End-Time Vision – Part 3

There is a problem that can occur when we look in hope for something the Lord will do.  It is not hope that is the problem, it is unbelief.  In the first and second part of this series of articles I shared concerning a vision the evangelist Tommy Hicks had about a great end-time outpouring.  Many prophets have seen that day at a distance.  This will be the greatest demonstration of God’s power upon His people that has ever occurred.  It will be the last great witness to this world concerning the salvation that is available through Jesus Christ.

In this vision, the minister asked the Lord what the meaning was, and He said: “This is that which I will do in the last days.  I will restore all that the cankerworm, the palmerworm, the caterpillar—I will restore all that they have destroyed.  This, my people, in the end times will go forth.  As a mighty army shall they sweep over the face of the earth.”

If we accept something as true concerning a future event but do not act on it, we are merely acknowledging it.  While we look at our present circumstances, we see little evidence of the fulfillment of the promise, so we put it off to the future.  That is not faith.  Faith takes a hope and acts on it in the present.  Faith ushers in the fulfillment of that promise.  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1).  Do you know what happens if you do not respond in faith to a promise?  You harden your heart to it.  You become dull of hearing.  You turn your attention to other things, and when the day comes for its fulfillment, you do not receive it because the word has been choked by the cares and things of this world (Mark 4:19).  “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today’, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (Heb. 3:12,13).

In the vision, the minister also saw something that was quite troubling.  “There were many people as He (Christ) stretched forth His hand that refused the anointing of God and the call of God. I saw men and women that I knew. People that I felt would certainly receive the call of God. But as He stretched forth His hand toward this one and toward that one, they simply bowed their heads and began to back away. And each of those that seemed to bow down and back away, seemed to go into darkness. Blackness seemed to swallow them everywhere.”  These were people the minister knew.  They were fellow ministers and church members.  He felt that they would certainly receive the call because they were already serving in ministry.  Jesus spoke of this in the parable of the wedding feast (Matt. 22:1-14).  When the time came to celebrate the wedding, some of the invited guests were not found worthy to attend.  The invitation was sent out to the highways and the byways.  Of course this parable applies to the preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles after the Jews first rejected it, but it also applies to the time at the end when the remnant of the Jews once again accept it (Rom. 11:1-36).  After all the preparations were completed, many who had never heard the invitation finally heard it and the wedding hall was filled. 

How do we prepare for the end-times outpouring?  We must keep the promise alive.  A seed is planted in a time of revelation.  This is the early rain.  Then the seed must grow but it cannot do that without water.  We cannot wait for the latter rain before we grow.  We must set our roots deep into the soil to draw living water from the river which flows from the throne of God (Ezek. 47:1).   Then when the latter rain comes, we are ready for the final harvest.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.  He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” (Ps. 1:1-3)

The time to live is now.  Behold, now is the day of salvation (2Cor. 6:2).  Today you must be attentive to His voice.  Today you must believe.  Today you must obey by the Spirit through faith.  If you learn to abide in the grace of God when there is little rain, you will be a tree of life to those around you when the latter rain comes.  You see, it is not about the rain.  It is about faithfulness.

There is another parable that speaks of this time.  The parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30) refers to the reward of the Lord for His faithful servants at His Second Coming.  We must not forget that before He comes visibly to the world, He will come to His temple.  It will be a time of great grace, but also a time of refining (Mal. 3:1-3).  In this parable, before leaving to prepare a place for them in the Kingdom, the Master distributes talents to His servants.  When He returns for them, He takes the talent away from the unfaithful one and gives it to one that was faithful.  Not only did the faithful servant receive another talent to use in the present time, but he was put in charge of cities in the new kingdom (Lu. 19:17,18), which speaks of the Thousand Year Reign after the first resurrection (Rev. 20:5,6).

“Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail.  They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary.  Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.” (Ezek. 47:12)

Understanding Discipline

I hate sin. I hate how it affects my relationship with others and with God.  But even more, I hate it because of “why” it affects my relationship with God.  It makes me different than Him when I want so much to be like Him.  God is love.  All He does is light and life.  Sin hides in darkness and its fruit is death.  A very important moment in my spiritual walk came when I realized that every sin I committed brought forth destruction.  How could I continue doing things that hurt others?  God wanted me to walk in love.  It was no longer just about obtaining mercy.  It was about becoming like Him.  The problem was that I was not always aware of what my sinful habits were. And even when I realized it, I was not immediately able to change.  “O wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 6:24).  The answer is Jesus Christ our Lord!  I have written more about our victory over sin in previous articles.  In this one, I want to discuss our need for discipline to help us obtain that victory.

The purpose of discipline is to help develop in us the fruit of the Spirit called self-control.  “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2Tim. 1:7).  The Greek word translated as “a sound mind” means “discipline” and is often translated “self-control”.  Developing this fruit is a process which occurs as we walk in the Spirit through the obedience of faith.  Until it becomes self-control, our Father trains us with His discipline, that we may partake of His holiness (Heb. 12:10).  We must submit to this discipline even though it is not pleasant.  “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Heb. 12:11).

I have made it my goal to respond quickly to God’s discipline because the longer I resist, the more unpleasant it becomes.  If I fail to recognize His rebuke in my spirit, it then comes through others or circumstances.  I prefer to discern it in my spirit, but that is not always the case.  I also want to receive it when it comes through people because Scripture says: “Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you; give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (Prov. 9:8b,9).  I must hear and take heed to what is good.  If I do not receive correction as quickly as I should, please forgive me and be patient with me.  When we speak a word from God to others, He continues to speak even after we stop.  God may also continue His discipline by withdrawing from me and allowing me to bear the wages of my sins.  As much as I try to resist the devil in those situations, nothing works until I submit to God in humility and repentance (Jas. 4:6-10). 

