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The Passionate Call of Intimacy

The one thing I boast in The LORD for, and in my journey, is that I hold HIM in highest regard!

The one thing I boast in The LORD for, and in my journey, is that I hold HIM in highest regard!

Have I been perfect?  No, it was a process of growth in discipleship.

However, I have sought to follow The LORD all the days of my life and to behold His beauty and His amazing love and how absolutely majestic He is.

In my childlike ignorance, it is hard to fathom how God, The Creator of the universe and everything else in it!  Just imagine The LORD wanting to be intimately involved and have a personal relationship with me!

Have you ever laid down in the grass in the summer when it is dark and looked up at the stars?  Wow, when you see that majesty of creation, it amazes me sometimes to the point where I cannot even talk.

Being a humble childlike soul is the highest rank in God’s order of things.

The LORD’s Church is not a competition or corporation where people politically vie for positions to step up on others’ heads to get to the top.

The Church is not political, it is a gathering of the people of God who serve Him and obey Jesus Christ.

It is a life of discipleship and service learning to lay everything down like pride, selfishness, ego, religion, jealousy, envy, hatred, malice and traditions are only a few, and He wants the fruits of His Spirit to be active within and without all of dealings with man.

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying one another.”  Galatians 5:16-26

Service to God is not a religious practice, nor service to His People for Kingdom ‘brownie points’.

Being a Servant and Offering Service is not rank and order according to the row of pews or chairs or who has the most money, materialism or the nicest car, clothes and has the most popular vote to name a few.

For some see service as this, they do menial tasks to be seen and heard.  But behind the scenes they curse their neighbor, and they are insanely jealous of them!

But God sees it all! God vindicates the righteous, as we turn evil for good.

God is looking for the motives of the heart and soul!

When the prophet Ezekiel was able to see behind the walls of the temple, he saw the idolatry, strife, contention, jealousy, division, and envy (Read Ezekiel).

God is revealing what is hidden from the walls of the motive of people’s hearts.

Religion works for their own benefit to seek out who’s who, and those in authority to puff up and work flattery.  A flattering mouth works ruin!

We are no different from the disciples that thought they were going to be elevated to a place of honor and pride.

Service to God and His People, is first you and your prayer life.

We must develop like a child in our Christian trek through life.  Communication (Prayer) is foundational in discipleship.  Why aren’t we Praying?

Prayer is foundational in our walk with Christ and in front and behind of others too.  What we do behind the scenes is what God judges.

We can hide from people but there is nowhere to hide from God.  God sees our motive and fruit.

Learning to become discerning takes a lot of time to develop.  I AM convinced that much of what people say is discernment is actually suspicion and accusation.  We must learn how to die to our wicked flesh and learn humility and respect.

After Salvation, Prayer is the number one requirement for walking with The LORD in The Spirit.

The LORD’s Desire is to educate us in simplicity in knowing Him.  In His Presence, Prayer Time and The Word, is where He instructs us in the way we should go.

We speak of intimacy as a bride is with her groom, but Jesus always parallels a Spiritual Truth to a natural way to understand.

There is nothing in this world to offer that satisfies my soul and life like my Jesus can!  I long for Him, I desire Him, and I am lovesick over Him, and I cannot get enough.

Does this sound strange to you?  Beloved, there are places in God that so satisfy you and where you cannot get enough, and it makes you want to come back for more and more!

There are places deep in prayer where you get lost in The Spirit and in The Word of God and you lose all track of time.  I love it!

Beloved reader, there is such a depth of Passionate Love and Fulfillment that once you tap into this type of relationship and fellowship with The LORD, it will radically change you and you will never be the same again!

This type of relational prayer is no longer a discipline, but a joy unspeakable and full of Glory!

Praying without ceasing is not impossible, it becomes simply walking beside Him, because you have learned how to walk in The Spirit with Jesus through everything, everyone, and everywhere you go.

Also, you have developed a constant awareness of His presence in you, with you and you talk to him as you go about your day and night.

You come to realize in truth that you are the betrothed Bride of Christ and a wise virgin who keeps oil in her lamp.

She is wise because of Jesus, and she does not pour out her oil to everyone because she knows the time has come and she is excited because she heard the call!

She also guards her oil and keeps her wick trimmed. (Matthew 25:1-13, 1 Peter 1:8)

If we say we know Jesus and do not obey, pray, or communicate with The LORD what is that?

Prayerlessness shows carelessness — and it also shows evidence that there is religion and not Relationship.

It is a sure way of knowing a person’s life and the Revelation can be quite shocking when revealed.

A living Relationship has Communication, and we can learn a lot about a person by how they speak in front of you and behind your back.

