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Raptured In Christ

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RAPTURED IN CHRIST 

As with any of the Word of God it must be revealed to us by the Spirit of God for true understanding and revelations.  My post is intended to open and broaden our minds to analyze and seek the Lord for the truth and the full counsel of God. 

I am not here to debate pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation or post- tribulation.  I am here to share what the Word of God says according to the Spirit of God as it was inspired and written by the Spirit of God.  As for me Heaven is my home and it is where I chose to live, dwell and occupy daily!  Earthly people have a house, but children of God have a dwelling place and home in Christ Jesus.  The spiritual man dwells in Christ.  Elijah was taken by a “whirl wind” (Just as in Acts 2:2) to heaven as Elijah lived and dwelled in the Spirit of God which is in Christ seated in Heaven,  Just as we should dwell in Christ just as Christ dwells in us. 

Psalm 91:1 (NKJV)

Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God

1         He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

2             Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 

I would suggest you read and meditation on the book of John 15th chapter which will expound more.  I will post a couple of excerpts here.

John 15:10 (NKJV)

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

John 14:15 (NKJV)

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

1 John 4:18–20 (NKJV)

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.

Obedience by Faith

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

Upon reading some of these scriptures we should all analyze ourselves as the Word and Spirit of God requires.  Why do we fear?  The Word states that if we keep His commandments we will abide in His love and God’s perfect love casts out ALL FEAR.  Do you have total peace in this world? Are you keeping the commandments of God and love God with all of our heart?  Do you love your earthly life or your spiritual life in Christ Jesus?

1 John 2:15 (NKJV)

Do Not Love the World

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Revelation 12:11–12 (NKJV)

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

The Lord has just put on my heart to share another point on a different topic but it will help to bring revelation to help with this topic.  I will start with a question which hopefully will open up our minds to seek revelation.  Where was David when he was inspired to write Psalm 23?  I am not referring to a region, nation but much, much larger! 

David was on the earth and who is the prince and power of the air?  Psalm 23 wasn’t written for the dead it was written for those living in Christ on earth.  The valley of the shadow of death is the earth as we are surrounded by people that are physically alive but spiritually dead as well as surrounded by evil spirits.  Now read Psalm 23 below.

 

Psalm 23 (NKJV)

Psalm 23

The Lord The Shepherd of His People

A Psalm of David.

1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

3He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever.

 It would be good to meditate on this and also remember the fifth line is prophesying of partaking in Christ as in the last supper.  No matter where we are, how much evil we are subjected to or surrounded by, we too can partake in the Bread of Life!  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!

It would also be worth noting that Elisha may have followed Elijah but he did not idolize Elijah or praise Elijah but rather called on the God of Elijah to part the water!  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord God! I say this because there is much idolatry in the church structure and we are told to lift up only one NAME which is Christ Jesus.  We have ONE MEDIATOR, ONE TRUE LIVING GOD and ONE NAME which salvation may be acquired and found.

Acts 4:12 (NKJV)

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

2 Kings 2:14 (NKJV)

14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

One particular church the Lord sent me to was having a bible study and two pastors were reviewing the book of Revelations with the group.  It was more a reading than a study and I can read the bible myself.  I was hoping for the “meat” and not the “milk” of God’s Word. 

One pastor said we needed to tell people about the book of Revelations and the things that will happen so people will accept Jesus and avoid the tribulation by being raptured.  Nothing of repentance, cleansed by the Blood or the Gospel just save your earthly life mentality.  The other pastor didn’t really comment only just read what the bible stated.  I said to the both of them I was already raptured and according to Matthew 24 THESE THINGS WILL COME TO PASS, THEN THE LORD WILL RETURN.

 

They looked at me like I was a fool but I stood my position.  I said that a born again Christian was seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus.  Isn’t Jesus seated at the right hand of the Father, isn’t Jesus our dwelling place according to Psalm 91.  Didn’t Jesus say the world would love us if we were of this world but it hates us because we are no longer of this world.  Didn’t Jesus say that He wished the Father would not remove us from this world but keep us from the evil one of this world. 

John 15:19–21 (NKJV)

19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

John 15:18–19 (NKJV) 

The Relationship of Believers to the World 

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

 

John 17:15–19 (NKJV)

15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Let us read together what the Word of God says.

Ephesians 2 (NKJV)

By Grace Through Faith

2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Brought Near by His Blood

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

 

Christ Our Peace

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Christ Our Cornerstone

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

 

Jesus repeatedly spoke of HIS PEACE and Jesus is the Prince of Peace so why do so many live in fear?  Is Jesus a liar, certainly NOT!  In Jesus you should have perfect peace for Jesus has overcome the World and we are called to dwell in Christ who has overcome the world. 

John 16:33 (NKJV)

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

 

I pray that the love and peace of God would dwell richly and deeply within you and that the well spring of life bring forth living water to a thirsty and needy world.  Let us walk in the love and peace of Christ Jesus.  May our lives bear true witness of Christ Jesus not just in mere word but in the love, peace, mercy and grace of Christ Jesus bearing witness by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Shalom my brothers and sister in Christ Jesus.

CODDLING vs. CUDDLING

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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 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)