Now if I persist in my error, for the sake of those whom I am hurting, you should involve others to help convince me of what is right.  This process, which we call church discipline, is explained in Matthew Chapter 18.  It is a practice that has too often been applied incorrectly because of our lack of spiritual maturity.  As the Church continues to mature in these last days, we must learn to apply this as God wants us to.  Otherwise, it will be as Paul said, “a little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1Cor. 5:6).  If you read chapter five in the first epistle to the Corinthians, you will see that the Church is required, is such situations, to judge.  Oh, how difficult it is to understand this whole subject of judging others and ourselves!  The key principle is authority.  As individuals, we are not to judge the servant of another, but Jesus has delegated some of this to the Church (Matt. 18:17-19).

If we are to understand church discipline, we must know its nature and purpose.  Jesus warns against causing any of His children to sin.  When that happens, they become like lost sheep who are so precious to Him that we should leave the hundred to find the one that is lost.  It is in this context that Jesus instructs us on how to address a sinning brother.  There are two goals involved here.  First, we are trying to save the one that is lost.  But we are also trying to protect the rest of the flock.  It is balancing these two goals that makes church discipline difficult.  It requires balance because the one who offends is also one who is lost.  Jesus included both topics in the same discourse because we must see both sides concurrently. 

Let us apply this to my situation.  If after coming before the leaders of the church, I am still choosing to walk in error, then for the sake of the flock, I should be removed from the congregation.  There is time for working with someone in error, and there is a time for judgment.  When Jesus described the sinner as a slave to sin, He said: “a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.”  Jesus gave the woman Jezebel time to repent before casting her unto a sick bed (Rev. 2:20-22).  I pray that nothing like that would ever occur to me, but if it did, I would rather suffer the destruction of the body then cause others to fall away from my Lord.  Such a drastic measure is what the Lord meant when He said if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off (Matt. 18:8).  But, before you do that, let me ask for one more thing.  Turn away from me for only a time, while you pray that God would grant me the gift of repentance (2Tim. 2:25,26).  Now if God answers your prayer and I come to my senses, please do not be like the older brother who could not receive again his repentant brother (Lu. 15:32).  There is a time to judge and a time to be merciful.

“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (Jas. 5:19,20). 

Judging Ourselves

How can we move past those personal issues which seem to always repeat themselves?  How can we stop going around in circles?  The Christian walk should not be one of occasional successes and repeated failures.  We should be able to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us” (Heb. 12:1).  As long as we live in these physical bodies we will struggle against sin, but we need not be overcome by it.  There are several keys to victory; they all lead to the death and life of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  If we understand and follow these principles, we will develop our spiritual senses to discern between good and evil and with practice come to maturity (Heb. 5:14).  In this article, I will discuss one of the habits that affects too many of us, and we know it not.

Essentially, we obtain victory over sin through repentance and faith.  As we received Christ, we continue to walk in Him (Col. 2:6,7).  Repentance puts us on the right path, and faith gives us access to grace which is the power to walk in the Way.  It is not enough to have faith.  We need to use that faith in obedience to the commandment of love, because we will all be judged by this law, which is the law of liberty (Jas. 2:12).  We need mercy and grace.  The enemy knows this so he will do whatever he can to keep us from obtaining them.  Now, before we move on in this discussion, please pray that God will show you how it could apply to you.

There are things like unforgiveness or willfully sinning that will hinder our ability to obtain mercy and grace, but that is not what this article is about.  What I am referring to is certainly a sinful pattern, but it is not normally one we are aware of committing.  To obtain victory over it, we need to get discernment.  I have often said that the missing link to victory is discernment.  We cannot repent and believe if we do not know what to repent of.  For this reason, we need to hear the truth that will set us free (Jn. 8:32).  We also need to be convinced by the Holy Spirit that this is truth (Jn. 16:8).

The issue I speak of is “judging ourselves”.  In one sense, we are encouraged to judge ourselves.  Paul said: “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.” (1Cor. 11:31).  The meaning of the word “judge” here is “to discern” or “to examine”.  We should allow God to search our hearts for any “wicked ways” (Ps. 139:23,24).  But there is another way the word “judge” is used, which has to do with passing judgment.  “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court.  In fact, I do not even judge myself.  For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.” (1Cor. 4:3,4).  For most of us, it is not “a small thing” to be judged by others.  It affects us more than we want it to.  We all know that God is our judge, not other people, so why does it still affect us?  The reason is because we judge others and we judge ourselves.  Jesus told us: “Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Matt. 7:1,2).  The measure we should use is stated in the beatitude, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. (Matt. 5:7).  We should learn not to judge others, and we should learn to not judge ourselves.

One day I overheard one of my colleagues berating himself because of some mistake he had made.  I have even caught myself doing the same thing on occasion; maybe not as intensely, but certainly more than I ought to.  We only do such things because we want to stop making mistakes.  Coaches, teachers, or parents may have used similar words to motivate us, and we may even have done the same, but we need to renew our minds in this area. Let us not forget the scripture that says the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God (Jas. 2:20).  Being angry with others, or ourselves, is a reaction that comes out of judgment.  Rather than forgiving, we try first to punish because we want to change behaviour.  When we have authority over someone, we need to apply discipline to correct wrong behaviour, but we should not do that unless it falls within our sphere of delegated authority.  And even when we must apply discipline, it should not be with the anger of man.

