Saturday, October 25, 2014

THE CHURCH THAT GOD CAN NAME AS “HIS NEW VESSEL”






~ by Mary Lindow


There are many things going on in the midst of God’s people. 
Yet significantly there are two things we need to speak about. 

One is a movement, which is organized by man. And in this realm we find the organized church system with their planned programs, teachings and sacraments.  

The other is a movement of people coming into a frustration with those organized systems and coming out of those established order of things. 

So many churches have gone through pain and devastation because of uprising in their ranks.
Church leaders and members separate. Their unresolved issues and wounds infect others around them.  With their tongues and pen, (and emails and Facebook postings) their resentment and bitterness spread in uncontrollable proportions.

Christians in other Churches receive the bad report. They don’t even know the people involved but… ...Because they have inclined their ears to hear them, the report poisons them like toxic waste in their souls. If unchecked, this becomes a hideous, malignant cancer cell eventually damaging their mind and attitude towards Churches or Christians. 

But the most sorrowful part is to see these believers drifting without any type of solid anchor to hold themselves steady

And that becomes another thing in itself.  The enemy quickly moves to make them into another established ‘independent group’, away from God’s original thought and purpose. 

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!


I believe that this touches the greatest widespread PROBLEM IN WESTERN churches.
The consumer culture has invaded the church.
Pastors and people are not united "for better or for worse" but just like it is practiced and encouraged in secular commercial organizations these days, until the pastor “fails to perform.” 
And “performance” is compared- even though unconsciously most of the time – with film and television performances!


Church goers in Western countries watch between 15-20 hours of television a week, AND UP TO 100 hours are spent on mobile phone and social networks - and then THEY come to church.
They bring with them expectations of the pastor-as-preacher, pastor-as-counselor, pastor-as-comedian and all around nice guy! Which are in all roles, for 99% of pastors, unreasonable and totally impossible to ever fulfill.

Pastors are being asked to be a one man/one woman, three ringed circus act and need to jump through hoops of fire, be shot out of cannons, and get into a cage filled with lions and tame them, in order to somehow “Wow” the people, to convince them that they have a desire for them to stick around long enough to learn the basics of a godly life!


The consumer culture we all now live in
and sadly…embrace, is less about serving one another, or encouraging one another, or …having patience with one another!
It is much more interested with getting  “top dollar value for tithes and time.”  “Or…I Pay - YOU pray!”


Today things have degenerated into vagueness, irrelevancy and uncertainty. 
The real meaning 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. 

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
Well, 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 thereof .”


My heart is really sad to see things as they are around us. 
Everything is falling short of its original design.  
There is so much labor and “muster” being pumped out there and is being poured into the “church machine” more than any time in the history of God’s people! Yet the toil is ending in heart breaking disappointment! 

Nothing is fully and finally getting through to the end.  It is all stopping at some place.  Is that not what we read in the past moves of restoration or reformation?  They all stopped somewhere. 

Beloved, there is something that is missing and eluding. 
There is something that is absent which hinders the ultimate issue. Is there any one who asks,  “Lord, why is this thing happening?”  Sadly… The Majority is going on in their frenzy to find a place where they can dictate on their terms just how THEY have decided to serve Him.


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 truly  DEVOTED PEOPLE in this hour should seek Him and that which is upon His heart. 
What the Lord is doing in this hour is so different …and we should be sensitive to Him!   He is looking for His New Vessel in which the power of resurrection may freely work. 

The Apostle Paul said “according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20b).  These vessels will have to be men and women who have “seen”!  They shall be like “a voice in the wilderness”.


It is becoming more and more clear that God must do a FRESH thing AMONG HIS PEOPLE!
And that fresh thing is that He is drawing them to seek the Lord Himself and His manifested presence! 

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 face 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!


Duplication and sharing of this writing
is allowed as long as the COMPLETE message and
website and podcast information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank you.
Mary Lindow – The Messenger
©2014

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

THE CHALLENGE BEGINS - "I AM RESTRUCTURING AND REFURBISHING EVERYTHING" - A Prophetic Insight For Today's Church





 By Mary Lindow through the Holy Spirit 


The Lord has shown me that there are a great number of Divine plans being drawn up and a re-designing going on in the lives of those called to move into the roles of Kingdom modeling of the Father's heart, the Savior's desire and the Holy Spirit’s purest functions in the Body.

"See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms.
To uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow.
To build and to plant."
- Jeremiah 1:10


A PHASE OF "REFURBISHMENT"
The Lord spoke to me in this time about His house of worship. As we put first and out in front of everything else, the “becoming of safe shelters” and hearts of men surrendered to him as yielded vessels, there will be rooms re-designed by the "Master’s craftsmen" that will be filled with strategically planned prayer initiatives, music rooms equipped with "unpolluted spiritual headsets" to hear the songs of the Kingdom and then actually record and share them freely. 

