March 22, 2020
I originally gave this message in March 2013.  But while travelling in the USA this month I had a dream on March 15, 2020 that brought this message back to the surface.

As we know there is a global pandemic of the Coronavirus 19.  I had this dream before all the nations began requiring quarantines.

The Dream:  In my dream I had traveled through neighborhoods and houses. I saw a couple pick up a piece of wood.  About a foot long 2 x 4.  A man and a woman both picked up this wood and went inside a house and shut the door.  I also saw on top of the house some hay.  Then as the dream unfolded all the houses burned to the foundation except the house the couple entered.  I understood that everything that was not built upon the rock of God and was built with wood, hay and stubble would be burned in this trial.

I would like to encourage people in this season where there is a forced stop on our activities to be a time of introspection and repentance.  Many of the things we have built in our lives were fleshly and carnal.  God may have not caused this plague but He had allowed it to be used to get our attention.  We as a body of Christ have to be set ablaze once again.  We have been busy doing ministry or works and have failed to enter the Presence of God and seek His face.  Ministry has been all about us and not about God.  We are here to fulfill His purposes on earth.  He is not a magic genie at our beck and call to serve us.  We are called to serve Him.  

I have been outside of the USA for about 5 years now.  During my time in the USA I was very aware of how there was everything available to pamper the flesh.  So many stores and businesses to meet every need you could have. Those these things are nice and a convenience they had a great pull on the flesh and it's needs.  Whatever you wanted it was there. Having lived abroad I had to give up a lot of these thing a while ago.   It wasn't until I returned to the USA that I really saw how seductive these things are.  When you have these things around you all the time you don't really think much about it.  Now these are the very things that are under fire during this trial.  

Also, the need to go, go, go.  While being on the forced quarantine I encourage you to take some quiet time and get back to hearing God.  Shut off the TV and the radio and be still.   Don't worry about the bills, what you will eat or what you will wear.  God said He knows you have need of these things.  Get back to walking in faith.  Pray in the Holy Spirit and rise above the chaos and get into Heaven's atmosphere.  It's there you will find the peace you need to weather this storm.

The things we do by the instruction of the Lord will stand.  Everything else we do will be burned up in the fire.

When was the last time you actually prayed without asking God for anything?  You prayed simply because you wanted the Presence of God?  God knows how to get our attention and I hope He is getting all of our attention so we can get back to our first love.

God is our anchor in this storm.  He will make a way where there seems to be no way.  He is our Help.  He is our Provision. He is our Healer.   Do NOT Fear.  Psalm 91 says NO Plague or Pestilence shall come near our house.  We must believe the truth of God's word if we want to see it manifested in our lives.  

If God showed up.
It's Sunday morning. Hurriedly I prepare to go to church. As my feet hit the ground I quickly consider; What task await my day?

I awake sleeping children and bark out orders, get up!, get dressed!

Maybe I set out food for breakfast, maybe not. I grab a bag of donuts and pass them on to the kids.

I jump into the shower while shouting to my husband to get moving too.

The children are grumbling. They begin to tease one another. I yell at them, “Knock it off!”.

I barely get in a “hello” to my spouse. As we rush out in separate cars.

I go speeding down the highway. A car pulls in front of me going slow. I get irritated.

The children continued to be disagreeable in the car.

Thus my day has begun.

We arrive at the church. We all get out of the car. Primp ourselves and put on our church faces.

The appearance of the perfect family.

I enter into the church house. Unlock the doors and prepare it to receive the people.

People begin trickling in. They take their places as if a great performance was about to take place.

Billets of todays show are handed out at the door.

Greeters, Ushers, Musicians, Altar workers, Sunday school teachers and my husband, the Pastor.

The day begins. The rush of the Sunday show. Lights! Camera! Action!

The choir beings, sings their three songs.

The anouncer of the weekly agenda steps up and takes the fee for todays program.

Now the speaker, the Pastor. Pulls out a sermon ten minutes before performance time and gives the people what they want to hear.

God's a good God! “Yes, Amen”, say the people.
He wants to bless and prosper us! “Yes, Amen”, the people respond again.
His grace covers our sins and weaknesses! “Yes, Amen”.


