A WORD FOR THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THE TIMES
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A WORD FOR THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THE TIMES
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In my personal time with the Lord this morning, He led me to the 12th chapter of Luke.
“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” – Luke 12:49-53
I write from my heart as I believe the Spirit guides. No doubt, there are some who don’t always get where I’m coming from, or where I’m going. If that proves to be the case in this instance, this message wasn’t intended for you. But I know that there are others with whom it will resonate. Thanks be to God that He is capable of speaking to us in many different ways through many different voices.
Jesus told His disciples, “I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled.” What an interesting statement coming from the man of peace. This passage does not seem to reflect the meek and mild Jesus of the 21st century – that Lord who is content to overlook sin, willingly accepting the non-repentant into His kingdom. No, this appears to have been spoken by none other than the Lion of Judah; the One who will someday return to earth in fire and fury with a sword in His mouth (Revelation 19:15).
Some would argue that Jesus is talking about His sending of the Holy Spirit, and I believe that is probably true. But as we so often see in Scripture, prophetic statements frequently have more than one meaning. I believe that Jesus was also expressing His weariness with faithless mankind, and His longing for the day when He would judge the world and establish God’s eternal kingdom. (See Matthew 17:17, Luke 13:34-35)
Jesus’ words fully reflect the earnest desires of my own heart, especially in these difficult and uncertain days. Have we not been fervently praying for God’s Spirit to be unleashed upon the hearts of men, both within and without the Church? Have we not been crying out both privately and publicly, day and night, for this very thing?
Where, O Father, is the consuming fire of your Spirit? When will You fill the hearts of men and turn them towards You? How long must we wait?
But even as I pray this prayer, I am equally seeking the return of Jesus, the judgment of the wicked, and the vindication of the saints.
How long, O Lord, shall the wicked prosper? For we are told that He who avenges blood remembers, and does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.
Yes, sometimes it feels as if my prayers are in conflict with one another; that I’m speaking out of both sides of my mouth at the same time. One moment we pray for our enemies and the salvation of their souls, and in the next breath we imprecatorily declare God’s judgment and vengeance upon all who are evil and would dare raise a hand against His kingdom.
Thankfully, Peter was well aware of this conflict, and he addresses it as follows.
By His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. – 2 Peter 3:7-10
The ultimate judgment of the wicked is sure, but in His divine patience, God waits for any who would turn to Him in repentance.
After Jesus’ comment regarding the casting of fire upon the earth, our Lord speaks directly to generational division, and specifically to conflict between parents and children. My fellow intercessors, I know that there are a great number of us who are experiencing this dynamic within our own families. Some months ago, I suggested to a friend that we form the Cast Away Parents Society, for truly, that is what many of us are. If you happen to be in that number, you know the pain and grief associated with a broken heart. Be aware and comforted in the fact that you are not alone. Though your family may mock and revile you for cleaving to the word of God and the Holy Spirit’s prompting, know that this too is prophesied in scripture.
For son treats father contemptuously, daughter rises up against her mother, daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own household. But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. – Micah 7:6-7
Dear Body of Christ, though there are amazingly humble and godly young people in our world (a number of whom are fellow participants within this community of intercessors), I believe that it is mostly the older saints who have truly understood the signs of the times and have carried the lion’s share of the prayer burden for our country. Knowing the blessed company with whom we intercede, let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. – Galatians 6:9
. . . I pray for those who, like Cornelius, are good and righteous people, but don’t yet know the Lord. Turn those hearts that may yet be reached while there is still opportunity, for no one knows what tomorrow brings.
And Father, upon those whose hearts have become impervious to Your touch, or who steadfastly refuse to heed the Spirit’s call, we pray swift, sure and public destruction.
Lastly, I pray for all those with estranged family members. May we seek reconciliation wherever possible, and pray for Your help to avoid and overcome any and every root of bitterness. Thank You, O God, for being our heavenly Father when our own family forsakes us.
For the sake of Your people and for the sake of our country – but most of all for the sake of Your Holy Name – we pray these things.
(Used with permission from Kurt Nauck from govpray.org. Photo Credit: Unsplash.)
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Comments
I so appreciate this article.
