead He was only my Savior and I was fine with that. But the price of making Him LORD of your life… is your life. Its everything.
I have not only seen this acceptance/rejection in the “world” but also among Christians. I have been considered “extreme, fanatical, intense” among my fellow brethren. It made me second guess, question, constantly repent, back-off etc. But then my eyes were opened to the fact that these same Christians would be the ones that were living that life I recognized when I was walking as that compromised Christian. I remembered where I was, how I was accepted and well liked too. How I really didn’t like the “holy roller” Christian that couldn’t do anything but speak of the Lord and His ways. “Couldn’t they talk about anything else?!” I would wonder. No they couldn’t, because they were consumed by the Living God. They communed daily and ate fresh meat of His word daily. Their lives didn’t belong to them, they were sold out. Their lives without words were a conviction to mine, therefore I steered clear of them; possibly even out casting them, making fun or priding myself that I wasn’t “one of those Christians” that the world hated so much.
At this point the very complement that was said of me so many years ago; “you’re not like those Christians... we like you”, would have to be a sincere indictment to me now. To know the cost of lack of fellowship with the Father is what it takes to be accepted is now something I cannot bear. So whatever relatively short walk I have on this Earth, I will serve my King of Kings. I will declare His holiness, His just ways, His love, His forgiveness, His Word, His Truth. I will purpose in my heart to not compromise even if the cost is great. With the grace of God, I will forge forward with the full armor of God, meet resistance, stand when nobody else will, speak the Truth when nobody else will, and be willing to be seen as a fool. I will not trade the closeness I have with the Lord for the acceptance of others through the mediocre or compromised Christian walk.
Luke 6:46 "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?”
If today you feel the gentle conviction of the Spirit saying to you these words, just turn to Him. Respond to His voice. Realize the response will cost you your life, but KNOW that the reward is greater.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Contentment
07/19/2011
Contentment
The only verses I can find in the Bible about being content are in dealing with finances and material things.
Philippians 4:12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
Luke 3:14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, "And what about us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages."
Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"
1 Timothy 6:3-10 3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs
I have not found any verse that instructs us to be content in our Christian walks; not yearning for a deeper relationship and revelation of Jesus Christ. Yet so often we get sermons that give us snack foods, make us “feel-good” by the end of the sermon and even to the point where the focus is on giving to God to receive material riches form the Lord.
I had a vision while in prayer several years ago. It was of a fat man filling up on sweets, he never put any meat in his mouth, simply getting fat on sugars. The Lord spoke to me and said this is how His people are, coming to the table looking for the sweets, meanwhile getting fat and unhealthy. I talked to my dad about this and earlier that week he too had been in prayer and the Holy Spirit was revealing the same thing to him. My dad was shown a man at a grocery store filling his cart with packaged sweets. He went on to share that the Lord was showing him the condition of many of His people; they want the sweet things; no discipline or correction. As I continued praying about this I realized the Lord was speaking to me about loving His truths…all of them. This is when He opened my eyes to His “hard truths”. Christianity in a large part here in America has become a grocery list of shopping for what you want. Taking the good thing like promises and blessings and health and such but refusing the correction, the uncompromising of the Word of God, standing for righteousness in this PC and “tolerant” age; being willing to be hated by the world because you will not compromise to the world.
The people have been eating and filling themselves with so many “snacks” that when they come to the table for the meal they aren’t hungry. They have no hunger for the Lord, they are CONTENT in their Christian walk, yet never content with their lives, their careers, their possessions, their statuses and titles. It seems so simple, our mothers taught us to not fill up on snacks and such before dinner. Why? Because we wouldn’t have a hunger for the real meal.
John Piper says it like this, “If you don’t feel strong desires of the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because you have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Your soul is stuffed with the small things, and there is no room for the great.”
I take it a step further and say its not just the world that is keeping us full but even in the church we are filling ourselves up with the easy things to hear. Who desires the discipline of the Lord that grows us and changes us?
My friend Marla was given a word from the Lord recently that confirms for me that that Spirit is indeed speaking His truths about this:
“Stand up and hear the voice of your God. You have heard Me with your ears, as I whisper to you and as I call on you through various ways. But your heart is far from Me. You have not heard so as to do what I have spoken. My words are like a song unto you. You like the flow of them, but you quickly forget what I have spoken. Hear Me with your heart. Allow Me to change you with My words. For My words are power, and My words are deliverance. Allow for them a place in your heart, that you may be pricked by My convicting power and be changed. For who can come into the presence of a holy God without correction and change, without a pricking of the heart to know Me more? You have heard Me with your ears and proclaimed Me with your mouth, but your heart is far from Me. Turn your heart to Me and live, for I will bring about that change that I cause you to desire. Fall on your faces before Me and ask of Me, and I will cause your hardened heart to be made new, pliable once again in My presence.”
