"Put My Words Into Practice!"

"My people don't believe in My teachings!
They call My teachings unrealistic,
impractical, naive, and foolish!

They say that My words were meant
to magnify sin instead of to guide them!
They say My blessings are the curses
of the law of sin and death!
They say My commands are extreme
in order to excuse themselves from obedience!

But I say to you,

“Everyone who hears these words of mine
and puts them into practice is like a wise man
who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose,
and the winds blew and beat against that house;
yet it did not fall, because it had
its foundation on the rock.

But everyone who hears these words of mine
and does not put them into practice is like
a foolish man who built his house on sand.
The rain came down, the streams rose,
and the winds blew and beat against that house,
and it fell with a great crash.”"

*****

Art: "Keeping Sabbath"

Changing Commission

"Many of My children are being
led into lawlessness
by teachers who twist My words,
turning their eyes away
from the commands of My Son
in order to justify Israel.

My Son died to heal the nations
and do away with walls of separation,
but many teachers have used their knowledge
to convince My little ones that I desire
for Israel to have the things
of the kingdoms of the world
more than I desire them
to follow the ways of My Son.

In the name of the fulfillment of prophecy
many are searing their consciences.
Many teachers, by changing their commission,
are changing the 'Christ' that they follow.

Do not follow them into lawlessness."

*****

Art: "The Great Apostasy"

Lawlessness Followingthe Second Trumpet

"The second angel blew his trumpet,
and something like a great mountain,
burning with fire, was thrown into the sea.
A third of the sea turned into blood,
a third of the living creatures in the sea died,
and a third of the ships were destroyed."

(Revelation 8:8-9)

"A great asteroid will fall in the ocean,
fulfilling the vision shown to John.
Many people will search for understanding
by looking to prophecy 'experts',
but many will seek only to preserve
their ways and their kingdoms.

A minority will search for how
to love their neighbors and enemies.
But I will use this remnant
to testify of My love and My Son.

I have promised that I will be with
those who hold to His commands
and refuse to let their love grow cold
by following the kingdoms of the world.

Do not let any 'prophetic' teaching mislead you:
Follow the Lamb and His command to love."

*****

Art: "Through Tribulation"

Holding On to Straw

Yesterday as I was writing to a friend, God reminded me of a dream
which I had many years ago. It came about a year after I had left an "apostolic-prophetic" network that I had been connected to (for about a year).

I was with leaders from the apostolic-prophetic network and their friends in other ministries, and we were in an upper room that had a table in the middle, but they weren't sitting at the table. The network's leader was near it, but most of them were standing, hanging out and talking with each other off to the side of the table.

We were talking enthusiastically about what some of the leaders had said, and I was glad to have been included. We had notes and pamphlets, and we had coffee (I had made theirs, and one of them had made mine). But as everyone talked,
I held back from saying some things that I didn't feel right about.

Then I was away from them around to the other side of the table, and I saw that I was holding onto a bundle of some dry blades of grass and stalks of straw, which they had given me. I set it on the table and then went around the table to where the network's leader was and told him some of the things I had wanted to say.
Then I saw that I had put the bundle of straw in his hands.

I looked on the table and saw some gold like dust that had seemed to have fallen from the bundle of straw. For a moment I doubted and wondered if the whole bundle was gold, even though I could see that the grass blades were thin, dry, and about to fall apart. He felt it was important for me to keep, and I wanted to please him.
Holding the bundle again, I went back to the table and set it on the gold
that seemed to have fallen from it earlier.

Suddenly a strong wind blew behind us, as if a hole opened up behind us and sucked everything towards it. I held onto the table and my legs flew in the air behind me,
but I had no trouble holding onto the table and didn't need to use any strength at all.
When the wind stopped a moment later, the bundle of straw was gone,
but the gold had remained on the table, melted like wax in long strips.
The network leaders and their friends were gone.



A word from the Lord:

"My children, I have prepared a table for you—My Son!
My Son is the only true foundation,
and only in Him can you fellowship with one another.

But many of you have gathered around your own prophecies!
You are moving away from the only true foundation
and are luring away many of My children with your teaching.

