Category: Teaching

Learning to be silent in the midst of great opposition is an acquired trait.  Many times we are not confident in silence.  We get antsy and nervous when we should be silent and and still waiting on God to show us and to wait on his lead.

What’s our heart motive’s?  Are we “having” to do something or “wanting” to do something.  He has plainly given us free will to choose.  To choose Him or not.  He is not some legalistic God that is standing over you demanding that you love him.  It is HIS loving kindness that leads us to repentance.

We are made in Gods image.  He created us for His pleasure; He created us for fellowship with HIM.  Think about that. He wants to have a love walk with us! Isn’t that amazing!

He has many created beings to fellowship with, but He wants to fellowship with someone that chooses to love Him.  He longs for a relationship with us, but He won’t make us do it.

He will not make us love Him.  The creator of the universe desires our attention.  Oh, He wants us to love Him the way He loves us!  Oh! To be so in love with Him that we take time, not make time for Him.  This whole Christian walk is about knowing our Loving God.

Are we doing things out of obligation, instead of our love walk with HIM?  I want to be motivated by My first Love.  Who is HIM!!  I am not the Holy Spirit, nor can I make things happen. Either God does it or it won’t be done.

If God decrees that we will ultimately hold greater leadership positions, He will take us often to the back side of a desert scenario; to prepare us in humility.  All Christians go through learning to love and grow in grace, I am not talking on this level.

Those who know they have been called by God to leadership will go through death experiences on many levels.  What God requires for one doesn’t necessarily mean He requires it for all.  This depends on what type of death to self we go through.  Whatever level of leadership or office, God always requires death to self in many areas; especially to develop humility.

Not everyone can hold offices of leadership because they involve great humiliations.  For those that shall be great among you shall be servants.

“But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.  And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.  But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise LORDship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all,”   Mark 10:40-44 KJV.

In my experience and study, it seems by the time we are humble, and resolved that our best days were behind us, then God comes in and says you’re ready!  What a paradox!  I like to say it like this.  It’s like the old gray mare she ain’t what she used to be!  So you are resolved, to go out to the pasture of failure, the rest of your life.

It is in such cases, when silence and humility are primed, then the LORD tells us to go back!  You are ready!  He brings us back full circle to confront what we thought we were supposed to do at the beginning.

However He knew the process from the pit to the palace.  We must grow into the place that God leads us to.  You see, God matures us to handle his authority, especially governing authority on all levels.  Godly authority is opposite to worldly authority.

Look at Moses.  He thought he was ready to lead Gods people.  A prince of Egypt with power.  Moses took notice that he was a Hebrew and thought he was their Savior.

Moses had to be refined and defined on the back side of the desert.  Moses had resolved that his former life was gone and the thoughts of His Hebrew brethren were just a memory gone by.

Help us LORD to never forget where we came from.

Those who will be great influences in life, will die many deaths before they are ready for leadership in the LORD.  By the time they get there, they usually don’t want to do it anymore, because they finally see the cost involved.

Another important thing to take notice of; the greater the authority in leadership, causes the circle of confidants to get smaller.  Not all can walk where you walk, and do what you do.

Leaders minister out of over flow.

The ten virgins speak of overflow.  The five who were ready had enough oil in their lamps and had more to take with them.  God wants us to learn to minister out of over flow.

We must spend time with the LORD in worship, prayer and the word of God.  Being filled with the Spirit is not a one time deal.  We need to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.  Leadership requires continued fellowship with the LORD so we are filled to overflow with HIM.

We each have within us the ability to come to the Holy of Holies each and everyday.  No longer do we rely on priest, prophet or anyone else.  Part of the atoning work of the Lamb Christ Jesus is that He paid our price in full! Now we all, can come boldly into His throne room of grace to receive mercy and find help in time of need.

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,”   Hebrews 4:14-16 KJV.

We must learn to protect the gift of the King.  Being stewards of great gifts requires faithfulness.  We cannot allow anyone to keep us from defending those Kingly treasures!  Guarding and stewarding the gift is your responsibility.

Only God can tell us who we are and what we have.  There will be those who try to latch on to the person to get to the treasure.  Guard your heart for out of it come the issues of life.

The Word says, that a double minded man is unstable in ALL his ways.  When Moses was young he was very unstable in the ways of God.

