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 14TH


                                                             THE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES OF REBELLION
                                
                                                                                                                   
[Part 2 of 3]
                                                                               

Words of prophecy:

          ...."Tell My people to "remember" Korah's rebellion! For in this hour, I am releasing an absolute revelation from the Throne Room of My deep desire for holiness [just as I did with Moses] in the midst of My people - a revelation that, when received into the heart that is pure, will bring with it the Grace [divine empowerment and wisdom] to walk perfectly in ALL that I have commanded. But woe to those who hold fast to the "spirit of Korah" in this hour for holy fire shall surely consume their very foundation, and all shall see the futility of their self-exaltive words and practices!....

attributes of the "spirit of Korah": self-exaltation, self-desire, jealousy and rebelliousness;

        ...."And the Lord said to Moses, Speak to the Israelites and bid them make fringes or tassels on the corners in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and put upon the fringe of the borders or upon the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. And it shall be to you a fringe or tassel that you may look upon and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, that you may not spy out and follow after [the desires of] your own heart and your own eyes, after which you used to follow and play the harlot [spiritually, if not physically], that you may remember and do all My commandments and be holy to your God".... Numbers 15:37-40 The Amplified Translation


                                                                        THE "HOUSEHOLD" - GOD'S UNIT OF SALVATION

In Numbers 16:32 the Word states that:
 
          ...."the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households and all the men who belonged to Korah, with their possessions"....
 
          Many people are often found thinking, after they read of God's absolute judgement in this situation, that it seems "unfair". In this case, the fact that the earth opened its mouth and swallowed not only the leaders up but their households and all who had aligned themselves with Korah and their possessions, but we must understand that this judgement of God simply typifies God's desire to remove "all" rebellion from the midst of His people - and "all" those things around them and with them that have been touched [heavily influenced] by it. Again from verse 32, it is interesting to notice how much preeminence is given to the "household" as the unit of salvation [and, in this cas, judgement]. In other words, God desires that parents teach their children and bring them up in godliness and obedience which, as we studied before, is the reciprocal action to rebellion and disobedience. As we come to know God [and our precious Covenant with Him, in Christ] [Psalm 25:12-14] to a greater degree we shall come to understand clearly that even though it is up to each individual to confess Jesus as their Lord, God has made the provision if those in authority [whether in the Church or the family] operate in the principle of obedience [faith - love], it will open the door for "all" that "belong" to that true delegated authority to come [enter] into the fullness of their inheritance [Covenant] in Christ [Deuteronomy 6:1-9]. As we truly seek to grasp a deep revelation of the proper working of spiritual authority [divine government] in the midst of God's people in this hour, we must learn to constantly lift up our vision [revelation] of the Father's will for His Church in order that we might first develop a deep desire to set ourselves apart from anything that would detract from the glorious Church. That is, a Church without sin, without fear, without rebellion and without death [darkness] - a holy people whose sole characteristic is the glory [manifested presence] of God. As we go on to study we shall look deeply into the absoluteness of the principle of Jesus [obedience] and the principle of Satan [rebellion], and we shall then come to understand that all rebellion against God [and His delegated authorities] releases the force of death, and we shall also see that it is ONLY the obedient child of God that can drive death out of the church [and the earth] and replace that death and darkness with the Life and Light of God. Anyone who has ever walked closely with God knows very clearly how He feels about rebellion and sin. As one continues to abide more deeply in Christ they begin to experience the righteous indignation of the Lord and, in seeing this holy wrath of the Lord, one sometimes wonders why God does not just obliterate everything that has borne falsely the name of Jesus Christ. But, of course, we know all about the Father's mercy and His longsuffering over even those who are stubborn and obstinate children and, also, His great love of mankind. However, this is most certainly a time like no other in the annals of history and, therefore, we must be found measuring the Word of God fully [in and by the power of the Holy Spirit] that we might continually receive the Grace to fulfil perfectly every last purpose of the Father in our remaining time in this dispensation.
 
                                 THE CALL TO INTERCESSION FOR ALL THOSE IN REBELLION AGAINST THE HIGHEST PURPOSES OF GOD
 
          In light of all these things, we must therefore, as handmaidens and bondservants of the Lord Jesus Christ, set ourselves to intercession that we might stem the tide of God's wrath and judgement against the sons of disobedience - praying fervently at all times [James 5:16] - that they might, through our prayers [and the power of the Holy Spirit], be led into a repentance leading to a knowledge [revelation] of the truth [2 Timothy 2:24-26] for it most certainly does NOT please God to have to judge sin and rebellion in the midst of His people. But when there remains no seed of repentance in the heart of the rebellious and sinful one then His judgement shall "surely" be forthcoming. God must judge all sin and rebellion in His church that has not been purged by the Word of God and the Blood of the Lamb, for failure to do so would be tantamount to giving His approval to Satan to work freely in the midst of His people to destroy them. All these things considered, let us understand clearly that it is we who have been given authority over Satan and all his power [darkness] [Luke 10:19], but if we fail to shine as lights in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation [Philippians 2:15] then we can in no way drive out the death and darkness of the Evil One from the midst of God's people. So again, it is only an abiding [perfect] "obedience" that will continually bring us to [and keep us in] the precious place the Father has given us in Christ - that is, the place of "ascension" [all authority] with all that has it origin in death and darkness [unrighteousness] under our feet. The sooner we all realize that there are no shortcuts but only one way - the narrow path of perfect obedience - then the sooner the glory of God shall fill the earth to the great pleasure and delight of the Father's heart [Matthew 7:13-14].

                                                                                                                       to be continued