SHAKERS

ISAIAH 65

2 - 3

I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people,

who walk in a way that is not good,

according to their own thoughts.

Pick up the old testament scriptures and you can't help noticing God got very angry with a disobedient nation.    Heaven help us all.   Even now man is busy compromising His Truth and they have no fear of His impending Wrath.  Their mandate, to fill the emptying pews left by discerning christians.   Their agenda, just get the people in and let God do the rest.   Their presentation "we are here for a good time this morning right?    WRONG.

It all went terribly wrong when men lacking in genuine anointing got themselves appointed into what is merely "a denominational organisation" and it is the same in any group or quango, the wrong people get voted in.   The leader of a ministry used to be just that, His man on earth called to shepherd His sheep.   Now they can clearly get rid of someone who isn't preaching a comfortable sermon.  Satan is busy at the foot of the altar.

Nevertheless the followers of the new versions of the bible profess His Holy name, pin their hapless victims against the wall with threats of hell and damnation and heaven forbid anyone who challenges their interpretation of scripture which usually fits neatly in with their chosen lifestyle.

In his book "I talk back to the Devil" A.W. Tozer clearly describes the fiery indignation of those challenged as having a dulled understanding and living far below the standards of scripture.

He instructs the unbelieving to search beyond their intellect and seek with their heart - and he also believed in prevenient grace.   It's all down to a touch of the Holy Spirit.   That we should get out of the way and let God. 

Perhaps then in His time, in an answer to our prayer our Holy awesome God will reveal himself to the lost soul although for some it will require a right royal slap or Damascus 'bolt from the blue'   When you receive a genuine touch of God on your life you will tremble.

Isaiah 66 - 2

But on this one I will look,

on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,

and who trembles at My Word.

How many times do you hear people shout "Oh my God" as tragedy strikes.  They switch off that life support machine, a child dies under the wheels of a speeding motorist, they cry out when they are cornered, trapped and there is nowhere to run. 

Safer to search for Him now and walk in His peace as the world descends into violent chaos.

One day this blob of blood and mush will be left behind, discarded.    Spirits freed from their earthly prison will fly.   HOPEFULLY, PRAYERFULLY IN A RIGHT DIRECTION.  

Science fiction writers have a field day.   Their imaginations run riot.   Not all their aliens are pretty.

Some descriptions pretty grotesque to the human eye but at least they go beyond what the scientific establishment considers normal parameters, they are not restricted or chained by dogma, and strange as it may seem to some there are instances where science follows their prophetic writing.   

The scientist and the atheist don't have a problem with their foresight, they don't connect it to a divine prompting.  They are just using their educational prowess to make money thinking outside the box.

One particular book by the writer Richard Matheson produced an incredible fantasy film released in 1998 the lead actor Robin Williams.  "What dreams may come"

At one point the main character Chris Nielsen stands on the edge of what initially appears to be row after row of cobbles stretching into the darkness.  He has arrived at a place described in the book as the "Field of the Dammed"   Watching the film you quickly realise the cobbles are human heads all tightly packed together (perhaps held in some hellish mortar).   The heads are talking, some crying, some still protesting their innocence, some shouting.

Well folks that was enough to get me on my knees and right back on track.   Fiction it may be but I certainly didn't want to finish up parked next to the "neighbour from hell" for all eternity, or a political or religious zealot.   No, No,  Hosannah - Save Now.

Perhaps watching this amazing film might help the convenient lack of imagination where hell and damnation are concerned.   After all film producers and science fiction writers have done their best to "care the hell" out of their audiences.    

All credit to the amazing flight of imagination by the writer and the stunning graphic artists who along with Robin Williams and Annabella Sciorra's incredible acting made this film an Academy Award winner.      

Sooner or later the grim reaper comes for us all, either by depreciation, malfunction, pestilence.   King and commoner suffer the same fate, but death has no power over a spirit filled child of God.   Those of  us who have experienced a close encounter with God have no fear of that final breath although we have an overwhelming sense of being unworthy of a place in His kingdom.    And crowns, they are for the Tozers, Wilkersons,  Bunyans, Ravenhills, Wesleys the list goes on and on and includes those precious martyrs beheaded for holding to their faith, they are truly worthy of His reward.   Then one might humbly consider Psalm 84 - 10   "I would rather be a door keeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness"

Now and again Satan reminds us of past failures "what a total waste of space you really are"  But the new age church doesn't preach hell or sin.   Many Nicolatians are "living it up" with little thought for what tomorrow brings and barely distinguishable from a non believer who considers this is all there is so they want it all.

"Hey I'm saved" he tells himself as he fills in his fraudulent tax return, has that seedy affair.   Justifying his actions by "Oh we met in church, God meant us to be together"   No He doesn't read your bible.

A.W. Tozer reminds us christians are far from perfect.   That God doesn't want us to worship the preacher, teacher or leaders.   Every idol has to go.  YHVH - Yahweh - first and foremost, he also suggests God will not ask your denomination or whose bible interpretation you followed.

Isaiah 64 - 8

But now, O Lord,

Your are our Father;

We are the clay, and You our potter,

And we all are the work of Your hand.

It's time to seek His Truth.

It's time to bow down before the only King before the curtain falls and the lights go out.  Contrary to the belief of many "when I die that's it - end of"   WHAT AN AMAZING LACK OF FORESIGHT.

Phillipians 3 - 20

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Saviour,

the Lord Jesus Christ. 

SHALOM