John 3v6:
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Unless we are consistently in the Word of God, and allowing the Holy Spirit to change our thinking so that we view all things from a spiritual perspective, we will constantly have trouble accepting the Word of God and the revelations the Lord gives. Not only this, but we will unwittingly start to worship, serve and obey according to the way that seems best to us (and even start to call it what the Lord wants!). The spiritual is so far apart from the fleshly, that the spiritual way of viewing life and all its important decisions it will always APPEAR WRONG to our flesh, and unless we can discern the distinction between both, we’ll frequently fall prey to those ways that are purely earthly. At the heart of it, the fleshly perspective always is selfish and self-seeking, and has at its centre man, while the spiritual understanding is always selfless and self-sacrificing, and has at its centre, Jesus. While the fleshly understanding consults only its own conscience and its own logic and wisdom, the spiritual understanding always consults the Word of God, through prayer, and submits itself to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and the counsel of the Godly.
So often we hold beliefs that are simply held because they SEEM right to us, and right to the majority of those we hold with high esteem. If the majority believes it, whether those of the world or those of Christendom, it must be right! If the minority believes something different, it must be wrong! In the Old Testament, God’s people, the Jews, started to worship AT A DIFFERENT PLACE than where they had been instructed to. These places were called ‘high places.’ It didn’t seem any big deal to them not to worship at the place the Lord wanted them to worship at, after all, ‘what’s the difference?’ you could very well imagine them saying- ‘The manner of worship doesn’t matter, only the substance matters.’ But God was extremely concerned with both, for He knew that one intimately related to the other (as does the root of a plant and its fruit), and both are inextricably linked to the other (because the act doesn’t exist without the belief and vice versa). Not only does it matter that we worship with SINCERITY (the manner with which we worship), but it also matters WHERE we worship- IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. ‘Our’ way of worship, based off of what seems right to us, is nothing more than a deception and a deceptive fruit- the same fruit the enemy used to deceive Adam and Eve. When we eat of our own understanding, we believe that our eyes are ‘opened’ (and we rejoice in the NEW way of seeing things that we have found- be wary of NEW doctrines- all doctrine can be found in the Word, and no part of the Word will contradict another part) and that we now know the difference between good and evil. But if we believe this way, we are greatly deceived, for the Bible is very clear about how we are to learn to discern what is good, and what is evil:
Heb 5v 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
This is why it seems as though many Christians simply disengage from hearing (‘ears to hear’) and from loving and immersing themselves in the things of the Word, and instead become immersed in the love of the things of the world (and so become entangled in them, whether they know it or not). They would rather not have to bother with, and the hassle of, engaging, learning and growing, and instead remain ‘blissfully’ (although really it is ‘miserably’) ignorant, unaware and uninterested in the deeper things of God. Some choose to knowingly remain children, thinking to avoid the sorrows they believe those more mature in the faith receive because of their being ready to face greater trial and greater testing from the Lord. All they while they forget that in growing in the Christian faith, we come to know more and more of the glory and goodness of our Lord and King, in all the colours of His grace that attend such a magnificent, perfect and all-powerful person, Saviour, God and King. And contrary to their belief, such children of the faith (in maturity) may very well be in for greater sorrow than they can possibly comprehend, just as a child who loses much cannot cope with great loss (nor understand or even begin to comprehend it), so how will the children of the faith cope with great storms, sorrows and loss when they have no doctrine to support such things? How will they bear crosses they don’t believe they should have to carry? How will they trust a God who slays them? Conversely, how will they be used in more mighty ways? How will they be able to grasp the experience and knowledge of the facets of the glory of God? How will they understand greater revelations of His voice and power? And so we have all failed here, and yet His grace has remained, so much so that He even gives time for us to change our ways, so that we’ll not repeat such mistakes in the future.
So where do we worship from? Where do we serve from? And where do we follow from? If we love and learn of the Word, it is highly likely that we’ll do these things from the place of Spirit and Truth. If we don’t really know the Word well, then it is very likely that we’ll worship from the place of the flesh, even though we ourselves are spiritual beings. We will in effect contaminate the worship of God and not even know it. And many of these things the modern Church has already done, and we ourselves have done, so we must be on our guard. Jesus often looked strange and unlovely to those that tried to understand His Word and His ways according to how they saw life, and according to what they saw as right. Do we as Christians struggle with the same thing? This is evidence that we may be more of this world than we think, and it may be time to take drastic measures to extricate ourselves, so that we can be sure we follow Christ, and not an idol of our own making, being ourselves.
Friday, 6 September 2013
Thursday, 5 September 2013
HOW TO RECOGNISE TRUTH
John 3v30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.
The test for determining whether what we hear is truth is quite simple- is the teaching we hear based on and centred around how our lives can become better or is it based on and centred around the Lord Jesus, and how we can serve Him? If it is based around the later, then whatever comes from it, including the subject of our lives and God's love and care for us, then we can trust that it is ok, as long as it is based on scripture. If, however, it is based around the former, then whatever comes from it, will be poisoned, and is dangerous for consumption, and in short, is not truth. Jesus did not preach from man's perspective or from His point of view, but preached from the basis of the will of God, and in accordance with obeying that will and laying down our lives for the ruler of that will- the Father. Jesus even went so far as to say that He didn't say anything or do anything unless He heard it from His Father, or saw His Father do it. And yet what great liberties men take today in shepherding and serving His people! They think of a way of doing Church, and they presume it is ok, as long as they can twist the scriptures to support their way of doing it. If there comes a passage they don't like because it doesn't support their way or their preaching, they dismiss it as irrelevant, or as doctrinally outdated, or they simply choose not to respond to it in any way. Men buy and sell in His Church, and yet Jesus drove the buyers and sellers out- calling them thieves! Men preach certain sections of the Word and leave massive portions out, and yet the Word says that we must love and accept the whole counsel of God (and they call their choosing of what to preach led by the Holy Spirit! God said all of His Word is LIVING AND ACTIVE, AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO EDGED SWORD). Jesus said that the worship of God wasn't about a place, but about worshipping in Spirit and in Truth, and yet men have made worshipping at their places of worship and Church buildings, an idol unto themselves (benefitting themselves, their lusts, pride and their pursuits much more than the desires of God). Jesus said that we should seek the honour that comes from God, and yet men have loved to honour themselves and make themselves seen and heard, and take great titles to themselves, and to say whatever will endear themselves to others at the great expense of truth, and the honour of God and His benefit. Jesus preached a Word that was always hard for the flesh to hear, and yet words are now preached that men lap up and that cause no offence to the flesh. Jesus came to lead men to God, but now men lead people to themselves, and call it honouring to God. Jesus came to teach men that we should hide ourselves and yet glorify God, and yet men strut around with their personalities as though the whole world should stand amazed at their grand and awesome personalities and their amazing gifts and abilities. Jesus came to show men that in this life, ultimately we are called to die to ourselves, and to live for God, but now men are taught that we must save our lives at any cost, and follow God in order to enrich our lives at any cost. Jesus came to give life through the Spirit, and now men try to give life through places of worship that are more akin to nightclubs (and the values of nightclubs), now men try to gain life through everything but God, and through all the things the world has to offer. Jesus came to give the Word, but men now come to give their own word.
