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Current mood:  rejuvenated
He who has ears let him hear! This is an account of what the Spirit has been speaking to my heart over the last 2 weeks while in Turkey.
There is a shift that's been taking place in the atmosphere physically and ever more important spiritually. The Lord has been weighing on my heart in tremendous ways. I only hope to convey this message accurately as it's to be.
The end is near my brethren. Yes, I realize people have been saying this for centuries, fine. The Holy Spirit has placed a FIRE on my soul for this message. Many words have been spoken over and over in little different ways as to the urgency of the matter. Since coming to Arizona, John the Baptist has been laid on my heart; his purpose and calling. I find my life caught up in very similar parallels. I'm compelled to share with people that Jesus is returning very soon because … well … it's true! On this trip in Turkey the team dubbed me "John the Baptist" in part due to my demeanor and in part due to my looks – I have been rocking an AWESOME beard if I do say so myself …. and I do! ?
Saints! We need more of them, we need them better trained and equipped to do the bidding of the Lord here on earth. Time is out people! The Spirit has been showing me this over and over. It's time to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth once again. For this to happen we need EXTREMELY well trained soldiers for Christ Jesus who count their lives as NOTHING! I repeat NOTHING! Jesus says, to hate your family in comparison to the love one is to have for Him (paraphrasing - Matthew 10:34-39 please look it up and read for yourself)
I know now that I'm not there yet in terms of truly counting my life as nothing. However, this is the journey for me and I must find its end, for the real beginning. In actuality when one puts into perspective the realities of what we are in the flesh it's merely dust and moisture combined. John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. We are made in God's image right? Then how important are our words? Do we speak curses or blessings towards people? God is Word! The enemy is continually attempting to steal or change our words to be something other than edify, glorifying and blessing to others and to God Almighty. Turn off your TV's (false idols), turn off your secular music, eat plain regular food that is natural and healthy (rather than the poison of the American diet), and drink water. Take every thought captive!
We need to be an army without concern for the things of Babylon. America is Babylon, it's not a dream it's a nightmare! We're (America at large) spreading it's heresy far and wide around the globe.
Rev. 18:1-8 - After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. With a mighty voice he shouted:
"Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird. For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries."
Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
"Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.
Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup. Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, 'I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.'
Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.
Please continue reading the rest of the chapter because it's all very relevant. Here's what the Spirit was poking at my heart while in Turkey is this command, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins …"
Babylon is the new religion we are fighting here on earth and it's spreading faster than one might imagine. We are a nation rapidly creating a world of materialism, of luxury or more accurately "supposed luxury". All we are doing is spending future generations inheritances, what a wicked generation we are with our credit cards. Buying today what we can't afford until tomorrow. What resources will be left for the future? What a travesty this is towards God and towards our fellow man. The so called "American Dream" is a belief/idea founded on materialism and building our own individual kingdom, rather than the kingdom of God! It's Jesus we need and nothing more, not religion or materialism. We need Jesus pure and true.
I left on this trip for 2 weeks in Matthew 10 style. I brought no bag, no extra shirt or shoes. I must confess I did bring $40 for gifts in my right shoe $20 of which was taken on my arrival to Turkey to pay for my Visa which I was completely unaware needed to be paid. I didn't bring my wallet or any credit cards. The Lord was to provide for me this entire trip (In large part to some of you, thank you! Thank you!) and you know what he did! Wow, what a concept, being obedient to Jesus actually works out! Thank you again for your faithfulness.
What did I learn from this trip? It's time to be about the Lord's business because we're; "… knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door!" One night in Ayden I ended up in a bar at the time I was told was a "gay and lesbian" bar. Wow, okay God you're stretching me what can I do to minister and serve you? I began praising and worshiping Him in the midst of the music going on and the people around me. I didn't know whether or not this really was a "gay and lesbian" bar but the Lord brought me there that night to be a light. I asked Lord, when are you returning? When are you going to redeem the saints? When will justice be shown? How soon Lord? How soon?!!!! The Lord showed me he comes to each of us in our own unique way specifically designed and tailored to us. The group I was with then announced in the middle of these thoughts and worship that they were requesting the band play a song for me. The song was up to the lead singer, his choice. No sooner did I find myself on stage singing with this long haired Turkish rock star spouting Bob Dylan – "Knocking on heaven's door" God is good and always with us! He hears the prayers of His children, always! Gay and Lesbian or not the Lord showed me he's everywhere. Into the darkness we must go to find the others who are to be chosen for His glory!
