Press Forward And Dream Again
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I am reminded that one of the signs of a great natural disaster, such as an earthquake, is strange behavior in animals. One account of survival in the horrible tsunami that struck the coasts of many S.E. Asian countries was that of tourists riding elephants; the huge beasts instinctively sensed the waves minutes before they swept inland--long before it became apparent to humans--and stampeded to higher ground despite their handlers' best efforts to stop these normally obedient and docile beasts. Those riding them were saved.
Something similar is being birthed in the spiritual instinct of Christians, for that matter even in the unsaved, by the Holy Spirit. Events both ominous and wonderful--the scope of destiny, the hope of the Harvest, the certainty of judgments, the nearness of His Coming--are being perceived in a threshold level outside our human understanding.
Couple these perceived but unseen inklings with the need for repentance and the fear of God to be restored to the Church, as well as the wearing-out pressure upon the saints from the spirit of anti-Christ, and the railing and blapshemy of this same spirit in our society---there is an atmosphere I have never known before in Churches I go into. It is as though Jesus and satan, Life and death, Heaven and hell, Hope and despair, and Faith and fear are standing at the door waiting to be let in.
The Mercy of God is striving with us to enter into and abide in the Shelter of the Most High! I belive, like the giant elephants in the tsumani, we are being driven from within to get to Higher Ground, despite the best, well-meaning efforts of those handlers who cannot see the Holy Spirit instinct working in God's people.
There is a great stirring and restlessness among Christians, a gnawing knowing that has brought forth a fragrance to some and stench to others that says, "There has to be more!"
What began as "The Charismatic Movement" has desecrated into tribe, schism, and division, marked by man and ministry worship, rebellion, anarchy, lawessness, or slavish devotion to dominant leaders. Most Full-Gospel saints under 30 have no foundation in basic Truth and are sway to every wind of doctrine and control--many are searching for a man of God to tell them what to do like Old Testament saints, instead of pressing into the Holy Place by the Blood of Jesus. Ministry is either despised or deified.
The early days of the Charismatic Movement were something to behold. All you had to do was say, "Bible study!" and folks would drop everything and come from miles around to sit in living rooms and meeting places. Those who had been filled were dragging people in off the streets. In those days the Presence of God just broke out where ever we gathered. Everyone flowed in the Gifts of the Spirit, in Discerning of Spirits, in Healings, in Prophecy--miracles, deliverances, and amazing conversions were commonplace.
Whole communities were stirred up and divided. There not only was great power, but great persecution. Mates divorced many who received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, children were disowned losing inheritances, businessmen were bankrupted. The laws were different in those days--it was easy to have a family member who spoke in tongues committed to a mental institution if you had any influence. I saw innocent saints imprisoned, committed, have shock treatments forced on them, or have their children taken awawy. Ministers who were filled with the Holy Spirit had their lives threatened.
Now so many of those same folk who suffered so much and know so much are wandering, or settled into relgious death. Many are disenfranchised because they didn't want to "join the club", others are rolling in self-pity, or have bitterness eating them alive. A greater number I think, have just about given up--they remember those days of first love ironically and wish they could go back again. They can't do "church stuff" again. These are the ones who believe they have just missed it.
I say, by the Holy Spirit, in the middle of all this mess America has become, it's time to dream again!
I believe we are living in the Book of Habakkuk. You know, I've seen his tomb in the Holy Land--better read what these guys wrote; you'll meet them one day if you are in Christ! Remember there is nothing new under the sun--no new doctrine or teaching. Get ready to move!
Look at Habakkuk 1: 1-4,
"O, Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, "Violence!" and You will not save.
Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; there is strife and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgment proceeds."--NKJV
Compare this same passage in the Amplified,
"O Lord, how long shall I cry for help and You will not hear? Or cry out to You of violence, and You will not save? Why do You show me iniquity and wrong, and Yourself look upon or cause me to see perversness and trouble? For destruction and violence are before me, and there is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is slackened and justice and a righteous sentence never go forth; for the [hostility of the] wicked surrounds the [uncompromisingly] righteous, therefore justice goes forth perverted."