My family has been fractured this year. Definitely a lot of division. We have always been such a close family so this has really broken my heart. Praying, declaring, and decreeing for restoration and reconciliation to come 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
How comforting are your words! My husband who is an intercessor confined to his bed, had a vision of the Lion roaring and a sword coming out of his mouth, yesterday.
And we are experiencing the dejection of relatives who mock our holy way of life. I confess, I am a bit confused by the messages I have been getting from the Lord. Everyday He brings up the Rapture to our community members (12) Yet we believe Donald will be re-elected and there will be a time of revival and productivity – to offset the incredible pressures we’ve been under praying for this world to turn around.
I confess I have difficulty reconciling a Rapture right when the tide is turning for better. I would appreciate any perspective I might be missing.
Why would the Lord remove us right when things are supposedly opening up to beautiful revival?
What encourages me most is praying along with people of faith, knowing that the effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous avails much.I don’t know the ones I am praying with, but our
hearts are joined in one accord. This is comforting.
I thank you, Mr. Kurt Nauck, for your comments, and your word which the Lord has laid on your heart. I prayed with your, and I think your comments are very appropriate, but, I would say that, as Jeremiah says, each of our hearts is deceitfully wicked, but we are saved by turning to the Lord. Let us therefore just cry out to God always for the ones who do not know the Lord yet, because the Heavenly Father wishes that all men would be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.–I Tim. 2:4
I am encouraged by the patience of God waiting for those who do not yet know Him and His grace to save, uplift and love each of us who ask! We must tell and pray for those who do not know Him as we pray for His guidance in approaching those who may be in our families and for whom we long to have with us when Jesus comes!!
I’m struggling with the darkness in the world and I appreciate the encouragement through these prayers and scripture. My favorite verse…..never grow weary of doing good. Dear God I pray for strength, courage and the ability to help others to do the same.
I sit here, day after day, watching events unfold in the world. The words that fill my heart are, “Come on, Lord, will you get on with it, already?!” I laugh at myself, for I know I’m acting like an impatient child. I’m tired of Satan’s hand; I long to be in the new world God has created for us.
Just when I think that man could not become more delusional, more selfish, more greedy, more perverse, more sadistic, more unjust, more narcissistic, more misled. . .here comes the news. I believe the die was cast in 1999-2000 when each man, woman, and child chose the side he/she would champion: God or the Devil’s. So be it.
It’s like going to the dentist for a root canal: the process is painful but the results afterward are worth it. I pray to be by the Lord’s side when He returns, with my sword in my hand. Is it justice I seek or revenge? As I write this, I honestly do not know. I do know that I long to see the price tallied and paid by criminals who are presently rewarded for their misdeeds. Enough is enough!
In the words of Scotty on Star Trek, “Now would be a good time, Captain.”
I just watched this video and they do mention God’s timing and the purpose for dragging it out. As they were saying it, I saw God as a baker, stirring the ingredients in precise order to the specific temperature to get the desired results; simmering the sauce so the evaporation comes to the right consistency. You can’t rush the dough rising and you can’t just turn up the heat to cook faster.
But this video will encourage you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrje9scGRnc
Blessings to all my brothers and sisters in Christ,
To the true believers, it is beyond the shadow of a doubt that everything is pointing to the ‘last hour’ before The Antichrist will be ushered to the podium from which he will start his hours of glory deceiving the world as he appears to be the messiah they are looking and waiting for to fix it all for them.
Yes, to the unsuspecting and desperate man or woman, he will appear harmless like a sheep. he will be convincing, unrecognizable to the unsuspecting majority until the time comes when he will reveal the ravenous and mercilless wolf that he is.in the mean time he will actualize his promises i.e. the needed safety,peace and prosperity,using them as his mesmerizing and convincing bait to the demise of all who will be blind to recognize him.
The stage is being set before our own eyes and working so smoothly,’wonderfully’ and at the speed of light,so to speak,So much so,even those who call themselves ‘Christians’ will be falling for this diabolical agenda and seemingly benign state of affairs.But what is even more disturbing is the fact that The church at large,globally,except for a few,is caving into it at so many levels fulfilling the “apostasy of the church” prophesied in The Bible as one of the last signs that happens at the end of time.
