JOURNEY OF FAITH
Day Twenty-four
From the depths of my heart, from the deepest recesses of my soul, I just want to thank You, Abba Father! For You are good; Your love endures forever! Thank You for Your unfailing love and for Your wonderful deeds for Mankind, Father! You satisfy the thirsty and fill the hungry with good things! Thank You, Father, for Your unfailing love and Your wonderful deeds for Mankind! I shall ever sacrifice thank offerings to You and tell of Your wonderful works with songs of joy!
You are my Father; how I thank You from the depths of my soul! You are my God, and I exalt You! All thanks to You, Father, for You are good! Your love endures forever and ever! Hallelujah!
Revelation 22:1-21 [NIV; amplification in italics]
Then the angel showed me the river of the Water of Life, immortal and Divine, as clear as crystal, flowing direct from the Eternal Throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of every one of the great streets of the Holy City, solely for the exhaustless pleasure and blessedness of the celestial king-priests who occupy it! On each side of the river stood the tree of life, a species of tree bearing twelve different crops of fruit, yielding a new variety of its fruit each and every month, again solely for the unmeasured pleasure and blessedness of the immortal glorified saints who reside there! And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the peoples of the nations that inhabit the Earth below...for the preservation of their health, comfort, and Life-blessedness forever and ever. No longer will there ever be any penalty or curse resulting from sin and its consequences. The Throne of God and of the Lamb…a single Throne, shared with His glorified saints as He had promised, which is the seat and center of all the authority and power thenceforward put forth for the regulation and government of human affairs…will be in the City, and they shall reign to the ages of the ages! And His immortal and glorified servants will serve Him with a universal obedience and a loving devotion; no more sin, no more rebellion, no more forgetfulness or neglect of the claims or Word of the Eternal King. All life is permeated and transfigured with the most complete and happy accord with the Divine will, which then is done “on Earth as it is in Heaven.” They will see His Face, and they shall stand continually before Him, and His name will be on their foreheads as a token of their sublime office and consecration, and of an honor and blessedness of the highest degree. There will be no more night in this celestial home of the Lamb’s Bride. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God Himself will give them His glorious, ever abiding, light. And they will reign for ever and ever, holding dominion over the nations…all people, languages, and nations under the whole Heaven…and their kingdom is an everlasting kingdom that will never end!
The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show His servants beforehand the things that must soon take place during the forthcoming administration of His role and reign on Earth, so that they may make proper and diligent preparations for His imminent return, and for their invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these wondrous, marvelous, things! And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book! Worship God!”
Then, in solemn and strict command, he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, but rather record them and make them known, because the time is near! Though the words of this prophecy harden the hearts of the ungodly, and the wicked are only all the more indurated in their wickedness, yet, even so, let it so be; do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book! Let him who does wrong continue to do all the more wrong; let him who is vile continue to be all the more vile; let him who does right continue to do all the more right; and let him who is holy continue to be all the more holy.
Whatever the results, let it so be; but do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book!“
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to, and in proportion to, what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” “Blessed are those who wash their robes in the cleansing Blood of Jesus, and are careful to maintain their whiteness in constant expectation and readiness, eagerly watching and waiting for their summoning to the Marriage supper of the Lamb to which they have been invited, that in so doing they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the Holy City! For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope…the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very Own, eager to do what is good. Now there is in store for us the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award us on that Day…and not only to us, but also to all who have longed for His appearing. Outside the Holy City, and sentenced to a living-death for all eternity in the lake of fire, are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” The Spirit and the Bride, with an intense longing and yearning emanating from the deepest, inmost recesses of their being for the Great Consummation of all things through the coming of Christ, continually say, “Come!” And let him who hears, in union and in fellowship with the Spirit and the Bride, also continually say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty for these Waters of Life, let him also come and join in fellowship with the Spirit and the Bride; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the Water of Life, to be appropriated solely and only by faith in Christ, by seizing hold upon His promises to His church, and by joining the cry of the Spirit, the yearning of the Bride, and the soul of all right hope, in looking for and hastening the coming of the Day of God, even the blessed Apocalypse of the Blessed Christ!
I, Jesus, solemnly warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this book.”
He who testifies to these things…even the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself…solemnly says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen! [Revelation 22:1-21]
WHY DO I EXIST
CHAPTER 18
GOD’S HOLY REMNANT
ANECDOTES
I made you for Myself, in My Own image and in My Own likeness, Divinely crafted with the capabilities and capacity to be joined together with the Triune God in a Sacred Covenant relationship…
I purchased you, by Myself and for Myself, with the precious and priceless Blood of My Divine Son Jesus, that you would declare My praises…
I made you to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, consecrated and set apart to the worship of God…consecrated and set apart to worship Me!
But no…instead, you are like an unfaithful, adulterous wife, having intimacy and love affairs with the world and thereby breaking your marriage vows to God!
Your sweetest, most tender affections are not reserved for Me!
I am not the choicest, most precious treasure of your heart!
