THE COST OF TRUE DICIPLESHIP

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THE COST OF TRUE DICIPLESHIP

 As we celebration the birth of our Savior, Lord and King Jesus Christ this Christmas I was quiet before the Lord and thanking the Lord Jesus for the atonement and the gift of salvation through Christ Jesus when the Lord spoke to me about the season we are in and how it will get more profound and intensify.

We mustn’t confuse “believing” in Christ Jesus with “following” Christ Jesus.  After all even the demons believe, treble and fear at the name of Jesus.  We must be FULLY SUBMITTED, COMMITTED AND OBEDIENT TO BOTH THE WRITTEN WORD AND SPIRIT OF THE LORD JESUS.

James 2:19 (NKJV)

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Matthew 16:24–26 (NKJV)

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

John 14:15 (NKJV)

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.

The season we are in and quickly progressing in is a season of “true discipleship” and the true cost of being a disciple of Christ Jesus.  We MUST be willing to go through the “refiners fire” of the Lord Jesus! We must reflect and ask ourselves what will it cost each of us to follow Christ Jesus to do the work of HIS Kingdom and the works of the Holy Spirit?  Everything that is not godly or of the Lord Jesus is about to be shaken and challenged! Our free will to cast down every idol as well as the repentance of sins for the purposes of the Lord Jesus will be challenged and must be forsaken as we put Jesus first as LORD AND SAVIOR.  As Joshua spoke, choose this day whom you will serve WITH FULLNESS OF HEART.  Each breath and every moment we draw closer to the return of the Lord Jesus and everything that is not of Jesus will be consumed in fire, thus the “heat” of the “refiners fire” is intensifying as evil is called good and good is called evil in an ungodly world.

Joshua 24:14–15 (NKJV)

14 “Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” 

Malachi 3:3 (NKJV)

He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;

He will purify the sons of Levi,

And purge them as gold and silver,

That they may offer to the LORD

An offering in righteousness.

We must not confuse fellowships and friendships with being fully/truly submitted and committed with abiding and dwelling in ONE ACCORD with Christ Jesus.  Every relationship is being tested and refined as well as earthly possessions and every idol of the heart! We must put Jesus first and foremost in our lives and hearts.  We must return fully to our “First Love” Christ Jesus.

Acts 2:1 (NKJV)

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Luke 14:26 (NKJV)

 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

Abraham was called to sacrifice his only son, Job was tested to the point that even his own wife told him to curse the Lord and die.  Job’s friends accused him of sin, Job’s losses were many while trying to stay committed and devoted to the Lord.  His family, wealth, friends and health were test and tried.  We are going to go through much of the same to reach the fullness of Christ Jesus as the intensity and refiners fire is being turned up.  We must decide like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego if we are willing to give our lives unto death for the Lord Jesus.  We must choose the fire of refinement over the fires of eternal damnation and destruction.

Daniel 3:14–18 (NKJV)

14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” 

Much of today’s church is building up gifting and callings but omit Holiness and righteousness of Christ Jesus!  It would be wise to remember that the Lord is returning for a Bride without spot or wrinkle!  The callings and giftings are irrevocable and they are no true sign of holiness, righteousness or even the true Holy Spirit! 

Romans 11:29 (NKJV)

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Matthew 7:21–23 (NKJV)

True Way into the Kingdom

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Ephesians 5:27 (NKJV)

that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

We must each examine ourselves before partaking of the bread and wine of our Lord Jesus.  We must come before the Lord with purity of heart.  We must repent and get right with the Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 11:28 (NKJV)

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 

Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)

Blessed are the pure in heart,

For they shall see God.

 

Psalm 51 (NKJV)

PSALM 51

A Prayer of Repentance

 

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David When Nathan the Prophet Went to Him, After He Had Gone in to Bathsheba.

 

1      Have mercy upon me, O God,

According to Your lovingkindness;

According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,

Blot out my transgressions.

2      Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

And cleanse me from my sin.

