A Time to Be Silent

Four long months have passed since I last posted. It has been a "helluva" season, but God orders the seasons and the times. The Lord is good and His mercy endures forever. As I begin posting, it will all come together, and may the Spirit of God be in the writings, for His glory.

A Time to Be Silent

Sometimes we have to be silent and wait upon God’s timing.

…a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence and a time to speak;  [Eccl 3:7]

Sometimes we have to go through things to give testimony (no trial or tribulation; no testimony).

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.  [1Pet 1:7]

Sometimes the refiner is a work. When He is, the dross must be removed; and the purity will be tested severely.

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. [Zech 13:9]

Behold, I have refined you, but not with silver; I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.

He must increase, but I must decrease. [Jn 3:30] 

Moses vs. Jesus - old covenant vs. new covenant - law vs. grace 

Yeshua compared John the Baptist [prophet] to the spirit of Elijah. John represented the old covenant. The prophet was a voice crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make His paths straight." [Is 40:3; Lk 3:4]

(By that John the Baptist meant to 'prepare for Jesus, the Messiah and Saviour, by repentance and changing the heart, turning away from sin.)

• Moses                                       • Jesus

• old covenant                             • new covenant

• blood of animals (heifer, goat,    • blood of [unblemished] Lamb = Jesus/Yeshua   ram for forgiveness of sins            Saviour whose death and resurrection made                                                        a way to be forgiven; reconciled back to God

• law                                           • grace

Judging Between Sheep and Sheep

During these past four months, I had thought that perhaps I was one of the ones that the Lord was telling to “stand down”, that perhaps somehow I had failed or was weighed in the balances and found wanting. O, how I searched my heart; how I prayed [with the Holy Spirit's help]!

Back in 2012 (when I was still in USA, and when Obama was elected again, second term), the instruction came to write: Now It Begins

It was multi-faceted, and I intend to touch on it in another chapter, but not now; not here in this portion of my writing. 

This much only I will say. It is the beginning of a downward slope where things will start slowly but build momentum. It will be fast-moving and overwhelming by the time the great tribulation Jesus/Yeshua spoke of will begin. 

It is all written out for anyone to read in the Word of God. And for what we do not understand, there are still some godly men preachers/teachers who do not stray from the truth of scriptures, or twist them. They can explain. 

I know there is much I do not yet clearly understand, but as I learn, I share. And the plain truth is that there will be gaps and things that none of us will know until it happens, or until God Almighty reveals it to us, whichever comes first.

Then, in 2013, the Lord kept putting in my spirit about separating, a dividing; not only in exposing tares (though it was not time for removal) and the wheat (his doing), but division in relationships – family, brethren, work; marriages, friendships (enemy’s doing).

Then, in late 2013 or early 2014, the Holy Spirit led me to scripture in Ezekiel, where the Lord spoke through the prophet about judging between cattle and cattle. In my spirit man, I understood that the Lord was judging those who call themselves by His name. (Judgment had begun.)

For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begins with us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God. [1Pet 4:17]

He was angered at the shepherds fleecing the flock, the witchcraft in many of the churches, unholy prayers that tried to manipulate God (instead of willingly doing His will), praying in a way that He would be convinced to do “their will”, and certain Christians whose prayers were more like curses (witchcraft). The python spirit (spirit of divination) is rampant. This greatly displeased the Lord.

Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus says the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

You eat the fat, and you clothe yourself with the wool, you kill them that are fed: but you feed not the flock.

The diseased have you not strengthened, neither have you healed that which was sick, neither have you bound up that which was broken, neither have you brought again that which was driven away, neither have you sought that which was lost; but with force and cruelty have you ruled them. [Ezek 34:2-4]

Serious Separation

So, in 2013, the Lord warned of a 'separating', judgment, and also division. In 2015, 2016, and 2017, He continued to warn the people (self included).

A couple of days before the end of last year, on December 29, the Lord placed ideas for an article upon my heart. On New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2017, He led me to post it. 

Here is an excerpt from that writing:

“A grieving is heard in the heavenlies, and hot tears are seen upon the faces of many of My people, for I am answering prayers for truth to be revealed, to protect them from deception. Therefore, there is a witnessing of sheep being separated from sheep. It is true, for it is written that the goats shall be separated from the sheep and the tares from the wheat. I am judging between sheep and sheep.”

And as for you, O my flock, thus says the Lord God; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle (sheep and sheep), between the rams and the he-goats.  [Ezek 34:17]

Yea, I tell you that sheep are being separated from sheep, for it is a necessity in these latter times.