You have no longing to linger in My Presence, just sitting at My feet!
Yes, I know that you honor Me with your lips…but your heart is far from Me!
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot…not willing to give up your pretension and claim to My name, yet having too much love for the world to stand steadfast and immovable with Me! I wish you were either one or the other…make up your mind, would you, please! So, because you are lukewarm…neither hot nor cold…I am thoroughly disgusted with you and am about to spew you out of My mouth!
You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and am in need of nothing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked! I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white garments to wear, to cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so your eyes would be opened and you can truly see!
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So, therefore, be earnest, and repent!” [Rev 3:15-19]
*************************
Friends & neighbors; brothers and sisters…
If you remember nothing else from the pages of “WHY DO I EXIST”… never forget this: GOD LOVES YOU.
God’s Love 4 U is…
Unconditional
Unfailing
Unchanging
Unending
Beloved…I love you because of Who I am…not as a response to who you are, or what you do, or what you refrain from doing.
If only you would know in the depths of your soul, if only you would just fully embrace, the greatness of My Love I have lavished upon you…that the most intense desire of My heart is to gather you to Myself as one of My Own children, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. That is the depth of My love for you.
*************************
INTRODUCTION: UNSPOKEN TESTIMONY
Brothers and sisters in Christ…
Whatever you plan to spend your free time on…time that is available after your responsibilities are completed…is your unspoken testimony for all the world to see as to what is really most important to you. Brethren…Wherever your treasure is, there your free time, your thoughts, your heart, will also be. Period.
THE KING OF KINGS BANQUET
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.
Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!
Blessed Jesus…By virtue of the Eternal Power and Eternal Worth of Your Blood poured out on behalf of the souls of Man…poured out on my behalf on that cross at Calvary…You have guaranteed and secured my Eternal Access into the Holy of Holies, to enter in and abide there continually and unceasingly day and night. The Holy of Holies is my soul’s dwelling place…to live there, in my home and resting place in the shadow of the Almighty, all the days of my life while still living on this Earth. I abide there even now, today and every day, in the inaccessible Light of the Glory of Your unclouded Presence, Father, continually and unceasingly day and night, where there is fullness of joy…joy unspeakable and full of Glory! This is my birth-right as a child of the Most High God…until death of this body brings me home, to be together with You in the Holy of Holies in Heaven to abide there for all eternity.
BIRTH-RIGHT OF A CHILD OF GOD
ALL OF THIS AS MY BIRTH-RIGHT…the birth-right of the children of the Most High God! You have prepared a feast for me at Your banqueting table in the presence of my enemies, where You anoint my head with oil…where my cup overflows and my soul is satisfied with the richest of foods as I feast on the abundance of Your House, and You give me drink from Your River of Delights…a River of unceasing glorious and rich eternal pleasures at Your right Hand!
LIKE ESAU: TRADING MY BIRTH-RIGHT FOR A BOWL OF POTTAGE
But no, instead…I turn down Your invitation and hold on to my “peanut butter and jelly” sandwich, determined instead to be engaged in the paltry things this world has to offer…
- to habitually watch sporting events and all kinds of other television programming;
- to habitually play rounds of golf or spend weekends on my boat fishing and pleasure cruising;
- to engage in pornography, drugs, alcohol, gambling;
- to engage in video games, Internet, social media.
- to habitually desire, pursue, and engage in anything else this world has to offer…things having no eternal value or worth.
But no, instead…I turn down Your invitation and hold on to my peanut butter and jelly sandwich…
- But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said,
” I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.” - Another said, “I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.”
- Still another said, “I just got married, so I can’t come.”
The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.”
Sir, the servant said after carrying out the master’s orders, “What you ordered has been done, but there is still room.”
Then the master told his servant, “Go out to the roads and country lanes and urge anyone you find to come, so that my house will be full. I tell you, NOT ONE of those whom I originally invited but made excuses not to come will get a taste of the banquet I had prepared for them!” [Luke 14:16-24]
Brethren…Have you despised your BIRTH-RIGHT, as Esau did in trading his birth-right for a paltry bowl of pottage? Have you traded away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy your consuming desires for the paltry things this world has to offer?
PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
God’s holy remnant is called to a life of self-sacrifice and self-denial.
Jesus clearly instructed His disciples, “You cannot become part of My holy remnant without being willing to sacrifice your desire for anything and everything this world has to offer, and your desire for anything and everything you own.“
Has not My Divine Son Jesus made it unquestionably clear: “Those who treasure their life in this world, serving only themselves and their own interests, will lose it.”
Our Lord never told His Disciples that we are going into Jerusalem today to watch the annual championship chariot races. He told them, “If anyone would come after Me, he must sacrifice and deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Those who treasure their physical life on Earth, serving themselves and their own interests, will lose it. Those who place no value on their own self-life in this world willingly exchange it for treasure in Heaven…an eternal life in Glory. Whoever has no regard for his physical life here on Earth…has no possessive love for this world, neither cherishes the things this world has to offer, but willingly and voluntarily lays it all aside…as a result stores up for himself the treasure of an eternal life in Heaven.”
