Guard Your Heart - - Hear The Word of The Lord

 

Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2377

Vision: divine communication in a vision, oracle, prophecy; a mental sight, a dream, revelation

From the Hebrew word 'chazon' (pronounced khaw-zone'). 

FALSE VISIONS

    An architect can have a vision and build a beautiful structure. But unless it glorifies God it is built for nothing. A painter can have a vision and paint beautiful works of art. But unless these works glorify God, they are merely ornamental and have no value. 

    Rulers and governmental leaders can have visions of how they want to rule, but unless their vision came from God and they received a special anointing to rule thus and so, their visions will fail and they will be destroyed. For their visions, their dreams, came from their own hearts. But their hearts were false and deceitful. A kingdom, a nation, built on self-glorification will always fall.

DIVINE VISIONS

    The visions from God not only come to pass, they stand as a testimony to God's power, God's glory, God's name. What God says will happen, will always happen, regardless of how long it takes time-wise for the vision to be accomplished.

Habakkuk 2:2, 3

2. Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.

3. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

VISIONARIES

Where The Vision of The Lord is, The Voice of The Lord is Heard.

    Daniel had many visions, but there was a special vision God gave him. Not only could he interpret dreams, but God gave him a vision of the end times, the last days before Christ's third return, the days of wrath; and Daniel knew those days would be fearful days in which to live. Daniel 7, 10-12.

    The Book of Isaiah begins with a prophecy (Isaiah 1:1). Beginning in chapter two we read that Isaiah  tells us of the last days: "In that day...". But then in Isaiah 6:

    Isaiah had a vision: he saw The LORD high and lifted up. In his vision he saw God in all his glory with seraphim worshiping Him; he knew he was unclean and unworthy. But God called him in this vision to serve Him and made Isaiah clean and worthy.  

      Ezekiel 1 begins with a vision. Daniel's visions don't begin until after he was imprisoned with the lions for treason. Obadiah begins with a vision. Nahum begins with a vision. Habakkuk had a burden, an oracle. 

    Where The Word of the Lord is heard, there the prophecy is begun to be revealed. "And the Word of the Lord came to...." : Jeremiah 1:2; Ezekiel 1:3; Hosea 1:2; Joel 1:1; Jonah 1:1; Micah 1:1; Zephaniah 1:1; Haggai 1:1; Zechariah 1:1; Malachi 1:1. 

    With Amos and Obadiah, it was "Thus sayeth the Lord". Yet, it was still a vision for the seeing and an oracle for the hearing of The Word of The Lord. 

HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD

    Visions are given to warn people to change their ways and return to The Lord God; to warn people of the hardships coming their way, to be prepared to suffer God's wrath if they refuse to obey His Word. Visions are given to and The Word of The Lord is spoken by His messengers. In the Old Testament books, these messengers were prophets and priests who loved The Lord their God and who earnestly sought Him. To them God sent His Word, and gave them spiritual sight to see what He wanted to show them.

    Where are the prophets today? To whom does The Word of The Lord speak? Not just anyone and definitely not everyone. The Lord says His people should humble themselves and call upon His Name. The Word of The Lord is still being spoken but now, as then, many who call themselves God's people are not listening to The Word of The Lord. Many are not turning from their wicked ways. Many are foolish and have turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to The Word of The Lord.

    Hear now The Word of The Lord and repent. For the days are short. The hour is coming when The King will return for His church, His people, His bride. Repent and be baptized in the Name of The Lord. Turn from your wicked ways, turn from doing things your way and do things God's way. Seek His face and you will find Him, for The Lord Is Near to the broken hearted. 

    For His Way is Holy and He desires a holy people. Ask for His Holy Spirit to fill you with divine power: power to live a holy life, a life that honors God, the God above all other gods; The Righteous God, The Just and The Holy God. The God who loves you and desires your love in return. 

    See what great things The God of heaven has done for us. Breathe His air. Touch the hem of His garment and be healed. Drink The Living Water He has drawn for you from the Fountain of Life. Taste His Manna, His Bread, which was broken for you. Repent and receive and be restored the relationship which God desires to have with you. Now, before it's too late. And all of your chances to change and be changed have vanished. 

