The following "word" will bring comfort and support to some (as myself) and turn others completely off ... i post this because it coincides with what i believe i'm also hearing from Holy Spirit (we're in a spiritual transition from one season to another) and not to cause controversy or debate ad-nauseum (i most certainly won't but of course you've got your own free will) ... So if you're blessed by it be blessed, and if you're turned off then reject it ... For as with all "words" and "prophecies" time will reveal ... Amen
THE TERRAIN HAS CHANGED A Word from the Lord received 31st January, 2005 Cheryl McGrath http://www.greatsouthland.org/prophecy05.html
A WORD to Those Who TRUST IN PEACE
"And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan? For even your brothers, the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; yes, they have called a multitude after you. Do not believe them, even though they speak smooth words to you." (Jeremiah 12:6).
The second section of this prophetic message is addressed specifically to another group who I have chosen to call "those who trust in peace".
There are those among the Lord's people who, due to their love for His church, have up until now chosen to remain in fellowship situations where they are aware that known areas of sin are being tolerated in various forms. That sin might either be within the leadership, or being "winked at" (knowingly tolerated) by the leadership. These ones I am speaking of do not condone the sin, in fact are distressed by it, but have chosen to stay on in watch- men and intercessory roles for the love of the Lord's people. Some, for the same reasons, have chosen to remain in fellowship situations where they are continually grieved by a controlling "rulership" mentality in leadership....
This is a word to those many unknown and genuine intercessory watchmen, shepherds, prophets, apostles, and all other lovers of Christ and His Body who weep and travail over the church in the secret place with no desire for recognition or glory for yourselves. I believe you will know who you are.
The Lord's word to this group of believers is this:
"You have cried "peace" and trusted in that "peace" even as the floodplain has risen around you. You have desired peace with those who did not see things the way you do and at times your desire for this peace has led you into unsanctified mercy. Even when your brothers, who have chosen the house of their (earthly) father have dealt treacherously with you, you have continued to trust in the peace process. I have allowed this for a season, but there is a time when the seeking of peace becomes appeasement, and the longing for peace leads to compromise. But now the terrain has changed and the flood plain of Jordan is upon you. The Jordan represents the Cross, where all compromise ceases. Indeed the Jordan represents even a cross-road where ways separate. Yes, even compromised relationships die at the Cross, where a man's enemies shall be those of his own household."
This is a strong word, and I believe the Lord was speaking of the "household of faith" (Gal. 6:10) when He spoke of dying to compromised relationships. I am not implying in any way, nor do I believe that He was speaking of the covenant relationship of marriage. He is speaking of those "spiritual fathers", who seek to draw unto themselves the devotion of His own Blood-bought people that rightly belong only to Him. These false rulers use the people of God as building blocks to erect their own kingdom. The Lord said "do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in Heaven." He was not speaking about family or mentoring relationships, He was saying let no-one take the pre- eminent place of your Heavenly Father.
Yet, in His household are many "brothers" whose first allegiance is clearly to other "fathers" such as their pastor or another ministry leader, their denomination, or their particular stream or movement. This is fear of man and idolatry, producing false submission and false grace. The Lord is coming with a sword to His house, and it is a sword of separation. No, His Bride-church will not be divided, but she will be separated from the compromised institutional system that clings to a form of religion devoid of the power of the Cross, from whom she is to turn away (2 Timothy 3:5).
A word of caution here to those who might be tempted to quote that well-worn but unscriptural phrase "Well, there's no perfect church" - DON'T. The Lord is extremely serious about this message and indeed this subject, and will not be mocked. The privilege of fellowshipping with other believers is not first and foremost a social activity, like club membership. It is a corporate expression of a holy priesthood expressing Spirit and truth worship to a holy God.
It's time we humbled ourselves and asked Him to show us how He sees His church, instead of expecting Him to see it the way we do. There is only one church, and it is the Lord's desire that His church should indeed be perfect (John 17:23; Eph. 4:13; Col. 1:28; Heb. 12:23). The one church comes together in diverse assemblies that are made up of people in various stages of being perfected into a holy and effective Bridal company. However, not one of us should be defending or excusing an assembly where individual and corporate holiness is not highly valued and actively pursued along with grace.
As the Lord continued to unfold the message, I was given to see an open doorway. In His wisdom and timing, He has allowed that doorway to remain open between the spiritually dead religious institution the world calls the Christian church, and the spiritual house of living stones the Lord Himself is building. The two have been freely mingling amongst each other in every gathering of believers, regardless of whether that gathering was in a denom- inational or independent setting. But I also saw that because of this opening a multitude of demonic religious spirits had gathered and now stood ready with the intention to pursue, overtake and destroy the living church, the Bridal company. I saw and under- stood by the Spirit that the Lord's Hand of constraint had held back this demonic horde.... I believe it is now the wisdom and timing of the Lord to close that open door so that the true and false church will be separated from one another. When the Lord closes a door, no man can open it (Rev. 3:7). The Lord will have a living church that is not mixed or tainted by the world. Furthermore, in His grace, He will remove all bridges between the two to remove the possibility of compromise for His elect. He did not allow me to know any specific time frame for this process.
Therefore there is a call going forth to those who have trusted in peace. These are those who have been patiently waiting for things to get better, and have remained in places of fellowship in the hope of change, or out of loyalty to friends, family and leaders. The call is to follow the Lamb wherever He goes, even into unknown and unfamiliar territory outside the walls of establishment. I was strongly impressed by the Spirit that a day of choosing was upon His people, and that to avoid that choice is indeed to make it.
I urge anyone who is currently fellowshipping in the kind of situation I have already described above, or where you know in your heart that men are building their own kingdoms at the expense of the Lord's, to search your heart motives for remaining. I encourage you to seek the Lord for confirmation of this prophetic message, or otherwise, and if He directs you out of that system do not hesitate, trusting Him for further direction as you humbly wait on Him.
The Lord continued to reveal that as He brings about this impending separation between the true and false churches, the distance between them would become increasingly wider. We need to under- stand that those who refuse to compromise and choose to follow the Lamb at any cost will be persecuted and hated by the false religious system. However, those who hear His direction to go forth to Him "outside the camp" and refuse to make that choice will find themselves at the mercy of the religious spirit which is the spirit of antichrist. Under such a system they will have no defence against unrighteous deception and lying signs and wonders, and be in danger of falling away (2 Thess 2:3-11).
Conclusion
I wish once again to stress that as the Body of Christ moves further into the transitional process, we must grow beyond merely defining this transformation in terms of whether to meet in traditional church buildings or houses. There are believers meeting in houses who are still captive to the "temple" mentality with its hierarchy and law- keeping. And there are believers meeting in denominational church buildings who are free enough to meet with the Body in any physical setting because they understand that the true church finds unity and fellowship only in the Spirit.
This transition is about much more than the mechanics of where the church should come together or how the church should function corporately. It is about whether to continue compromising with a flesh-dominated religious system, or abandoning compromise for the spiritual house of living stones, at any cost. Eventually, every believer will have to choose one of those two places. May the Lord give us grace and humility to understand this is all about Him, and not about us.
"He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad." (Matt. 12:30)
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