Prophecy – Page 84 – New Beginning Christian Ministries International

The Greatest Test of Our Hearts

Many new places and boundaries are coming into being. So many of us don’t know where we fit, or how we fit. We try to incorporate old ways, thinking it’s better and safer. Many feel insecure about all the changes.

What we must remember to never compare ourselves among ourselves, because every time we do that, we limit God in us. For when we measure ourselves among ourselves we are not wise.

We must know who we are in Christ and know why we have been sent. Then we wait on God to make room for our gift.

If you don’t know who you are, then people will tell you who you are. You will become who they want you to be, instead of who God wants you to be. The refinement of men pleasers goes into action when we fail to know who we are in Christ. Leave your destiny to God and not man.

Humans always gravitate toward the herd mentality and what is popular. It takes a strong identity in God to go against the herd mentality. The devil and man wants to snuff out your identity.

Shall we be men pleasers or God pleasers?

Jesus lost his identity on the cross because of our sin when he hung there. That means, you will never have to loose your identity in Him. The LORD will be there to affirm you. The LORD has not changed HIS mind towards you.

Elijah stood against a whole nation when he confronted Baal that day. The people were like lost sheep who had lost their way. They didn’t know who was right, until God proved His Way! Oh yes! Don’t think because a great victory comes that it will keep you esteemed highly in the eyes of man!

The spirit of Jezebel sits in her lurch ready to launch a massive campaign to discredit and kill the prophet, because her works are being destroyed. So what did Elijah do? He ran to hide in the cave and wondered why God would ever choose to use such wishy-washy thing like him.

In those secret places with our Master, we receive the assurance and our confidence in Him. This will give us the determination to go once again as he directs our pathway and makes it straight.

God will keep us in the wilderness and caves to humble us, so we will learn to trust and be dependent on Him. These times are never wasted times, but are for the purpose to further the Gospel.

Afflictions reveal the depths of our heart and produces a desperation within us. This can cause us to seek God with greater fervency.

These pressures are designed for our growth. Why? Because pressure produces character and as living epistles (walking letters) we are seen and read of all men. We must therefore be His witness to the end of the earth, by showing His nature and character.

It doesn’t matter how anointed we are! Why? Because the character issues are what bring us down to discredit our message.

I think a lot of saints get confused. They see the anointing, so they think because the anointing is in operation, that God is always pleased with the individual. Let us not be deceived. The anointing is on the person for Gods people. Not to approve of their bad behavior.

The LORD has a place for all of us in His body and like puzzle pieces, He connects us to each other to form a greater picture of His purpose. The LORD said He would provide Shepherds after His heart who would guide and protect His flock. We must stay where God leads us, and not run because of conflicts. Conflicts are just another method we can yield to and grow by, instead of run from.

In our family we learn how to deal with one another in love. When in crisis, we don’t run from them, we learn to work things out and how to love difficult people. Jesus said to judge by the fruit. The LORD created us for His pleasure and His desire is that we awake with His likeness. That means, the fruit of the Spirit is formed in us. Fruit cannot grow on a plant that continues to uproot itself and run.

Fruit forms by being rooted firmly by the river of Life and by going through the seasons of life and the pruning process, which are all difficult times; however through the difficulty, comes the fruit at the time of harvest.

Our goal should be, the nature and character of Christ in us. When we awake with His likeness, all of the discipline it took to change the mindsets to the mind of Christ, will be evident to all who see and know us.

Jesus said to go and make disciples of all nations. Making disciples is not easy. You first must have willing vessels that allow the discipline of the LORD to come into their lives.

You never follow a leader blindly, you follow them as they follow Christ. And when God plants you, you don’t move until He says move.

Leaders make many mistakes, but our job is to pray for them so they are free to hear and obey God on our behalf. Before you lead, you follow. And sometimes you won’t like to follow, but the LORD is tempering you, testing and refining you in servant hood. Leadership is servant hood.

Because of the condition of people, they become threatened and insecure by anything they cannot control. A religious establishment that departs from following the LORD, usually becomes an organization that resists Him.

For where sin abounds grace much more abounds. We must show more love, more grace, for it is His loving kindness that leads men to repentance. We must kill them with kindness. We must learn to love the devil out of them, and give space for God to work. Love covers a multitude of sin and iniquities.

I believe one of the greatest tests of our hearts doesn’t come in the form of our enemies, but in the presence of our friends that are close to us. It is in these testing times that God is making sure He can release His message in us. In this test, it will be mixed with His character with all the right ingredients of His Word and timing. Amen and Amen!

“We, on the other hand, will not boast beyond our legitimate province and proper limit, but will keep within the limits (of our commission which) God has allotted us as our measuring line and which reaches and includes even you. For we are not overstepping the limits of our province and stretching beyond our ability to reach, as though we reached not (had no legitimate mission) to you, for we were (the very first) to come even as far as to you with the good news ( the Gospel) of Christ. We do not boast therefore, beyond our proper limit, over other men’s labors, but we have the hope and confident expectation that as your faith continues to grow, our field among you may be greatly enlarged, still within the limits of our commission, so that (we may even preach the Gospel in lands (lying) beyond you, without making a boast of work already done in another (man’s) sphere of activity (before we came on the scene). However, let him who boasts and glories, boast and glory in the LORD. For (it is) not (the man) who praises and commends himself who is approved and accepted, but (it is the person) whom the LORD accredits and commends,” 2 Corinthians 10:13-18 AMP.

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

Kingdom Relationships

When we see others and a wrong word or action happens and the spirit of offense is given place, what are we to do? How would Jesus act? He accepts people where they’re at on their own level. So how would Jesus act?

We must learn to use our Godly sense to see where people are in their journey. Our outreach is critical.

We must seek God about their situation. How would the LORD have us behave?

As we remain humble, we keep looking to try and see their point of view. How would you want to have that happen to you. We reflect like a mirror. May we reflect Jesus to them in the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

We must learn to cover our brother’s and sister’s. How would we want to be dealt with when we miss it? Jesus didn’t separate himself from Peter and the other disciples when they missed it. As disciples we learn to cover each other like Noah’s sons backed up to him to cover his nakedness.

We all have issues at times when we need grace and mercy to cover our mistakes and nakedness.

Being a Christian and knowing intimate issues about those who we are around, must be handled in a spirit of meekness and forgiveness.

I have known people who get satisfaction out of others mistakes, nakedness and sin. That is a slippery slope when we all need mercy and forgiveness. We must be mindful to respect each other.

How would we want to be dealt with if we messed up like Noah? Satan wants us to look at each others faults, guilt, in a condemning critical and judgmental spirit.

The Spirit of Grace is everlasting and love covers a multitude of sin and iniquity.

Satan strategy is to cause us to attack and expose those who have been caught up in sin and iniquity.

We that labor together must meet in that place where concerns and issues need to be dealt with. We are to give no place to the devil. In this place we need instructions and strategy against divisive spirits that wish to kill, steal and destroy our union.

We can run people off by not being sensitive to where each person is. Especially the unbeliever. We also can run saints off by not being sensitive to their growth. We are to meet people where they are. In that place we meet them in unconditional love. When we look at the condition of the person, we need to ask ourselves, how would I want to be spoken to if the table was turned. It takes a short prayer to ask God this. Love covers a multitude of sin and iniquity.

As we become closer in relationships, we can recognize issues because we are familiar with the people. However as leaders when we get too familiar we loose our ability to effect them. There must be effective boundaries that we set in order. We are to respect healthy boundaries as we expect the same in each other. As leaders, if we allow the flock to become too familiar with the leader we will loose the ability to effect them for good. There must boundaries and we must learn them. Respect one another in love and in their boundaries. Familiarity breeds contempt.

When we see things that are wrong, we must especially not say, but pray for them. We as a body of believers must learn to cover each others backs. Living above reproach is a goal we should strive for. However, this walk is from beginning to end and is a walk of faith.

As intercessors we see things as we pray and God reveals personal things and we must keep them private. What we see must stay within the boundaries of that group or individual. God would not show us if we were untrustworthy.

I am afraid to say this, that a lot of people think they have discernment and it isn’t. It’s a critical and judgmental spirit and in this they rejoice when they see a brother or sister fall. They wait to see our demise. What is said in private is private. What is said in the group stays in the group.

To become mature, the journey will always continue in motion, and we move on regardless of how we grow through it. It is a good thing to learn to be quick to hear, slow to wrath.

We learn how to forgive bitterness and resentment and bearing no grudge or anger. We are not born this way. It is acquired by our relationship with Christ.

Now there is more accountability on the mature; Especially if they hold leadership roles. The religious drive people like cattle. The Shepherd gently leads the flock. When we get pressured to act on things, we must actively pull back and wait on the LORD.

Our first relationship is Jesus. He is our first love. That relationship must be first before any other person, place or thing.

It will be a ongoing battle in life to keep our first love position. Jesus gets jealous of our time and our intimacy with him. Whatever in life pulls us away from that intimacy must be resisted. It will always be our number one purpose in life is our first love relationship.

If we have ought against our brother, what do we do? First we always pray when we see and war on their behalf. God will always give us opportunities to be stretched.

We don’t have to prove who we are in God or to NO one. God proves and elevates, promotes and then everyone knows it. Our ministry is of reconciliation and restoration. Humility always comes before honor.

The good news is prophecy is good, even when we have to correct. What I see in others must be first lived in my life. Yes, but there are consequences to our behaviors and sin.

To have kindness we become kindness to others. We develop the fruit of the Spirit as we abide in the vine. So to combat hatred, we love and we are kind as we abide in the vine. In these testing times is how His fruits remain with us.

We are ambassadors of reconciliation. We are to seek and look through the eyes of Jesus.

We are to learn and understand where people are at in life. As we trust God and pray, miracles can happen with us in relationships. Humility is so needed when dealing with the lost and deceived. If you were in their shoes how would you want someone to speak to you to encourage or reach you?

The gospel is good news. This is all about establishing relationships and maintaining them as we are all part of each other. Amen? Amen!

“Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican,” Matthew 18:14-17 KJV.

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

The Greatest Tests Of Our Hearts

Being a prisoner is not limited by locked bars and legal decrees. A prisoner can be walking about in society looking every bit whole. What we cannot see are chains to weights and bondage’s. Those who are chained to weights and bondage’s are ashamed because others drive them into hiding.

I already know that this message will not be received by some, however, here it goes.

God was faithful to start in us, He will be faithful to complete in us. Personal circumstances don’t limit the work of God in our lives, for He continues to work “all” things together for our good. If Satan himself comes to attack our bodies, the Word of God declares what was meant for evil will be turned around for good.

We thank God in all circumstances, because no matter how bad our circumstances may appear, He promises that we will triumph in Christ Jesus. You may say, “Triumph? In this mess? How can any good thing come from these circumstances?”

You may be in prison, convicted of some crime that you may or may have not done. You look at the bondage and wonder how can God be working something good by this prison.

Just as there are real prisons with real criminals, there are also spiritual prisons, emotional prisons, physical prisons, prisons of our own making.

There are many who wish they could share their information with other brothers and sisters in Christ to have support and confidence in their love for them. However, many have found they can’t be open with the body of Christ because many violate confidence.

It is not wisdom to share such personal things unless you use them to help others through the same issues. Finding a good and faithful friend takes God to arrange.

There are also prisoners because of their faithfulness to God. The determination of those who try to hit the mark of the high calling, sent a wave of demonic persecution that sought to completely disengage the threat to the enemies plans.

You may be one of those who are being hailed with arrows and bound to circumstances that you have no control over. God wants you to know He is with you and is working a higher purpose through it all.

For example, look at the stroke victim. I see an individual who is a prisoner within a body that won’t work properly. Inside the person is free but outside they are bound. The frustration they must feel is mind blowing.

I believe totally in divine healing, and understand the life of faith. We the church, need balance in all things. Does being in prison disqualify you from the love of God?

We, the body of Christ, are going through many hard trials and circumstances. Some of us are bound with no control over our circumstances. We can sit in our homes, go about our daily activities, be in a large group of people and still be in a type of prison of circumstances and feel alone.

There are some things we must go through and some of us have been going through these things for years. Some feel so ashamed to even say anything to another person when in a dry season or trial.

We must be wise who we share things with and making sure we keep it personal. Personally, when these things are shared, that is between you, the person and God, PERIOD. You must prayerfully be led to such believers who truly know your heart and life.

In America we are good at painting a pleasant picture of the life of faith. Not many speak of the trials and circumstances we “all” go through.

It is not a popular message, so needless to say, a lot of hurting people are suffering in silence wondering what’s wrong with me? Didn’t I pray enough, didn’t I rebuke enough?

Some prison sentences must be gone through. After all, God is the one designing the lessons of our lives. After you have rebuked every devil, confessed every scripture and you still seem to be in a prison, the word of God says to stand. God has a higher purpose for the darkness of the dungeon. Gods word is not bound.

The trees sway when the winter winds blow, and some of the brittle branches break off, but the sap goes to the base point. You may feel dead, dry and brittle, but know you are loved and that the sap of the tree, who is the Zoe “God kind of life” is within you both to will and do His good pleasure.

I look at the example of faith in the Apostle Paul. You may or may not know that Paul spent a wide expanse of time, perhaps a decade in various prisons. The incarceration of Paul began with his arrest in Jerusalem about A.D.58 and ending with his incarceration and final martyrdom under Emperor Nero in A.D.67.

I look at the circumstances in the natural and think how can any good thing come out of this persecution of Paul. Paul was alone and cold in the dungeon, the beloved Paul wrote many Pastoral epistles that speak to us today. Paul wrote weighty powerful letters in prison right where he was.

“… wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds, but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory,” 2 Timothy 2:9-10KJV.

With all of the suffering and persecution the church is going through, God knows the whole matter. These things make us know that we are right on the mark with God. If the enemy never tested your resolve, it would be time to sound the alarm!

Satan thought he could shut Paul up. Bound and put into a pit, his ministry flourished. Paul’s writings became weighty and powerful through trial. His faith was not a formula or a quick fix program. Paul’s faith was produced through many experiences that tested it.

Paul said, “I have learned to be content.” Paul’s example revealed the prize of patient endurance. He boasted of his afflictions that the power of Christ would rest on him! He spoke of his imprisonment’s, how he was driven into exile, and how he had been stoned.

If Paul spoke these things and it wasn’t wrong, why are so many popular teachings telling us not to confess anything negative? It sounds like denial to me! Let the rock throwers hit me in the head, it doesn’t hurt, as I don my mask and cloak!

I was once in a particular church that taught the book of Job was a mistake. The person said, “If he would have confessed right and feared not, the book of Job could have only been a few chapters long.”

Suffering has never been a popular message. The church has neglected to properly prepare the body for these types of trials. The idea is, “if everything seems perfect and I feel good, then I’m okay with God.”

Beloved, if you are His, no matter what circumstances you go through, you are still okay and love by God.

“But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my My name’s sake.” Acts 9:15-16 KJV.

“And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witness in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the LORD Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God,” Acts 20:22-24 KJV.

Saints, no matter what type of prison of circumstance you are in right now, know assuredly that God is with you and will use you right where you are!

Be encouraged knowing our brothers and sisters world wide are going through the same situations! Amen?

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

Are WE Prepared?

The more we mature in the LORD, the more we come to realize our absolute desperate need of Him.

The more we become mature, the more we should become transparent and open to our fellow man. All of our suffering and tribulations are for the sake of the gospel.

The more we mature in the LORD, the more we come to realize our absolute desperate need of Him.

The more we become mature, the more we should become transparent and open to our fellow man. All of our suffering and tribulations are for the sake of the gospel.

The more power or influence we are given, the greater the danger of pride and deception. Power without death to self, brings corruption. Our cross is our means of execution. It is to be picked up everyday.

We must be humble, broken and lowly of heart before God. God wants to prepare us for what is coming to the church and the nations.

I had a dream years ago. I was in a coliseum like in Rome. I was looking at the people in the stands, all shouting, laughing and mocking what was going on in the arena.

I looked down and there were Christians tied to poles and others running around the bottom of the arena from lions. The lions were killing the Christians and eating them, while the crowds cheered and seemed to enjoy the sight. I was so sick. I had a hard time shaking the images of my mind from that dream.

The passion of the Roman culture for entertainment was enormous. During the reign of Claudius, 93 days each year were expressly devoted to games and spectacles. By the end of the second century the number had risen to 135.

The Roman coliseum was an arena of butchery. It was in this coliseum that many of our brothers and sisters were given to the lions and other forms of terrible torture. The brutalizing effect of the arena on Roman society was hard to comprehend. How could so many people of “culture” fail to condemn this practice?

Christians were unpopular partly because their rites were widely misunderstood. The communion rite especially. The Romans thought that their arrogance and impious behavior towards the gods of Rome, must have angered the gods themselves. Thus natural disasters such as earthquakes and fires sent by the gods, were the fault of the Christians.

Nero had self acknowledged Christians arrested. Then, on their information, large numbers of others were condemned, for their anti-social tendencies. Their deaths were made farcical. Dressed in wild animals’ skins, they were torn to pieces by dogs, or crucified, or made into torches to be dipped in oil then ignited after dark as substitutes for day light.

Persecution has a way of stripping our masks and hypocrisies. For those who truly believe the gospel, will not compromise it, even unto death.

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death,” Revelation 12:11 KJV.

During the heat of Rome’s persecution, many Christians found sanctuary under ground. In a place called the Catacombs. I was stationed in Italy when I was in the Air Force and visited Rome personally.

It was an eerie feeling going under ground knowing that Christians lived in such places as the literal under ground church. The caverns all over Rome were of volcanic porous rock. Many tunnels and caves were dug out under the city of Rome to house the under ground church.

They worshiped, prayed, taught, lived and died in those caves while persecution raged above. They buried the dead in dug out places and sealed them into the rock.

I think of all the entertainment we have as a church. How entertaining will it be when they start taking us to jail or killing us for our message? Will Christianity still be appealing to us then? We must search our own heart and mind. We must get ready and be ready for whatever comes. Are we ready?

“For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death; for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but yea are strong ; ye are honorable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; And labor working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless: being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the off scouring of all things unto this day; I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me,” 1 Corinthians 4:9-16 KJV.

“And others had trial of cruel mocking and scourging, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment, they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy, they wandered in deserts, and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth,” Hebrews 11:36-38 KJV.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds,” Hebrews 12:2-3 KJV.

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey