To the Weary
Satan has beaten down many saints, but the Lord is ever ready to pick the wounded back up, heal, strengthen and restore. He is faithful to give hope and encouragement.
Just as the
Lord gave me the dream with three revealing words – test of endurance (which
was a warning for the Body of Christ) and how the Lord told my guest Jason
Pillow about it being the time of the sealing of His people…the Lord spoke to
another of His children, a godly woman, Latshia Smith, Prophetic Wind Ministries
up in Buffalo NY, who was a guest on my show two weeks ago.
To her, He
warned about His remnant and how Satan was not just out to attack the prophets
(in the 5 fold ministry), but just as Jezebel did in days gone by, and just as
many did down through history, the plan is to not just attack, but to literally
kill the prophets.
Who were the prophets of old? They were GOD's chosen messengers, filled with the Holy Spirit. Satan wants to kill those in the five-fold ministry (and all dedicated disciples of Jesus Christ/Yeshua). In fact, the targeted are all who are true to Jesus, in every way, His- He being their first love.-not just LIP service, but HEART service.
(*NOTE* - The Lord promised in the last days, by the prophet Joel (2:28, 29) and repeated by Peter (Acts 2:17), that he would pour out his Spirit upon all flesh and sons and daughters would prophecy, I believe that every born-again, Spirit-filled believer in Jesus/Y'shua can prophesy. The prophets of old were filled and spoke by the Holy Spirit. Now, we today have opportunity, all because of what Christ Jesus did. Satan came to steal, KILL and destroy [Jn 10:10] - every believer is now targeted! BP2013)
Multitudes
of God’s people are going through incredible trials at this time. Hold fast to the Lord and do not fear. It is time for spiritual warfare as never
before. (Do not expect this to lessen. It will increase the closer we get to our destinies, but more so, the closer we get to the Lord's return.) We must absolutely be abiding in
the Lord as never before. He must be our
constant companion.
In the book
of 1 Kings, chapters 18 and 19, we hear of Obadiah who hid 100 prophets of the
Lord; he divided them into two groups of 50 and hid them in a cave. If you have ever seen pictures of caves in
the east, some of them are huge and very beautiful…quite capable of hiding a
great number of people.
We see
where Elijah told Obadiah to warn Ahab that he was coming, which Obadiah
did. Then we see where Elijah told Ahab
to gather all the people of Israel, along with the 450 prophets of Jezebel who
worshipped Baal.
A sacrifice
was placed upon the altar by Jezebel’s prophets, who called out to Baal to consume
the sacrifice, but nothing happened.
Elijah mocked them, saying that their god was either away talking,
pursuing something, on a journey or asleep and needed to be awakened.
They were so upset about Baal not responding,
they cried out and cut themselves until they bled, just like many people do
today, not only in the east, but also amongst the youth (and others) around the globe.
Then he
ordered that a sacrifice -a perfect bullock, be cut up and placed on the altar,
a trench built and water to be put in the trench three times to fill it and to
saturate the sacrifice. Three times; that means everything was drenched!
Then, he
called down fire and the Lord, the true living God, consumed the sacrifice. At that point, when the people of Israel saw
that the living God accepted the sacrifice, they were strengthened and at Elijah’s
order; they rounded up all of Jezebel’s prophets and slew them.
There was a
famine in the land, so Elijah climbed to the top of Mt. Carmel and prayed and
asked his servant [to go and see] if he saw a cloud. After
some time (seven times Elijah sent him), the servant finally saw a little cloud. He told the servant to tell Ahab to go before
the rain caught him. Ahab took off and
told Jezebel that Elijah killed her prophets.
When Jezebel heard of this, she put out a death sentence (threat) on Elijah.
Then
Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I
make not your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. [1 Kings 19:2]
This true
prophet of God took off when he heard her words through a messenger. He was likely very weary, having slain all
the prophets, having called upon God for the consuming of the sacrifice, and the
rain for the drought that caused the famine in the land...so he fled from Jezebel.
But he
himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a
juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It
is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
[1Kings 19:4]
Have you not done that? Have you
not said ‘It’s enough Lord, take me home…I have failed you, I’m no better than
my relatives?’ (or something along those lines?)
I have…I have been so weary as to ask the Lord to take me home and I most certainly did not do anything near to what Elijah did, but I have had my share of spiritual warfare and my own trials and tribulations…yet the Lord strengthened me every time, just as He did Elijah. Listen to others. They will say similar. Our Creator is very faithful.
When you were at the end of your rope and you cried out to God, did He
not strengthen you? Yes, he did and that’s
why you…and I…are still here. (proof) The Lord
sent an angel to strengthen Elijah with food and after he slept awhile, the
angel fed Elijah again. That food kept Elijah
for 40 days and 40 nights as he journeyed to a cave on Mt. Horeb.