When Moses tried to make his ministry happen, he made a blunder!  Yes it seemed like Moses would think he was their savior.  He was bold, proud, arrogant and killed a man.

Moses thought he was ready, and looking at the situation, it could look that way, however, Moses was full of himself.  God judges the heart.  Moses ran and remained hidden forty years.

“And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, and in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel,”   Deuteronomy 34:10-12 JKV.

Moses became a man whom God knew face to face.  Isn’t this our desire?  We know God face to face as we worship Him, seek Him and know His Word.  Being filled with the fullness of the Holy Spirit should be our goal. He so desires us to be filled more and more.

There are many different field’s and fold’s of ministries.  We are to be careful not to go into another mans field of ministry, unless invited.  We want to be effective, not infected.  We must never minister out of our wounds.  God is greater than our own heart and knows all things.

We want to leave behind us a Spiritual Legacy with God and his people. This is the path. Seeking Him until we find Him! To fall deeper in love with Jesus as we develop our relationship with Him.

God will make room for His gifts.  Just realize, this is a test of silence for you!  He wants you to be confident in silence.  Seeking titles and speaking titles, always speak of immaturity.  Let God be God and let Him make room for your gifts.  Only He can prepare you for what’s ahead.

You don’t seek out ministers, you don’t promote yourself.  God does that.  Promotion comes from the LORD and everyone will know it.

Spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.  Do we have a low battery Spiritually?  We need to hook into Gods Spirit and be charged up and filled as we seek HIM with our whole hearts.  Amen?

nbsp;

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

The Cross has never been a popular message nor has the message of repentance.  The Spirit of Elijah is here to restore if we are broken and repent of our own ways.  God seeks for those who have a broken and contrite heart.

God often has to tear things down in our lives, in order to be able to build us back up so that we rise in true holiness.  We each have gifts and a destiny from the LORD.  God has to convict and tear down man-made agenda’s to be able to build up His plan in us.

Whatever is wood, hay or stubble will be burned up.  But if you are a precious jewel in His hand, it does not matter how hot it gets, because gold, silver and precious stones become more refined and defined through the process.  These are very valuable and unique and of much more worth.

These thrive in heat and gain much momentum through that process.  They have learned instead of fighting against things they have learned by experience to yield to His sovereign plan.

Being a prophet is not some side-show event or name-in-lights type person.  Their goals are all encompassing, because they identify so much with Christ.  They literally are possessed by the Holy Spirit.  The LORD’s goal is that everything in us develops into His likeness.

Are we building on His foundation or are we building on sinking sand?  Many times we can be building on His foundation, but not building according to His commands.  God allows storms and fire to blow and burn away our works, so that all that is left are His Works, His foundation.

How do we respond to God’s prophet?  Be ye all clothed with humility, for God resists the proud but gives Grace to the humble.  If we respond properly to God’s prophet, the blessings of the LORD and restoration in all areas will follow.  Humility is a mark of a true prophet.

All through scripture you see examples of prophets who were kept hidden until sent on a mission by God.  Prophets are ordained by God and not man.  God’s true prophets and ministers are influenced by God and not man.  Their walk is often lonely, they suffer, they must stand back, even in the midst of a crowd they are very alone.  Yet God is with them.

People frequently misunderstand prophets.  Prophets walk with God and are very familiar with many things, but purposely remain silent.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue.  They are secure in themselves knowing that God will make room for His gifts.

There are no gray areas, no straddled fences;  you either are, or are not.  Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.

Prophets have learned to keep God’s secrets, and when to release them in His timing.  They don’t seek great things for themselves.  They are silent until the LORD opens their mouth.

They have an innocence and a child-like faith and character with humility, because their greatest joy is knowing God.  Those who have suffered so much through trials and tribulations, finally get to a place of absolute resolve that they “will not let him go until he blessed me,”  just like Jacob prevailed and his name was changed to Israel.

This is the reward of the prophets.  You my LORD are my shield and my exceeding great reward.   See Genesis 32:24-28.

“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward,”   Genesis 15:1

Often God’s true prophets stand off from the crowd and their message is not popular.  You will either love them or hate them.