All too easily much of the Church has now swapped the glory of God, for the glory of this world- a glory that is false and quickly fading. When the storm comes, the glory of this world will falter and will be proved false, and everything built on that foundation will fall and fail. Men will be severely shocked and alarmed to realise that what they so readily relied upon will so easily be swept away. The shallowness of what the Church loves will fail to provide in that day, and will offer no protection and will offer no solutions to the problems that arise. The glitz, glamour and fun that the Church has relied upon to prop up its services and bring the world to its doors will be revealed as a lying friend and a traitor to the sober, serious and important doctrines and pure truths of His Word. Jesus did not come to set up a Kingdom of men in the world, but He came to set up a Kingdom, and a highway for that Kingdom, in the hearts and lives of men, so that whatever may come in this present world, might not shake people from their following and service of Him. Much of the Church and leaders of it have deceived the people of God in the grossest manner, and they shall themselves realise the deception they accepted and promoted in that day when the storm arrives. They shall realise that all the doctrines and truth they hid from Christians and ignored in the Word because they considered them too hard and unnecessary for people to hear, were actually those very things that above all (apart from salvation itself) where vital for His people and vital for themselves in order to be prepared and in order to be given the courage, conviction and the strength of His grace that will be needed to see those times through. The people of God will themselves realise how much deception they swallowed in the name of God in that day, and they shall very much regret it. They shall realise their own grace error, and the errors of their 'leaders' in that day, and only the grace and mercy of God will be able to step in, in order to see them through in that time.
The House of God and the following of God will always be called something that is according to the Word, to prayer, to obedience to that Word, to grace through faith, and nothing more. Everything else that is built upon it will fall, either in this life, or the next. How much will fall will depend entirely on how much we decided to build on it that is of our own ways (earthly), devices, imaginations, ill-gotten and deceived perceptions of His Word and all the justifications therein (motivated by our desires and lusts)- things that have absolutely nothing to do with the worship of God, but only the worship of humanity and the worship of ourselves.
The test for determining whether what we hear is truth is quite simple- is the teaching we hear based on and centred around how our lives can become better or is it based on and centred around the Lord Jesus, and how we can serve Him? If it is based around the later, then whatever comes from it, including the subject of our lives and God's love and care for us, then we can trust that it is ok, as long as it is based on scripture. If, however, it is based around the former, then whatever comes from it, will be poisoned, and is dangerous for consumption, and in short, is not truth. Jesus did not preach from man's perspective or from His point of view, but preached from the basis of the will of God, and in accordance with obeying that will and laying down our lives for the ruler of that will- the Father. Jesus even went so far as to say that He didn't say anything or do anything unless He heard it from His Father, or saw His Father do it. And yet what great liberties men take today in shepherding and serving His people! They think of a way of doing Church, and they presume it is ok, as long as they can twist the scriptures to support their way of doing it. If there comes a passage they don't like because it doesn't support their way or their preaching, they dismiss it as irrelevant, or as doctrinally outdated, or they simply choose not to respond to it in any way. Men buy and sell in His Church, and yet Jesus drove the buyers and sellers out- calling them thieves! Men preach certain sections of the Word and leave massive portions out, and yet the Word says that we must love and accept the whole counsel of God (and they call their choosing of what to preach led by the Holy Spirit! God said all of His Word is LIVING AND ACTIVE, AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO EDGED SWORD). Jesus said that the worship of God wasn't about a place, but about worshipping in Spirit and in Truth, and yet men have made worshipping at their places of worship and Church buildings, an idol unto themselves (benefitting themselves, their lusts, pride and their pursuits much more than the desires of God). Jesus said that we should seek the honour that comes from God, and yet men have loved to honour themselves and make themselves seen and heard, and take great titles to themselves, and to say whatever will endear themselves to others at the great expense of truth, and the honour of God and His benefit. Jesus preached a Word that was always hard for the flesh to hear, and yet words are now preached that men lap up and that cause no offence to the flesh. Jesus came to lead men to God, but now men lead people to themselves, and call it honouring to God. Jesus came to teach men that we should hide ourselves and yet glorify God, and yet men strut around with their personalities as though the whole world should stand amazed at their grand and awesome personalities and their amazing gifts and abilities. Jesus came to show men that in this life, ultimately we are called to die to ourselves, and to live for God, but now men are taught that we must save our lives at any cost, and follow God in order to enrich our lives at any cost. Jesus came to give life through the Spirit, and now men try to give life through places of worship that are more akin to nightclubs (and the values of nightclubs), now men try to gain life through everything but God, and through all the things the world has to offer. Jesus came to give the Word, but men now come to give their own word.
All too easily much of the Church has now swapped the glory of God, for the glory of this world- a glory that is false and quickly fading. When the storm comes, the glory of this world will falter and will be proved false, and everything built on that foundation will fall and fail. Men will be severely shocked and alarmed to realise that what they so readily relied upon will so easily be swept away. The shallowness of what the Church loves will fail to provide in that day, and will offer no protection and will offer no solutions to the problems that arise. The glitz, glamour and fun that the Church has relied upon to prop up its services and bring the world to its doors will be revealed as a lying friend and a traitor to the sober, serious and important doctrines and pure truths of His Word. Jesus did not come to set up a Kingdom of men in the world, but He came to set up a Kingdom, and a highway for that Kingdom, in the hearts and lives of men, so that whatever may come in this present world, might not shake people from their following and service of Him. Much of the Church and leaders of it have deceived the people of God in the grossest manner, and they shall themselves realise the deception they accepted and promoted in that day when the storm arrives. They shall realise that all the doctrines and truth they hid from Christians and ignored in the Word because they considered them too hard and unnecessary for people to hear, were actually those very things that above all (apart from salvation itself) where vital for His people and vital for themselves in order to be prepared and in order to be given the courage, conviction and the strength of His grace that will be needed to see those times through. The people of God will themselves realise how much deception they swallowed in the name of God in that day, and they shall very much regret it. They shall realise their own grace error, and the errors of their 'leaders' in that day, and only the grace and mercy of God will be able to step in, in order to see them through in that time.
