“THE TRAINING OF THE SPIRITUAL COMRADE” - Prophetic Insights

“I praise you because I am fearfully 

and wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Psalm 139:14

WE ARE STRANGE AND EXQUISITE CREATURES.

We can ache for God tremendously; yet find ourselves getting nervous if God gets too close!  After all, the closer God gets, the more we hear the call to be “unpolluted”.

It is both exciting and frightening to hear that call!

 A SHORT STORY

“Once upon a time there was a little plant that was small and whose growth was stunted, for it lived under the shade of a giant oak tree.

The little plant valued the shade that covered it and highly enjoyed and relished the quiet rest that it’s majestic friend provided. Yet there was a greater blessing prepared for this little plant.

One day a lumberjack entered the forest with a sharp ax and cut down the giant oak! The little plant began to weep, crying out, “My shelter has been taken away”. Now every fierce wind will blow on me, and every storm will seek to uproot me!”

The guardian angel of the little plant responded, “NO! Now the sun will shine and showers will fall on you more abundantly than ever before! Now your stunted form will spring up into loveliness, and your flowers, which could never have grown to full perfection in the shade, will laugh in the sunshine. Many will say, "Look how that plant has grown. How gloriously beautiful it has become by removing that which was it’s shade and comfort!"

THE TRAINING OF THE SPIRITUAL COMRADE

We need to see that the Lord wisely trains his soldiers by calling them into difficult travels and service. He strengthens them through wildernesses and mountains. God knows that spiritually armed Soldiers can only be developed in battle and are not developed in times of calm. 

We can only become true seasoned soldiers of Christ when we train and serve in the preparation time of the uninviting, and at times "unfriendly"  surroundings.

TRUST FOR A SEASON!

It's all about trusting God in the end. Oh yes it is! 

We often ask in the heat of difficult battles whether they are mental battles, spiritual battles, and financial battles…”Will He REALLY refresh us in this time of struggle?” 

His Loving Word says so. 

 "For I satisfy the weary ones

And refresh everyone who languishes." 

Jer. 31:25 

 THE LORD IS PRODUCING STAMINA WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT! 

"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; 

For once he has been approved, 

He will receive the crown of life, 

Which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

James 1:12

  

THE FATHER IS URGING US TO RUN TO HIM, TO CRY TO HIM!

He is there! Even in this fog of struggle, loss, anxiety, or even seeming success! He wants us to be desperate for Him and is training us to rely on His voice. To make our decisions based on His plan for the whole earth! 

TIE YOURSELF TO THE HAND OF GOD

Get a "rope of expectation" (the word of God) and tie yourself to it. 

Hold on! The boding evil is nearly over! 

"The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. 

So let us put aside the deeds of darkness

And put on the armor of light."

Romans 13:12

INTIMATE PLACE OF COMMUNICATION

It would be a powerful opportunity for all of us to get on our knees in an “intimate place of communication” with the Lord, and refresh our commitment to purity and with a willing heart to yield to the bidding of the Father. 

"They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. 

They all march in line, not swerving from their course."

Joel 2:7

 LET OUR HEARTS WILLINGLY...

…Give Him Room to Move Freely in our daily action in this Life.

We do this by clearing away or removing anything that feeds and pampers our flesh and our own concepts of the Kingdom. 

"No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—

He wants to please his commanding officer."

2 Timothy 2:4

WE PREPARE HIM A PLACE 

A throne in our hearts, from which He can reign and activate His anointing.

" As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. 

But as HIS anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, 

Remain in him."

1 John 2:27

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 www.marylindow.com

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“THINK BIG - ACT LITTLE” - A prophetic insight

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By Mary Lindow

I was packing up a box for shipping in the mail and had turned it over to be sure that I had used enough sealing tape to secure the contents in the box. As I began to apply the sealing tape, my eyes were drawn to the simple statement printed on the bottom of the box put there intentionally by the company that manufactures the packing boxes.
It read;  " T H I N K   B I G   -  A C T   L I T T L E "


RIGHT THEN THE LORD SPOKE TO ME IN GREAT INTENSITY.
He gently said, "Child, the past mentality and insidious mind set of many in ministry has been the direct opposite of the statement; "THINK BIG - ACT LITTLE." Man is still obsessed with power, control, and is driven by the desire to be the biggest and the best. This has crept into the church through a message of self-gratification, and an implied sense of "you deserve it" spoken through many who don't THINK BIG about the consequences of their words!

So many believers think that they have a right to "Big things" but want it all to happen through others doing for them honoring them, and therefore their concern and "actions" in considering others service and faithfulness is minimal.

The current attitude heaven is hearing from among not only many disobedient believers but also sadly among many who think they are in the "forefront" of the wave of My Spirit is in fact, a reversal of the statement, Think Big Act little.”


THINK LITTLE...ACT BIG!
This is the mindset of the selfish and those trapped in patterns of deceit and personal denial!


AS LONG AS WE DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO EXAMINE OUR OWN SOULS,
Which we well know, can be very wicked, we never think about how our “ACTING BIG” and “all anointed and all powerful” and how "on the cutting edge" we might be!