Lord help us all, is this not a picture of America today? It literally does not seem to matter what the common will of the people is for good, but the "rule of law"--the tyranny of Godless judges, politicians, and anti-Christ special interests use the system to stop event the semblance of common sense in the name of justice. I watched a news item about a pedophile who had created a "how-to-seduce-children" video to assist other pedophiles--his right to "free speech" was being defended! Yet the Ten Commandments cannot be posted in school rooms according to the Supreme Court, because of the "negative impact" they might have on children who would "read and obey" them.
Does anyone besides me ever get the feeling Bedlam is broken open and the inmates are running this asylum called America? No wonder the Moslems consider us the "Great Satan"!
Christian, God has chosen you, for such an hour as this! If you have never known it before, our Redeemer lives!
For yesrs I told my wife we would take our children and emmigrate to South America when things started to get crazy here--the early 90's did that for me. I had selected Chile, Argentina, and Paraguay as possible destinations; I justified in my heart my white ancestors had come to this country to escape tyranny and for a better life--why should I not do the same?
Then the Lord asked me,
"Will you abandon your nation at the hour of her greatest need?"
My reply was,,
"I don't guess so now."
Then I had 3 visions.
The first was was a large banner displaying something I copied ad infinitum in typing class,
"NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL GOOD MEN TO COME TO THE AID OF THEIR COUNTRY"
I also thought about a line from a poem I learned long ago,
"....is there a man with soul so dead, who never to himself hath said, this is my own, my native land?"
The second was a vision of Jesus dressed in an Uncle Sam suit, like in the old draft posters from WWII--instead of pointing, He was holding out His pierced hands, saying,
"I need you!"
The third was a vision of a huge ship--the deck of the ship looked like a ship, but the bottom of the boat was a map of the United States. The ship was at full steam and churning towards the rocks--no one was at the helm: no one wanted anyone at the helm. On the decks of this huge boat every form of sin, mockery, blasphemy, violence, darkness, degradation, shame, and depravity in every and any vile form possible was reaching a crescendo.
All those engaged in this darkness had altars, including human, especially child sacrifice, and were oblivious to the coming destruction. At the back of the boat, a proportionately small group of Christians were on their knees weeping and crying before Jesus, Who had His back to the rest of the vessel--neither He nor His followers were welcome anywhere but at the very back of this ship in peril.
Jesus looked back at the scene of wickedness and rebellion, then turned back to His people, saying with tears,
"Throw out the Anchor; the Anchor will hold!"
Remember this ship "America" was sailing full speed.
The anchor was brought before Him---it was a Cross with a white traditional churchbuilding on the crosspiece. The Anchor was thrown overboard, unbeknownst to the others on board; in dragged along the bottom until it caught upon a Rock big enough to hold--Jesus was the Rock.
The great ship snapped to a halt suddently, all those reveling in their harlotries and rebellions were thrown down, their debauchery interrupted by a rescue they did not realize they needed from destruction they were too blind to care or see.
Then they turned in great anger towards the back of the boat!
This was my vision--those days are near.
But remember, the Anchor will hold. It is time to dream again, this time, bigger than every before.
Saints, God knows the frustration you feel by seeing our great nation disemboweled by blind, sensual people who care nothing for this country or the Truth. There is almost a demonic glee visible on the faces of those who can now flount their disrespect for Jesus and for this nation--I wonder if they will be happy when this nation is brought down? He is preparing us for outpouring; He is preparing a table for us in the presence of our enemies. He wants us to see what is coming, and will provide for us supernaturally, spirit, soul, and body--these two facets of our covenant are the "Prophet's Reward".
We will stand.
It is time to be bold and do exploits in the Name of the Lord! He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End--it would be self-destructive to our own sanity, well-being,and resaon for being here if we bogged down or feared out because the Omega apspect of this age is upon us. The Lord keeps telling me the best days are yet ahead!
Read the next passage, Habakkuk 1: 5-7,
"Look around among the nations and see! And be astonished! Astounded! For I am putting into effect a work in your days that you would not believe it if it were told you. For behold, I am rousing up the Chaldeans, that bitter and impetuous nation, who march throught the breath of the earth, to take possession of dwelling places that do not belong to them. [The Chaldeans] are terrible and dreadful; their justice and dignity proceed only from themselves."
The Chaldeans were the Babylonians--basically modern day Irag and Iran, with parts of the other Moslem nations included. America, along with the Europe, and most of the rest of the world seem oblivious to the fervor of Islam to destroy Israel and the United States. I sometimes wonder if the European mainland, along with many elements in our own goverment, are not sorry Hitler did not finish the job. The spirit behind these Moslem states, besides one of the purest manifestations of anti-Christ, is the Prince of Persia who Michael the Arch Angel faced when he was sent to the prophet Daniel. We are witnessing the formation of an Islamic Super-state which will shortly be allied with Russia--this is Gog and Magog, of Ezekiel 38 fame.
The War in Irag, if successful, will postpone the formation of this jihadist superpower for a few years, because it will divide the Moslem world; if the globalists who dominate our government are able to pull us out of Irag prematurely, then it will unify the Moslem world and hasten the great conflict talked about in Ezekiel!
What are we to do in the face of such dominating social depravity and the impending collapse of even a fragile, man-made peace in the troubled Middle East?
BELOVED, IT'S TIME TO PRESS FORWARD AND DREAM AGAIN!
Look at Habakkuk 2: 1,
"[Oh, I know, I have been rash to talk out plainly this way to God!] I will[in my thinking] stand upon my post of observation, and station myself on the tower or fortress, ad will watch to see what He will say within me and will answer what I will make [as His mouthpiece] to the perplexities of my complaint against Him."
I believe God sometimes shows us more than we can handle about ourselves and the world around Him so we will look for deliverance and peace only He can give. The price of the Truth and Revelation is to know of a certainty without Him we can do nothing, that our Kingdom is not of this world, and that the world around us is sure enough messed up. Sometimes you see so much that freaks you out, you have to run your mouth to God a while just to settle down enough to listen to the next level!
You have to gather your thoughts--"OK, it is God's will for me to be alive and serve Him in this present darkness, He did not make a mistake, I am His handiwork and servant..."
You have to get back to that last place of appointment you had with God, that last post of observation in which you knew that you knew that you knew He was there and with you--that is the tower and fortress, and station yourself to wait for Him and search for Him until He speaks. He will speak to your heart and give you an answer to all the confusion around you. He will explain what to do; He will help you understand the myteries of judgment, of grace, of the cycles of man's rebellion as the wicked flourish as the green grass. He will show you He is for you, not against you, and that He knows the plans He has for you, of good, not of evil and of an expected end....
...HE WILL TELL YOU TO GET OVER THE FEAR, TO PRESS FORWARD, AND TO DARE TO DREAM AGAIN....
...HE WILL CUT THROUGH THE COMPLAINT, THE UNCERTAINTY, AND THE CONFUSION AND WILL BRING YOU BACK TO YOUR BLUEPRINT...
"And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision, and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that every one who passes may be able to read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it; because it will not be behindhand on its appointed day."--Habakkuk 2: 2-4
So many of you believers have been spoken to in the past about things that seem too far away now. Perhaps you were physically young then and spiritually fresh--you had no overburden of broken dreams or apparently wasted effort in Christian endeavor. You had on a garment of praise then, not the spirit of heaviness: you were not bitter nor heartsick.
Remember that all the promises of God are yes and amen, and that He shows the end from the beginning. God plants His seed of vision in you and then catches you up to the fulfillment of it in such manner as you will know the excellency is of Him and not you or me! Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when it comes, it is the tree of life. Harvester, you will beart the appointed fruit at the appointed time.
Engrave it in the tablet of your heart so plainly that anyone--even you in your darkest moment--won't forget and can see that for which you are born and kept alive by His power. You are not a failure.
As these world events hurtle towards the climax that is your evidence what God has placed in you hastens to the fulfillment, and that you will not be deceived nor disappointed. Wait earnestly on God and the implanted dream--neither you nor it will be behindhand.
DREAM AGAIN!
Get back in the saddle and stop mourning loss that is temporary--we are walking into the eternal. Spend some time with the Lord, re-identify with Jesus. This is an opportune moment in history--the calm before the storm--to make peace with God and be refilled in the Holy Spirit. Research what God has spoken to you in the past, even those things you feel were lost or so messed up there can be no recovery--too many drifters in the Kingdom have given up their reason for life and are living as the walking dead. Remember Ezekiel's vision of many in the valley of decision, the valley of dry bones that took on life. The gift of God is beyond repentance--even if you believe you've been disqualified, take the horns of the altar and come back to God.
IT'S TIME TO LIVE AGAIN!
God wants to restore your soul--take His Rod and Staff again; be comforted. Eat green grass and rehydrate in still water.
THE BEST IS YET AHEAD!
God wants us to see the natural and devilish climate in which we must dream and move forward, guarding our own heart and soul in the process. Look at Habakkuk 2: 4-12, NIV,
"Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by faith. Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, he is a proud man, and he does not stay at home. Because he enlarges his desire as hell, and he is like death, and cannot be satisfied, he gathers to himself all nations and heaps up for himself all peoples. Shall not all these take up a proverb against him, and a taunting riddle against him, and say, 'Woe to him who increases what is not his--how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges'? Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty. Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the people will plunder you. Because of men's blood and the violence of the land and the city, and all who dwell in it.
Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of disaster! You gave shameful counsel to your house, cutting off many peoples, and sinned against your soul. For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the timbers will answer it."
You know, all it takes for the Lord to weigh the heart, to sift it's motivations and intents, is to to blink His Eyes (Psalm 11: 4)--He knows what's up! I believe God wants us American Christians to know He wants us to MOVE FORWARD AND TO DREAM AGAIN in a day He has dropped His plumbline on the motivation of the heart of the nation, the church, and the individual. Situational "ethics" have replaced absolute Truth, and it seems whether it is financially, politically, ministerially, or persoanally, the end justifies the means. The new motto of America is do what you have to to get what you want to, regardless of the cost.
Evidently, since babies are throwaway, old folks are warehoused, "real" people--even other Christians--are dispensible, and having what you want is the new litmus test for something being the will of God, nothing really matters besides establishing one's own security and "blessing" regardless of the cost to others, or one's own soul. How can anything be the will of God if I have to lie, cheat, steal, manipulate, control, coerce, murder, destroy, step on, or walk over anyone else to get it? That standard apparently applies to nations as well as individuals.
My mom used to say to me, "Just remember, everyone gets their comeuppence in this life".
In other words, what goes around, comes around. God will not be mocked, whatever a man sows, he reaps. That's why repentance is such a lifeline! How many times have I thrown a stone to discover God turned it into a boomerang!
What's so wild is that God want us to MOVE FORWARD AND TO DREAM AGAIN while He is forcing rebellious people to build their lives, their kingdoms, their fortunes, their ministries, their own security systems at the expense of others, and their own peril because He will pour Himself out and He has a plan!
Read Habakkuk 2: 12-14, Amplified,
"Woe to him who builds a town with blood, and establishes a city by iniquity! Behold, is it not by appointment of the Lord of hosts that the nations toil only to satisfy the fire [that will consume their work], and the peoples weary themselves ony for emptiness, falseness and futility?
But [the time is coming when]the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."
Our appointment is to MOVE FORWARD, TO DREAM AGAIN, TO PREPARE TO RUN IN THE DAY OF GOD'S GLORY---the appointment of those whose motivation is ruthless, cruel, rebellious, and self-seeking is to provide for us! All these giants are our bread and provision!
Many of us Christians--I include myself--are woefully short-sighted about the Sovereignty of God. God turns those who will not listen to Him over to idols who tell the rebellious what they want to hear (Ezekiel 14: 1-7).
Stop dying on the Vine!
Give your heart back to the Lord with the same zeal you did before the pollutions and disappointments.
IT'S TIME TO PRESS FORWARD AND DREAM AGAIN.
Malachi 3
ALWAYS REMEMBER: IT DOESN'T COST TO SERVE JESUS--HE PAYS RICH DIVIDENDS IN EVERY ARENA!
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