 

3      For I acknowledge my transgressions,

And my sin is always before me.

4      Against You, You only, have I sinned,

And done this evil in Your sight—

That You may be found just when You speak,

And blameless when You judge.

 

5      Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

6      Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,

And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

 

7      Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8      Make me hear joy and gladness,

That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

9      Hide Your face from my sins,

And blot out all my iniquities.

 

10      Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11      Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

 

12      Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

13      Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

And sinners shall be converted to You.

 

14      Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,

The God of my salvation,

And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

15      O Lord, open my lips,

And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

16      For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;

You do not delight in burnt offering.

17      The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart—

These, O God, You will not despise.

 

18      Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;

Build the walls of Jerusalem.

19      Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,

With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;

Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

 

We are called to the LIFE OF CHIST not merely to believe in the existence of Christ Jesus.  It would be wise to read and reflect on all of the Pauline Epistles of Timothy.

 

Ephesians 4:1–6 (NKJV)

Walk in Unity

4 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

 

1 Corinthians 16:13 (NKJV)

Final Exhortations

13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

 

May the fullness of Christ be with you!  Blessing, peace and joy from our Lord Jesus.

SLAYING GIANTS

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SLAYING GIANTS

When DAVID killed Goliath He was an ambassador for Christ as Jesus and all of the Kingdom of Heaven were with DAVID.  No other Israelite stood against Goliath with DAVID!  The beginning of the mighty men requires true and complete submission, trust, faith, relationship and dependency upon Christ Jesus!

 Lessons of importance: 

  • DAVID was the youngest of his brothers as age or tenure doesn’t signify spiritual maturity.
  • DAVID stripped himself of anything that resembles earthly protection or dependency, there was NO potential for earthly glory/praise to man made protections or weaponry. 
  • DAVID proclaimed the Lord Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven and used a ROCK which is Christ Jesus to destroy the enemy!  Yes, the Rock Christ Jesus killed Goliath and all of the Glory went to the Lord! 
  • DAVID’S personal walk and relationship with the Lord was not dependent or subject to anyone other than Christ Jesus. 
  • Sometimes the least likely is called to glorify the Lord.
  • The promises of God are personal and not dependent upon human approval or acceptance. 
  • The name of Jesus is not just a name where 2 or more gather but gather in the nature, virtues, attributes in full submission to the Lord.  No one assembled with David as the Israelites didn’t stand with David to fight until after the giant was slain! 
  • Fear is crippling and mountains are moved by the power of the Lord!  There is no true fullness of faith where there is not total surrender to your personal life or desires even in the face of death.  (Abraham called to sacrifice his son). 
  • The Word without the Rock Jesus is use-less as you can’t copy a method as we are called to the life of Christ Jesus.  
  • David spent alone time with the Lord and as he was not found with his brothers or parents when Samuel arrived.  It is likely to believe that David spent much alone time with the Lord as His relationship with the Lord was personal and not dependent upon others or influenced by others.
  • We often look to others to kill the giants in our lives but we must rely on Christ Jesus first and foremost.

Acts 19:13–17 (AMP)

13 Then some of the traveling Jewish exorcists (men who adjure evil spirits) also undertook to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, I solemnly implore and charge you by the Jesus Whom Paul preaches!

14 Seven sons of a certain Jewish chief priest named Sceva were doing this.

15 But [one] evil spirit retorted, Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?

16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit dwelt leaped upon them, mastering two of them, and was so violent against them that they dashed out of that house [in fear], stripped naked and wounded.

17 This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, and alarm and terror fell upon them all; and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled and magnified.

 

1 Samuel 17:31–58 (AMP)

31 When David’s words were heard, they were repeated to Saul, and he sent for him.

32 David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of this Philistine; your servant will go out and fight with him.

33 And Saul said to David, You are not able to go to fight against this Philistine. You are only an adolescent, and he has been a warrior from his youth.

34 And David said to Saul, Your servant kept his father’s sheep. And when there came a lion or again a bear and took a lamb out of the flock,

35 I went out after it and smote it and delivered the lamb out of its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard and smote it and killed it.