You flatter with your 'prophecies' until you are flattered back
and make My children afraid to let go of your teaching,
causing them to doubt what I have taught them.

But I am calling My children back to My Son
—back to the only true foundation—
and they will keep only what I have taught them.

I will sweep away all that is straw,
and only what is true will remain.
Will you hold on to Him or to your straw?"

Empty Words

"My people have been taught not to hear the spirit of prophecy!
'Words' from the prophets of Ahab have become
what My people recognize as 'prophecy',
and schools teach My people to prophesy in the flesh!
A movement has established the authority of Jezebel
and taught her ways as the 'secret things' of God!

Those who want to grow in faith and know Me better
are guided into chasing empty 'prophetic' words
which do not heal deep wounds or even speak My love,
but instead appeal to the flesh and the idols of the heart.
They are taught to seek new 'realms' and 'higher levels'
instead of simply resting in what I did on the Cross.

How long will I allow the 'words' of false prophets
to deafen My peoples' ears to My voice?"

*****

Art: "Longing From Father"

"One Covenant—My Son!"

"My Son is the new covenant I have given to you!
The blood He shed for you is your covenant with Me;
there is no need for any other covenant with Me,
for I have been pleased to give you the whole kingdom
and all of My fullness in My Son.

Many false prophets are declaring the blessings and curses
of the old covenant on the United States,
but I did not make a covenant with the United States.
Do not be deceived: whoever teaches covenants
instead of My Son's blood has fallen from grace."

*****

Art: "Because You Love Me"

From the Earth

"Why are you falling asleep, My people?
The end times are unfolding before your eyes!
The beast from the earth stands in front of you!

"The lawless preach rebellion in My temple,
nullifying My kingdom and My commandment of agape love
by preaching nationalism and Zionism instead.

"Those who are called 'prophets' and 'interpreters'
teach My people to set aside the righteousness of the Cross
and to bow to the image of 'Israel' instead.

"The great delusion has already begun and the spirit
of antichrist is enthroned in the Most Holy Place,
its voice accepted as being the voice of God.

"My witnesses testify in sackcloth
about the great apostasy among My people,
calling them to repent and return to the gospel.

"But My witnesses are rejected and accused by those
who do not want to hear about My perfect love and My commands,
but who only want to hear what their itching ears want to hear.

"Tell Me, My children,
where is the beast
from the earth?"

*****

Art: "Breath of the Image"

Teaching Error

"False shepherds!
You are leading My children into rebellion!
I gave you a charge to preach the gospel
—the Chosen One and Him crucified—
and to teach all nations to obey My command
that you love one another as I have loved you.

"But you have preached another gospel
—a gospel of 'the chosen people'—
and taught all nations to 'love Israel'
first before their neighbors.
You have taught My people to give
conditional love to the nations,
but unconditional love and support to Israel.

"You have used My words from the old covenant
to justify ignoring My teaching.
You have led My people away from My light
and into shadows and confusion!
When you are questioned about your errors
and your departure from My teaching,
you use your knowledge and authority
to silence and dismiss My sheep,
and to persuade them of the errors you teach.

"I will hold you accountable
for causing My little ones to sin."

*****

Art: "End-Time Fulfillments"

Fire in the Cold

"I am with you in the fire and I am with you in tribulation.
I am He who keeps you in the shadow of My wings,
and I am He who preserves your life even when you die.

"A time is coming when those who follow the Lamb
will be called to worship the 'image' set up by 'Babylon'—
they will be pressured to give honor to the 'prophetic' teaching
about the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

"Those who refuse will be accused as I was accused
and as My prophets have been accused in the past—
accused of speaking against God's people,
against the temple and Jerusalem,
and accused of being demon-possessed.

"Follow the Lamb, My people,
and do not turn to the left or the right.
Do not let your love grow cold—
love one another as I loved you, even your enemies.
I will be your refuge and your strength."

