Those Who Sow In Tears

There is a remnant today in the church of God that are grieving. They cannot be comforted by shallow sermons and soulish entertainment. These strangers – these pilgrims – are lamenting over the desolation of Zion.

Zion is the right arm of YHWH. "The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion..." (Ps 110:2). The Ancient of days rules from Zion and administers righteousness and justice from this holy hill ... and it is desolate. And we are grieving.

The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim. Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it. Lam 5:15-18

The grieving remnant finds no home in a worldly church. They are lonely in the crowd. This is a remnant made up of separate ones. They are other-worldly people that dream of the day when purity and power are restored to the church of God. With tears, they long for Zion...

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. Psalm 137:2

Zion is human dominion, executed in perfect submission to the Lord God Almighty. Zion is the Originally-designed, Creation-mandated authority and dominion of man under God. "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion..." (Gen 1:26). Little wonder Satan has lusted for this mountain.

Why do you look with envy O mountains with many peaks, At the mountain which God has desired as His abode? Surely the LORD will dwell there forever. Psalm 68:16

As far back as the first Adam, Satan has envied God's rule through human authority. He has envied it and he has sought it. And tragically, throughout history, the sons of Adam have all too readily relinquished their ruling and reigning birthright to Satan for fleshly gratification. The earth has groaned under the weight of depravity and oppression that follows the surrender of Zion.

It took the last Adam, Christ Jesus our Lord, to redeem mankind from Satan's grip and reclaim Zion. His death, burial, and resurrection opened a new and living way back to the Father and restored our dignity as sons of God. The early church caught this and, from Pentecost, they walked in victory over sin and in authority over all the works of the devil. Like their Lord and Saviour, they went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil because God was with them. The buildings they met in shook with His presence (Acts 4:31) and, while highly esteemed among the people, many feared join them (Acts 5:13). The risen Christ ruled out of their midst inasmuch as the world was crucified to them and they to the world. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shone. (Ps 50:2).

And yet Zion today is desolate. Why? Because a redeemed people play the harlot and every day trade away their ruling and reigning birthright. Far from believing the Gospel and walking in power over sin, the people of God have sold out by embracing the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Spurning the grace on offer, we have refused to humble ourselves and accept a crucified life that we might manifest the resurrection life of Christ. (2 Cor 4:10). We have become lovers of a world system that is about to be judged. We have become deluded into thinking that we are rich and secure when, in reality, we are wretched and miserable, poor, blind and naked. We exist as Covenant people in name only – our trust really is in the shadow of Egypt. As a people, we have become the tail and not the head. We are like sheep without a shepherd. We have lost the energising hope that leads to purity. This is why a remnant grieves and laments...

Brothers and sisters, who mourn for Zion, your cries are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Your travail is accomplishing something! "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandmen waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early and latter rain." (Jam 5:7). Even now the Lord is marking those who groan and sigh – those who, like Mordecai, will not receive raiment in exchange for their sackcloth. 

... She sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not. Est 4:4

And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. Ezek 9:4

The Lord God Almighty has made Jesus, the last Adam, both Lord and Christ. And this Lord and Christ is looking for somewhere to rest His head. He is looking for somewhere to install His government. Zion is that somewhere, brothers and sisters. "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him..." (2 Chron 16:9). For all its worldly and political prowess, whorish Babylon will never host the King of glory and His earth-shaking presence. Zion is the mountain of the Lord. And He is about to catch up a remnant of overcomers to rule and reign with Him from that very mountain of Originally-designed, Creation-mandated, human dominion! The exalted Son of man – whose eyes are as a flame of fire and whose countenance is as the sun in full strength – is speaking to those who have ears to hear: "To him that overcomes, will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Rev 3:21).

And I looked, and, lo a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads ... These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. Rev 14:1,4

Take heart, strangers and pilgrims. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! We are about to return to Zion! "The ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." (Isa 35:10). Those who have consecrated themselves for the Master's use, amidst widespread apostasy and compromise, are about to receive their reward! A manifestation is about to take place. Out of the travail, a company of mature sons is about to be birthed and restored to the very mountain they have wept over.

