War Fantasies

Fantasy! Fantasy!
Many of My people have taken up
a sword in their hearts
instead of taking up their cross!
Many have exchanged loving neighbor and enemy
for fantasies of fighting spiritual battles!

Woe! Woe! Many of My beloved children
do not know who they are following!
Follow the Lamb! Follow the Lamb!
I have not called you to conquer as a lion
but to follow Me in My sufferings!
I am not the one leading you to love war!

Return! Return to your first love!
Remember when you first believed
and become a child once again,
or you will not be aware
when you know Me no longer
and have come to love another!

Turn back from your love of war
or My coming may not be
a day of rejoicing for you,
for you may not find Me as you expect!"

*****

Art: "Love of Might"

A Different 'Kingdom'

"Open your eyes, My people!
Return to your first love—
return to the Cross!

I am not leading you to
'advance the kingdom' and use
the ways of the earth's kingdoms!

The devotion I am calling you to
is not to 'change the nations'
but rather to love your neighbor!

My kingdom is not spread by greater focus
on 'strategic warfare' and 'taking nations',
but rather by loving 'the least of these'!

Do not seek to build a 'kingdom' through
means I did not teach you or model for you;
do not follow another 'Christ' to another 'kingdom'!"

*****

Art: "Prophets of Different Fathers"

Father's Heart

"My people! My people! Why are you chasing after shadows? Why are you seeking 'mantles', 'anointings', tithes and 'shekinah' glory? Haven't I shown you My glory in the face of My Son and given you fullness in Him? Haven't I given you all things in My son—in Christ and Him crucified?

"You have wandered from your first love, and your devotion has been given to the pursuit of power, authority and 'prophetic' insights. And so you have lost sight of the one thing that is needful. Growing in Me does not mean being in trances, speaking in 'spiritual' terms, prophesying to crowds or declaring 'open heavens'.

"Return! Return to your first works! Return to the simplicity of the Cross!"

*****

Art link: "Father's Exchange"

Follow the Lamb

"Guard your hearts, My people! Guard your hearts!
Many of you have become distracted
because you have learned that I am not only the Lamb,
but I am also the 'Lion of Judah'.
Many of you have rejoiced in My power and strength
but have forgotten that I did not overcome by being as a lion,
but by being the Lamb: I was exalted not through My strength,
but through weakness, surrendering to death upon the Cross.

"And so I have called you to follow Me as the Lamb,
and to carry your cross.
I have commanded you to love your enemies as I have loved you
—not to 'conquer' them.

"Do not be carried away by joyous cries of war,
even if only in 'spiritual warfare.'
Rejoice instead in Me and in the victory
I have already won for you as the Lamb.

"As the Lamb I took away your sins
and victoriously made a public spectacle
of every spiritual enemy,
and as the Lamb I hold the book of life
with your name written in it.
And as the Lamb I am He who opens
the seven seals and judges the world."

*****

See also: "Lamb Power" (by Hazel Holland)
Art: "The Scapegoat"

The Heart of God

"I have shown My heart to the world on the Cross! There is no other 'key' to bringing My kingdom than to share My heart—that I loved you so much I gave you My Son on the Cross! Look! Look at the Cross! I gave My Son for every tribe, tongue and nation! I gave My Son for the healing of the nations!

"Yet many of My people are going here and there searching for 'keys' to bring 'revival'! One group prays this way, another group prays in a different way. One group says 'spiritual warfare' must be done first, another group says 24-hour prayer must be done. One group says 'declarations' must be made from various places, another group says prophesying must be done. One group says worshiping harder will 'bring revival' and others say that praying for Israel is the key.

"For these are the days when many are running here and there for knowledge but do not know that I have hidden all knowledge in My Son, Jesus Christ. All the treasures of My wisdom are in My Son given to you on the Cross. Nevertheless many among you will continue to look for 'deeper secrets', 'revelations', miraculous signs and wonders.

"Yet those who behold My heart in the Cross will be filled with My love—My love for My Son and My love for every tribe, tongue and nation. And as you share My heart—My Son crucified—I will draw all people to Myself."

"Spiritual Warfare"

"Many of you have been busy trying to fight and evict
'spirits' in the land and culture around you.
Some of you have even traveled great distances to do
'spiritual warfare' that you think will bring 'revival' to the land.

But I did not send My disciples out to conquer
as I sent ancient Israel into Canaan.
Yes, you have spiritual adversaries,
but I did not sent you in search of spirits to fight—
I sent you in search of the lost!
When I commanded My disciples to go to the nations,
I commissioned them to preach the good news to the poor,
to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.

And now because you have been intently focusing
on 'enemies' outside your walls,
you cannot see the broken and hurting hearts
among you, inside your church.

When you run here and there on your 'prayer walks' against 'spirits',
you cannot discern that many of your 'warriors' are broken inside,
hurting and longing for peace, and are seeking fulfillment
by attempting to do great 'spiritual' things.

Wake up! The true battle is not outside but inside!
Wake up! Remember the gospel!"