LOOK UP!

Don’t get confused, I’m not looking up for the Rapture of the Bride. We haven’t seen the Bride yet. But She is in the making and we will see the glory of God on His Church as He transforms us into a beautiful Bride without spot or wrinkle. Remember that the baptism of glory comes after the baptism of suffering/persecution. Oh the joy that is set before us!

Don’t be dismayed by the recent events. Our time table is not dependent on the structures of this world’s government. God uses EVERYTHING for His purposes and ALL things do work together for our good. His Remnant Church is not moved by the world’s events nor is it’s transformation dependent on the escapades of the world. However, God will use this environment to strengthen, teach, correct, realign and instruct his people.

My parents taught me to learn from other’s mistakes and not to make them myself. I did learn some lessons by watching others. However, because of my unwillingness to learn from good instruction or other’s mistakes (Self, flesh, desire to sin, pride, deception, etc.) I did have to go through some things in my life. They were great teachers even though they brought hard consequences. Thanks be to God that He never stopped pursuing and convicting me…all in hopes that I would turn to Him with my whole heart. Even the hard consequences were used by God to bring great blessings.

If we are wise, we will learn quickly. In war, you kind of have to learn quickly or you can loose your life. We are not just in war…We are in THE Cosmic War of theAges. We can’t be rocked by the events of late. This is not the War…it is just a skirmish in the war and God will use this to accomplish His purposes. We have not lost! God is working out His plans. We must continue forward as we follow our leader into the next skirmish. We must do as Paul warned us in 2nd Timothy 2:3-5, “Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.  Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules”.

What is Paul saying? Don’t be so entangled with the happenings of the government that you take on the cares of this world and allow it to choke the Word of God in your heart (the logos and the rhema Word). He also says to stay in the battle (competition). An athlete trains hard to compete. When the competition is on, the athlete doesn’t leave the competition before it is done. We must stay our course. Hold on to our faith in God. Don’t throw away your confidence in God’s ability to perform His will. If you find yourself faint, you haven’t trained hard enough. Get in the Word. Praise Him. Spend some time with Jesus, the Victory of our Faith.

While all the eyes of the world were tuned into the elections and the recent happenings of the government, the Remnant Church was looking up to heaven in hopes of seeing, hearing and knowing what God is doing. The prophets are being tested. The people of God are being tried. Corrections are being made in our thinking and discerning. God is calling us to be focused on Him. The events have caused the weak to question and feel faint…weak kneed, dizzy, unable to perceive, unstable, and close to loosing their faith. Let the weak say, “I am strong”. Don’t find yourself giving in to attack of the enemy. He wants to unseat you in your authority. Jesus stripped the enemy of all authority and then gave that authority to us. Don’t give it back to the enemy!

When we put our eyes on man or foreign governments to take care of us, we will be disappointed. I say ‘foreign’ because we, the people of God, are citizens of heaven who live on the earth as ambassadors of Christ. We are to extend His heavenly kingdom to the earth. We are to be salt and light because the government in this realm is perverse and men are wicked. We, of course, hope and pray for a good outcome. One in which righteousness and justice rule. We pray for His kingdom to be manifest on earth as it is in heaven. We know that It will be done. We have read the end of the Book. We are FULLY persuaded. No matter how long this takes, we will stand and believe our God.

The Church has been asleep for many years. 20% of the American Church voted for a platform that kills the unborn, steals from the American coffers, and destroys the very citizens it has been sworn to defend. However, they did not see the destruction. They have either been deceived or they are not true believers. I don’t judge their hearts, but their actions are already judged. Neither do I condemn them. I pray for eyes of their understanding to be enlightened. I pray for their hearts to break for the sin that they have aligned themselves with. I pray for them to repent and come back to a loving God who is now attempting to show them the truth and consequences of their choice. (I know what it took for me to return to God. A dog attack helped my eyes to open. Although I don’t wish that on anyone, I say “whatever it takes Lord to bring this country to repentance”).

As God uses this time to awaken the church, can we, PLEASE, hold on to our faith! Keep our mouths speaking God’s Word. Keep praying for our enemies as our Lord instructed. Can we, PLEASE, take our eyes off this temporary world and LOOK UP!

Psalm 61:1-8
...Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you.  I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. Increase the days of the king’s life, his years for many generations. May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;
appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him. Then I will ever sing in praise of your name and fulfill my vows day after day.

Look up to our ROCK…He is higher! He will sustain us in whatever rule is upon the earth. He is our strong tower. Even though the enemy seeks evil for you, continue on in war. Don’t forget to practice your priestly role! Enter the secret place to find peace and minister to HIM! Don’t give your time or thoughts to the evil one. Pray for your enemies. Don’t find yourself cursing them. We live under the laws of the higher kingdom of heaven! Stay and walk in the kingdom ways. Leave the vengeance to God. Fulfill your vows to God day after day! And DO NOT find yourself in the seat of the mockers, scoffers, or scornful…for they will be judged harshly by God.