Church sanctuaries will become more like "family rooms" where multi-cultural groups become "one family" as they fix their eyes on upon the "fireplace" of the presence of the Holy Spirit and His Upper Room visitation type of power and might, accompanied by inspired teaching from God’s word.

 "I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me,
And what the King had said to me.
They replied, "let us start refurbishment."
So they began this good work.
~ Nehemiah 2:18


I AM RESTRUCTURING EVERYTHING

"Yes says the Lord!  I Am restructuring everything in your lives that I have allowed to be taken and shaken from you! How can you be examples of My fresh demonstration in the earth with the worn out living of the past?

Those who continue to cling to the accolades of the past and bygone ministry meetings and services (even if they were recent) will receive a limited amount of new responsibilities until they realize that the past is... PAST!

Each day is a new day and needs a fresh approach to the fresh design template that I AM revealing!"

"The day for building your walls will come, 
The day for extending your boundaries."
 Micah 7:11

The unseen prophetic and travailing groups of individuals, who are being shaped into the fabric of my own weaving, are currently being made ready for a swift and dynamic change of stride. 

What was once long and hard will become shortened and filled with purpose. Release of My grace and abundant mercy is coming into fulfillment as you end your cycle of instructions for this past season. 

"My friends don’t be surprised at the painful things that you are now suffering, 
Which are testing your faith.

Don’t think that something strange is happening to you.

 But you should be happy that you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings.
You will be happy and full of joy when Christ shows his glory."
1 PETER 4:12-13


SHOUTS OF JOY
There will be shouts and tears of joy as heaven moves upon the hearts of wise, kingdom-minded saints, who have been given grave responsibility over heavenly blessed currency. My sober, truth-seeking saints, will hear my voice and will not be moved by flashy pleas for glamorous support and promises of free gifts in return!  No! They will be led by the counsel of my Holy Spirit to be vessels that release a steady flow into the hands of those ready to only build with the name "Jesus" on the final product. The financial institutions will be dumbfounded as supernatural windfalls hit many believers, while worldly concepts and scheming only further muddy the waters of universal finance.


RE-ESTABLISH A NEW "HABITAT OF WORSHIP"
Allow Me to do this work of re-construction without hindrance or fear!
I will RE-ESTABLISH a new "habitat of worship" within each of My people who allow Me to walk into each room of their hearts, tearing out the embedded dirt, grime and staleness of passive and fearful living.

Accusing and harsh judgments, disrespect for others who have devoted their time in preparation, and -critical attitudes will be purged again and again in the hearts of believers who have yet to see those whom I lovingly call beloved and faithful, even though viewed as awkward or fragile in the eyes of the immature or worldly heart.

"All who belong to the Lord, 
 show how you love him!

The Lord protects the faithful, 
  
But he firmly rebukes
 everyone who is proud."
Psalm 31:23


A TIMELESS DESIGN
It is the day for each member of My Body to think of themselves as one Godly unit, ready to honor and edify each unique Master plan of their King. It's the hour where building upon egos and entitlement is over and the conviction of My Spirit goes to work, until the knowledge of humility and eternal reward are viewed as the most perfect and timeless design.

 "Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts,
Try to excel in gifts that build up the church."
1 Corinthians 14:12


AN ASSURANCE FOR RELIEF
As the training in humility and gentleness of “heart-expanded compassion” are applied in your lives as friends of Me, your King, your souls will stop from striving and from chasing after lofty goals you set out to accomplish in your own strength.

You will learn to listen to the wisdom and warnings of others in simplicity and in humility. In gentleness you will sincerely approach one another as I the Lord do to you.  Although I am the wisest among you, I put no heavy yokes or shameful methods of performance upon my children. I simply yoke them to Myself in a promised rest when they yield humbly. 

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
For I am gentle and humble in heart,
And you will find rest for your souls."
Matthew 11:29


~A PROPHETIC WORD CONCLUSION~

"Hear Me!" -Cries the Spirit of Holy Grace and Mercy!
I desire to move upon, in, and through each of you. Not one of you alone can endure the onslaughts of evil by standing aloof and silent. Nor can the most vocal of gifts among you clearly communicate all that I long to express.

Until each one is willing to step into the Holy place of pure relationship with Me and with one another, waiting, crying out in prayer, Yes - even waiting until I come and refresh, then those ready for training and release who are waiting in the wings will not fully come forward.

