Page 2, Gratefully
Grafted Newsletter, Vol 1 No 1 February 2004
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After sharing this vision
with the church body and giving an altar call, I asked those
who would receive the Sword of the Lord to come forward.
I remember giving a stern warning not to come half-heartedly,
for if they did come, God would surely thrust them through!
I told them that the Holy Spirit would most certainly be
relentless in His endeavor to gain their self-will. It was
very much like the invitation given to Reese Howells, by
the Holy Spirt, in Chapter Five of Reese Howell's Intercessor
(a must read).
Many came forward and God
began cutting deep. The Master Surgeon so precisely applied
the scalpel. This surgery left many screaming for mercy while
others, becoming embittered, walked away from the Lord, having
their faith shaken to the core. But to those who, by His
grace, remained true; to those who humbly bowed the knee,
and yes, to those who, even now open their hearts by Gods
grace, turn, and come through the refiners fire, having their
heart circumcised of any self-strength, will by the sword
of the Lord find grace in the wilderness to surrender to
the higher call of God. "For
by Grace we are saved through faith." (Ephesians
2:8-9) To them God would say, "I
have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have
drawn you with loving kindness. Again I will build you and
you (surely) will be REBUILT!" (Emphasis mine)
(Jeremiah 31:2-4)
God is rebuilding Israel
and His church. This Bride, having come through the wilderness,
having survived the sword, will no longer resemble the former
things - as He promised; "Behold
I will do something new. Will you not be aware of it?" (Isaiah
43:18-19) Everything that can be shaken will be shaken, and
that which remains will be the Lord's accomplishment.
Behold, the Lion of Judah
roars and He is coming in the clouds. We must climb to higher
ground. We must forsake the folly of the self-life and drag
our will, kicking and fighting as it may, to the cross and
the fellowship of His suffering, in order that we might stand
in these last days. We must be a people of the Word of God!
This is of the utmost importance, for how else will we know
God, His character and His ways.
God alone promises to rebuild
our lives. It is the man, woman or child, who survive the
sword of the Lord, that will find the grace to go on and
be rebuilt, having lost their lives for Jesus sake, they
will surely find it!
1 | 2
|
