~ By Mary Lindow
“Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.
My eyes fail, looking for my God.”
Psalm 69:1-3
THERE ARE MANY THINGS GOING ON
IN THE MIDST OF GOD'S PEOPLE…
So many believers have gone through pain and devastation because of betrayal and disappointment in those with whom they have at one time “walked with” in the Lord.
“For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one that hates me who has exalted himself against me;
Then I could hide from him.
But it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, And walked to the house of God among the people.”
Psalm 55:12-14
DEGREES OF SEPARATION AND DECEPTION
Church leaders and members or friends separate. Their unresolved issues and wounds infect others around them. With their tongue and pen, (and emails)!.. their resentment and bitterness spread in uncontrollable proportions.
Christians in other ministries and relationships receive the bad report and often, they don't even know the people involved but - because they have inclined their ears to hear the suggested and well-placed evil reports, the conversation poisons them like toxic waste in their soul. If unchecked, this becomes a hideous, malignant cancer-like cell eventually damaging their mind and above all, their spiritual discernment.
“Who is wise? He will realize these things.
Who is discerning? He will understand them.”
“The ways of the LORD are right;
The righteous walk in them,
But the rebellious stumble in them.”
Hosea 14:9
The age-old serpent, the ultimate enemy of our souls, has not lost the art of deception even after centuries! He, even now, can cause God's people, including the sincere ones, to miss the mark if they are willing to only hear one side of a story!
A MURDEROUS STAMPED AT WAL-MART?
The frenzied consumer culture we are seeing as a result of selfishness and feeding upon fear has begun to reach a newly fevered pitch.
People getting trampled to death while others are “herding” their way to the discounted Hi-Definition Televisions reflects the hardness of heart and disrespect for the needs and lives of those around us.
This type of behavior is a prime example of even how believers have become “selectively “ hard of hearing when it comes to serving one another, or encouraging one another, or having patience with one another!
One moment we are asking for forgiveness and prayer, and in nearly the next breath, slanderous retorts are spoken out in anger.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,
Fighting and slander, along with every form of nastiness.
Ephesians 4:31
Once bitter words are spoken or written, they cannot be retracted.
Sadly, those who often shout the loudest about being maligned are often the perpetrators of assassinating the characters of those whom have been in disagreement with them or who have possibly warned them about a need for a course correction.
“He who conceals his hatred has lying lips,
And whoever spreads slander is a fool.”
Proverbs 10:18
TODAY MANY THINGS HAVE DEGENERATED INTO BLURRED INSIGNIFICANCE AND UNCERTAINTY.
The beauty of what God's purpose in His people really is meant to passionately reflect is missing. Things that are now being said and done do not mean what they did mean originally in His Word.
Twisting of truth to fits one’s own idea of God’s will has become acceptable and is often left unchallenged.
So many spiritual and scriptural terms are put into motion, but they are not in the same dimension and point of view, which are in the Divine plan!
THE TRAGEDY IS THAT SO MANY WELL-MEANING BELIEVERS HAVE GONE ON WITH THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE OF SEARCHING FOR THE WILL OF THE LORD AND THEY FAIL TO SEE THAT THE POWER OF HIS RADIANT LIFE IS MISSING!
The Apostle Paul warned us in his letter to Timothy about this….
" This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come…Having the form of godliness (true religion) but denying the power there of. "
MY HEART IS BROKEN TO SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE HAPPENING ALL AROUND US.
So much is falling short of its original design. There is so much labor and "rallying" being pumped out there and it is being poured into the Self Promotion Machine" more than any time in the history of God's people! Yet the toil is ending in heartbreaking disappointment!
SAINTS, ONLY THOSE DEVOTED TO HUMILITY AND HONOR
can be saved from this deadly poison that lulls those longing to be entertained and pampered into apathy and spiritual paralysis!
God's faithful ones in this hour should seek him and that which is upon his heart. What the Lord is doing in this era is so different …
…and we should be sensitive to Him!
He is looking for His People of the “Secret Place” in which the power of resurrection may freely function.
The Apostle Paul said "according to the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20b).
These People will have to be men and women who have “seen”!
They shall be like "a voice in the wilderness".
IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY CLEAR
THAT GOD MUST DO A FRESH THING WITH HIS REMNANT.
And the actual “thing” is that He is drawing them to seek the Lord Himself and His recognizable presence! Away from the throng, nearer to the Word, bowed in repentance and prayer.
The Psalmist said,
"When You said oh Lord, Seek My face;
My heart said unto You, Your face, Lord will I seek."
WILL YOU SET YOUR HEART TO SEEK HIM?
Oh that God may find His Davids in this crucial hour that will set their faces towards Him at the command of His voice!
Without it, Humankind will continue its fall and decline into further confusion, tragedy, and self-preservation.
LET US RUN IMMEDIATELY…
… TO THE THRONE OF GRACE AND MERCY!
Now! While our hearts are freshly tenderized and troubled over the recent events in the earth!
There is the safe voice of the Father calling us. Let us respond with ears to Hear and hearts that obey.
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16
Duplication and sharing of this writing is permitted provided that complete article and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank you.
2008
www.marylindow.com
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