Hi all,
The dream continued...we closed last week with:
"...So what do you think is the reason
all these people suddenly have clarity about what is important to them,
and to make them willing to become serious about their walk with Me?"
"As happens so often, it is a combination of things in the natural
and things spiritual coming together that turn a person's heart towards
me. The collapse will come when conservatives are in charge, and they
will be blamed for the nation’s ills, though what will happen is
actually the result of poor decisions made by many before them.
Conservatives, Christians, and Jews will be blamed for standing in the way of progress; then will come to pass the words I told you in 2003:
‘Laws that are designed to protect my people will one day be used
against them.’ US culture is about to change in ways many thought could
never happen. Remember what I told you in 2005, that in 10 years you
won’t recognize your country for what it has become, and truly that has
come to pass. And remember the other things I told you, for they will
continue to gain momentum.” (At the time the Father told me about the
changes from 2005 to 2015, the Lord added information about the moral
and spiritual state of our nation, which I've not shared, some of
which have become self-evident to anyone watching the news.)
“Remember when I told you the nation would face disasters
natural, political, economic, and more, like a conspiracy of events and
circumstances one after another, which will overwhelm the nation. Those
days are soon coming, but those are days when many of those who know me
and are walking in what I’ve been saying to them, and as I’ve said to
you, will prosper and be lights in a dark world. They
are the ones who will not be shaken, but will walk as giants in the
land, for many will rise and be blessed in many areas during this time
and become leaders to those around them. House church will become
THE way of doing church in the US and much of the world, and one of the
marked differences in Christians you’ll be able to discern, is those
caught up in fear, and those who are walking circumspectly in peace.”
"You know history, that historically it has been
persecution and economic hardship that have separated true disciples
from those pretending, and so it will be in the days soon approaching,
nearly all over the world, but with many pockets of peace and safe
havens. What you are doing is one of those safe havens, defined not geographically, but spiritually, and receiving my favor and protection,
for those who move with the Spirit will make their way forward in
safety, though all around them there will be people unable to control
what is happening to them. Times will be that people must have wisdom
and revelation from the Father to make their way through life, to
side-step obstacles and receive His provision."
"Priorities for many are about to shift
from things 'out there' to what is truly important, and many will lose
many of the things they've gathered to themselves of this world. Many
will repent of their adultery with the world and return to Me, their
first love, but it will take great hardship for many as their spiritual
nakedness* is exposed."
(*See Revelation 3:17-18 especially, for the naked and lukewarm
Laodecian church, which thought it was righteous in its
lukewarm-ness because it was rich and had material possessions and said
they had need of nothing; but He told them they were so blind they had
no idea they were poor, blind, and naked.)
"The great error many are in even now is that they
are looking for a single event that will define the moment, not
realizing it is a process taking place over time with a few noticeable
events as part of the process, and in fact these processes are already
at work. Because they are looking for a single event many are missing
the larger process at work. All things are connected, and even large
events are connected to a larger whole. Do not become like those who run
to and fro crying out for a single event to change the world, for the
transformational process is already happening."
"There is a move among my people to return to the simplicity of the faith,
but you know this well, and soon those who have been sitting on a
fence, infatuated on the one hand with the trappings of the culture of
church and world while on the other hand wanting to be with those who
want the genuine faith, will have to decide."
Remember, the way I look at success and prosperity is different
from the world and from much of church culture. I am meek and lowly of
heart, and those who will, will come and learn of Me and become like Me.
They will replace the idols of their heart with true faith, serving
those in their midst who are in need, and growing in love towards
others. What they consider 'blessed' and what I consider 'blessed' are
often two very different things. There exists even now, a great gulf of
divide between those who have My priorities in their hearts versus those
who don't, and the gulf between the two will continue to widen. My
priorities come naturally to those who walk with Me, and flow from the
heart outward to others."
"Many of the churches that used to be considered 'cutting edge' are already going the way of the world,
having lost their first love, and will therefore continue to fade into
irrelevance. This is another point you will see happening very quickly
in the coming months - my people coming out of many churches as they
hunger for Me, and mark the difference between mere believers and true
disciples. These are the days the lukewarm will become obvious to true
disciples, and a great separation will happen, and indeed is already
happening nearly all over the world."
(Me adding now) When you hear prophecy or dreams and
hear the Lord talk about a glorious, victorious people, He isn't
talking about bank accounts and shallow life-as-usual. To Him, maturity
and victory have to do with people becoming meek and lowly in heart,
serving one another in love. To Him, the glorious and faithful church is
one who values things and people as He does, and walks those values out
in life.
Jesus said in Matthew 25:33-40 that at His return, the people He
calls His sheep will have clothed the naked, fed the hungry, given drink
to the thirsty, visited the sick and imprisoned and they were so caught
up in serving others they didn't realize they were serving Him.
Those representative acts of love Jesus mentioned are intended as
mere examples and not an all inclusive list. Do you do kind things for
others, help others around their home or yard, find ways to do good?
Acts 10:38 says Jesus 'went about doing good, and healing all who
were oppressed of the devil'. The very first thing mentioned is that He
went about doing good - is that what the body of Christ looks like now,
or are many trying to look like the world?
At this point we were high on a ridge in the trees looking down at the river,
which was in a wide sweeping bend with a broad plain like an
amphitheater sloping to the water, and thousands were now bathing. I
looked at Him as He gazed out over the whole scene, and He was smiling.
At that point I realized I had not heard the din of the city behind and
below us during the whole time I was focused on the trees,
river, people, and what He was saying. But when I broke my attention
from that, suddenly the noise of the city became louder and seemed to
vie for my attention.
With sudden revelation it all became clear - whatever happens in the
world is incidental to what He is doing in the hearts and lives of
people - and He wanted me to be as caught up in what He is doing as He
is.
He turned to me and said, "Do not be shaken by what I've told you,
for you have been prepared for these days, as I told you when you first
came to know Me. Many, many who know Me also have that same revelation,
that they have been reserved for these days, and they look eagerly for
what is coming, knowing inside they have a part to play and are waiting
for life to unfold before them. Many have asked Me, 'When is it my
turn?', knowing their time was coming. And I say to you, those days are
fast approaching, so be glad and rejoice, and also for all those whose
love and priorities are with Me, for great days are ahead for my
disciples."
He said some personal things to me and then I woke up.
New subject next week...yet related to all this...blessings,
John Fenn
What skills must every small group pastor have in their skill set? I’ve written about the 5 habits I’d look for if I was hiring a small group pastor. This is really a different thing. There is a set of skills every small group pastor must have in their skill set.