36 Your servant killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God!

37 David said, The Lord Who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and the Lord be with you!

38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail.

39 And David girded his sword over his armor. Then he tried to go, but could not, for he was not used to it. And David said to Saul, I cannot go with these, for I am not used to them. And David took them off.

40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones out of the brook and put them in his shepherd’s [lunch] bag [a whole kid’s skin slung from his shoulder], in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand, and he drew near the Philistine.

41 The Philistine came on and drew near to David, the man who bore the shield going before him.

42 And when the Philistine looked around and saw David, he scorned and despised him, for he was but an adolescent, with a healthy reddish color and a fair face.

43 And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that you should come to me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44 The Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.

45 Then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the ranks of Israel, Whom you have defied.

46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will smite you and cut off your head. And I will give the corpses of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.

48 When the Philistine came forward to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.

49 David put his hand into his bag and took out a stone and slung it, and it struck the Philistine, sinking into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck down the Philistine and slew him. But no sword was in David’s hand.

51 So he ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath, and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their mighty champion was dead, they fled.

52 And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron. So the wounded Philistines fell along the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron.

53 The Israelites returned from their pursuit of the Philistines and plundered their tents.

54 David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.

55 When Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As your soul lives, O king, I cannot tell.

56 And the king said, Inquire whose son the stripling is.

57 When David returned from killing Goliath the Philistine, Abner brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58 And Saul said to him, Whose son are you, young man? And David answered, I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.

PSALM 91 AMP

HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!

3 For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

4 [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.

5 You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,

6 Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.

8 Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, [Ps. 91:1, 14.]

10 There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.

11 For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

12 They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. [Luke 4:10, 11; Heb. 1:14.]

13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot. [Luke 10:19.]

14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

 

PREPARE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

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URGENT CALL TO PREPARE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

 

In a recent dream the Lord gave me I kept seeing a bride and the Lord kept giving me the number 40 with the vision of the bride and a wedding ceremony.  As I was dreaming I kept thinking and speaking to the Lord why the number 40, this can’t be personal and for me as I wouldn’t marry someone that much younger then myself.

 

As I awakened I kept thinking of the number 40 along with the dream the Lord gave me.  Through my quiet time, prayer and seeking the Lord He revealed that He was referring to His church and the “Bride of Christ”.   I called a friend and was telling them of the dream and as I was telling them the Spirit of the Lord hit me profoundly and I began to weep under the presence of the Lord as His burden for His bride became even more real, prevalent and urgent than ever!   We should take heed in the number 40 as it represents such things as the “wilderness” which is testing, refinement, separation, unthankfulness, unrepentant, etc towards the Lord.  The Lord revealed that much of his church believes they are already “bride” ready when in fact they are in the wilderness and don’t even know it because they are deceived and bound by pride, self-righteousness and a spirit of delusion and error.  The Lord is warning that His bride will soon have experiences and revelations that they are in the wilderness verses the inner court.  Wilderness can be for edification, sanctification and spiritual growth even if it is unpleasant but even gold must be purified as the dross must be removed and the Lord is about to allow the wilderness to remove the dross from the hearts of His people.   People will bow to the “potter” and realize that they are mere clay in the hands of their Lord and Master.

 

Proverbs 25:4 (AMP)

4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth [the material for] a vessel for the silversmith [to work up]. [II Tim. 2:21.]

 

My prayers have been very focused for the “remnant and bride” of Christ and to prepare the bride for the return of the Lord.  We all know the parable about the 10 virgins and the wedding ceremony in Matthew 25.  My spirit is grieving for the Lord as the bride is not ready and many are following the traditions and systematical organizations of men and religion verses the Spirit of the Lord.  Sin and ungodliness have been embraced in the hearts of people which is a mockery and perversion of the power of the Blood of Jesus and power of the Spirit of the Lord.  The hearts of many are failing them as they deny faith unto sanctification, holiness and the righteousness of Christ Jesus.  We are witnessing Jesus own words in Luke 18.

 

Luke 18:6–8 (AMP)

6 Then the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says! 

7 And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He defer them and delay help on their behalf? 

8 I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth?

 

The bride is not willing to “pay the price” for the wedding ceremony which is the price of sacrifice such as laying down/dying to the worldliness, “old carnal nature” and seeking sanctification and holiness unto the Lord.  Too many are embracing the fallen nature instead of crucifying the “old man” and living the resurrected life of Christ as in Galatians 2:20!   Telling people you are “only human” is an excuse not to seek the Lord’s mercy and grace unto sanctification.  The same faith unto salvation is the same faith unto sanctification! While it is true that we are human isn’t it true Jesus was human also for Jesus had to come as a man to justify and redeem mankind.  None of us are exempt from temptation in this fallen world however are we to deny the finished work of Calvary and the Blood of Jesus because of the fallen nature we were/are redeemed from?

 

1 Corinthians 11:28 (AMP)

28 Let a man [thoroughly] examine himself, and [only when he has done] so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

 

1 Corinthians 15:21 (AMP)

21 For since [it was] through a man that death [came into the world, it is] also through a Man that the resurrection of the dead [has come].

 

Romans 5:17 (AMP)

17 For if because of one man’s trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God’s] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

 

Romans 6:1–14 (AMP)

WHAT SHALL we say [to all this]? Are we to remain in sin in order that God’s grace (favor and mercy) may multiply and overflow? 

2 Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? 

3 Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 

4 We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life. 

5 For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God]. 

6 We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. 

7 For when a man dies, he is freed (loosed, delivered) from [the power of] sin [among men]. 

8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 

9 Because we know that Christ (the Anointed One), being once raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him. 

10 For by the death He died, He died to sin [ending His relation to it] once for all; and the life that He lives, He is living to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. 

11 Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus. 

12 Let not sin therefore rule as king in your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies, to make you yield to its cravings and be subject to its lusts and evil passions. 

13 Do not continue offering or yielding your bodily members [and faculties] to sin as instruments (tools) of wickedness. But offer and yield yourselves to God as though you have been raised from the dead to [perpetual] life, and your bodily members [and faculties] to God, presenting them as implements of righteousness. 

14 For sin shall not [any longer] exert dominion over you, since now you are not under Law [as slaves], but under grace [as subjects of God’s favor and mercy].

 

Galatians 2:20 (AMP)

I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

 

People are following methods, other people and FALSE gods which are idols of their hearts.  While even “methods” may have a measure of success that success is often our own efforts and will of the flesh which is not surrendered to the Lord.  Just because methods have success doesn’t mean the Lord is in the method!  Much of the church/body will not acknowledge nor engage in the spiritual warfare to protect, deliver and uphold the sanctuary of the Lord and “popularity” and notoriety has replaced the Glory and presence of the Lord Jesus.  The lack of spiritual discernment and ungodly covenants/agreements has blinded many into following “charisma” verses Christ.

 

The Lord brought Ezekiel 8 to my attention of the abominations in the temple of the Lord!  The Lord is grieving for the purity and holiness of His bride and yet there is sin without repentance, spiritual adultery/fornication, idolatry and much more taking place in the sanctuary of the Lord.  We must remember that the Lord will NOT dwell in what human hands/works has made!  Hearts of professing believers (not followers) are not submitted to Christ nor do they exhibit evidence of spiritual fruit.  Talking the talk is not walking the walk. Just as the hearts of the religious leaders would not turn towards the Lord thus the Lord turned over the tables and ridded HIS church of what was not of the Lord so it will be again.  The Lord has brought people to speak correction, holiness and sanctification only to be mocked, ridiculed and persecuted by professing believers/followers of Christ.  We must not forget that judgment starts in the house of the Lord.

