Rev 2:20Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Although the language used here ^^seems harsh, when we look carefully we can see our Lord's mercy in these words:
I have given her time to repent...
He gives people time to repent. That means that its not one or two sins that land people in hot water with the Lord, its unrepentant sin over time that gets them in trouble. The Lord gives us TIME to repent. I can tell you from my own experience that the Lord is merciful and gracious with us when we sin. He does not treat us as our sins deserve AT FIRST. But over time, if we do not repent, then we can go back to places like what we just read in Rev 2 and see things like children being striken dead because of people's own sin: 22So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23I will strike her children dead
I am convinced that our Lord has a message of tenderness and grace for us who believe today. Anyone who has read the words written on this blog 5-6 months ago and before knows that the things written here today and over the past weeks are a radical departure from what has been written here for years past. The Spirit is leading in a different direction. Everything inside me says "YES" and "AMEN" to the loving kind voice of the Spirit these days. What a stark contrast to see the fear and hopelessness in the world compared to the joy, hope and peace being radiated by the Spirit of God today.
Our Lord is speaking a simple message to me today. He answers prayers as much today as he ever has in the past. We have a place of peace and refuge "in Him" if we will only seek it out and remain in it. We are in the world not of it, so our supply our hope, our thinking, our resources come from someplace else (the kingdom of heaven...). There is no reason to be downcast or depressed or fearful today, regardless of what your eyes are telling you. You live by faith, not sight. The promises our Lord has given us are more than enough to see you through to the very end, whether that be the escape from all (luke 21:36) or the time of Jacob's trouble or the legions of hell facing you down or anything else. Our God is God ALMIGHTY and he loves his children. It is time for us to get a fresh revelation of what it means to be children of the Most High God.
Keep his praise always on your lips, stay in the word of God, pray continually with all kinds of prayers and requests, and be anxious for nothing.
Psalm 34:1 ... I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
1 Thessalonians 5:16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in ...
... Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication withthanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, may his face shine upon you and may he grant you peace.
Be Anxious For Nothing
6 years ago