“If anyone comes to Me and does not love Me more than he loves his father and his mother, his wife and his children, his brothers and his sisters, and yes, even his own life as well…he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow after Me cannot be My disciple. Wherever I am, there will My servant also be. If anyone serves Me, My Father will honor him.”
“If anyone serves Me, he must continue to follow Me and cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying. Wherever I am, there will My servant also be. If anyone serves Me, My Father will honor him.”
“I am telling you the truth: a grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain unless it is dropped into the ground and dies. If it does die, then it produces many grains.“
A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “Whoever loves his father or mother more than Me is not fit to be My disciple. Whoever loves his son or daughter more than Me is not fit to be My disciple. Whoever does not take up his cross and follow in My steps is not fit to be My disciple.
Whoever tries to gain his own life will lose it; but whoever loses his self-life for My sake will gain it.”
But don’t begin until you count the cost…lest you end up failing to carry it through to completion on account of your becoming unwilling to pay the price!
RICH YOUNG RULER
A certain rich young ruler asked Jesus, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call Me good?,” Jesus answered. “No one is good…except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”
“All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. “What do I still lack?”
When Jesus heard this, He looked at him and loved him, and answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have rich treasure in Heaven. Then come back, become My disciple, and follow Me.”
When the rich ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.
Peter said to Jesus, “We have left all we had…home, family, and business…and have followed You.“
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “No one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the Kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this world and, in the age to come, eternal life.”
Brothers and sisters in Christ…Our Lord Jesus will likewise call you to “sell everything you have” for this pearl of great price, and become a bond-slave…to walk away from those worldly strongholds that grip your life…to walk away once and for all from that consuming worldly passion you have for whatever it is that the world has to offer that attracts your time and attention and overrides your affection for, and attraction to, Him alone…and then “Come to Me, become My disciple, and follow Me.”
HIGH CALLING OF GOD
Brethren…The high calling of God for my life is to have in me this same mind, attitude, and purpose as was in Christ Jesus my Lord.
In the true spirit of humility, I am to regard others as better than and superior to myself, thinking more highly of others than I do of myself. I am to esteem and look upon and be concerned for not merely my own interests, but also for the interests of others. I am to follow in the footsteps of Christ Jesus my Lord… considering others and their interests to be more important than myself and my own interests.
Do I really care about lost souls more than my own self-interests?
Do I really care about my unsaved children and family members more than habitually spending hours watching television sporting events, entertainment, programming, or engaged in any other consuming addiction which is the defining characteristic of idol worship…things having no eternal value or worth…that I would willingly walk away from my consuming addiction and set an example for them to follow in my footsteps?
Do I really care about the sad condition of the church…my church…more than my own self-interests?
Do I really care about the discipleship of my brothers and sisters in Christ more than my own self-interests…that I would willingly set an example for them to follow in my footsteps?
I am called to have this same mind-set and heart-set of my Lord:
- Abba Father…You have created me and brought me into existence, and have placed me on this Earth…not to do my own will and purpose, but to do Your will and purpose…the will and purpose of the One Who created me and brought me into existence to begin with.
- You have placed me on this Earth to serve…not to be served. My high calling is to be a bond-slave.
- You have placed me here on this Earth to seek, and to participate together with You in Your work of, the salvation of the lost. You were never willing, Lord, that any should perish.
- You prepared a body for Me; here I am, You have placed me on this Earth, Father. I desire to do Your will, O My God; Your Law is written within my heart.
- I am to do nothing independently, of my own accord, but only as I am taught by You, Father, and as I get Your orders.
- I only do what You show me to do, Father; I only speak the words You give me to speak. I do as You have commanded me, Father, so that the world may know that I love the Father and that I do only what the Father has instructed me to do.
- My food is to do Your will, Father…the will of the One Who created me and brought me into existence, and placed me on this Earth…and to carry to completion Your plans, purposes, and Your will as determined specifically for me in eternity past.
FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR FORERUNNER
Beloved child of God! My Divine Son Jesus came into this world as the Sacrificial Lamb of God; He laid aside His Majesty, Glory, and Almighty consuming Power, and came into this world clothed in meekness, lowliness, and humility.
My Divine Son Jesus clearly stated, “I am able to do nothing independently, of My Own accord, but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders.
You prepared a body for Me; Here I am, I have come…it is written about Me in the scroll. I desire to do Your will, O My God; Your Law is within My heart.
I have come down from Heaven not to do My Own will and purpose, but to do the will and purpose of Him Who sent Me.
I only do what My Father shows Me to do; I only speak the words My Father gives Me to speak.
I do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father and that I do only what the Father has instructed Me to do.
My food is to do the will of My Father Who sent Me, and to carry His work to completion.”
Brethren…Why ever, then, are we so arrogant, haughty, and proud to think I don’t need to live my life this way as well, when the Son of God lived His life on Earth in the character of a human nature in this manner? My time on this Earth…that specific allotment of time…was given to me, NOT TO DO MY WILL, BUT TO DO YOUR WILL, Father.
GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD
Brothers and sisters in Christ…
In that soon coming Day of the Lord…Men’s hearts will be failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the Earth: for the powers of Heaven shall be shaken. When God spoke from Mount Sinai His voice shook the Earth, but now He makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the Earth but the heavens also.” This means that the things on Earth will be shaken, so that only eternal things will remain. When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. [Heb 12:26-27; Luke 21:26, 28]
The Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire. In that day, the Earth will burn as an oven. Everything in the physical, material realm will be burned up…EVERYTHING; nothing will remain.
- Everything this world has to offer that attracts the hearts of Man and that they give their affections to…everything that competes with our attraction to God and our affections for Him…will be burned up.
- All the sports complexes…Hockey Arenas, Football Stadiums, Basketball Arenas, Baseball Diamonds, golf courses…will be burned up;
- All the Television Sets, cell phones, and Internet Access will be burned up;
- All the cruise ships and private mega-yachts, mansions, & private jets of the wealthy will be burned up;
- All the ski resorts, vacation resorts, and private beach houses will be burned up;
- Everything in the physical realm on the face of this Earth will be burned up…nothing will remain.
Do you have a habit of consuming addiction for these things, or any of the things this world has to offer? The heart of Man will always find a way to “justify” being involved in these things…but search your heart before the Lord:
- Do you watch for, wait for, make time for, and schedule your day so as to be available to participate in any of the things this world has to offer?
- Do you become emotionally stirred up being engaged in, and participating in, these things?
- Do you dwell on these things in your mind, your thoughts, your imagination during the day, even when you are not physically engaged and/or participating in these things?
- If any of these things are true in your life, you have a consuming addiction you need to acknowledge before the Lord and confess to Him in Godly sorrow, and turn from these things in true repentance.
- Do you even WANT to be free of these strongholds in your life. Only the Holy Spirit can set you free…but you have to WANT to be free.
Brethren…If being engaged in these things, or any of the things this world has to offer, are the habitual practice of your life, then you are guilty of the Lord’s admonition: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world…the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does…comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires will pass away, but the man who does the will of God will live forever.” [1 John 2:15-17]
Since everything on the Earth will be destroyed in this way, you ought to live a holy and godly life as you look forward to the coming Day of the Lord! Everyone who has this hope purifies himself, just as He is pure. So, beloved, since you are expecting these things to happen, be eager to be found by Him at His coming living a pure and blameless life, and at peace…in serene confidence, free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts.
TIME: PRECIOUS AND PRICELESS
Why are you thankful that the Lord awakened you this morning…clothed and in your right mind and in good health? Why do you thank Him for this new day…this very first day of the rest of your life…however long that will be [He knows; you and I have no clue]? What is it in your heart, mind, and thoughts that you are looking forward to today?
On the rich Eternal treasures of the Heavenly realm? Is your heart set upon the rich eternal treasures that are above, in the Heavenly realms, where Christ Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father? On things that have Eternal value and Eternal worth and will never perish, spoil, or fade?
On the things this World had to offer in the physical realm? On things that have no Eternal value or worth whatsoever, all of which are going to be burned up and not one will remain? The television programming for today…March Madness?… PGA Golf Tour?…Hockey games and the Stanley Cup?…Baseball? Football? playing a round of Golf? Other consuming addictions, whatever they are?
Did you hear the voice of the Holy Spirit…His leading, guiding, prompting… saying, I want you to be engaged in doing this today? Did the Spirit of God instruct you to be engaged in any of these things or whatever else draws the heart’s of Man…today? DID YOU EVEN ASK…inquire of Him concerning your involvement in these things!
Have you fully and wholeheartedly embraced this Scripture: Whom have I in Heaven but You, Lord…and Earth has NOTHING I desire besides You?
Absolutely nothing.
Brethren…Wherever your treasure is, there your heart, your thoughts, your free time, will also be. Period.
ACCOUNTABLE FOR HOW I HAVE SPENT MY TIME
This is what our Father asks of each of His children, as we stand face to Face before Him in His Presence to give an account:
“Tell Me, My son/daughter…on what do you plan to spend your time today? This evening?” On what during this past week did you spend the precious and priceless time I Myself had determined in Eternity past and have specifically allotted to you, and placed you on this Earth to be used for My plans, My purposes, My will?
Why do you claim to be looking forward to being in Heaven with Me for all eternity…when enjoying the things this world has to offer is so much more important to you? When it comes down to a choice between spending time with Me or spending time on something the world has to offer that you enjoy so much…you tell Me, “I’ve been looking forward all day to doing this; I’ll catch up with You later, Lord. I’ll have some time later…if I’m not too tired.”
WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, SO WILL BE YOUR HEART
Beloved…
I am not the choicest, most precious treasure of your heart!
You have not reserved for Me alone your sweetest, most tender affections!