 

Acts 7:48 (AMP)

48 However, the Most High does not dwell in houses and temples made with hands; as the prophet says, [Isa. 66:1, 2.]

 

Ezekiel 8:1–18 (AMP)

AND IN the sixth year [of the capitivity of King Jehoiachin], in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house [a captive of the Babylonians] with the elders of Judah sitting before me, the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me. 

2 Then I beheld, and lo, a likeness of a Man with the appearance of fire; from His waist downward He was like fire, and from His waist upward He had the appearance of brightness like gleaming bronze. 

3 And He put forth the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heavens and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the door of the inner [court] which faces toward the north, where was the seat of the idol (image) of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy. [II Kings 16:10-16; 21:4, 5.]

4 And behold, there was the glory of the God of Israel [Who had loved and chosen them], like the vision I saw in the plain. [Ezek. 1:28; 3:22, 23.]

5 Then He [the Spirit] said to me, Son of man, now lift up your eyes toward the north. So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, on the north of the altar gate was that idol (image) of jealousy in the entrance. 

6 Furthermore, [the Spirit] said to me, Son of man, do you see what they are doing? The great abominations that the house of Israel is committing here to drive Me far from My sanctuary? But you shall again see greater abominations. 

7 And He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall. 

8 Then He said to me, Son of man, dig now in the wall. And when I had dug in the wall, behold, there was a door. 

9 And He said to me, Go in and see the wicked abominations that they do here. 

10 So I went in and saw there pictures of every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts and all the idols of the house of Israel, painted round about on the wall. 

11 And there stood before these [pictures] seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan [the scribe], with every man his censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense was going up [in prayer to these their gods]. 

12 Then said He to me, Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his [secret] chambers of [idol] pictures? For they say, The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land. 

13 He also said to me, Yet again you shall see greater abominations which they are committing. 

14 Then He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the Lord’s house; and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz [a Babylonian god, who was supposed to die annually and subsequently be resurrected]. 

15 Then said [the Spirit] to me, Have you seen this, O son of man? Yet again you shall see greater abominations that they are committing. 

16 And He brought me to the inner court of the Lord’s house; and behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the bronze altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they were bowing themselves toward the east and worshiping the sun. 

17 Then [the Spirit] said to me, Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it too slight a thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here, that they must fill the land with violence and turn back afresh to provoke Me to anger? And behold, they put the branch to their nose [actually, before their mouths, in superstitious worship]! 

18 Therefore I will deal in wrath; My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them. [Prov. 1:28; Isa. 1:15; Jer. 11:11; 14:12; Mic. 3:4; Zech. 7:13.]

 

The number 40 biblically is of great significance and the Lord gave me the number 40 concerning the bride of Christ.  The Lord revealed that His bride is in the wilderness, self seeking their own ways and methods and not fully submitted to the Lord and that some are not submitted at all.

 

Life is but a vapor and time is of the utter importance and salvation is not to be taken lightly for all of eternity weighs in the balance.  The Word of the Lord was revealed that His bride believes they are bride ready but the Lord is about to expose much of the church’s true spiritual state and the “wilderness” will become reality very soon to those who falsely believe they are bride ready and prepared for the wedding ceremony!  We must choose without faulting whom we shall serve this day and every day as the testing of the bride through the wilderness is soon upon us.  I pray for a Damascus encounter for those who believe they are with Christ but are truly lost and that their wilderness encounter will include a “burning bush” of Glory.  I pray for the refinement, holiness and righteousness of Christ in His bride for the Lord is worthy of all Glory, Honor and Praise!

 

1 Chronicles 29:11 (AMP)

11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and the earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and Yours it is to be exalted as Head over all.

We must discern the times we are in and let us hear what the Lord is saying to His church!  This is not meant to be judgmental but rather an urgency in preparation for the bride to prepare for the wedding ceremony and for our Bride-Groom Christ Jesus!  Many falsely believe that remittance of sin excludes repentance of sin and this is a lie.  Both John the baptist and Jesus first spoke of repentance as the Kingdom of God was at hand.  There is little spoken today about repentance and if we compare King David with King Saul we see that Saul’s repentance was superficial and not from his heart like David’s repentance.  Saul wanted to appear right with people while David wanted to get right with the Lord!

