Amanuensis

2 Chronicles 23:16-19. “Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the LORD’S people. And all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they broke in pieces his altars and his images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. Moreover, Jehoiada placed the offices of the house of the LORD under the authority of the Levitical priests, whom David had assigned over the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses—with rejoicing and singing according to the order of David. He stationed the gatekeepers of the house of the LORD, so that no one would enter who was in any way unclean.”

Just as Jehoida set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, to keep out anyone who was unclean, so you are to set the gatekeepers at the gates of your mind and your heart, to keep out anything unclean.  I provide those gatekeepers.  They are available by prayer and petition, by studying my word, by keeping close to me and by allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell within you.  But you must seek.  You must be diligent in your desire to be close to me and to keep out those things that grieve us.  Seek me first … you know this principle, yet you have dismissed the gatekeepers.  Bring them back!

 Habakuk 1:2-4 How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted. 

I know this is the cry of your heart. I know that this world of yours is wearing you down. I understand that it is difficult to watch and experience, day by day, the evil that is seemingly in control of your world. Do not grow weary, child. Do not give up on your world, on trying to help your people. I have you here for a reason. I have you here for a specific purpose. Spend your time in my Word. Spend your days in constant prayer and listening for my voice. Spend your time looking to me, not around to what is happening. Yes, pay attention. But only enough attention that you know what to pray about, how to respond, what I may have you do directly to help your fellow man. Do not pay so much attention that it causes you despair or defeat. Although it may not seem to be true, I am still in control. Yes there is much pain and evil in your world at the moment. Yes, there are many who are suffering unjustly. Yes, there are many in power who abuse that power and abuse those under the control of their position or authority. Yes, there is evil at work trying to stop me, and you – my children. They would shut up your voices. They would close your assemblies. They would outlaw my Word. They even try to eradicate you from this world. But, you are mine. That will never change, no matter what happens here or how you are treated. Look to me. Accept my help. Your courage and steadfastness come from me. My spirit in you will lead you in all truth and knowledge and discernment and power to stand firm against the evil that has been unleashed in this world. It is moving quickly and seemingly gathering strength. But do not allow them to deceive you. It is all smoke and mirrors. Yes, they have some power now – only what I will allow. But you have the power to resist – to see me, to listen to me, to look to me. Turn from them. Turn from their lies. Turn from their attempts to influence you and your life. They only have as much power as you give them. Can they harm your earthly life and body? Somewhat, yes. But can they harm what is important, what is vital – your eternal life and destiny? No. No. No. They cannot and they know it. So, stand firm. Stand under my wing. Stand under my Word. Stand under my strength and power and protection. You are mine until and unless you give up that position. Only you can change that status. Do not give an inch.

Deuteronomy 33:9-10 “The Levites obeyed your word and guarded your covenant. They were more loyal to you than to their own parents. They ignored their relatives and did not acknowledge their own children. They teach your regulations to Jacob; they give your instructions to Israel.”

Be a Levite. Am I telling you to walk away from your family and your responsibilities?  No. Am I telling you to dishonor your parents? No. But, I am telling you that if there is a split in your family – where some believe in and follow me and others don’t – that you do not allow yourself to be swayed from your belief because you love your family. You can love them and yet honor me. You can serve them in the way I ask of you, yet still honor and serve me. In fact, staying close to me and faithful to me – showing them who I am by the way you live – is more loving than anything else you can do. They need me as much as you do. You see the divisions. They will deepen. I have chosen you to serve me and to teach my word to the world. That is your first priority. I will help you to do this, and to take care of the rest of your life. Love your family – by standing firm in my word.  Be a Levite. 

1 John 5:1-5. “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”

This is the key. If you love me, if you believe in me, if you live in obedience to me, you can defeat the evil that has taken over your world. It is only with me by your side, inside your hearts, ingrained into every aspect of your lives that can defeat the evil that is now residing in every corner of your world. 

Daniel 1:1-2 “During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and beseiged it. The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god.”

Just as King Nebuchadnezzar took the treasures from my temple and placed them into the temple of his false gods, so my children have taken the treasures I have given them and used them to worship their own false gods – self, power, money, fame. I have given life, abundance, health – all sacrificed on the altar of worship of self. 

Daniel 6:10 “But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.”

Daniel obeyed me. Not man. Me. Will you be so brave and conscientious in the times of oppression that are coming? Will you be so bold as to continue to proclaim your allegiance to me, your obedience to me, your belief in and trust of me? Will you remain in me no matter what man does?

Hosea 2:2-13  “But now bring charges against Israel – your mother – for she is no longer my wife, and I am no longer her husband. Tell her to remove the prostitute’s makeup from her face and the clothing that exposes her breasts. Otherwise, I will strip her as naked as she was on the day she was born.  I will leave her to die of thirst, as in a dry and barren wilderness. And I will not love her children, for they were conceived in prostitution. Their mother is a shameless prostitute and became pregnant in a shameful way. She said, ‘I’ll run after other lovers and sell myself to them for food and water, for clothing of wool and linen, and for olive oil and drinks.’ For this reason I will fence her in with thorn bushes. I will block her path within a wall to lose her way. When she runs after her lovers, she won’t be able to catch them. She will search for them but not find them. Then she will think, ‘I might as well return to my husband, for I was better off with him than I am now.’ She doesn’t realize it was I who gave her everything she has – the grain, the new wine, the olive oil; I even gave her silver and gold. But she gave all my gifts to Baal. But now I will take back the ripened grain and new wine I generously provided each harvest season. I will take away the wool and linen clothing I gave her to cover her nakedness. I will strip her naked in public, while all her lovers look on. No one will be able to rescue her from my hands. I will put an end to her annual festivals, her new moon celebrations, and her Sabbath days – all her appointed festivals. I will destroy her grapevines and fig trees, things she claims her lovers gave her. I will let them grow into tangled thickets, where only wild animals will eat the fruit. I will punish her for all those times she burned incense to her images of Baal, when she put on her earrings and jewels and went out to look for her lovers but forgot all about me,” says the Lord. 