So, what it comes down to is whether we have authority to judge ourselves or not.  Paul said that he would not judge himself because the Lord is his judge.  Maybe the best way to understand this concept is to read James’ instructions on not judging others with the emphasis on us because the underlying principle is the same.  “Do not speak evil of yourself, brethren.  He who speaks evil of himself and judges himself, speaks evil of the law and judges the law.  But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.  There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and destroy.  Who are you to judge yourself?” (Jas.4:11,12.  Italics mine.)  We should be merciful to ourselves in the same way that we should be merciful to our brothers.  That does not leave us without guilt if we have sinned, but we will not change our behaviour by punishing ourselves.  Sorrow that leads to repentance is not condemnation.  It is a healthy response to the truth that sets us free.  We come to “the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16).

If we come short of the grace of the God in this area, it is because we still think our own way is more effective.  But the practice is sinful, and it will produce a harvest of death.  It is sinful because it is rooted in pride.  We have the right to discern, but not to pass judgment.  Unless we become convinced of this, we will not give up the habit.  Is it better for us to receive mercy or punishment?  If we receive punishment every time we do something wrong, we will subconsciously avoid admitting wrong.  If, on the other hand, we give ourselves over to God as the Judge and we obtain mercy when we deserve punishment, we will yield to His goodness and it will lead us to repentance (Ro. 2:4).  There are times when He may need to discipline us, but as we come to know His love, we will find that His discipline is better than our judgment.  

Believe The Prophets

Sometimes we need to fail before we succeed, but if we refuse to acknowledge our mistakes, we are sure to repeat them.  The recent events in the States have shown us that there is still a great deal we need to learn about the prophetic.  Things did not turn out as so many declared they would.  Despite this, the essence of what I aim to say in this article is that we should not despise prophesying, but we should press on to get better at it.  Faith in God is the key to victory and prophetic words, when they are accurate, encourage our faith.  “Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” (2Chron. 20:20).  The prophet is one of the ministry gifts Christ gave to the Church.  For us to move on to maturity, we need to grow in our ability to speak and to hear accurately.  Those who speak must do so with the inspiration that God provides (1Pe. 4:11), and those who hear must do so with the inner witness of the Spirit (1Jn. 2:27).  If we have delivered or believed incorrect prophetic words, we must bear our own responsibility.  We can only change what we have control over, which is our own behaviour.

Speaking prophetically is a manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit.  In the first letter to the Corinthians Paul advised believers not to be ignorant of spiritual gifts.  These are manifestations of the Spirit for the common good (1Cor. 12:7).  We need to learn to use these gifts properly in order to be blessed and to be a blessing to others.  If we choose not to operate in the gifts, we are resisting the Spirit of God.  If we accept some of the gifts, but reject others, we are guilty of quenching the Spirit.  If we use the gifts improperly, we are grieving the Holy Spirt.  In our path to maturity, we should “pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts” (1Cor. 14:1). 

So, where could the Church have gone wrong?  It could be that the prophecies were conditional.  If that is the case, then these conditions should have been communicated.  Let’s not be too quick at drawing this conclusion; there are other possibilities.  It could also be that the interpretation of a dream or vision was wrong.  Maybe what we can learn from this is that a dream or vision should not be shared until the interpretation is known.  Let’s compare it to a message given in an unknown tongue.  It is not a prophetic word unless the interpretation is also given.  Rather than sharing these experiences, we should reserve them for our communication with God.  As we pray in response to what we think the dream or vision means, we may obtain a clearer understanding.  If we share it in order to obtain the interpretation, we must be careful to only share it with those who have the ability to interpret and judge it, as the Scriptures advise for a message in an unknown tongue (1Cor. 14:27-29).  Without the interpretation, it should never be shared with the Church in general because with social media, it can take on a life of its own.  Even with what we believe to be the interpretation, let us be careful to only speak what we “know”, not what we “think”.  Like Paul said, “we know in part and we prophesy in part” (1Cor. 13:9).  That does not mean that we should expect to be inaccurate.  No, it means that we should describe accurately only the portion of the picture we see, not add to it what we think the rest of the picture looks like.  God may show someone else another part of the picture, then together we will have confirmation and a greater understanding.

There is still another reason why we could have been wrong.  What if the source was not from God?  There are many reasons why this could be.  Sometimes we want to hear something so strongly because the problem is so great.  This opens us up to other voices, even our own imaginations.  The best time to hear the Lord is when we are at peace, focussing on Him, not on the problem.  And, sometimes our motives, even as ministers, can be wrong.  If we are in any way influenced by financial needs or public opinion, we are susceptible to the voices of evil.  The Lord is always willing to speak to His people, but His message is not always popular.  If there is any possibility that this is what happened, we must humbly allow the Lord to search our hearts and bring correction.  Even in New Testament days, some ministers went shipwreck in their faith because they forsook their consciences (1Tim. 2:19).

What is also very alarming is that multiple people got it wrong.  This indicates that there is a problem with the Church in general.  We need revival.  We need to be restored to the power and character of the New Testament Church before we can move on to our end-time purpose.  If we want the fruit of revival, we must pay the price of contrition (Ps. 51:17).  Which one of the messages to the churches in Asia would the Lord say to us today (Rev. 1:4)?  Are we those who have forgotten their first love (Rev. 2:4)?  Or, are we those who tolerate doctrines of demons (Rev. 2:14,15; 2:20)?  At the very least, we are asleep and need to wake up (Rev. 3:3)!  We are rich with knowledge but poor with good works (Rev. 3:17).  Is it any wonder that we do not see properly?  Unless we truly repent and allow the Lord to anoint our eyes, we will not see clearly (Rev. 3:18).

Our walls are broken down; we are without protection against the approaching enemy.  The word of the Lord through Ezekiel was: “You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.” (Ezek. 22:24).  Will the Lord say of us what He said about Israel before the destruction of Jerusalem?  “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” (Ezek. 22:30).  I believe there is still a remnant, like in Sardis, who have not defiled their garments.  We must be watchful and strengthen the things that remain (Rev. 3:2-4).  We must press in to overcome by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of our testimony (which is the spirit of prophecy), and with a crucified life (Rev. 12:11; 19:10).