 

Revelation 2:29 (AMP)

29 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

 

Luke 12:56 (AMP)

You playactors (hypocrites)! You know how [intelligently] to discern and interpret and prove the looks of the earth and sky; but how is it that you do not know how to discern and interpret and apply the proof to this present time?

 

Those who worship the Lord must worship in spirit and truth as they are both one in the same as Jesus is the Way, Truth and the Life! The Lord has spoken and said much of His bride is in the wilderness and not seeking Him in Spirit and Truth!  We know that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life so if you are not seeking the Truth are you truly seeking Jesus?

 

John 14:6 (AMP)

Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.

The Lord is sounding the trumpet of the true prophet and apostolic messengers, let our ears be open to what the Lord is saying as we prepare for the day of the Lord Jesus.

 

Matthew 23:34–36 (AMP)

34 Because of this, take notice: I am sending you prophets and wise men (interpreters and teachers) and scribes (men learned in the Mosaic Law and the Prophets); some of them you will kill, even crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue and persecute from town to town, 

35 So that upon your heads may come all the blood of the righteous (those who correspond to the divine standard of right) shed on earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar [of burnt offering]. [Gen. 4:8; II Chron. 24:21.]

36 Truly I declare to you, all these [evil, calamitous times] will come upon this generation. [II Chron. 36:15, 16.]

 

Life is a vapor and the winds of destruction/judgment and the wind of life (Spirit of the Lord) are blowing yet many cannot discern the difference as sin, deception and worldliness has veiled their eyes, ears and hearts!  It is time to repent and turn back to your first love Christ Jesus and to love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, body and soul.  Time waits for no man or woman, for today is the day of salvation.

 

1 Kings 19:11–18 (AMP)

11 And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 

12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice. 

13 When Elijah heard the voice, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah? 

14 He said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts, because the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and slain Your prophets with the sword. And I, I only, am left, and they seek my life, to destroy it. 

15 And the Lord said to him, Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 

16 And anoint Jehu son of Nimshi to be king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah to be prophet in your place. 

17 And him who escapes from the sword of Hazael Jehu shall slay, and him who escapes the sword of Jehu Elisha shall slay. 

18 Yet I will leave Myself 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.

 

Revelation 2:4 (AMP)

4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].

 

Matthew 22:37 (AMP)

37 And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). [Deut. 6:5.]

 

Let us each search our own hearts before the Lord seeking the Lord in Spirit and Truth.  We must have pure hearts before the Lord for nothing is hidden before the Lord and there is no “secret sin” or ungodly covenants that are hidden from the Lord. Let us be awakened to the urgency of the times we live in and seek Matthew 6:33 the righteousness of Christ Jesus and His Kingdom and His will not ours.  It is time for the fear of the Lord to be in the hearts of His chosen and to have no other love placed before the Love of the Lord Jesus.

 

Isaiah 26:9 (AMP)

9 My soul yearns for You [O Lord] in the night, yes, my spirit within me seeks You earnestly; for [only] when Your judgments are in the earth will the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God).

 

Psalm 19:9 (AMP)

9 The [reverent] fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

 

1 Peter 4:17 (AMP)

17 For the time [has arrived] for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will [be] the end of those who do not respect or believe or obey the good news (the Gospel) of God?

 

Mercy has already triumphed our personal judgment on the Cross of Calvary and redemption is through the Blood and Atonement of Christ Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.  Behold, the Lamb of God is also the Lion of Judah!

 

Awaken the Bride of Christ, repent and return to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!

 

Ephesians 5:14 (AMP)

14 Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light. [Isa. 26:19; 60:1, 2.]