The House of God and the following of God will always be called something that is according to the Word, to prayer, to obedience to that Word, to grace through faith, and nothing more. Everything else that is built upon it will fall, either in this life, or the next. How much will fall will depend entirely on how much we decided to build on it that is of our own ways (earthly), devices, imaginations, ill-gotten and deceived perceptions of His Word and all the justifications therein (motivated by our desires and lusts)- things that have absolutely nothing to do with the worship of God, but only the worship of humanity and the worship of ourselves.
Saturday, 31 August 2013
ZEALOUS FOR ALL OF HIS WAYS
His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."
-John 2v17
Today we as Christians are very zealous for good things; we are zealous for love, for grace, for gentleness, humility, patience and giving- all amazingly good things! But are we zealous for knowing the Lord's judgments? Are we zealous for knowing His justice and His righteousness? The only thing the Bible ever says Jesus was zealous for was for an act of judgement through which His temple was completely cleared of those that had made His House into a place of merchandise and the merchandise itself. The Lord, in that one act, forever set the standard by which the Church would be accountable to, and forever in that one act did Jesus ensure His people knew exactly where His heart was at when it came to the worship of the Lord, and the honour that attends, and should attend, that name.
Are we zealous for the Lord's judgments in the same way, even as King David was?
Psalm 119v7 ...'When I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I will keep Your statutes...'
13 With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
20 My soul breaks with longing
For Your judgments at all times.
30 I have chosen the way of truth;
Your judgments I have laid before me.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
75 I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right...
137 Righteous are You, O Lord,
And upright are Your judgments.
160 The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
(And the scriptures above are just from 1 Psalm!)
Or do we shy away from judgment because we do not understand it? If we don't understand it, we need to search the Word to find out exactly what it is, and how He works such things. Whether in the Old or New Testament, His judgments are there, and the Lord has not stopped working according to His character, whether in either testament. Though there is grace now because of the cross, still His judgment lingers over those that haven't been washed in it (Rom 1v18 + John 3v18). And though His grace covers and washes all the sins of His people, still He reserves the right to discipline us with acts of judgment according to His good and gracious wisdom (1 Peter 4v17-19) to grow us and to keep our hearts and lives following His path.
There are so many things that are wonderful about the judgements of God. Through His judgment He purifies and renews, revives and refreshes. Through such things the world of old during Noah's time was set free, in a major sense, of a load of corrupting and polluting sin, unrighteous and all its deadly effects and consequences. Through judgments the Lord stems the tide of evil, removes and replaces rulers, renews vision, replaces hardened hearts, reminds us of His power, reveals His wisdom, sets His people free, saves the unsaved, testifies to His truth and the Word of God, reminds the world of judgment and sin, and the judgment and grace to come, and orders all things according to His good and wise will. We must also remind ourselves that BECAUSE OF JUDGMENT, grace was enabled to fully be given to us and a needy world in the first place, and that because Jesus was judged in our place, all of us that believe may go free! From this we see that judgment is often used by the Lord to set new paths and highways for His Spirit to tread, both into the inroads of our hearts and the hearts of both the great and small within nations. Judgments often bring in the greatest moves of God, and the greatest times of revival for the people of God. Judgment kept the Church practically Holy in Paul's day (1 Cor 11v30) and at it's beginning after the cross (Acts 5). And finally it is with judgment that God will usher in the end of all sin, and thus a new heaven and earth, and the permanent and visible Kingdom of God.
Yes, when learning of the judgements of God there are hard things to encounter, and sorrowful things to understand and bear also; things that bring perplexity to our mortal minds and our limited understanding, and that often offend the fleshly part of us that still tries to rise up (and our sensibilities which are so often unknowingly influenced by the dictates, fashions and reasonings of the world around us) but we shouldn't allow these things to bar the way to us understanding that in the midst of all, He is Sovereign, Just, Wise and Good; and that whatever He does via judgment, He does according to such a criteria. And so we must remind ourselves that all His acts are GOOD, HOLY, WISE, BENEFICIAL AND JUST, not just those acts that we can understand, and that we find easy to identify with and to uphold and promote. Understanding His judgment means that we will, all the more, understand just how valuable His love and His grace really is, for it is by one, that we can understand the other. We will also understand that in judging, God is still gracious, and that in being gracious, God is still just.
Lastly, it is of paramount importance that we come to, not only understand judgment, but to love it. Not because judgment often brings destruction, but because the God who judges is Just and Good, and when He judges, it is needful and beneficial, no matter the cost. We are living in a day today when the time is soon approaching where the judgments of God will be made more particularly manifest, and to a time when God will choose to judge in a more severe and particular manner than what we have known in recent times. To know why, all we have to do is to look at the society around us. If we still do not understand why, surely we are in some kind of trouble, to not recognise what sin is around us, and the awful affect it is having on the minds and hearts our nation and the nations around the world. God is coming to judge for these things, and He is righteous in doing so. When we understand judgment, and the God who judges, we too shall be able to firmly stick by our Lord and stick close to His banner, though all the world may rally to hate both Him and us, for doing such a thing. The time is coming where many, even unknowingly to themselves, will have to choose between a God who is truly loving and just, and a world that professes such a thing, and yet is so far from it. Today, our world tells us to bow to the god of tolerance, in the name of their so called 'love'. If we don't, there will soon be consequences for it, and though that is just my opinion, that much should be easy enough for any Christian to see. The time is coming where we must stick by our God, though to all the world He looks as though He is someone who hates and who doesn't accept according to their rules. And we will only be able to do that if we fully understand just how Just God's judgment is, and just how GOOD it is too. Yes, we may not be able to understand all of it, after all, His ways are so high above ours, that there will always be things that we don't understand. And yet, if we are diligent to understand what we can, the Holy Spirit will reveal just how just and good our God is, in all His judgments, and in all His ways.
God bless!
Friday, 30 August 2013
THEN THEY BELIEVED
John 2v27: 'Then they believed the Scripture and the words which Jesus had spoken.'
You would think that these disciples would've believed the Word and Jesus Himself at this time because of some incredible miracle He would've just performed before these words, or through Him giving them a glimpse of His glory or love in a form of being fed in some way (i.e multiplying loaves and fishes), but it was far from such a thing which Jesus had just done:
John 2v14: 'In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. to those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."