You have no longing to linger in My Presence, just sitting at My feet!
Yes…I know you honor Me with your lips, but your heart is far from Me! Your heart looks forward to enjoying things this world has to offer, and then you give Me some of your leftover spare time that remains.
Why, then, would you want to be with Me in Heaven…where none of these things you enjoy so much more than Me exist?
Child of God…The time I have allotted to you does not belong to you; it belongs to Me. It is sacred, and has eternal value and eternal worth. Why, then, do you take what belongs to Me and spend it on your own self-serving consuming desires for the things this world has to offer?…to indulge in these things in abject disregard of My purposes and will?
My beloved child…you will know where your heart is by where you spend the allotment of time I have given you, a specific allotment of time which I had determined in eternity past. Stand face to Face before Me, and give Me an account of how you spent your time during the past week. Are you able to tell Me…without any embarrassment and without any shame? Were there things you spent your time engaged in doing to satisfy your own self-interests and self-life?
Whatever and everything you spent your time on…what was the reason why you did so? Tell Me everything you spent your time on, and why you did so. Bare your heart before Me…then you will know whether you are a true disciple of Christ My Son. Do you have the same mind-set, the same heart-set? Your priority in life is to wait upon God…as My Divine Son Jesus Himself did, clearly stating, I am able to do nothing independently, of My Own accord, but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders. Here I am, I have come…it is written about Me in the scroll. I desire to do Your will, O My God; Your Law is within My heart. I have come down from Heaven, not to do My will but to do the will of Him Who sent Me.
EXAMPLE OF CHRIST MY SON
My precious child, have you never considered this? My Divine Son Jesus came into this world as the Sacrificial Lamb of God; He laid aside His Majesty, Glory, and Almighty consuming Power, and came into this world clothed in meekness, lowliness, and humility. Have you been so slow to understand and to fully embrace this? My Divine Son Jesus set an example for you, that you would follow in His footsteps!
ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR PLANS, PURPOSES, AND WILL
Abba Father…I understand. The allotment of time given me belongs to You, Father, and not to me…it is sacred, and has eternal value and eternal worth. My allotment of time is precious, it is priceless. I dare not spend it on frivolous things…things that have no eternal value nor eternal worth. Forbid it, Father, that I should ever squander my time in that way…for in whatever way I spend each and every hour of my time…that time is gone forever. It can never be redeemed, never replaced, never replenished. May I never be flippantly unaware of how I am spending each hour of my time, so that I can stand before You face to Face without shame and without embarrassment as I give You an account of how I spent it.
CHOICEST TREASURES OF YOUR HEART
Precious child…give Me your heart, and let your eyes keep to My ways. Listen, My son/daughter, and be wise; keep your heart on the right path. If your heart is wise, then My heart will be glad! Pay attention to what I say; listen closely to My words and do not let them out of your sight. Keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to your whole body. Above all else, My child, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life; it influences everything you do!
Beloved child…your new life is hidden now with My Divine Son Jesus in Me. So continually set your heart and your soul upon the rich eternal treasures that are above, in the Heavenly realms, where Christ Jesus My Son is seated at My right hand. Continually set your heart, and your soul…your mind with all of its thoughts, your emotions with all of its feelings, your will with all of its inclinations…on the things of Heaven and the spiritual realm, not on the things of Earth and the physical realm. For you have been crucified together with Christ My Son, and have been raised up together with Him into newness of life. Yet it is no longer you in the power of your sin-enslaved human nature who now lives, but rather Christ Jesus My Son living your life in you through the Eternal Power of the Divine Nature of My indwelling Holy Spirit. And so your new life, which you are now living in your physical body of flesh, you are to live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved you, and gave Himself for you!
Do not love the world or the things it has to offer. In so doing, you show no real love for Me. For the things this world appeals to…your sinful desires, your desire to have everything you see, your foolish pride…do not come from Me but come from the world. The world and its desires will pass away, but the one who does My will shall live forever! So fix your eyes not on what is seen in the physical realm, but on what is unseen in the spiritual realm. What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
The rich eternal treasures of the spiritual realm…the blessings and gifts of the spiritual realm…will never perish, spoil, or fade. But as for the things of the physical realm…they will all be burned up; not one will remain. And so, do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Instead, store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and where thieves cannot break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
ROYAL CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY OF GOD
Brethren…God’s high calling for His royal children is hereby clearly set forth:
The story of my entire every day life…every thought I think, every word I speak, every thing I do…must be WORSHIP in Your eyes. WORSHIP is not a part of my life; WORSHIP IS my life. My only true worship is a life wholeheartedly embracing: NOT MY WILL in anything; BUT THY WILL BE DONE in everything… the life of a bond-slave, wholly surrendered unto God, wholly given for the blessing and salvation of souls…solely and only, wholly and always, surrendered unto God.
