March 20, 2009
I got this while in prayer today, and felt like there is an urgency about it. It's time to be ready! Some of this is for Debbie, and I'll point that out as it comes, but part of it is for all of us. A warning for us!
Read Zechariah, Chapter 14, verses 1-4. I know this was written for a time long before our time, and for the city of Jeruselum, but I do believe God speaks these words to us and to our nation today.
In the introduction to Zechariah in my bible this is what it says:
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You wake with a start, sweating profusely. You aren't sure what the dream was about, you just know it was bad. You remember trying to run in the dream, but not being able to move your legs. It was pure fantasy, but it felt real and it was enough to wake you up.
Dreams can be caused by indigestion, anxiety, desires, concerns, and other mental emotional conditions. Dreams can be fun, entertaining, and even enlightening. But they can also invoke fear, stress, and outright terror.
Zechariah, God's prophet in Jerusalem more than five hundred years before Christ, had a series of nighttime experiences that kept him awake for a week. More than mere dreams, these were visions of God's future plans for His people, including a description of the Messiah. Through these visions God gave his message to Zechariah, who then faithfully relayed them to his family, friends, neighbors, countrymen . . . and us.
As you read Zechariah, take hope in knowing that God controls the future, YOUR future, and that the King is coming. Then get a good night's sleep.
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After I read those first 4 verses, I prayed and prayed and prayed. These are the words I received, and I believe they are words from the Lord. Please help me discern what I heard.
"The storm is coming - be ready. Get ready - be prepared. 2 Corinthians 6:2 "NOW is the day of salvation!" PRAY!!!! Read Matthew 24. Verse 21 says "Terrible times are coming - a time of tribulation like no other".
(This next part is what the Lord answered for Debbie's prayer - Mark 16:15. "Tell everyone - proclaim the gospel!" (For all of us, too)
Matthew 23: 36, 37 (read all of chapter 23) "All of this will be the fate of the present generation" "How often have I yearned to gather your children (and I'm thinking of Dad in this, too) as a mother bird gathers her young under her wings, but you refused me" vs 39 - "I tell you, you will not see me until you declare "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." My thoughts on this - when we accept Jesus as our savior, then we declare "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" and we are gathered under his wing.
This is how we need to prepare. Come to Jesus - accept Him as your Lord and Savior - then batten down the hatches! The storm is here, and getting worse!
Psalm 50 verses 1-15 for Debbie. Read those verses. Encouraging words, for sure.
The Lord says: "My spirit is able to work more freely through you in a spirit of thanksgiving. Always have an attitude of gratitude. I shower you with many blessings daily, but sometimes you don't notice them. When you are stuck in a negative focus, you don't see me or my gifts. So, in faith, always be thankful for whatever is pre-occupying your mind. This will clear away anything blocking you from finding me. I'm always with you - always blessing you - you need to live in thanksgiving for all things - praise (thanksgiving) will bring you out of your bondages, your prisons, into freedom in ME!!!!
6 comments:
Wow! This is a powerful message. The magnet on my refrigerator says "In all things give Thanks." I live by this motto and it works for me to be a positive thinker and I seem to continuously receive blessings. It is too easy to be worried and we don't need to live in fear. We need to have faith that God will see us through the hard times he warns us of here. Thank you for sharing the word and the lesson.
Thank you Mom for "gathering your children" and "showing us the way".
This is, indeed, a powerful message and some very powerful scripture.
We cannot just accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and then go on living in sin an expect to be spending eternity with Him!
We cannot claim to be a follower of Christ, and continue to live as a hypocrite! The most important thing is love, faith, compassion, etc. NOT how much you tithe or how loudly you shout out your prayers for all to hear and act holy for all to see, then ignore the laws of God in your life.
You cannot sit on the finance committee of your church, then ignore and/or abuse the most vulnerable of people.
You cannot consider yourself to be above being a lowly servant in the service of God - in your faith community.
Yes, read all of Matthew 23. There is much, much more in there!!!!
Linda is a wonderful example of what an attitude of gratitude can do for you!!
The time is soon, Lonnie, I have received several such messages over the past 125 years or so. Sounds like a long time to be talking aobut "soon?" Remember, God's time is not OUR time. And, I do believe he wants to give all of His children the time ot come to understand what they need to do.
Thank you for this teaching, Lonnie. And, of course, I thank God - for you and for this teaching!
Oh my, I should have proof read the above comment before posting it. I do mean "15 years or so" NOT "125 years or so." Gosh, who do I think I am? Methusila!?!?!?! (sp?)
Well, I know one thing - you have 125 years worth of wisdom, Sharon! Thank you for your sharing, too. These are important words you share here. And I know I really need to pay attention and work on it all the time.
I, speaking for myself here, do know that coming to Jesus, and inviting Him into our hearts and where we are, is for sure THE way to begin to "Get ready", because that is what seems to make you aware of and want to do the things you speak of here. And from the beginning of "Christ living in us", it is a journey of learning to be full of love for everyone, and learning what faith is, and learning to be compassionate, etc. And I know I can never be done learning anything the Lord is trying to work in me. I am a "tough nut to crack", but it can be done! That is what I believe is what these words are saying is to ask Jesus into your hearts (that's the "get ready" part), and then reach out to people and share this "good news", pay attention to what Jesus is trying to do with you and those around you. (That's the "battening down the hatches" part). Linda, you really are a great example and witness of what Jesus means by this attitude of gratitude. You seem to have learned to trust Him and to praise Him in all things! I need to learn from you - and all of you. We all have special gifts and talents that can help other people in their struggles and their journey. That's why we all need each other in this time of hardships, or in times of plenty - we need to keep each other working towards the goal - Eternity with Our Lord and Savior and our God! Thanks, everyone!
Whew! This is a lot to digest! I think I could read Matthew 23-24 for the rest of my days and find something new in there every day. The Bible is an incredible book - the more I study and read, the less I feel like I know.
Psalm 50:14-15 says to "sacrifice thank offerings to God" ... and "Call upon Him in the day of trouble." Isn't that a comfort? Know that by thanking him even when you would rather cry and give up acknowledges that HE is in control, and you can trust Him! What peace that brings!
Thank you Mom, and everybody, for your study and your insight. It's so encouraging.
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