Does God Hide?

We have often heard the verse that starts out, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then...". Why would God's people need to seek God's face? Because God hides his face from his people when they claim his name but live in wickedness. God calls us to himself and continually convicts us. It is possible for us to enter into a place of believing that we will be untouched by the coming catastrophes and yet be mistaken. Though Micah 3 was originally about the nation of Israel, the nature of God toward his people is unchanging.

4 Then they will cry to the Lord,

But He will not hear them;

He will even hide His face from them at that time,

Because they have been evil in their deeds.

And later in the chapter:
11 Her heads judge for a bribe,
Her priests teach for pay,
And her prophets divine for money.
Yet they lean on the Lord, and say,
“Is not the Lord among us?
No harm can come upon us.”
12 Therefore because of you
Zion shall be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins,
And the mountain of the temple
Like the bare hills of the forest.

There are hard days coming upon the US and the world. It is intended in part to purify those who claim to belong to Jesus. May our confidence be true faith and not presumption! When the economy collapses, the banks close, and there is no food on the grocery shelves, it will terrible for those who have not lived in the place of intimate obedience. Samson operated in a powerful gift even while he was in the midst of comprise. In a moment, he lost it all. May we be spiritually ready lest God hide his face from us in the day of trouble. Though we call out to him at that time, he will not hear us until we have turned from our wicked ways.

Avalanche Refresh

Steve Hill released a prophetic word two years ago about a coming spiritual avalanche. The full word was posted at the Charisma News site, and a fuller explanation was posted on the main Charisma site.

In a dream last night, I recalled Steve’s word. I was walking at the top of a snow-covered peak. I watched as a stainless steel cannon ball was fired at the upper levels of the sloop. It was meant to cause an avalanche. Based on Steve’s word, I would consider this to be an action that was initiated by God, but it was still a dangerous situation. There was no need to fear though for those with the right footwear. Those who walked on the peaks wearing sandals did not need to be afraid of the avalanches. For me, sandals speak of humility and a simplicity of trust in Jesus. It is an uncomplicated, unsophisticated faith that causes us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

I woke up this morning thinking about the goodness of God. In particular, I was focused on the intentionally of God’s goodness. The world at large can accept that God loves them, but I think that there is an assumption that God’s love is an automatic action, a default state if you will. It is almost as though we imagine God as being "accidentally kind". In reality, God has gone out of his way to show us kindness, mercy, patience, and forgiveness.

It is through a relationship of trust with Jesus that we are saved. I grew up hearing that we trust in and adhere to Jesus in order to be saved. That is true and yet, the focus is off. We trust in and adhere to Jesus because of who He is: He is the only begotten Son of God. He is the manifestation of the radiance of God’s glory. He is the righteous and holy judge before whom we all will give account of our lives. It is out of a recognition and a proper response to who Jesus is that we enter into relationship with him. Out of that context flows the care and intentional kindness of God.

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ[c] depart from iniquity.” – 2 Timothy 2:19

As we focus our hearts on the nature of God, we will stand secure on the solid foundation of God. There is no slippery slope for us when we walk in a humble recognition of who God is and of who are before him.

Words that Wound

I have been reading Journal of the Unknown Prophet. One of its prophetic words talks about how the enemy uses us to hurt each other when we give into the urge to defend ourselves. We seek to save our life by exposing the error of others and in doing so, we lose the life that God wants us to have. This particular message deeply resonated with me.

As that word sank deep into my spirit, I had two troubling dreams that sharpened the focus. I have never considered myself to be a gossip, but I do find myself complaining about others when their expectations seem excessive. Many times, I have grumbled aloud about coworkers who needed more than what I felt that I could reasonably provide. I know that it is wrong, and my response is usually to reassure myself that it could be worse and to commit to trying harder.

A week ago, I dreamed two dreams over the course of two nights. In the first, someone held down another man. As they did, I stabbed him through the heart. I was not angry about it. In fact, it felt like an inconvenient thing that had to be taken care of. Later in that dream, I had doubts about what I had done. A brother in Christ reassured me that it was the right thing to do. He said that it was OK because it was “self-defense”.

The next night, I dreamed that there was small but annoying alligator in my neighborhood. I moved him to someone else’s neighborhood. Other time, the alligator killed everyone in the other neighborhood. It was only later that I began to realize the gravity of what I had done. I went back to check on the alligator. I was careful, but he surprised me. He had grown from a small creature into one larger than me. Now, he wanted to eat me. I left the dream knowing the enemy wants to use me to hurt other people and then to hurt me too.

I was deeply troubled by these dreams. The first dream showed me that my “little sin” of complaining about others was spiritual murder. The second demonstrated with crystal clarity the way that a small habit of sharp remarks could devour others and grow into a monster that would eat me alive. To see myself this way is less than flattering and deflates the confidence of self-improvement.

