Wednesday, April 7, 2010

WHAT IS ON THE SPIRITUAL HORIZON?


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MARY LINDOW


While attending a gathering of believers who were hungry for a
deeper understanding of truly walking in the Lord’s presence, I
was shown a vision from the Lord while a teacher by the name of
Peter Stott from the United Kingdom was speaking in the main
session.


THE LORD SHOWED ME IN A SPIRITUAL SENSE,
A VISION …


…of the time that Elijah was hiding out under the juniper tree.
He was afraid, exhausted, and was really having a rough
conversation with God!
He had killed a bunch of false prophets with the sword, he had
commanded the rain to not fall for three years, and now, he was in
trouble with Jezebel who was coming to kill him! He was letting
God know that he had been a really good guy and had preached
and taught and obeyed God all this time, and now his life was
being threatened! He decided to tell God to just let him die. He
told God that he wasn't any better than the father's in the faith that
had gone on before him. (1 Kings 19:3-4)


THE LORD BEGAN TO SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THE WAY
ELIJAH RAN FROM RESPONSIBILITY…


…and even left his faithful friend and servant behind
to possibly suffer torture or even be killed! (I kings 19:3) This
servant had been sent before all of the depressed and angry actions
of Elijah took place, to go and look towards the sea one and seven
times. Eight times. On the seventh series of running and looking,
the servant saw a small cloud about the size of a man's hand.
Seven (7) biblically indicates the perfection of god. Eight (8)
indicates new beginnings. God truly perfected the promise of no
rain until the three years had been completed. And Elijah was
beginning a new prophetic season in the near future. One where he
would pass on his ministry to another to finish.


THIS IS WHERE THE LORD BEGAN TO GIVE ME
INSIGHT ABOUT THIS.


He impressed me with the words, "a cloud the size of a man's hand
was coming up from the sea." I asked the Lord, "what does this
mean for this season?" He impressed me with the thought that the
cloud although it appeared small, was moving towards dry land
with a purpose. The purpose of bringing a great rainstorm.


THERE WAS A MUCH-NEEDED BREAKTHROUGH FOR
REFRESHING AND REVIVAL TO COME TO A PARCHED
PEOPLE AND A DRY LAND.


And… a change was needed in the heart of God’s man.


THE HAND CONSISTS OF FIVE FINGERS.


The Lord spoke clearly about this. He said that, "although it looks
as if unity and mutual honor in the body of Christ and among
those in it who move in five fold ministry gifts, seems a long and
far way off, I will pull them together in the midst of a time when
evil spirits have taken hold of the hearts of God's people with fear,
passivity, and intentional disobedience, and will cause a great
storm to arise."


THIS WILL STIR UP A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
ANGER AND SELF-JUSTIFICATION AMONG THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN POISONED BY SELF INDULGENCE
AND APATHY TOWARDS THE VOICE OF GOD!


Just like Jezebel was enraged. But, as the church grows closer and
closer to the promised season of harvest, God will not relent until
his people see him act with such strength that they will be
repentant and be delivered from their hardened and selfish hearts.


ELIJAH HAD AN ISSUE WITH HIDING
AND PROCRASTINATING.


This took place earlier than when the 1 Kings chapter 19:3-10
events took place! He hid by the brook Cherith and was fed by
angels and ravens after declaring that no rain would fall!


And...When that word came to pass...the previous provision of
God at the brook stopped being delivered and the brook dried up
due to a terrible famine and drought. Again. Elijah ends up in yet
another setting where there was little food and other people were
despairing of life. Yet...the Lord again provides sustenance and
fresh oil in a dry and parched setting.


Even though this glorious time of refreshing occurred and he
provisions for sustenance were miraculous...
…Elijah was again challenged and affronted by the woman whom
he had ministered to! Her son after a season had become ill and
died.
In Kings 17: 18 She said to Elijah, "what do you have against me,
man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my
son?"


ELIJAH WAS JUST GETTING IT FROM EVERYBODY
ON ALL SIDES!


He could never have a moments rest from all of the needs,
demands and cries of the people! He took the boy up to his room
and prayed to god, and the boy was raised up form the dead. A
most amazing miracle!


BUT MIRACLES DO NOT MAKE THE MAN
(OR WOMAN) OF GOD!
THE WILDERNESS DOES!


Basically, Elijah was holding God responsible for his situation and
had spent lot of time brooding and worrying over all of those
people who had been mean to him and didn't appreciate his hard
work! Elijah was also afraid that God would not protect him and
ultimately silence those that pursued him with threats and evil
intentions!


The Hebrew word for this juniper tree or bush that Elijah was
resting under is “rothem.” This was a shrub found everywhere in
southern Palestine. It had long slender branches with small leaves
and provided very poor shade or protection from the sun. And so it
goes with our man-made solutions from which we seek shelter,
refuge or solutions to our pain.


OUT OF EXHAUSTION, ELIJAH FELL ASLEEP.


God has ordained sleep and rest as necessary for our survival and
ability to function, so the Lord allowed a time of sleep before He
brought on the next phase of his provision for Elijah.


HOW AMAZING!
GOD REMEMBERS THAT WE ARE FRAIL.


He knows our make up and that we are but dust. He is fully aware
that we have material bodies that must be cared for, often, before
the spiritual part can function


(Ps. 103:14)
As a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
For he knows how we are formed,
He remembers that we are dust.


BEFORE WE EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM OURSELVES…
…OR FROM OTHERS,


whom we are seeking to encourage with the word, let’s remember
this principle of the need FOR rest, and that sometimes the
physical needs to be cared for before spiritual events can occur.


Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed provided that
complete source and website information for Mary Lindow is
included.
Thank You
Copyright © 2010 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
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