Understanding God’s Judgment

Is the corona virus a judgment from God?  As I shared in my last article, a minister friend of mine stated in his newsletter that it cannot be.  This is a common belief, in some charismatic circles, which is based on John 10:10: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  It also goes along with the preaching of the Apostle Peter, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:37,38).  My friend went on to say that when a person ignores the love and redemption offered, then a door is opened to the enemy to steal, kill and destroy.  There is very little difference between what my friend is saying and what others are saying, if we go beyond the words and look at what we mean by those words.  To my friend, if you say God is sending judgment, then you are saying that Jesus came to judge rather than to save.  When others say God is sending judgment, they mean that sin must be punished so we need to repent in order to obtain mercy.  Both are looking to God for mercy. 

What difference does it make then if we are saying the same thing but using different words?  It makes a lot of difference to the hearers because people react to what they think they are hearing.  If I use words that you understand differently than what I mean, then my message is misunderstood.  Your response will be to what you understood, not to what I said.  If the Church is to come to maturity, it must come to “the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Eph. 4:13).  Unity is at the heart of what God desires for the Church.  It is something that Jesus prayed for before the end of His earthly ministry (Jn. 17:21).  It will come as the Body is edified by speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).  We will not come to unity unless we discuss these differences while “endeavouring to keep the unity in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).  It takes effort to maintain a unity of fellowship when we see things differently, but a commitment to love will see us through to maturity.

What then are these differences?  The religious view says that God is putting sickness on us to develop character, so we are instructed to accept it as “suffering for Christ”.  Faith, on the other hand, says that Christ is our healer so we should resist the enemy who tries to oppress us.  It is important to fight the enemy, but it is more important that we fight with truth.  Presumption tries to claim the promises of God without obedience.  The Scriptures say: “Submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (Jas. 4:7).  We cannot effectively resist the enemy apart from submission to God. 

What does submission to God have to do with resisting the devil, besides the fact that God in us is the power we need for resisting?  It has to do with God’s justice.  The devil is the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10).  He is the prosecuting attorney going before the Judge because we have done something wrong.  He is the jailer who will torment those who refuse to forgive others (Matt. 18:34,35).  The devil does not have free reign to do whatever he wishes against God’s people.  He is limited by God’s justice.  If there is cause for judgment, the devil will demand it; and unless we obtain mercy, because of Christ’s sacrifice, then we will receive punishment.  Not all sickness or oppression is a result of sin, but if what we are facing is, then what we need first is mercy.  Without mercy, punishment will come.  We must “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16). 

In a general sense, all sickness is the result of the fall of man.  As Paul said, “The sting of death is sin” (1Cor. 15:56).  Since our bodies are all currently subject to death, we are also subject to sickness, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Cor. 15:57).  Although sickness and other calamities are the result of sin in general, that does not mean that they are the result of individual sin.  There are all kinds of natural causes, accidents, evil acts, etc.  Regardless of the cause, however, James says that we should pray in faith for healing, and if sin is the cause, God will grant forgiveness which will allow for healing (Jas. 5:14-16).  The need for forgiveness is very important.  Even when judgment comes to a nation, Christians should, as priests of God, intercede for that nation.  We can by faith ask God to forgive the sins of the nation, because of the sacrifice of Jesus.  (See 1Jn. 5:16,17).  We have examples of that type of intercession in the prayers of Nehemiah (Neh. 1:4-11) and Daniel (Dan. 9:1-19), who confessed the sins of the nation as their own sin to obtain God’s mercy.  When you know God, you know His desire for mercy, but you also understand the universal need for justice. 

There is one more aspect of judgement that we have not yet discussed, and this is God’s discipline.  If all we must do after we sin is ask for forgiveness, then what would prevent us from committing that sin again?  If we love God, you may be thinking, we won’t do that, but what if we lack self-control?  God loves us too much to allow us to continue in sin, so He disciplines us (Prov. 3:11,12).  What does this discipline look like?  Is it only a chastening in our spirit, like a rebuke?  The Apostle Paul would not agree.  He said that this discipline may even take the form of judgment.  “For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.  For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.  But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” (1Cor. 11:30-32).  There are many examples in Scripture where God forgave someone, but punishment was still administered.  Miriam bore the punishment of leprosy for one week (Nu. 12:9-15).  David was punished for his sin with Bathsheba (2Sam. 12:1-15).  God’s discipline, even if it involves judgment, is meant to help us overcome sin.

A final judgment is coming to this world, and it is God’s goodness that delays it (Rom. 2:3,4).  It is also God’s goodness that allows some preliminary judgments to come as warnings of the final judgment.  The way to overcome this world is to resist the enemy and draw near to God in repentance and faith (Jas. 4:8-10).

The Balance of Wisdom

It’s okay to have balance.  It may not feel as exhilarating as always going where you want to go, or doing what you want to do, but it is more rewarding in the end.  “Wisdom has built her house.  She has hewn out her seven pillars” (Prov. 9:1).  There is much speculation about what the seven pillars are.  They could be an expression of a good structure since the number seven represents completion.  They could also refer to seven characteristics like the seven Spirits of God, which are before the throne of God (Rev. 4:5).   The description of these in Isaiah Chapter 11 are similar to the descriptions of wisdom in Proverbs.  In any case, we know that wisdom is balanced.  It is knowledge and understanding; prudence and discretion; counsel and instruction; truth and righteousness, etc. 