Her priests have violated My law, and have profaned My holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shown difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from My Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. [Ezek 22:26] 

He goes on to speak against greedy shepherds, false prophets, lazy watchmen, and some of the sheep in the flocks that love to have their ears tickled, and are moved about by every wind of doctrine and every false prophesy that is comfortable to hear.

He spoke of the striking [certain] shepherd(s) and the flock would scatter. He also foretold of church buildings whose doors would close, never to reopen.  He reminds us that we have the power to “choose”. He warned of false brethren, unforgiveness, pride, bitterness, and anger, justifying sins and no desire to repent, despite the warnings. He led me to write:

“Yes, a division is happening. Not only are unbelievers divided against believers/disciples of Christ, but also a dividing among the sheep as well.”

And further along:

“I have risen from My throne. The shaking increases – judgment falls, and has been falling for some time. It shall increase. It is moving over the lands as surely as death moved over Egypt at the time that the firstborn of both man and beast were slain [Ex 11:5], when Pharaoh’s hard heart had no fear of the Creator of all things.”

The article is called: On the Verge of the Great and Terrible

The Lord made it very clear that many Christians have "no fear of the Lord". There was a time I had no fear of the Lord. The very thought now appalls me.

Time of Revealing

Since that prophetic writing on New Year’s Eve last year (2017), so much has gone down, not just globally but in the personal lives of multitudes, self included. In fact, in the past four months, since the last post, I had more than once thought that I was one of the ones the Lord was having “stand down”; and that the separating of the sheep had passed over me, and I was found on the side that was not the remnant, like the 10,000 in Gideon’s army that returned home because fear ruled in their heart.

Although I previously mentioned the part above, it is important to understand that if you are keeping a repentant heart and cleaving to the Lord, He will let you know. It is good if we do not think more highly of ourselves than we ought, but do not let Satan rob you of your right standing with God.

Together, the Holy Spirit and you have come a long way on a narrow path. There have been obstacles, traps, and rugged terrain where knees got skinned, and egos got bruised, perhaps even crushed. It is good to let pride go - we all struggle with it, some much more than others.

. 

The Lord is faithful always to help us. He never leaves or forsakes. Do not fall for the lies of Satan, his demonic legions, or any enemy of the cross and of Christ.

In the upcoming articles, this will be expounded upon, but not here, not now. I simply want to say that many have been going through fire and storms (trials and tribulations), but for many, it was the trying of our faith to see what is in our hearts. It is a process. It was not the first (for the majority) - it won't be the last.

Remember, on the last day of last year (2017), He forewarned His people about greedy shepherds, false prophets, lazy watchmen, false brethren, and more. However, in the months following, beginning the first day of January 2018, of which we are now in the sixth month, the Lord has been trying (testing) us to see whether we love God with all our heart, mind, and soul; to see what is in our heart.

And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, and to prove (test) you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments, or no. [Deut 8:2]

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. [Jer 17:10]

Remember how Adam had been given one commandment to test him and to see what was in his heart (whether obedience or not) and if he would obey the Word of God?  We too can expect this test, though it will not be the commandment to not eat the fruit of a particular tree (though God could command that) but to see if we will obey His Word (Bible).

Yes, I had thought that after all my years of writing and warning people, and urging people to repent and walk holy and circumspectly, I thought these past four months were a trial in which I had failed. What a frightening and horrifying thought, a heart-wrenching possibility! 

Humility and Repentance

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

And they went out and preached that men should repent. [Ezek 18:30; Mk6:12]

But we also have an adversary who is often used in the testing of our faith and obedience. He is the strong and cruel accuser of the brethren!

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. [1Pet 5:6-9]

Within the next couple of days, I will post the next article. For those who feel like giving up; the name of the series should come as both an exhortation and an encouragement: You are not alone; the Lord Jesus/Yeshua is always with you. We cannot go by feelings - they will fail us. We cannot go by our thoughts - they are fickle and often dependent on our surroundings and other factors.

Jesus never fails. We may not understand or like what God allows to happen, or allows what we must go through, but He sees so much more than we do. We have to learn, to come to a place where we trust God/Jesus no matter what. It is not always easy. That is the truth.

Don’t Quit Just Before the Finish Line

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See you do it not: I am your fellow-servant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. [Rev 19:19]

for His glory

Bonita                                   dovesofthevalleys4@gmail.com