 Just as I gave everything to your nation – to your people – I will take it away. You have prostituted yourselves to your enemies for what? Money? Possessions? Fame? Comfort? You have taken the gifts I provided and used them to commit evil. You have forsaken everything I represent in order to make yourselves “happy”. Do you not see it? Do you not feel the changes all around you? Do you not feel the oppressive nature of the evil that you have not only invited in, but celebrated in this country? Do you not feel the confusion that has entered your world? You once knew what was good and right. You once knew that I am your God and you are my people. But, you wanted to be your own gods. You wanted to be in charge of everything. You wanted to feel good instead of doing good. You wanted to be known by your fellow men, instead of cherishing being known by me. You wanted to extend and prolong your life here on this earth instead of looking forward to leaving this temporary abode and coming home to eternity with me. You exchanged truth for convenient lies. You call evil good and good evil. You care only about yourselves. And, so, have abandoned any commitment to your fellows. You have convinced yourselves that all is acceptable in pursuit of personal pleasure, happiness, wealth, fame, power. And so, have completely rejected me as your Lord, as your Savior, as your Father. Therefore, I will reject you as my children. Already you see what walking away from me is doing to your nation. You see the evil that has invaded every part of your society and every level of your government and institutions. You see how your quest for personal power over your own lives by rejecting my lordship has led you into slavery to your enemies. You have sacrificed real freedom for this. Repent and turn back while there is still time. But, time is running out. And just as I did to Israel – who had prostituted herself just as Gomer had – I will do to you. You have prostituted yourselves. Sold yourselves for worthless things. Turned your lives over to your real enemies. You are near the point where there will be no turning back. I will give you what you have been asking for over the last many years. Be careful. 

2 Peter 2:15-17, 21 “It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the King….For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps.” 

This is more important now than ever. My children are increasingly ostracized and under persecution.  Do not allow your behavior to give anyone fodder to attack you, thus attacking me. You are ambassadors in this world. Be judicious in your speech. Be kind and firm in your actions. Do not allow yourselves to be abused, do not allow anyone that is helpless to be abused, but do not yourself be an abuser in any way. Walk in humble strength, aligned with me and my values and in opposition to the spirit which rules your world today. You are soldiers in a battle. Put on your spiritual armor and stand firm in the Spirit. Difficult times are coming. The more time you spend with me, the more prepared you will be. 

Ezekiel 13:18-19 Do you think you can trap others without bringing destruction on yourselves? You bring shame on me among my people for a few handfuls of barley or a piece of bread. By lying to my people who love to listen to lies, you kill those who should not die, and you promise life to those who should not live.

This is my Church today. This is what happens when my religious leaders spread misinformation, preach lies and seek to enrich themselves. Woe to them, the time is coming when all will be revealed. There is no mercy before my judgment seat for those who have twisted my Word for their personal gain. No mercy for those who spread false beliefs. No mercy for those who use my Name and my Word for their own glory. 

Luke 12:51-53   “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against – or two in favor and three against.  Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

While this has always been true, it is true now more than ever. You see the divisions that have been brought about by your enemy? You see how easily my children take sides, push each other away, live in fear and hatred of each other? Though that is not how I would have you live, I will take advantage of it. The division that matters is this: who believes in me and who doesn’t. That is the only division that is real and that matters. Your enemy knows this and keeps you all distracted by the noise of race, gender, economics, trust/mistrust in government, trust/mistrust in “science”, trust/mistrust in the medical community and specifically today in the “vaccine” and other COVID issues, political issues, marriage and especially religion/spirituality. Do not be distracted. Bring every decision to me, pray, study my Word and then stand firm in what you believe. Do not allow yourself to be drawn into the anger and warring of the day. Do not allow yourself to be bated into treating others harshly or into using violence to protect your views. Do not allow yourself to be taken off my path – in any way. And do not ever stop speaking of me, teaching about me, guiding others to me, and standing up for and demonstrating my values. Be that light on a hilltop. Do not cover your light in any way. If you feel it dimming, stop right away and seek me. Even I had to go away and be alone to commune with my Father. Even I had to step away from ministering and go into solitary prayer, especially as the time drew near for my death. Do not allow yourself to become so busy in the battle that you sacrifice time with me. This is the crucial element of your success. Pray that the Holy Spirit accompany you in every conversation, every meeting, every time you go out into public. Always be a demonstration of me, not of yourself. In order to do that, you must stay close at all times.  (2021)

Psalm 106:43 “Again and again he rescued them, but they chose to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their sin.”

Do you not see that the time is approaching when this will not only be true of individuals, but of entire nations? Your people are dangerously close to this moment when I allow the complete and total destruction of your country because of your own sin. It is not only individuals that sin but entire peoples — entire nations. Yours is steeped in blatant sin and I will not tolerate it much longer. If your people do not repent, I will bring destruction upon all of you. (2021)

Proverbs 14:34 Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.