We are exhorted to ask God for wisdom since He gives freely to those who ask in faith (Jas. 1:5,6).  How then will it come?  “The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:6).  Wisdom is found in Christ (1Cor. 1:30).  He is the Word of God (Jn. 1:1).  We obtain wisdom by asking and then seeking.  We search for it in the Scriptures as for hidden treasures (Prov. 2:4).  The words of wisdom are spiritually discerned (Prov. 1:22).  When we find knowledge, we dig deeper to get understanding.  But that is not yet wisdom.  It must also be planted in our hearts and become truth and righteousness for we must be doers of the word and not merely hearers (Jas. 1:21,22). 

The house built by wisdom has a solid foundation.  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10).  We must receive the words of wisdom as the voice of God.  If we have a respect for God, we do not choose which of His words to obey; we treasure all His words in our hearts (Prov. 2:1).  Sometimes what He says is not what we want to hear, but we must turn to His rebuke before we get understanding (Prov. 1:23).  To receive all His instructions, we must “incline our ear” to His words; we must “apply our heart” to understanding (Prov. 2:2). 

Where shall we search for these hidden treasures?  Large quantities of minerals must be mined to extract small amounts of precious metal.  If you only read the scriptures that you find appealing, you will not find all the hidden treasures God has for you.  The goal is to prayerfully read as much Scripture as you can.  At this point, it is not a study of Scripture, but a mining expedition.  When you come across, what my Bible College instructor called, a “wonderful thought” you stop and meditate on it.  That nugget is a rhema word “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2Tim. 3:16).  They are usually the basis for my study of the Scriptures.

Since we do not know where we will find the hidden treasures, we should have a systematic approach to reading the Bible.  The reading of Christians books is useful for study and for inspiration, but these are not enough by themselves; they should point us to the Scriptures.  Then, the Scriptures should bring us to a revelation of Christ (Jn. 5:39).  There are a couple of ways to read the Bible systematically.  One way is to keep a list of all the books of the Bible and check them off as you complete the reading of them.  This allows you to read them in the order you feel led to, but it requires a commitment to read all the books.  Another way is to use a Bible Reading Plan.  I have done it both ways, and I find that the latter is more effective for me.  With the first method, I tend to read the same books multiple times and other books are left unread.

At first, I tried reading the entire Bible through in a year, but I found that too ambitious.  I looked for a two-year plan but could not find one, so I developed my own.  This plan allows me to read a portion every day while still allowing me time to meditate and study.  Since it covers a period of two years, I doubled the reading of the New Testament to get a better balance between the Old and the New Testament portions.

One of the concerns you may have about following a reading plan is limiting the occasions that the Lord will speak to you.  I have not found that to be the case.  The Lord is quite able to speak to us in whatever portion of the Bible we are reading.  If He knows that we will faithfully follow a plan, He may even arrange circumstance in our lives to go along with what we are reading.  And, with a two-year plan, we are still able to extend our reading into other books.  For example, during the time of writing this article, while following my Bible Reading Plan, I came across a passage in 2Samuel that was a rhema Word to me.  I had been meditating on something a minister friend of mine had published in his newsletter.  He, like many others, do not believe that the corona virus has anything to do with God’s judgment.  When I came across this verse: “I will be his Father, and He will be my son.  If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the blows of the sons of men.” (2Sa. 7:14), the issue became clear to me.  I was reminded that there is a lack of understanding among God’s people about the balance between mercy and judgment.  Part of the problem is a misunderstanding about God’s discipline.  As I pondered this, many more scripture references came to mind and I continued my reading that morning as a study of this balance. 

Let me encourage you to seek the fullness of God’s wisdom.  If you have veered away from systematically reading the Scriptures, let me suggest you begin the new year with a Bible Reading Plan.  The one posted on my site can be downloaded and printed.  Let us grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ whom God has made our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (1Cor. 1:30).

True Freedom

There are things that bring freedom, but the inverse is not true.  As Christians, we have been called to freedom (5:13).  Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2Cor. 3:17).  The freedom Scripture speaks about is freedom from sin and from religious bondage.  Freedom is a result of life in the Spirit.  This life is only found in Christ, and it is only attained through faith.  Freedom does not bring life, but life brings freedom.  This type of freedom has nothing to do with politics or culture.   We can be free in Christ, regardless of our human situation.  To be free in a human sense allows us more opportunity to serve Christ, so it should be sought for, but it does not affect the condition of our soul.  Jesus was quite clear in explaining to the Jewish leaders that real bondage is caused by sin, and true freedom is found in Him (Jn. 8:31-36).  True freedom, once it is obtained, should be closely guarded.: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again in a yoke of bondage.” (Gal. 5:1)

My ancestor, Pierre Arseneau came to North America from France in the year 1671 to what is now Nova Scotia.  He came at a time when Acadia was returning to French rule, after having experienced about 10 years under British rule.  During that period, the French colonists had experienced a freedom from the French feudal system, for which they were in no hurry to return to.  As a navigational pilot, Pierre was recruited to transport the livestock and supplies of the adventuring colonists from the Capital, Port Royal, to a new settlement at the end of the French Bay (Bay of Fundy).  He became a trade partner with the community leader and was granted land in the new settlement.  The dream of a New World was not without conflict, however.  The settlement was discovered by a French nobleman during a naval expedition and he soon established himself as the “Seigneur de Beaubasin”, even though the residents largely opposed him.  For the next one hundred years, Acadia changed hands a few times between British and French rule, so the inhabitants became neutral in their allegiances.  As “French Neutrals” under British rule, they experienced civil liberties which included the right to worship freely their Catholic faith.  It was this particular freedom which contributed to their expulsion from the land they had come to know as their own.

