By:  Cherie Sheridan


Oh, the bliss of new salvation. The excitement of a cleansed and forgiven life.

Awestruck! Mesmerized by His Glorious presence. Drawn into His rapturous love only to be led away into a new darkness. A revelation of the inner workings of the soul.

Like joining the military, the initial excitement of becoming a tool of change dims quickly as the grueling exercises and training to become this tool begins. Neck snapping change. Early rising, to be sent out into the cold and dark world to train. To run, to crawl, to climb, to endure hardship, to expertly learn each weapon in your arsenal. Yet, this is just training. The true purpose for this hard work is yet to be revealed. Then, waiting.

I'm equipped, I'm ready to go! Wait and wait some more. Now it's about timing. Deployment comes suddenly. Are you ready? Did you successfully complete your training? Were you injured in the process? Can you see your training as training?

We have glorified the tales of those that have gone before us. The tales of sacrifice, of heroism, of torture. As though enduring hardship was something others went through.

2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Looking back from this point to the day of your salvation. Can you see the path of equipping and training you have traveled?

1Pe_2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

Can you see the gradual separation in your life from the world? Can you see how God has strategically removed strongholds from your life? Liberating you from even the most insignificant worldly perception. Bringing you to a place where all you see is Him, His desire, His plan and purpose for your life. A place where nothing else matters except to please Him and fulfill your mission.

Mat 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life

A place where you can be still and know that He is God.

Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

We have arrived at a time and season where looking back, licking our wounds is no longer a luxury.

God, Himself is strengthening His people for the days ahead. We must set our face like flint. We must get our instructions directly from the Lord for this season. It's going to look different, feel different.

If you are willing, the Lord will use YOU in unexpected, glorious new ways. The harvest is all around us. It's time to bring it in.

I am going to share something with you the Lord revealed to me. Recognize this. The scripture was first spoken. There were not chapter verse notations. They were put there for ease of location. I saw this scripture spread out on a paper, not like it is in the bible. This is what was revealed to me.

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;

and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to

pass; but the end is not by and by. (the end is not yet)

Consider these scriptures not only in a world concept, but also in a personal context; within your own life experience.

Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation (What are nations? People of different origins, perceptions, peoples, cultures), and kingdom against kingdom (realms):

Here we see people that see things differently will oppose us. There will be spiritual warfare between the Kingdom of God (which we are a part) and the Kingdom of Darkness.

And great earthquakes (commotions, tempest) shall be in divers places, and famines (scarcity of food), and pestilences (diseases); and fearful sights (frightening things) and great signs (miracles, supernatural events) shall there be from heaven.

Too often we look at scripture based upon its interpretations by others who have taught us. In light of their past and experience. The Word of God is always fresh, it is always now, it is always pertinent to us in the season of time in which we live. Consider Jesus speaking these words directly to us now. How would they reflect the things that we have endured as we have matured in the Kingdom of God?

I want you to consider the following verses not as eschatological events, but as events taking place in YOUR life now.

But before all these, (That means everything listed before this) More concretely, that means you must go through the following before the other things will happen.

they shall lay their hands on you (grab hold of you and your giftings for their use) I have a teaching called “Touch not” it can be found in “Growing in the Kingdom of God, Vol. II” and also as an article online.

and persecute (make you suffer) you, delivering you up to the synagogues (assemblage of persons), and into prisons (guarded, everything you do is scrutinized and watched), being brought before kings (a sovereign) and rulers (leaders) for my name's sake. In short, this would be considered your boot camp training. Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

And it shall turn to you (turn out to be a) for a testimony. (witness)

Isa 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising (exaltation, arising, lifting up).

Isa 60:4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

Joh_1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

What the Lord is revealing here is that after we have gone through the process of being laid hold of, persecuted, corrected, trained, disciplined we will bear fruit that will reflect Him.

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt (elevate, be lifted up, arise) you in due time:

Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: Who are you answering? Who are you making your case to? The ones that are being drawn to the light of your rising. You are contending for the faith. You are being a witness of the Kingdom of God.

All the training, all the suffering, all the sacrifice and learning to trust God has been to develop God's Kingdom in YOU. You have been trained to trust the Holy Spirit in you to say what is necessary in each given situation. Not to spout off religious answers. You have been being developed to share God's love and His power, His compassion. The Truth of why Jesus came to earth.

For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. In sharing the Truth, in Love; a Truth that has produced roots in your life, that has given you an unshakeable foundation there is no argument that can stand against it.

The closer you walk in the Truth, the more people in your present life will turn against you. It's still all part of the process. People that you loved and trusted even as you have grown in Christ will turn against you. They will abandon you. People that you stood with, that you went to battle for in prayer will turn against you. Don't be surprised. It's all part of the process of drawing us ever closer to God alone. They shall cause you to die to any remaining part of self that requires recognition and confirmation from others to do what God has told you to do.

And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.


But there shall not an hair (glory) of your head perish.

Psa 3:3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

In your patience (endurance) possess (lay hold of) ye your souls (vitality, spirit).

Now upon reflection of these scriptures we can see them in a different light. Not that one interpretation negates the other. On the contrary, the illumination of this present Truth can now be seen more fully in our lives. Jesus is always drawing us closer. Wanting us to trust Him more and more. He wants us to yield to Him in ways that do not make sense to our natural minds. All the while bringing us more and more into His image and likeness until the image we see in the mirror no longer is ours but His.

2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

If you feel as though your friends and peers have kicked you to the curb just remember;  It's all part of the process.  Praise the Lord!

This is a season for breaking off the yoke of old relationships that will not produce fruit in this next season. These relationships may have worked in the past but they have stopped yielding fruit a long time ago.

The time we are moving into will require us to be working with people of the same heart, same mind, same focus.  Individuals with the same purpose.  We will recognize our new team members by how they speak, their demeanor and the witness of the Holy Spirit.

There is nothing wrong with the other team, it just not the one you are called to be a part of.  Make your relationships count in this season.  Cut loose from non-productive relationships.  No more time wasters, winers, and compromisers.  If you have to walk on egg shells with people cut them loose.  That is unless they are some one the Lord has you ministering to.  These people are not your running team mates.  They are not your confidants.  No more grey.  No more luke warm.  Black or white.  Hot or Cold.   Cut em lose!  Can you say that?  Cut em lose!

This is a season of running.  We can't be carrying extra baggage.  It's streamline time.

I'm telling you.  If the people in your life look at you cross-eyed when God is telling you to do something make sure they are your running team mates.  If they can't understand what you are saying and look at you as though you are speaking a different language, you probably are.  They are of a different camp.  They have a different purpose and a different objective in the Kingdom of God.  God will be doing a lot of re-positioning in this season.  There will be an end to relationships you've had.  Just let them go.  It's the Lord.  Stay focused and move forward.  Don't stop. 

We are making a turn in the spirit so "hang on" tight.  The Lord is about to change the program!  The Lord has been speaking to me of the things that are about to take place.  He told me to be ready no matter where I am cause He just might decide to show up and have a meeting.  That meant anywhere.  At the store, the library, on the street, the restaurant...where ever He decides He wants to.  He told me be ready.  We may do nothing as individuals but be there and God will use us at that moment.  The outpouring is going to take place outside the "church" walls. 

Luk 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

The Lord didn't tell us to fill the church.  He told us to fill His house; which is His family.  Bring in His children. 

Be ready.  Any time.  Any place.  Expect that everything you do has a divine purpose to it.  Because it does.  God is going to be showing up all over the place and we need to be available and in position for Him to use us.

There is going to be some more tragic events in America, especially in the Northeastern part of the US.  Martial law will be implemented in the big cities.  I'm not sure when, but it is not far off.  I believe the Lord showed me there will be some type of invasion that comes through Mexico and will fan out through the USA.  There will also be a large earthquake through the middle of the USA before the one in CA.  He also told me the leadership of the USA will begin to show there true nature even like it is happening in Egypt.

Yet, don't be frightened.  The Lord said just stay focused in what I have you doing.  It will not stop you, it will propel you into your destiny.

Mar 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

We have a job to do.  We are not getting out of here until we are done.  God is going to watch out for us.  We do not have to fear.

His presence and His Glory will rest upon us in the coming season so mightily.  We will not have to do anything but be available.  The Lord told me it won't be about hours spent in prayer and fasting.  All that should have been done in advance.  All the refining, character building and training in preparation for what is about upon us.  People will be healed and delivered in a moment.  Not years of counciling or multiple deliverance sessions.  God's Glory is about to fall like rain.  One drop will change a life forever.  Are you ready?  I pray I am.

Make sure you are in the right team this season.  Make sure you are running with your assigned company.  Cut loose every weight that would beset you.  Let's run!

Heb_12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

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