To warn, correct and expose sin in the Church does not make you a popular person.  However, the LORD sees the love and obedience you have for Him.  He will build you up and plant you in the land.  God wants to share so much with us.  He only wants us to come to Him and spend time with Him as we learn to walk in the Spirit.

There are many lone voices out there crying in the wilderness saying, “prepare ye the way of the LORD, make His pathway straight.”  John the Baptist did not come with charisma or flowery words.  He came with a tough word!  Repent!

Many ministers and prophets can use their titles and own natural gifts, abilities or charisma to cover up unconfessed sin in their own lives.  Church, don’t judge by the gifts or charisma!  Judge by the fruit of the spirit that is manifested in their personal lives!

What God sees in our lives, are our walls that are ever before Him.  Especially when we are all alone and no one else sees us.  That’s where the rubber meets the road.  God knows all things and He wants our broken fellowships restored.  Not only for our restoration, but for others also!

Do you know what the sin of bitterness does?  Bitterness troubles us, and defiles us.  However, it will spread like wild fire and will infect others with demonic influences.  A person who ministers out of gaping wounds and bitterness can cause so much damage.

The Chief Shepherd is watching as He is making me lie down in green pastures.  He is leading me beside still waters.  He is restoring my soul.

Do you realize how the LORD cares for His sheep?  Shepherds who leads us to still water have such wisdom.  Had the water been rapid and rushing, the sheep could have gone to drink the water, but when they walked into the cool water, the wool would absorb the water and the weight would cause heaviness.  Being too heavy, the stream current would pull at the sheep’s wool and the sheep would drown.

The work of the Shepherd is amazing.  He restores our souls.  How many of us want the LORD to restore our soul, mind, will, intellect and personality etc.?  Man oh man, do I want the Chief Shepherd to restore my soul!.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His own name’s sake.  The Shepherd had already tested the path and He knew they would make it through.  Though it feels like we are walking through a death experience, we need not fear.

His rod and staff comfort us.  Wow, the rod of correction comforts us and the staff of leading, guiding and rescuing shows us so much love and concern for our welfare.  Both correction and encouragement are balanced out as He is our perfect Father!  He has got our best interests and concerns at heart.

There are so many wandering sheep crying out bleating as they go.  These lost, lowly, weak and wounded sheep are crying out to the LORD of Shabbat who already sees and seeks His own, as a good shepherd.  There are so many who wander on every hill and valley longing for the shepherd to find them and lead them into the care of the sheep fold.

I’m thanking you Great Shepherd for preparing a table even with my enemies around.  I thank you for anointing our heads; our cups run over.

How amazing it is that the Shepherd declares that only goodness and mercy shall follows us all of our days.  Who can’t help but melt into His embrace for His goodness to us?  We truly dwell in the house of the LORD forever!   See Psalms 23, 2 Peter 2.

I have heard this numerous times, but it is so true.  “Hurt people, hurt people.”  If you are wounded, you wound.  Even a three-point message, with all the right words and scriptures, doing the religious twist and shouting “YES, bless God,” we will defy correction and we can minister with mixture with the poison mingled in.

Danger!  Warning!  Stop!

When we hold unto unforgiveness and bitterness, we actually open the door wide for demons to come into our lives and attack.  If we don’t have some sort of intervention from some praying saints, nurses or doctors, we can really screw up our lives and others.

“Let not the sun go down on your wrath, give no place to the devil.”  Ephesians 4:26.

As for me in these types of things, I do pull back and take a much needed sabbatical to do some serious resting and recovering in the LORD.  God is most concerned with these major character issues of the heart and nature.  As leaders, we must conquer, or we will go no further.

My prayer for myself is “keep me humble, gentle, broken, lowly of heart, innocent, child like.”  Help me LORD, to always forgive, even if I don’t know how to pray.  I will pray in the Spirit.  I know I am human and loaded daily with all sorts of projects and sin that so easily beset me.

None of us are exempt from devil duty.  I never thought I could ever be so callous and to think of actually murdering someone.  I was just thinking about doing it, until I was put into some horrible conditions.  I found out that any of us, when placed in the right circumstances, are capable of anything.

I really was shocked and struggled with it for some time.  It took me to daily confess and forgive.  As I continued, the LORD began to help me overcome those thoughts and bitterness met me daily, until I finally got some help dealing with the root causes.  What another lesson from God, who helped me and taught me again, as I ate some more humble pie.

I want to stay just as close as I can to the LORD so He will deal with me.  I am not saying it isn’t hard.  I use to say pridefully, “I don’t have any trouble forgiving, or with bitterness!”  But it wasn’t until I had an awful breakdown and meltdown, that I fell to such a level that I thought I would never recover from it.

We open the doors and let evil spirits in.  These are very serious problems, and if we don’t allow the LORD to deal with us, especially if we are ministers, we can release some very bad spirits while ministering with mixture.

For major issues we need to put them to death in the flesh, because it spreads like an infection and if you hold on to it, it will consume you.  It will cause a root that infiltrates into the very bone.  Hurt people, hurt people.   See Hebrews 12:3-15.

“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled,”   Hebrews 12:15.

Repentance isn’t just saying you’re sorry, to God.  Repentance is acknowledging our sin before God with a humble heart, and asking Him to forgive us.  Then we actively turn away from that sin – and you don’t go back into it.

God is forgiving and He will guide us to obtain help us when we need deliverance, “IF” we want deliverance.

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.  Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”   2 Corinthians 13:5.

Christ wants to be formed in us.  He wants His character and fruit to be made known in our lives.  For we are to be living epistles seen and read of all men.  Many today, even in prophetic circles, do not want to rock the boat, so they compromise.  However, many say God does chasten and discipline us!  It is for our own good, that we would be partakers of His Holiness!

Prophets are not popular, but they are a blessing to the body of Christ when they are received.  If leaders receive the prophets, they will be blessed, the people will repent, restoration follows and revival.

How we respond to God’s prophets will determine if we have revival or revolt.  There is no gray areas with God.  You are either for Him or against Him.

There is a sealing work of the Spirit of God going on right now, and how we respond to prophetic words, will determine what is sealed in us.

Let us all be humble and broken and weigh every Word we hear.  Do not openly reject a prophet because of a Word that may provoke us.  Let us allow the LORD to provoke a reaction to a positive action!

We must all understand that God is sending prophets to bring shakings to entrenched religious houses.  Do you know that when God sends a prophet, when they enter into a religious house, room or region, that demons tremble, and demons entrenched in religious houses, stagger?  The prophet doesn’t have to say one word in that place, only show up.

The demons of hell recognize who the prophets are.  “Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are you?”  It is sad that no one seeks God enough for Him to give them such discernment to pray and war in the Spirit.  Religious houses are war zones and the demons conspire to get rid of the prophet as soon as possible.   See Acts 19:14-16.

Do you realize demons are more faithful to religious houses than are the people?

When satan and the other fallen angels were cast out, they continually sought rest yet found none.  So the enemy seeks a host with authority, to spread their demonic agenda.  They seek the prominent positions in government, in every level.

Demons seek power and authority nationally, regionally and local arenas.  They are especially interested in religious houses and sad to say, many of them get up and preach every Sunday, while going undetected by the majority.

While God in His Mercy continues to shake us, our families, our churches and our country, He is getting His bride ready for that wedding, through it all.  Throughout all the shaking and revealing of our sin and our religious orders, we must understand that shaking must come to the Church.  Shaking must come and extend way beyond strong, to violently shakings, to wake up His church.

There are cycles of shaking and we are coming into a season of violent shaking.  There is no fear in love, for perfect love cast out all fear.  This time, this cycle, is unlike any other time in History.

Look to Israel for our timing, especially look at the feasts and festivals.  Rosh Hashanna, and Yom Kippur, this year.  Much change and breakthrough for those who have watched and waited for the release.  For the glory of the latter house is greater than the former.  Each time there must be a return to our first love.  We love Him because He first loved us.  Amazing love, He is!

What will it take for the true Church of the living God to awaken out of her slumber?

Do we really want true revival?

Major shaking is coming folks.  It is going to shake so hard that all hearts will be made known and they will be without excuse.

If the shaking produces repentance, it will be glorious!

However, we must know that the upheavals and shakings will cause people to choose.  Will it be repentance in those who return to HIM?  Or will it be rejection?

For further study see: Jeremiah 1:6-12, Hebrews 12:3-15, Hebrews 12:15.

 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey