Witness Him Now
I am trembling inside right now. On Monday, February 11, 2019, my 60th birthday, I sat down with my Bible in my hand to relax after my brothers left to go home. My Bible opened to Psalm 78. I was intrigued. That Psalm started out saying, "O My people, listen to My instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you HIDDEN LESSONS from our past - stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these TRUTHS from our children, we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about His power and His mighty wonders." (vs. 1-4)
In my mind I am thinking, this is going to be good. There are HIDDEN LESSONS in this Psalm - truths that we need to pass on to the next generation, but what I read caused me to tremble. According to Psalm 78, God is listening to everything we say, and I am hearing people all around me say the same things the Israelites said. They spoke against God Himself, saying, "God can't give us food in the wilderness. Yes, He can strike a rock so water gushes out, but He can't give His people bread and meat." (vs. 19-20) . Guys, do we do this? Do we doubt that God can provide for our needs? Pay the rent? Put food on our table? Save our children? Heal our bodies? Do we trust God with the everyday details of our lives? What are we saying? We have to listen to what is coming out of our mouth because listen to how God reacted to what the Israelites were saying, "God can't give us bread and meat." When the LORD heard them, he was furious. The fire of His wrath burned against Jacob. Yes, His anger rose against Israel, for THEY DID NOT BELIEVE GOD OR TRUST HIM TO CARE FOR THEM. (vs. 21-22) . Are we believing God. Do we trust Him to care for us? Do we trust Him to be our provider? Our protector? Our deliverer? What are we saying, because out of the abundance of our heart the mouth speaks. Whatever is in our heart WILL come out of our mouth, and by our words we will be justified and by our words, we will be condemned. So God rained down meat as thick as dust, and the people ate their fill. God gave them the food they craved, but while the meat was still in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them and He (God) killed their strongest men. (vs. 23-31) . Oh my goodness! "But in spite of this, the people kept sinning. Despite His wonders, they refused to trust Him, so He ended their lives in failure, their years in terror." (vs. 32-33) . Did you know that to not trust God is our sin? To think that He can't do what He says He can do is our wickedness? When we fail to trust God, look at what happens. We end our lives in failure and terror. Can you see that happening? What is going on in your heart? Is it at rest and peace, or is there something else in there? When will we begin to trust? "When God began killing them, they finally sought Him. They repented and took God seriously." (vs.34) . Are you trembling? I am. Is God going to have to start killing us before we trust Him? This has all been rolling around in my heart all week. God is listening to what we are saying. Malachi 3:13-14 "You have said terrible things about Me," says the LORD. But you say, "What do you mean? What have we said against you?" "You have said, 'What's the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying His commands or by trying to show the LORD of Heaven's Armies that we are sorry for our sins? From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm." Are we doing that? Are we calling the arrogant blessed? Are we saying, "What's the use?" God is listening to what we say. He knows our heart, and He is not happy. BUT those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In His presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared Him and always thought about the honor of His name. "They will be My people," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "On the day when I act in judgment, they will be My own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not." (Malachi 3:16-18) God is about to act in judgment. I believe with all my heart that we are about to see people die. Listen to what people are saying. You will know what is coming. I don't know about you, but this makes me tremble. God is God. He is going to do what He says He is going to do. He is merciful and kind, but unless we turn toward Him, we will not live.
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Revival has been happening for a while now, but last night at church I could see clearly what God is doing and has been doing. Then when John Williams was asked to give the closing prayer, he cried out REVIVAL! My heart shouted back, "REVIVAL!"
Todd has been teaching on Wednesday nights on Heaven and what it will be like. Last night he was in Revelation 21. He explained the twelve layers of precious stones that is the foundation of the New Jerusalem. Each stone not only shone brilliantly with iridescent light, reflecting the glory and holiness of God and the Lamb, they also represent the virtues of God. I jotted down quickly what Todd was saying: faith, uprightness, passionate love, mercy, holiness, goodness, patience, self-control, royalty. WOW! This is happening inside of us. I can see it. I can feel it. It is happening individually and corporately. Fruit is sprouting up everywhere. Then God took me to Isaiah 60 where it talks about what is happening in us, too. "The glory of Lebanon will be yours- the forests of cypress, fir, and pine - to beautify My sanctuary (that's us!) My temple will be glorious! The descendants of your tormentors will come and bow before you. Those who despise you will kiss your feet. THEY WILL CALL YOU THE CITY OF THE LORD, and ZION of the Holy One of Israel." "Though you were once despised and hated, with no one traveling through you, I will make you beautiful forever, a joy to all generations. Powerful kings and mighty nations will satisfy your every need, as though you were a child nursing at the breast of a queen. You will know at last that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel. I will exchange your bronze for gold, your iron for silver, your wood for bronze, and your stones for iron. I WILL MAKE PEACE YOUR LEADER AND RIGHTEOUSNESS YOUR RULER. VIOLENCE WILL DISAPPEAR FROM YOUR LAND; the desolation and destruction of war will end. Salvation will surround you like city walls, and praise will be on the lips of all who enter there." Can you see it! This is happening inside of us. Peace is becoming our leader and righteousness is becoming our ruler. All the strivings cease. It is glorious! "No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For the LORD will be your everlasting light. Your days of mourning will come to an end. All your people will be righteous. They will possess their land forever, for I will plant them there with My own hands in order to bring Myself glory. The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. AT THE RIGHT TIME, I, THE LORD, WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN." Can you see it? Can you feel it? Are you experiencing the glory of this moment in time? Then God took me to Isaiah 54 and 55. "O storm-battered city, troubled and desolate! I will rebuild you with precious jewels and make your foundations from lapis lazuli. I will make your towers of sparkling rubies, your gates of shining gems, and your walls of precious stones. I WILL TEACH ALL YOUR CHILDREN AND THEY WILL ENJOY GREAT PEACE. You will be secure under a government that is just and fair. (That's in our heart!) Your enemies will stay far away. You will live in peace, and terror will not come near you. If any nation comes to fight you, it is not because I sent them. Whoever attacks you will go down in defeat." "I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals beneath the forge and makes the weapons of destruction. And I have created the armies that destroy. BUT IN THE COMING DAY no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD, their vindication will come from Me. I, the LORD, have spoken!" "Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink - even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk - it's all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to Me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food." "Come to Me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David. See how I used him to display My power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations. You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious." Seek the LORD while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD the He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for He will forgive generously. The time is now. Revival is here. But what if you don't see yourself in these scriptures in Isaiah? Maybe you can see yourself in James 4. What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what yo don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong - you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the Spirit He has placed within us should be faithful to Him. And He gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the LORD, and He will lift you up in honor. The time is now. God is calling to His people, "Come home!" He is waiting there with open arms, longing to wrap His arms of mercy around us to set us free. If you want that freedom, face Jesus now and open your heart wide. Let Him come in and heal your broken heart. Let Him deliver you from all of your stubborn rebellion and from all of your stubborn pride and self sufficiencies.. Humble yourself before Him and say, "God, I am guilty. I have rebelled against You. Will you please forgive me?" And He will. He is just waiting for you to ask. Come, join the party! The invitation is to everyone. FREEDOM! PEACE! SALVATION! JOY! It is a free gift, and it is all yours if you want it. |
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