Oh Lord, make us a people who love Your truths and will be a people that will have faith when you return. Let us not be simply hearers of Your word but doers. Lord let us recognize contentment in our walks as the chains of apathy that face us in this spiritual battle that we face here in America. Give us Your godly perspective of what we should be content with and where we need to change our perspectives to line up with Yours. Grace us this very day to have desire…even if it’s the desire to even have the desire. Change our hearts oh Lord. Make us a people who will correctly represent (glorify) You in this Earth. Thank You for creating us in this time for this purpose. In Jesus name, Amen.
Contentment
The only verses I can find in the Bible about being content are in dealing with finances and material things.
Philippians 4:12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
Luke 3:14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, "And what about us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages."
Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"
1 Timothy 6:3-10 3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs
I have not found any verse that instructs us to be content in our Christian walks; not yearning for a deeper relationship and revelation of Jesus Christ. Yet so often we get sermons that give us snack foods, make us “feel-good” by the end of the sermon and even to the point where the focus is on giving to God to receive material riches form the Lord.
I had a vision while in prayer several years ago. It was of a fat man filling up on sweets, he never put any meat in his mouth, simply getting fat on sugars. The Lord spoke to me and said this is how His people are, coming to the table looking for the sweets, meanwhile getting fat and unhealthy. I talked to my dad about this and earlier that week he too had been in prayer and the Holy Spirit was revealing the same thing to him. My dad was shown a man at a grocery store filling his cart with packaged sweets. He went on to share that the Lord was showing him the condition of many of His people; they want the sweet things; no discipline or correction. As I continued praying about this I realized the Lord was speaking to me about loving His truths…all of them. This is when He opened my eyes to His “hard truths”. Christianity in a large part here in America has become a grocery list of shopping for what you want. Taking the good thing like promises and blessings and health and such but refusing the correction, the uncompromising of the Word of God, standing for righteousness in this PC and “tolerant” age; being willing to be hated by the world because you will not compromise to the world.
The people have been eating and filling themselves with so many “snacks” that when they come to the table for the meal they aren’t hungry. They have no hunger for the Lord, they are CONTENT in their Christian walk, yet never content with their lives, their careers, their possessions, their statuses and titles. It seems so simple, our mothers taught us to not fill up on snacks and such before dinner. Why? Because we wouldn’t have a hunger for the real meal.
John Piper says it like this, “If you don’t feel strong desires of the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because you have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Your soul is stuffed with the small things, and there is no room for the great.”
I take it a step further and say its not just the world that is keeping us full but even in the church we are filling ourselves up with the easy things to hear. Who desires the discipline of the Lord that grows us and changes us?
My friend Marla was given a word from the Lord recently that confirms for me that that Spirit is indeed speaking His truths about this:
“Stand up and hear the voice of your God. You have heard Me with your ears, as I whisper to you and as I call on you through various ways. But your heart is far from Me. You have not heard so as to do what I have spoken. My words are like a song unto you. You like the flow of them, but you quickly forget what I have spoken. Hear Me with your heart. Allow Me to change you with My words. For My words are power, and My words are deliverance. Allow for them a place in your heart, that you may be pricked by My convicting power and be changed. For who can come into the presence of a holy God without correction and change, without a pricking of the heart to know Me more? You have heard Me with your ears and proclaimed Me with your mouth, but your heart is far from Me. Turn your heart to Me and live, for I will bring about that change that I cause you to desire. Fall on your faces before Me and ask of Me, and I will cause your hardened heart to be made new, pliable once again in My presence.”