There the Lord asked Elijah what he was doing there, so he spoke about
throwing down Baal’s altars and slaying Jezebel’s prophets, but he felt that he
alone had escaped from Jezebel. Then,
the Lord not only instructed Elijah further on what He wanted him to do, but He
encouraged him, when Elijah once again stated that only he alone was left. He must have felt discouraged and quite alone
to repeat it twice, but the Lord said:
Yet I
have left Me seven thousand in
Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which has
not kissed him. [1 Kings
19:18]
So the body of Christ has been warned about a test of endurance, have been told that it is the time of sealing God’s people and have been
warned that the remnant in the five-fold
ministry (actually, not just the five-fold, but, all of God's remnant of obedient, repentant believers - and I must add; there are wolves amongst the sheep, so, be guarded no matter who a person says they are!) and particularly the prophetic (see Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17), will not just be under attack, but that
the adversary seeks to literally kill them.
Many are suddenly having serious health issues. Keep strong. It has not all been for nothing; the Lord is on our side…I share
this word that He put upon my heart today. (07.14.13 - July 14, 2013)
(To God the glory alone)
How heavy is your heart, My child,
for the battle has been hard and long. Hold fast to Me, for awhile longer and you
shall see the victory. The time of
sealing, the test of endurance belongs to the remnant who are Mine and shall endure
to the end, coming through victoriously, having been well-trained by previous tests
and tribulations, having been purged and purified, in the fires and through the
waters.
Yea, hold
fast to Me, for I AM your refuge and your strong tower. Yea, the cross is heavy when it is being
carried, and excruciatingly hard to the flesh to stay upon, dying to self and
all that is in the world.
Yet only
after death can My resurrection power go forth to raise you up to a place where
the enemy cannot touch you. Healing and
restoration are in My hand. Look up,
look up for your redemption draws nigh. Chaos and destruction are coming upon mankind and the world, yet I AM
the one who shall create the new [Is 65:17; 66:22; Rev 21:1], when all is said and done.
Keep on your armor; pray without ceasing, abide
in Me and do that which I ask of you to do. (*Note* 0bedience is the word that came to mind as I wrote this, and keeping a repentant heart. BP)
Great
blessing is about to fall upon My obedient children; but great judgment also is
falling upon all nations and all peoples of the earth. Yes, and the wrath of the devil, the prince
of this world is coming, but he has nothing on Me.
His wrath
has been loosed for a time, yea, but he knows that his time is short. [Rev 12:12] Look to Me and abide, for I AM your strength,
your wisdom, your discernment, your all in all.
My peace I give you, not as the world gives, but the peace I give passes
all understanding. [Phil 4:7] Let not your heart be
troubled [Jn 14:1]; neither be afraid.
Glory to
the Lord alone for encouraging His people, so faithful and true is our King and
Lord.
for His glory
penned by
Bonita dovesofthevalleys4@gmail.com
Amen!
ReplyDeleteDear, dear, Sister,
ReplyDeleteHow timely indeed is this message. Just yesterday, this was me. I was in much pain and just did not think I could endure it any longer. I have to say that I was weary...worse, I just wanted to give up. I grew tired of fighting. It didn't seem to do any good because the pain and the issues causing it just seem to be increasing & spreading. I could not bear it anymore and in tears I asked God why I was still here. Why not just let this all end for me now? Why am I continuing to go through this? What had happened to the promise He had given me of healing?
Then, the Lord reminded me of a song I had been singing just the day before. He said, "Did you mean it when you sang that my love was better than life?" I said, "Yes, Lord. And I am thankful for your love. But you said you would not give us more than we can bear. I cannot bear this any longer Lord. It is too much." Then, the devil almost got me. I started to say, "I just want to die", but the Spirit of God stopped me. I shocked my own self in starting to confess those words of death over myself. I just cried myself to sleep and asked the Lord to forgive me.
Then in my studies this morning, God pointed out to a few Scriptures which really helped. The first was Romans 4:20 "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God." Abraham was given a promise of life that seemed impossible, but he staggered not. Even though Sarah's womb was dead, God could still resurrect life. He could restore, make whole, and bring back life. I had staggered at God's promise to me yesterday and as a result stumbled into unbelief. I repented and asked for God's strength to keep believing.
The second Scripture was Romans 6:9, "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him." Again, God is able to raise the dead, to bring forth life from death. If our old man has been crucified with Christ then death has no more dominion over us. It is the flesh which needs to be continually put to death so that we can walk in resurrection life.
The last was Exodus 4:6-7, "And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh." The Lord did this in response to Moses asking whether Israel would believe that God had sent him. It is no big thing for the Lord to heal (whether physically or spiritually). He is more than able. Yet sometimes God uses such situations to bolster not only the faith of those hearing the message, but the faith of the messenger. In everything He has a plan. As with Moses, as with Abraham, I merely need to continue believing in the promises of God while seeking to obey Him. He will work out all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.
Anyway, I am probably rambling now, but I just wanted to say Thank You Sister as always for being available to the Lord.
Much Love in Christ!
Hold fast dearest sister Mia. The Lord has surely strengthened you...beautiful writing. Feel free to 'ramble' anytime (your word not mine lol).
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, you said some powerful things that will bless others, I am sure. Standing in the gap...
your sister in Christ - bonita