The Dimming of revelation light
The time that we are living in can be likened to Samuel’s time in 1st Samuel chapter 3. A time of increasing darkness - where there is increase in confusion, in deception regarding the teaching of God's word and increasing rarity of a pure prophetic voice.
Prophetic ‘light’ is dimming. Prophetic light is prophetic revelation, the revelation of God’s present purpose, intents and present command. There is increasing a premium in the church for a pure prophetic voice in which the power of God can be manifest.
Proverbs 3
5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
7
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8
It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Age of distraction/spirit of distraction
We live in an age of distraction. The distractions that pervade modern environments are small and subtle and have multiplied in uncountable fashion because of technology.
The time that we are living in can be likened to Samuel’s time in 1st Samuel chapter 3. A time of increasing darkness - where there is increase in confusion, in deception regarding the teaching of God's word and increasing rarity of a pure prophetic voice.
Prophetic ‘light’ is dimming. Prophetic light is prophetic revelation, the revelation of God’s present purpose, intents and present command. There is increasing a premium in the church for a pure prophetic voice in which the power of God can be manifest.
Proverbs 3
5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
7
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8
It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Age of distraction/spirit of distraction
We live in an age of distraction. The distractions that pervade modern environments are small and subtle and have multiplied in uncountable fashion because of technology.
Distractions serve as imitations of Gods presence, power and purpose.These offer a semblance of comfort and peace, but instead of true peace, these create a dulling of the senses, a drugging of our spiritual man. In contrast, God’s voice, God’s revelation and God’s light brings a deep and lasting peace, in which there is strength and healing, but counterfeits dazzle the senses, they also numb of the spiritual senses and mind.
'Being distracted for awhile’ carries with it the temptation to form a habit or lifestyle of distraction, which produces in our human spirit, a distracted spirit. If our spirits are distracted, it is extremely difficult, but not altogether impossible to focus on God. If left to its own devices to run amok, it will leave our human spirit in a continually distracted state. This condition disables us from hearing and being led by the Spirit of God, and opens us to other spirits - fear, confusion, frustration etc. I believe that there also exist an evil spirit of distraction, whose main job it is to distract us from hearing the whispers and leadings of the Holy Spirit. it can be overcome through the grace of God, the choice to focus and pray and the prayer to continually set our hearts on God. God will create that focus of heart we desire. Lest we be led by the lust of our eyes and not spiritual desire.
These distractions ultimately serve their purpose of adding to the confusion of God’s people and further obscuring God’s pure light – the light of His presence coming from the Holy of Holies. The revelation light which reveals God. In the way man-made light obscures the light of the stars, these little lights pollute the light environment so that God's pure light cannot be perceived. if we are content to walk in man-light, then we exchange walking in man–made light for God pure light and direction.
Imagine if Jesus was so distracted He didn’t know what the Father was saying or showing him because he constantly had to check emails and Facebook and his twitter feed and was so distracted he could not finish even His sermon. No, Christ knew exactly his fathers voice and knew exactly what God wanted Him to do moment by moment and we can too. Father God wants to be with His children to show them tenderly guide them tenderly into all truth, all direction, to fill them up with all power and fullness so that we too can be about his business. Are we willing to be focused on Him and be dedicated to be trained by Him?
What would we sacrifice in order to truly know deep in our heart the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, which God wants to give us in His presence? Would we be prepared to ask, seek and knock until we obtain this peace which God wants to give us? the peace of God and stillness of heart which the Lord would have us settle and establish us in?
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
The Hebrew word Shalom, for peace means all rounded well-being and welfare, even healing and wholeness. We live in an age of much uncertainty, anxiety, fear and confusion. One of the more difficult things in this age is to walk in the light of God’s peace. In His presence is deep peace, peace that surpasses understanding. Yet we find it very hard to be still, our hearts are restless and agitated, making it difficult, yes a fight, a combat to find the rest of God in His presence. Distractions and fleshly substitutes for the presence of God are one reason for this. The activity of the flesh makes the soul agitated, making it difficult to be led and clamed by the Spirit of God who is a Spirit of peace.
Only the peace of God can overcome this spirit of anxiety, and the voice of God will dispel confusion. God can give stillness of heart and quiet confidence. When we are still on the inside, God can impart His instructions to us, His people step by step. The love of the Father will dispel the spirit of agitating fear. Let us turn back into His presence.
There are high stakes problems, which His people face, in which the people of God need God’s wisdom, plans and instructions more than before.
We live in a busy city, but in the busyness, what do we do with our down time? The spaces of time in between the time we have to fulfill and carry our necessary responsibilities? What do we choose to do with our hearts? Let us choose the oasis of God’s presence. Jesus was empowered for ministry by the many oases of God’s presence which empowered Him to be continually on the move doing the works of God.
Mark 6:30-31
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
The enemy also seeks to speak His impressions, his ways, His directives and directions to God’s people. Close your heart to him. For your seeking and your diligence of heart to hear and move in God alone and your development, the growth of your capacity in hearing the voice of the Shepherd, the One who says that all His sheep hear His voice, He will strengthen you to hear Him even more, and the Lord will deliver you from the voice and assaults of the enemy as you seek His face and His presence.
The enemy will try all ways and means to obscure God’s revelatory light for this is most harmful to his kingdom when God’s people learn to move in God’s light and word and power. We need to be holy to walk in the holy light of God. To do works of justice, righteousness powered by God’s presence and grace to sustain the walk in God’s presence and to overcome the evil one. We overcome simply by being full of the Spirit, the voice of God and obeying what the Spirit of God says though practice.
How much do we value the presence of God?
Let us beware of the words we speak, speak God’s life and do not speak death. For your words will affect your mind and receptivity to God’s presence and voice. Let us take up the cross and die to all our distractions for to live in the Holy of Holies is a worthy and noble aim and goal, to die to facebook and to all the internet’s distractions in order that you may learn to hear God and wait and worship in His presence, this is a worthy Goal, that God may have a people who are led by His voice and presence alone. To become a people who manifest the works of His power in every place.
Matthew 5 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[e] destroy and where thievesbreak in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye (the focus of the heart) is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye (heart focus) is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but ifyour eye (Heart focus) is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
To seek God and have Him possess our hearts is indeed is better treasure than the fleeting assurances that the world gives.
The tiredness of the people, the spirit of restless searching and their need for God’s rest.
The need for Rest – God’s people are tired, in need of refreshment, in acute need for their joy to be renewed. Turn to His presence. The Lord will never leave us, nor forsake us. His presence is as springs of water in a desert place. Investing time on God’s presence is a better investment than any time we can spend on any other thing. Spend time in prayer. Read God’s word as He directs and focuses your attention on what He wants us to read. Let Him give you understanding and wisdom in the scriptures. Learning to hear God’s voice in reading the scriptures is pleasurable and strengthening. God’s presence is refreshing to our tiredness. It will renew our strength and joy and satisfy the restless searching in our hearts. (Psalm 63)
For what you are really searching for in all your restless searching, is really for God Himself. This is the reason for your restlessness of spirit for it is the searching of your human spirit to be found in Him. It is His light and voice that you search for, to be enfolded by Your Father in the secret place enfolded in His wings, where no harm can befall you. He will not cast you aside but take You into His arms over and over. Mighty love and grace belong to Him. Your joy and vision will be renewed.
The restless searching spirit is a symptom of spiritual hunger, our restlessness is many times the drawing of the Spirit of the Father to His beloved to come to Him for there are treasures in God’s embrace.
God’s wisdom many times looks foolish
Remember -God’s wisdom and power many times looks to the world like foolishness and weakness. How can prayer solve my problems? In the worlds eyes it is a foolish way to spend much time in prayer but it is God’s way, and it is mighty for the ‘effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man avails much’ both in heaven and on earth. In the spiritual realms, there is something at work for our blessing.
Remember the prophet Samuel was mighty because he only dwelt in God’s presence, that place where His glory dwells. Joseph was mighty in prison because He learnt to walk in God’s presence while in adverse circumstances. Do not give up the quest to walk in His presence alone. Remember, Joshua was mighty in battle because He listened and obeyed the specific instructions of God alone, and he learnt to exclude doing anything else which was not God’s idea.
If we do not do this, the consequence will be severe – a church not led by God’s wisdom, power and voice, not led by God Himself, but the works, wisdom, plans and strength of man’s flesh.
Jeremiah 17:5
Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6
He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.
7
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.
8
He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
10
“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
His presence will wash you, cleanse you and make you ready to walk in the timing and seasons of God. For the things which God desires to come to pass will require much dependence on God. Let us become a people of God with strong continual testimonies of God’s leading, presence and action in our lives!
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