Next week we will be having another “Chicken -q” to raise money for our new building.

Singles group will be meeting on Wednesday.

Quilting classes are Tuesday.

Youth baseball team meets on Saturday....

on and on the list of community group activities go on.


Then, suddenly, right in the middle of our perfectly choreographed meeting a little woman stands up.She moves out from her seat and begins to proceed to the front.

I was wondering to myself, what is this woman doing? Maybe I should stop her.

She goes right up to the pulpit. Who is this? What does she think she is doing?

She speaks the the Pastor. She says, “I came into this church to meet with God. I needed to hear from Him today. I've been going through hard times since my husband died. I came up to tell you. God is not here. I never heard one prayer. You never invited Him to come. You have displayed your great oratory ability without power. You handed me a program for the day as if I was going to the theatre. I did not see anywhere on your program a time for prayer. Do you not gather to worship God?”


Unexpectedly, this little woman, begins to groan with such deep agony. People are unsure what to do. Is she in pain? Then she cries out, “Oh God, wreck this place. Tear down every structure that was not erected by You. God, please have mercy upon us. Visit us. We need you!”

Suddenly, the floor began to shake. The walls began to move. Terror appeared upon the faces of the congregation. What's happening? Their feet were glued to the floor. They couldn't run for fear.

Then it happened. A cloud began to form in our midst. A weight of conviction began to fall upon everyone. People began to groan and wail. No longer prim and proper. People were falling to their faces in repentance. The Holiness of God came and was revealing to each person their own hearts.

Hearts that were not “God centered” but “self centered”. Time suddenly disappeared. Every agenda became insignificant, in light of the presence of God. All the things people thought they had to rush home and do just disappeared.

As people began to repent, people began to be healed! God's presence was healing His body. This was truly His Grace! For though, we had only given Him lip service, through the heartfelt prayer of one little woman, He showed up and touched each one of us. This is truly His Grace and Mercy!

Who knew we could feel this way! Who knew there could be such freedom of heart! Who knew there could be such love!

I was in the church and had not known God. It was a social club, a fellowship center. A place to network. Who knew it could actually be a place where God shows up!

The End

This is a story I made up or is it?

People are coming to the church to find answers. The church, for the most part, has not had them. A church without power is the reason why things are happening in this world as they are.

If you as individuals and as churches and church leaders are not willing to pray, truly pray. Not give five minutes here and there you will not have what is necessary to make change in this nation or any nation.


We want a move of God or so it is said. If that is true, then it will require EVERYONE to come together to pray. Yes pastors, you have to participate too! Leaders set the example for others to follow. People have not been taught how to pray. We want to attack the enemy with a water pistol that leaks. That's why the church is sick.

God is holding the Shepherds accountable for the condition of the church.

Jer 8:9 The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?

Jer 8:10 Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

Jer 8:11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

Jer 8:12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

Jer 8:13 I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.

Jer 8:14 Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.

Jer 8:15 We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!


Jer 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?


Will we allow our hearts to be pricked once again by the conviction of God? What has been the focus of your prayer life? Think about it? Your job or career? Your family? Your ministry? Your? Your? Your?

How much of our prayers have been focused upon God's plan for the earth? For His people?

What would happen in YOUR church when God shows up? Will you welcome Him? Or will you drive Him out? The Holy Spirit is the gentleman, God is not. He is GOD! He doesn't need your permission to show up, but He will not stay where He is not welcomed.


Aren't you tired of all the empty meetings? Conferences? How much knowledge can you receive?

Has it changed your life? Are you any closer to God? Do you have a more intimate relationship with Him because of it? Let's get real! Are you still sick?

So and so recognized me! Oh, I helped with this meeting! Oh, the Pastor talked to me! WHO CARES! How shallow can a person's life be!

Each one of us have the opportunity to spend one on one time with the King of all Glory and have HIM recognize us! Is that not more important?

The shallow nature of the individuals is the reason why you don't share your faith with others. Why the world is dying without a savior. If you truly knew God you would want to tell others about Him.

Others are willing to die for their cause. For a God they can neither see, encounter or hear. We should be convicted by this! WE SERVE THE LIVING GOD! How long will you straddle the fence?