Words are powerful and that is why we must prepare daily in prayer to have our armor on, our robe of righteousness, Sword of The Spirit!

There will be evidence of whether we are saved or not.  The just shall live by Faith — and Faith without works is dead.

Having a relationship with Jesus is more real to me than any other relationship!  I have a living, walking, talking, breathing, eating, sleeping, and everything I do is in The Spirit!

No one satisfies my entire life — except my Jesus!

For example, imagine the most intimate, loving, fulfilling marriage that is so kindred.  A marriage like that makes both one and even if you are away from each other physically you know what is happening.

Having a wonderful fulfilling marriage in this life is a gift, but it is only a shadow of what is available with your relationship and fellowship with the Creator of the Universe!

Oh beloved, oh how he loves you and desires for you to come close and sit at his feet and silence your mind and activity and be still and know HIM.

Everything and I mean everything that is fulfilling in Jesus and in Ministry comes from this place of intimacy and prayer with Jesus.

In our Passion and Intimacy with our Master and LORD, that place of fellowship impregnates us with vision.

Everything in The Kingdom of God is brought forth from intimate Prayer — just as Zion travailed and brought forth her children.  When we find that hidden Secret Place, we tap into a well spring of life!

“Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children.”   Isaiah 66:8 NKJV

 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

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She’s Coming, Leaning on Her Beloved

There are a Remnant People who have been prepared by God and for those, the silence at times is deafening. 

There are a Remnant People who have been prepared by God.

For those, the silence at times is deafening.  Through the many years of wilderness walkers, they were taught to listen and obey God.

It was not the ten suggestions, but the Ten Commandments that Moses brought back from Mount Horeb.

Those who were found to be believers in the promise and plan of Canaan, learned to hang on to one simple word… “faith.”

However, not all endured the preparations to cross over into Canaan.  Not all found faith simple.  It was through the testing, the way they lived and the roaming in the wilderness, but many could not cross over because they displeased The LORD, even Moses.

During the trek of our own ‘wilderness walker faith’ is where we find our own revelation that is no ordinary element.  However, will in gradient sway away to what is not ordinary at all.

The LORD is leading the remnant out of hidden security through obscurity, by leaning on their lover Jesus Christ, and they are coming forward out of hiding into the light of day.

“Who is this coming up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved?”   Song of Songs 8:5a

This is the remnant that The LORD himself has ordained and licensed and known from the very beginning.

Many wonder, “Why the silence?”

When God speaks, He does not speak to hear Himself speak — and it is not happenstance.

When God speaks, it matters, it happens, and it is always what He wants revealed for that time, or in times to come, for He will do nothing until He reveals His Plans to His Servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

God knows everything the enemy is doing; however, the enemy does not know everything that God is doing!

We, The Remnant, are not going down, we are going over!

Satan and the fallen angels are shaking in their boots for what they sense God is up to in the atmosphere!

God Has Got a People!

“Who is she who looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?”   Song of Songs 5:10

The Remnant has been through lessons of fire that utterly burns away all chaff and refines all the dross, and although these times may be hard, it is these very lessons that truly teach that the cares of this natural life and the deceitfulness of riches have nothing to offer or compare to what God has for you!

Through the wilderness years, we have learned from experience as the remnant that our beloved is all we need, and we can lean hard against Him!

Beloved of God, He loves it when we lean hard against Him.  He gives us everything we need for strength, hope, courage, comfort, naming just a few, and from His blessed presence alone He does wonders making our hearts and minds joyful in and with Him!

Did you know that Jesus Christ is filled with joy because of you?  For our fellowship and relationship with Him is twofold…. It brings Him fulfillment and pleasure too! He longs for our time before Him in the secret place. (Mark 4:19)

But inwardly what is not seen defies natural logic.  Because He takes what is seemingly foolish and the base things of this world to defy logic. (1 Corinthians 1:28)

The LORD waited at the marriage of Cana, knowing the exact time when He would perform the miracle.

Jesus made a point to wait until all the old wine was gone to refer to the displays of the purity and maturity of the latter wine, for he saved the best for last!

Jesus knew exactly when to release the Fathers meaning that had been hidden.  He knew when the debut and display of his victorious new wine vintage would soon be supernaturally poured out on all flesh!  (John 2:1-12, Acts 2, Joel 2)

You cannot pour new wine into old wineskins or the old will burst.  We must be transformed from the old skin of religiosity and legalism to conforming to the freedom we now have in Christ.

