The Time of John – The Time of the Messenger

The Time of John – The Time of the Messenger

When God is about to do something new there is a time between the old and the new called “The Time of the Messenger” or “The Time of John”.  It is a time of intense ardent pursuit of the Kingdom of God, a violent pursuit to usher in and be a part of the new. We are in such a time.

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When Herod started killing babies the Jews ought to have realized something was stirring in the Kingdom of God; the enemy always tries to hinder what God is up to.  The Jews should have paused and remembered Moses, the slaughter of the babies by Pharaoh and their deliverance from Egypt. 

It had been nearly 400 years since the prophets and now this crazy man named John showed up on the scene and was telling the people to repent and be baptized.  Something was stirring.  The people asked John if he was the Prophet, Elijah or the Christ; “Who are you so we can tell those who sent us?” John’s response was startling, “"I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’" Some liked John and came to the baptism waters others scoffed. Had the echo of Herod’s slaughter already been wiped from their memory?  Some understood some didn’t.

Are we any different? Do we realize the time in which we live?  The unborn are being murdered before their first breath. Why is satan so outraged at this generation?  Could it be he knows his time is short and the generation which will resist his kingdom out of loving obedience to the Lord Jesus is upon the face of the earth?  

When God is about to move dynamically upon the Earth He sends out His messengers (like John), some people hear and respond to the call and some people don’t. The message is still ringing “prepare the way for the Lord” will we respond and rise to the occasion to seek His Face and advance with Him in His Kingdom?  Will we hear the sound and respond?

I believe this is a unique time on the earth.  Like the scripture below in Matthew 11 – The flute has been piping and the dirge has been sung. We have heard it, have we responded?  God has spoken and has been calling to this generation through many means: the prophets, signs in the earth, disasters, wars, world leaders rising and falling, the economy, the ability to plant chips in people and many others.  The end is not here but the sun is definitely setting upon this age!  Are we ready for what is coming?  The birth pains are here, the olive tree has sent out its tender shoot – 

How will you respond in the Time of the Message?

Hear this scripture from Matthew 11:

Matthew 11

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: "’I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. He who has ears, let him hear.

"To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: "’We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.  "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.  But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

What will you response be?

Hearing God Lesson #3

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Hearing God Lesson #3

God Uses Everyday Life to Reveal Spiritual Truth

Saturday George and I went rock hunting up in the mountains near Boise, Idaho; I love rocks.  As we drove up highway 55 toward McCall we noticed a large pile of rocks probably from a landslide which at one time covered the highway; it was filled with dried mud, wood and rock.  I of course couldn’t pass up the opportunity to check it for some beauties. 

As I scaled the pile of debris I saw a beautiful rock whose tip was just peeking out the top. As I continued to look more and more tips were visible but they were hard to find because their beauty was nearly completely covered in mud.

They were my favorite colors, deep camel, crystals, and black shiny stuff.  I found myself brushing off mud from rocks which I thought could be what I was looking for but it was difficult because of all the mud.  Some of the rocks cut my hands as I brushed off the ugliness from them. 

But then something awesome happened – it began to rain!  The water from the rain washed the mud off the rocks revealing their beauty.  As I observed this The Lord whispered something like, “This is much like the washing of water through the Word of God in your own life”.  As I thought about this a few places in scripture came to mind, one is: 

Ephesians 5 says, Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

God reminded me of a spiritual truth through an everyday activity.  In the Bible we can see Jesus did exactly the same thing; He would take everyday life things and reveal spiritual truth through them - For example the parable of the Sower and the Seeds found in the Gospels or the Lost Coin.  God does this because when we have something to attach a spiritual truth to it is easier to remember it...I doubt I will ever look for rocks again without thinking about the water washing off the mud to reveal the beauty again.  

The principle truth God is getting at here is - The Word of God is so important; It has dynamic power in our lives and can pierce though our thoughts and transform our thinking.  It cleanses us as we read and as we hear God speaks - It is like taking a spiritual shower! 

