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
In other words, it is CHRIST [Messiah] that must be seen in us (HE increases) but the law must decrease (for the law, in which mankind failed [we could not measure up to perfectly obey the law]: law = the old covenant).
That does not mean the law is null and void and we can live lawlessly.
It means:
Yeshua (our Jesus) was the 'perfect' Lamb, without spot, blemish, or wrinkle. In other words, He never sinned. He willingly offered up His life (for this reason, He came) as a sacrifice to satisfy the penalty of sin [disobedience to God equals separation from God which is spiritual death]. His death fulfilled the demands of the law.
That is why Yeshua (Jesus the Christ) is the ONLY way to be reconciled back to the holy, living God, spiritually 'born-again' (never to be separated from God again)
Indeed, He (Yeshua/Jesus) must increase [new covenant - grace]; I must decrease [old covenant, the 'old man' who disobeyed the law]
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
• law •
grace
• blood (animal sacrifice, heifer) • 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
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 [division] happening 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 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.
Satan is the father of lies. He works with the fallen flesh of mankind, hoping to trap us with some temptation (we all vary in our strengths and weaknesses - your strength may be my weakness, and vice versa).
We must be keen in discerning Satan's voice, our flesh, or the Shepherd's. Satan/Lucifer is the master deceiver; there is no truth in him. He may borrow a truth but twist it to deceive you. He is the author of confusion, and confusion is rampant in the fog of war, but trust the Spirit of God in every battle because for this reason (salvation) Messiah came. [Is 9:5]
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...never, because he will try.
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! Not just to fail a loving God, and the rescuer of my soul as well as my very salvation, but to fail and be a hypocrite to boot!
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 CAN NOT 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
Two preachers I had great respect for, likely because they seemed like men who were good fathers, but more importantly, men who loved the true, living God, YHWH, and exalted Jesus/Yeshua above all, both spoke about never giving up.
I did not follow either one when they were alive. Derek Prince was a new name to me about 2009/10, and even then I did not respond immediately to checking him out. His sermon about not giving up was the one that caught my attention.
David Wilkerson wrote a book called "The Cross and the Switchblade", which was lent to me in my 30s. It was a book that left a lasting impression upon me because after I was returned from kidnapping, my first drug of choice was heroin, but I did not know it was addictive. I never got addicted to it, and when I stopped about six months later (I never did it daily or anything), but I never returned to it. (THAT alone had to be Jesus, not me!)
Don't give up was his message to the lost. But it was how David had such compassion and understanding for the street kids, the gangs, the drug addicts and prostitutes that captured my heart. What kind of love is that, I had wondered.
I received some of his newsletters before he passed, and watched a few videos of Pastor Wilkerson's, but had only committed about six years before he passed. but I remember being deeply saddened when I heard about his untimely death.
A great depth of sorrow swept over me when his beloved wife passed about a year later...and my heart went out to their children and grandchildren. David Wilkerson also said something profound about 'giving up' that I still remember to this day, although it's been about
For me, giving up is rarely an option, but I have had my moments, and may have moments again when I think I cannot possibly make it. The intent is certainly not in giving up on Jesus, since He Himself is forever a treasure.
He is the King, Lord and Saviour of the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom whose beauty, value/worth which is likened to that of a great pearl, and how a soul should 'treasure' such a find.
Was it a matter of lacking the confidence in my strength to finish running the race, or was it more a matter of 'trust', knowing who it is that gives the strength - correction -- who IS my strength when I am weak?
When I was young, I trusted everyone who smiled and spoke kindly or in a non-threatening way. After I was kidnapped on my 16th birthday, I trusted few. After marrying an abusive, alcoholic man (which was rebellion since God let me know beforehand that I was not to marry him), who even trespassed against his own children, I trusted no one.
Through time, repentance, testing, godly sorrow and brokenness, forgiving, and more, the Lord helped me to build up trust in Him, step by step, from glory to glory - the very one who deserved automatic trust was the very one most patient in understanding and waiting. The Lord balances all things if we let Him do His work in us, and work with Him.
God is patient and kind, but He is no fool. I had no real guidance in my faith (it's a long story - another time), although I wanted to understand. He really picked from the bottom of the pile when He pulled me out of my stench - I am so grateful. Few others would stoop so low, but God /Jesus is like no other - NONE!
The two men, Derek Prince and David Wilkerson (alphabetical order) both had thought-provoking, faith-cementing statements regarding "giving up". Let's put it in simplistic and paraphrased order here, if I may.
(Of course I may - the privilege of having my own blog lol)
Derek Prince basically stated that when God is testing us, or when we are in a situation that seems never-ending [yes, even if it has gone on for 30-40 years - even Abraham waited 25 years, Joseph of the Hebrew tribes (Jacob's sons) waited 13 years], God never says it is a six-month trial and you only have one more day to go before it is over.
We have to wait, NOT knowing how long a trial (test) or tribulation will be, and endure to the end. Many give up. Some fall, determined that it is enough, but then chose to rise again. Good.
It is not the falling down that defines you, it is what you do when you RISE back UP and go forward, determined to HOLD FAST to Christ, STANDING FIRMLY upon the Rock, a sure and solid foundation, ENDURING to the end.
Submit to God (sweet surrender - so many despise that, pride says, 'You're no slave, do not surrender - they lack understanding).
What is Abraham gave up after 24 years, 11 months, and 23 hours, not knowing there was only ONE hour left? What if Joseph gave up after he interpreted the dreams of the pharaoh's wine taster and his baker, instead of waiting the two years out?
And to those who think Abraham and Sarah gave up when Abraham went to Hagar [Sarah's handmaiden] and she conceived Ishmael means they gave up, no longer trusting in God or His promise. The answer is "No".
Impatience is not to be mistaken for giving up. Abraham and Sarah believed God, but in their minds (looking at the outward appearance), they were no longer young, and it had already been ten years [a decade] since the promise.
Derek Prince had the right idea. God does not tell us how long a test or a tribulation will be. He knows we are impatient creatures. I believe that is why the time of our departure from these earthen vessels is kept from us also. How could we enjoy life doing a "count-down" to our time -- and the pressure! The Lord is wise in all His ways.
So, Prince encourages us not to give up because we could be on the last day, and what a shame to call it 'quits' then, when we were so close.
David Wilkerson not only encouraged those in the sheepfold, but he also encouraged the children he was raising. He strongly endorses endurance, stating emphatically that the last half hour of a test or a tribulation is the hardest part. That is the time that most people give up and quit, having no more strength to go on. But he explains it.
How many of us cry out saying, the harder I try (to do things properly or as instructed), the worse it gets. The closer I walk with Jesus, the more everything comes against me. Because of your closeness, you are a target - you are a threat to the adversary's kingdom!
Or you may say, the more I read the Word and study it, the more other voices come at me, bringing confusion - whether it is the devil (and his minions), my flesh (with its desires, wants, and needs, or at least what it 'thinks' it needs), or other voices in the world, along with their temptations.
Satan is the author of confusion, and his intent is to have your faith destroyed, and then have unbelief give way to a reprobate mind. Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy,
Brother Wilkerson reminds us that there could only be a half hour left, that is all, but the intensity of the test or the tribulation can weary us, leaving us at the place where we say we have had enough, just as Job, Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, and other men of God did.
Believing, prayer, sweat, pain, tears, faith, trust, perseverance - this is the investment that is placed in things that we believe God for, holding fast to Messiah in faith, trusting His promises, both corporate (for all believers) and personal (between Yahweh and any one of His own).
The prayers of the saints envelope all these things - all the tear-soaked praise, all the sweat of perseverance, fueled by the pain of endless hope that has kept the weary during the turbulent storms in the spiritual realm; storms that continue to beat against a house, threatening to bring it down with its violent winds and stinging pellets of rain.
It is dramatized by thunderous outbursts [the angry rhetoric of the opposition] and blinding flashes of lightning [unexpected clashes from the enemies of darkness against the children of light].
The spiritual war is constant; the battles have been planned from long ago and are being carried out strategically. Yet, the book of Revelation unveils the victory that Yeshua and all who are His gain as spoil in the end. God's kingdom wins. There should be no doubt, and all will bow to Christ Jesus in the end.
Wilkerson's warning that the hardest part of the test, tribulation (trial) or battle is in the half hour [where most friends flee], and just before the victory. Most people give up in the last half hour.
Hold fast, beloved soul, hold tight God Almighty through Jesus Christ, even though it is the hardest part of the test, the trial, or the battle, needs to be earnestly obeyed. I cannot remember who said it but it is akin "the strongest onslaught is just before the victoryl"
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
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