In this particular chapter, I wish to convey to you, the meaning of being the spotless bride of the
Lamb. There has never been such a shaking, purifying, and declaration unto the body of Christ as in the last few years. We
sense a divine urgency to become holy, as He is holy. And at the same time we are in great expectancy, of a sovereign move
upon the land.
Opening Scripture: Psalms 106: 24-39
Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his
word:
But murmured in their tents, [and] hearkened not unto
the voice of the LORD.
Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow
them in the wilderness: To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands. They
joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. Thus they provoked [him] to anger with their inventions:
and the plague brake in upon them.
Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and [so] the
plague was stayed. And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore. They angered [him] also
at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake
unadvisedly with his lips. They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them: But were mingled among
the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, [even]
the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted
with blood.
Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with
their own inventions.
This is the call to this generation: It¹s time to seek His face, and not just His hand! It is a clear concise
call, even perhaps the final call unto the church of America. It is to truly have the house of the Lord set in order. To be
the pure, spotless bride of His choosing.
This passage of psalms, is speaking of the heart of Israel's rebellion to God in the wilderness, and the
heart of God's compassion and his dealings toward them. In the following scriptures, we will understand that during afflictions,
and trials of life, while in its testings, we can despise the dealings of God towards us. We find ourselves rejecting his
reproof and corrections.
God is a God of judgment and justice. We can allow ourselves to grow weary in well doing if we don't submit
our hearts fully to his will. When bitterness and strife towards God sets up within us, it creates a mentality of justification
by works alone. We feel God should rise up, and slay the persecutors of our day.
We seek to want to find a false refuge in backing off, relaxing our spiritual muscle, and like the children
of Israel, go back into Egypt´s bondage, back into captivity, where the devil deceives us into thinking "at least I know what
the day holds." Although perplexed by the unrighteous taskmasters, I still have a comfort in knowing my daily routine.
When persecution arises against us, it's not after us, but the Word of the Lord grafted within our hearts.
We become justified in our own mind. We set up, and build our own altars of profane worship to God. We offer up sacrifices
that we feel will "soothe the savage beast" within us. We become as the children of Israel, a harlot, going for whatever brings
about an answer, no matter what the cost.
We don't separate ourselves unto him only. We mingle our love, our faith, our offerings, with the pollution
that is within the world, and then come to God to place our blemished sacrifices, upon a righteous altar, that do not bring
forth a sweet savor to God, but a stench in his nostrils.
ISAIAH 56: 1 & 2
Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation [is] near
to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed [is] the man [that] doeth this, and the son of man [that] layeth hold
on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
We are to rid ourselves, our families, our children, our churches of whoredom. There is only one sacrifice,
one cup, one altar that we are to be partakers of. We are to be partakers of His Life, His Cup of Salvation, and His Sacrifice.
We cannot serve two masters in any arena of life.
We as the Body of Christ must present OURSELVES as a living sacrifice, Holy and acceptable unto God. However,
we present ourselves tainted, upon the altar of God. We have mingled ourselves with the world, we have been, so to speak,
"sleeping with the enemy" deliberately!. We cannot drink of the cup of righteousness, and the cup of devils.
EZEKIEL 20: 5-26
And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel,
and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I
lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I [am] the LORD your God; In the day [that] I lifted up mine hand unto them,
to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the
glory of all lands:
Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile
not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I [am] the LORD your God.
But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every
man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my
fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen,
among whom they [were], in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into
the wilderness. And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in
them.
Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might
know that I [am] the LORD that sanctify them.
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes,
and they despised my judgments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then
I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen,
in whose sight I brought them out. Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into
the land which I had given [them], flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands;
Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths:
for their heart went after their idols.
Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them
in the wilderness. But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither
observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
I [am] the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I [am] the LORD your God.
Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes,
neither kept my judgments to do them, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said,
I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. Nevertheless
I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose
sight I brought them forth. I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen,
and disperse them through the countries;
Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted
my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.
Wherefore I gave them also statutes [that were] not good, and judgments whereby
they should not live; And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through [the fire] all that openeth
the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I [am] the LORD.
God says he made Himself known unto the children of Israel, while they were in Egypt's bondage. He made
known His ways, far before the wilderness of Sinai. But they were not willing and obedient, to eat the good of the land that
the Lord entreated them with. They really didn't believe in a personal deliverer. They looked for more of a corporate judge,
deliverer, and affilictor of their enemies, in the land of Egypt. We are to COME OUT and be SEPARATE from the world´s entanglement.
Israel truly came out of Egypt, but Egypt did not come out of them. Therefore, coupled together with their
defiance, murmuring, rebellion, and hardness of heart, they could not inherit the land, until the former land had come out
of them.
