Understanding The Times: Part 2 – Returning to His Heart

Understanding The Times: Part 2  Rending our hearts and not our Minds

I have been questioned a lot these days on the times. What is the future of our nation? What is the future of the body of Christ here in America? Will we continue to live freely or will we become like so many other nations, where Christians are being tortured and killed for sharing the love of Jesus and the Good News?

Is America somehow exempt from the word of God and what the body of Christ was commissioned to do until Jesus’ return? Well… the word does not mention any sort of exemption for a nation called “The Land of the Free.”

There is an Awakening taking place in this nation. The call is going forth to all the ends of this country to begin to seek the Lord in prayer, turn away from any worldliness of heart, and live for Him.

NOTE: Worldliness of heart is an inner issue. Cleansing ourselves from what we “do” or “don’t do” will be the by-product of true repentance, NOT what causes it.

Recognition of an area of our life that separates us from experiencing God in that area brings life in that area.

A by-product of this spiritual process is a changed outward appearance. This is foundational, basic principles of the teachings of Jesus.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.” Matt 23:27

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7

Agreement with what His word says.. and then acting upon it, changes the condition of our heart. Instead of looking to the dead, carnal mind (which is corrupt and cannot be renewed), we must turn to God’s nature, His heart, His thoughts on that subject. This is what it means to turn to His Word.

This is repentance.

Repentance is NOT a return to Law. That is legalism. Legalism breeds death. Repentance is to turn from those things which are grievous to the Lord’s heart, and agree with His mind on that matter.

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, said he to you; but his heart is not with you.” Prov 23:7

In order to know His mind and heart on a matter, we have His written word. This is our plumb-line. Any word He speaks to us outside His written word must conform to the written word or its is to be rejected.

The time has come for the body to seek God’s heart, know His heart, and walk in His heart. In ALL matters. not mentally, but with our full heart.

Then we can begin to return to being the light to the lost in this nation. Only then will our prayers be heard when we call upon the Lord to move upon the hearts of our lost neighbors in this country. Then we can move in the power of the Holy Spirit as we speak in agreement with His word.

Only then will a nation repent.

Let me scripturally clarify what I mean by ”Christian.” I am referring to what the bible says a “christian” is: one who has acknowledged salvation is a gift, cannot be earned, that we deserve spiritual death and freely accept the gift of the Holy Spirit which gives us eternal life, when we sincerely receive Jesus into our heart. (Rom 3:23, Rom 6:23, Eph 2:8-9, Rom 10:17, Rom 10:9, Eph 1:13, 2 Cor 1:22)

Unless this body of Christians here in America begin to move forward with this process, we will continue to see the affairs of this country get darker and darker.

This is biblical. Why? For one thing we are called to be a light to the lost. The Father wants His children back. It is our job to do this. We are His ambassadors. Number Two: that which opposes His nature, is in violation of His nature. Though His children are not in any way repulsive, the sin is. This is why satan was thrown out of heaven.

“The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” Rom 8:7

“For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Pet 3:9

The process, though it must be heartfelt, (Joel 2:13) is not difficult. All fullness is found in Him. All pain, sorrow, sickness, fear, insecurity and pride is washed away in His presence and feeling His heart. The things of the world that pull at us will not even be a memory other than to look back and wonder why we waited.

Until the church (the word “church” means the organic body of Christ- not a building) returns with all her heart, the United States of America will continue to lose her peace, prosperity and her moral compass.

“You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost its savor, how shall it be salted? it is thereafter good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” Matt 5:13

Satan is trodding over the souls of the lost in this country. He has introduced, and has been advancing his nature and will throughout this land. Anywhere a reconciled child of God is not fellow-shipping in Truth with Him, we allow satan to rob us of what is our inheritance.

This is not a message of condemnation. We are His righteousness. We are His redeemed. We are His blameless child. These are our positional standings in His eyes. Relationally though, we have chosen as a body here in America to reject our identity, and follow the heart of the lost. It is simply time to arise and take our place in the kingdom.

Until we do, here are some things the lost, in ignorance to His goodness, and without the ability to walk in His truth (Rom 8:7) will allow satan to do to this land.

Things to look for: ( as of Sept 2015)

• We will continue to see a weakening of the US dollar. We will experience a second falling of the real estate market.
• We will see God continually be removed farther and farther from our nation’s identity. Our children will be deliberately exposed to more and more darkness through the school systems. Lifestyles that are now accepted will not only begin to be taught, they will be encouraged to your children in school.
• We will turn our back on Israel. We will experience greater and greater terror under foreign acts of evil coming to our land.
• Christianity will no longer be tolerated. It will be seen as a hate religion and become severely oppressed.
• Geo-physical events will spike, causing loss of life and contribute to the continued weakening of our dollar.

Many of these things have already begun. They will continue to increase in intensity.

This is not fear based. This is recognizing the times. many troubling times have befallen humanity in the past. To ignore the signs of the times is not faith. Ignoring the signs is either fear based or pride based. When the Christians living within a nation refuse to take their place as the light of the world, and instead turn to the pleasures, riches and are consumed with the same worries and concerns that the world is, we are no longer operating by kingdom principles. We are no longer touching their Father’s heart and walking by His mind.

There is no fear in love, no matter how stern the pruning or chastening. In His intense love for us, He is allowing this nation to be humbled in order to arrest the attention of the body of Christ. It is simply a matter of returning to our First Love.

Please, there is no condemnation when a Father calls for His children to return to Him. There is no condemnation when a parent screams at the child playing in the street. The Father is calling us back to His table to sit with us and know how wonderful we are in His eyes.

This is not a call to works. Outward appearance means nothing unless it is a fruit of walking in His presence through time spent with Him. We are citizens in heaven, meant to enjoy the fullness of life here… as we walk it out with hearts inclined toward Him.

It is not time to “go” to church. It is not time to “read the bible.” It is not time to “be a better christian.”

It is time to come home. He wants our hearts… that is all. First and always and forever.

I am, and will continue, in such love, and affection and tenderness of His heart, to admonish the body to do 3 things:

Seek His Face- We need to ask God in what areas we have allowed the spirit of this world to creep into our hearts

Repent- this word means “to turn or change direction.” It is not an emotional response. The word is a verb. We need to hear His voice and then be obedient to what He reveals to us needs to change.

Take Action- we need to act upon our beliefs… In love. The church was never meant to be silent. This generation has become afraid of “offending” and have gotten the false notion that walking in love means not offending. We have allowed ourselves to become intimidated by an outspoken minority. And so we have kept quiet. That outspoken minority needs our love.. and they need to hear the Truth we have to share. Pray for our leaders. Don’t curse them. They are lost. Pray for our lost brothers and sisters of the world. Pray they see and hear and accept the goodness of His love that begins at the cross. 

“If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chron 7:14

Together.

Let’s go home.