The disciples believed in the Scripture, and the words Jesus had spoken, because of this act of JUDGMENT (not an act of love, not an act of grace or mercy, not an act of glory or patience- although all these things are always present in whatever He does, as He does not divide His character). The disciples saw who was in charge, they saw who Had authority to decide what His house was and what it did; what its purpose would be, and all its focus and activity (Luke 19v46), through an act of wise judgment. Jesus came to HIS house (we'd do well to linger on that point), and drove out ALL of those that had made it into a house of MERCHANDISE, and the merchandise itself. The time of BUYING and SELLING the things of God (John 2v14+16), in the house of God, had officially come to and end, in a spectacular, sudden and final fashion, through a direct and obvious act of the Lord. The thieves that had been making a profit out of the people of God (and thus robbing God) were no longer welcome (the world can do what it wants, but not the Church of God!) The Lord said- "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" (Luke 19v46). Christians often reveal a zeal for many things (and praise God for it!), but the ONLY thing the Word ever said Jesus was zealous for was to do with an ACT OF JUDGMENT, and look what good came from it: John 2v27: 'Then they believed the Scripture and the words which Jesus had spoken.'
The Lord didn't destroy men here, His act of judgment to CLEAN OUT His house which had become a place of merchandise, of buying and selling and of thieves, was against the acts of these men, and the merchandise itself. And yes, because these men identified themselves with such things and were themselves buyers and sellers, they were driven out too, but no doubt the opportunity for them to return would've been open to them if they RETURNED IN THE RIGHT WAY. Make no mistake about it, the Lord doesn't love what is going on in much of His Church at the moment when it comes to what kind of market His people have made of the Spirit of God and HIS gifts which He has FREELY GIVEN (Matt 10v8). In fact, He hates that such buying and selling is going on, when the sole foundation and purpose of HIS CHURCH He gave to be grace (always being given what we cannot give ourselves) and prayer. Why? Because He builds through His Spirit, builds freely, and builds not through men's machinations. Yes, the Spirit will give structure where necessary, for God is a God of order, not confusion, but this structure is according to everything being done decently and in order, and according to the working of His Spirit through the gifts He has given. And they must be free from any urge or inclination to set up man's Kingdom, or to buy and sell to create a machine coming from the imagination of men's hearts, or according to the pattern and desires of this world. If we think that Jesus doesn't care about this, we are dead wrong. This was and still is one of the most important priorities He has for His people, and for the place where His people declare His name. Then shall men believe the Scripture, and the Word which He has spoken, for He is the one that is the light of the world. Men will believe the Word when we are a temple of the Holy Spirt, not a temple in which we build high places of our own design, and after the fashion of our own fleshly hearts. For why would men believe in something in the Church of God, that they can have freely in the world by following their own hearts? If the Church tries to compete with the world according to its own terms, it will lose every time.
Make no mistake about it, the Lord will not stand forever idly by while men make a mockery out of the house of God by its being made into a den of thieves, and merchandise out of the people He has bought with His own blood. If we doubt this, all we need remember are the words that Jesus spoke above; John 2v16: "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" He is the Great Shepherd and the master of His House, and He still reserves the right to overturn the tables, and to violently clear out all those things that turn His House into a place of merchandise, instead of a house of prayer. And He will not allow a mixture forever! There is a space for mercy, and a time for grace, but whether now, or in a future day, all those things that offend will be put through the fire of His judgment. Only those things built by the Holy Spirit will be left standing. A sobering and yet incredibly joyous thought. For when His House is as it should be, it is a glorious thing to be a part of, for then love, mercy, goodness, glory, patience and all similar wonderful things have the place they deserve to have and room to operate free from fleshly interference. And all those places that put such things at the centre of their hearts, will benefit by them the fruit that comes with these amazing things. A glorious thought!
God bless!
Thursday, 29 August 2013
THE STORMY FUTURE, AND THE DOCTRINES NECESSARY FOR PREPARATION
'The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present'
-Abraham Lincoln
There is coming a time when the doctrines of the past, the doctrines that rightly have been loved and preached so much by the present Church; of grace, gracious salvation, provision, sovereign care, spiritual gifts, promises, God's guidance etc- will all need to be given those doctrines that provide proper context and great encouragement by those same ministers of His Word that was always intended to be given; of crosses to bear, sorrow, loss, perplexity, weakness, a daily dying to self, God's judgment, wrath, justice, vengeance, prophecy, self-sacrifice, service and many more.
While the first set of doctrines that were mentioned above were all good, blessed and obviously necessary and beneficial, most only benefit in a day of peaceful seas, and blessed times. It is easy to believe and uphold those doctrines and count men blessed and honoured that do so when their worth is obviously apparent. It is easy to see their worth in a good day and a good season, for no one will deny their truth, and no one will question their validity. Similarly then, in apparent and obvious times of goodness and blessing, few will tout the necessity and blessing of the second set of doctrines mentioned, for few will see their worth. Why, in a day of blessing and relative ease, would one need a doctrine of 'dying to self'? Why, in a day where the sun shines, and many go about happy and healthy, and much of the Church says it has 'need of nothing,' would we need to hear about crosses to bear? (although we should always need it). Why hear about loss when we are forced to lose nothing? Why about God's judgment when it appears He does not judge His people and will forever excuse the wicked? Why prophecy when we don't believe there will be another day or season and that nothing will change? The flaw in the logic of this reasoning should be obvious to us all.
If Noah had never believed that God judged sin, where would he and his family ended up? He would never have believed the warning, never been moved to any action in a time when the world was so at peace and so prosperous. He would've given up building when the mockers came, and quit when the work became too tiresome. To learn about the harder doctrines is, lets be honest- hard for our flesh, and often just hard in general. Human beings don't naturally respond to those things which are against our old nature, but when we truly see the benefit of them, we'll pick up the tools truth, and never quit till we're satisfied we've obeyed God as we should. Noah believed the prophecy he was given, he believed the warning, he believed in the judgement and wrath of God, and even accepted the great pain and suffering to come, and what did he do? He accepted it all, as from a just, loving and faithful creator. Because he did, he saved, not only himself, but his family, and an entire world of humanity and history to come! Never underestimate the importance of those doctrines that the Church nowadays seems to so easily, ignorantly, carelessly, willingly and seemingly even without conviction glide over, ignore and even often cover up for their own benefit. Those things we seemingly seem to so often think are of no consequence now, will be absolutely and totally indispensable in the day and season to come.
