Dwelling in the Shelter of the Most High
Greetings in the Lord!
Today's word will certainly not appeal to those who demand sweet and cheery prophetic words, as if "encouragement" is the test of a true prophetic word. Actually, 1 John 4:2-3 is a good place to begin for New Testament-only people, as John sets criteria there:
"This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world."
Funny, too, the latest buzzword warning from pastors about false prophetic words is about "causing fear," but I don't see that in John's criteria either. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us this:
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
That's probably why the Lord speaks to me directly out of Scripture. It's important that the Church does not run and hide their heads in the sand every time a sobering word comes along--we have no need to fear, "because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:4). Amen.
So, moving onto today's word; it comes from the book of Isaiah, chapters 3-5. Chapters 3 & 4 are the same ones given to me at the time of Hurricane Katrina, in summary: the Lord was going to let a disaster hit the land so that food and water, order and leadership, peace and finery were all taken away to humble His people and return their hearts back to Him. The wicked in the land would give ugly snarls and shake their fists at God and demand that their leadership take care of them, but the righteous would be just fine and "enjoy the fruit of their deeds." Amen. But why did God allow such a disaster in the first place?
"The Lord takes His place in court; He rises to judge the people. The Lord enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of His people: 'It is you who have ruined My vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing My people and grinding the faces of the poor?' declares the Lord Almighty. (Isaiah 3:14-15)
We can know that Katrina was in fact a cleansing for sin and corruption; God had a better plan in store for that part of the US than how many were living at that time. But we read today that disaster is once again at our gates, and as people of God, we can turn to Him in prayer and supplication and know that we will be OK, and intercede for our neighbors who are not living for God. Amen.
"Now I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed. I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it." (Isaiah 5:5-6) But why, you ask? For the hearts of many of the people in the land have turned away from God and they live as they see fit. Corrupt leaders, greedy people, idolatry, drugs, sexual perversion, you name it; we are not only indulging in these things, but calling "evil good and good evil." "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight...who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent."
So here's what the Lord will do:
"He lifts up a banner for the distant nations, He whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Here they come, swiftly and speedily! Not one of them grows tired or stumbles, not one of them slumbers or sleeps; not a belt is loosened at the waist, not a sandal thong is broken. Their arrows are sharp, all their bows are strung; their horses' hoofs seem like flint, their chariot wheels like a whirlwind. Their roar is like that of the lion, they roar like young lions; they growl as they seize their prey and carry it off with no one to rescue. In that day they will roar over it like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks at the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be darkened by the clouds."
People of God get ready, fall on your knees in prayer and take refuge in the shadow of the Lord's wings; He will fill you with His peace and wisdom for the hour at hand. Be sober-minded, not fearful, for greater is the One in us than he who is in the world. Amen.
~Be blessed and be a blessing.
Today's word will certainly not appeal to those who demand sweet and cheery prophetic words, as if "encouragement" is the test of a true prophetic word. Actually, 1 John 4:2-3 is a good place to begin for New Testament-only people, as John sets criteria there:
"This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world."
Funny, too, the latest buzzword warning from pastors about false prophetic words is about "causing fear," but I don't see that in John's criteria either. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us this:
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
That's probably why the Lord speaks to me directly out of Scripture. It's important that the Church does not run and hide their heads in the sand every time a sobering word comes along--we have no need to fear, "because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:4). Amen.
So, moving onto today's word; it comes from the book of Isaiah, chapters 3-5. Chapters 3 & 4 are the same ones given to me at the time of Hurricane Katrina, in summary: the Lord was going to let a disaster hit the land so that food and water, order and leadership, peace and finery were all taken away to humble His people and return their hearts back to Him. The wicked in the land would give ugly snarls and shake their fists at God and demand that their leadership take care of them, but the righteous would be just fine and "enjoy the fruit of their deeds." Amen. But why did God allow such a disaster in the first place?
"The Lord takes His place in court; He rises to judge the people. The Lord enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of His people: 'It is you who have ruined My vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing My people and grinding the faces of the poor?' declares the Lord Almighty. (Isaiah 3:14-15)
We can know that Katrina was in fact a cleansing for sin and corruption; God had a better plan in store for that part of the US than how many were living at that time. But we read today that disaster is once again at our gates, and as people of God, we can turn to Him in prayer and supplication and know that we will be OK, and intercede for our neighbors who are not living for God. Amen.
"Now I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed. I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it." (Isaiah 5:5-6) But why, you ask? For the hearts of many of the people in the land have turned away from God and they live as they see fit. Corrupt leaders, greedy people, idolatry, drugs, sexual perversion, you name it; we are not only indulging in these things, but calling "evil good and good evil." "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight...who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent."
So here's what the Lord will do:
"He lifts up a banner for the distant nations, He whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Here they come, swiftly and speedily! Not one of them grows tired or stumbles, not one of them slumbers or sleeps; not a belt is loosened at the waist, not a sandal thong is broken. Their arrows are sharp, all their bows are strung; their horses' hoofs seem like flint, their chariot wheels like a whirlwind. Their roar is like that of the lion, they roar like young lions; they growl as they seize their prey and carry it off with no one to rescue. In that day they will roar over it like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks at the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be darkened by the clouds."
People of God get ready, fall on your knees in prayer and take refuge in the shadow of the Lord's wings; He will fill you with His peace and wisdom for the hour at hand. Be sober-minded, not fearful, for greater is the One in us than he who is in the world. Amen.
~Be blessed and be a blessing.
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