CODDLING vs. CUDDLING

/in , , , /by

Coddling Vs. Cuddling

Do you coddle or cuddle?  They are not the same even though the motives may be genuine and heartfelt.

Coddle: coddle |ˈkädl|

verb [ with obj. ]

1 treat in an indulgent or overprotective way: I was coddled and cosseted.

Cuddle:  cuddle |ˈkədl|

verb [ with obj. ]

hold close in one’s arms as a way of showing love or affection: he cuddles the baby close | they were cuddling each other in the back seat | [ no obj. ] : the pairhave been spotted kissing and cuddling.

• [ no obj. ] lie or sit close and snug: I love cuddling upin front of a fire | they cuddled together to keep out the cold.

I have witnessed many times the devastation caused by coddling vs. cuddling and the destruction that it causes.  I’d like to share a couple of real testimonies to help address these problems.

Our human characteristics are geared toward coping mechanisms and this can be a slow painful experience for many people.  This coping or coddling is extremely unhealthy and I have found myself ministering to many people who unknowingly are coddlers believing they are cuddlers!  Coddling does not free people.  Coddling actually creates the very atmosphere of what you are attempting to safeguard others from.  It is based in fear feeding the need to protect.  Protecting someone doesn’t assist them in self protection it only makes you the protector!  When this coddling through control is present an increase in rebellion is built in the very people you wish to protect and strife, division and frustration are likely to increase.

When someone has a spiritual wound, scar or stronghold from a painful and emotional event or trauma and doesn’t get spiritual healing, they do as many others have done and learn to cope or manage with that problem falsely believing and even perceiving that they received potential healing or deliverance.  Surpressing and coping are not overcoming!   What inevitably happens is out of love to protect others from the same traumatic or painful event we have experienced we create the spiritual atmosphere of our own wounds by controlling, dominating or even manipulative in and effort of protection and/or love.  While the intent of the heart is genuine the spirit behind this is ungodly and quite frankly often witchcraft.

I can’t express enough the necessity to fully embrace Matthew 11 28-30.

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)

Let me share with you a couple of testimonies of ministry that might help you achieve revelations.

Last summer while returning to Northern New England I received an online message from a woman in her thirties who I met through a local church.  She sent me an online message and wanted to seek counsel.  I messaged her back and told her to pick a time to meet over the next couple of days and I would adjust to her schedule.  Two days later I received and online message that she was hospitalized with the symptoms of a heart attack.  I told her I would come to see in the hospital her after church.  When I arrived at the hospital I received another message that she was moved to another hospital with a better cardiac facility.

As I drove to the hospital I prayed and sought the Lord for His wisdom and counsel.  I asked the Lord what I was dealing with and the Lord spoke to me and said it was “broken heart syndrome”.  When I arrived I met her mother in the hallway prior to seeing her daughter.  I knew the mother from prior events.  I told her that her daughter wanted to see me and the mother was glad to see me and said she didn’t know I had returned to the area after traveling the country several times in ministry the previous year.

I told the mother that the Lord told me her daughter would be ok and that she would not need surgery as her heart would recover normally even though she had indeed damaged her heart.  I told her that the Lord said it was “broken heart syndrome”.  When we walked toward the ICU room the charge nurse approached us and said the test results returned.  He informed the mother that the daughter had a torn heart valve and that it would mend on it’s own in about 6 months and the cause of this was classified as “broken heart syndrome”.  The mother looked at me and was speechless.  I told the charge nurse that this is exactly what the Lord revealed to me on the way to the hospital and that I would pray for the young lady.

After the mother had left I ministered to the daughter a while and prayed for her.  We discussed some matters and then I let her rest and said I would return the following day.