The American believers have such an opportunity! We could do so much for the kingdom of God. Yet we frequently tend to rely on our own will power, finances, and man's education. These verses came to mind about America as I visited in person Sardis and Laodicea.
Sardis:
Rev. 3:3-4 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Laodicea:
Rev. 3:16-22 So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
I can't help but feel all too strongly the conviction this brings to my heart regarding America and myself. We in America tend to live in this bubble of ignorance regarding our spiritual fervor and true standing in God's eyes. We are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked spiritually. We are and it's a sad state of affairs.
This is what the Spirit says to America. How are we to hear God, see God or experience God if we don't actually live the Bible? Do we rely on God's provision or our own? Have we gone and given all to the poor to follow Jesus as was asked of the rich man? People we are the rich man in this story! Luke 18:18-23
The word comes up again, NOTHING! Do we count all we are and have as NOTHING for the glory of God Almighty?! How are we to know God otherwise?
On this trip another word came to the forefront, SUFFERING. This is a word that's been foreign to me and my walk here in America. Over and over the Bible makes mention of suffering for Jesus; suffering and persecution for the name of Jesus. Have I suffered? Have I been persecuted for the name of Jesus? Not like what I read the apostles, prophets and disciples going through. Let's bring this conversation into the here and now. To be a believer in Turkey the cost is tremendous. In most cases your family will out right reject you, stop talking to you, see you as dead in their eyes, may even beat or attempt to kill you. Suffering for Jesus – the Bible says this is something to rejoice over. I am hard pressed to turn my thoughts away from the notion that suffering for the name of Jesus brings us closer into the arms and heart of God. Guess what, I want to be closer to God and closer to understanding His abundant goodness. How am I to experience God in this way without going through such hardships? I won't be able to.
One of the other team members on the trip made a comment to one of our interpreters; saying "God is good." The interpreter took a moment and with thoughtful consideration replied in a way I'll never forget, "God is very good." You had to be there to see it but the stark contrast to the depth of understanding of truly how "good" God really is was on two vastly different playing fields. The first statement seemed empty and contrite in relation to the second (to no fault of my fellow American). I couldn't help but feel the depth at which our interpreter has understanding for the goodness of God, is most likely in large part due to suffering physical persecution and emotional persecution from family members out right rejecting you that quite honestly, I've not yet fully tasted. When we suffer, I would imagine a new richness of God's goodness and joy will fall upon our shoulders.
Another word made mention of repeatedly in Revelation, "OVERCOME". We need to overcome the world and live in God's perspective rather than man's perspective. I pray, "God make me an "overcomer!" Allow me to overcome my flesh, the world and the principalities of darkness. There is such a battle going on, a WAR! The enemy comes to devour like a roaring lion! Yet, we're lolled to sleep with our sugar and TV entertainment.
Matthew 11:12 - From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
It's time to build an ARMY against the principalities of darkness. We must take back dominion of the earth from the evil spirits and strongholds on this planet, from the lies of little old Satan and his little pathetic followers whose time is quickly coming to an end.
Genesis 1:28 - God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
We are to rule the earth not the weak loser Satan. We have authority in Christ Jesus! Bind and loose the power of the Lord! Let's begin to use it! Gird yourselves in the Word of God and let the games begin! We are to live triumphantly! Are we not? Let's put on the armor and kick some spiritual tail! Pull down the strongholds! What's the alternative if we don't? Heaven's going to be a very quite place if we don't begin spreading the glory of the Lamb that was slain, Jesus Christ!
These words are just a small portion to which was experienced on this 2 week trip. I am extremely, extremely grateful for the opportunity of you sending me half way around the world as an ambassador for Jesus and for all of your prayers. I know that it's only by the hand of God that we left a particular region unharmed.
There is much to share and tell. I'm still gathering my thoughts and letting the trip sink in a bit more. My gratitude for you all is tremendous. I look forward to hearing from and speaking to you all.
Know this, Jesus is returning soon! Prepare your house and your horse!
Peace be with you!
8:36 AM
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