Tuesday, August 1, 2017

3_Rise Up_When God Spoke

It is recommended that you read the first two entries of this article in order to receive the full message. The links are below. - BP



Spirit of Heaviness - Depression

During those long four months of pain and serious occurrences, I had also fought depression. It covered me like a heavy blanket, so heavy at times that I thought the weight of it would crush me.  Combine that with pain, confusion, sleep deprivation, fear (yes, at times I was afraid, not knowing or understanding at the time what was happening or why), along with everything else that was going on at the time.

I was trying to overcome what I believed to be a flaw in my character, as well as any negative attitude that cropped up, yet the depression did not lift.  There were days that I was not interested in reading the Bible, times I certainly did not praise or give thanks, times that no worship went up and days when my prayers seemed to be nothing but selfish, as I pleaded for the pain to end, or for the Lord to take me home. 

I will not repeat it all again, but after months of fighting the depression, as well as the physical pain and all else, the Holy Spirit reminded me of something. It was over a decade ago, a couple of years after I finally surrendered and committed to the Lord (2005) that He taught me something. I wrote about it back in 2008 or 2009, and have spoken about it on Blogtalk radio.  The wisdom was gleaned from Isaiah 61 verse 3.

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.

There are times that the depression that falls upon us is a SPIRIT, a spirit of heaviness, a spirit that will slowly squeeze, suffocate and crush the (spiritual) life out of its prey, unless it is cut off at the head (source).  Satan will do all he can to discourage us, to see us downtrodden. The Holy Spirit caused me to pay close attention to the words that I have emboldened in the above verse.  That is when He taught me that not all depression comes from genetics, shortcomings in character or personality or sin. 

There are other factors that can bring about depression which is not a spirit.  Chemical imbalances, substance abuse, sleep deprivation, stress, grieving loss due to death, divorce or other such tragedies can all affect our physical and mental state, causing depression. However, more often than not, depression relates to spiritual matters. 

I digress, as this is a whole other topic and not one I am going to delve into here.   We know that both wisdom and understanding came from the Lord when we study His Word.  We may get both fully at any given time, or the Lord may show us in part and teach us step by step along the way.  He knows what is best for each of us individually.

My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction: For whom the Lord loves He corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights. Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding. [Prov 3:11-13]

There is no way we can walk the walk of faith if we do not have God’s precious and Holy Spirit dwelling within us.  Jesus promised He would send the “Comforter” and He has. We need the blessed Word of God for faith to grow. We need the Holy Spirit in every area, especially when it comes to discerning.  We cannot even worship unless we worship Him in Spirit and in truth.  Jesus knew that once He departed we would need help. Yes, God is perfect in all He does.
I will say that when a spirit of heaviness oppresses us, we are told in Isaiah 61 vs 3 to put on a garment of praise.  Evil spirits know the word of God, so do not be surprised if you do not “feel” like praising when the oppression comes.  We learn as we grow, but once we learn a thing, we must then discipline ourselves to put into practice that which we have been taught.  We learn that true worshippers worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Lord looks for such people. [Jn 4:23]

Seek God if you are suffering from depression.  Allow His Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth.  For me the source of the depression was three-fold, physical (strong opiates, pain), emotional and spiritual (fears, lack of trust in God etc). 

Again, it is not my intent to go deeper into the topic here. It was but one of the many spiritual struggles I had to fight during that time period, and it was not the first time I had wrestled with depression or a spirit of heaviness.  I have spoken of this off and on since 2008 or so; however, I will add this before I move on.

There are times that we are in such clutches of despair (which depression is) that we cannot come out of it without help.  Yes, we depend on God in such times and He helps us through His Holy Spirit and His Word, but He is the one who designed us to work together. We need our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for us.  We may need counseling.  God does not expect us to go through these battles alone, yet typically, the depressed person withdraws and does not want to fellowship.

We have need of one another, which is why we are called the “Body” of Christ.  Reaching out is nothing at all to be ashamed of, even if the devil says otherwise.  Cry out to God and He will deliver you. [Ps 120:1; Joel 2:32; Is 65:24]  We all will face difficult times and situations where we cannot go it alone.  Read the Word, pray, praise; of course, but please do not hesitate to reach out for counseling and help if need be.  

I do not pretend to have all the answers because I too am learning. Long before I was born, and even since being born-again, preachers and teachers have expounded on these things. My heart is to do my part and share my experiences and lessons with the greatest desire to help others.

When God Spoke
Remember when I said that throughout this time period God was mostly silent, but that He did give me a word or short messages randomly?  It is so. It started with two words that profoundly struck me, two words that resonated deep within my spirit that I could not shake.  In March, my new friend who was in hospice dying of cancer spoke of a “new beginning”. 

I had pondered her words many times since she said them when I was alone.  Deep within, it was apparent to me that the Lord was indeed saying that it was a time of a new beginning! The old things must pass away before the new (beginning) can come.

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. [Is 42:9]

It was also in early March the first time that the Lord had first put Isaiah chapter 40 so boldly before my eyes.  I know the words comforted me, but it was not long before I realized that the Lord wanted me to comfort His people.  In the third verse, the word prepare was noticed and acknowledged, but I put it on the back burner.

I understood that we were entering into a season, an appointed time for change, and that we were to prepare.  Full understanding had not yet come to me; I only saw in part.  The words “healing” and “restore” kept coming to mind, as well as “suddenlies” and “unexpectedly”.

But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivers; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore[Is 41:22]
A new start…a new beginning!  Trust Him with your life…He will do it!  I remembered the scripture: Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me? [Jer 32:27]

The Lord saw the warring going on between my carnal nature and my spirit man. It was early in the month of May that I penned this message, but kept it private until led to release it. Below is the message.

Rise up! Rise up higher!! The army of the Lion must rise up!

Rise up! Don’t you dare give up! Sense in your spirit – time…time…it’s time!  The wait is over; change begins in the spiritual and the natural. The righteous anger of the Father has come to the forefront.  His longsuffering is undeniable. He has risen from His throne and said, “Enough is enough!”

The armies of God are rising up to go forward into battles. Deep within my spirit, I heard:

When it seems like Satan and his foul, unclean spirits are winning, wait and see…when it seems that all you have believed is not going to come to pass; wait!  It is now upon you. This is the appointed hour: this is the season.  Rise up higher warrior for such a time as this.

When it looks like it is over and that Satan has won – watch – a transition is taking place!  I AM in control.  My will is being done.  Let things unfold, no matter how they appear to be. Trust Me – trust Me with your life. You have not given up and you shall not. 

All I promised is upon you.  Watch how I change everything.  I have everything under control. It is now time for Me to restore.
This is the season – this is the time. Now it shall spring forth.  You have been humbled, but now I shall lift you up and you shall hear the sounds of great VICTORY

But thanks be to God which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  [1Cor 15:57]

VICTORY!   (End of message)

It was and is a prophetic word.  It can speak of now and/or it can speak of that which is to come.  And we know that the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus Christ.  [Rev 19:10]  Other messages came to me over the following months, but I was not led to release them to the public yet.  Even if I was going to be the last runner in the relay race, I have learned that I must wait until the Lord sends me forth to run with any message.

When I was writing more of this article back in May, over two months had passed since the Lord had first place Isaiah 40 so impressively before my eyes. He would do so two more times in March, with my Bible opening up at precisely the beginning of the chapter, without any dog-eared pages or bookmarks. There was no doubt that Jesus was making sure I did not forget.
The word “transition” had also been placed upon my heart. The word was shared with a close friend and sister in Christ in the States who had listened to my woes when I was going through the long trial of physical pain. It was then that I had written the following, which was intended for the “comfort My people” article. Oh, and by the way, THIS is now that article.

I had written:
This month (May 2017), a newsletter had been forwarded to me penned by a brother in Christ named Augusto Perez of The Appearance Ministries. He had written that he had understood in his spirit that a ‘shift’ had taken place. Is transition and shift taking place hand in hand?  One line that the brother wrote still leaves me in awe and will be kept in prayer for clarity.

Miracles which lead to a Shift in the Timeline can only be triggered by the vehicle of faith. Augusto Perez

It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord God orchestrates everything, bringing it all together harmoniously.   A few weeks ago (May 22, 2017), when I was sitting in my truck waiting for a business to open its doors, the Holy Spirit put a message in my heart: “Enough is enough! Get angry, but go into battle, being calm and confident, for I am with you as I was with Moses.”

All glory to Jesus/Yeshua.  I quickly scribbled the words on a loose piece of paper.  As I was pondering the message that I had written down, I looked up the street and saw a sign that I thought said “God’s time”.  I quickly added that to my note. How I rejoice when the Holy Spirit speaks.