Until it is imprinted into your heart that this segment in time is for the saving of the lost, the redeeming of the wasted, and the release of the power of My glory, you will be so very frustrated by the heaviness that continually harasses your soul.

What I authorize, I protect. 

Be certain that you have heard what I am saying.

I am fully aware of the weariness and fatigue you have been experiencing. Heavier than anything you can recall from the past.

“Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, 
As though something strange were happening to you!”
1 Peter 4:12

There are many others globally who are also still wrestling out of the cocoon in newness and are suffering also. PRAY FOR THEM!

Conflict will be a normal disturbance in the days ahead. 
Unless you harness the power of consistent prayer and train yourselves in regular gatherings of prayer and worship together, you will shrink back into serious doubt, anxiety and dread when the trauma of warfare attacks!!


GIVE VOICE TO MY SPIRIT!
Awaken your silent tongue and give voice to my name, My power and My Kingdom Solutions! No resistance executed against you will ultimately succeed! My Spirit longs to broadcast wonders, to decree Justice, and to destroy darkness with your lips proclaiming from the spirit.

"So is my word that goes out from my mouth: 
It will not return to me empty, 
But will accomplish what I desire 
And achieve the purpose for which I sent it." 
Isaiah 55:11

Speak out in truth and in praise and I will step into your midst with the peace you have been craving and seeking for. Quickly! Enter in before you make decisions and exchange ideas with others who might dilute what I am speaking to you!

"When I am given My rightful place of honor and reverence…
… Then I will speak and give you clear vision and direction."

"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning
I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. "
Psalm 5:3

Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is welcomed
Provided that complete source and website information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank you! Copyright © 2014  "The Messenger " ~ Mary Lindow

Saturday, August 16, 2014

DARK DAYS - JEZEBEL ON THE RISE vs. OBEDIENCE and COURAGE - “Prophetic Insight for Troubled Times”




By Mary Lindow through the Holy Spirit
 “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: 

My God, in Him will I trust.”
Psalm 91:2
Picture a reception area, an entranceway into the complete protection of the rest of the verses in that psalm. It is our “password” or--  “Way of entry” into a protective place when we say; “I will say of the Lord!”
As we proclaim it, as we say it, as we decree; “I will say of the Lord! He 
is my refuge and fortress,” we will ENTER in to His safety! IN HIM I will I trust!”
But how do we get to this point? 
I believe that we are at this place in time right now, where will we have to come to the realization that we must DWELL in the secret place of the Most High and live, exist, under His shadow.
For only He alone is Almighty and safe enough to protect 
us.

A WELL WORN PATH TO THE SECRET PLACE
The Scripture says,
“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back,
Is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)
We often flippantly quote this without fully acknowledging the seriousness of this statement.
We have seen again and again, devastations brought on by many failing in the body of Christ, from highly visible individuals to those working in the back stockroom of a business.
Deviant and secretive behaviors inevitably will be exposed and found out. Sadly many believers who have been called to walk the righteous walk, the walk that depends upon the Lord - and yet when he speaks, when he commands, when he challenges, they do not follow.

Psalm 32 verses 7-10 address this matter.
“YOU are my hiding place, 
YOU LORD will protect me from trouble, 
And surround me with songs of deliverance.

And the Lord replies,
I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should 
go: I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridal or they will 
not come to you.”


“MANY ARE THE WOES OF THE WICKED, BUT THE LORD’S UNFAILING 
LOVE, 
SURROUNDS THE MAN WHO TRUSTS IN THE LORD.”
Unless the believing bride learns what it means to have a well worn path to the hiding place, the secret place, “secret” meaning - a place alone, hidden with the Lord), a place of uninterrupted dialogue, instruction, and worship, then she will continue to have public exposures on all levels and among all peoples represented in the body.

When we hide ourselves with the Lord, He instructs us.
He warns us about the 
trouble ahead. 
He sings over us, songs of deliverance and He rejoices over us because of our obedience.
  
SOLITARY PLACES OF LIFE
On the outside, there was nothing that marked the Lord as any different than the common ordinary man except for one thing. He was separated inside. He knew when it was the spirit of the Lord driving Him into the wilderness, and also that it was not good to be alone for too long. Jesus Christ does not make “religious hermits” as Oswald Chambers states. He makes us men and women fit for a world as it is.

HE 
DOES NOT EXPECT US TO WORK FOR HIM BUT WITH HIM
The narrow way I speak of combined with the solitary places of life, creates an incubator that the Lord can use. As we submit ourselves to his instructions in times of meeting with him in the secret place, he WILL instruct us as he stated! We must not be like a mule or a horse that forever needs to be prodded and forced into discipleship.
A true disciple, one who was willing to not simply be called, but follow obediently working with the Lord’s plan, will rarely have time to be self-promoting or shouting too loudly about their own, “divine destinies,” knowing that each day spending time meditating upon the Word of God, fellowshipping with Him in a place of rest and instruction is all that one needs for the tasks at hand.
The hallmark of true discipleship will always be noted and noticed by the discipline of one who has worn a well-beaten path to the place of intimacy and personal deep fellowship with the King of glory.


“OBEY MY VOICE, AND I WILL BE YOUR GOD” 

Our destinies for good or evil are completely determined by the voice we choose to obey.

LISTENING TO THE VOICE OF THE LORD…
…And obeying what He says, will bring 
blessings. Not always as speedily as our consumer minds prefer. Nor will they always come in the format our flesh would desire or dictate. But indeed, the blessings will come!


IGNORING THE VOICE OF THE LORD…
…Will bring many curses. It is impossible to obey God without first hearing His voice. His voice tells us what He expects and what He requires. And it is always for our good, and the good of mankind.
CORPORATE AND CONGREGATIONAL JEZEBEL - EXPOSED
An entire organization can have a functioning Jezebel Spirit and then wonder why God never moves among them.
This can be a denomination. Many denominations were manufactured by Jezebel.  If you can't kill the prophets, divide them up.
This can be a movement.  Every move of God starts out right and then drifts off and abandons the value of self-examination and humility, which in turn, rejects the next pure move of God.  A Jezebel tactic!
This can be a church body.  If only the approved and “special team” have input, if church leaders put a stop on who can bring the word, if there is intention to control things, you got a Jezebel on your hands. And this stink will control every little detail of every ministry opportunity for others in the body. The spirit and rebellion of this type of person will sweetly smile to the “key” leadership, but shame, abuse, and spy on the sheep. And this spirit will lie!
Often, marriages of those with this behavior are in turmoil. Yet… They seem to be able to point out the flaws of others and never have their own confronted.
It can be a leader. This is why I honor and recommend an outside apostolic leader above a group board of elders or “core leadership” teams. Biblically, there is and was great safety and godly help for young churches and more established ones when the humble apostolic Father’s were called upon or were sent to bring loving but Godly order to the often upsetting events that would happen in daily ministry encounters.
Thank God for men of God who ignored Jezebel!  Who fought hard against the allure of her control! I know of many fellowships where she manifests with approval. She is evil.(It can be a HE as well!)
Don't let her in! And, if she somehow has weaseled her way into your fellowship, if you stand as a senior leader, if you are the Jehu who can throw her down, if you don't, no one will!  
Be strong. Be courageous. The life of your fellowship is at stake.
It will be hard, Jezebel is hard working, makes herself (Can be a Him except in the spirit) indispensable, uses emotion to get her way, ingratiates the power structure, makes it seem impossible to get rid of her, which is the exact reason why you must.
She will RULE YOUR ROOST.  
The words you will use about why you cannot throw her down are,
"You have no idea of all the things she does for me, how much of the load she takes off my shoulders, how much we would miss if she weren't here.  I don't have anyone to pick up the load of she is gone".
Dear Directors, Leaders, Pastors.  Allow me to introduce you to your houseJezebel.  You just described her.
Now THROW HER DOWN...  She is killing you and the move of God among those in your fellowship and relationships.
  
THE “REIGN” OF GRACE - AND THE “RAIN” OF GRACE 

MERCY FOR THE MERCIFUL
Psalm 109:4 reads: 

“In return for my friendship they accuse me,
But I am a man/woman of prayer.”

Jesus taught us that God forgives us in the same measure in which we have forgiven others. He said in Matthew 6:14 through 15 that if we forgive men their trespasses, 
He our heavenly father, will also forgive us. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither wills your father forgive your trespasses.
If there is a ministry, a foe, a friend, whom we do not forgive within the same measure that the father has forgiven us, truly God cannot fully forgive us.
We can get all the preachers in America and around the globe to pray for us and to pray over us, but we cannot force out the devil and darkness of our own unforgiveness. We give the enemy consistent access to our churches and our families as long as we “lord it over others”, hiding our own sin, pretending that God does not see.
In order to have the times of refreshing we are crying out for and are desperate for as believers, we must learn to rule and reign with grace.
Refreshing rains will not fall, and cannot fall in full glory, when we refuse to lay down judgments, manipulations, and self invented spiritual “rules” that do not run parallel with the King of grace who is the ULTIMATE Mercy bringer.

