Not Called By Man

I thank God for all of the strong meat He has given us at the ESC. Those who come and gather together in His name know that His presence is there whenever we come before Him (wherever two or more are gathered in His name, He is in the midst). And knowing that the Lord is faithful to us in this way is reason alone for us to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.

The Lord is encouraging those that are His to come higher,to be perfect and holy as He is perfect and holy, and to be obedient to every word that proceeds out of His mouth. If we live to please God always, in private and in public, surely He will reward those who diligently seek Him. Below is what the Lord spoke to me during a time of worship at church yesterday morning (words in parentheses are understandings):

Have you the faith to receive all that I have promised to you? I tell you all, the heavens are opened to you. Come and dwell in My presence where there is fullness of joy. Come and be strengthened this day for I will hold nothing back. You are Mine and I love you as sons and daughters (as many that are led by the Spirit are the sons of God).

Do not think it robbery to walk as I walked and to stand in the place I have called you to. For you are not called by man, but by God. And those who humble themselves before me daily will I lift up. Put on humility. Seek meekness and righteousness for this pleases me. I hear the cry of those who say they want more of me. I tell you cease from your own labors, take up your cross daily and follow Me. There is much left to do for My name's sake and for My kingdom. I tell you this day, come and let us reason together for I have much to show you by My Spirit. For the day has come when He who hinders will let. Let not those things that I have given you be buried for you know the parable of the talents and do have the understanding. Those who have much, will be given more, but those who have little, those who have not entered in to the fullness of what I had for them, all that they have will be taken away. Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. For I would not have any of My people to be ignorant of the devices of the enemy. I tell you those who are ignorant, have chosen to be so willfully for I have come and gone. I have sent My Spirit that you may have all understanding by My Spirit.

Obedience is better than sacrifice (The Lord gave me another understanding of this when I heard it this time. Obedience to God and all that He requires of you by His Spirit is better than sacrificing your own life in order to obtain salvation. In the times to come, when the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled, and the former and latter rain are poured out, this time of grace as we know it will come to an end. The days will cease where being disobedient to the voice of God can be corrected with repentance. In the times to come, when someone steps outside of the pavilion of God--leaves the places of drawing waters, led away by their own lusts--they will remove themself from the covering of God. Because many of these Christians did not discipline themselves to hear and obey the Spirit of God, it will cost them their very life. Because of this, in this instance, God said, 'Obedience is better than sacrifice').

Anyone who has ears to hear knows that the day of destruction is so close. Even if you ask the Lord when His judgments will be poured or when all these things will come to pass, almost assuredly you will hear the word 'soon.' I thank God that those He loves, He chastens and that those who love Him, although it is not pleasant when it happens, love to be corrected by God.

For those who have made it their life to be obedient to all that the Lord has required of them, continue on the path that is set before you. Continue to allow the words that He speaks in your ear to be your daily bread. For those who have not obeyed the voice of God and who choose to look to a man for there daily bread, instead of the Lord, I ask you to repent, ask God to forgive you for your unbelief and seek Him that He may give you ears to hear what His Spirit is speaking. If we do not love the voice of our Master more than anything of this world or the voice of any man, we are condemned already because the kingdom of God has come nigh unto us and we loved the darkness more than the light. The time is short.

As the Lord has commanded us, let us cease from our own labors, take up our cross daily and follow Him.

God bless,
Ryan