HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE CRY OF THE LORD?

My last few blogs have been birthed from a dream I recently had about Jesus not just being a Savior but a Judge also. It is a word from the Lord on God’s judgments, and this is my purpose in sharing it:

“Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too” (2 Cor. 5:11 – NLT).

As a minister of the gospel I have a fearful responsibility not only to live out my own calling and walk worthy of it, but to share the whole counsel of God with people in order to persuade them to also submit their entire being to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. A great preacher from the last century spoke these words from his deathbed: “I’ve taken a good look into eternity and if I could preach again, how differently I would preach!”

I don’t want to fall short of preaching the reality of eternal things. When you receive revelation from the Lord it can seem like you’ve been to heaven or hell and returned to tell about it.

Much of what Christians hear today is devoid of the whole concept of Judgment because they think God will just wipe away our petty foolishness and overlook our sin and disobedience, when the truth is that many professing Christians today are in direct rebellion with God’s Word. When we look the other way as churches and preachers embrace dangerous doctrines and worldly lifestyles over the Word, we are guilty of losing our saltiness and allowing the darkness to spread without shining the light of God on it.

TRUE AND FALSE JUDGMENT

As one example, how can professing Christians continue to vote for immoral leaders in our government because they seem nice, while at the same time rejecting the upright because they are faithful and true to the Word? How could the people of Alabama in this past week’s election choose a radical abortionist and aggressive same sex marriage proponent over one of the finest constitutionalists and Bible believers that has run for office in the last 50 years? And to add insult to irresponsibility, call him an idiot and a child molester! — believing the reports of the ungodly media and their scandalous propaganda and smear campaign over God’s Word and their own conscience.

When professing Christians do this they show forth no judgment and no discernment. The same thing happened with the Obama presidency. How could so many  professing Christians have voted for the most anti-Biblical, anti-Israel, anti-morality president our nation has ever had? How could so many vote party over principle? Race over righteousnesss? Money over morality? Something is terribly wrong with their judgment. The lack of the holy fear of the Lord and a respect for God’s Word has left them void of true judgment and darkened their discernment.

We need to understand something about God’s judgments. His judgments are not meant to either condemn or justify. They are meant to bring us into agreement with God through His truth and righteousness. God is raising up judges (ministers who preach the whole counsel of God) in this hour to bring the people of God into true union with Him. Our nation is under judgment for this very reason. But judgment begins in the house of God with teachers and all ministers receiving the stricter end of it (Jam. 3:1).

Read Romans 1. See what happens to a people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (v. 18). God eventually gives them over to uncleanness, vile passions, and a debased mind (v. 24, 26, and 28). You might object and say, “these verses are speaking of homosexuality! But notice v. 32.

“who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” 

When you vote for public officials who approve of same sex marriage you are operating with no judgment out of a debased mind.

The Church is in a mess today because she does not know Jesus as the Lord and Judge. “Lord” is a word we say, but it does not mean Supreme Ruler over our lives. “Judge” is a word we avoid because we think it’s not love, and we defend it with our “thou-shalt-not-judge” mantra. But Jesus is the righteous Judge, and the Father has committed all judgment to Him.

“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son” (Jn. 5:22).

You cannot come into agreement with God unless you know His ways and His heart – both His goodness and severity, His love and holiness, His mercy and judgment. There is a present level of deception today mostly because we are not familiar with His judgments.

BLINDED SO WE CAN SEE

We must be blinded to our own reasonings, concepts, and traditions before we can see as the Lord sees. Saul of Tarsus had to be blinded by that bright light on the road to Damascus and remain so for three days before He finally could see (both naturally, but mainly spiritually) (Acts 9). As it was initially with Saul, so it will be with us. His own reasonings and religious traditions led him into direct conflict with the Lord’s plans and purposes. What Saul hated, persecuted, and opposed he would now learn to love and cherish.

“Who are You, Lord and what do You want me to do?” was Saul’s first response to the Light. His falsehood and opposition to Jesus Christ were totally exposed, before he surrendered to His Lordship. He had to be blinded to his own reasonings before he could see. In His light we see light (Ps, 36:9). I believe that walking in the light of God’s Word and His judgments is the greatest present need in the body of Christ in this hour.

WALKING BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT IS A BIG PART OF WALKING IN THE LIGHT

When you walk on this earth before the Judgment Seat of Christ you will walk in complete transparency and exposure. This is the beginning of true holiness without which no man can see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). It’s a sure safeguard against deception. Knowing that every one of your thoughts, words, motives, and deeds will be revealed at the Judgment Seat of Christ will give you freedom to live on the earth as you would in heaven. It is only when you hide from the Lord and His judgments that places a veil over your eyes, to hide Him and His truth and righteousness from you. Full transparency and exposure is required to maintain an intimate walk with Him and operate in His righteous judgments.

The first and greatest commandment will purge you of all false motives and keep your heart pure.

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Mt. 22:37-40)

“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets“ (Mt. 7:12).

Love is the greatest expression and value of the kingdom of God. But notice the expression “the Law and the Prophets”. The Law judges you by your deeds. The Prophets judge you by  your heart’s motives. The greatest function of the prophet’s ministry is to turn people’s hearts and their motives toward the Lord. All God’s judgments are based on your motives first. If it’s not true love then it won’t pass His judgments. Nothing is hidden from Him to whom we must give account.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:13).

Notice the expression, “To whom we must give account”. That is the attitude by which we must live that keeps us seeing and walking in the light of His judgments.

We can’t compare our devotion to others but must ever keep the Word as our personal mirror and standard. What should matter to you is not what others think, for that will keep you walking in the fear of man, which will cloud your judgment. What should matter to you is what Jesus thinks and sees when your eyes will finally meet His at the Judgment Seat. Personally, I fear regret more than anything else. My aim is not to disappoint the Lord but to please Him. This is what is known as the fear of the Lord. Read the following verses real slowly:

“Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth] or away from home [and with Him], it is our [constant] ambition to be pleasing to Him. For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities and abilities]. Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord [and understand the importance of obedience and worship], we persuade people [to be reconciled to Him]” (1 Cor. 5:9-11 – Amp.)

What an incredible verse of Scripture! The fear of the Lord will be known fully at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Therefore, you could say that the Judgment Seat is the fear of the Lord. It’s the same thing. The beginning of true wisdom on the earth is to walk in this holy fear (Pr. 1:7).

To know the fear of the Lord is God’s passionate desire for man even as far back as the Old Testament.

“Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever” (Dt. 5:29).

“Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord“ (Ps. 34:11).

The fear of the Lord should also be our passionate desire.

“Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name“ (Ps. 86:11).

THE CRY OF THE LORD

Here is my narrative of what is happening now and the time of awakening that we are in:

The Groom is running desperately through the streets looking for His Bride, but most do not recognize Him or know Him. The Groom weeps as He did over Jerusalem long ago because they missed the time of their visitation (Lk. 19:41-44). It was shortly after this that Jesus went into the temple and cleansed it (v.45-46). This is what the Lord is doing now in preparation for His glory and His coming. That is the cry I am hearing that is greater than any cry because much of His Church is not ready for Him and do not recognize Him. And why don’t those who confess His Name recognize Him? Why aren’t they ready for Him?

It is because His prophets and priests have lulled His Bride to sleep by teaching them these false concepts of love and grace that allows them to do what they want and live how they want. Islam and Isis and the liberal humanists are rising in a warrior-like spirit while much of the church sleeps. Jesus is returning for a glorious Bride that is adorned with holiness with neither spot or wrinkle or any other blemish – blameless and without fault (Eph. 5:27). He is returning for a Bride who has zero tolerance for sin. He’s returning for a Bride with such a burning love for Him that she will take her heel and slam it into the serpent’s head and crush it.

I see Jesus riding on a horse with His sword wherein is written “truth and righteousness”. He will take the lampstands from the prophets and priests lest they repent of failing to teach His Bride the full counsel of God and sincere obedience, which is the essence of true worship and the fruit of the fear of the Lord.

Time is running out. Repent and renounce all sin and disobedience. Make Jesus your Lord now and walk in the light of His Word and judgments. Therein is the prosperity of all of God’s true servants and their descendants now and forever.