Jesus, Be The Centre - Vineyard

I Can't Get Away - Melissa Helser

The Worth of Knowing You - Austin Bratton

Help Me To See You - CityBridge Worship

 

The Generation of The Lord

The Generation of the Lord

• A chosen generation: 1 Peter 2:9
• Who shall declare His generation? : Isaiah 53:8 & Acts 8:33
• His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation: Luke 1:50
• Generation of light: Luke 11:29-36 & Luke 16:8
• God is in the generation of the righteous: Psalm 14:5
• A generation of service by the will of God: Acts 13:36
• Generation that fears the Lord: Psalm 22:23-31
• Generation that is accounted to the Lord: Psalm 22:30
• The generation that seeks Him, seeks His face: Psalm 24:6
• We are the generation to come: Psalm 78:4, 6

~The word given me while praying after I read the Book of Ezra:

There is one generation and it is the generation of them who seek the Lord. Who seek Him, His laws and His statutes; that the Word of the Lord would be known and taught to those who do not know Him.

It is the generation of those who love the Lord; who love His Word and seek to do His will accordingly. We are that generation.

Not chronological, a generation of years; but spiritual, a generation of belief. Not calculated by time, but by faith: faith in the power of the Word of God.

It is the generation of them who seek His face; who desire to be in his presence. It is the generation of they who desire to obey His Word; who have counted the cost and are willing to pay it.

It is the generation of repentant hearts; those who humble themselves before God.

It is the generation of submission and surrender: submitting to God's Word and surrendering to God's will. For God is holy and nothing unholy can be in His presence. Darkness flees; for the light of God's glory fills our hearts and our minds. We submit our hearts to obedience, we obey His Word. We surrender our will and our desire to His will and His desire. Why? Because we are the generation of them who seek His face. ~

     And, as I study after receiving this, I am made aware that this generation began in the beginning and will not cease until the end. It is the generation of believers in the Almighty God, who created the heavens and the earth in six days. He Who wrote the laws and desires our obedience in love.

     This generation is a righteous generation, not of ourselves, but of the righteousness of Christ which is upon us. We wear Him like armor. We clothe ourselves in Him, for Christ is our Righteousness.

      We are the generation that fear Him: revere and respect Him. He is Faithful and True; Redeemer and Friend. His love for His people shines through us: our eyes see Him and magnify Him to nations who do not know Him. We are the light that shines in the darkness: declaring the Word of the Lord to those who are hungry to hear and receive it.

     This generation is a generation of servitude, not only to God and for God, but to God's people for God's glory. We do not seek to raise ourselves up, but to raise up the name of Jesus Christ, that the salvation of the Lord is at hand and reaching out to all. We praise the name of the Lord for He is gracious and slow to anger, longsuffering and merciful to those who call on His name. This generation works in the field of the Lord. His servants are few, but the work is great. Our hands are busy doing what needs to be done; our hearts are busy, seeking the salvation of the lost souls, in constant prayer for them.

     We are the generation that loves with the love of the Lord. It is a love that transcends time and space. This love, the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, is for all people. With a love that shows mercy to all, regardless of ethnicity or generation of life. It is a love that forgives and forgives and forgives without number. God is righteous and just; His mercy endures forever. We exhibit that mercy; we forgive without number; we love without prejudice.

     This generation is the Lord's generation. We are accounted to Him and accountable to Him. We are of Abraham's seed: we believe that what God says He will do He does. We believe God's Word is holy. We believe God's Word is true. We believe God's Word is faithful: time and time again He has proven just how much He loves us. This generation multiplies to the number of the stars and the sands of the sea shore (Genesis 22:17).

     We are the chosen generation. We are called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9); to shine forth the Light of Christ. He designates us a royal priesthood: serving Him in His house, breaking bread with His people, worshiping wholeheartedly and with great joy. Praying for the needs of His people and the salvation of the lost souls.

     As His chosen generation, we are a holy nation. And as such, we are to live a life of abstinence from lust (v. 11), speak honestly (v. 12), submit to the laws of the land (v. 13,14) for the Lord's sake. Living freely in God's service (v. 16). Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king (authority) (v. 17).

     This generation is called to suffer (18-25). With Christ as our example, this generation is to be obedient unto God by following Jesus' attitude when it came to being obedient unto death (1 Corinthians 4:10-14; 2 Corinthians 1:5; Philippians 1:5). Happy is the generation that partakes of the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:13, 14). Blessed are the persecuted for His sake: great is their reward (Matthew 5:10-12). The entire chapter of 1 Peter 4 emphasizes what has been laid out in this message: in order to be named in this generation, the generation of the Lord, we are to live the life Christ lived: follow in His way and obey His Word, choosing to suffer for His sake and reaping the glory which God will reveal in His time.

     We are a generation of prophets, teachers, evangelists, preachers, apostles;miracle-workers, healers, governments, tongues and interpreters, helpers (1 Corinthians 12:28). We are a generation of servant leaders. We follow Jesus Christ and we lead people to Christ, which makes us both followers and leaders. This is my generation.