*****

Art: "In His Shadow"

"Babylon"—Mixing Kingdoms

Part 4 of "Unsealed By the Lamb: Revelation Through the Lamb and His Love"
________________________

The testimony of Jesus:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you..." (1 Pet.1:3-4)

The command of God:

"Now that you have purified your souls by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart." (1 Pet.1:22)

The treasures of God are not the treasures of the earth: we value gold, silver and diamonds, and we often cheat and kill each other in order to possess them. But God says that we—the nations—are His inheritance! (Ps.2:8,82:8) We think perishable things are treasures, but to Him, we are His eternal treasures! Each one of us is a priceless treasure to Him—measurable only by the cost of giving His Son to purchase us! And so He calls us to love one another (even our enemies) just as much as He loves us, to find our treasures in each other just like He has.

OVERCOMING THE WORLD

The kingdom God has for us is an everlasting kingdom; He wants us to share His inheritance in eternity. Our inheritance is not the kingdoms or things of the world. And so no matter what happens here on earth, we have a firm hope that doesn't spoil or fade, because it is above and not here below:

"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (Jn.16:33)

Because Jesus overcame for us, on our behalf, we can take heart and have peace during every tribulation. Our peace doesn't come from our situations or from attaining a secure 'kingdom' here, but our peace comes from believing in the victory He accomplished on our behalf:

"Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." (1 Jn.5:4)

Our 'overcoming' or 'conquering' is by faith instead of by our works or our battles—He has already accomplished the necessary works for us, triumphing over the enemy at the Cross. (Col.2:15)

THE CHURCH CROWNED

The church began in faith, washed white by the blood of the Lamb, having overcome the world by faith alone because its Lord overcame and had already won the victory. Suffering intense persecution, the church withstood everything the gates of Hades threw at it (Matt.16:18), overcoming by faith—by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and not loving their lives so much as to shrink from death (Rev.12:11).

Then something changed:

"Then I saw when the Lamb opened the first of the the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, 'Come!' I looked, and there was a white horse. The horseman on it had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and in order to conquer." (Rev.6:1-2)

The church received a crown and became dominant. The church could now defend itself from persecution and protect its own. It could use its arms to keep enemies from attacking, and even to conquer enemies. The first motivation is to protect, and then expands to subdue enemies, eliminate threats pre-emptively, and to spread our law and order. Setting aside what Jesus said, the 'kingdom of God' was defended (and expanded) as a kingdom of the world:

"My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would have been fighting so that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But My kingdom is not from the world." (Jn.18:36)

Since the church had the crown and the authority of the government to make and enforce law, the kingdom of God now seemed to be one with the country (or empire) as a place where 'Christian' virtue, morality, righteousness and ideals could be taught in freedom, encouraged, spread, rewarded and even enforced. Whereas before the crown, the word of their testimony was all the church could use to spread the kingdom of God, now the church had the authority of the government to make and enforce law as well. When the country was enlarged by conquest, the 'kingdom' seemed to be increased as well.

HE WHO JUDGES IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

"He sent messengers ahead of Him, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for Him; but the people there did not welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, 'Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?' But He turned and rebuked them, and said, 'You do not know what kind of spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.' And they went on to another village." (Lk.9:52-56)

The crowned church forgot the heart and spirit of Christ among those who were not welcoming. It's very easy for us to believe in our righteousness (our 'right-ness'), that God is on our "side" and those who are against us are against Him, too. Sometimes we even take a 'prophetic' role by declaring that His judgment is against them—against those who disagree with our politics, our policies, our nation, our beliefs and our systems.

When the church began, it "overcame the world" by faith alone in Christ's victory; but when the church received the crown, it began to 'overcome' by defeating its enemies who resisted the 'kingdom' and its ways.



In contrast, there is another 'rider' on a white horse in Revelation:

"Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. And He who sat on it was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many diadems. He had a name written on Him that no one knows except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God." (Rev.19:11-13)

Jesus rides forth not as a conqueror setting out to conquer, but rather as One who has already won the victory—on the Cross! He doesn't set out to gain more crowns from the kingdoms of the earth because He is already crowned with many crowns—all in heaven and earth already belongs to Him! He doesn't need to 'win' the kingdoms of the earth!