However, when I looked at the sign again, I saw that it actually said “Gold’n Time”. Well, even if my eyes had played a trick on me, it was superbly timed and I accepted that the Lord allowed it in order to alert me to prepare to battle the enemy, knowing it is “God’s (His) Time”, and that He was with me.

And, behold, I am with you, and will keep you in all places where you go, and will bring you again into this land; for I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken to you of.  [Gen 28:15]

So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. [Is 55:11]

I will end this portion of writing with a message that the Holy Spirit led me to when I was going through files on my external hard drive. As I scrolled through the file names, one in particular caught my eye.  It was called, He is Faithful – Obedience is Key to Promise.  It was written in February 2012, so it is unfortunately no longer posted on the blog.  It was one of the files that had not been corrupted as so many of my other files had been.

Only excerpts that jumped out at me in the prophetic word are going to be posted. When you see a bullet point, it means that it is an excerpt that has been pulled out of the original message.

He is Faithful – Obedience is Key to Promise
February 2012

Arise Bride of Christ!  Arise sons of God, My people, for all is in My hands.  Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust Me, trust Me, trust Me, for I AM your Father, your Creator.  Peace, be still.  Do not be afraid.  Rest in Me for I draw you close to My bosom.

Believe Me when you cannot see a way out, for you walk by faith and not by sight. [2Cor 5:7]

Let patience have its perfect way.  Have you considered that I find you worthy to go through all that you are going through? 

*      My people must choose to abandon sin; without excuse, without compromise.  The adversary continues in his agenda, to blindside My people, to cause them to stumble and fall into sin.  This strategy is to keep you far from Me upon the broad highway.  Confusion is his mastery.  

Yea, although I allow him to prove (test) you for a season, I bid you to endure.  As you trust in Me, it is I who shall draw a line of confusion around all enemies of the cross and their way shall be paved with stones of emptiness.  It shall be as nothing and you will not turn aside to the right or the left, as you cleave to Me.

My glory shall cover your armor and the brilliance of it shall blind the enemies of the cross and send them into confusion, for you are more than conquerors through My Christ, who loves you.  

My holy angels go forth at My command.  As you cry out for discernment and walk in My commandments, My Spirit shall cause your eyes to see all illusions, all grandeur of the adversary, all deceptions.  

The flesh of your ears and heart shall be circumcised, so that you will hear and receive truth, if you do not resist My Spirit.  Do not be as the Pharisees.  I shall cut away all excess flesh so that your heart will be clean and pure, yet you must not resist.  Before his own people stoned him, Stephen cried out:

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. [Acts 7:51]

*         This hardship has been allowed to bring you to your cross.  This call to holiness and obedience is absolute.  Shall the love of fleshly passions (habits) outshine your love for Me?  My LOVE is the foundation of your faith. Be rooted in My love, for then shall you go forth boldly.

I allow Satan to bring you to your cross.  Embrace the cross, knowing that as you bow before Me in obedience, whatever you ask of Me in My Son’s name, that shall I do, for then you shall know My will and not ask amiss.

Come unto Me and abide, so that your joy may be full.  Hardships, trials and tribulation shall be in this life, yet in abiding in Me, you shall know what to do.  I shall strengthen you to obey, if that is your earnest desire.  Will you obey Me? 

Will you follow My lead?  Am I truly your first love?  Do you trust Me in all things?  Do you love others as you love yourself?  Walk in love; walk in holiness; walk in obedienceWait upon Me.  Walk in faith, for without faith it is impossible to please Me.  [Heb 11:6]   
                                                
(So beloved brethren, I encourage you to embrace the cross. Embrace the trials and the tests, and give God the glory. It is Jesus/Yeshua who intercedes on our behalf, praying that our faith not fail us.  We can trust Him.  Endure this hardship, brave one, brethren of mine… the victory is nigh us! – BP)

O you afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay your foundations with sapphires. And I will make your windows of agates, and your gates of carbuncles, and all your borders of pleasant stones. [Is 54:11, 12]

Step Out in Faith
Watch and see what I shall do, as you step out in faith, overcoming all flesh, a complete dying to self.  You have longed to do the greater works in the miracles that are coming, running parallel to great tribulation upon all nations.  There is a cost.  

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You: because he trusted in You.  [Is 26:3].  

*      God’s Remnant Armies

I AM positioning My people; from the generals to the foot soldiers.  You have been through gruesome trials and testing.  Those who are to be generals and top commanders in My armies must be dependablesubmissive to their King and obedient [quick to follow commands].  Likewise, all other members, right down to (and including) the foot soldiers must be dependable, submissive and obedient.

*       This is how good armies operate.  This is how a body of believers must function.  The Body of My Christ (Y'shua/Jesus) is composed of members from generals to foot soldiers.  Are all the hands, or are all the feet?  Are all the eyes, or are all the ears?  Every part is crucial and necessary to function as a whole and healthy body.  

 (End of Excerpts)

The next prophetic word is from April last year (2016), which the Holy Spirit led me to.  Out of the hundreds of articles and prophetic messages given, I see it as no coincidence when I just “happen” to open a file that speaks directly to the situation or trial that one may be experiencing. Below is the message.

Time to Do What You Delay in Doing

When all around you seems chaos, think hard upon times where I helped you in the past.  Did you not feel like I had left you?  Did confusion try to overpower you?  Did you not feel then that it was more than you could bear?

What did you do?  You pressed in, you sought Me and you found Me.  I strengthened you to endure.  I directed you to praise Me for the spirit of heaviness.  I directed you to pray for your enemies and to pray without ceasing.  I directed you to My word to strengthen you and to feed you.  I comforted you.

This is what you must remember, for I foretold it.  The enemy, the accuser of the brethren (Satan the adversary) has come before Me to accuse those who call themselves by My name.  He cannot enter into the holy of holies; yet there is a heaven above the earth that he roams back and forth about, seeking whom he may devour and upon the earth he walks about, seeking, ever-seeking.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about, seeking whom he may devour.  [1Pet 5:8]

He will accuse My people, saying:

'They love you and are loyal because you bless them...allow me to touch their lives.  Let us see if they love you when it's all taken away. Let us see if they trust you or have faith.  Let me interfere in their friendships and steal from that friendship.  Let me bring division in amongst them.  Let's see if they will still pray for each other.'

'Let me seduce their senses and stimulate their physical desires.  I know just the ones to put upon their path.  Let me interfere in their marriages, in their intimate relationships, in their trusted comrades.

If they don't run to you, they will simply thank you as they succumb to my temptations, not knowing they are deceived. Let's see if they really do cry out to you first.  Let us just see if their heart is really with and for you, or if they just honor you with their lips!

Let me put them to the harder tests; let me take and test them severely in every arena.’

(Note* - This is the prideful and arrogant attitude Satan operates in, and similarly nearly echo Satan’s very words concerning Job. - BP)

Now I say to you, you do well to remember this:

I allow the tests, the trying of your faith. I allow the trials and tribulations.  Did I not warn you of the fire and the water?  Did I not say that you will not be burned, nor will the waters overwhelm you?  Beware, least you are filled with pride, or anger or bitterness.  Fear not. Remember that I am with you. 

Remember, for you know that all things work together for good to those who love Me and are the called, according to My purpose. [Rom 8:28] I am He that will purge and purify you.

Those who die to self will not give into temptation.  Those who stay humble and seek My wisdom and direction will not be seduced or fall into pride about the good works they are doing, or allow division amongst those whom have stood by them in dark days, those whom I have ordained to be – those who are Mine. 

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Who has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,  [Eph 2:9; 2 Tim1:9]

I have orchestrated your life, as you surrendered to Me.  You do well to remember that I AM Sovereign.  Do not go off with your own plans and ideas. Come to Me and I shall direct you and guide you by My Spirit.

My people, be guarded as you take your steps.  Wait upon Me to be sure it is time to step or if you should take a step at all.  Wait upon Me to see if it is time for you to move out or to stand your ground.  Yea, deep within you will know, for I am He who puts within you the wisdom, when you seek truth.  You must wait patiently.

Wait upon My timing, but do not run ahead.  More importantly, do not lag behind, for you know the darkness and you see the time.  In your desire to do My will, be sure that you are not going on to accomplish your own will.

Your faith is being sifted as wheat, just as Peter.  I forewarned you.  You may feel pain, anger, confusion, frustration, a desire to quit, a pull for change, a restlessness - or you may feel justified, righteous – experiencing thoughts, feelings and emotions of all kinds. 

Beware of flesh. Beware of the adversary, the counterfeiter. He will try to send you off in another direction, to the right or to the left.   Do not surrender to the negative, yea, but neither be swallowed up in pride and self-righteousness.  Be meek, be humble before Me. Surrender your life; lay it down and truly die to self.  

