The Eerie Lull Before the Storm

Matthew 16:3...It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. Oh you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

Remember those times before a really bad storm. The barometric pressure drops, the winds dies down, sometimes the sky gets a weird green glow. You take one last look around to see if you have put everything away that is going to get blown over. You start thinking about the power going out. Are the flash lights ready? Do we have some water and food? I hope that I don't need the back-up generator. Do we have what we need in the basement to be comfortable? Have I done all I could to prepare? Because you never know if this one will be the life changing big one!

In the Spirit, I'm experiencing one of those times. I may or may not be as prepared as I possibly could, the Lord knows. I am acutely aware though, of how unprepared my neighbors are. I'm talking about those who say that they are Christians. Not the obviously happy in their ignorance, but those self proclaimed "prepared". Their inability to see all the items left laying in their yard leaves them at risk. When the wind blows anything not tied down will hit their home with destructive force, more than likely to their hurt.

Hopefully, I have judged myself and removed the beam out of my own eye, to see clearly. My faith in God's ability to speak to me, allows me to be confident in the things I hear in the Spirit. I don't claim to know everything, but what I hear in my ear I speak. Doctrines, hidden manna, the opening of things that were sealed to the end times and misunderstood truths that are written in the Bible. If iron sharpens iron, we should expect the dull shavings to fall to the ground. If this sharpening is in fact part of the purging, winnowing , removing of dross and impurities process, our expectation should be that God is revealing error in our lives. In the purifying process heat is generated. What people do with the built up heat and pressure exposes who they truly are, for good or for evil. Sometimes, in the house of friends, we are attacked, often we are wounded. The balancing point is this; was the attack deserved in the defence of truth. The speck in our neighbors eye often does not not come out easily. Sometimes, it can be painful and irritating, often like a dog in pain, they bite the hand of the one who is trying to help. Whether thy are healed depends on them hearing or rejecting truth. When they reject truth they reject the Holy Spirit who leads into all truth, Jesus who is truth, and the Father whose doctrines the righteous expound.

Proverbs 26:12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
Ecclesiastes 8:5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.

One example of the need for purging is the Law vs Holy Spirit. Another example is tradition of men vs Holy Spirit. Understanding times by the Holy Spirit vs the way it was previously in the existing covenant, is being brought to light even now. When things that were previously sealed and are now open to us, it will require an opening of our understanding to what God is doing or showing us. If we resist, we resist at our peril of being likened to a Pharisee:Acts 7:51 You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you. Daniel 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.People who lack understanding in defending what they believe to be true actually will succumb to delutions. John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. Luke 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 54And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. 55And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. 56Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? 57Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? (There's that storm again.)

Isaiah 26:10 Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.

Proverbs 9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 7He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 12If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

Interesting, when we try to convince someone to draw closer to God, to have ears to hear by the Holy Spirit, they lean to their own understanding and reject you and truth. When you try to teach "sound doctrine", line upon line, precept upon precept, of being kept from harm in the tribulation period, you are rejected. They hold to one scripture over another there by becoming unwise, not taking the whole council of God. They compare in their own minds the value of scriptures and by works, in their strength attempt to come to truth rather than relying on God to lead them by the Holy Spirit. Galatians 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Amazingly, some of those that that resist God, resist truth saying that they have ears to hear. They will accuse you of preaching another Christ, of trying to deceive others, or say you have faith in faith. Decide now not to let them take what God has given you. They comparing themselves by themselves are unwise. If we are charged to work out or own salvation, and God has revealed His doctrine to you, to God alone you stand. Of course all that you stand on will agree with what is written, fearing God, and being careful where we stand lest we fall. Yet, all the while if you are of a humble and contrite spirit and ask, the Father gives you understanding. Do not be surprised when the religious attack and give you wounds in the house of supposedly friends, they did it to Jesus.

Proverbs 14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Hebrews 2: 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Those weird green storm clouds, they look like pride! When they the proud, fall and are blown because they are not rooted or tied down in truth, they will try to take you as well.

L,J,P&HG
Dave