There is coming a day when, if we do not know these doctrines well, and do not know this side of our Lord, that His people will become greatly offended at Him, and if it were possible (and from the Word it seems as though it certainly is), many will even reject faith in Christ and even become His enemy.
The Lord has showed me dreams of this coming storm. He has shown me a great storm on the horizon and dark clouds gathering overhead. Does anyone out there seek the Lord about these things? Does anyone believe that this is the case? I certainly hope so, for forewarned is forearmed, and the Lord's intention with such prophecy is to encourage our hearts to walk with Him now, so that we'll be prepared to walk with Him in that future day.
It is not good enough to leave learning about those second set of doctrines for the day and season to come. By then it could well be too late. Such things take time to learn, to understand and to work through. The armour of God is many things, not just one thing, and so the truth is not just a few scriptures here and there, and a few doctrines here and there, but the Apostle Paul called it the 'whole counsel of God.' God has a counsel for us to sit at today, in preparation, yes for today, but also for tomorrow. God has a teacher for us to listen to, and His name is Christ, so will we be willing to hear His voice and understand ALL that He says and reveals to us? God's intention is to benefit, direct, equip us, strengthen, change and enlighten us. Do we fail to recognise and often co-operate with His will in this way? Yes we certainly do! We are weak and often dull sheep, often going astray. No one is perfect here, myself first and foremost, but His righteousness freely qualifies and forgives us, despite us being the sinners we are, and He continues to give us mercy, grace and power.
God bless!
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
JESUS' EAGERNESS TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS
John 2v3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”
4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
So often we believe that Jesus is nowhere near as eager to answer our prayers as we are to ask Him for those things that burn in our heart. We take his silence for rejection, and the waiting we have to endure, for the Lord giving us the cold shoulder. Both of these things are not evidence of the Lord's will not to listen to us or give us what we desire, but His testing of our eagerness to receive what He is so eager to give. To the woman who petitioned him for wine for those at the wedding, how did it seem that He responded? We must be honest, it sounded like He didn't want to not only give her what she desired, but even that it wasn't His will; 'Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.' However, instead of give up, what does the woman do? She says, "Whatever He says to you, do it." The woman knew that the Lord is always willing to respond to prayer, and will always respond to it, all it takes is for us to continue to offer up our requests to God:
Heb 11v6: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Matt 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Ask for whatever it may be that may benefit His Kingdom, His people, bring glory to Him and help bring people and even ourselves closer to Jesus, and you may be sure that He will answer and usually give us what we desire, even though it may be in a different way and manner than we imagine:
Eph 3v20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
And even if the answer be no, like Paul once received so that his thorn would be taken from him, you can be sure that He will give an answer. He is faithful to fulfill His Word!
God bless!
Sunday, 25 August 2013
DREAM: NUCLEAR EXPLOSION OFF THE COAST OF AUSTRALIA
I have never said this before, but it is incredibly important that you read this post. I would even resort to begging you all here. If you live on the Gold Coast, or anywhere along the East Coast of Australia, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE read this dream I had from the Lord a few days ago. If you live along the East Coast of Australia, reading it could very well save your life one day, and in no way am I exaggerating.
Before I share the following dream that I received from the Lord a few days ago on Thursday, I'd just like to say that I know nearly everyone out there will find this incredibly hard to believe. Believe me, the natural part of me finds it just as hard to believe, but we're told to continually put to death that fleshly part of us that would rise up to deny the voice of the Lord. The Word says that the natural man finds the things of God to be 'foolishness,' so we must constantly be weary of that old nature in us that wants to block us from receiving the things of the Holy Spirit, just because they don't necessarily make sense to our natural understanding of things. . Before receiving this dream, the Lord had put on my heart for the last couple of weeks at least to pray and ask Him to reveal to me in dreams or visions His judgments that are coming to America and Australia. Before receiving the dream below, I had another one also which was about Australia's future that I may share in the future when I have a clearer and more sure understanding about its interpretation. There can be very little doubt, however, about the interpretation of the dream that I've written about below. Yes, as the Word says, we must 'test all things,' so please test this dream by prayer and by the Word of God, but please be open to the Lord confirming it to you if He does so, because we must 'hold fast those things which are good.'
I dreamt that I was running somewhere along the beach on the Gold Coast or relatively near it (could have been anywhere along the vicinity from Surfers Paradise to Tweed Heads). I was running with my sister at the time, when all of a sudden, I looked up and out towards the ocean and its horizon to see what looked to me to be the plume cloud and explosion from a nuclear bomb. I watched it very intently, as I wanted to be certain that it was the explosion and cloud of a nuclear bomb, and not just a large bomb of some kind. My sister didn't know what I was doing, so I told her I was trying to figure out if it was a nuclear bomb or not. She laughed because she couldn't figure out how I'd be able to tell such a thing from just looking at it, but I told her that I would be able to tell by looking at the shape of the cloud that rose up from the explosion. From the shape of the cloud (mushroom type cloud that rose extremely high into the air) I just knew it was a nuclear bomb, not just a large bomb of some kind. As soon as I knew this, I told my sister as much, and told her to run with me to the other side of the street and into a building I had seen. We quickly ran to the building and went inside it. It was very dark in this building, but we started to descend a fairly long flight of stairs (and it was nearly pitch black as we went down them). As we did so I told Amy that if it really was a nuclear bomb, it probably wouldn't matter that we were hiding in a building, because whether we were inside or outside, we'd be injured or killed either way.
When we went down into the building it turned into a house. My sister was in a larger room, but I went to go into a smaller room, because I thought it would be more secure for some reason (I also heard a name at this time that indicated that the Lord will be gracious to Australians at this time, which could possibly indicate that He will provide protection to its citizens- but this is just my interpretation). I told her to follow me into the room I went into because I thought it would be safer, and she did. When we were both in the room together, I looked out of the window and saw that the effects of the bomb had reached us. Outside the window, I could roughly tell that the fallout and intense heat from the explosion had reached us, and I could just make out fire and a red glowing (to indicate intense heat). It was at this point that the ground underneath my sister and I started to heat up and so I started kind of jumping or jogging up and down on the spot so that my feet wouldn't get burnt. I told my sister to do the same thing so that her feet wouldn't get burnt too.