Oh Lord, make us a people who love Your truths and will be a people that will have faith when you return. Let us not be simply hearers of Your word but doers. Lord let us recognize contentment in our walks as the chains of apathy that face us in this spiritual battle that we face here in America. Give us Your godly perspective of what we should be content with and where we need to change our perspectives to line up with Yours. Grace us this very day to have desire…even if it’s the desire to even have the desire. Change our hearts oh Lord. Make us a people who will correctly represent (glorify) You in this Earth. Thank You for creating us in this time for this purpose. In Jesus name, Amen.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
INSTANT GRATIFICATION NATION
May 2011
I have learned that often times the Holy Spirit gives revelation in His timing for His Church. He reveals these things to humble men that are searching the Lord’s heart and searching the scriptures. Their purpose is not to glorify themselves, but point always back to Jesus. They are considered trailblazers to some, as the Holy Spirit has also put this in other’s hearts, and it bears witness to them. To others they are seen as “trouble makers”, because they go against some ideals the Church as taken on. But then a phenomenon takes place. Teachers/pastors that lack discipline, that are worried about their attendance numbers and their offering plates are desperate for something new; a fresh word. They have not been on their knees seeking God’s council, but they are noticing the numbers dwindle. So they grab onto a new teaching, yet because revelations of the Holy Spirit do not tickle the ears of man, they do not promote man, but instead they come against man made ideas; never promoting man, never promoting riches and wealth, or the "easy life". They twist the revelation, possiby on purpose or by simply not understanding because it never lay hold in their own heart. They never allowed the Spirit of Truth to work, convict, cause repentance. They instead pervert the teaching, fearing if they teach the way they heard it that people will leave. When the arrogant, undisciplined or unyielded teachers take it for themselves and teach the congregation they put God's people in bondage. The very revelation that was meant to bring unity, peace, conviction, revelation and relationship with the Lord has brought deception wrapped in a bow of “ tell the people what they want to hear”. The motive is either of fear or greed. Fear they may lose their congregation if they speak such “hard truths” or greed of power, money, and being successful in the world’s eyes.
But is this problem of tickling ears solely the teachers, pastors, and prophets who are speaking falsely? I suggest not. As we can see in scripture that the Lord will allow false teachers and prophets, bad kings and rulers because that is what His people demanded. When Jesus went into the temple and overturned tables, He drove out the sellers AND the buyers. As Israel demanded a king to rule over them so they could be like the rest of the World, the Lord gave in.
Jeremiah 5:31 "The prophets prophesy lies, The priests rule by their own authority, And my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?"
2 Peter 2:1 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”
Here in America we have become an instant gratification nation. In all aspects of life we can see that so many want this relationship with God, they want to hear God speak in their lives, and mostly want the blessings of the Lord. But they fail in desiring the process of attaining that. They may have even heard true and correct teaching but only heard the promises of the revelation but closed ears to the “IF” portion of the “If….then” statement.
I can assure you teachers that replicate the way of the World are not teaching as they should. If they are tickling your ears with teachings of prosperity, wealth and no coming judgment they are teaching false things. I have noticed more and more a fear among the Christians. It’s not just the Church who knows we are living in end times; the whole secular world is beginning to sense this too. The Hollywood movies and headlines all scream about it. I have closely watched different interpretations of this. There are some involved in new age spiritualism that can feel a “shift” going to happen. Their remedy? To become more enlightened and all about SELF.
In the Church it is clear to see that the people do not want to hear about end times; they only want to hear about “God will heal the land”, forgetting the “14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
There is a lot more IF in that statement then the Church cares to emphasis. Sure I have heard them say it but the emphasis is on the “heal their land.” What is the requirement though? Let me restate: “IF MY own people will humble themselves, IF they will pray, IF they will seek MY face (does not say My hand or blessing) IF they will TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS….then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive them their sin and heal their land.
Church that is not happening. In fact we see just the opposite, we see “super apostles” setting up their own “Kingdom of Heaven” here on this Earth. We see prosperity being taught in ways to defile the Words of the Bible. We see SELF SELF SELF. That is what people want to hear…”you’ll be rich and always healthy if you give me your money. Don’t worry about hearing from God yourself, I will do that for you and will tell you what to do.” They tickle each others ears and when someone comes along and says “This can’t be right because the Bible says…” Then they are ostracized or kicked out from the congregation. They’re considered rogue and doom and gloom speakers. Thus the cycle continues. The Church doesn’t truly want to hear what the Lord says, they want someone else to do the “work” for them, and they don’t want to hear correction or discipline. They treat learning like making a box of instant mashed potatoes.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 “1I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
I wonder if the reason of fear of the future is because we think about what we want in our own lives; we want our children to get married, we want to have that career we have been working toward, we want our business to flourish…while all those things are good and occupy the time we had better make sure they are not put before our God. Over and over in scripture we hear the words “Watch and Be Ready”.
Let us really take Peter’s word in (2 Peter Chpt 3) and allow these words to soak into our hearts and minds today.
