Called Unto Strength

During worship at church yesterday, Rhonda began to play a song with these lyrics "Oh draw me, Lord. Oh draw me, Lord. Oh draw me, Lord and I'll run after you." As the church began to sing this song to the Lord, He spoke this:

Word:
I have drawn you, and I have called and chosen you for such a time as this. That out of your bellies would flow the rivers of living waters. Who among you can say that I the Lord have not spoken to you or do not reveal Myself unto you daily? I am with you and there are none here that have not heard.

But I tell you this, none that love the cares of this life more than Me will stand in the days to come. For it is of a truth that I say to you that the world is enmity against God and I will not accept those that love the world or the things thereof. Put on Christ, all that have ears to hear. Seek those things which are above for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

As you know, I have not called you unto weakness, but rather unto strength, for My Spirit dwells in you. Walk as I walked, in righteousness, according to truth, that the blind may see and that the captives may be set free. Where My Spirit is, there is liberty. Therefore, as My Spirit leads, loose those that are in bondage that they may rejoice in Me even as you do rejoice this day.

Also as a confirmation, and for more understanding, the Lord gave me Matthew 18. Although the whole chapter was very stirring in many ways, I will highlight below what the Lord ministered to me in this.

Matthew 18:1-4
¹At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?²And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, ³And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:7-9
⁷Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! ⁸Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. ⁹And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

Matthew 18:18-20
¹⁸Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. ²⁰For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 18:21-35
²¹Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? ²²Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. ²³Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. ²⁴And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. ²⁷Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. ²⁸But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. ²⁹And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. ³⁰And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. ³¹So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. ³²Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: ³³Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? ³⁴And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. ³⁵So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

In regards to this last passage, the passage of a certain king being patient toward his debtor, the Lord was confirming some specific things to me. Although the first debtor was given time by the king to repay his debts, he did not show the same mercy and patience toward his fellowservant. Although it is true that God is merciful, patient and longsuffering toward us, He would not have us judge others more harshly than ourselves. We must first get the beam out of our own eye, before trying to help a brother remove the spec out of his own. We must judge ourselves first and eat all that God gives us, before trying to pass it on to someone else. If we do not eat our own words (the word of God from our mouths) and judge ourselves accordingly, as Paul said, we ourselves could become castaways.

God be with us all, and may we put on humility that we may go before Him daily with thanksgiving in our hearts and His praises on our lips.

In Him,
Ryan