AS for the Covid-19 virus,the fights over toilet papers, the countless businesses filing bankruptcy, many permanently closing, the beloved sports games put to a halt, churches and schools closed indefinitely, suicide, addiction to alcohol and drugs escalating,child and spousal abuse increasing , marriages disintegrating,children resorting to rebelliousness behind closed doors,internet pornography rising,travel with no “Health Passport” on hold, the decimation of the economy, the mask, the lock downs,leaving grandmas and grandpas die alone, unemployment rate at a record high,fear of the unknown, demoralizing people,abortion clinics, alcohol stores considered essentials, defunding of The Police,destruction of historical elements,freely burning and looting with no consequences, utter chaos being the order of the day,not to mention the ongoing messy election scenario,last but not least, the unknown and possibly nefarious yet unverified pros and cons of the vaccine.All of the above,nothing short of satanic spiritual battle.
Joseph Stalin, the most diabolical Communist,Marxist dictator of the Soviet Union, years ago once said:-
“America is like a healthy body and its resistance is three fold: Its Patriotism, its Morality, and its Spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas,America will collapse from within.”
What prophetic words from a satanist leader as we see it unfolding, literally.
This demonic scenario is so well orchestrated for the Antichrist to rise soon in the name of fixing it all.It is not unimaginable how the world will quickly receive this ‘savior’. But what is troubling is, many who profess to be christians WILL join the crowd.
Oh Heavenly Father, as time is running out, I pray that your remnant church remains uncompromised and continue to stand in the gap.Empower us by your Holy Spirit to faint not but blow the trumpet,becoming watchers on the wall,and being bold even unto death to spread the gospel,the good news.Lord guide us as we tread through evil valleys.
Lord Jesus come quickly.
In Christ,
Hirity
I pray for families that r struggling with unbelieving members that seem further away than ever from TRUTH. Remember that nothing is to hard for our Lord Jesus to do. We submit to U Jesus our family and trust that they r coming to the knowledge of SALVATION..
My prayer for my Prodigal children is that they would
bend the knee to Jesus before the Tribulation. My heart breaks in two to think of them facing the horrors of that time. Jesus is coming very soon-believers can sense it in their spirits.
Come quickly Lord Jesus…
but please save all our lost loved ones first! Please.
I don’t want unbelievers to be destroyed in Jesus name. I want them to comr to the Lord in Jesus’ name.
Dear Heavenly Father, forgive us for not discerning the fullness of your kingdom, for having doubleminded hearts and thoughts. Lord, I know that you are quick to forgive and heal us, if we truly repent. We repent today Lord, we know you continually instruct us to “DO NOT FEAR”, and we continue to question, what about this, what about that, oh Lord do you see. Forgive us father, for we know that you see us, hear us, and know everything that is going around us, we know through your spirit that you have placed everything in place for such a time as this. We know that your word says the battle belongs to you, you will never leave us or forsake us, you know the enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy, we know you have heard our prayer. We ask you to remind us that you are faithful, you are mighty, you are able, you are our strength, you are our constant peace, and most of all that you promised to intercede for us, you promised to protect us, you promised to lead us down paths of righteousness for your names sake, and even if we do not see what you are doing in the spiritual realm with the other people who you put in place for such a time as this, we know that you are working all things out for our good. Thank you father, that you continually here our prayers, and you are faithful to fight for us, and keep us so close to you! Remind us of how big you are, how loving you are, how faithful you are, that nothing is too big for you. We want to hear your voice and not the voices of the enemy. Your voice is assurance, your voice is peace, your voice is truth. As Jesus taught his disciples to pray: Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, thine is the power, and thine is the glory for ever and ever , Amen.
Any “peace” that does not first submit to the “sword” is false, and not Christ’s peace (Joh 14:27). Similarly, it is impossible to have fellowship one with another for those who do not walk in the light (1Jn 1:7). There is a false peace coming that will deceive the majority. A person’s Christianity will not help them if they don’t submit to the sword.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
…every single word totally resonated with my soul, spirit and prayers, as I’m often reminded in my spirit of Isaiah 55:8 “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord”…. we must stay focused and intercede “His mind, His heart” and sometimes /often times it’s beyond our own understanding. What I most was encouraged by this article was to realize “beyond myself” how the Lord also longs for us and to set His world aright… after all, the first prayer He taught His disciples reflects His resonance with our longing…”thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”! Thank you Lord!
Amen!
Our President can only do so much for us, we need to help him in every way we possibly can.
