Unveiled

Showing posts with label Darkness. Show all posts

The Wings of The Wind

Recently my family walked through an unexpected crisis with my husbands health. I will probably be sharing on an ongoing basis some of what I have learned as I have walked through this with the Lord.

One of the most prominent things I learned is that we have to chose what to look for in a crisis. We can either focus on the enemy or we can focus on what God is doing in the midst of it. Fortunately for us we chose the latter and found God at every turn. It may seem like the darkness is overcoming us and I don't think we are to ignore the presence of it in the midst of what we may be experiencing, but there is light and the more we focus on that, the brighter and brighter it will become. We can be victorious or we can be defeated, that will depend on what we chose to exalt in our crisis. We can exalt Jesus and the truth, or we can exalt the situation and our feelings. God has given us the ability to chose the former, but He won't chose for us.

Out of that I have learned that when we find God in the midst of our storm not only does he reveal himself to us but he reveals himself through us as well. We talk all the time of His power being made perfect in our weakness yet at times despise what he allows in order for his power to be seen. We often refer to going through trouble as being in a storm which usually involves wind sometimes very strong hurricane force winds at that. The word says...... He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. (Psalm 104:3) it also says He has His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. (Nahum 1:3) but do we really believe that? If I had any doubt before I don't any longer after what we have witnessed.

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4: 6-7

We have to quit despising our humaness, it is the way He has chosen to reveal the light of the knowledge of His glory in Christ to those still in darkness.

Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

Spoils Of War

Now I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse and He who sat on him was called Faithful and True and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood and His name is called the word of God, and the armies of heaven clothed in fine linen white and clean followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword that with it He should strike the nations and He himself will rule them with a rod of iron., He himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God and He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written—
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:11-16

I could feel His eyes of fire penetrating, piercing, burning into my heart----His love for me and for others pouring in through the rays of light going into my heart understanding all that He gave He gave for His love was so fierce nothing would stand in His way of rescuing me, rescuing us, setting us free not only from sin that carried us into captivity but all of its guilt and all of its shame that kept us chained…..

He breaks every fetter, He breaks every chain
By His blood He's given us His name

No more, No more,

No more sorrow, no more pain

No more guilt, no more shame

For I have ransomed you from the power of the grave

I ransomed you from darkness and all of its shame

I freed you from death, you’ll never be the same

You're no longer the one who is called unloved

For I have seated you with Me above

Above all power and principality

All rule and dominion

You will dwell with me

In the light of My countenance
clothed in My glory.

The riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints....the souls of men, these are the spoils of His war.

Songs: Faithful and Doves Eyes

His Rest

Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

I don’t know about you, but every now and then I feel like Jesus put this in the word just for me. Obviously God knows our propensity to forget our relationship with Him is founded completely on the blood of Jesus. It isn’t something we intend to do it just happens, especially when we are going through a dark season with little or no understanding and perhaps think we missed it somewhere. This is where I have been for too long in my opinion. The dark season is bad enough but unbearable when we lose sight of His grace in the process. I don’t know anyone who ‘walks’ with God who doesn’t experience these times and yet despite having been through them before I always seem to end up laboring rather than resting which will really wear you out.

This morning as I listened to a song titled ‘Jesus Paid It All’, the reality of its message brought me back to Him and to His rest. I took my inability to understand and figure out what is going on and why as a sign that my love for Him is less than it should be (first of all it depends on His love for us, not the other way around) that if I love Him like I should and if I am being the Christian I am supposed to be I wouldn’t have periods where I can’t seem to find my way or don’t understand the circumstances I am in or more what it is God wants me ‘to do’ in them. That is usually where I get into trouble, when I think that I can ‘do’ something to fix it. When the only thing I need to do is trust Gods character and nature in the face of circumstances that seem contrary to what I know to be the truth.

There is a verse in an old hymn that I have thought much about lately that says, “When darkness veils his lovely face I rest in his unchanging grace.” That right there says it all. People who walk with God do so because they trust Him, not because everything is ‘hunky dory’ all the time, but because even when it’s not they trust His heart.