In the years preceding the Acadian Expulsion, the missionary priests worked with French authorities to incite some of the Acadians and Indians to resist the British.  The religious leaders believed that if the people remained under British rule, they would eventually become Protestants and suffer eternal damnation.   They felt it was their God-given duty to deliver their flock from the Protestants.  Little did they realize that the resistance of a few would eventually lead to the displacement of an entire people.  Would the Acadian Expulsion have occurred if religion had not played a role?  I don’t believe so.  There are freedoms we hold on to sometimes that are not what we think they are.  We seek to defend civil liberties for fear of losing religious liberties, but sometimes what we hold on to, or how we hold onto it, is another form of bondage.  Let us not forget that the greatest bondage to overcome is the bondage to sin. 

When I came to know Christ at the age of 20, I had to overcome the bondage of religious traditions.  These traditions were deeply rooted in my family and community.  There was a price to pay to walk in freedom, but I knew if I stayed under bondage, I would not be able to assist others to freedom.  With such a cost for freedom, I was not going to exchange one form of religious bondage for another.  I purposed to help believers in any denomination, but I would never be a minister of one.  Even in the fellowships I have belonged to, I have had to resist the pressure to conform.  We must keep our ears attentive to God, not man.  Even those whom we think would be displeased with the directions we take are themselves being drawn by the same voice.  If we are free to follow the voice of the Master instead of the fear of man, we will continue walking the path to the Heavenly City.  We will not settle into the traditions of the past.

I know the value of freedom, and the price we must pay to walk in it.  That is why it bothers me when it is used wrongly.  We are all familiar with the Scripture: “do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Gal. 5:13).  When we use our civil liberties in pride or selfishness, we are not walking in love, we are walking in the flesh.  We are not abiding in true freedom; we are still enslaved to sin.  To elevate anything, even freedom, above obedience to God is to serve an idol.  Let us not confuse civil liberty with true freedom. Consider what happens when we guard freedom with the works of the flesh.  In the Western world we experience civil liberties that are non-existent in Communist countries.  We resist the imposition of state control because we have no desire to become prisoners of the state.  I live in the province of Alberta where the government has tried unsuccessfully to convince residents to wear face masks in public and to limit social gatherings because of COVID-19.  The result has been an increase in cases of the illness which has resulted in sickness and death.  In our desire to guard our “freedom”, we have harmed our neighbours.  Now, because people would not willingly consider the good of others, the government has imposed stricter guidelines which can be legally enforced.  Can you not see where this is going? Because we refuse to willingly considers others ahead of ourselves (Phil. 2:3), we must now be forced to do it by law.  In our efforts to guard freedom through selfishness and pride, we make way for tyranny.  We are still far from there, but if we continue to elevate freedom above love, we play into the strategies of the enemy to bring about a one world anti-christ system.  Am I exaggerating?  Examine your ways.  “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Prov. 14:12).

The Breach of Truth – Part 2

If we are to overcome deception, we need to understand how it enters in.  The Church is described in Scripture as the New Jerusalem, the spiritual nation of Israel.  We are in the days of the restoration of all things (Acts 3:19-20).   The Lord declared by the prophet Amos: “On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old.” (Amos 9:11).  We cannot have a restoration of worship without also having a rebuilding of the city wall.  We guard what comes in and out of our midst with the city gates.  Nehemiah heard of the condition of Jerusalem after the temple had been rebuilt and he was deeply concerned.  This led him to fast, pray and act as the Lord enabled him.  There is a need for revival in the land, but it is not just a “personal” revival.  We need a restoration of the Church to its original state of power and righteousness.  The Church has an end-time purpose and she must rise to that purpose.  We are living in a time when we need the watchman prophet, the warrior intercessor, and the faithful repairers of the breach.  To repair the breach is to restore the ancient paths (Isa. 58:12; Jer. 18:15).  To overcome deception, we need to repair the breach of truth.

As stated in the previous article, we must have more than a  knowledge of the truth; we must possess a love for the truth (2Thess. 2:10).  We have an individual responsibility to walk in truth, and we also have a corporate responsibility.   If the Body is sick, then all the members suffer (1Cor. 12:26).  We are all affected by the state of the Church.  It is imperative, as citizens of spiritual Israel, that we consider the state of our spiritual nation.  We cannot isolate ourselves into tribes, each one ignoring the welfare of the other.  God sees the Church as one, and we must have the same mind.  In the same manner that the enemy establishes strongholds in the lives of individuals, he also establishes them against families, ethnic groups, and nations.  Believers are a part of these groups so they must be aware of the strategies of the enemy against them.  There are also strongholds of the enemy against the church itself.  As Paul tells us, we have mighty weapons in God to destroy these strongholds, but we cannot do that if we do not discern them (2Cor. 10:4-5).  If we possess a love for the truth, we will react in repentance when anything is found in us that is not of the truth.  To guard our ability to hear the corrections of the Lord, we will maintain an attitude of humility.  To judge what we hear, we will rely on the witness of the Spirit in our hearts, not on outward voices.  As the anointed of the Lord, we “shall not judge by the sight of our eyes, nor decide by the hearing of our ears” (Isa. 11:3).

If we love the truth, we will pay the price required to walk in truth.  Have you ever spoken wrongly, or made a mistake, and then denied it to protect yourself from punishment?  That was common for me until I became a Christian.  Thereafter, I chose to bind mercy and truth around my neck (Prov. 3:3).  Working in industry, I made many mistakes that cost my employers thousands of dollars.  The price for admitting these mistakes was embarrassment, but the fruit was integrity and trust, as well as an increase in skill and understanding.  If we love the truth, we will submit to the correction of the Lord for righteousness (Heb. 12:11).

