While it is true that many are still unaware of the destruction waiting for them around the corner, those of us who have been watching understand that any day everything can change. This leads us to today. This world, is faced with a coming economic calamity that is nothing less than an apocalypse. No, we have not seen it yet and the masses are still living in blissful ignorance as the stock markets hit new highs every day while (among other things) the GDP of the United States is expected to hit an all time low. This world is living on borrowed time.
So what? So, the warning tone left this blog some time ago, maybe years ago and a subtle change has taken its place. The Lord has shifted the tone to encouragement and hope. Here is what the Lord impressed upon me today that encompasses both warning and hope:
The last book, and the last chapter of the Old Testament-Malachi 4:1"For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch." 2"But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. 3"You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the LORD of hosts.
If there is a word that characterizes this world, and specifically America today it would be arrogance. This country has actively pursued removal of every hint of the Lord God from every aspect of life. The courts have removed the ten commandments and there wasn't a whimper, prayer was removed from the schools and you could have heard a pin drop. Society has chosen man over God every time, everywhere. Homosexuality and perversion of every kind have replaced godliness. Arrogance has replaced humility. Seeking the truth has been replaced with passive acceptance of lies and all of this has happened without a whimper from the masses.
Christians have accepted as fact that the Lord no longer answers prayers, no longer performs miracles, no longer heals, no longer exerts His power. The devil has ridden roughshod over faith and belief and it has all been accepted without a fight and thats the problem, no fight. The devil comes to kill, steal and destroy, all the time, every time. When he cannot kill, steal or destroy he ties, and binds and suppresses to the point that the people of God are literally living like Israel in Egypt but they do not recognize it due to their blindness.
What is going to happen to this arrogant world?
burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch."
The Lord is coming to set these arrogant and wicked ablaze, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. This root and branch business is important. What has happened in this world right up through this very day is, judgement occurs, destruction comes but it is not absolute. There has remained a root, so life and hope of "normal" returned after judgement. This time will be different, the root and the branch will be burned. That means, no hope of restoration of 'business as usual' that this world clings to like a life raft. No, the systems of this world are in the process of being plucked up by the roots, and this next time things will be different. The difference will be enough to cause knees to buckle and hearts to fail out of fear. That is what is coming and it is not far off.
Wait a minute brother D, did you just write that the tone has changed here? Where's the hope and encouragement? And the Lord continues in Malachi, pay careful attention here:
1"For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch." 2"But for you
Ahh, what a big word "but" is...warning warning warning but for you, it will be different!
who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. 3"You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the LORD of hosts.
This right here ^^ is what the Lord has been laying on my heart for the past 6-7 months. FREEDOM. The devil has run roughshod over the people, he has chalked up victory after victory over too many Christians. But what is coming? While this world is being hit with a spiritual sledgehammer, with blow after relentless blow, we will burst forth like calves who have been penned into a stall for too long. We will skip forth, FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE from the hidden slavery that has been imposed on too many of us for too long.
This has been impressed on me for 6-7 months and the Lord just cemented it into my spirit today. In short He confirmed to me that what has been a gradual theme developing in my mind and spirit are not chance, it is His Spirit speaking to my spirit and now me speaking to you.
What is around the corner is absolute horror for this world and freedom for us. What is required of us? This is very important. Freedom comes with responsibility. We must clean up our lives, get rid of any dirty laundry in your life. Obedience is required, it is not optional. When the Lord tells us to jump the only question should be "how high?" Unquestioned obedience is mandatory.
We have to stand up spiritually and be willing to fight. Many of us may forget this, we are at war, all the time, every moment. We are living through a spiritual war and in war there are casualties. When the devil comes at us with guns blazing, we can either lay down and play dead and become a victim or we can pull out our spiritual weapons and back him the heck up.
Lets let the Word of God explain to us what kind of posture we should take. Does this sound like preparation to lay down and play dead in front of the devil?:
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
What does this ^^^ tell you the Lord expects from us?
When we become aware of the cattle pens that the devil has had too many of us living in, many of us will become angry and thats a good thing. When we realize how much theft and death and destruction the enemy has so subtly introduced into our lives we will become angry and that too is a good thing. What to do about it? Armor up.
The testimony of this nobody is the Lord does do miracles for His people today but faith and belief are required in the face of enemy onslaught. The enemy will fight you for your miracle. He will fight you for your answer to prayer, your healing, your freedom, your testimony, for every thing. The very last thing he wants is any of us walking around with a flag overflowing with battle streamers proclaiming the Lord's victorious power in our life.
We should ask the Lord to double our faith and kindle a fire within us to armor up and through faith, obedience, praise and thanksgiving break out of our 'cattle stall' that the devil has penned us up in for too long.
This is what the Word of the Lord says is coming and it has already started:
Hell on earth for them:
1"For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch."
Freedom for us:
2"But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. 3"You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the LORD of hosts.
The Lord has building up this message in my life for the past 6-7 months and the time to deliver the message is now.
grace and peace