Forgive and you shall be forgiven. Be merciful and you shall obtain mercy. Be obedient and you shall reap your reward in due season.

With great love, I correct.
In mercy, I discipline.
Lay it all down now.  

Quit saying, I'm not perfect. 
Quit saying, I'm struggling.
Quit saying, I can't right now because...
Quit finding excuses and reasons.

Trust in your Lord with all your heart and lean not to you own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Me and I shall direct your steps. [Prov 3:5, 6]

How can I direct your steps if you will not obey or justify your reasons to delay? What of habitual sin?  Shall I let you go on in your ways, if I did not allow the Israelites, in days of old, to go on in their ways?  Have I not shown you mercy? 

Have I not been longsuffering?  I will break the chains of bondage when you cry out to Me and trust in Me. Are you so proud that you think every thought is of Me, or are you humble enough to seek Me in prayer and ask Me?

Be careful and guard yourself against any sin of presumption. Will you smash all of your idols and be done with idolatry? Selah  I AM the same yesterday, today and forever. I shall have no other gods before Me.

Focus on My Son, Y'shua (Jesus) and the end result - victory.  Pick up your cross, My disciple - death is not forever.  There is a resurrection that comes after death.  Be found WORTHY of Me. You say you trust Me and you do well, yet I ask you, ‘Can I trust you?’

I am working, not you.  Do not look at what you are doing.  Look at what I have done and shall do, when you truly die to self.  Give thanks.  It is almost time! Do you not know and do you not say... it shall come suddenly?  So shall My Son come again suddenly…as a thief in the night.  Only I know the day or the hour. Shall you miss your visitation?

My people will be needed by others in the days that are fast approaching - great destruction, death, tribulation such has never been seen before. Yea, great sorrow has begun - tribulation immeasurable awaits at the door. Prepare your hearts; prepare your minds. Repent of all that is not of Me; quickly come. Rend your heart and not your garments. 

If 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 heal their land.

Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.  For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever: and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually. [1Chro 7:14-16]

Yea, so it shall be that I come to you when least expected.  Do not be caught off-guard.  Do not delay any longer nor continue on with excuses or reasons.  Why do you fight against that which I have ordained?

You will not find perfection in the world. To be perfect in My Son is to be complete in Him, mature in heart and whole. Yet, My work continues in My people, to circumcise the heart (of excess flesh) and to make you pure in heart (in intent and motive).

Babylon shall fall and the harlot will fall with it.  Come out from amongst them.  You are not their Savior; My Son Jesus (Y'shua) is the Savior.  (Again, I say) Do not look at what you are doing; look at what I am doing and shall do, when you truly die to self.  

I speak once, yea twice, but man perceives it not. [Job 33:14] 

Do not be so quick to cast off that which I have ordained because it is not how you thought it might be. Wait upon Me.

Press through and onward.  It is almost time for you to see it in the natural.  Have joy in your sorrowing.  Trust Me in the fire and water, for I will bring you through.   Yea, I am with thee.  

Great tribulation for the world soon begins; it has begun, for it begins slowly and then shall build momentum.  Lay down your life now, for you have asked that you be considered worthy to escape that which is coming and to know what I would have you to do. 

That is why you have been told to learn to hear My voice, not the voice of flesh or the voice of the adversary, who is a counterfeiter, father of lies, a murderer.

My grace is with you.
There is hope in your despair.
Confusion is not of Me.

Have faith to do (Die to self; humble yourself and in due time, I shall lift you up).
Have faith to move (In love, in forgiveness, in patience and understanding, in mercy and grace).

Love Me enough to obey.
Trust Me enough to do – and to wait on My timing.
Know that I am with you...

As you obey...
As you lay down your life...
As you trust in Me.

There are delays that I have allowed, even brought about, for purging, purifying, for disciplining (chastising), for molding and shaping, as the clay in the potter's hand, or as the sword in the hand of the blacksmith. 

Yet now I say to you, it is time to do what you delay in doing. Fear not. The delays have been necessary, to lay down the past gently. The enemy has tried to stop that which I have ordained, but you overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony; and love not your life unto death. [Rev12:11]       Source: Time to Do

Proceed to Part 4 

for His glory

Bonita                 dovesofthevalleys4@gmail.com

No comments:

Post a Comment

Comment or email at: dovesofthevalleys4@gmail.com