Mercy. It means to perform out of a desire to relieve suffering,  and is motivated by compassion. The action of forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within 
one's power to punish or harm. Mercy shown prevents something unpleasant or provides relief from suffering.


DO YOURSELF AN ETERNAL FAVOR. TELL THE TRUTH.
God will protect 
you more for doing this than any self-invented cover-up ever could. And, you just might regain relationships with those you have used as stepping-stones to your own deviant self-empowerment.

THE HEAVENLY KING OF GLORY, 
IS ALWAYS AND FOREVER CREATING NEWNESS OF LIFE
If we are indeed man or a woman of prayer, the test will come of that deep prayer life when your enemies surround you, accuse you, and often attempt to execute and silence you.

A man or a woman of prayer in these days, right now, will learn to sweep 
out iniquity, falseness, slander, and “hierarchical pecking orders” through goodness 
and humility.
This is a time to trust, 
to depend upon, to lean upon, the goodness of the Lord. To trust in His sovereignty more than ever. It is His right to define what grace is. Not mans.
~ Prophetic Exhortation ~

“And so says the Lord, the Spirit of grace, the Voice of Wisdom, and the only Almighty One. As you cry out for times of refreshing, for a change in the hearts of
men, for a move of my spirit across the lands of Earth, my command to you is that you begin to create an atmosphere where I may speak My plans according to My Word, and according to My prerogative.

I will lead you and guide you with enough light each day as you come to that narrow place with me. I will strengthen your weakened spiritual muscles as you dialogue in honesty with me and repent of foolish choices and foolish actions that have caused many to be shattered and shamed because you spoke out of a calling, rather than out of following my voice.
Begin to dig ditches in prayer. Become addicted and immersed in it, never ceasing. 
Prepare places where my rain may fall and cause a fresh drinking place for those yet 
to taste of my goodness, as well as for those who are thirsty within my body.
Begin
to dig ditches in dry places with humility and goodness. Lean upon me, trust in me, do not lean upon your own understanding, for you have well seen that having done this
in the past you have missed many opportunities to prepare a way of salvation for others.
“I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.” (Isaiah 48:10)
So comfort yourself, weary and tried believer with this thought.
Does not the word 
come like a soft shower, quieting the fury of the flame? Is it not a fireproof armor against the heat, which will then have no power? Whatever happens to you in this valley of weeping, know that I have chosen it for you.
If you still require an even 
greater comfort, remember that you have the Son of man with you in the valley. In that secret place with you, there He sits by your side. One whom you have not seen but whom you love, and whether you know it or not your friend sticks closely by you.
I will never leave one whom I have chosen as my own.
Great grace. Great mercy. Great promise. 

All these are yours, extended from my hand, and for you to extend from your hand. 

NOW IS THE TIME, to live out the heart and life of the servant as I lead you with the little light that you have now. It is all you need as long as it comes from me. It is a time to learn to march forward, to dig ditches, to prepare so that others may also drink freely with no restraints.
When I come and speak to you and move among you, I express everything that is pure and lovely and have a good report, and sin and uncleanliness depart.
Peace also
rains when I move with humble power.
Gentleness will be the result of my transforming power. 
Harmlessness will follow, for hearts that are touched by me are always meek and lowly. My grace is sufficient for you, and you will find it if you will seek it, and above all if you will express it.
“
Be strong in the grace that is in me.” (2 Timothy 2:1)

As a reservoir empties itself into pipes, so have I emptied out my grace for my 
people. Of my fullness you have received grace for Grace.
Grace is always available 
from me without price.
“Keep yourselves from overconfident, arrogant sins.” (Psalm 19:13) 

You will surely stumble if you look away from the One who is able to keep you from falling.

If your love is fervent, your faith constant, and your hope bright, continue 
nonetheless to be on your guard and cry out, “Keep us from temptation!”
The 
seasons revolve according to my Divine appointment and man cannot change their
schedule. In the spiritual as in the natural realm, man’s power is limited.
 I alone can 
remove the winter of spiritual death from an individual or from a church.

Let me hear you say, “Not my will but as you will oh Lord! 
 As you yield, I will yield. 

Let it be, as I desire! As I will! 
Allow me to determine the best. Be content to leave your 
prayer and your petitions in my hands.
I know when to give, how to give, what to 
give, and what to withhold.
As you visit me in the secret place of repentance and brokenness, as the path
becomes narrower, seeking me earnestly and often times pleading, with humility and resignation, you shall surely prevail.
I am the light on your pathway.
And, I AM 
all you need.”


Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed, provided that the complete 
message or article and website information for Mary Lindow is included. 
 
Thank You!
Copyright © 2014 " THE MESSENGER "
 
~ Mary Lindow