no smoke
no mirrors
Christ made
ever clearer
God's word
truly heard
the Holy Spirit
hearts stirred
entertaining not
the world
mirey mixtures
Christ blurred
wooden welcome
pure joy's peace
living water
people set free
This is what the Lord spoke to me, after I wrote this poem. I translated it, as best as I could, by looking them up.
"Rash da daka ta'ah Yah monos."
Rash - bloom, prosper, flowering, flourishing
da - room or chamber
daka - to be contrite, crushed, shattered
taah - to wander, err, stray, be seduced
Yah - God
monos - only, alone, only thing, mere, sole
God (YHWH) through the Holy Spirit, will enter the physical space that we call "church" to refresh and prosper it, when it is no longer shared with other idols. When it's Christ alone that attracts and Christ alone that we hold out to others, we will worship the Lord in both Spirit and in Truth. (John 4:24)
There are some wonderful churches that are moving and operating in the power of the Holy Spirit. There are anointed preachers of the gospel in these churches. God's church is not a brand or a pastor, however. God's church is not a cafe or a social club. It's not good music that tickles our senses or good vibes. It's not a trendy social justice mission. It's not a place to relieve the guilt of unrepentant sinners or soothe itching ears.
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart." (Psalm 51:17)
I'm seeking the Lord, through his word, to listen and understand what it is that he wants in his church, because it's us, God's people --- not a building, a program or a sermon .
We can see in scripture that not even the early church was perfect. Still, I have been praying that all of my self-congratulatory worship that is actually a stench in God's nostrils will become just as repugnant to my own spirit. He has answered this. I am grieved by the current ecclesia and my own err, yet so grateful for God's deliverance from religion and the seductions of the sleepy church.
God has been answering my cry for clarity. He has given me dreams to share, in order to call God's people out of the harlot church. Out of the world. (Also referred to, by the Lord YHWH, as "the whore of Babylon" that is riding the beast in Revelation 17.)
In the dream, the church was at a luncheon in a church-like building. They were nice, well dressed people, eating and enjoying fellowship around a table, while ignoring an entire table of inmates with no food across the hall. It convicted me, and I began to take some simple food off the "dressed for church" table and feed it to the prisoners, who began to eat like they were starving.
I woke up and asked the Lord what to do, and he just said, "Feed them."
"The harvest is ripe, but the workers are few." (Matt.9)
Food represents the Word of God, Jesus Christ, the bread of life. Do we invite his living word to work the offering of a broken and contrite spirit in us? Do we agonize in prayer with the Lord, over sinners that he loves -- and that we say that we love - who need saving from hell? Lord, soften the cold hearts of people who claim to be yours. We are not the judges, determining a sentence. We are Christ's ambassadors, called to point to the One who loves us and who does judge all, according to what they have done. We are called to proclaim the good news of salvation. Freely you have received, so freely give.
Let's repent and do the first works, just as the churches in Revelation are warned to do. We are called to obey, out of our love for Christ, to share the bread of life, Jesus Christ, the Word of God, to those who are in captivity to sin and this world.
We need more simplicity in the church, which is one reason why God is preparing homes to be it. We only need the Holy Spirit bearing witness to Christ, among us. Not more Churchianity. The real church, going out, and bringing in. Not to a concert or a members' club or man-made traditions and programs. But to the cross.
Simon Peter asked three times, if Jesus knew that he loved him. Jesus repeated back, the same response, three times:
"If you love me, feed my sheep."
Once, when I was attending church, the Lord gave me an internal vision. Our backs were turned to God, though we were "worshiping" (true worship is obedience). During the sermon, I saw Jesus, outside. He had all of these beautifully wrapped gifts. A giant sea of them. His arms were full. But he had been rejected, in his own name, without anyone realizing it.
It was a good sermon, but the power of God was not in it (2 Tim 3). I saw, during the preaching, in the spirit, a dove, representing the Holy Spirit. It was on the church roof, waiting to be invited, looking bored. I thought about how Paul said that he came to preach, not by word but by power. My heart broke.
I realized that the gifts were all in white boxes, with beautiful satin red bows. These gifts were purchased by the blood of Jesus, on the cross, so that we can open them and be made white as snow through the refinement of sanctification. He bought these graces for us, so that the church can be made until the fullness of the stature and measure of Him.
Tears fell from my eyes, as I prayed at our church fellowship group, over sin and the lost world, while everyone complained about their lives in the form of "prayer requests." Afterwards, I was patted on the head and told, "Awe. You remind me of myself when I was young." How patronizing.
More times than I can count, I've heard Christians condescend zeal for Jesus by attributing it to spiritual immaturity. This is the mark of leaven. Beware the leaven of the pharisees, who killed their own Messiah in the name of God.
What satanic lullaby slowly smothers the flame of the fear and love of the Lord? Of gratitude? Of total union with Him? Of brokenness over the lost world? Of love for souls still bound, on their way to hell? What quenches the passion of the One who bled to save them? I was tempted to respond, "Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?" (James 4:5)
There's wisdom in meekness. And quietness. But, not in passivity. In deadness and dryness. Not everyone is as revved up as the disciple, Peter. Some are gentle, like John. God gives us all different but equality valuable jobs. But, lukewarmness is not a sign of a mature relationship with the Lord. It's a sign that we have left our first love (James 4, Rev. 3:15-16, 2:4).
Brothers and sisters, is Jesus weeping alone in Gethsemane over sinners, while his disciples are sleeping? Let's ask God for the baptism of anguish and to be healed of complacency and comfort. New life is birthed through suffering and we need God's power to see, hear and endure victoriously. Deliverance is birthed in the contractions of the beating love of God. When God blesses us, by drawing us into his heart to tarry fervently with him, let's not be gaslit by the lukewarm into thinking that there's something wrong with us. Test all things and all spirits. "Do not quench the (holy) spirit." (1 Thess 5:19)
It was hard to walk away from the church that we loved. We stayed at for two more years, praying for repentance. Nothing changes. We had a choice to make: sentimentality and loyalty to man or loyalty to the Lord. When the Lord is calling us away, we must obey, even if he's calling others differently.
God is doing a separating work. Have you noticed? His glory is coming. But, not to the religious institution. To his remnant: The Lord's House. We are his temple. Those who have rejected his gifts and have quenched his loving warnings have taken many abominations into themselves as a result (Ezekiel 8). Leaving them desolate of the Holy Spirit (Daniel 9). This is why people are changing. When the Holy Spirit departs from a temple, it is easy for them to be deceived into taking the mark of the beast. Welcome to the Great Falling away and the apostate church. (2 Thess.)
The things that are coming upon the earth are going to completely defy common sense, expectation, and experience. When these things take place, will we be found on the side of fear or of glory? Will we be in the great falling away (2 Thess), or will we endure like the wise virgins, as God's steadfast remnant (Matt 25)?
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
We mustn't look to the right or left for how we should imitate Christ or for how to operate as the body of Christ. There are wheat and tares in the church, and they look the same (Matt 13). Of the seven churches, only two endure as followers of Jesus Christ (Rev. 3). That means that the majority of professing "Christians" (including leaders) are actually under God's wrath as wolves in sheep's clothing. We must never look to people, but to Christ alone. We should never suspend our personal pilgrimage into the depths of Jesus Christ, because of a lack of fellowship or agreement. Called to it as we are, it's no replacement for knowing God and his word, personally and intimately.
"As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him." 1 John 2:27
God is using those who are surrendering to him, now, in the hour of trial and temptation. Now is the time to dig deep. To fast. To pray. To offer our bodies as living sacrifices.
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Matthew 7:13-14
If our ear is leaned towards Jesus, we will inevitably experience friction with the world and religion. We are not to be belligerent, but "the righteous are as bold as a lion" and will stand ground (Prov. 28:1). Do not apologize for speaking the truth. Humility submits to the Lord, not to man, tradition or comfort.
Follow the good Shepherd.
The narrow road is not on the wide, beaten paths.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 21:30