Out of these dreams, I am coming to understand that I cannot change myself but neither can I treat lightly this sin of words that wound. I am getting a glimpse of why we need Jesus. He did not come just to save us from Hell. He came to save us from sin. I cringe to think how gross my own iniquity is before God….and from this, I find hope: Jesus came to remove me from all unrighteousness. He promises that as I tell the truth about how he sees my sin, he will cleanse from all unrighteousness.

Seek First

Everything that Jesus said and everything written in the Word is subject to the filters that we possess. I was thinking about Matthew 6:33 this morning, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” This verse requires a contextual understanding and an emotional wholeness to be properly received.

I treasure rules because rules guarantee outcomes. I gravitate toward principles in the Word and in the Christian walk because they help to predict what is coming next. Many books have been sold because they were rich in the study of biblical principles. I cannot speak for others, but much of my love of rules and principles is centered in distrust. Internally, I have used these abstractions to force God to be predictable.

The context of Matthew 6 is that our greater reward is yet to come, and that we are deeply loved right now. Jesus came to set us free from living for the here and now so that we could love God and others without being consumed by our own needs. At this point in my life, this is a hard truth for me. I know that Jesus’ character is being formed in me, and yet, I do not trust God the way that I should. I am growing convinced though I will not accomplish anything of lasting value except that I am willing to die to my way of getting it.

I am still learning how to walk this out. This is a heart thing. It is not a matter of having no desires or no needs. It is not a matter of trading obedience for provision. It is a relational trust that once fully developed will allow me to suffer gracefully and to love those who do not understand me. Such an outcome is daunting to consider, but I draw encouragement from Peter. Over time, God grew Peter from self-sufficiency to become the shepherd that he was called to be. I know that God can do the same for me.

Whose Kingdom?

Recently, I have felt a strong sense of needing to obey God more closely. I have become more careful to honor him in certain areas, but it has not been a 100%. On Friday, God gave me a confirmation and a fresh urgency to obey.

At one point during the workday, the Holy Spirit reminded me of what Jesus said in John 18:36, "My kingdom is not of this world...". Then, I heard the Holy Spirit speak to my heart saying, "My people build kingdoms that are of this world, kingdoms that are in this world". He led me to the below message. It is not a short video, but I think it is worth watching. Its message was sobering to me. I believe that God is leading us into a closer place of obedience with himself. We are moving into a time where disobedience will become more costly than it is today.

A New Track Ahead and Samson’s Fall

Recently, I heard the Lord speaking to my heart about a couple of shifts that are about to occur. We have a strong work ethic in the US Church. We believe that we are successful in Heaven’s eyes if we perform impressive acts here on Earth. We count hands, offerings, and big smiles. Signs and wonders are sought after because they feel like results achieved. We have a performance problem: We are trying too hard to do things for God. He has let us do this for a season. He has given us limited power and manifestation even when our motivations were questionable. It has been grace that carried us. It has been the goodness of God that is intended to lead us to repentance.

Things are now going to change, a little at first but then more. God is coming in a move that will be like a freight train. He owns the power, and He owes the track ahead. This time, the track has a third rail. The drive will not come from our strategies and tireless efforts. Heaven is going to power our forward motion. We have a learning curve ahead of us. Rest and obedience are the new burdens to be carried. Keeping step with Jesus as we walk yoked with him is the new focus.

Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” – John 21:18-19

When the glory of God is manifested, there is awe, relief from heavy burdens…and usually judgment resulting from a casualness about God. God brings his entire nature when his Presence comes into our presence. Those who would attempt to take hold of the third rail of God’s glory in this coming move will suffer serious consequences. The track ahead is not all together comfortable. Jesus, our King, is determining the track ahead. Our commission for the days ahead will sound like, “Take up your cross and reproduce the death of Christ on a daily basis”. It will be a full disclosure of the suffering that we are destined for and then a call to, “Follow Me”.

The track ahead is shifting. Many who started out well in their ministry will be derailed because they chose to set the pace and the direction of their ministry. The Conductor is about to fill his rightful seat. He will drive this move, direct the pace of this move, and take us into a place of personal suffering and submission.

Results in ministry has been the certificate of authenticity until recently. Like Samson, there are ministers who have lived in sin. It was a struggle at first, then a compromise in which they allowed the enemy to keep captured ground, and finally they accepted the enemy as a friendly neighbor. The people kept coming to the services, the programs produced smiles and nods, and the money was enough to fuel the vision that came from the heart of the leader. 

Lead and gold cannot remain bonded together. A fire must come to separate the two. Samson’s anointing is lifting. We will begin to see a new wave of leaders exposed, and we will watch them fall from their places of ministry authority. God is removing the idols from the high places. These ones lifted the heavy burdens, and they won the praise of men, but God had intended for them to be righteous and merciful judges who would deliver his people. The wave will start small and then will crest. It is the mercy of God that a few will fall at first in the hope that greater judgment might be averted through repentance.