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TO THOSE
HE CALLS FRIENDS
[A
Glimpse into the Father's Heart]
============
HEARD
[3/06/04]: The gifts and calling are irrevocable.
VISION:
I was trying on some shoes.
HEARD:
Comfortable. We'll walk together. Irrevocable. That's
why you need a holy foundation.
Romans
11:29 KJV
For the
gifts and calling of God are without repentance {278
Strongs}.
NT:278
REPENTANCE
ametameletos (am-et-am-el'-ay-tos); from NT:1 (as a
negative particle) and a presumed derivative of NT:3338;
irrevocable: KJV - without repentance, not to be
repented of.
============
For
several years I had a difficult time resolving the
supernatural gifts given through men and overcoming my
attitude towards the compromise in which they lived.
This was a large stumbling block to me. Over and over
again I would take these issues back to the Lord and
pray. It distressed me greatly that He would give His
gifts and accountability to people who would compromise
His holiness.
My
journey progressed downward from a spiral of questions,
doubt, unbelief, mistrust and skepticism. The Lord dealt
with me about my sinful attitudes and brought me to
personal repentance for judging and then on to
intercession over what did not line up with His Word by
way of covering sins and giving honor to those whom He
had called.
After
graduating from that miserable time in my life, I can
clearly see in hindsight that He was delivering me from
idolatry. That was an eye opener…
EXALTING
GIFTED PEOPLE
I was
naive to the supernatural and had placed those who
exercised supernatural gifts upon a pedestal. The fact
that their gifting did not at times measure up to their
conduct was a stumbling block to me. Also, several times
I made choices against what the Lord had taught me and
followed what these gifted ones recommended. I was
spanked and rebuked by the Lord, and at first I could
hardly believe it was Him. I thought it must be the
enemy wanting to take away my freedom! Finally, after a
few times of going around the barn, I repented,
realizing it was the Lord. Then, just like a naughty
child, I was angry that He rebuked me, when I was not
experiencing these supernatural gifts, yet others were
enjoying them and getting away with matters of
compromise. It did not seem fair.
I had
the common misconception that giftedness means God's
approval of a vessel.
In spite
of all of these issues, the Lord was more interested in
harvesting the idolatrous weed in my heart. I had placed
gifted men's opinions over my own conscience and
obedience to Him. After I learned my lesson enough times
to make a lasting impression, I grew to understand that
these gifted ones are just people given free will.
Disappointed but wiser, I moved on into intercession to
cover and forgive what did not measure up to Who He is.
============
REVELATION
Last
night I wrote the above section and took it to prayer
when I went to bed. The following was the Lord's
response to this dilemma of supernatural giftedness and
compromise.
HEARD
[3/06/04]: In answer to your prayers. Resolution. Some
will betray Me. Some will compromise and some will be
faithful all the way. Even so.
QUICKENED MEMORY: At the moment of hearing "even so,"
the Holy Spirit brought the disciples to my memory.
Judas the betrayer was chosen by Jesus to be among the
disciples, Peter denied Him 3 times and John the beloved
served Him faithfully all the way.
HEARD:
It's been that way from the beginning.
QUICKENED MEMORY: Upon the hearing the word "beginning"
I received a flash of revelation that Lucifer had
betrayed Him in heaven, and also the sons of God
compromised and married daughters of men creating the
giants.
Isa
14:12-15 NKJV
"How you
are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the
nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend
into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of
God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on
the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the
heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest
depths of the Pit.
Gen
6:1-7 NKJV
Now it
came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of
the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the
sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were
beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all
whom they chose. And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not
strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his
days shall be one hundred and twenty years." There were
giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward,
when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and
they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men
who were of old, men of renown. Then the LORD saw that
the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that
every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man
on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
SOBERED,
SADDENED AND TENDERIZED
He had
imparted a tiny portion of His heart. I was very sad and
sobered to know that the Father continues to be
betrayed, and that His goodness and holy attributes
continue to be compromised and misaligned. Those few
that are faithful... He calls friends.
I was
brought to tears to understand what it means to His own
heart when we serve Him out of volunteer love. As I was
hit by this truth, I heard Him whisper, My friend…
============
+ You
have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive;
You have received gifts among men, even from the
rebellious, that the LORD God might dwell there. (Psalm
68:18 NKJV)
+ For
the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
(Romans 11:29 KJV)
+ Many
will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name,
and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will
declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you
who practice lawlessness!' (Matthew 7:22 NKJV)
============
CONCLUSION
============
{Words
to Ponder are summaries of His quickened Words}
WORD TO
PONDER: MY FRIENDS
Yes My
love, and now you know. I have given you a glimpse into
My own heart. How I long for friends, just like you do!
How I long to be one with those, just as you call them -
kindred hearts. How it melts My heart when I see them
suffer because they love Me and continue to choose to
love Me no matter what.
I AM all
powerful, all knowing and always present. I always was
and always will be. And yet only you can give Me
volunteer love. And now you know.
John
15:13 NKJV
Greater
love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life
for his friends.
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