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. Rev 12:5

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion ... I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron... Psalm 2:6,8-9

For those found worthy at His coming, great responsibility and authority is about to be bestowed. We are about to witness the fall of Babylon and the full manifestation of Christ's kingdom. We are coming into days of great confrontation. Light will drive away the darkness; righteousness and evil will no longer coexist. "The mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above all the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it" (Isa 2:2).

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Isa 2:3

The Beginning of Wisdom

I understand more than the ancients, because I have kept thy precepts. Psalm 119:100

Light follows obedience. Revelation abides with faithfulness. Wisdom germinates where there is the fear of the LORD, and understanding springs up where there is desire for holiness.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Prov 9:10

Being a doer of the Word opens up spiritual insight and understanding. The Lord has ordained it so.

And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." Mark 4:25

Our devotion to Christ and our submission to His Word determines the wisdom and understanding and spiritual insight that we walk in. "The measure you use," that Jesus speaks of here, relates to the regard and value we place on His Word. As we are faithful and obedient with the light we have received, more will be given us; if we disregard and neglect the light we have received, then even what we have will be taken from us.

We cannot sidestep consecration and the humble road of obedience to Christ. There are no shortcuts. In the words of the old hymn: "Trust and obey for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey." 

To pursue revelation and light apart from humble devotion and obedience to Christ is to fall into the same temptation as Eve.

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate... Gen 3:6

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Cor 11:2

Satan is a thief and a robber and his modus operandi has always been to cunningly offer shortcuts to God's treasure store of wisdom and knowledge. "Your eyes will be opened and you will be like God." Satan is a liar. The light he offers is darkness. (Luke 11:35). Brothers and sisters, there is no other way to true revelation and insight and Divine power than through Christ and the way of the Cross. There is no conference or spiritual encounter that can bypass the patient and humble path of obedience to Christ. 

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. John 10:1

... Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 2:2-3

False teachers and false prophets preach another message. For filthy lucre, they cunningly offer shortcuts and easy paths to revelation and glory. They offer an alternative to obedience and the crucified life. They are enemies of the cross of Christ. They make merchandise of the people. Thieves and robbers – they creep in and pervert the grace of our God into sensuality. Their very lives deny Christ Jesus, our Master and Lord. They undermine the perspicuity of Scripture so they can market their own titillating, esoteric 'revelations'.

The Bible remains a closed book to many, not because they need a spiritual guru or the latest Bible translation, but because they have been unfaithful with the light they have received. The Bible is not difficult to understand – it's just difficult to obey. It's hard on our flesh and it calls us to a lifestyle that attracts persecution and reproach. (2 Tim 3:12). His ways are higher than our ways. But we dare not sidestep such a high calling, brothers and sisters, for an easier path ... as much as our itching ears would have it so. We dare not take the lazy approach and bury our talent in the ground. No, rather we come to our precious Lord and Saviour with humility and we appeal to His mercy and grace. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing! As we admit our inability and come to Him humbly, He will give us the grace to prove faithful with the little light we have received. 

As we prove faithful with the little, He will give us more. It's the patient way; the meek way. 

The secret counsel of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He reveals His covenant to them. Psalm 25:14

Be wary of any ministry or teaching that shifts your focus off Jesus and onto man. Let's be very honest with ourselves. Have we become enamoured with a gifted man or woman instead of Christ? Has their name been on our lips in place of the beautiful name of Jesus? Have we elevated a teacher to a place of authority and devotion that is reserved for our Lord alone? Have we lusted for an earthly guru instead of submitting ourselves to the lordship of Jesus?

Be wary of any ministry or teaching that leaves you doubting the plain meaning of the Scriptures in favour of exciting, extra-Biblical, private revelations. This kind of 'wisdom' is not new. It led to man's fall in the Garden. Gnostic writings and cunning, esoteric teachings have lurked in the shadows for thousands of years. False teachers have an interest in sowing doubt in the plain meaning of God-breathed Scripture. It frees them from the constraints of sound doctrine and provides a lucrative market for their lofty and sensual revelations. Brothers and sisters, if you abandon the safety of the perspicuity of Scripture, it will be only a matter of time before your faith is completely shipwrecked.

Be wary of any ministry or teaching that breeds competitiveness and striving; that fosters a lust for angelic encounters and spiritual experiences. While the life of a pilgrim is spiritually rich and marked by profound experiences, there is no place for lusting after such things. That is dangerous ground. Satan himself will cater to such lusts, disguising himself as an angel of light to devour those he may. Our motivation must be to stir up one another – not to spiritual encounters – but to love and good works. (Heb 10:24).

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. Jam 3:14-16

The cult of personality in Christendom, and the lust for spiritual encounters and experiences over obedience to plain Bible truth, will see many stumble in this hour. Darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples as we approach the great and terrible Day of the Lord. The deception will be intense. Don't pursue spiritual gurus or fanciful, extra-Biblical revelations. Rather, submit yourself to Christ's perfect light and charity lest you stumble and lose your way at the worst possible time.

If we would have more revelation and spiritual insight and prophetic clarity, and if we would taste of the powers of the age to come, we need only humbly submit ourselves to the truth we have received in the Word of God. We need only be faithful with what we have been given and we will receive more. We need only learn at Christ's feet, in sincere and pure devotion to Him, and obey what He says. And in this dark hour, He will rise upon us and His glory will be seen upon us in ever-increasing measure.

And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born of Him. 1 John 2:28-29

Flow Mighty River, Flow

I wrote and published this word in August 2011. I felt to post it tonight. Let it be, Lord...

Recently we stayed with friends on a 5000 acre farm in central Queensland. What a place to get away from the noise and busyness of modern life! On the way to their farm, we drove through the Callide Valley and I was struck with how dry and dusty and barren the land looked. I imagined how the wild animals must pursue water in that unforgiving environment.

Without a doubt, our nation is experiencing a desert-like environment when it comes to the sweet flow of God’s Spirit. And like those animals in the Callide Valley, there are so many people desperately looking for a water source that might quench their thirst and impart life. Not knowing any better, many look for satisfaction in the devil’s paltry offerings. They seek satisfaction in empty entertainment, alluring drugs and alcohol, soul-destroying sexual pursuits, and ever-demanding materialism – all are cruel mirages that promise so much and deliver only disappointment. There is only one thing that satisfies the human spirit and that is drinking in and enjoying God’s presence.

As the world system fails and people become increasingly desperate for life-giving water, they will come looking to us. Our outreaches and gatherings and churches may be the last roll of the dice for burnt-out, disillusioned travellers. And so it is essential that we truly are the oases they are looking for – springs that gush forth with the sweet rivers of revival that transform dying souls into brand new men and women! Reservoirs that offer living water and where Jesus Christ is seen and heard and His grace and power are not obscured by dead religion or fancy trappings. The rivers that flow from Jesus are sweet and they revive! 

And when one life is mightily touched and transformed by the power of God, many more lives are impacted as a result. Jesus gave living water to a woman he met at a well and so she went and brought the rest of the town back to get some!

From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all the things that I have done." John 4:39

There is a mighty rushing river about to flow in this nation, it will come like a flash flood. It is the sweet Spirit of God, the anointing that scares Satan to his core. He remembers being messed up by it when Jesus walked the earth and defeated him at the Cross and he remembers his kingdom being plundered when the early church walked in that same anointing. And ever since, the devil has been broadsided when the anointing flows. It’s the river of life that makes the lame to walk and the blind to see, that opens prison doors and sets the captives free. And it’s about to flow again in a mighty way for the healing of the nations, to the praise and glory of God!

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. This people I have formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise. Isaiah 43:19-21