He is the One who judges in righteousness, because He is the One who loved all and died for all. He is the One who sees, knows and reads every heart. He is the Word of God who is "living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword," who "penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow." He is the One who judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart, and nothing in all creation is hidden from His sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before His eyes. (Heb.4:12-13)

He is the One who rules the kingdom and who protects it. He is the only one who has the authority to take vengeance and pour out His wrath. He is the only one whose judgment and war is completely righteous. Our judgments, our wars, our politics and our nations are not righteous like He is righteous. Only He is completely "Faithful and True."

'BABYLON'

We may think we are rich in righteousness—in law, morality, right positions and right professions of faith—but we can't mix God's kingdom with the ways and means of the kingdoms of the world forever. We can't try to hold onto the flame of the fire in His eyes and expect Him to look away when we choose to let our agape love grow cold.

"You adulteresses! Don't you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (James 4:4)

This is why 'Babylon' is pictured as a "great prostitute" in Revelation 17. She represents those who began betrothed to Christ, but who commit adultery with the kings and merchants of the earth—she professes her betrothal to Christ but in her heart and actions she seeks power, land, wealth and prosperity for herself and the beast whose fatal wound had been healed. Like the ancient empire of Babylon, she sets out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

She doesn't know that her lovers—the merchants and kings of the earth, and even the beast whose wound was healed—they do not truly love her, and they will hate her and leave her naked.

She chooses to believe in her own righteousness instead of His alone, and to pursue earthly treasures instead of God's treasures—people. She forsakes the testimony of Jesus and His command of agape love in order to gain a 'kingdom' that will not last; she sells her soul seeking 'her own life', but loses even that.

And so He calls us to come out of 'her'—to repent and take up the Cross instead: by pleading His testimony alone and obeying His law of agape love above all other laws.
________________________

Part 5: "The Beast"—Seemingly Favored

The Antichrist Among Us

Part 3 of "Unsealed By the Lamb: Revelation Through the Lamb and His Love"
________________________

The testimony of Jesus and His commands are a threat to the kingdoms of the world—including to the religious establishment:

1) The testimony of Jesus—the gospel—insults our pride and our glorying in our righteousness (or 'right-ness'). To say that Christ is the only way challenges our boasting in our 'ways', in our lawfulness, in our nation and our chosenness, in our politics and policies, and in our works.

2) His agape command—love one another as He loved us—does not harmonize with our priorities; He prizes people (including our enemies) and prioritizes the eternal, but we prioritize power and profit.

This is why in the time of the end, the Scriptures speak of 'rebellion', 'lawlessness' and 'antichrist'.

REBELLION

We prefer to think of the rebelliousness of 'the world'—the rebelliousness of unbelievers because, well, they just don't listen to us and believe. But when Jesus talked about 'the world', He drew no lines between unbelievers and the religious establishment (see John 15:18-16:2). 'The world' included people inside and outside the establishment.

"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs..." (2 Thes.2:1-3)

The word 'rebellion' means "Organized opposition intended to change or overthrow existing authority: insurgence, insurgency, insurrection, mutiny, revolt, revolution, sedition, uprising."

In other words, people who were under an authority have risen up to overthrow it and cast it off. This means that the "rebellion" is not something that comes from outside. It is not the rebellion of the unbelieving 'world', but instead rebellion of those who had been under Christ's authority but have now cast it off. It comes from inside the religious establishment, not from outside.

LAWLESSNESS

2nd Thessalonians 2 also speaks of 'lawlessness', which we naturally think of as meaning violation of the morality of the Ten Commandments—forgetting that the Ten Commandments are the law of the old covenant, and that the 'law' the new covenant is the agape command of Christ, "Love one another as I have loved you."

"Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love [agape] of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matt.24:10-13)

A rebellion occurs among those who have faith and who follow agape love; Christ's law is considered impractical in the face of increasing wickedness in the world. In His name, false prophets and teachers lead people away from His law and faith in His righteousness alone; they set aside 'love one another as I have loved you' and speak instead what people want to hear: our side is 'right' and God sanctions our fight against our enemies.

