IT IS TIME FOR A CHECK UP
I hear the Spirit of The Lord saying …..Dearly Beloved, it is time for a check up. Many are long overdue for a heart check. It is time to take inventory on what is occupying your mind and your thoughts. What have you allowed to take up residency within your hearts that is now overflowing out into your mind, will and emotions?
Did I not say in Proverbs 23:7 - For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he? Did I not say in Matthew 12:34-35 - O generation of vipers, how can you being evil, speak good things. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things?
Do your words line up with mine? Do your thoughts align with my heart? Where have you gone?
Return your heart to mine. My prayer is that We are one, just as Me and The Father are one. ( John 17:21-24) Return to your first love!! Return to your first love!! But I have this charge against you, that you have left your first love, you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me. So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent, change your inner self-your old way of thinking , your sinful behavior-seek God’s will, and do the works you did at first, when you first knew Me; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lampstand, the church, its impact, from its place-unless you repent. (Revelation 2:4-5 Amp)
The heart cry of My beloved should be Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
As The Spirit was speaking these things, I saw a giant stethoscope, moving over hearts, as if to listen and examine for what was heard beating from them. Long lines of people, waiting their turn in hospital gowns, to have their hearts checked and their pulse taken for signs of life. I saw the words from Psalm 139:23-24 over their heads.
Search me thoroughly , O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
What stood out in bold lettering was MY, ME, ME, ME. It was as if The Lord was emphasizing for me , myself, and I. Not to focus on others, but to focus on my own heart issues, and that any message I was given to share was for ME first.
The Lord was saying that many are growing sick in their hearts due to hope being deferred, delayed desires, and unmet expectations. We must remember that our hope should always be placed in God alone. If God said it, we should stand on His Word and His promises and not look to man to replace Gods position. Worldy wisdom is well beneath the wisdom of God.
As I listened more intently, I heard the voice of The Lord giving out prescriptions to those who were found to be ailing in their hearts. Hebrews 3:12-13 in the Passion Translation is just what the good doctor ordered. “ So search your hearts every day, and make sure that none of you has evil or unbelief hiding within you. For it will lead you astray, and make you unresponsive to The Living God. This is the time to encourage each other to never be stubborn or hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
It seemed as though some were more heart sick than others. They would require an extended stay in His presence, they would require much more healing time in His Word. I looked and saw them being escorted into healing rooms of The Father’s heart and coming out stronger and wiser. These ones who went in weak and dazed and confused, came out dancing and leaping with tears of joy and great peace over their countenance. I could hear birds singing and what resembled ocean waves breaking in the distance.
Others came out armed with swords and shields and helmets and full suits of golden armor, running towards a battle, proclaiming God's words. I could hear trumpets and roaring lions in the distance.
“What is this all about?”, I asked . “Out of the heart of man flows the issues of life”, was the response I immediately heard. “My beloved needs to come to Me with child-like faith, knowing that they are my sons and daughters, and receive their full inheritance. The enemy has come to kill, steal, and destroy. My beloved is being robbed in their minds and it is separating their hearts from mine. They need to be in pursuit of My heart, The Father’s Heart.” I was instantly reminded of King David being a man after God's own heart. Is this the key to David's great victories over the enemy throughout his lifetime?
Proverbs 4 (TPT) is a blueprint of our Father’s instructions to us His beloved sons and daughters.
A FATHER’S INSTRUCTIONS
Listen to my correction, my sons, for I speak to you as your father. Let discernment enter your heart and you will grow wise with the understanding I impart.
My revelation truth is a gift to you, so remain faithful to my instruction.
For I too , was once the delight of my father and cherished by my mother- their beloved child.
Then my father taught me, saying, “Never forget my words. If you do everything that I teach you, you will reign in life.”
So make wisdom your quest-search for the revelation of life’s meaning.
Don't let what I say go in one ear and out the other.
Stick with wisdom and she will stick to you, protecting you throughout your days. She will rescue all those who passionately listen to her voice.
Wisdom is the most valuable commodity- so buy it!
Revelation knowledge is what you need, so invest in it!
Wisdom will exalt you when you exalt her truth. She will lead you to honor and favor when you live your life by her insights.
