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!
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!
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