This is another example of how God speaks to us but it is easy to miss if we don’t know His Word or His languages.  When something catches your attention ask the Lord, “Are You trying to speak to me through this?” And keep reading the Bible since in it we find the principles of God’s communication to us. 

Remember: He who comes to God…must believe He rewards those who seek Him!

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Change is Coming, Change is Here – Keep in Step

Change is Coming, Change is Here
Keep in Step

God is changing the way we see the church; Things are shifting now and quickly!

God is raising up and sending out the Haggais and the Zerubbabels for the rebuilding work.

What you don’t understand, don’t reject rather reevaluate what you believe.

Many many are bulking at what they see as traditional church and the way things are done.

Discontentment is soaring – to bring in the new – marry discontentment to prayer and the Word – As The Lord spoke this I knew He was tying it to the outcry of the Israelites in Egypt (Exodus 3).

The Holy Spirit is again brooding over the face of the deep – light is about to shine in the darkness again!

The moving of the Holy Spirit has been laying a foundation – I have already begun to build on that foundation, says the Lord.  Keep step with Me. This will take much laying aside of previous ways and thoughts and beliefs.  I am doing a new thing – even now it springs up – can you not discern it.  Look around you and you will see – look back even 10 years and see the change which has taken place in the earth and in My church.  

Today, if you will but turn to Me with all your heart then I will reveal Myself you and I will reveal yourself to you that you may repent and turn to Me!  I want you to partake of what I am doing – much Harvest is coming in!  Prepare the nurseries, put in place what needs to be prepared for them so it will be ready when they come – I will evaluate your obedience that you may receive more and more and more Anointing and revelation!  

Many have not stayed in step with My Spirit and are living on yesterday’s manna and revelation – Consider your ways and turn to me in fasting and prayer and I will again bring the light of revelation into your life and church.  I am moving, I am turning the pages of history, says the Lord, you are written on those pages, move forward with Me.

Hearing God Lesson #2 - The Audible Voice of God

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Hearing God Lesson #2

God speaks in many different ways, think of it as His languages.  We have all overheard people speaking foreign languages and understood to varying degrees what they were saying.  It is pretty much the same with God. 

Job 34 says:

For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.

How then does God speak?  Both the New and Old Testament have many examples of God speaking though He isn’t confined to speaking in these ways.  The most advantageous thing we can do is get to know Him through the Bible and prayer.  As we get to know God in these ways we will better recognize His languages when He speaks – keeping in mind anything God says will not contradict the Bible.  I will go through some examples in the Bible of how God speaks and add personal experiences as we go, starting with God’s audible voice since it is the first account recorded in the Bible of God speaking to man.

The first time I heard an audible voice (it could have been God or an angel) was in 1985.  I was driving my car on a back road in Oregon; it was dark and I was coming upon an “S” curve when a voice from the backseat yelled “DEER!”!  (I thought I was alone)… I of course slowed way down and right there in the middle of the “S” curve was a deer. I believe God saved my life that night!

Over the course of walking with God now for almost 32 years I have heard an audible voice (if I counted right) 8 times – 3 of them are still a mystery to me, 1 I understood as time went by and the others made sense immediately.  By talking to others I understand this is rare to hear Him audibly at all… But even 32/8 = is only about every 4 years.  When God did speak audibly it was always very short and precise like “DEER” instead of “Hey, Berta there is a deer in the road right in the middle of the “S” curve so how about slowing down so you don’t die tonight.”  This is my experience with the audible voice of God, of course He can do whatever He wants and could speak in volumes audibly to others. 

What I would like you to take away from this is that God rarely speaks audibly but most young Christians are looking for the audible voice, hence frustration and disappointment and often a missing of the voice of God as He speaks in other ways. 

Remember – Hebrews 11:6 God rewards those who seek Him!

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