In other words, until Israel dealt with their heart, and became willing AND obedient, their sacrifices and
altars were polluted. Oh, they had the miracles, signs, and wonders in their midst, and still were not pleasing unto God.
We ourselves do the same today, as spiritual Israel. We justify ourselves by blaming our families, our spouse,
our children, our employer, and even blame the devil for things, that have come about due to our lack of willingness, and
obedience.
If you are willing only, you will eventually wander in fear, hopelessness, and unfulfilment. If you
are obedient only, you will harden your heart, become bitter, and cynical, and cannot have faith towards God in love. But
if you are both willing and obedient, you will not have to go through life scarcely getting by on just the crumbs that fall
from the Masters table, but you will eat the GOOD of the land.
You will find the destiny, joy, and abundance of provision that has been made available to you.
You will as the scriptures say "Run and not grow weary, Walk and not faint."
You will also find that you are pleasing to God and his corrections, and His disciplines you will welcome.
The outcome is pure unblemished offering upon a pure altar of sacrifice. You will be a sweet smelling savor unto the Most
High God.
I PETER: 1: 1-21
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the
Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant
mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance
incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in
the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold
temptations:
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though
it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye
rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your]
souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come]
unto you:
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify,
when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not
unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the
gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace
that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your
ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is
written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every
man's work, pass the time of your sojourning [here] in fear:
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver
and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of
Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but
was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory;
that your faith and hope might be in God.
If it were not for the abundant mercies of our God, we would be consumed by the God of this world. If it
would not have been for the ultimate sacrifice upon Golgotha´s hill, through Jesus´ supreme sacrifice, if it would not have
been for Christ´s entrance into hell´s darkened gates to extract the keys and the leading of captivity captive, we would be
in a hell of a mess, literally. verses 3, 4.
The obedience of Jesus to the Father, is the example of how we are to be obedient unto him.
The real test of our willingness and obedience, is in what I call "our garden of Gethsemane experiences."Jesus
faced this insurmountable pressure before going to the cross. Jesus actually died first in the garden. he died to his own
self-will and desires. The cross experience and salvation would have not been complete, without his willingness first. The
scripture said "He was obedient unto death, ("representing first death") EVEN the death of the cross." He became obedient
through his willingness to drink of the cup of Gods wrath that was brimming over, against humanity.
CLOSING:
II PETER: 2: 19 For this [is] thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief,
suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory [is it], if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently?
but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Entanglement of the world.....
This letter to Timothy is to warn of the apostasy. The false prophets that arise, deceiving themselves,
and being deceived. However it speaks of not only vain glories and damnable heresies, but speaks to all those who walk after
the flesh.
When God delivers us out of bondage and affliction, we must be spiritually cautious to not go back into
it. v.15. Once we know the way of righteousness, its cut and dried from there on.
Once God has given us revelatory truths in an area, we are then held accountable to walk in them. We also
have certain members in the body, that have once again chosen to return to their own vomit. We have heard the Word of the
Lord, but have not kept it. We think we are wise, but we are fools and our self deceived. We become as the religious leaders
of the day straining at a spiritual gnat, and at the same time swallowing on a carnal camel.
We are not like Moses, knowing the ways and heart of God. But we strive to see only his acts. Verses 17,
and 18 paint a more vivid picture as a true warning to the body today.
SEEING THAT WE KNOW these things.....
We are to examine our hearts daily to see if we are bringing a mixture of light and darkness to the table
of the world. We are to be as the sons of Issachar knowing the season of His visitation.
We are to exemplify a posture of steadfastness; unwavering, undying love to the master. If he tried the
hearts of the very chosen elect of Israel, What makes us think he will not bring judgment to the present day house.
We have been for the last twenty years bombarded with revelational truths.
We have seen the mighty hand of God altering nations, birthing supernatural evidences of his power, reviving
amidst his people, showering His mercy upon a nation that continually, pours out its vile upon our young. A nation that regards
not man nor fears a God of justice, and judgement.
He still loves us enough that he cares for the smallest problems we have, even in the midst of chaotic nations
in rebellion and upheaval, he still hears our faintest cry.
But this generation, typifies that of old: Sodom is at the door of judgment again. The changing of the guard
has come. Where will you be standing this day. Will your families be residing in Him? Will your children of a new millennium,
be a remnant of God´s purposes in the earth? or will they be offered up to the profaned polluted altars of evil sacrifice.
What are we willing to offer up in exchange for our own souls?
Let us truly be a pure bride. Let us offer up sacrifices, truly and wholly acceptable unto Him. Let us not
be poisoned with the same watering trough of this world.. Come apart ! and be ye separate.
