HI Tracy.. you write......

"Hope I represent myself well enough to get across what I want to say"

You represented yourself very well. And yes, there are many of us "out there," who would say amen to what you have written. I thought I may have caught some flak from people who would say that we are not supposed to try and seperate the wheat from the tares. I agree, "we," are not supposed to do that. I believe that the Lord is doing it. I recently left my church of almost nine years(met Jesus 18 years ago at the age of 26) because I just could not stomoch it any more. Its not that they were a bad church, they are not, not at all. Nice people, good works, missionary endeveours. Yet, the presence of God is not there and no one seems to notice. I am not talking about God meeting people individually and I know that where two are three are gathered that He is in the midst, that is not what I am talking about. That is why I feebly tried to describe the "presence, of God in the post. The worship music is "high quality," and on many occasions there is much rejoicing and jumping up and down. Yet, the presence I tried to describe is non-existent.

So, again, I totally believe that the time draws near. As many on this site know, I come from Scotland, a city boy. I now live in Kansas. Many farms in Kansas(although I live in a large city) I found out from a farmer that it is hard to tell the difference , in the beginning, from wheat and tares. It is only as the harvest approaches that it is more easliy identified. This is what I believe that we are seeing. God is drawing His people out. I am not sure how they will gather, but as the time approaches we will have a strong desire to gather, and all the more, with those of like mind. The virgins with the oil with the oil will assmeble themselves so to speak..............Frank

Hi Joe

I agree with your concept about the "broad path." I have believed that right from the beginning of my salvation. Not sure about numbers and formulas but I know that Ravenhill thought about 2% of Americans were actually saved. Even if it was five times that much, it would still be a very small number in relation to those who "confess the name." Jesus Himself talked about the seed and how much of it fell by the wayside and so on even although they all recieved it with gladness.

I think I disagree about being forced out of the church or thrown out. That may happen to individuals,to me it is more like that genuine Christians would simply be maragnailized. I believe that it is hunger and thirst that will draw them out, thirst for His presence, Hungry for more of Him. This concept would of course be foriegn to someone who has never experienced the presence of God, or who believes the presence of God is a feeling they get if the right music is played(which would be in the soulish realm, and there is various degrees of that).......Frank

Lowly writes....

"I was wondering if you think it is more of a matter of going up, instead of waiting for God to come down. Has He not now exhorted us to come up to that Holy mountain, are we not invited to enter in? Has a way been made before us to worship at His throne. How wonderful it is that the Spirit of the Lord now rests upon us."

Excellent question Lowly. I think that there are two different experiences(there is a buzz word:) I believe the throne room experience is the most intimate of experiences and happens to us individually. We see the prophet stand before God and he is "undone." The coming down is more akin to what happened at the Lewis revial, for instance, where the "awareness" of God was everywhere, a corporate experience. This can happen in churhes where God "falls," on the people. This particular experience is what is missing, I believe. This is where the drought is. And in its place people are being affected by music and believing that this is the "presence of God," when in actual fact it lies in the soulish realm. Here is the thing about God's presence, it always changes you. You are never the same, you are more Christ-like. Being affected by music is an emotional experience which will be nice, and enjoyable, but will change nothing. This is not to say that the presence of God is not an emotional experience, absolutly emotions are a part of that.........Frank

Frank,
Yes, I understand now, and that is also my hearts desire. Without going into great detail, I have studied, pursued,and petitioned, for many years this very thing. I continue too in every way, what I have come to is what do I do in the meantime. What has the Lord called me to do now while I am waiting? What if it is one, or just a small group that I lead up that mountain? I was feeling very frustrated and fruitless, until I found rest in what the Lord had set me apart to do.

If I abide in His Presence, will that affect those around me? Is it not what He spoke to Moses? I pray that all would see the Lord's goodness in me. But I desperately seek what you speak of too.

Lowly

Hi Lowly. you write.......

"If I abide in His Presence, will that affect those around me?"

Most definately. I believe in one of two ways. People will be drawn to you(Christ in you) or people will avoid you like the plague. I think the two Biblical examples of this would be Peter and Stephen. Both full of the Holy Spirit, both sharing pretty much the same message, one sees 3000 added to the church and the other is stoned to death. This is because they are speaking with the power to "katanusso." It means "stabbed in the heart, to penetrate, to violently agitate.

This is rare today, almost non-existent. Most of the Pentecostal world is chasing after the power to perform miracles, they have put the cart before the horse. When one has spent time in the throneroom, death and disease has no sway over them, for they have dwelt in the eternals, even if just for a moment. They have tasted a very small portion of what is to come, what awaits them when they pass over. That is why Paul would have gladly left this earth and went to be with the Lord, for he had tasted of what was to come.

So, the Lord will come to those who seek Him just for the love of Him. No one dwells on the mountaintops and for those who have experienced His presence, they hunger and thirst to return. They keep their hearts right before God because they do not want any barriers between them and Him, they want no obstacles to returning before Him. It is the internal motivation to do what is right. The religious man tries to keep rules that come from the outside, the genuine Christian walks the narrow path because he loves his Lord and wants nothing between them and the lover of their soul........Frank

Amen, Frank...I couldn't agree with you more.

"the genuine Christian walks the narrow path because he loves his Lord and wants nothing between them and the lover of their soul.."

Amen!

Here is my dilemma, the closer I walk with my Savior, and the more I separate myself to Him...as I offer myself to His service, to accomplish His will and His purpose, as I listen...He always leads me back to His people....to encourage, to save, to rescue, to deliver, .........He always places me back in the body.......and I realize that the gifts He has given me are for the perfecting of the saints, and the edifying of the body.....they are to be given.........His love that He pours into me is to be poured out.......you don't light a lamp and put it under a bushel........

You are a burning lamp.......

Lowly

Lowly

I agree that walking closer with the Lord brings us closer to His people. It increases our love and we are not easily offended and we also reach out to the world more, our love for the world and people in general increases. Which is not surprising because "for God so loved the world......."

I believe that has been a cycle probably right from the beginning. If we could talk to first century Christians or from the dark ages or from whatever period, our experiences would probably not be that different. What I belive is different now, is the time frame. I do believe that the Lord is at the door, and that this separation is from "religious people." I am not calling for it, and would never presume to do so, but I believe the Lord will draw out His people as that day approaches. The religious people, and dont get me wrong, many of them, if not most of them are decent people, know the difference. There is wheat and there is tares, there are virgins with oil and virgins with no oil. And I believe that this seperation is a process rather than a one time event(I do not believe in a pre trib raprure)So we are in the process.............Frank