Please take action and make your voices heard!
William Barr
Attorney General
Jeffrey A. Rosen
Deputy Attorney General
Correspondence to the Department, including the Attorney General, may be sent to:
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
The Department may be contacted by phone at the following:
Department Comment Line: 202-353-1555
Department of Justice Main Switchboard: 202-514-2000
I could not find an email contact address, but calling and letter writing is very effective. Please flood the office with your concerns.
Well stated.
Thursday, December 03, 2020
Words: The Day is eminent.
I asked if this was before the end of 2020.
The answer was Yes.
How my heart resonated with this article! My heart LONGS for the Lord’s return. My heart LONGS for the 3rd Great Awakening to sweep the earth! I am so encouraged to know that the Lord too longs for the final judgement when He can finally be done with wickedness on the earth. I was also tremendously encouraged to be reminded that I am in good company with this band of believers!
Thanks for a timely Word.
I cried myself to sleep las night because I know we still have some time to “wait before the Lord” before we see this pandemic complete.
As this author indicate, there are those who will never change and we cannot weep over their demise. There are those determined to be “tolerant” many for the safety of their jobs. May they learn they can trust the Lord and then those jus beginning. May they know the joy and the Assurance our God Reigns.
Blessed Art Thou Oh Lord..
YES and AMEN
This scripture has resonated with me for many months as we see this division being played out. How else would we be able to identify those whose hearts are covered with a veil? These, unless they repent, will certainly face a judgment of God’s design.
Another scripture has also been on my mind in regards to the division within the church:
Matthew 13:24-30
The Parable of the Weeds
He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
Especially for believers this is hard to accept, but it is true. Can a weed become a wheat? Only if God initiates a miracle.
As far as church polity is concerned, this might be useful.
One thing is for sure; we who are followers of Christ must shine brighter than ever before, be bolder than ever before, and prioritize love in every area of our lives, in Jesus’ Name!
I have been thinking much about this passage of the wheat and the tares, too. Is it possible for weeds to think they are wheat? I’m thinking about those who voted for the platform of death. God have mercy!
All bondage is by deception; otherwise, Satan had no standing other than man’s God given authority, surrendered to him.
Amen! A Powerful word. Thank you.
I think you are correct in that a majority of the people praying are older and that the younger generation is not seeing what is going on and praying. I am a younger person, and I do not know many others who are truly seeking God’s face. I am part of a small group of intercessors who have been praying since lockdown and 5 of the 6 are younger and that’s encouraging to me! I am a young mom and at 35 I have two teens, I’m beyond grateful that my teens desire to follow the Lord and I know that’s HIS Grace because so many of their friends don’t and it’s often tough to stand up for truth when so many of their friends, even at their Christian school and Church, don’t want to follow the Lord more than going to Church and youth on Sunday and Wednesday. Though I’m grateful that the Lord has answered my prayers for a Jonathan-David type friendship for each of my children that is rooted in Christ for one of my children! That encourages me and I continue to pray the same for my other child, having that close fellowship with others than want to follow Christ is so important. I’m the only child of 3 who follows the Lord and I see the grief that my parents carry as they pray, fast and intercede for my siblings, I am often grieved myself as I pray and fast for them. I’m believing and trusting the Lord for their salvation but sometimes I grow weary in my prayers as the division continues and one has decided not only do they not want anything to do with the Lord but that he and his family are atheists. I commit to continuing to pray and fast for their salvation and for my children to not be deceived by the prince of this world or those around them. Thank you for this article, we may be weary at times but I’m thankful that the Lord is over their salvation and that we can take the pain of separation to Him. Hallelujah!
There was a beautiful Word from Jennifer Eivaz a few years back. She heard a Word about transitional people…many being the first Christians in their families which I am not but it’s for all who are called to the role of Walking Your Family out of the old; into the new. “Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them,nor dismayed at their looks,(attitude) though they be a rebellious houseEz.3:9. Be fierce in prayer, refuse to be offended, and Love Intentionally In a sense even if we were not called to be actual prophets we are Prophets to our families. We communicate His love and Word by how we live, how we act. He is giving us a stubbornness to stand against thepressures of returning to the old. As you make way for Him, a task that will require your entire lifetime, the pressure will be like producing you into a diamond. You r called to b that light. Holy Spirit is saying, future generations in your family will point and say “I want to be like you!” When God sees you He sees your family – past and future. He is calling out & restoring generational blessings! He wants to give them back their assignments, buried under the curse when a family turned away from the Lord. Transitional people help bring them back but it’s not easy! We are called to repentance, standing in the gap, breaking every curse in Jesus’Name. Like Moses stood for Israel. We decree the Greater for them. Job 22:28. Decree Gods Promises over them. Joh.24:15,Dt.7:9,Acts2:17, & more as the Lord reveals. We decree that every man,woman and child in our family will be saved and serve the Lord! I decree Holy Spirit to be the ruling Spirit of our family and the Name of Jesus to be our stronghold! I (and when my husband is here) do this after Communion every day at home,pleading the Blood and putting on the Armor of God. We r seeing the fruits! My Mom who just died at 95 was that light in my huge family. She never stopped praying. She believed in God for what He would do! She had 7 children, 20 Grands and 33 Greatgrands and believed whether she physically saw it God would be faithful to His promise! Many are believers but we are expecting the whole gang!❤️ He is Faithful! Never give up!
Jenny, I heard 2 points that impacted me on praying for unbelieving family: 1. Don’t hide your candle in their presence: You be you. Talk to them as if they were a believer already. I found myself muffling my praise of the Lord, so as not to offend; or, even expressing my joy of the Lord, or mention of the blessings I was receiving from the Lord.
2. Don’t grieve over their spiritual condition, as the Lord loves them more than you do. And it demonstrates faithlessness. He is writing their future testimony that they will be telling to HIS glory! He is doing wonders that we don’t yet see – but it’s glorious!
This really touched my heart in so many ways. What encouraged me the most was the part about “mostly the older saints who have truly understood the signs of the times and have carried the lion’s share of the prayer burden for our country.” As a senior citizen I can still remember anticipating the return of Christ when I was only 23 years old. That anticipation and longing has only grown stronger over the past 46 years. I have been stunned and saddened by the apathy I have come across from believers in their 30’s and 40’s regarding the signs of the times. Some have even been pastors who never mention His Return. To be fair, I have met my share of older believers who are no different.
Thanks Dixie for sharing. As an eighty year old great grandmother, I also feel some of the same things. I remember looking for the Lord’s return from childhood. I pray that our older generation would be like Anna in the temple praying and serving God day and night. Luke 2:36&37. Lord, fill us anew with Your precious Holy Spirit that Jesus may be glorified. In Jesus name Amen.
Amen, sister! I have been watching for the Lord’s return since the early 1970’s. It is incredible to see the signs of the coming tribulation come to pass with increasing frequency! Until this election, I was almost totally focused on His calling up His church – but, now, I’m thinking He might have in mind one more great revival before calling us up. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for Him to call us up in great victory (revival as a result of all the prayer concerning this election) rather than in defeat (the general apathetic state of the church before the election)!!! Having participated in so many on-line prayer meetings for this nation and the world lately, never have I seen the Church so united! It is wonderful! Thank You, Jesus!!!
Each year as patriarch and Spiritual head of my family, I give a Word at Christmastime. As I was asking the Lord for a Christmas Word for 2020 these same Scriptures and thoughts came to me. With family being separated due to Corona virus, a letter expressing these thoughts will be prayed through and delivered. Thank you for your prophetic voice.
Lord please help us to pray for our loved ones who don’t know You. May they open up their hearts and minds to You Lord. Pour out Your Spirit on people. God we need You.
This really described my home. Our teenagers are very resistant to all things: serving others, family devotions, asking them to pray over a decision, talking about sin and repentance, attending church. I have felt so guilty as a parent, feeling that I have let them down. I struggle against bitterness trying to take root. We do not deserve their hostility and dismissal. But then I remind myself that all I really deserve is to die for my sin, but Jesus has forgiven me. So I keep trying, always praying, trying to discern when consequences are in order, asking for forgiveness when applicable and striving to speak the truth in love, celebrating the moments they seem to really hear. Changed hearts are God’s business, not mine. But oh how I want my children in heaven!!!
Oh, that we would see into the very heart of God in these times …Protect us, O God. Show us Who You are, that we might walk in Your ways. Turn the hearts of our children to Yourself, and our own hearts as well. We bless Your Name. Amen.