My life…my heart, my soul, every fiber of my being…consecrated and set apart to the WORSHIP of God is what glorifies God and fulfills the chief end of Man…
which is to glorify God and to enjoy abiding in the Holy of Holies…in the inaccessible Light of the Glory of Your unclouded Presence, Father…continually and unceasingly even now all the days of my life on this Earth, and then throughout the endless unfolding ages of all eternity.
Brethren…this is why my God brought me into existence; there is nothing else. Period.
Wherefore brethren, having now boldness to enter into the Holy of Holies by the Blood of Jesus, by the way which He dedicated for us…a new and living way to God through the veil, that is to say, through the veil of His flesh…let us then without further hesitation or delay draw nigh in fullness of faith; here let us continually abide in the fullness of faith. [Heb 10:19-20, 22] Those who abide in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [PS 91:1] Hallelujah!
GOD’S CONTROVERSY WITH HIS PEOPLE
I made you for Myself, in My Own image and in My Own likeness, Divinely crafted with the capabilities and capacity to be joined together with the Triune God in a Sacred Covenant relationship…a living union of oneness…the very crown jewels of My Creation, and that, as a mirror of the Almighty, you would reflect My Glory to the created Universe!
I purchased you, by Myself and for Myself, with the precious and priceless Blood of My Divine Son Jesus, that you would declare My praises…the praises of the One Who called you out of darkness into My marvelous light!
I made you to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, consecrated and set apart to the worship of God…consecrated and set apart to worship Me!
But no…instead, you are like an unfaithful, adulterous wife, having intimacy and love affairs with the world and thereby breaking your marriage vows to God!
Your sweetest, most tender affections are not reserved for Me!
I am not the choicest, most precious treasure of your heart!
You have no longing to linger in My Presence, just sitting at My feet!
Yes, I know that you honor Me with your lips…but your heart is far from Me!
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot…not willing to give up your pretension and claim to My name, yet having too much love for the world to stand steadfast and immovable with Me! I wish you were either one or the other…make up your mind, would you, please! So, because you are lukewarm…neither hot nor cold…I am thoroughly disgusted with you and am about to spew you out of My mouth!
You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and am in need of nothing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked! I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white garments to wear, to cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so your eyes would be opened and you can truly see!
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So, therefore, be earnest, and repent!” [Rev 3:15-19]
THE COST OF GOING ALL THE WAY WITH CHRIST
I heard the voice of the Lord calling, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?”
In the Power of your indwelling Holy Spirit, I respond, “Here am I, Lord; send me.”
Blessed Jesus, Your steadfast love for me…so amazing, so Divine…constrains me…it constrains me to freely surrender unto You my soul, my life, my all…it beckons my soul, my life, my all…
because I am convinced that You died on behalf of every soul who was ever brought into existence, and therefore every soul was included in, and participated together with You in, Your sacrificial death on behalf of Mankind…available to any soul who would freely and wholeheartedly choose to appropriate as their own the rich eternal blessings of Your finished work on that cross at Calvary, through their solemn marriage vows to become Your eternal bride, Blessed Jesus…the bride of Christ.
And since You died on behalf of every soul, I who now live joined together with You as Your eternal bride…the bride of Christ, sealed with my solemn marriage vows to You in our Sacred Covenant relationship…can no longer live for myself… but wholly surrendered unto You Who died for me…on my behalf and in my place…and Who was raised again to life for my sake, that I may now share together with You Your resurrection life out from the dead.
Abba Father…my new life is hidden now together with You in Christ Jesus Your Son! When Christ Jesus, Who is my life, appears once again on this Earth…this time in all of His Majesty, Glory, and Power…then I also shall appear together with Him in Glory. [2 Cor 5:14-15; Col 3:4]
ETERNAL THANKS, UNCEASING PRAISE
Abba Father…I bow before You, overwhelmed with shuddering awe in the very depths of my soul, acknowledging with a heart of eternal thanksgiving and unceasing praise all You have Personally done for me. I owe my soul’s eternal destiny of Heaven to You; and so, in response, I freely lay my life on the altar of sacrifice, wholly surrendered unto You as Your bond-slave, wholly given for the blessing and the salvation of souls. That is my life, that is what I live for; that is my eternal existence. Period.
Because of Your steadfast love for me, I know there is nothing You would ask of me…to be for You or to do for You, to learn of You or just, perhaps, to suffer because it is part of Your plans, Your purposes, Your will for me…that would be unreasonable, or too much to ask.
Therefore, I need no longer be anxious…about anything…as I realize this: You know the plans You have for me…plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future. I am Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus Your Son to do good works, which You Yourself have planned in advance for me to do.
And so, Father, in the Power of Your enabling grace, manifested and exercised in me through the Eternal Power of Your indwelling Holy Spirit…
it no longer matters to me where You place me, or how…whether in serious perplexity, or in positions of great difficulty, or in circumstances of great pressure and trial;
It no longer matters whether You place me at all, or when;
It no longer matters where You lead me to go, or what You show me to do; what thoughts You give me to think and present, what words to speak or write.