When we are saved and living for The LORD, we should receive Power when we experience the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire. (Acts 1-2)

The infilling of The Holy Ghost should be a daily refilling as we plug into The LORD daily in intimacy and in our individual prayer life. (Matthew 3:7-17)

As we learn the scriptures Paul said, “I die daily.” (1 Corinthians 15:31)

If we have put to death the deeds of the flesh, we will rise in newness of life.  However, just because you spoke a few words at an altar and there is no evidence of a changed life, you need to ask for help and ask questions in understanding the New Birth.

You shall receive Power when the Holy Ghost comes on you and you will be witnesses unto Jerusalem, all Judea, and in Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth.

The Power of the Holy Ghost released in us is what gives us the ability to win cities, win souls, conquer areas and demonic strongholds, and do exploits, for we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! It is The Holy Ghost Baptism of fire that gives us the power of His Spirit working in us mightily!  (Acts 1:8)

We must understand that having a daily life and walking with The LORD is like being in the best marital relationship you could ever imagine.

Walking with Jesus is the epitome of the fulfillment of the Groom and His Bride.  Nothing else matters when you keep Him first, and when He knows you are true to Him, he will bless you beyond anything you could possibly imagine!

“Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.  For The LORD will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality.” It is just as Isaiah said previously: “Unless The LORD Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.”   Romans 9:27-29 BSB

God actively pursues a man or woman who are after the heart of God!  What better lover can measure after Him.

As I close this message, I want to encourage you in your trek with Jesus Christ, let him woo and win you over and over, it is never too much or too late beloved!  You can always begin again in Jesus!  You are loved dearly!

“Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all. Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned.”   Song of Songs 8:6-7

 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

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Recognizing the Remnant and Her Seed

Those of you who believe you are in Christ — but are secretly caught up and enjoy the cares of this temporal life and everything it offers — have already been deceived.

“Always carrying about in the body the dying of The LORD Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So, then death is working in us, but life in you.”   2 Corinthians 4:10-12 NKJV

Those of you who believe you are in Christ — but are secretly caught up and enjoy the cares of this temporal life and everything it offers — have already been deceived, believing Christians cannot help being impacted by various onslaughts swung at them in the world!

A true Christian will cringe at the things that grieve the heart of God.  For we shall fully know them by their fruits.

People say, “Do not judge!” but I say, you better judge them by their fruits!

There will be evidence in our lives that we belong to Christ.  You cannot say you love Christ and practice sin. (James 2 14-26)

However, and not limited to also things that go on in school, sexual immorality, a lot of what is taught in colleges what you watch on television, pornography, what type of music you listen to, idolatry, rebellion, but these are only some, there are so many ways that Satan especially targets Christians!

Why?  Because you are ‘marked’ for The Kingdom of God.

You threaten the works of darkness, because those who walk in the light expose the darkness.  Walking in the Spirit of God gives you Authority over all the powers of darkness.

That is why the enemy uses everything he can to douse your light and to captivate you so that he covers you to put your light out!

Every evil plot, scheme, conspiracy, and every evil entity recognizes you as a threat if you have received Christ within your heart and live for God!

You may wonder why, since you decided to follow Christ, that all of the sudden all sorts of vile information and things are being thrown in your face on social media, on television, games etc. — and even so-called ‘friends’ try to get you involved.

Beloved, this is an invasion tactic to gain access as much as possible to contaminate and get you to compromise the good news of Jesus Christ!  Their desire is to corrupt your pure sincere heart of love for God.

Those who love God do what He says.  That is how we know one another in The Kingdom, for those who are our true mother, sister, brother, mother-in-law etc.  These are they who hear The Word of God, and do it that is our eternal family.

Beloved, we need one another, and especially when we see these things are happening.  And we see the things happening on the earth that were foretold by Jesus Christ.

The LORD is returning soon and there is power released when we are counted as one in unity!  But we have got to be fruit watchers.

We are going to need each other more and more than we expected, things in this world are going to be extremely chaotic, insane, and great darkness shall cover the earth, but we, the people of light, need to find our place and we need to know those who labor among us.  As we gather, there shall be greater Light.

We are in a war — but there are many battles!

The life we are to live is for Christ.  There are people who believe there is no battle for the Christian any longer once they accept Christ, and they believe you can live anyway you want — and still make it to heaven!

We must stand for Truth.  Faith without works is dead.  (Study the doctrine of the Nicolaitans)

But if that were true, why did God give us weapons, armor, and the Word of God?  Our battles are not against flesh or blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places.  This is truly Spiritual Warfare.  (Ephesians 6:10-20)

Beloved, we must begin to believe God over man’s opinions.  If it isn’t in The Bible, reject it!

Of course, Satan doesn’t want to be believed, he had done a lot of work in stealth mode but now he is coming out in the open!