We are all familiar with the passage in Ephesians concerning the maturity of the Church.  To avoid being “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men” we are to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:14,15).  It is a spiritual principle that if you speak a lie, you will believe a lie (see Luke 7:37).  Those who deceive others, are deceived themselves (2Tim. 3:13).  If we want to avoid being deceived, we must “bridle the tongue” so our heart is not deceived (Jas. 1:26).  The need to speak only truth is critical.  We should be very careful about repeating what others say unless we have personally received the witness of the Spirit concerning those things, otherwise we may simply be broadcasting the deceitful schemes of the enemy.

What makes a breach in the wall of truth is falsehood.  The enemy protects these falsehoods with “arguments” that raise themselves above the knowledge of God (2Cor. 10:5).  One of the biggest strongholds we face is the deception that we can use wrongful means to achieve good results.  It is the age-old question, “Does the end justify the means?”  I am referring to the tendency to use the ways of this world to build the kingdom of God.  We would not knowingly do that, but what if it is done unknowingly?  This is where discernment is needed.  In the same manner that individual believers come to maturity by exercising their spiritual senses to discern both good and evil, the church in general must do the same (Heb. 5:14).  Any argument we use to do something other than what God says, is an argument that is not in obedience to Christ.  It is a stronghold of the enemy. 

There are many things we do as humans which are not according to God’s ways.  We justify them because of the results they yield, but we judge wrongly.  James said: “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (Jas. 1:20).  The example James give is of anger, but we can apply it to any of our fleshly ways.  They may appear outwardly to yield good result, but they do nothing to produce the “love and good works” which issue from the heart.  In the natural, it is common to strengthen a metal by mixing it with another metal.  This is called an alloy.  To gain this strength, however, the metal must give up some of its conductivity.  In a spiritual sense, if we mix man’s ways with God’s ways to obtain strength, we hinder the operation of the Spirit.  God is not preparing His Bride by the might or power of man, but by His Spirit of grace (Zech. 4:6,7).

Please consider prayerfully what I am saying here and hear the words of Paul to Timothy: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold or silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2Tim. 2:20,21).

The Breach of Truth

Restoration is needed in the Church if she is to accomplish her end-time purpose.  This is certain to be done, but how it will be done, and who will be part of it, depends on how we individually respond to the Lord.  The Early Church rebuilt the temple of the Lord by the power of the Spirit and in the fullness of grace, as was prophesied by Zechariah (Zech. 4:6,7).  This was symbolized by the rebuilding of the temple in the days of Zerubbabel.  Then, during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, the walls of the city had to be rebuilt and proper worship had to be restored.  The restoration that is needed today is revival of worship in spirit and truth, as well as a repairing of the city walls for protection.  In my article on “Repairers of the Breach”, I explained that repairing the gaps in the wall is restoring the ancient paths (Is. 58:12).  There are many breaches in the protective wall of the Church, so where do we start?  If we know which way the enemy is coming from, we can focus first on repairing the breaches on that side of the wall. 

Deception is a major assignment against believers in the end times (Matt. 24:4,24).  It is particularly important that we overcome deception because the New Jerusalem is to be called the City of Truth (Zech. 8:3).  How can we defend ourselves against this scheme of the enemy?  Paul’s words to the Thessalonians gives us insight on this: “because they did not receive the love of the truth” (2Thess. 2:10).  This is not just a knowledge of the truth, but an actual love for the truth.  Love is a matter of the heart.  David said: “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts”. (Ps. 51:6).  Our words and actions issue from the heart (Matt. 15:18-19).  If the walls of protection are the paths we walk in, then it is reasonable to assume that we need to have the ancient paths written in our hearts.  When truth is lacking in any area of our lives, then deception can find a way through.  We can repair the breach in that area of the wall by loving the truth which God reveals.  Recognizing a breach in the wall is very important.  “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1Jn. 1:8).  If we lack truth in an area, we may have something else in its place, which we think is truth.  This is true for the individual believer and for the Church in general.  To repair it, we first need to submit to the correction of the Word.  We must receive the word of the Lord in humility (Jas. 1:21).  We must receive it with repentance and faith (Mark 1:15).

The word is a seed which must be planted in the soil of our heart (Lu. 84-15).  When I hear the word and believe it, it enters my heart.  If the soil is hard, then the word will not be received.  If the soil is soft, but there are hard stones in it, then these must be removed.  We are responsible for the condition of the soil.  Our heart becomes good soil when the hardness of sin is removed (Heb. 3:13).  “A broken and contrite heart – these, O God You will not despise.” (Ps. 51:17).  Pride will prevent you from receiving correction.  In an attitude of submission, let God search your heart to reveal any wrongful ways (Ps. 139:23-24).  This is a continual process, because even if the soil is good, it must be guarded from weeds.  Weeds are the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches (Matt. 13:22).  If you love the Lord, you will come to know Him, and you will recognize Him when He speaks (Jn. 10:2-5).  You will hold fast to His words, even if they are words of correction.  You will know the difference between good seeds and bad seeds because of the spirit behind the words.

While speaking of the deception of the last days, the Apostle John told the believers “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” (1Jn. 2:27).  This anointing is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit Who guides us into all truth (Jn. 16:13).  He speaks to us in various ways, but mostly through impressed thoughts.  I have come to recognize that voice as “the wisdom from above that is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (Jas. 3:17).  The Spirit behind these impressions is not “pushy”, but gentle.  His thoughts are pure, always agreeing with the Word.  If I do not see how they agree with scripture, I can ask for understanding because His wisdom is “easy to be intreated” (KJV).  Above all, His thoughts carry a sense of peace: “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil.4:7).  I can discern truth or error in what I hear through the presence or absence of the peace of God.  I have also found this “inner witness” to be a faithful judge of my thoughts and words.  When these are in line with His, there is a sense of peace, regardless of the circumstances. 