ANTI-'CHRIST'

"Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us." (1 Jn.2:18-19)

'Antichrist' is not something that comes from outside, but something that comes from among us, and draws us away from Him and His commands in favor of what we want to hear:

"They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them." (1 Jn.4:5)

Seeing the wisdom of the Cross is as foolishness, the spirit of the antichrist vindicates our ways, protecting our pride and our boasts, and keeps Christ's commands something safely 'spiritual' and not meant for use in 'the real world':

"Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world." (1 Jn.4:2-3)

Often we would prefer that Jesus be simply "spiritual"—instead of being the Lord who came in the flesh and calls us to obey not only in our minds, but also with our bodies and every part of our lives. It's easier to keep "Jesus" as a matter of doctrinal and academic truth. We can boast in our profession of His name but keep Him safely compartmentalized, separated from interfering with our boasts, our pride and our ways. We can go on living without letting Him change our values to what He values—we can continue chasing power and profit, and thinking of our 'enemies' as people who keep us from getting them.

If we call Him, "Lord, Lord" and yet cast away His law of agape love in favor of profit and power, we're building our house on sand and turning away from loving Him in 'the least of these' (Mt.7:24-27,25:41-45). Our 'evangelism' becomes preaching His name with our ways instead of with His law—preaching a different "Christ" instead of the real Christ: an anti-'Christ', made in our own image, supporting, vindicating, and championing our ways.

IN CHRIST'S TIME

By the time Christ came to Judea, there had already been several candidates people had hoped would be the Messiah (Acts 5:36-37). The people of Judea looked for the Messiah to be a military leader who would come vindicate them and their politics, drive away their unbelieving enemies (the Romans), and restore the kingdom and the land of Israel to them. They looked for 'messiahs' like Barabbas and the other two rebels who were crucified on either side of Jesus—people who were fighting for Israel's freedom, independence, prosperity, and to bring back 'the kingdom'.

Jesus didn't fit their agenda. He wasn't the kind of 'Messiah' they wanted, and they became afraid that if people listened to Him, saw His power and believed the things He was teaching, they would all lose what they really valued:

"If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place [the temple] and our nation." (Jn.11:48)

The nation was first, and so was their religious establishment. The things Jesus taught were impractical to them—His grace, His commands, His forgiveness and His love. They thought that if they followed His ways, they would even lose their temple and ability to worship God. They believed that their spiritual freedom depended on their political freedom, and that they had to use the ways of the kingdoms of the world in order to establish the kingdom of God.

They believed that the 'enemies' of the Christ (the Messiah) were the Romans outside, but the truth is that the real 'anti-Christ' was inside of them.

TODAY

Are Christ's teachings considered impractical today? Do we value our nation more than following Him? Do we think that His teachings are just good as 'spiritual' truths and not as something meant to literally be put into practice? Do we say "Jesus, Jesus" but bend His teachings to make Him fit our image and vindicate our ways?

Where is the spirit of 'antichrist' today?


________________________

Part 4: "Babylon"—Mixing Kingdoms

Misjudgment!

"Many among My people are proclaiming coming judgment
and that nations must remove sin and sinners to avoid it.
My people are taught that I am about to judge them because
sin dwells in their land and My name is not honored enough.
Harbingers preach that I desire their nations to have governments
and laws that acknowledge Me and give special favor to My people.
They call their nations to repentance for tolerating sin
and for not honoring My name.

"Where is My Son in their witness?
Where is the gospel of My grace to you in Him?
Why is 'judgment' preached according
to the terms of the old covenant?

"Misjudgment! Misjudgment!
You have not understood My heart!
You have not understood My desire!
You have not understood that My jealousy is
for sinners, not for sinlessness!

"You have taught My people error!
You have proclaimed that I desire their righteousness,
when the truth is that only My Son's righteousness saves!
You proclaim that I require the nation to honor My name,
but My commandment is that you must love one another!

"I am not the foundation of your teaching!
My Son is not the cornerstone of your declarations of judgment!
My Spirit is not the spirit of your prophecies!
I am calling you to return to the new covenant,
and to preach the gospel of My grace!"

