Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Stand before the Lord



For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God's Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food.” (Hebrews 5:12)

As we go through rough times in our life, for most of us, in the back of our minds we feel there is someone or something “out there” that can help, guide or comfort us besides the Lord. It might be family, a friend, a doctor, a lawyer, our money, the church or the government. Yet we will sing the song to the Lord that says, “He’s all I need” and to an extent we believe that and it is true, as least for those who that have truly committed their life’s to him and daily pick up their cross to follow him.

But there is coming a time, and I believe it is fast approaching us, when the Lord would have us put aside all the crutches we have used in this life and look only to the Lord. God is looking for a people that will hear HIS voice, trust and follow HIM; even if they are totally alone they will not fail, because they KNOW their God. They will recognize HIS voice, whether it is through another person or directly to them by the Holy Spirit. We need to stop depending on a preacher or a teacher to tell us what is in the Word or what God’s will is for us or what is going on in these last days. While we can share and have fellowship with one another, our leadership needs to come from the Lord alone!

This is a new concept to many that are in the religious church system today. They look up to a “Pastor” as their spiritual head, and go to him for their spiritual needs. This is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which God hates! The power of the clergy over the laity.

(Revelation 2:6) "But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate."(Revelation 2:15) "So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate."
If you don’t think this is true, how many could give a word from the Lord to the assembly they attend without first getting permission? What if God gave you a song to sing? Or would you first have to get permission from the “powers that be” in your assembly? If the Holy Spirit is directing you, why would you need to go to a man for permission in a place that claims to be of the Lord? Let us agree that the church system today is not setup that way, it would not be “practical”. It is not a “normal” thing for them to do; it would be too disruptive and confusing with their large crowds. But their way is NOT the way of the Lord and NOT the way the first assemblies were held in the days of the Apostles. Therefore it does not encourage that kind of personal relationship all members should have with the Lord ……so that problem doesn’t arise much. But God is going to shake all that up! And through tribulation, will cause his people to call on him.....and him alone.
The Lord really brought all this home to me the other day…the seriousness of what we are about to see….and what some of us may go through….and the absolute necessity of following the Lord for ourselves. While in prayer the other day the Holy Spirit came on me and I began to pray earnestly in the spirit. Then I heard the voice of the Lord say...."So you want to answer directly to me do you?".....an invitation….. And the fear of the Lord came on me, for a moment I had a real revelation of what it meant to have NO ONE to look to but God! To stand before God all alone. Later, I thought of how the Children of Israel told Moses “You speak to us and we will listen, but let not God speak to us, lest we die.” (Exodus 20:19)

Even though many of us are outside of the religious system, God has brought us together with others. We learn from each other, encourage one another in the Lord and share sweet fellowship. We, or at least I, have thought of this as a "group" thing and it is as far as the Body of Christ is concerned as a whole....we are fitly joined together in the spirit.....But in the natural there is coming a time that some of us will no longer have this luxury, I think. Have you ever thought who Jesus had to talk to besides the father? All his "guidance" came from the father....there was no contemporary for him to "bounce" things off of. He taught his disciples, but he did not have that kind of a relationship with them at that time....

This has brought me to my knees afresh. I thank the Lord for the growing relationship he has brought me into with him these last few years and his constant love and guidance….but all I can think right now is I need to know him SO MUCH more!!!! We need to know HIM and HIS voice…..and follow him where ever he goes.

These are they who have not defiled themselves by relations with women (the apostate church?), for they are [pure as] virgins. These are they who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These are they who have been ransomed (purchased, redeemed) from among men as the firstfruits for God and the Lamb. (Revelation 14:4)


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