Purpose of This Letter
1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
The Coming Day of the Lord
3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
A New Heaven and Earth
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen
I have learned that often times the Holy Spirit gives revelation in His timing for His Church. He reveals these things to humble men that are searching the Lord’s heart and searching the scriptures. Their purpose is not to glorify themselves, but point always back to Jesus. They are considered trailblazers to some, as the Holy Spirit has also put this in other’s hearts, and it bears witness to them. To others they are seen as “trouble makers”, because they go against some ideals the Church as taken on. But then a phenomenon takes place. Teachers/pastors that lack discipline, that are worried about their attendance numbers and their offering plates are desperate for something new; a fresh word. They have not been on their knees seeking God’s council, but they are noticing the numbers dwindle. So they grab onto a new teaching, yet because revelations of the Holy Spirit do not tickle the ears of man, they do not promote man, but instead they come against man made ideas; never promoting man, never promoting riches and wealth, or the "easy life". They twist the revelation, possiby on purpose or by simply not understanding because it never lay hold in their own heart. They never allowed the Spirit of Truth to work, convict, cause repentance. They instead pervert the teaching, fearing if they teach the way they heard it that people will leave. When the arrogant, undisciplined or unyielded teachers take it for themselves and teach the congregation they put God's people in bondage. The very revelation that was meant to bring unity, peace, conviction, revelation and relationship with the Lord has brought deception wrapped in a bow of “ tell the people what they want to hear”. The motive is either of fear or greed. Fear they may lose their congregation if they speak such “hard truths” or greed of power, money, and being successful in the world’s eyes.
But is this problem of tickling ears solely the teachers, pastors, and prophets who are speaking falsely? I suggest not. As we can see in scripture that the Lord will allow false teachers and prophets, bad kings and rulers because that is what His people demanded. When Jesus went into the temple and overturned tables, He drove out the sellers AND the buyers. As Israel demanded a king to rule over them so they could be like the rest of the World, the Lord gave in.
Jeremiah 5:31 "The prophets prophesy lies, The priests rule by their own authority, And my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?"
2 Peter 2:1 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”
Here in America we have become an instant gratification nation. In all aspects of life we can see that so many want this relationship with God, they want to hear God speak in their lives, and mostly want the blessings of the Lord. But they fail in desiring the process of attaining that. They may have even heard true and correct teaching but only heard the promises of the revelation but closed ears to the “IF” portion of the “If….then” statement.
I can assure you teachers that replicate the way of the World are not teaching as they should. If they are tickling your ears with teachings of prosperity, wealth and no coming judgment they are teaching false things. I have noticed more and more a fear among the Christians. It’s not just the Church who knows we are living in end times; the whole secular world is beginning to sense this too. The Hollywood movies and headlines all scream about it. I have closely watched different interpretations of this. There are some involved in new age spiritualism that can feel a “shift” going to happen. Their remedy? To become more enlightened and all about SELF.
In the Church it is clear to see that the people do not want to hear about end times; they only want to hear about “God will heal the land”, forgetting the “14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
There is a lot more IF in that statement then the Church cares to emphasis. Sure I have heard them say it but the emphasis is on the “heal their land.” What is the requirement though? Let me restate: “IF MY own people will humble themselves, IF they will pray, IF they will seek MY face (does not say My hand or blessing) IF they will TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS….then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive them their sin and heal their land.
Church that is not happening. In fact we see just the opposite, we see “super apostles” setting up their own “Kingdom of Heaven” here on this Earth. We see prosperity being taught in ways to defile the Words of the Bible. We see SELF SELF SELF. That is what people want to hear…”you’ll be rich and always healthy if you give me your money. Don’t worry about hearing from God yourself, I will do that for you and will tell you what to do.” They tickle each others ears and when someone comes along and says “This can’t be right because the Bible says…” Then they are ostracized or kicked out from the congregation. They’re considered rogue and doom and gloom speakers. Thus the cycle continues. The Church doesn’t truly want to hear what the Lord says, they want someone else to do the “work” for them, and they don’t want to hear correction or discipline. They treat learning like making a box of instant mashed potatoes.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 “1I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
I wonder if the reason of fear of the future is because we think about what we want in our own lives; we want our children to get married, we want to have that career we have been working toward, we want our business to flourish…while all those things are good and occupy the time we had better make sure they are not put before our God. Over and over in scripture we hear the words “Watch and Be Ready”.
Let us really take Peter’s word in (2 Peter Chpt 3) and allow these words to soak into our hearts and minds today.
Purpose of This Letter
1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
The Coming Day of the Lord
3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
A New Heaven and Earth
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen
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