To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Jesus Christ is the Way-Maker and Winds in every storm. Every man, woman and child must face the storms which He sends their way and overcome by the blood of the Lamb. There are no more crumbs off of the master’s table because now they have the real thing available to them. They have the real Jesus and His real Presence in the Holy Spirit. Yet, many perish and many more suffer needlessly because they have chosen their own way rather than the LORD’S!
They work their folly in many different ways but the end is still the same—destruction, devastation and great loss. Can men say they can live without the truth in their lives? No. Yet, many chose to live as though God don’t exist or as though the truth is not alive. But the truth and Jesus Christ are one in the same, they are both the Great I AM. For Jesus Christ is the truth personified. He is the healer and defender of all mankind, yet many chose to believe in “something out there” and assume He is on their side “no matter what!”
If this were true more people would be more of what they want to be doing rather than suffering and dying as they are. They would be more successful in the physical realm, which it appears they are not. They would be more successful in the spiritual realm, which appears they are. But, looks are deceiving and deception is conceived in the very heart of man. He is the first one to believe he is doing it right and is pure beyond all others, when the truth is far from their reality.
But men, even religious ones, have created a world for themselves that deifies their ways and glorifies their path and leads them to death. They think they have the reality of God’s Person and His truth and they have neither. So, what is the answer? How can men return to God when they have strayed far from Him? By bending a knee in true humility and saying with contrite heart, “I have sinned forgive me?” Then, recognizing their true worthlessness they turn from their pride and surrender each day from then on--to God alone.
But, winsome ways and proud hearts continue upon their dubious path and finally end in wayward destruction and can only ask—how can this be that I have ended this way? The answer is in the Word and their path. Had they lined one up with the other, the two would be one and there would be no difference.
But, men don’t understand the heart of God. They assume too much and presume the rest will be acceptable—‘somehow.’ That paths that have departed by an inch can become incorrigibly separated by a very long mile, are somehow acceptable to a perfect and loving Heavenly Father. This is true. He is a loving and Heavenly Father but one does not negate the other. His love does not include unconditional acceptance just because we whisper His Name and align ourselves a little with His truth.
The time has come for judgment and the resurrection light to dawn upon the sons of men. They have established themselves upon the earth and propagated and done what they desire to do but they have not done what God has desired them to do. So, now is the time of reckoning. They are receiving exactly what they desire—not more and not less. Each will receive his due reward.
A false front is a poor substitute for the real thing. Jesus Christ is the real thing and no man comes to the Father except through Me. So, let no man say he is able to stand when he can only fall continually. He is the greatest restorer of the breach and the only One who cares to restore at all. God’s people must return to Him for others will not be their salvation only Him. And He will do it with a mighty outstretched hand and great power! His word is true:
God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods. How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked.
They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable. I said, "You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes." Arise, O God, judge the earth; For You shall inherit all nations. Psalm 82:1-8
But the end is coming for many who thought themselves superior and above the truth. Their Waterloo is here. They have to walk by the Spirit of the Lord or pay the price for not walking by the Spirit. For God’s word is true:
The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, So that men will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges in the earth. Psalm 58:10-11
"This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts. 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ' " Zechariah 4:6-7
The winds of change are blowing all across this land. The sea breezes are flowing and destroying the land. The helmet of salvation is full of holes. The arrows of discord have pierced it through. Many men say they have done better than them all. Yet, they walk in discord and love only themselves. They have turned to the right and the left without thought of what they have done. They forget their place and walk among the dead as one dead themselves.
Dead men’s bones can’t resurrect themselves. Only a God of mercy and grace can do this. Yet, they carry on in their pride and deceit and wonder why all their plans have come to naught. They curse the enemy and shake their fist at God. They turn their heads from right to left and feel sorry for themselves. They could never solve it except on both their knees. Yet, they continue on as though their LORD could be so easily led and deceived.
But, God is no fool. He knows their hearts. He knows their plans have no place for Him or his cohorts. His true Ones are never given place or recognized as “who they are” because then they would have to admit how wrong they are before Him. This they could never do so they’ll go along their merry way assuming they are doing God good will.
Generations march along living their vain lives, in assumptions of their own making, never coming to a knowledge of the real truth because they are so busy with their own lives. Oh, vain fools. Who told you to escape the wrath to come? Could you not hear the clarion call? Could you not see the simple truth?
There is no way but His. There is no path but His. There is no profit but His. There is no success save His. There is no other interpretation of the truth but His. Any other interpretation leads to heresy and death. You have chosen the way of death because you have chosen your own interpretation of God’s immutable truth.
When you refused to accept the gift of the Holy Presence in your life. When you failed to tune your spirit to His Voice. When you decided on your own understanding and interpretations. When you ignored the hurt and needy. This you did to your own destruction. You forgot the immutable truth—when you give sacrificially as the Lord told you tom you will receive multiplied back to you many times.
When you remain humble in the master’s service—you become useful and pliable to His very command and desire. Then you are truly useful. Anything else is purely self-deception. You can go on for a little while but you can never escape the judgment awaiting you. You forgot your first love. You thought and planned and schemed and forgot He is watching from above to judge the quick and the dead. He has not forgot you. You should have listened to Him while you could.
Now, that time of listening is over. Your pride stands between you. The wall is greater than any you could ascend yourself. You need to grow quiet and humble and this time both knees if you please.
The enemy is being totally destroyed this very moment. He looks up and asks why and God’s answer is the same as it is to all oppressors. You failed Him and therefore failed yourself in the process. You loved Yourself more than Him. You desired your own comfort and pleasures more than His Kingdom. Now, is your hour of destruction and oppression is the millstone around your neck.
The wayward always ask the same thing—“Why Am I suffering so much?” The answer is, “You are paying for the crimes you have committed in your body. You chose your own understanding. You chose your own way. You decided your own fate. Now, it is time to pay the piper. The enemy is defeated come what may.”
Heaven has not begun to do what it is capable of doing. It restrains itself to giving frail humanity a bit of mercy and a lot of grace. But, time is passing and still the answer remains the same. Oppression is marching on without remorse.
So, this is Heaven’s answer--the trumpet has sounded, the bugle has called, the ram’s horn’s clarion call has gone forth. The army is driving forth and armed for destruction of all who would think that sincerity is enough to appease the God of Heaven. Little do they know Him—because if they understood they would not do what they have done. They would cower in fear and beg for mercy and sue for peace.
But, as it is they don’t understand. Their ears are deaf. Their hearts are devoid of wisdom and truth. So, now is their hour of judgment. God is not to be mocked, what a man sows so shall he also reap. His word is true:
Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, And princes will rule with justice. A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, And a cover from the tempest, As rivers of water in a dry place, As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. The eyes of those who see will not be dim, And the ears of those who hear will listen. Also the heart of the rash will understand knowledge, And the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.
The foolish person will no longer be called generous, Nor the miser said to be bountiful; For the foolish person will speak foolishness, And his heart will work iniquity: To practice ungodliness, To utter error against the LORD, To keep the hungry unsatisfied, And he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. Also the schemes of the schemer are evil; He devises wicked plans To destroy the poor with lying words, Even when the needy speaks justice.
But a generous man devises generous things, And by generosity he shall stand. Isaiah 32:1-8
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EXTRACT FROM Be Filled
http://walthope.tripod.com/befilled.htm
http://walthope.wordpress.com
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100302133262254344211/posts
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