1Ki 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.





Cherie Sheridan

8/24/14

Sunday the Lord took me on a road trip.  He led me to visit two different churches, one in the morning and one in the
evening.

Both of these churches love Jesus.  But it was very obvious that important information and revelation that the Holy Spirit has already released to the Church was missing.  It has also been missing in other churches the Lord has also had me visit.

Why is there such a disparity between the different parts of the body?  Why is it, they may have one little revelation and build a whole cultural doctrine around it?

Why is it that they all conform to the same image in their church group or there pastor, but are not truly conforming to the image of Christ?

How is it that we can be students of the Word of God and miss key information that He is now releasing to us?

During my adventure I was greeted by loving people, that is until you question them on their doctrine. 
 
There is a blanket that covers the people.  It is demonic in nature.  As long as the people don't try to break out of this blanket the devil leaves them alone.  He may give them a little warfare to make them feel like they are doing something, but that is mostly for his entertainment.  He watches and laughs.  You foolish Christians.  You don't even know who you are.  In your little box, your little world.  What should be obvious is not even visible because of the delusion and ignorance we choose to walk in. 

The church chooses to focus on certain scriptures because it will make man feel important.  Yet, there is  no power, no miracles.  The very function of the Holy Spirit in the church has been  relegated to certain duties as though you can put God in a box.  Show up here when we sing this certain song or pray this certain prayer.  We don't need your anointing to draw the people, we can go advertise and create events that will draw people.  We don't need to believe God to bring in the resources, we'll just have another bake sale, chicken-q or yard sale.  Let's just merchandise the people so we can get our needs met. 

The church has failed to go to God for their instructions.  They do what they do out of habit.  It worked 20 year ago so it must work now.  Or God gave instructions to hold a bake sale 1 time for 1 event and now it's become a habit.  The church is being run as a business instead of a representation of the Kingdom of God.  We preach the message “believe” God, yet the majority of the church doesn't know what that means.  They don't know how to let God build HIS house.

Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:  Ps 127:1

Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?  Acts 7:49

Are we so vain to believe that we can build God's house?  Do we really believe we can make it happen?  You might say no.  Yet, everyday you struggle to figure out a new gimmick to keep your church afloat you are doing just that.  How much money do you think you can pump out of the people that attend your church?  What if God called you to pastor homeless and penniless people?  Are you going to pump them for your needs?  Will you quit or not do it at all?  Will you go beg money from other resources?  Do you believe God truly called you to this task?  If you do, trust Him to provide for it.   There has been a great deception in the body of Christ.  It is insidious.  It is undermining.  It is stopping the move of the Holy Spirit.  We are so insensitive to the presence of the Holy Spirit we have failed to notice He is not even showing up to our meetings. 

We say we are preaching the word yet we are failing to be “doers” of the word.

I have seen manipulating by the worship teams.  They know how to lull people into the mood they want.  I have seen times when the people were not entering in to the worship and the leader go back and play nostalgic songs just to manipulate the people in.  Why do they have to manipulate people?  It's because they are not pressing into God to have the anointing to release to them.  They are not taking serious the privilege and the responsibility they have been given by God to lead His people into His presence.  It's just a gig.

Manipulate into giving, manipulate into doing, manipulate, manipulate, manipulate.

I want a new truck, manipulate.  I need to pay this bill, manipulate.  We need a shed, manipulate.   I want to expand the building, manipulate.  I'm supposed to be on T.V., manipulate.  On and on it goes.  Sincerely presenting something is not a manipulation.  It's how it's presented and the motives behind it and if it's God-led or not.

 What happened to believing God?  What happened to waiting on the Lord?  Do we actually think that we need to help God?  If God wants us to do something He is more than able to bring everything we need to do it to us.  The problem is we are not willing to wait for Him to do it and/or we think we know what He wants us to do when He actually has a different interpretation to the instruction He gave than that which we understood.  Surprisingly, God doesn't need us to help Him.  He needs us to obey Him and be in position to receive what He gives to us.  When God brings things to us we don't have to strive to maintain it or keep it.  That is His responsiblity.  If we do it, then we have to take care of it all.

Over and over again, I have seen God doing a house cleaning.  Churches are being closed down.  Pastors or I should say people who call themselves pastors and are not.  Don't have the first clue about what is going on in the lives of the people they are to “serve”.  Yes I said it.  They are supposed to be “serving” the people.  Not the other way around.  Strutting around as though they are above the“lay people”.    What is worse, they have taught the people that this is God's order!  So the people unwittingly submit to this abuse. The Lord rebukes these pastors who mistreat HIS sheep.

Jer 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. 
Jer 23:2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. 
Jer 23:3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 
Jer 23:4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.

If you have been misled and have been one of those deceived, self-centered “pastors”....REPENT!  While you still can.  Ask God to forgive you for destroying the sheep of His pasture.  Ask for His forgiveness that you may yet be able to become a true pastor.  If your not called to be a pastor don't call yourself one.  You can be a part of the five-fold ministry and not be a pastor. 

Pastors, pay attention to the people that God is sending into your congregations.  Some of them are being sent there by God and carrying His judgment with them.  What do I mean?  God is sending His true prophets into His house.  They may never say a word.  They may never pray a prayer.  But they walk in the Presence of God.  When they come in, they come in to see.  They may present an opportunity to you.  They may introduce a revelation to you.  They may not fit your mold of what a prophet is.  None the less, they are sent by God.  Pay attention.  Go to God immediately if they bring something to your attention.  Check it out with God.  

How often do we as leaders make off the cuff decisions or statements based on knowledge and not because the Holy Spirit led us that way?

As leaders, we must remain flexible and pliable in the hands of the Holy Spirit.  We must be willing to pack up and move with the cloud.  We may have gotten comfortable being camped out by the pillar of fire but when God moves on and you decide to stay all you have is a camp and no fire.

Here is something else that I saw on my journey.  I went into a church where the women don't wear makeup.   They feel it makes them more holy.  Yet, at the same time, they wear stiletto shoes, fishnet stockings and skin tight dresses.  Hello, am I the only one who sees the hypocrisy here?  Holiness comes from the inside out. If you like to dress nice, wear makeup or not that should be a personal decision.  When the Holy Spirit is leading us it should be appropriate and modest. Here's what Jesus had to say about taking certain things to extremes.

Mat 23:24Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
 
So I ask again.  How do we as the body of Christ come into the same Truth?

RELATIONSHIP with Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Father.  There is only one way.  We must spend time with Him.  More than 5 or 10 minutes a day or week.  How can you take on the mind of Christ when you don't spend time talking to Him to find out what He means when He says things in His word?

The congregation also has the same responsibility as the leaders to have a relationship the Jesus.  As individuals we must be able to hear God and discern His voice for ourselves.  People can make mistakes.  Just because Pastor “So & So” says something doesn't make it Truth.  You are to take what He says to the Lord to confirm whether it is Truth.  There is a lot of things being said and taught that is not the Lord at all.  If you are truly the Lords then you will know if what is being said is from Him or not.  When you stand before the Lord your pastor won't be standing there with you.  It will be just You and God.

Joh_10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

I was in a discussion the other day with a Pastor.  Every response he gave in the discussion was natural, horizontal.  I was trying to talk to him on a spiritual level and he wasn't able to hear me.  He was not spiritual.  He was carnal.  Yet, these are the kind of pastors leading some of God's sheep.  

Please don't misunderstand me.  I am not trying to bash pastors or the church.  I am addressing a real problem that exist.

Gal_6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
1Co_14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 

We have a responsibility to hear God's voice no matter who God is using to do the speaking, man, woman, child or donkey (Num 22:27).

What is the solution?  We must pray and ask the Spirit of Truth to inhabit His church once again.  That the Spirit of Truth would be poured into the body of Christ corporately and individually and drive out the spirit of error.  Also, that a hunger to know God, His Word, His Presence would come back to the body of Christ once again.  A pricking of the heart.  A stirring of the Spirit.  A tarrying at the altar of God.
 
Joh_14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you
Joh_16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
 
1Jn_4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
 
CAN YOU HEAR ME?




Cherie Sheridan
11/12/2012
 http://www.ontrackrestorationproject.info