The scene then changed to where I was looking at Karl Stefanovic reporting on the nuclear bomb's explosion. He was in front of a map of Australia and was pointing to the place where the bomb had exploded. The explosion was represented on the map by what looked like a great big grey cloud. It seemed that Karl was reporting on where the fallout from the explosion would drift, and he motioned with his hand in a Northerly direction. I fully expected him to point West too (directly inland from the Gold Coast), but he didn't (which upon reflecting on the dream after I woke up, I was quite surprised about, and do think this is significant as it MAY indicate that the fallout will only travel in a Northerly direction, or it MAY indicate that most of the fallout will travel this way. It is also possible that it will travel West as well, as I was expecting for Karl to point in that direction as well).
The scene then switched again, as I was intent on finding out who was responsible for what I believed to be a country attacking Australia. I went to an online CNN news website but there was absolutely no news of the event (this may indicate that news networks will have no idea that something like this is coming). I was incredibly shocked at this, in fact I just couldn't believe, after all, how could CNN not report an event of this significance? It was then, however, that I found out the name of a man who was responsible for the attack. Although a first name was given in the dream, I can't remember it now. I do, however, remember the last name that was given, which was 'Baratov' (upon waking from the dream I did an online search of the name and found out that there was a man name Nikolai Nikolaevich Baratov who was an Imperial Russian Army general during World War I and the Russian Civil War.). In the dream I was surprised that it wasn't a nation that had attacked America, but a man instead.
Although there are parts of the above dream that can be interpreted in a few different ways, the main interpretation, to me at least, seems quite clear. Australia shall witness a nuclear bomb (make no mistake about it, it won't just be a big bomb of some kind, it will definitely be nuclear) being exploded just out to sea from the Gold Coast (or near abouts). The distance out to sea I cannot be sure of, and can only speculate on from what I saw of where it hit in the ocean just off the Coast (or near the Gold Coast). From looking at a map and a scale of distance, to me it looked as though the nuclear bomb explodes around 300km's out to sea (directly from the Gold Coast or near abouts). However, it could be a lot closer, 200km's or so, it is very hard to tell. Again this estimation of the distance is only my opinion, the Lord didn't reveal to me the exact distance in the dream itself. It could even be closer than 200km's, or farther than 300kms out to sea.
If you witness a massive burst of light, this is an instant effect of a nuclear bomb when it first explodes and you must close your eyes immediately and cover them with your hands (otherwise exposure to the light will mean that blindness for a short or permanent time is a real danger of happening to you). After the light, run to the nearest house or building and enter it immediately because you would only have a few seconds to make it to safety, so don't make the mistake of watching the cloud that comes from the explosion! A shockwave also comes from a nuclear explosion, so it is imperative that you get inside a building as quickly as possible in order to let whatever force that comes from the explosion hit the building itself and not you. In the dream itself, I told my sister that it probably wouldn't matter whether we were inside or outside of a building if it was a nuclear bomb, because we'd probably be injured or killed either way, but I was wrong. It seemed that because we were inside and had gone to the room that was the most secure, we were kept safe (this also means that the nuclear explosion is far enough away from land that it does not simply incinerate and destroy everything on the Coast or near abouts). Find the room in your house or building that has the most mass around it (so it absorbs the impact), and also is the smallest (which should be stronger).
Only remnants of nuclear fallout reached outside the house, along with intense heat and fire. The ground underneath us started to heat up, so we had to jog or jump up and down on the sport to keep from getting our feet burnt. This indicates that when you are inside a building or house after the explosion of the bomb, you must get off the floor because it will heat up due to the intense heat outside the building. This is a real effect of a nuclear explosion (something I had no idea about till I researched about nuclear explosion effects online!). Or, as weird and simplistic as it sounds, it might just be a matter of jogging on the spot for a few minutes (because if the heat outside heats up the ground, it may heat up the objects in the house along with it). Also its important to note that my sister and I travelled down a flight of stairs, which may indicated that if possible, it will be prudent to try and get underground if this is possible at the time (if not, then a house with a small and strong room is the next best thing).
The dream also seems to indicate that the fallout will travel North up alongside (and most likely on) the Coast of Australia. This may mean that the majority of the fallout will travel North, or all of it (may be because of the direction of the wind at the time). But it is possible that the fallout will also head West, but I can’t be sure about this, and it’s only my opinion. Therefore, it SEEMS that the best direction to travel away from the fallout of the explosion will be to travel South (or West, if West does end up not receiving fallout from the bomb). The fallout from a nuclear bomb is extremely deadly, and it seems as though it will be crucial to travel away from it when it is safe to do so.
The dream also revealed a name in the dream (that I’ve mentioned above), that seems to indicate that the person responsible for the nuclear explosion will come from Russia. The dream seems to indicate that a nation won’t be responsible for the attacked, but just a man from the nation of Russia, which may indicate that it is a terrorist attack (but again this is just my opinion).
*If you do a little research online, you will find out that Russia has nuclear bombs and even it is claimed that they have suitcase nuclear bombs, some of which went missing some years ago, and they have never been accounted for since.
The dream also seemed to indicate that news networks won’t have any idea that something like this is coming. So it seems unlikely that anyone will be able to predict when this event will occur. Our information and news will have to come directly from the Lord!
I in no way share this dream to scare people or make them afraid, but I can only share what I’ve been given. The Lord directed Joseph to safety in a time of severe danger on numerous occasions by using dreams in Matthew 2, and He still does those kind of things today. He still warns and directs by using dreams, He still reveals the future ‘in part’, and He still watches over His children to take care of them in the best way He sees fit. The Word says in Amos 3v7: ‘Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.’ I don’t claim to be anything but a sinner saved by grace, but it is still encouraging to know that the Lord loves us so much that He wants to give us warning of these things, and to prepare us by encouraging us to trust Him even when this event takes places- John 13v19: "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. God wants to encourage and strengthen His people with all prophecy that He gives: 1 Cor 14v3: ‘But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.’
In no way am I saying that the Lord wants anyone to move away from the Coast or that He wants anyone to stay. We each have to get our directions from the Lord, and if He reveals that He wants us to stay, then stay, but if He wants you to go, then go. We must each hear from the Lord about this, and seek His will and direction for us. The dream does reveal a few things we can do at the time if we are on the Coast at the time, but more than that, we’ll have to seek Him about.
Although this event to come is obviously a disaster, and no one in their right mind wants to see something like this occur, we must remind ourselves that God is sovereign over these things, and He has His way even in the whirlwind and the storm- Nahum 1v3: ‘His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.’ We must also remind ourselves that God’s judgments on this world and even amongst His people are just. While we and this world experience His grace continually, Romans remind us that His wrath is also revealed from heaven against the wicked (the unsaved) (Nahum 1v3), and there seems to be particular times where this seems to happen in a particularly intense manner (or it is just more visible to us). God is righteous in judging the wicked if He so desires. He is also righteous in allowing Christians to experience His judgment as well, in disciplining them and even in taking their life if He sees fit (ie Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 and the Corinthian believers in 1 Cor 11v30). For this reason, though we are all sinners, we are reminded of our need to remain abiding in His grace (a heart and life that is willing to continue with Him, no matter how much we may fail in the process).
Above all, our main concern about this should be to pray about it. The Word says that we must not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let our requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Even though the dream reveals a few directions we should listen to in order to be safe when that event happens, we obviously need to rely on the Lord for our safety and for our direction and instructions. Instructions and directions given by revelation for safety are only any good as long as they are grounded in prayer and in trust in the Lord. The Lord is the one who will guide and protect His people in that day, so revelation, prayer and trust must go hand in hand. If we think about it, every day we trust the Lord to keep us safe, and to keep us in His will, and He has always been faithful. So whether we are in a day of peace, or great destruction and danger, the Lord will remain faithful and as powerful as He has ever been. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew that there was no fire, no matter how hot, that man could create that could hurt them if God was watching over them. They also owned that even if the fire destroyed them, they would still not turn from God, but would trust Him no matter what:
Dan 3v15: But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”
They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”[a]
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel[b] and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”
God is the one who watches over His people!
Psalm 33v16-19:
V16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for safety;
Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy,
19 To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine.
Psalm 46v1-3:
46 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
Before I share the following dream that I received from the Lord a few days ago on Thursday, I'd just like to say that I know nearly everyone out there will find this incredibly hard to believe. Believe me, the natural part of me finds it just as hard to believe, but we're told to continually put to death that fleshly part of us that would rise up to deny the voice of the Lord. The Word says that the natural man finds the things of God to be 'foolishness,' so we must constantly be weary of that old nature in us that wants to block us from receiving the things of the Holy Spirit, just because they don't necessarily make sense to our natural understanding of things. . Before receiving this dream, the Lord had put on my heart for the last couple of weeks at least to pray and ask Him to reveal to me in dreams or visions His judgments that are coming to America and Australia. Before receiving the dream below, I had another one also which was about Australia's future that I may share in the future when I have a clearer and more sure understanding about its interpretation. There can be very little doubt, however, about the interpretation of the dream that I've written about below. Yes, as the Word says, we must 'test all things,' so please test this dream by prayer and by the Word of God, but please be open to the Lord confirming it to you if He does so, because we must 'hold fast those things which are good.'
I dreamt that I was running somewhere along the beach on the Gold Coast or relatively near it (could have been anywhere along the vicinity from Surfers Paradise to Tweed Heads). I was running with my sister at the time, when all of a sudden, I looked up and out towards the ocean and its horizon to see what looked to me to be the plume cloud and explosion from a nuclear bomb. I watched it very intently, as I wanted to be certain that it was the explosion and cloud of a nuclear bomb, and not just a large bomb of some kind. My sister didn't know what I was doing, so I told her I was trying to figure out if it was a nuclear bomb or not. She laughed because she couldn't figure out how I'd be able to tell such a thing from just looking at it, but I told her that I would be able to tell by looking at the shape of the cloud that rose up from the explosion. From the shape of the cloud (mushroom type cloud that rose extremely high into the air) I just knew it was a nuclear bomb, not just a large bomb of some kind. As soon as I knew this, I told my sister as much, and told her to run with me to the other side of the street and into a building I had seen. We quickly ran to the building and went inside it. It was very dark in this building, but we started to descend a fairly long flight of stairs (and it was nearly pitch black as we went down them). As we did so I told Amy that if it really was a nuclear bomb, it probably wouldn't matter that we were hiding in a building, because whether we were inside or outside, we'd be injured or killed either way.
When we went down into the building it turned into a house. My sister was in a larger room, but I went to go into a smaller room, because I thought it would be more secure for some reason (I also heard a name at this time that indicated that the Lord will be gracious to Australians at this time, which could possibly indicate that He will provide protection to its citizens- but this is just my interpretation). I told her to follow me into the room I went into because I thought it would be safer, and she did. When we were both in the room together, I looked out of the window and saw that the effects of the bomb had reached us. Outside the window, I could roughly tell that the fallout and intense heat from the explosion had reached us, and I could just make out fire and a red glowing (to indicate intense heat). It was at this point that the ground underneath my sister and I started to heat up and so I started kind of jumping or jogging up and down on the spot so that my feet wouldn't get burnt. I told my sister to do the same thing so that her feet wouldn't get burnt too.
The scene then changed to where I was looking at Karl Stefanovic reporting on the nuclear bomb's explosion. He was in front of a map of Australia and was pointing to the place where the bomb had exploded. The explosion was represented on the map by what looked like a great big grey cloud. It seemed that Karl was reporting on where the fallout from the explosion would drift, and he motioned with his hand in a Northerly direction. I fully expected him to point West too (directly inland from the Gold Coast), but he didn't (which upon reflecting on the dream after I woke up, I was quite surprised about, and do think this is significant as it MAY indicate that the fallout will only travel in a Northerly direction, or it MAY indicate that most of the fallout will travel this way. It is also possible that it will travel West as well, as I was expecting for Karl to point in that direction as well).
The scene then switched again, as I was intent on finding out who was responsible for what I believed to be a country attacking Australia. I went to an online CNN news website but there was absolutely no news of the event (this may indicate that news networks will have no idea that something like this is coming). I was incredibly shocked at this, in fact I just couldn't believe, after all, how could CNN not report an event of this significance? It was then, however, that I found out the name of a man who was responsible for the attack. Although a first name was given in the dream, I can't remember it now. I do, however, remember the last name that was given, which was 'Baratov' (upon waking from the dream I did an online search of the name and found out that there was a man name Nikolai Nikolaevich Baratov who was an Imperial Russian Army general during World War I and the Russian Civil War.). In the dream I was surprised that it wasn't a nation that had attacked America, but a man instead.
Although there are parts of the above dream that can be interpreted in a few different ways, the main interpretation, to me at least, seems quite clear. Australia shall witness a nuclear bomb (make no mistake about it, it won't just be a big bomb of some kind, it will definitely be nuclear) being exploded just out to sea from the Gold Coast (or near abouts). The distance out to sea I cannot be sure of, and can only speculate on from what I saw of where it hit in the ocean just off the Coast (or near the Gold Coast). From looking at a map and a scale of distance, to me it looked as though the nuclear bomb explodes around 300km's out to sea (directly from the Gold Coast or near abouts). However, it could be a lot closer, 200km's or so, it is very hard to tell. Again this estimation of the distance is only my opinion, the Lord didn't reveal to me the exact distance in the dream itself. It could even be closer than 200km's, or farther than 300kms out to sea.
If you witness a massive burst of light, this is an instant effect of a nuclear bomb when it first explodes and you must close your eyes immediately and cover them with your hands (otherwise exposure to the light will mean that blindness for a short or permanent time is a real danger of happening to you). After the light, run to the nearest house or building and enter it immediately because you would only have a few seconds to make it to safety, so don't make the mistake of watching the cloud that comes from the explosion! A shockwave also comes from a nuclear explosion, so it is imperative that you get inside a building as quickly as possible in order to let whatever force that comes from the explosion hit the building itself and not you. In the dream itself, I told my sister that it probably wouldn't matter whether we were inside or outside of a building if it was a nuclear bomb, because we'd probably be injured or killed either way, but I was wrong. It seemed that because we were inside and had gone to the room that was the most secure, we were kept safe (this also means that the nuclear explosion is far enough away from land that it does not simply incinerate and destroy everything on the Coast or near abouts). Find the room in your house or building that has the most mass around it (so it absorbs the impact), and also is the smallest (which should be stronger).
Only remnants of nuclear fallout reached outside the house, along with intense heat and fire. The ground underneath us started to heat up, so we had to jog or jump up and down on the sport to keep from getting our feet burnt. This indicates that when you are inside a building or house after the explosion of the bomb, you must get off the floor because it will heat up due to the intense heat outside the building. This is a real effect of a nuclear explosion (something I had no idea about till I researched about nuclear explosion effects online!). Or, as weird and simplistic as it sounds, it might just be a matter of jogging on the spot for a few minutes (because if the heat outside heats up the ground, it may heat up the objects in the house along with it). Also its important to note that my sister and I travelled down a flight of stairs, which may indicated that if possible, it will be prudent to try and get underground if this is possible at the time (if not, then a house with a small and strong room is the next best thing).
The dream also seems to indicate that the fallout will travel North up alongside (and most likely on) the Coast of Australia. This may mean that the majority of the fallout will travel North, or all of it (may be because of the direction of the wind at the time). But it is possible that the fallout will also head West, but I can’t be sure about this, and it’s only my opinion. Therefore, it SEEMS that the best direction to travel away from the fallout of the explosion will be to travel South (or West, if West does end up not receiving fallout from the bomb). The fallout from a nuclear bomb is extremely deadly, and it seems as though it will be crucial to travel away from it when it is safe to do so.
The dream also revealed a name in the dream (that I’ve mentioned above), that seems to indicate that the person responsible for the nuclear explosion will come from Russia. The dream seems to indicate that a nation won’t be responsible for the attacked, but just a man from the nation of Russia, which may indicate that it is a terrorist attack (but again this is just my opinion).
*If you do a little research online, you will find out that Russia has nuclear bombs and even it is claimed that they have suitcase nuclear bombs, some of which went missing some years ago, and they have never been accounted for since.
The dream also seemed to indicate that news networks won’t have any idea that something like this is coming. So it seems unlikely that anyone will be able to predict when this event will occur. Our information and news will have to come directly from the Lord!
I in no way share this dream to scare people or make them afraid, but I can only share what I’ve been given. The Lord directed Joseph to safety in a time of severe danger on numerous occasions by using dreams in Matthew 2, and He still does those kind of things today. He still warns and directs by using dreams, He still reveals the future ‘in part’, and He still watches over His children to take care of them in the best way He sees fit. The Word says in Amos 3v7: ‘Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.’ I don’t claim to be anything but a sinner saved by grace, but it is still encouraging to know that the Lord loves us so much that He wants to give us warning of these things, and to prepare us by encouraging us to trust Him even when this event takes places- John 13v19: "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. God wants to encourage and strengthen His people with all prophecy that He gives: 1 Cor 14v3: ‘But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.’
In no way am I saying that the Lord wants anyone to move away from the Coast or that He wants anyone to stay. We each have to get our directions from the Lord, and if He reveals that He wants us to stay, then stay, but if He wants you to go, then go. We must each hear from the Lord about this, and seek His will and direction for us. The dream does reveal a few things we can do at the time if we are on the Coast at the time, but more than that, we’ll have to seek Him about.
Although this event to come is obviously a disaster, and no one in their right mind wants to see something like this occur, we must remind ourselves that God is sovereign over these things, and He has His way even in the whirlwind and the storm- Nahum 1v3: ‘His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.’ We must also remind ourselves that God’s judgments on this world and even amongst His people are just. While we and this world experience His grace continually, Romans remind us that His wrath is also revealed from heaven against the wicked (the unsaved) (Nahum 1v3), and there seems to be particular times where this seems to happen in a particularly intense manner (or it is just more visible to us). God is righteous in judging the wicked if He so desires. He is also righteous in allowing Christians to experience His judgment as well, in disciplining them and even in taking their life if He sees fit (ie Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 and the Corinthian believers in 1 Cor 11v30). For this reason, though we are all sinners, we are reminded of our need to remain abiding in His grace (a heart and life that is willing to continue with Him, no matter how much we may fail in the process).
Above all, our main concern about this should be to pray about it. The Word says that we must not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let our requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Even though the dream reveals a few directions we should listen to in order to be safe when that event happens, we obviously need to rely on the Lord for our safety and for our direction and instructions. Instructions and directions given by revelation for safety are only any good as long as they are grounded in prayer and in trust in the Lord. The Lord is the one who will guide and protect His people in that day, so revelation, prayer and trust must go hand in hand. If we think about it, every day we trust the Lord to keep us safe, and to keep us in His will, and He has always been faithful. So whether we are in a day of peace, or great destruction and danger, the Lord will remain faithful and as powerful as He has ever been. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew that there was no fire, no matter how hot, that man could create that could hurt them if God was watching over them. They also owned that even if the fire destroyed them, they would still not turn from God, but would trust Him no matter what:
Dan 3v15: But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”
They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”[a]
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel[b] and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”
God is the one who watches over His people!
Psalm 33v16-19:
V16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for safety;
Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy,
19 To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine.
Psalm 46v1-3:
46 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)