October 5, 2010 The Best Mystery Is A Solved One

I love a mystery, don't you?  What I enjoy most about a mystery is finding out the solution.  If there's only mystery, and no revelation, the thrill is lost and the only thing left is frustration!  That's good news when it comes to the gospel!  It's a mystery revealed: "the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints" "which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1: 26, 27b

I'm going to let the Holy Spirit speak to you about that, because it's such a packed statement it really takes the whole New Testament to unfold it!  I felt, though, that I needed to be forthright in clearing up an apparent mystery as to why I have not kept up writing in Daily Manna.  Be assured, I haven't back-slidden, and I'm still reading my One Year Bible, as I hope you are.  I certainly hope my silence has not been a discouragement to you.

I have felt great pressure to "spew" while I've been reading the prophets-- everything I read is so vividly relevant to the present condition of our nation.  But the Holy Spirit had not released me to speak what's been on my heart.  Just because I have a daily blog does not mean I have permission to speak daily!  This is a human expectation (mine included) that can cause pressure.  Again I remind you, the designation "Daily Manna" refers to the daily reading of God's Word, not my daily words!! 

The Lord has made it clear to me that I am under no compulsion to write daily; rather He has strongly gotten it across to me that I am NOT to do so, at least not now.  I will, however, write when He tells me to.  This will keep me from blowing off steam that is supposed to build and give me momentum to accomplish the things He has given me to do.  It's a hard lesson to learn, for all of us, that just because we have something to say (referring here to something TRUE to say), doesn't mean we should always say it.  The goal is to be like Christ, and He only did and said what He saw His Father doing and saying at any given time.

Scriptures are clear about what is wrong and what needs to be done about it.  I hope you have been brave and have continued to sludge (if you felt that way) through the prophets' words of wrath and judgment, and that the Holy Spirit has revealed to you the things you needed to see and discuss with Him in prayer.  I hope these passages have given you great impetus for intercession.  I hope you were comforted and inspired by the many words of hope and pictures of Christ in Isaiah, as was I.   

What I want to do today, dear brother or sister, is to encourage you and bless you.  I do not curse my country as some people do, but neither do I wish to bless evil as some others do all the time.  So what I will do is what I see my Father doing, and that is bless His people, His HOLY nation!  Who is His holy nation, if not those who fear Him?  Those whose hope of salvation is Christ the Lord.  In His name I bless you!  You ARE blessed because you belong to HIM!  In Jesus Christ, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.

It is time to SEE the mountain of the Lord, His kingdom growing in the earth.  It is time to run to the mountain!  God is lifting up His banner of love-- even as the trumpet of battle is blowing-- lifting up His covering which is Christ's blood.  Under this covering we are protected from God's wrath against evil.  Yes, there is wrath.  I feel it inside many times, and maybe you do too, against corruption, injustice and plain stupidity.  There is a separation of light from darkness as the Spirit hovers, brooding over the earth.  What He is forming in you is CHRIST!  Not the world's lying definition of that, but Christ Himself, the Word of Truth.  This is your hope of glory, the light shining out into the darkness.  There will definitely be a separation-- not of church and state, as many are calling for, but a separation of the wicked from the righteous.  The separation will be for judgment, because this world is judged.  We are under the blood, if we are His.  We are not appointed to wrath (this doesn't mean we don't get some discipline at times when we need it-- we are His children, the children of light.)   Let's just make sure we are in Him.  As the light rises in you, the darkness will flee from you as the dark of night flees from the rising of the dawn!

This is not a time for finger-pointing or blame, but time for serious consideration, and time for deep intercession.  God can and does choose nations, when they submit to Him; He can revive our nation, making it again a "nation under God", but the people of the nation need to be revived!  When I say revival, I mean taking hold of the kindgom of God.  Nationwide repentance is needed: Repentance for desiring a king other than God.  Repentance for trusting in government for provision and safety rather than trusting in the Lord.  Repentance for running after and serving other gods.   Repentance for the sacrifice of children to the evil spirits of old.  Repentance for allowing the freedom that Christ bought for us, that we have fought so desperately to retain, to be traded in for slavery.  There are many other things to be repented of, as the Word and Spirit will testify. 

The Church must from the heart repent for its lack of discernment and from hiding from her duties: "These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment. He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” him the people will curse; nations will abhor him. But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them." Proverbs 24: 23-25 

As citizens of an earthly nation, we must come before God to repent for the sins of our nation; as citizens of Heaven, we must call our earthly nation to come under the blood of Christ and be reconciled to God.  Then, as citizens of both Earth and of Heaven, when it's time, we must get out and vote as the Holy Spirit, Scripture and conscience direct. 

There is no more time for excuses or laziness.  Let the Sun rise in you and enlighten the darkness!

"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." Colossians 1: 19-20

Questions to ponder:

What parts of the Word have been a mystery to you?  Have you asked God to reveal them to you?  What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you lately?

What influences have you come under in your life that have stolen the freedom you have in Christ?  Are you a slave to anything right now, other than Christ?  Do you know how to get free?

How much do you value your freedom?  Are you willing to fight for it? 
What enemies do you see that want to destroy your freedom?  What part of the battle is physical, and what part is spiritual?