These things are rather for You to consider than for me. For in the easiest position, still, You must give me Your grace; and in the most difficult, Your grace is more than sufficient. It is enough for me knowing that You know why You place me where I am…whether to do, or to learn, or just, perhaps, to suffer. It no longer matters to me what I do or what I suffer. All that matters is that You keep my heart lovingly and joyfully joined with Your will!
Brothers and sisters in Christ…
God is calling you, and desires to anoint you, to be part of His holy remnant. Whether you are a pastor, a Christian leader, or a member of the congregation… this is what the Lord says: To the pastors I have placed in charge of My churches concerning your congregation and each individual member, write: This is the last call. I have wooed you so many times. This time, I say to you, in great love… there is a cost to an anointing; this is not a light, frivolous matter. The anointing is not cheap.
If you say in your heart, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it,” if you pay the cost of the anointing, I’ll open doors for you, I’ll speak through you, and I’ll use you again like you have never conceived. The church and any members of the congregation embracing My call will move in the Power of My Holy Spirit, and bring great Glory to God!
The time of being pumped up is over. I am tired of your solemn assembly’s, I’m tired of your sacrifices…they’re not from the heart. Don’t miss what God is about to do. The time has come; I need you, and I love you…but if you ignore this trumpet call…if you say in your heart, “We will not listen,” I am going to remove your anointing. You’re not going to have anything to say to anybody; you’re going to be dry. You are going into the desert…I will love you there, and I will keep you in My care, but you can’t go with Me, and I won’t go with you.
Beloved child of God…let My Holy Spirit open your heart, and respond from the depths of your being, “God, once again, use Your church; use Your child. Now…not another time…tonight, let something in my heart respond to Your call.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vmE2nbVctE [Note: this video opens in the middle of a worship song, which continues to the 2:15 minute mark before Pastor Wilkerson is introduced as the speaker]
Brothers and sisters in Christ…
Just as God raised up a remnant of just 1% of all the men Gideon had marshaled to fight against the Midianites, even so there is a holy remnant whom God is raising up for Himself in these Last Days…a Godly remnant of the 1% of His children who will not bow down, who will not shrink back, who will not compromise, who will remain steadfast and immovable in their commitment to follow the Lamb whithersoever He goes.
God’s holy remnant is called to a life of self-sacrifice and self-denial. You cannot become My holy remnant without being willing to sacrifice your desire for anything and everything you own.
Obedience is what characterizes the life of My child…obedience continually and unceasingly day and night. You are called to a life of obedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice; rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as evil as worshiping idols. [1 Sam 15:22,23]
*************************
Beloved…be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. Be alertly waiting for your master’s return from the wedding feast, so you may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those whom the master finds ready when he comes. You also, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect! [Jesus…Luke 12:35-37, 40]
When our God shall come, even Christ, to set up His Kingdom on the Earth…a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. Only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. We will enter Zion with singing, our heads crowned with everlasting joy! Gladness and joy will overtake me, forever free from sorrow and grief! [Isa 35:8-10]
Brothers and sisters in Christ…
In that soon coming Day of the Lord…Men’s hearts will be failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the Earth: for the powers of Heaven shall be shaken. When God spoke from Mount Sinai His voice shook the Earth, but now He makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the Earth but the heavens also.” This means that the things on Earth will be shaken, so that only eternal things will remain. When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. [Heb 12:26-27; Luke 21:26, 28]
The Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire. In that day, the Earth will burn as an oven. Everything in the physical, material realm will be burned up…EVERYTHING; nothing will remain.
Beloved…keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him. [Jesus…Matt 24:42-44]
Beloved…sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of My unfailing love! Break up the fallow ground within your heart! For it is time to seek Me, the Lord, until I come and shower righteousness upon you! Look off unto Me and My strength; seek My face and My Presence continually! Those who know My Name will trust in Me, for I have never forsaken those who seek Me! [Triune God…Hos 10:12; Ps 105:4; 9:10]
At that time the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and did not take extra oil with them. The wise, however, took extra oil in jars along with their lamps, and so were ready for his coming. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. [Jesus…Matt 25:1-13]
In that great and terrible Day of the Lord, Father, Your Divine Son Jesus will manifest the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God against all those upon the Earth who stand in rebellion to His Throne, and He will destroy all those upon the Earth who are enemies and usurpers of His rule and authority, until He has placed every one of His enemies under His feet. Then in that Day, Your will, Father, will be done on Earth even as it is in Heaven. [Heb 1:8-13; Isa 13:6-9; Joel 1:15; 2:11, 31; Zep 1:18; 2 Pet 3:10; 1 Cor 15:24-26; Matt 6:9-10]
Beloved…continually wash your robes in the Blood of Jesus; wash your garments that have been soiled with sin, making them clean again, dazzling and white. Wash your feet with pure water; wash the dust of sin off your feet. Continually and diligently do these things, that you may always abide with Me in the Holy of Holies, in My unclouded Presence. [Rev 19:7-9]
These are the days of the separation of the wheat from the chaff. I [John] baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come One Who is more powerful than I, Whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor, gathering His wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty.