Satan is targeting backsliders, the lost and leadership!  Ministers in all corners of the globe need to stand for the truth instead of what promotes man, or what feels good with its many distractions, temporal pleasures, ups and downs, forever acquiring but never really understanding the knowledge of the truth.

You see that the world wants you to compromise the whole Truth found in The Holy Bible and many are peddling a gospel that is not the gospel.  Nothing this world has to offer can even touch what God has offered you, with Him forever in Glory!

You find yourself on a balance of declining insight and end up floundering at every event, because it always proves a dead end.

You may be reading this, and it is speaking deeply to your spirit, and it is telling you have only scratched the surface of what God in Christ has for you!

There is absolutely nothing in this life, no relationship, no material possession, or an important appointed possession, or any of the positions of this world!

Why?  Because many that put all their confidence in an organization, even within some churches, are being made and challenged to live their lives as the government dictates.  It is coming beloved, it is just a matter of time.

Yes, we are living in a world that is teetering on its axis in more ways than one.  What the true believer has is a much greater offer of eternal value!  But The LORD said that the servant is not greater than his master.

Jesus became the Son of Man to live his life as a man to identify with our lives and become our Living sacrifice without spot or blemish.

What He did was he gave himself up willingly and he was tempted in all points yet without sin.  Jesus understands our struggle and is familiar with the feeling of our infirmities’.

We must discern the remnant church and recognize believers that need discipleship and prayer.

There is much to do, but we need to think out of the religious box and begin to look inward and then outward. Amen?

Amen!

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”   Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV

 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

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The Martyr Complex in The Church

A “Martyr Complex” is a destructive pattern of behavior within The Church, when a person habitually seeks ways gain attention or favor from the leader.

A “Martyr Complex” is a destructive pattern of behavior within The Church.

It happens when a person habitually seeks out ways to press themselves to the point of gaining attention or favor from the leader.

They see their labor as a way to feel “good” about themselves.  Often to the detriment of all their other relationships.

In many, they all bring up their childhood memories.  They have tried to measure up to be valuable to God, and Satan tries his best to keep them feeling rejected, and with self-pity, and their pride will not let them ask for help.

Often, these are like the woman who wanted the crumbs from the master’s table. (Matthew 15:27)

God has a special place for the widows and the orphans.  Yet they struggle in knowing how much they are loved by God.

Deep down they do not feel loved as the selfless kind of love.  They see themselves as unlovable.

Self-esteem has a lot of weight on those who suffer from a Martyr Complex.  The worse we feel about ourselves, the more we cover up.

Being a self-imposed martyr also removes the need to take responsibility for our lives, by blaming others for the failure and disappointments in their lives.

When we or others have signs of low self-esteem, it is hard receiving love or affection and often we have a poor body image, judgmentalism, moodiness, etc.

Maybe they were abused as a child emotionally, mentally, physically, and continue to react to authority figures in a negative way.

In some loveless relationships, it could be abusive, and they totally disregard their own health by staying in the relationship.

They refuse to accept responsibility for the decisions and choices that have caused them pain or suffering.

Often, they are out to make themselves righteous or make themselves out to be the one who is always the caregiver.

They blame the other person for the oppression and bondage.  They are always seeking to plead their innocence and to reassure themselves.

Often when a Martyr Complex is spotted, and their coping mechanisms are revealed, they always have to share the information that something is wrong, so that the blame is put on another.

They look for the person they want to inform; usually it’s leadership or someone that has authority so that they will not see their motive, but most times they want to impress so they will push their agenda of mistreatment or suffering.

What I have witnessed is that they are cynical, paranoid, and suspicious.  The obsession of their mind is what is right.

This person will emotionally manipulate situations to gain control.  These types of people will do anything to make themselves out to be the one that suffers.

A person who does things for the approval of man will become cynical in their hearts and attitudes.

Martyrs never take the initiative to solve problems, they love being known for all the efforts they do and seek recognition and attention for the drama they create.

A person could have a relationship that causes emotional damage, but they will not do what needs to be done for their own health.

They want control and will manipulate to get their own way. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as idolatry.

Jezebel in The Bible was a good example of behavior.  Jezebel, a follower of Baal, promises to kill the prophet Elijah, who flees when hearing her plan.

She also manipulated many powerful men around her in a story about land ownership, leading to the death of several men.

In the past, I have often asked if they have ever dabbled in the occult and played with tarot cards, Ouija board, or read or been involved in any type of negative or false spiritual event.

These things can open a person up to demonic influence. (Study 1 & 2 Kings)

“And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.””   Matthew 15:27

 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

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