YEARNINGS FOR THE VERY HEART OF CHRIST – SAUL’S ARMOUR IS NOT THE AIM
At this point I turn to King Saul. The apostate church is a type of Saul in my eyes. Eventually it will fall on its own sword. The sword which it has so meticulously crafted for itself. Saul represents the dangers of the flesh. Trusting in the flesh and not God. Though he started off with some good intentions and he gave Almighty God credit for his early victories in warfare, soon the form dipped. The devotion waned. The flesh arose again. As a man, he never allowed himself to be conquered by God. And this is factor is central issue. Those that desire to be true believers will allow whatever it takes for God to conquer them. God is cutting the blood lines to Saul within His church. King Saul has led the church too long.
The Almighty is searching out His very own group of David’s. Those after His very own heart. Nothing but His heart will do. David too made grave mistakes and errors of judgement of the deepest sort. He too veered into the flesh, took his eyes off the Lord. He too counted his fighting men, hedging on the resources of the flesh rather than God. Yet, he is still counted as a man after the very heart of God, the life of the Spirit. And despite all his failures God was still pleased to call His very own beloved son “The Son of David”. God sees the sincere heart. He never gives up on the sincere heart. And in Jesus, His very own precious son, God found a man that He could entrust to see through all that the very plan of salvation and redemption entailed. The utter loneliness, solitude and rejection of the Cross. To be despised, broken, spat on, kicked and beaten. To have all the sin and wrongdoing of all the ages placed on Him. To be so marred and afflicted by that sin that God Himself could not look on Him. But glorious day. He went through the Cross. Now He desperately seeks a people that will reciprocate. He seeks a Bride that will make herself ready out of a heart of utter devotion and love of Jesus Himself. Not for what He gives. Those that will lay everything down in order to be found only in Him.
The Cross and any of the deeper teachings of Christ are cleverly by-passed these days. Moreover, the “leaders” of the modern-day corporate empires often claim to be in the position of Moses, but in this era. They are charged, in their minds, by God himself with the task of “leading” their flock into the Promised Land of blessing and wholeness. They tell the “flock” that they have communed with the Almighty. He is leading them in the way they should go. Conveniently, however, the route actually seems to by-pass anything of the wilderness and offers the quick route to yet more blessing. A more likely explanation is that their own hearts and the power of the flesh has deceived them. It is they themselves who have decided the way that they will travel. I am grieved at how often Gods name is used to rubber stamp the pre-determined plans of men.
As the Cross has been excluded from most churches these days, the “leaders” within these institutions have little revelation of how God actually builds the “new man” which He is so earnestly seeking intensifying urgency. The Bride which He is becoming impatient for. The chances are, if you have hungered and persisted in seeking after God as He is Himself, not the manipulated version presented in the present church culture, then you will know something of the narrow path. If not, then what I speak is an alien language to you. I have sat in numerous churches where men and women have been given the power of the platform and who seem to speak with little or no depth whatsoever about the Cross. It has consistently astonished me. Indeed, its is sadly the worship of the platform in these
institutions which stands as another of the “broad path” distractions that have ensnared many in current times.
THE CAPACITY OF HUMANS TO CREATE THEIR OWN REALITY
Men and women within the institutionalised church are creating their own reality to suit themselves. Forming their own “golden calves” in the desert. The sad thing is that these are deserts of their own making. Even those who believe they are “in blessing” very often are not. It may be man-made and counterfeit. Sometimes it’s actually demonically influenced. The walls of the church have broken down and every sort of demon has entered. There are few true Nehemiah types to re-build the walls. There may be excitement, there may be worship music and emotionalism. The current big names in the church world may be getting invited to speak at the meetings. There may be conferences. However, leaders often do not have the confidence or back-bone to believe that God has a word to them for their own flock.
Running scared of the true prophets they surround themselves with hand-picked “yes men” prophets. They do not want the Jeremiah crowd telling them that their captivity will be longer. They borrow from others to feed the “feel good factor”. They will of course defend themselves in this and always have their own answers. Even those who claim to be at the prophetic “cutting edge” in these times, mainly within the charismatic streams, are misguided by wrong doctrines and superficial understandings of Gods ways. Embedded in an utterly repulsive celebrity culture of image and presentation.
Although we are called to pray for our leaders, and many well-meaning folks may throw this at me at, we also have to take account here of the separate and overarching dynamics which govern the life of the church. These are what I would call “the dictates of God Himself”. In short, it`s His church and we do it His way. When we don`t then judgement is coming. When error continues to abound, there will be a strategic time where He will step in and re-order things. Jesus is King and Priest over His church and one way or another He will have the Bride that He desires. The Spirit of God will not strive with man forever. The power of choice is never taken away and people build for themselves the type of church that is most comfortable to them. Will He put up with this forever? No. He will shake and shift. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken. Every man-made structure and every false teaching that supports them. Right down to the foundations. No one is safe from the judgements of God. Even those who act as if they are something special in these days.
THE CURRENT “INSTITUTIONALISED” EXPRESSIONS OF CHRISTIANITY
Therefore, to start at the “top” so to speak, the current church “institutions” within the Evangelical / Pentecostal / Charismatic systems are “led” by a group of humans, just as you and I are. Entirely susceptible to being taken captive by error. Capable of “cherry-picking” when it comes to truth. In addition, as human beings we are all entirely susceptible to patterns of behaviour which are not necessarily inspired by the Holy Spirit or ordained by God. Even if the claim is made that they are this is not necessarily the case.
Much of the “follow the group” behaviour and succumbing to desires to “fit in” are entirely human traits. In this I mean they derive from the flesh. Any secular psychologist or sociologist would identify these traits as being prevalent in any group of humans. The fact that we may call ourselves a “church” does not alter these human characteristics. It is the flesh again. We certainly cannot claim that we have arrived at being “the church” or Jesus would have returned by now.
Matthew 7:13-14
Amplified Bible (AMP)
“Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it”.
THE HEART CRY OF SOME
There are some within the Body of Christ who presently feel an ever-deepening urgency within their very spirit for the true church of Jesus Christ to come forth. In the past few days I have been reflecting on the apostolic heart of Paul. The Holy Spirit was permitted to accomplish a truly remarkable work in entirely transforming this heart from one full of bitterness and hatred towards the church to that of father and overseer. This heart of deep concern is the very one now being embedded in many saints within the earth. This is a profound work. Paul had a mandate. He had a very specific role. He was given this mandate by God Himself. The heart of a father should be to guide his children in order that they fulfil all their potential. Part of this naturally involves correction. Where error is present then it needs to be addressed.
All the prophets saw the end times and prophesied of the gathering
of a separated, holy people who would have great understanding
in the Word of the Lord. Daniel heard great things from God but
“understood not” (Daniel 12:8). However, he saw a day coming
when a purified, tried and tested remnant would understand; there
would be a last-day company full of wisdom and discernment in
the things of God. “Many shall be purified, and made white, and
tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked
shall understand; but the wise shall understand” (Daniel 12:10).
Isaiah deplored the spiritual blindness of backslidden Israel. He
said, “They err in vision, they stumble in judgment” (Isaiah 28:7).
The little discernment they once had was destroyed by their lusts.
But Isaiah prophesied of a day in which “the deaf [shall] hear the
words . . . the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out
of darkness. . . . They shall sanctify my name . . . and shall fear
the God of Israel. They also that erred in spirit shall come to
understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine”
(Isaiah 29:18, 23-24).
I believe the last-day revival so many preach about is a revival of
cleansing. If the work of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of
sin, righteousness and judgment, then it is certain that in a great
Holy Ghost outpouring there will be powerful waves of conviction,
and a careless, indulgent Church will be shaken and forced to
face her sins.
While multitudes of Christians chase after signs and miracles and
flock to teachers of success and prosperity, God has been calling
out a “wilderness people” who are consumed with hunger for more
of Christ.
Right now a glorious company is coming forth! One day God began
to stir their hearts and they became disillusioned with all the
hypocrisy and shame. They got into the Word of God and saw for
themselves what His ultimate purposes are. They put on Christ’s
robe of righteousness by faith, submitted to the claims of Christ,
and decided to walk alone, if necessary, to be wholly obedient to
Him. They set themselves to hear and understand the Lord’s will.
They began to see things in the Spirit and were made to understand
that the end of all things is at hand. To these, the Word of the Lord
has come!
“Christ is coming! Repent, for the day of the Lord is near! Lay aside
every besetting sin and set your affection on things above! Do not
partake in the empires and dreams of men. Forsake it all and go
out to meet Him.” That word is being proclaimed loud and clear!
IN Matthew 3 the Scriptures identifies John the Baptist as the one crying in the wilderness from Isa 40:3 The voice of him who cries in the wilderness, Prepare the way of Jehovah, make straight a highway in the desert for our God.
I this passage Isaiah is first of all speaking to those who dwelt in exile in Babylon. The message was to them and more specifically to those who would return to the heart of God and leave the world behind. The vast majority of exiles did not return to Jerusalem when they were free to but chose instead to continue to live in exile in a place where they had grown comfortable.
Decades before they had been taken captive by the Babylonians at the hand of God in judgement. Now, when their opportunity came to leave, by staying they were proving that their hearts had been taken captive by the Babylonian system and way of life. God’s judgment always brings to light the true state of the heart. The very fact that they chose to stay, highlighted why they had been allowed to be taken captive in the first place. Men so often praise the Lord with their lips but their hearts belong to another.
Now Isaiah is speaking prophetically i this passage not only of the exiles but also of John the Baptist. Mat 3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” Now John has also been called to speak to a people in exile. A people who have been cut off from God despite the fact that they were not in physical exile from Jerusalem and the temple but were in exile from the presence of God. The very system and temple that had been designed to worship God and be a dwelling place, a place for God to inhabit, had become devoid of His presence. This was a judgement to bring to light the true state of the heart.
Below is a word from a dear sister in Christ…………….
Has anyone else experienced a terrible onslaught from the enemy lately, even over the past 4 years or more? It has been very difficult for my husband and I. sometimes it seems like we are going backwards and not forwards anymore, this is quite alarming. Yet when I am feeling despair about the situations we are in, the Lord shows us that He is actually working out refinement, pruning and forming the Character of Christ in us. We were quite surprised to find out that it was through trials and testings that the character of Christ is formed.
I remember recently in prayer I said, “Lord I come to buy gold refined by the fire!” and I clearly heard His reply, “Are you willing to pay the cost?” I knew what that meant, death to self, the cross. When someone is worshiping and in the presence of the Lord, it’s easy to say Lord I come to the cross. But when we truly have to face the cross, part of us doesn’t want to go through that long drawn out process.Well at least it’s been long and drawn out for me. If you figured out a way to get it done quickly let me know, lol.
2Pe 1:3-7 according as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue, through which He has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also in this very thing, bringing in all diligence, filling out your faith with virtue, and with virtue, knowledge; and with knowledge self-control, and with self-control, patience, and with patience, godliness, and with godliness, brotherly kindness, and with brotherly kindness, love.
Life and Godliness. Do you have life? Do you have an abundant life in Christ? Do you have Godliness? What is Godliness, have you ever considered what that means? The Greek word for godliness was used by ancient pagans to describe those who kept in close contact with their gods. When Peter uses this word here he is talking about the need for Christians to be constantly aware of God’s manifest presence.
Much is spoken of and written about the presence of God. How do we come into the presence of God? Can we presume upon the presence of God? Can we live a life in any fashion we choose and still have ” Godliness?” In the above Scripture we see that we have been called to ” glory and to virtue.” What is glory? Do you have it? Have you experienced it? What about virtue, what does that word mean? If we have been called to it, surely we should understand what it means?
Heb 4:10 For he who has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His.
This is one of the key elements of our lives in Christ. If we never enter this rest, we can never truly apprehend the wonderful promises of the Lord to us. To walk in a peace that surpasses understanding is a walk that takes place in the ” rest,” of God. To have joy in the midst of troubling circumstances and trials can only be realized if we are walking in the ” rest,” of God.
There is a people, in every generation, a remnant people, who choose to believe God and in doing so find themselves in a place of rest, a place of peace, a place of joy that is quite apart from their circumstances. If you would have eyes to see what the Lord would have you see then you too would enter into this rest.
Consider the generation of Job. Consider what Job learned. That generation was absolutely convinced that their position in this world, whether it be their financial position or the state of their health was a direct indication of God’s blessing on their lives. Sadly, the vast majority of professing Christians still believe that.
A Call To The Remnant 