“Not a root or a branch will be left to them.” [Matt 3:11-12; Mal 4:1-2]
But also in those days there arose false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among yourselves. They will subtly and cleverly teach their destructive heresies about God, even denying the Sovereign Lord Who bought them. Theirs will be a swift and terrible end. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of them, Christ and His true way will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies and cunning arguments to get hold of your money. With eyes full of adultery, their lust is never satisfied. They make a game of beguiling and luring unstable people into sin. They train themselves to be greedy; they are doomed and cursed. But God condemned them long ago, and their eternal misery is on the way. [2 Peter 2:1-3, 14]
And so, my brothers and sisters, first of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. Even so…The Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire. Since everything on the Earth will be destroyed in this way, you ought to live a holy and godly life as you look forward to the coming Day of the Lord! Everyone who has this hope purifies himself, just as He is pure. So, beloved, since you are expecting these things to happen, be eager to be found by Him at His coming living a pure and blameless life and at peace… in serene confidence, free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts. Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and wicked persons. I don’t want you to lose your own secure footing. But grow in the special favor and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He Who called you is Holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am Holy.” [2 Peter 3:3, 10-12, 14, 17; 1 John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:14-16]
This is what the Most Holy, Most High, Triune God declares:
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him. [Matt 24:36-39, 42-44]
“Behold”, says the Lord Jesus in His last warning for the last opportunity offered to mankind to be among His redeemed, “I come for the last time like a thief in the night to gather those who would be among the elect! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, in watchfulness, prayer and readiness for the summons when it comes, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed, eternally without remedy.”
PREPARE YOURSELF
We are in the Last Days; time is moving very quickly, and we are drawing near! And so, my brothers and sisters, first of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ He promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of Creation.”
Son of man, you’ve heard that proverb they quote in Israel: Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing. Tell the people, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will put an end to this proverb, and you will soon stop quoting it. Now give them this new proverb to replace the old one: The time has come for every prophecy of Mine to be fulfilled! [2 Peter 3:3-4, 10-12, 14, 17; 1 John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:14-16; Ezek 12:22-23]
God is calling a holy remnant to Himself…to personal revival…a holy remnant of His children who will not bow down, who will not shrink back, who will not compromise, who will remain steadfast and immovable in their commitment to follow the Lamb whithersoever He goes. God’s holy remnant is called to a life of obedience and suffering, self-sacrifice and self-denial…to walk along the path that Christ Jesus dedicated for us, and to follow in His footsteps as our Forerunner. You cannot become part of My holy remnant without being willing to sacrifice your desire for anyone & all others, and for anything & all else this world has to offer. Obedience is what characterizes the life of My child…obedience continually and unceasingly day and night. You are called to a life of obedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice; rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as evil as worshiping idols. [1 Sam 15:22,23]
Wherefore brethren, having now boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus, by the way which He dedicated for us…a new and living way to God through the veil, that is to say, through the veil of His flesh…let us then without further hesitation or delay draw nigh in fullness of faith; here let us continually abide in the fullness of faith. [Heb 10:19-20, 22] Those who abide in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [PS 91:1]
Arise My bride, and prepare to see My Face
Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
Then the angel said to me, “Write this down: Blessed are those summoned to the marriage banquet of the Lamb…all true believers who are members of His Universal Church. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with Power and great Glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect…God’s holy people…from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” And he said to me further, “These are the True Words of God.” [Rev 19:9]
Blessed Jesus…I rejoice and shout triumphantly for joy! I celebrate and ascribe to You glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb draws near, and Your bride, the Universal Church and each of her members, has been preparing herself and has made herself ready! [Rev 19:7] Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! For our Lord God, Sovereign All-Ruler, reigns! Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him Glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. The finest linen, dazzling and white, was given her to wear. Then the angel said to me, “Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage banquet of the Lamb!” [John…Rev 19:6-9; Luke 14:15-23]
The washing of one’s robes and the keeping of one’s garments relates to this very attitude and habit of looking for the return of Christ as an imminent event. Brethren, as you hope to walk those golden streets, and eat of those immortal fruits, see to it that you have your garments clean and your loins girded about like unto men waiting for their Lord. [Seiss…Rev 21:9-22:5]
Then the king said to his servants, “The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.” So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding garment. “Friend,” he asked, “How did you come in here without putting on the appropriate wedding garment?” The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, “Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are invited and summoned, but few are chosen.” [Matt 22:8-14]
ENDURE TO THE END
Behold, I am coming quickly. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will deprive you of your crown. Everyone who overcomes by means of their faith…I will make a pillar in the Sanctuary of My God. Never again will you leave it. I will write on you the name of My God and you will be a citizen in the city of My God…the new Jerusalem…which will come down out of Heaven from My God; I will also write on you My Own new name.
Holy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcx2O9WXvn8&feature=youtu.be
Preserve Christian Family 