When I returned the following day the young lady was having heart pain and pressure and was receiving nitro pills. Her younger sister was there.  I then ministered to them both and gave them the word of the Lord.  I said your symptoms are real and the effects are devastating to your health but the root of the problem is not yours.  I continued to tell them that the root was the condemnation their mother felt as a failed parent and that their mother needed to forgive herself.  I said your mom is feeling responsible for your bad decisions in life from when you were growing up and the enemy has her bound and she needs to forgive herself.  I said your mother is attempting to control your life in an attempt to safeguard you.  This controlling and overbearing nature was creating the extreme pressure and strife causing her heart problems.  The older sister told her younger sister to listen closely as this really witnessed to them.  I said your mom loves you and is trying to protect you but because she is bound by overwhelming guilt and condemnation (not from the Lord) that the enemy put on her she was in essence redeeming herself in a protective or coddling manner.  This witnessed to them both.  I said you need to forgive your mother and understand how the enemy is working.  I said you made wrong decisions growing up and your mom is feeling accountable and needs to forgive herself.  I told her she needed to discuss this with her mom and admit that she made wrong decisions growing up and that her mom wasn’t at fault and needed to forgive herself.

The following day I returned to the hospital and visited with her.  We were both laughing and rejoicing as she was feeling so much better and had a release of burdens as “light and truth” were spoken.  She was discharged the following day and returned home to her mothers house and I never heard again from her even after attempting to follow up.  I was hoping to minister to her mother but I never received any reply after attempting to contact her.

The other day I had a similar instance happen at a conference I was hosting.  I noticed a woman who was receiving prayer after the meeting from the guest speaker.  As she was receiving prayer I saw in the spirit a whirlwind like a sandstorm over her head and as it kept spinning it progressively got clearer in time.  I prayed into this and then went and sat with her and shared what the Lord revealed.  I told her about the whirlwind and I told her that I also saw her holding her head up and smiling from ear to ear.  She said she couldn’t imaging a smile as she was depressed.  I said well this is what the Lord spoke to me with the vision.

The Lord showed me your need for inner healing from a traumatic event which you have tried for quite sometime to cope with.  He said that He sees your heart’s intent and that is out of love to protect your children but you are controlling them because you are coddling them in a protective mode because of this inner healing need.  The Lord is going to heal this inner healing need but He wants you to release it to Him.  That is why the whirlwind/dust storm got clearer as it kept spinning in the vision and the dust began to disappear.  The dust was the confusion caused by the controlling spirit which is witchcraft and the Lord is going to break this, I declare it in Jesus name!  She then went from tears to a big smile as I felt the Lord touch her as I rested my hand on her shoulder.  I said see, that is the smile the Lord showed me and the Lord just touched you.  She said yes He did and then the Lord touched her again.  She then said why don’t we receive this type of ministry at church.  I said I can’t answer for your church but unfortunately the Lord is sadden by this also.  I told her to seek the Lord first as He is your redeemer.  She then asked me if she could contact me if necessary and I said yes.  I often receive calls from people later as they share their testimony of what the Lord is doing in their life and we rejoice in the goodness of the Lord.

I love evangelism and I often do this simply by just making myself available to be a servant to the Lord.  I will often do my computer work or journaling in public and let the Lord highlight people that I can intercede in prayer or witness to.

So I ask you once again are you a coddler or cuddler?  Is fear motiving your need to coddle?  Are people more rebellious around you? If so, seek and ask the Lord to reveal any inner healing needs, need for forgiveness (self or others) or fearful things that are causing this coddling nature.

If you believe you are a coddler I’d like to pray with you.

Father I thank you that you discern all things and that you know the motives and intentions of our hearts.  Father I submit myself to you and pray that you reveal, expose and heal me from any inner healing needs or spirits of trauma, abuse, bitterness, unforgiveness, controlling spirits and all things which are ungodly or against the will of God over my life.  Lord I thank you for your redemptive love and the joy of my salvation through the finished work of the Cross of Christ Jesus.  Lord I thank you that your perfect love casts out all fear and that where the Spirit of The Lord is there is Freedom.  Lord thank you for never forsaking me, redeeming me and cleansing me with your blood.  I declare and proclaim that I am washed clean through the gift of repentance and the blood of Christ Jesus.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18 KJV)

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV)