FIRE BY NIGHT
"Reflections Upon Reflections" [of The Father's Heart]
...."You,
in Your great compassion, did not forsake them in the wilderness; The pillar of
cloud did not leave them by day, to guide them on their way, nor the pillar of
fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go"....
Nehemiah 9:19 NASB
JANUARY 8TH
IT IS FROM THE PLACE OF A "BURNING" [ACTIVE] REVELATION OF
THE CROSS [AND THE PRECIOUS BLOOD THAT WAS SHED THERE] THAT THE "RESURRECTION
LIFE" AND THE "ASCENSION LIFE" [THAT IS, THE LIFE THAT MANIFESTS
THE FULLNESS OF OUR AUTHORITY, IN CHRIST] FLOWS FORTH THROUGH THE ONE ABIDING
IN RIGHTEOUSNESS - IN "TORRENTS"
Words of prophecy:
*
The "spirit of envy" [and jealousy] that seeks to manifest itself
against you in this hour is continually foiled as you walk in the power of the
"Cross". For in living the life of the Cross there is no ground for
this spirit to operate from - and truly I say to you, those who allow themselves
to be held captive by the Evil One to do his will shall reap exactly as they
have sown to. Love those who come against you, and pray for all those who
persecute you - that they might be led into a deep and thorough repentance, and
a full knowledge [revelation]of the truth.
...."Therefore,
since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay
aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us
run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against
Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart"....
Hebrews 12:1-3 NASB
As one spends
time in intimate fellowship with the Father and His Word each day in the
"inner chamber" they shall gain a continually deeper revelation of
the Cross, and the precious Blood of Jesus. This will cause a deep, and
eternal, perspective to be "maintained" within them - a deep and
eternal perspective that will empower them to keep their priorities straight
and, also, preclude the hardness of heart and self-exaltation that is ALWAYS
the spontaneous by-product of a heart that has lost sight of the reality of the
Cross - and the life of the Cross [obedience unto the death of the self-life]
that each and every one of God's children is called to. For it is from this
place of a "burning" [active] revelation of the Cross [and the
precious Blood that was shed there] that the "resurrection life" and
the "ascension life" [that is, the life that manifests the fullness
of our Authority, in Christ] [Ephesians 2:6]
flows forth through the one abiding in righteousness - in "torrents" [John 7:38].
PERSECUTION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE WILL BE A STRONG
CATALYST FOR THE GLORY OF GOD TO BE RELEASED THROUGH A HOLY CHURCH IN THIS HOUR
Tragically,
many forsake the life of the Cross [obedience unto the denial of the self-life]
in order to gain the approval [acceptance] and praises of men [flesh and blood]
- in their pursuit of self-glory. For if one will simply "compromise"
the life of the Cross with a view to being a " men-pleaser" [Galatians 1:10] it is certain that they will gain a
wide acceptance throughout the church at large. On the other hand, if one holds
fast to the narrow path of perfect obedience [the life of the Cross] at all
cost to themselves then it is certain that they will be reviled [forsaken] by
many, and suffer great reproach [persecution] for righteousness' sake. But it
is written in 1 Peter 4:14 that, " If you are reviled for the name of
Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on
you." It is also written, "Blessed are those who have been persecuted
for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are
you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is
great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before
you" [Matthew 5:10-12]. In light of these
spiritual realities, it is clear that this persecution for righteousness' sake
will be a strong catalyst for the Glory of God to be released through a holy
Church in this hour. As one continues to hold fast the vision [revelation] that
the Father has placed in their heart and, thus, they continually go forth at
all cost to themselves facing every adversity in faith, perfect love and obedience
the Glory that is released through them will surely cause them to bear maximum
fruit for both the Church and the Kingdom right through to the end of the age.
Great is the reward of the faithful and true servants of God [true sons and
daughters] - both in their remaining time in this dispensation, and in the ages
to come [Romans 8:14-19]!