We see it in the Romans who hated the remnant believers because they would not bow their knee to the gods of this world. And because of this they poured out great fury and destruction against the saints. And then we see the Catholic church take up the same cause for the saints would not bow their knee to popes nor false doctrine. The saints would rather suffer death that live a compromised religious life. Now why would they do this? Because they had some alternative religion or philosophy? No, no, these saints had β tasted ,β of the heavenly gifts. They had been touched by the glory of God. It burned in their very souls. They, like Paul could say that whatever things were gain to them that they would count it as loss for Christ.
In fact they too, like Paul would count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. Now this β knowledge ,β was not a head knowledge but was an intimate word. Scripture tells us that Joseph did not β know,β Mary until after Jesus was born. It is this sense of β knowing,β that is related to here, not a physical intimacy but a spiritual one which is actually much deeper than any physical union. We are one in Christ actually, not theologically. The remnant saints knows this β knowledge.β This is why they were and are willing to give up everything, to count all things as loss and rubbish so that they can be found β in Christ,β and that they may β know Him.β The saint is one who is wiling to give up everything. The religious man, whether orthodox or Charismatic is one who is identified by what he has and who he is. He believes , like Job’s friends, that his material blessings are a sign that he walks in the favor of God which is why he despises those who have nothing or who care little for the things of this world.
The remnant know that just as the world hated their Lord and crucified Him, they too will be hated and killed all the day long for His name’s sake. And just as He arose, they know that they too will arise. As they draw nearer to βthe one who was pierced,β and He pours out His Spirit on them and they become more like Him, then the same forces that came against their Jesus, hell and all its fury, will come against them. They know that βunless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it abides alone, but if it dies it brings forth much fruit.”
The Remnant saint knows something of the glory of God. He has been touched by it, ruined for the things of this word by it. He has a fire that burns in his bones that will not and cannot be quenched. He is single-minded in his devotion. He arises in the morning with thoughts of His Lord. He walks through the day thinking about His Lord and communing with Him. He ever lives to serve His God. He knows he falls short but continues on, continues to pursue. He is relentless in his pursuit of God, he is diligent to walk worthily before His Lord. His Lord is not a God that dwells in a lofty ivory tower who may or may not be watching him.His Lord and his God dwells within his very heart and he walks with him daily and his heart burns within him.
The Remnant church is, at itβs core and most fundamentally, Godβs witness here on earth. Truly we have been called first and foremost to be a witness. Now most saints know that this word in its Greek form translates to martyr. Does that mean that every saint, every witness since the beginning of the church has been called to martyrdom? Certainly not. Yet let us not forget brothers and sisters that in every century Godβs people here on earth have been persecuted and martyred for their faith. The danger for us saints in the Western world in the last 100 years has been that we have not been so-called. Other saints around the world cannot say that, whether that is Africa or Asia or China or the Middle East, they have continued to be persecuted and martyred for their faith. For most of Europe and North America, this has not been the case with some noticeable exceptions during periods of war and so on. Now, one would imagine that living in an atmosphere where one is allowed to worship freely without any state or religious interference that Christendom would thrive, yet, if we look at the state of Europe and North America we see something that at best, is a shallow faith.
In the case of Europe we definitely see a post Christian society. In North America what is predominant is a cultural Christianity, a cross-less Christianity and a Christ-less Christianity and some cross-pollination or in many cases a hybrid of the all of these. Cultural Christianity would be a Christianity that is simply shaped to suit our culture. In this kind of Christianity Jesus would rarely be mentioned and God would be seen as some kind of Santa Claus. A cross-less Christianity would cover movements like the prosperity gospel, name it and claim it groups, Word of faith believers and health and wealth believers. Or again, a hybrid of all three. A Christ less Christianity would cover dead denominations for whom the Word of God has ceased to be authoritative even in pretense and where all things are acceptable, this would include things like gay marriage and gay ministers, abortion, divorce and so on.
YEARNINGS FOR THE VERY HEART OF CHRIST β 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 Davidβs. 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 βThe Son of Davidβ. 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 βleadersβ 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 βbroad pathβ 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 βgolden calvesβ in the desert. The sad thing is that these are deserts of their own making. Even those who believe they are βin blessingβ 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 βyes menβ prophets. They do not want the Jeremiah crowd telling them that their captivity will be longer. They borrow from others to feed the βfeel good factorβ. They will of course defend themselves in this and always have their own answers. Even those who claim to be at the prophetic βcutting edgeβ 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 βthe dictates of God Himselfβ. 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 βINSTITUTIONALISEDβ EXPRESSIONS OF CHRISTIANITY
Therefore, to start at the “top” so to speak, the current church βinstitutionsβ 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 βcherry-pickingβ 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 βfollow the groupβ behaviour and succumbing to desires to βfit inβ 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 βchurchβ does not alter these human characteristics. It is the flesh again. We certainly cannot claim that we have arrived at being βthe churchβ 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.
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, βLord I come to buy gold refined by the fire!β and I clearly heard His reply, βAre you willing to pay the cost?β I knew what that meant, death to self, the cross. When someone is worshiping and in the presence of the Lord, itβs easy to say Lord I come to the cross. But when we truly have to face the cross, part of us doesnβt want to go through that long drawn out process.Well at least itβs 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.
I had a vision a few months ago and wrote about it in song, here is one version of it with two anointed sisters the amen at the end was Daniel who apparently could not contain himself π bless his little heart.
Sometimes I think that one of the reasons why Jesus chose
fishermen to be in His group of disciples was because of their
“thick skin”. Jesus knew that He needed people who could handle
the Truth, even if it was a discomfort to their flesh.
Think about it …. Jesus said “Get behind me, Satan!” to Peter!
Did Pete get emotionally devastated and go into a corner and
pout? No, Peter still followed Him. Why? Because Jesus had the
Words of Life!
How would you react if someone called you a devil?
A Call To The Remnant 