Jesus Paid It All- Songs

Passivity

Passivity: The condition or quality of being passive; inactivity, quiescence, or submissiveness.

1. passivity - the trait of remaining inactive; a lack of initiative

2. passivity - submission to others or to outside influences

submissiveness - the trait of being willing to yield to the will of another person or a superior force etc.

I have been hearing the Spirit of the Lord saying to the church for some time now as have others, “Rise up, rise up, rise up.” He began speaking that message before the spirit of passivity was even apparent, and now I understand why. God is ALWAYS ahead of the enemy even when it doesn’t look that way.

The enemy is attempting to lull people into a state of passivity and in many cases has already succeeded by causing many to believe their situation is a result of what is going on in Washington and the economy and as a result, hopeless. It is a LIE. The devil has gotten people to believe the lie more than they believe His word. Many believe with a conditional faith based on what is going on around them. It isn’t what others are saying, it isn’t what is being said on the news or what is being spoken in Washington that is the problem, and it is what we are saying to ourselves in response to what we are hearing. That is the problem. God is a God of Covenant. His ability to keep His part of that covenant has absolutely nothing to do with what is going on in the economy, Washington or any place else for that matter. He is the God that created the universe simply by speaking. The worlds were framed by the word of God so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. We read the account in Genesis where over and over it states, and God said. We must remember the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus came that we might have life and have it to the full. I am not talking about a short term situation here, I am talking about one that drags on and on with no relief in sight. Even when God brought judgment on Egypt because of Pharaoh in Genesis, His people were taken care of i.e. their needs were met. I'm not referring to living in self indulgence and excess. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

John 3:16 God so loved the world that he gave his one and only

son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

To perish means more than just ending up in hell at the end of our life. It is defined as suffering complete ruin or destruction.

I am not referring to people who didn’t consult God about their decisions and acted in rebellion. That’s another post. I am speaking to those who walk with God, who include Him in their day to day decisions of life, even if you made a mistake and missed it. Nor am I referring to those who think godliness is a means to financial gain, (although given the majority of what is being preached in America it's no wonder why). Even the Word says that such people end up piercing themselves through with many griefs.

The funny thing about people who really love God and want to know Him are the ones who are more prone to being deceived into blaming themselves for what has happened which in turn causes guilt, condemnation and leads people to be passive in the way they navigate through financial crisis which I believe is exactly what the devil wants. It is a little difficult to walk in your authority in Christ if you’re in a mind battle over ‘whose fault is it anyway’? kind of thing.

I know I have put this scripture in several of my last posts but it is so suitable for this subject. This time however I am going to use the Amplified version (bold print mine).

Isaiah 60:1-3 ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you--rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

One of the things God is accomplishing through financial crisis for those whose hearts and minds are fixed on Him is to bring us to the place of realizing that our only true wealth is in Christ and Christ alone. We are in the world, BUT we are not of it! God desires for us to come to a place of being content in any and all situations and the only way to do that is by abiding IN Christ, not merely going to church.

John 3:16 God so loved the world that he gave his one and only

son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

To perish means more than just ending up in hell at the end of our life. It is defined as suffering complete ruin or destruction.

I know I have put this scripture in several of my last posts but it is so suitable for this subject. This time however I am going to use the Amplified version (bold print mine).

The Glory Of The Lord

During praise and worship today listening to a song called “I Have Found” this particular verse stood out to me that says “let your glory rain down, let your glory rain down, let your glory rain down and cover us, cover us.” As I heard the words I saw Gods people on the earth and His glory enveloping them and becoming a shield protecting them from the darkness that is seeking to cover the earth and its people. As I continued in worship I could feel the burden of the Lord for His people and His desire to protect us and prepare us for the things ahead. I was reminded of the following scripture:

2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

But what was impressed upon me is that humbling ourselves and seeking His face isn’t just about crying out because of our condition and how desperately we need Him to intervene, but also about praising Him and worshipping Him for who He is. Have you noticed if you watch too much news about what is going on in the world you can become very heavy hearted, I have to the point that I really limit how much of it I listen to. But equally so when you focus on God and His power that is displayed throughout all of His creation it puts things in proper perspective, and in the times we are living in now, it is essential that we maintain proper perspective.