*****

Art: "Laying Errors"

Exposing Hearts

"I am longing for interaction with you, My people in Charismatic churches!
You call to Me for power: for miracles, for signs and for wonders—
and you look for 'principles' of how to 'lay hold' of them from Me!
You believe that you know 'My will' in situations where you want miracles,
so you do not seek My heart because you don't think it's necessary!
And if you ask, you will not listen to Me unless I say 'yes' to you;
you 'believe for' what you want instead of asking what I want!

"You have buried My heart in the tomb of your teachings!
You don't want Me to tell you something you don't want to hear,
so instead you teach your 'principles' as if they are laws set in stone!
You shut away My heart and tell Me only to encourage your ways
and keep the show of power going in your churches!
And now, because you have tried to keep My heart buried,
you cannot discern the great spiritual confusion in your midst!

"You cannot see that it is you who are trapped in a tomb!
You are trapped by your fear of being disappointed
and by needing signs and wonders to be certain of My love for you!
You cannot hear My unconditional love for you
because you believe in My love conditionally upon receiving your miracles!
Fear in your hearts and refusing My heart allows malicious spirits to come in,
wearing you out and tossing you here and there in confusion to get 'more.'

"Behold, I am sending prophets into your midst to call you back to My heart!
They will not come with the signs of power that you desire so much,
but through them I will expose the cover of your 'principles'
by bearing My heart to you in weakness and vulnerability—
just as My Son bore My heart to you on the Cross.
And just as My heart—My Son—was abused and rejected,
My servants will also be abused and rejected."

*****

Art: "Safe With Me"

In Want

"I am waiting for sympathy in My house!
I am begging for My people to stop and listen to Me,
know the burden of My heart
and offer to meet the needs I share.

"Many of My people think that they already know what I want.
Many believe that I want their things—
some time, some money, some actions,
or some other 'change' they can spare.

"But I am not asking for your things—
I am asking for you!
Give Me your heart!
And give Me your ear,
so I may share My heart with you."

*****

Art: "Waiting For Sympathy"

"Overloading My Children!"

By Ramone Romero
July 21, 2010

Several years ago an intercessor whom I don't know was praying for a big series of meetings in Japan, which would have guest speakers who were famous 'prophetic' voices in charismatic churches/movements. The intercessor wrote:

"God showed me a vision when I prayed for a dream about the [...] meetings on the other day. In the vision, there was a baby in a crib. A mom came to see him and put a list on his crib, and then walked away. On that list were things that he should and shouldn't do. The baby looked very confused. He didn't know what was he supposed to do."

The intercessor said briefly that they thought the baby was the church in Japan, and the mom were the leaders who were treating the baby the wrong way. But then the intercessor went onto say that God was raising up an army in Japan of elite troops, and that through the meetings God would blow a mighty wind through Japan, and to prophesy to people to rise up, rise up, etc.

It was shocking for me to read because the intercessor writing the interpretation and the leader organizing the meetings (who had sent the intercessor's vision out for prayer) seemed to miss what God was saying: There are many, many, many strategies and knowledges leaders and missionaries have been trying to give to the children of Japan, but ONE THING IS NEEDED, the one thing that will not be taken away from them... to rest in the arms of the Lord, sitting at His feet, being cradled by Him.



I painted this picture (titled, "One Thing Is Needed") maybe five or more years later because of a little note my wife made about being confused. She had been hearing many teachings about how you need to know this, and this, and that, and that, etc., and in this case we need to know this or that, etc. The same thing that was happening at those meetings back then with the 'prophets' continues today, not only at that church/network, but here at local churches and around the world.

God, I want to repent for overloading Your children here. You are the Teacher, You are the One. It's not about what I know, what we know, and all the good things we've learned. They need You, not me. God, give us Your heart for them so that we hold them in love instead of teaching them and then walking away. They need love, so fill our arms with Your love so we may hold them, being Your arms. It's all about You and Your love for them. Amen!

And now, today as I post this (January 18th, 2012), I hear You say:

"My children are being overloaded!
My children are being overloaded!
Where are their spiritual parents?
Where are their spiritual parents?

"Woe to those who overload My children!
Woe to those who set before My children rule upon rule,
knowledge upon knowledge and 'level' after 'level'!
Woe to those who scar My children from knowing My love!