You will be adorned with beauty and grace, and wisdom’s glory will wrap itself around you, making you victorious in the race.
As I read these verses, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper…”The Fear of The Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. No fear of The Lord, no wisdom. Fear of man always leads to idolatry which is as stubbornness, and rebellion which is as the sin of witchcraft."
As I continued to read Proverbs 4, the Lord began to show me what was taking place in the vision I saw as the people entered into The Father Heart of God.
HEALING WORDS
20. Listen carefully, my dear child, to everything that I teach you , and pay attention to all that I have to say
21. Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit.
22. Then, as you unwrap my words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being.
23. SO ABOVE ALL, GUARD THE AFFECTIONS OF YOUR HEART, FOR THEY AFFECT ALL THAT YOU ARE. PAY ATTENTION TO THE WELFARE OF YOUR INNERMOST BEING,FOR FROM THERE FLOWS THE WELLSPRING OF LIFE.
24. Avoid dishonest speech and pretentious words. Be free from using perverse words no matter what!
WATCH WHERE YOU ARE GOING
25. Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead. IGNORE LIFE’S DISTRACTIONS
26. Watch where you're going! Stick to the path of truth, and the road will be safe and smooth before you.
27. Don't allow yourself to be sidetracked for even a moment or TAKE THE DETOUR THAT LEADS TO DARKNESS.
ARE YOU IN THE GARDEN?
As I was watering my freshly planted flowers and listening to the song of the birds, I was reminded of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. It seems that many in the Body of Christ are experiencing great mental attacks of anxiety, fear, doubt, and unbelief. The whispering disembodied spirits are sending lies and evil forebodings into our soul. We must remember our instructions to pull down every stronghold and vain imagination. Everything that doesn’t line up with Gods Word, anything that lifts itself up against the true knowledge of God, we are to take captive to the obedience in Christ.( 2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
We must not allow the enemy to play mind games and trick us into thinking that we have done something wrong. The accusing voice of the enemy must be silenced !!! Thoughts of guilt, shame, and condemnation, must not be tolerated . Kingdom decrees and declarations must be spoken out in the boldness and authority of which it was given. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!! (Romans 8:1)
2 Corinthians 1 gives us some great insight as to why we sometimes will suffer these strategic attacks while reminding us of the great compassion and love the Father has for us.
We are to go to God and His Word for comfort .
2 Cor 1:3. Heart felt thanks be to God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ , the Father who is full of compassion and the God who gives all comfort; :4 Who comforts us in every kind of trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God; :5 For just as Christ’s sufferings are ours in abundance (as they overflow to His followers ), so also, our comfort is abundant through Christ (it truly more then enough to endure what we must ).
It seems to me the Word is clearly stating that we often times (like Christ) we suffer in order to be able to help others, and we are to go to God to be our comfort . Isn’t this what Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane. Is this what allowed Jesus to be able to endure? Jesus was betrayed by Judas and He forgave Him. He was abandoned and denied by His disciples who failed to watch and pray and denied Him in times of fear and doubt . Jesus even performed miracles in the Garden when He reattached the ear of the roman soldier. Knowing full well what He was about to endure, Jesus spent the night communing with God, getting comfort and strength to endure the Cross.
( Luke 22:44) And being in agony He prayed more earnestly and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.
Jesus was under great mental torment, fear, anxiety , and anguish . (HEMATOCHIROSIS) caused by extreme stress or anxiety and your blood mixed with sweat. A very rare medical condition .
Have you picked up your cross? Are you following after Christ at a higher level and therefore experiencing a greater level of attacks against your mind? We must be diligent to keep our minds stayed on Him, for He will give us perfect peace!! Jesus wasn’t in the Garden to smell the flowers and enjoy their beauty. Jesus was in the Garden, to spend time alone, in Gods presence , to gain His instructions and strength to endure. Jesus prayed to the father saying, “Father, If you are willing, remove this cup from Me, yet not My will, but always, Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42 AMP)
Remember the words of Jesus in John 15:19 "If you belonged to the world, the world would love yours its onward would treat you with affection, But you are not of the world, you no longer belong to, but I have chosen you out of the world. And because of this, the world hates you.” Following Christ comes with a price.
“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can only do what He sees The Father doing, because whatever The Father does, The Son does also.” John 5:19 Jesus is the example that we must follow. Gardens are full of life and new growth, and beautiful blooms of beauty all pointing to the God of all creation. Let your time in the garden be a time to get alone with God, silence the lies of the enemy, listen to His instructions, focus on His love and compassion , and let Him lead you into your next assignment to help others .
I find it interesting that The Holy Spirit led Jesus into a garden to be arrested . This arrest leads to His death burial and resurrection. It was a garden where Adam and Eve fell from glory and turned their authority over to satan.
It was a garden tomb where the stone was rolled away and Jesus first appeared to Mary who mistook Jesus for the gardener.
Luke 12:27 comes to mind as I think about flowers and how we are instructed to “ consider the lillies who do not toil or spin, yet are clothed by God”. This is encouragement for us to trust in Gods care and to focus on our spiritual needs and His Kingdom.
Jesus time in the garden is why we can rejoice not only in His resurrection , but His ascending back to His throne , seated at the right hand of the Father. Only He is not seated alone. We are seated in Christ Jesus.
LET YOUR YES BE YES AND YOUR NO BE NO !! *(Matthew 5:37)
I see that many in the Body of Christ are in a season of pruning. * ( John 15:2. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes that it may bear more fruit )
God is asking of us to allow Him to step away, to cut off, to let go of anything and anyone that we have allowed to attach to us , that was not meant to be a permanent attachment. These unhealthy attachments are like dead branches that need to be completely cut off. Just like a crepe myrtle tree that needs to be cut back and down to bare limbs in winter, only to yield full budding blooms of glorious splendor in the spring. Before those branches are cut off, they look healthy and strong, and full of life. But if left on, they become heavy , unable to maintain their natural shape and beauty. This pruning allows development of strong branches , allows more sunlight to reach the inner branches promoting health and maturity . Diseased , dead, damaged branches must be removed to prolong the life of the tree. What was once allowed and a part of the tree must now be cut off and removed for the sake of life, being able to grow and flourish and mature .
The Body of Christ must be willing to let go of those things that He leads us to leave behind. (* Philippians 3:12-14). We must embrace new beginnings and allow our times in the wilderness, alone in His presence , to reveal His plans and purposes for our individual lives . *( Isaiah 43:18-19 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I AM doing a new thing ! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I AM making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.)
Some people , places, assignments, are not meant to be a permanent fixture in our lives. For everything there is a season. *(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ). We must remain humble and quick to hear and obey, discerning our seasons like the sons of Issachar *(1 Chronicles 12:32)
As Holy Spirit begins to reveal these people and places to us, we must be willing to give Him our YES. That YES must be a complete surrender and complete obedience. Partial obedience is disobedience . Disobedience is an open door for the enemy to attack us both in the physical and mental realm. Obedience is better than any sacrifice that we could offer to The Lord . * ( 1Samuel 15:22)
Often times, we are led to separate from friends, family or groups of people that we feel we have an obligation too. God will lead us to set boundaries in relationship and environments that have become unhealthy and harmful to us in ways we sometimes don’t see. *(Matthew 10:37-39 )
God wants us to lean, rely, and trust on Him to be our everything to meet our every need. The closer we walk with God, the more closed our circle of friends will often become. Everyone that we expect to go with us will not be willing or able to go. *(Matthew 10 :34-36). Fear of rejection, fear of man, fear of loneliness , fear, fear, fear, must not be tolerated. Fear will paralyze you and keep you from fully obeying Gods leading. God is desiring to free His Body from these fears. FEAR OF THE LORD is an absolute must!!!
A resounding NO is also required. We must say NO to the people and things that God says are not for us. We must say NO, to things that our prior generations failed to say NO too. The generational things that follow our bloodline and we have seen become curses and wreak havoc in their lives.
Obedience unlocks the door to our victory which is assured in Christ Jesus. *( 1Corinthians 15:57) Obedience will enable us to cut off the head of the giants that have been mocking and stalking our bloodlines, waiting to attack the next generation.
Jesus was completely obedient to The Father and completely surrendered and yielded to Holy Spirit. *( John 5:19-20 Jesus gave them this answer. “ Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. Yes, and He will show Him every greater works than these, so that you will be amazed .)