THE LORD INSTRUCTED ME WITH A FIRM BUT GENTLE WARNING,
about those who are trying to "re-package" the same old way of doing things the way they want it done in a different box or presentation.
It's like the statement "THINK LITTLE - ACT BIG."


PUSHING AWAY THE CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS DANGEROUS.
The Lord is in this present hour is granting us much precious time to deal with the hidden sins and iniquities that are well fed and functioning in each of our lives. Ministry leaders, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, sheep. Sadly, many seem to believe that if they just “THINK LITTLE -  AND - “ACT BIG” well, others will be really impressed with the BIG Show and BIG Presentation and we won't have to think about or question our motives and manipulations as to why we need to keep feeding the “BIG ACT!”



GODLESSNESS IN THE LAST DAYS
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power.
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM.
They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, (men as well!) who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
2 Timothy

 
MANY TIMES THE BODY OF CHRIST IS FOUND TO BE CHASING AFTER MIRACLES AND SIGNS AND WONDERS…
…In order to get a new thing to happen in your church or community. It is THINKING LITTLE. You have trained yourself and others to pursue God, only if blessings and miracles occur. But when hardship and testing and refining occur it's easier to “THINK LITTLE” about these.
Why?

 
THE FLESH HATES DISCIPLINE AND TRUTH!
With every wave and Dimension of Glory the Lord releases, there is always the crowd of the 5000 looking for a good free meal, a good public speaker, and a few miracles. These days toss in a "new groovy worship ministry" and you've arrived!

HOWEVER! When the real work of God is getting close, the numbers drastically reduce and those who are not willing to extort others or use others for fame and gain, become again, like a Gideon's army. Rugged, broken, obedient, and they THINK about the BIG THINGS God can do, but “THEY ACT LITTLE” or small and humble.

Philippians 2:3

Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others.
Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.


 
BEWARE OF THOSE WHO SHOUT TOO LOUDLY;"HEY! WE HAVE A BIG THING HAPPENING!"
“And you need to come and uh… well, if you really want in on it, don't think much about the fee of $200 or more to attend what God is doing!"


DID THAT POKE AT YOUR SOUL A LITTLE BIT?  WELL GOOD!

WE ARE IN A SEASON WHERE MONEY CHANGING IN THE NAME OF THE LORD'S ANOINTING IS GOING TO BE DEALT WITH. 
Just after this paragraph is a small list of a few other things the Lord has asked me to bring a gentle warning about. Things that He is going to allow His exposure and His Holy fire to touch, if they are not personally dealt with through our own choice in repent humbly to Him and to others we are supposed to have some kind of accountability with.

(You are accountable to someone other than yourself aren't you? ( hint ) That may be a mentor, a prayer group, a couple or two, maybe a husband and wife together. But we all must have someone that we share an account of our lives with.

HE IS GIVING ALL OF HIS PEOPLE, SHEEP AND LEADERS ALIKE…

…TIME TO THINK - AND ACT.

 -  GENTLE WARNINGS FROM THE LORD  - 

1.) Key Leaders need to become tender towards those in their service.
Sharing with them as co-laborers and hard workers, fair and even above and beyond, financial support, honor, and deep respect.


1 Peter 5:3
Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

Romans 12:3
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

2.) Many in ministry settings embrace too quickly, those who "appear" to have a large ministry influence and grant them levels of authority without knowing what their home life is like, what their accountability levels are, and how they appropriate ministry funding they gain through travels, conferences or support. THE LORD URGES THOSE WHO ARE PASTORAL TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT THEY EMBRACE AND BRING INTO THEIR SHEEPFOLD. PASTORS ARE JUDGED MORE SERIOUSLY.

James 3:1
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.


Psalm 101:7
I will not allow deceivers to serve me, and liars will not be allowed to enter my presence.


3.) The Lord warns about slandering others in ministry or in the general Body of believers, 

publicly as well as in private settings. Shaming others is usually a form of control and can often be used to hide behind, rather than to lovingly confront, a situation.

MANY BOOKS AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES 

ARE GOING TO BE RELEASED IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. 

THEY WILL SLANDER, LIE, AND EXAGGERATE STORIES 

ABOUT HOW THE BODY OF CHRIST AND THOSE MEMBERS IN IT HAVE

"DONE EACH OTHER WRONG."

 
This will be a total turn off to the generation that is watching those who are to be modeling grace, patience, kindness, and self-control. The Lord warns that once the doors of your mouth begin to slander and shame others He will expose and do unto you what you have done unto others.

Hebrews 4:13  "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. 

Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Leviticus 19:16
"Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.
Do not act as a merchant toward your own people.
Do not try to get ahead at the cost of your neighbor's life, for I am the LORD.

2 Timothy 3:3 - "They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; They will be cruel and have no interest in what is good."

YOU SEE, WE ARE TO THINK BIG ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD

AND ACT LITTLE, ACT SMALL …

…ABOUT OURSELVES.

Humility brings honor and favor.

Deceit brings Judgment.

THINK BIG...

...ABOUT THAT.

 

Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is permitted provided that complete source and website information for Mary Lindow is included.

Thank you.  “2014” ©

www.marylindow.com

www.globalprayerrooms.com