All of this requires that I first hear the words of truth.  If I do not hear the words, I cannot receive them.  That is why Jesus told the disciples, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matt. 11:15).  It is important that I turn inward to the voice of the Lord by quieting my soul, as David said: “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul.  Like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (Ps. 131:2).  How did David do that?  “Lord, my heart is not haughty.  Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me.” (Ps. 131:1).   If I am anxious about things, my soul is not calm.  Anxiety is fear which is rooted in the pride of life.  I calm my soul by humbly casting all my cares on Him and turning my soul towards Him in adoration.  I desire spiritual understanding, but this is not obtained by natural effort (1Cor. 2:14).  I cannot discern God’s mysteries with my natural mind. I open my spirit to discernment and then my mind is enlightened.  I also need to be careful not to go beyond what is revealed.  I try to never conclude a matter until it is clearly revealed.  My confidence is not in knowing everything, but in knowing Him Who does.

In this first on repairing the breach of truth, we have focussed on the individual believer.  In the next article, we will focus on the Church in general.  Both are important because they are one. 

How Shall We Pray?

Some challenging events have occurred since my last article.  Last week we saw the U.S. election go in a direction that, from a Christian perspective, spells trouble for that nation.  Also, our family has experienced some personal tragedies.  How do we react to these defeats?  Do we deny they occurred, or do we trust God that He is able to make all things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Ro. 8:28)?  As a Canadian, I am not directly involved in the election, but every nation will be affected by what is happening in the States.  Furthermore, as a Christian, I am directly involved with the Body of Christ in America because we are citizens of the same Kingdom.

From now until January 20th, God can reverse the decision of the election, but we are not certain that He will do that.  He is quite able to do it, but there are other principles involved.  He has given man the freedom of choice and He will not take that away even if wrong choices are made.  In hope against hope, Christians continue to pray.  How then should we pray?  To pray effectively according to the will of God, we need to raise our vision above the natural.  There are spirit forces at work in our nations which are opposed to God.  We must discern and resist these forces.  How we resist the enemy depends on our position.  Within the Church, we have authority to bind and loose (Matt. 18:18).  When done in faith, this results in immediate change.  The spirit force is stopped, and the people who were deceived repent or fall into judgment. 

Outside the Church, the battle is different.  We can intercede as members of a family, a community, or a nation but our position of authority is different.  A king only has authority over his subjects.  Those who should be his subjects must be brought back into his realm or be cast out of the kingdom.  There is a judgment day coming, but today is the day of salvation.  Today, we function as the King’s messengers, His ambassadors (Mal. 2:7; 2Cor. 5:20).  We also function as His priests, offering up spiritual sacrifices.  We confess sins on behalf of the people group we belong to, and we beseech the Lord to have mercy.  In His name, we sprinkle the precious blood of the Lamb over the people.  We also pray that the will of God would be done on earth as it is in Heaven.  As we do this by faith, we support the angels who wage war on our behalf against these spirit forces (Dan. 10:12-13).  The answer to this type of prayer is not immediate.  It is a continuous struggle, and although we lose some battles, we continue to win the war. 

In the book “Touching the Heart of God”, the late Pastor Ernest Gruen described a vision that the Lord gave to him about the spiritual battle in America.  He saw a clenched fist where the fingers represented different spirit forces.  The thumb represented the spirit of lawlessness.  He was shown that the strength of the grip was in the thumb.  The main struggle in America, and the world, is the spirit of lawlessness.  The devil is supporting this spirit with other spirits like pride, greed, lust and deception.  He is scheming in order to bring about the rule of the son of perdition (1Tess. 2:3-12).   We have spiritual weapons to fight this battle (2Cor. 10:4,5).  We cannot stop the world from turning to the man of perdition, but we can labour to see our loved ones, our communities, and our nations turn to Christ. 

The hope of believers is not in a man, or a political party, but in God our Father who can restore righteousness to our nations.  American Christians have supported President Trump, not because he is a righteous man, but because he has supported just causes.  If the election is lost, it does mean the end of righteousness, but it means there are difficult days ahead.  What happens in the future will depend on how we react today.   The main reason why the election went the way it did is not because of voting irregularities, but because of the heart of the people.  America, like Canada is divided.  We are like the nation of Israel in the days of Elijah.  On Mount Carmel, Elijah challenged the people with these words: “How long will you falter between two opinions?  If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” (1Ki. 18:21).  The Canaanites worshipped Baal as the god of the land who could give them an increase of crops, fruit and cattle (Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary).  The Israelites did the same because they wanted to prosper.  Is it any different today?  Many believers are double-minded: they want righteousness, but they also love the world and the things in the world.  A revival is needed in our nations, but it must happen first in the Church.  If we as God’s people humble ourselves and pray, seek His face, and turn from our sinful ways, God will hear from heaven.  He will forgive our sins, bring others into His kingdom, and heal our land (2Chron. 7:14).  If we refuse to do this, we face a certain judgment.  God in His mercy delays judgment, but His kindness is meant to lead us to repentance (Ro. 2:4).

Not all those in the Church have worshipped Baal.  Even in the days of Elijah, God had a remnant of faithful ones who had not bowed their knees to Baal (1Ki. 19:18).  There is still a remnant in the Church today.  They are like the Church in Philadelphia. Because of their faithfulness, the Lord will keep them from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world.  The role of this remnant is to pray and to call the Church and the nation to repentance.  God is looking for those who will stand in the gap to intercede for the nation (Ezek. 22:30).  The enemy has entered the city because the wall is broken down.  We must remove the enemy, and we must rebuild the wall (Ezek. 13:5).  In the last article I talked about Repairers of the Breach.  In the next articles, I will address some of those breaches.  But first, we must cleanse the temple: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded…Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (Jas. 4:8-10).