"Repent! Repent! Take away your many rules!
Repent of the many 'levels' and 'keys' you force on My children!
Repent of putting My children back under the yoke of Law!
Repent of giving instructions first while withholding love!"

In Bondage to Knowledge

"Woe! Woe to those who burden My people with useless knowledge!
Woe to those who put obstacles between Me and My people!
Woe to those who declare that salvation is in books!
Woe to those who deny the love I have given you on the Cross!
Woe to you, for all your knowledge
will not bring you out of the desert you live in!

"Every knee will bow before Me and every tongue will confess
that I am the Lord, to the glory of God My Father.
I am a jealous God—jealous for My beloved children!
I am wroth with all that abuses you, My precious children!
I died to give you freedom and everlasting life,
how can I not be angry when loads are placed upon you?

"I am coming! I am coming! I am coming,
and I will repay those who put what is falsely called 'knowledge'
between Me and My children!"

*****

Art link: "Reduced"

'Only For the Advanced'

"There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall."
(Psalm 46:4-5)

"Shepherds! Shepherds! Why are you afraid of Me?
Why are you afraid for your spiritual children?
Don't you know that I love them even more than you do?
You are afraid that I cannot keep them safe without you!

"I promised that I would pour out My Spirit on all flesh—even on your children!
But you have been afraid as if My Spirit is a raging river,
safe only for the spiritually mature to swim in.
Unintentionally you have taught My children to be afraid of Me,
that I will not keep them safe and that I give dangerous gifts to those I love.
You teach them to sing about Me but also to stay at a safe distance away.
They are left with longing, waiting to go deeper,
yet because you have taught them shadows from the old covenant,
the river of My Spirit appears murky to them—forbidding all
but the most spiritually 'advanced' from getting in the water unsupervised.

"For a time I have allowed you to stand between Me and My children
in order to give you time to repent.
But the day is coming when your walls will be broken down:
the rivers of the world will break them, and My Spirit will also break them.
I will allow this so that I may make My children glad with My presence,
and so that I may strengthen them and prepare them for the days that are coming.
Unless the barriers you have put between Me and My children are removed,
My children will not be able to stand in the days to come.

"Take Me at My word: Teach My children the truth of the New Covenant!"

*****

Art: "River of Bondage"

Hidden Truth

"I am the God of truth, and I am the One who is perfect in knowledge. I am He who separates light from darkness and lays bare the thoughts and attitudes of every heart.

"I have called you to seek Me and find Me, but I have not called you to discover and systematize information about Me. I am beyond searching out, but I have revealed Myself so that you could know My heart of love for you. I sent My Son to you from My bosom—Him who is My very heart—and then gave you My own Spirit.

"I have opened My heart to you so that you could open your heart to Me! But many of you have become devoured by the pursuit of knowledge. Many of your hearts are broken and cannot be fulfilled by attaining more knowledge.

"I did not save you for this! I want you to be healed, and I want you to be at peace. I want you to trust Me: I love you and will never let you go."

Slavery ("For Your Own Good")

"Many of the pastors, teachers and prophets among My people
are leading My people into prostitution:
They are teaching My people that they must do
the works of the old covenant to please Me
so that I will give them a blessed life.
Many of these leaders know I do not require obedience
to the regulations of the old covenant.
Yet they continue to teach My people the ways of slavery
in order to keep their own place and position.
They put My people in slavery and say it is for their own profit.

"And so many of My people don't know how much I love them!
Many are trying to earn enough 'currency' with Me
to attain what they are taught is 'a blessed life'.
Their teachers have them look for satisfaction
in the ways and means of the world.

"How much longer will I endure this?"

Offensive Love

"Do not be afraid when I send messengers who speak words that seem offensive. Do not reject the messengers. Do not assume that what I say will never offend you. Even after I have done great work in your heart and your life, your heart may still be tied to things which you don't really need. When I send a messenger to you who gives you a word that seems offensive, I am showing you a part of your heart that needs to be set free. Do not be proud of how well you have been 'walking', but remember that you have been walking at all only because of My grace. I am not interested in preserving your pride; I am interested in healing your heart and setting you free."

*****

Art: "Heartstrings"