September is our ninth month in the Gregorian calendar and almost always represents birthing to me. What if what we are birthing this month is born through a different type of travail? Travails that are so painful as a result of hearts desperately sick with love. Do we agonize over the separations from our Bridegroom King? Would we endure beatings and bruises for Him? Do we truly long for more of Him in such a way that we would yield to this cost?
It was April 8, 2014 between 4:00 a.m. and 5 a.m. when I heard the Lord speak to me these words, “The burden of the Lord is this: that My people would know Me not only in the fellowship of My suffering, but also in the beauty of My holiness. A new wind is coming, one that you have not felt before, it comes from the mouth of God and is the Breath and Life of Heaven. It is a wind of yearning, to carry you up and close to Myself.” After hearing the Lord’s Voice, I went into a vision of ascension.
On the Hebrew calendar we are in the decade of Pey representing the mouth. Recently the Lord brought this encounter to my remembrance and I believe for “such a time as this”. Yes we are the Lord’s mouthpieces, but I believe there is a drawing into the Beauty of Holiness through His breath. The breath of Heaven is our Bridegroom’s kiss; He longs for us, to revive us with His holy kiss and as we breathe in Ruach “on fire”to experience true beauty – we are made alive and revived in the Beauty of His holiness that carries us up and closer, drawing us into union with Him. This is the passion of Christ. He longs and yearns for us, do we long for Him?
I propose we are entering a complete new season of intimacy with God that the world has not seen. We will be marked by the purest Love that we have ever known, where transformed hearts consumed with their Bridegroom King yearn for His nearness, and with the most sincere and devout adoration, count nothing as loss for Him. The birthing and travails that are coming upon us will lend a new and deeper revelation of the Spirit and the Bride. They will work together as One; they see the Lamb’s split side, and in union join together to quickly restore the Bride as they cry “Maranatha Come!”
“Oh Lord, Come!”
”The watchmen who go about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took my veil and my mantle from me. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him that I am sick from love [simply sick to be with him]. [Ps. 63:1.]“ Song of Solomon 5:7-8 AMPC
”As I walked throughout the city in search of him, the overseers stopped me as they made their rounds. They beat me and bruised me until I could take no more. They wounded me deeply and removed my covering from me. Nevertheless, make me this promise, you brides-to-be: if you find my beloved one, please tell him I endured all travails for him. I’ve been pierced through by love, and I will not be turned aside!“ Song of Songs 5:7-8 TPT
”“Come,” says the Holy Spirit and the Bride in divine duet. Let everyone who hears this duet join them in saying, “Come.” Let everyone gripped with spiritual thirst say, “Come.” And let everyone who craves the gift of living water come and drink it freely. “Come.”“ Revelation 22:17 TPT
I woke this morning hearing 1 Peter 4:4. I did not turn to the Scripture immediately, and later began watching a video I was led to by the Spirit. While watching, I opened my Bible to the above Scripture reference, “”In [connection with] all this, they [the unbelievers] are resentful and surprised that you do not [think like them, value their values and] run [hand in hand] with them into the same excesses of dissipation and immoral freedom, and they criticize and abuse and ridicule you and make fun of your values.“
In connection with the excerpt of Evangelist Lester Sumrall below, I believe the Lord is beginning to prepare His Church for persecution. What’s even wilder is that much of the persecution will be from her ‘own members’.
I’ve spoken about this a few years back, though this is one reason of which I believe the Lord is returning for a remnant. Not all in the Church Body will be the Bride. This in essence, speaks to the parable of the 10 Virgins in a sense, 5 wise and 5 foolish. There are many in the Body who are not actually conformed to the entire Gospel. When persecution becomes more prevalent this is when we will see an even greater falling away. Within the Body, there are persecutors and unbelievers of the power of the Gospel, and there are also persecutors because they DO ‘believe’ but are not operating in the same power because they did not go through process. These are the foolish virgins, they have not been through the crushing to produce oil, and they say “I want some of yours, give it to me!” and so covetousness ensues them. Some can not receive you, perhaps jealousy, fear, etc. though none the less living a life in the full resurrection power of the Gospel will cause others to behave in such a way (as written of in 1 Peter 4:4 using other adjectives from different versions) that you will be judged, criticized, maligned, spoken evil about, slandered, abused, vilified, made fun of and ridiculed but the Lord will have sent you. Though pressed, the persecuted remember all the evil can not compare to His resurrection Life; because divine union has afforded them their delight in suffering with The Christ.
Your “own” will reject you. Yet when we look at the life of Jesus no less did He endure, His creation despised and rejected Him, His own hated Him too. Therefore, the most wise preparation we have is this; allow yourself to be buried with Christ that you may rise with Him. To the victorious Love and forgiveness will be their banner. Hallelujah!
”But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”“ I Peter 4:7-8 NKJV
We need a palate and a mindset for eternity once again!
As “we are what we eat”, Lord may we be consumed with zeal and knowledge for Your House, eternity’s Home, and for all those who will enter through Your Door.
”That’s when his disciples remembered the Scripture: “I am consumed with a fiery passion to keep your house pure!”“ John 2:17 TPT
”My love for you has my heart on fire! My passion for your house consumes me! Nothing will turn me away, even though I endure all the insults of those who insult you.“ Psalms 69:9 TPT
”For zeal for Your house has consumed me, And the [mocking] insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.“ Psalms 69:9 AMP
If Jesus endured the cross and its shame for you and I, then surely we can deny our flesh, misunderstanding and persecution, insult and injury (that is really only to our pride) that we would live in the reality of being joined with Him now AND the hope for eternity’s life in Him forevermore.
What are you doing today / what are you becoming that is of true worth? Does it carry eternal value?
Do your heart and affections gain Heaven’s attention?
What you thought was the end of you is the container of life for Him. Can you imagine it being said, “the hope of Glory lives in them”?
It is true, the very Bread of Presence we have received, we die but not to grieve Life eternal found and forever I shall be bound to my Savior, and my Love I will be emptied as You laid Yourself down for me, that I may hear You call my name, Oh my dove You place your left hand under my head, and raise me to life with You In the Spirit we are One, In the Spirit is found all liberty In the Spirit I live my truest life in Thee
This Life in me, it is Christ, do you see?
”To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.“ Colossians 1:27 NKJV
”His left hand cradles my head while his right hand holds me close. I am at rest in this love.“ Song of Songs 2:6 TPT
”[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].“ Philippians 3:10-11 AMPC
”Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, Because we know that Christ (the Anointed One), being once raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him. For by the death He died, He died to sin [ending His relation to it] once for all; and the life that He lives, He is living to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.“ Romans 6:8-11 AMPC
”I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.“ Galatians 2:20 AMPC
The point of the new covenant is unbroken fellowship.
The disillusion of the Church at large is that she believes in Jesus, therefore she must know Him. How sad it is when we think we are in connection with others only to realize we only know of them, or we know them in part; 20%, 50%, 75%, etc. Jesus gave His all that we may know Him as ALL IN ALL. ”You can believe all you want that there is one true God, that’s wonderful! But even the demons know this and tremble with fear before him, yet they’re unchanged—they remain demons.“ James 2:19 TPT
“Belief” in and of itself does not constitute change. The very key needed here is repentance. When Jesus came out of the desert His first message was repentance. Why? Because only in our repentance are we able to RECEIVE Him. ”From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”“ Matthew 4:17 AMP
Repentance is, “I change myself (turn, and yield to the work Holy Spirit, He cleanses and washes you) so I can receive of Your perfect nature and character to be restored to union; unbroken fellowship.”
I don’t know about you but almost every time I read the account of the fall in Genesis I cry. The thought of being separated from the presence of God and shunned from my home with Him would be terrifying. I feel the emotions when I read that account of scripture.
How do you think the Holy Spirit (the person of the Godhead sent to help us know Jesus and His ways) feels knowing that day in and out the price was paid for Salvation – Jesus the Savior died and rose again releasing us from the deed of death – and yet we refuse to acknowledge or live like the debt was paid. Selfishly we remain unchanged.
Why are children favored and blessed in the Kingdom of Heaven? Why does the Lord say we must have the faith of a child? Because children receive well. Children are dependent and needy, AND children change ever so quickly. ”But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name–[Isa. 56:5.]“ John 1:12 AMPC
There is an account of 10 Virgins in Matthew 25. Five of the ten were considered to be foolish and unwise because they did not take extra oil for their lamps when they went to meet the Bridegroom. It was in the waiting and in the delay of His return that their greatest mistake occurred. They assumed the oil they had would be enough, and they assumed their unpreparedness would be forgiven, and yet the door was shut to the unwise. The Church at large believes the way they know the Lord is enough. However many if not most, are living off old traditions, encounters, and eating stale bread. I write this because Scripture tells us that the Lord will come for a Bride who was prepared, made herself ready and also refers to her as a remnant. (Remnant; that which is left after the separation, removal or destruction of a part.) If we consistently partake of the daily Bread before us, there is always enough and we even accrue access oil. Jesus is the Bread of Life, therefore the more time we spend dining with Him, the more oil we receive. A great deception amongst many “believers” is that if they have enough faith they will not suffer. But it is in the very place of dining, eating on the Bread of Presence that we become like Jesus only through the fellowship of His suffering. To those who refuse the cup of suffering you deny the fellowship of the cross, and the door will be denied to you.
”But the foolish virgins said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No, otherwise there will not be enough for us and for you, too; go instead to the dealers and buy oil for yourselves.’ But while they were going away to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut and locked. Later the others also came, and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open [the door] for us.’ But He replied, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I do not know you [we have no relationship].’ Therefore, be on the alert [be prepared and ready], for you do not know the day nor the hour [when the Son of Man will come].“ Matthew 25:8-13 AMP
Some of you have become so tired in the waiting you stopped coming to the table. Repent. Become like a child again and be fed from the table of Life.
Jesus is the Door, and on this side of Heaven repentance is the key that opens access to the Kingdom.
The Lord impressed upon my heart to share the tremendous value of oil and trial. He said many in the global Church may not see or understand the value of it yet, though soon will be very thankful for this opportunity and season of reconsecration. In the Spirit I felt a weight on the word value. This season has been misunderstood by many as one of unnecessary trial, though it has actually been one of great value and Mercy. As I was writing this out with the Lord, I heard in the Spirit the word, “apprehend”. Apprehend is defined in the Oxford dictionary as 1) arrest (someone) for a crime 2) understand and perceive, anticipate. The origin is late Middle English, originally in the sense ‘grasp hold of (physically or mentally)’. I believe the Lord is saying He desires to arrest incorrect thinking with an invitation to grasp hold of His mind on the matter.
The Church has been in a prefix storyline of the Matthew 25 parable, The Ten Virgins. Those who were unwise are being made wise. Eyes that could not once see, have vision. What was once dark is now illuminated. Many have not understood the trial and pressing, though the hand of the Lord has allowed it as He knew the Church positionally did not have enough oil. In His mercy He has allowed the pressing because the olive fruit must be crushed and pressed to obtain the oil. We need the extra oil for the journey as it is in the darkest time of night, at midnight, before the Bridegroom appears and this extra oil is essential to see as He leads us to the door of the wedding feast. In this parable the wise virgins trimmed their wicks and had extra oil (in flasks or vessels). Symbolically the Lord has been cutting away from our wicks, removing that which would hinder us from shining brightly that we may know, hear and see Him rightly in this dark hour. Through the crushing we have paid the price and bought oil, and will be prepared to make the journey in the dark night.
There is a global call in the Spirit to awake and meet the Bridegroom, “Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they all began to nod off, and they fell asleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! The bridegroom [is coming]! Go out to meet him.’” Matthew 25:5-6 AMP. The Greek noun for meet here means to ‘have a meeting with’ or ‘encounter’. The golden lampstand was in the Tent of Meeting, in the Holy Place – the entrance way to the Holy of Holies or place of encounter and gave light to the entire tent. We are New Testament priests through Christ the Messiah our High Priest and in the order Melchizedek. In the Old Testament it was Aaron who was a representation of the consecrated Levitical priestly line who was instructed to keep the lamps burning CONTINUALLY, and so shall it be unto us as we now have the honor to carry out this priestly order. The Lord once again is removing veils that separate us from encountering Him in the Most Holy Place. “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the children of Israel to bring to you clear oil from beaten olives for the light [of the golden lampstand], to make a lamp burn continually. Outside the veil of the Testimony [between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place] in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron shall always keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening until morning; it shall be a permanent statute throughout your generations. He shall keep the lamps burning on the pure gold lampstand before the Lord continually.” Leviticus 24:1-4 AMP.
The vessels containing extra oil in Matthew 25 are described in the Greek as having a bend, meaning a container that can be filled. Where is the infilling of oil? The Holy Spirit supernaturally fills and refills these vessels with oil. Money cannot purchase this oil, for it is bought with the reward of pressing and suffering, the reward of abiding and intimacy with the Son, the reward of dying to self; all rewards of spiritual wealth are contained here for the price for buying oil is costly as it is the first fruit offerings from your very life.
In His goodness, the Lord has ‘bought us’ time with Him in this last season; the olive is a fruit and to bear fruit we must abide and remain in Him. ““ I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]. You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you]. Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5 AMP. Abiding and remaining in Him is a personal choice. Consecration is a choice. Bearing fruit is for all, though some have good fruit while others have bad fruit.
Your daily decisions have never mattered more, as the weight of eternity hinges on them. It is a narrow road to the door, and few find it…
There is still time. Do not despise this pruning but yield to the Spirit as the Lord desires to prepare you for your most glorious and shining hour!
We give Jesus the cold shoulder when we do not trust Him.
He is alive He is a person He should be your husband
”For your husband is your Maker, The Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of the whole earth. For the Lord has called you, LIKE A WIFE who has been abandoned, grieved in spirit, And like a wife [married] in her youth when she is [later] rejected and scorned,” Says your God.“ Isaiah 54:5-6 AMP
The above chapter is named, “The fertility of Zion”. And coincides with 1 Peter 2; the Lord led me to these passages today by word of knowledge, I didn’t realize at first He was piecing them together.
”like newborn babies [you should] long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may be nurtured and grow in respect to salvation [its ultimate fulfillment],“ 1 Peter 2:2 AMP
Grow in respect to salvation … salvation is not a thing, salvation is a person. Jesus is the Word, we are nurtured by Him, and grow into respect in ultimately fulfilling the calling to be His wife.
”Come to Him [the risen Lord] as to a living Stone which men rejected and threw away, but which is choice and precious in the sight of God. You [believers], like living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house for a holy and dedicated priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen stone, a precious (honored) Cornerstone, And he who believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will never be disappointed [in his expectations].”“ 1 Peter 2:4-6 AMP
Another depiction of the mature Bride; she was once barren though now redeemed consistently yields fruit, never disappointed because of her respect and trust in the Lord her Salvation.
One of the names of Zion is, “my delight is in her”. Our covenant with the Lord is meant to be a delightful union. ”But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels [in festive gathering],“ Hebrews 12:22 AMP The city of the LIVING GOD …
The new priesthood is coming forth, living stones who form a pure bride who rests her head on His shoulder (revering Him for the weight of sin paid), she now governs together with her High Priest/ Bridegroom King.
Lord let it be said of me Your delight is in me. Lord may we say of You, our delight is in You. For surely it is true, all our fountains are in You. ”The singers as well as the players on instruments shall say, All my springs (my sources of life and joy) are in you [city of our God].“ Psalm 87:7 AMPC
”Who is this one? She arises out of her desert, clinging to her beloved. When I awakened you under the apple tree, as you were feasting upon me, I awakened your innermost being with the travail of birth as you longed for more of me.“ Song of Songs 8:5 TPT
Why do we persecute others who are in Christ for their afflictions and suffering when it is Scriptural?
Mature believers help others in the fire, lead them to and from, and they partner with the Spirit to unveil sight to the fourth Man in the fire. Some may walk on water but there is coming a rare people before the Lord’s return with feet of bronze, “fire runner’s”, whose heart is to prepare the Lord’s Bride, that He may receive His reward. They have withstood the trials and suffering that have given them the molded feet of bronze; a sign of obedient love and sacrifice, a price few will pay. Transformed and chosen by God from the furnace of affliction… for during great tribulations they will walk on fire too, they are the mature transfigured Sons of Man.
”and in the midst of the lampstands I saw someone like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe reaching to His feet, and with a golden sash wrapped around His chest. His head and His hair were white like white wool, [glistening white] like snow; and His [all-seeing] eyes were [flashing] like a flame of fire [piercing into my being]. His feet were like burnished [white-hot] bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was [powerful] like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword [of judgment]; and His face [reflecting His majesty and the Shekinah glory] was like the sun shining in [all] its power [at midday].“ Revelation 1:13-16 AMP
”Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried and chosen you in the furnace of affliction.“ Isaiah 48:10 AMPC
”Although He was a Son [who had never been disobedient to the Father], He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered.“ Hebrews 5:8 AMP
Out of any 2024 Prophetic Word’s I could give you, though there be many things on my heart, if anything be of value, listen to this: your greatest prophetic word this year is Know The Word!
Lamps Need Oil
Knowing comes through intimacy
In a recent vision I saw the Statue of Liberty move from her arm risen with torch in hand to holding a dim lantern in front of her.
Lamps Need Oil
Our Light is His Life
”IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. [Isa. 9:6.] He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].“ John 1:1-5 AMPC
Regardless of how dark the world becomes, our Light (whom is Christ in us the hope of glory) will not be overpowered. You must have Him, you must know Him, you must remain in Him, you must abide. This knowledge is intimate, this means you come inside of Christ and remain in Him for He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Knowing Christ means to come into His being, much like how the Bible describes knowledge between a man and woman. In covenant, Oneness between a husband and wife equates knowledge in Biblical standards, even in the example of entering into one another’s being’s – the act of becoming one. ”Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.“ Matthew 1:24-25 NKJV. This passage confirms Jesus was born of a virgin.
Do not let the enemy twist this for you, this may be unfamiliar language, though it is not sexual in nature. However, the Lord uses this symbolism to teach us the unity we are to have found in Him. Another example is found in Jeremiah. ”“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”“ Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV
All things exist through Christ. All things. This means we came from His being. It is the act of our will on this earth if we will lay our life down and find it in Him as He did for us. ”[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].“ Philippians 3:10-11 AMPC
Imagine stepping into the person of Christ and staying there.
”For in Him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your [own] poets have said, For we are also His offspring.“ Acts 17:28 AMPC
”The saying is sure and worthy of confidence: If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him.“ 2 Timothy 2:11 AMPC
”And this is the message [the message of promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way]. [So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents].“ 1 John 1:5-6 AMPC
While formation in the womb is a hidden and dark space, this is life forming to yet be revealed and represents mystery. However once out of the womb the mystery is made known as the baby comes “into the light”. The baby’s identity in gender is made known in the light, and also he or she finds life in taking their first breath. Now out of the womb the baby will continue to grow without restraint. In the same way, we come into more knowledge of the Triune Godhead the more we come into His Light. Our being grows and is transformed in His Light, remaining in Him. As a baby is born into the world, so we are born into God. A baby comes into being through intimacy, and likewise we continue to sustain our life in Christ through intimacy; remaining in His person where in His Light mysteries are revealed and we grow more and more into the knowledge of Him ~ into His Ways, His Truth, His Light.
Contrastingly, darkness sees Light, as when the Light appears darkness can not overpower, overwhelm or overshadow the Light. The Light has been revealed. However many will claim to have seen the Light but they only know the Light from seeing. Whereas those who truly know the Light exist inside of Him and walk in the Light. Another example is as if living inside the Light was as if one existed inside the Light bulb. Those who claim to know or see the Light and even copy works that they have seen in the Light (miracles, signs, wonders) do not have to live inside of it to experience it’s benefits. In the same way the Sun is burning every day whether you can see it or not, and all of humanity knows this. We orbit around it, and all life exists from Light (photosynthesis). If we lived inside of the Sun we would be consumed. Our God is a consuming fire and desires to KNOW US AND BE KNOWN BY US.
Do we live inside of the Son, or do we live outside of Him? Are we inside of His being, or do we exist outside of Him?
”Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit. A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear excellent fruit [worthy of admiration]. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]. [Ps. 6:8.] So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.“ Matthew 7:17-24 AMPC
Symbolically we can propose that both trees lived under the Light of the Sun. However those sickly trees and those with bad fruit did not remain fully in the Sun, they did not consume its nutrients nor were they transformed by the Sun’s presence. Likewise those who do not find their Life in the Son and their existence from His being will be cast away, for they did not KNOW the Lord by finding their life and fruit inside of Him. In utter darkness and separation from Light they will now exist, an eternity void of life will become their knowledge.
The tree of knowledge of good and evil is every man’s lot, eating of its fruit is every man’s choice. Yet there is another tree, the broken tree at Calvary where upon the eternal seed of Christ was split wide open and His blood redeemed all life. Will we produce like Abel or Cain, what will we offer Him? How shall we respond? The cross is Eden’s redemption and once more I will write, do you find your Life in Him? Which tree will you choose?
”But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed.“ Isaiah 53:5 AMP
Christ our first fruit offering was crushed, and so we must also be crushed and obtain oil as we press into living in Him; in His being where is the eternal life, a life formed through intimacy.
”And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.“ John 17:3 AMPC
Lamps Need Oil
Do you know Him?
”THEN THE kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish (thoughtless, without forethought) and five were wise (sensible, intelligent, and prudent). For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take any [extra] oil with them; But the wise took flasks of oil along with them [also] with their lamps. While the bridegroom lingered and was slow in coming, they all began nodding their heads, and they fell asleep. But at midnight there was a shout, Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him! Then all those virgins got up and put their own lamps in order. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise replied, There will not be enough for us and for you; go instead to the dealers and buy for yourselves. But while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were prepared went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came and said, Lord, Lord, open [the door] to us! But He replied, I solemnly declare to you, I do not know you [I am not acquainted with you]. Watch therefore [give strict attention and be cautious and active], for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come.” Matthew 25:1-13 AMPC
He is the Light, we are His vessels, His lamps … we cannot burn, and we cannot see without the oil formed through knowing Him.
Buy oil: Give the Lord your best fruit, the best of you (a first fruit offering) and in the offering of your life to Him, you will find all provision, all love, all joy, all contentment, all LIFE. It is not loss my friends, it is truly only gain. ”For me to live is Christ [His life in me], and to die is gain [the gain of the glory of eternity].“ Philippians 1:21 AMPC
There will be much ‘knowledge’ for even the tree of knowledge of good and evil was not void of knowledge itself, however this is our sober warning that in the last days most people will be “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7).
To know Truth is to know Christ A life yielded to Him will sustain you until the end.
Yesterday I kept thinking, “the spirit realm is on steroids right now!” I was praying into it and asking the Lord to reveal and unmask what it is at the root after I seemingly out of no where was faced with an onslaught of discouragement and personal attacks against the heart. Everything in me wanted to give up … Today I’m reminded of the season we are in, a time we remember the birth of our Savior. The spirit realm was raging then too…
“NOW WHEN Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men [astrologers] from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east at its rising and have come to worship Him. [Num. 24:17; Jer. 23:5; Zech. 9:9.] When Herod the king heard this, he was disturbed and troubled, and the whole of Jerusalem with him. So he called together all the chief priests and learned men (scribes) of the people and anxiously asked them where the Christ was to be born. They replied to him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: And you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are not in any way least or insignificant among the chief cities of Judah; for from you shall come a Ruler (Leader) Who will govern and shepherd My people Israel. [Mic. 5:2.] Then Herod sent for the wise men [astrologers] secretly, and accurately to the last point ascertained from them the time of the appearing of the star [that is, how long the star had made itself visible since its rising in the east]. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search for the Child carefully and diligently, and when you have found Him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship Him. When they had listened to the king, they went their way, and behold, the star which had been seen in the east in its rising went before them until it came and stood over the place where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they were thrilled with ecstatic joy. And on going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then opening their treasure bags, they presented to Him gifts–gold and frankincense and myrrh. And receiving an answer to their asking, they were divinely instructed and warned in a dream not to go back to Herod; so they departed to their own country by a different way. Now after they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Get up! [Tenderly] take unto you the young Child and His mother and flee to Egypt; and remain there till I tell you [otherwise], for Herod intends to search for the Child in order to destroy Him. And having risen, he took the Child and His mother by night and withdrew to Egypt And remained there until Herod’s death. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, Out of Egypt have I called My Son. [Hos. 11:1.] Then Herod, when he realized that he had been misled by the wise men, was furiously enraged, and he sent and put to death all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that territory who were two years old and under, reckoning according to the date which he had investigated diligently and had learned exactly from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they were no more. [Jer. 31:15.] But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt And said, Rise, [tenderly] take unto you the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the Child’s life are dead. Then he awoke and arose and [tenderly] took the Child and His mother and came into the land of Israel. But because he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in the place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being divinely warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: He shall be called a Nazarene [Branch, Separated One]. [Isa. 11:1.]” Matthew 2:1-23 AMPC
There is raging when there is divine birthing. We see this especially in the birth of Jesus, and so it was the case with many in the Bible when ever the Lord’s plans and purposes were to be manifested in the earth realm through His chosen servants.
However though there be much “noise” in the spirit realm, this is the hour to lean in and listen to the voice of the Lord with great attention and detail. Listen to the warnings like the wise men, obey the dreams like Joseph, fulfill the Word of the Lord in humility.
There are long overdue birthings because this is a cycle. You may not want to hear that, but I’ve written something similar for the last couple of years as I have seen this on repeat. The best we can do is love the Lord well, listen and obey. It takes agreement to deliver quietly and in safety; pray for wisdom, and pray for the hearing, seeing, and obedient Joseph’s to rise and protect the baby. Many plans are delayed and/or are not birthed because symbolically there are “unseeing / unhearing Joseph’s” who did not believe in Mary’s miraculous conception to begin with, or they choose not listen to the instructions of the Lord. Both Mary and Joseph suffered unjust attacks of accusation and scorn, they had reason to give up if not for the Word of the Lord made known to them – thankfully they did not consider themselves wise in their own eyes and even through trial and persecution were obedient. We all need to be like the obedient Joseph’s and Mary’s who are lead by the Word of the Lord (they were lead by the Lord’s voice in angelic visitations and dreams) rather than preferring other voices of influence or authority like a Herod. The wise men, and or “wisdom” didn’t obey and return to Herod as he had requested, for wisdom recognized the plan to kill the dream and purpose of God and therefore returned to their own land (preserving inheritance).
The Lord will not birth an illegitimate child, it is contrary to His nature, for He came to be a Father to the fatherless. He is looking for both mother’s and father’s, as He can not separate Himself from unity and covenant. While the Lord watches over His Word to perform it, He works through yielded vessels who partner with Him. It is a sobering and responsible place to be.
We are covered by grace to carry the promise to fulfillment, however it is humility, wisdom and obedience that preserve inheritance.
In this season we fight low – we put our armor on, cloaked over in humility. With all of our trust and in faith, we set the humble King before us, to worship, adore, and bow before Him and pray, “Your will be done, Your Kingdom come, on earth as it is in Heaven”.
“Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” II Corinthians 10:1-6 NKJV
True and absolute strength is found in our total dependence upon Jesus.
While talking with the Lord I simply uttered “Lord, help me be strong for You”. Not in the sense that He needs my strength, how foolish is that? Though in the sense that I desire to love Him and obey well, be fully committed to Him in all things. After I said this, I immediately had a vision where I was embraced in a hug with the Lord with my head resting upon His chest. To be more than conquerors requires strength, especially in the time and age in which we live.
We can never get away from the simple truth that strength is found in our weakness. Biblical weakness glories in the strength of Jesus because in essence it reveals the decrease of man for the increase of God while wrapped in the mystery of divine union.
Connection is our source of Strength and Strength is developed in union, while empowerment is birthed from union.
Apart from Him we can do nothing.
Furthermore, I don’t want to be separated from Him.
Everything we need is just a heartbeat away. Don’t miss a beat. Stay close and remain.
“I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.” John 15:5 AMPC
“But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!” 2 Corinthians 12:9 AMPC
Ablaze Global Productions 