We must praise the God whose name we claim, we must worship the God whose name we claim, we must be boldly unashamed of the God whose name we claim. As we praise Him and worship Him His face is turned toward us and His glory will be released not just from above, but from inside of us as well. As the scripture says in Colossians 1:27 “Christ in you, the hope of glory”. We must be people who not only carry His presence but are clothed in His glory as the Presence we carry inside is released through our praise and worship. We must seek Him based on who He is, what He has done and what He has promised to do. Yes, darkness is coming, we can already feel it, but the greatest days of the Church are coming as well.

Isaiah 60:1-2 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

What a relevant scripture for the days in which we are living and what a word of encouragement to us as children of God. Jesus said we are the light of the world. We are to let our light shine. We praise you Jesus, the King of Glory!!!! You can listen to the song, just click below.

Song: I Have Found

Faith

He has fenced up my way so that I cannot pass;
and has set darkness in my paths. Job19:8

Have you ever found yourself feeling that God himself has walled you in? That in spite of exercising your authority in Christ over your circumstances nothing has changed. That everywhere you turn is an obstacle and you feel surrounded by darkness rather than light? All of us at some time or another will experience these times, no matter how spiritual we are, and more likely because we are spiritual. I have found myself in such a place for much longer than ever before but oddly I am now drawing strength from what I am learning rather than becoming weakened through the process. It didn’t start out that way though, trust me.

What do you do when all you hear from Him are the words “stand” and “wait”, especially when it seems that where you are standing is in the middle of a train track and what you “seem” to be waiting for is the train? I used to think that being in darkness was a sign of a lack of spirituality and what's more, not being able to explain why signified an even greater measure of that lack. I don’t think that anymore, and if you have been like I was, neither should you.

We need to realize that it is during those times that true faith is made manifest and if we will submit to the Lord in it, we will become stronger. I think sometimes we want to understand the why of what we are going through but for the wrong reason. It is one thing to want to learn from our mistakes (what have I done that has brought this about?) and that has it’s place, but too often I think our desire to understand, to want to be able to connect all the dots or cross all the T’s and dot all the I’s comes from our inability to just trust Him. We want to know what God’s purpose is for this, why has He allowed this, and the desire to want to know that is one thing, but could it be that we want to draw our comfort and peace as well as put our faith in what we understand and can figure out rather than trusting the God we feel has left us? As much as I would love to say I never experience times where it seems God has taken a holiday the truth is I can’t. And from what I have learned over the years, neither can anyone else I know who has learned to really trust Him.

How can we connect all the dots when trying to walk with a God of mystery, no matter how much of that mystery He has chosen to reveal to us He is a God of understanding that cannot be fathomed and of wisdom that cannot be measured and yet we will try like the dickens to rationalize the circumstances we find ourselves in because they are so contrary to what we believe they should be.

Consider King David, referred to by God to be a man after his own heart and yet over and over through out scripture we read of times where he felt cut off from the Lord, where he felt he was at the gate of death itself, times where he was surrounded by the enemy and surrounded by darkness as well. What a source of encouragement God has given us in the Psalms as David penned his struggles as well as his victories and allowed us to peer into the reality (not the false preconceived idea of what being spiritual looks like), of the life of a man who was intimately acquainted with God.

But the word tells us, ”Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality (faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses).” Hebrews 11:1 Amplified.

The most important exercise of our faith during these times is believing that God does love me, that my way is not hidden from Him nor my cause disregarded by Him, even when everything seems to be screaming the opposite, which is probably why we have such a hard time hearing the still small voice of the shepherd, yet He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.