Revelation 1 gives us an insight into this reality. When you consider the persecutions of the first apostles you see that what is happening today is not so developed in a concerted effort to persecute the Church, I think we are on the threshold of an end time persecution which shall fill the "cup of iniquity" of the whole world. This shall be pivotal for the end. This series which I started just after the new year has the motivation of preparing the saints for what is coming. What is coming can only be walked through when we are duly prepared in the Word and the Spirit.
Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Matthew 11:2 This chapter is so interesting when you examine the processes that John the Baptist was going through in prison, when he sent messengers to Jesus. This question in the title of this message means something has changed with John in his perception of Jesus, and his expectation of the Messiah. When you research how John recognizes Jesus, as the Messiah you have to go to John 1, to see what God said and revealed to him in the wilderness.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3 KJV The call of John into the wilderness is a demarcation in forsaking family duty, what is expected and what the Law determines. John is the son of a priest. As sons, it is predetermined that they follow the course. The Scripture in Isaiah 40 represents some unheard of movement of the Lord. It represents an apparent break with conformity for the objective of bringing about the greatest prophetic task ever undertaken until Jesus.
We continue our series of some time ago. We have seen Yeshua as our Priest, as our Prophet, and now as our King. In John 14 Yeshua introduces to the disciples that He is going away. He is returning to the Father. This should not strike fear, but joy. Yeshua would send someone who would bring Him ever present in every moment. The Ascension account in Acts 1 is very striking because He is lifted up as two angels are present to the disciples. They remind the disciples that as they see Him go up they would see Him descend to rule all nations in the same manner.
And there was given to me a thorn in my flesh… 2 Corinthians 12. There are many schools of thought about what was Paul's thorn. What is clear is that it was a messenger of Satan. The purpose was so that he would not be conceited about his revelations in God. Paul wrote this to a people who were confused about an apparent contradiction in the life of Paul. He moved in great revelation and miraculous power. But it seems that he was buffeted violently by something, which threatened all what was revealed and the miracles. This something was a messenger from Satan. He was given permission by God to afflict Paul.
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Isaiah 6:3 KJV We continue to study our theme, which is of being great encouragement within the discipline of meditation. We need to remember that Isaiah was a priestly prophet. He was well acquainted with the workings of the temple duties from the sacrifices in the outer courts, to the altar of incense in the holy place, the maintenance of the lampstand, and the most holy place where the Glory resides. So this vision is not far removed to Isaiah's knowledge of what can happen in that dedicated temple. It is essentially the place where God meets with His ordained priests to minister atonement and covering for sin.
Today we start a new series, which has taken me 15 days or more of careful meditation and maturing. I do not post just anything that might sound good and I do not post to appeal to the various doctrinal camps either. I must be honest that my communion with God has saved me from complete disillusionment with what I see in general Christendom. The problem is for the hidden elites that there are those who for being "in the wilderness" they do not accompany the latest fad. Those who are accustomed to isolation and the emptiness of the wilderness hear a different sound. That sound is consistent to the same inspirational sound written between the lines of scripture.
I see Ezekiel 37 as a pattern for today's move of God. There are certain aspects which God does to highlight how He operates and what our part is. Can these bones live? God is asking for our heart in the matter of our current state: dry and dead. God wants our participation in the move of God, which means the belief that it is up to God and His will is error. God's Word creates life and movement wherever and whenever it is declared. God wants us to work with Him in this new move. This declaration is an outflow of the work of God in us as a result of a new approach to prayer.
Follow Up
