Today… in all honesty, I feel nauseous, have a horrible headache and am extremely exhausted. I don’t know why for the last week or so, I have been so drained. But I still find time to be with the Lord. He is so good to me!
My scripture reading took me to Joshua 22:21-23:16. There is a portion that stood out to me. It says, “Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of Moses, that ye turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day.” It goes on to say, “One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God. Else if ye do in any wise go back and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you. Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you.” He then reminds them, “…ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you and not one thing hath failed thereof. Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the Lord your God promised you, so shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you. When ye have trangressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.”
In my years, (which really isn’t all that long) I have seen so many who have become more like the world instead of drawing closer to God, and becoming more like Him. They say that certain things aren’t necessary. I remember when they believed that Baptism was necessary, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost was necessary. They didn’t start out giving up these beliefs but it is where their journey took them. They started out by letting go of the things they felt they no longer needed to be obedient to… moral values and separation unto God. They mixed and mingled so much that you can no longer tell they are any different from the world. And an even sadder thing… they no longer recognize the real presence and power of God.
In the past 5 years, I have watched as people come and they experience God as they have never experienced Him before. They see that there really is power in worship, that worship isn’t a show, it may get ugly… but true worship brings the anointing and power of God. Sometimes the anointing is so thick… you feel you could reach out and touch it!  Have you ever felt that way? If so, how long has it been? If not, why? It is for everyone!
Now is not the time to back away from what we know is true. Now is not the time to give a little here or there! But NOW is the time to stand true in what the Word of God says. Worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Stay separated unto God. Don’t be ashamed that people noticed you are different. I pray I am different! If I were like everyone else, why would they want what I have? What would convince them that I have anything different from them?
Lord, I pray that you help me to always stand true to You. God, let me feel your urging to do right, when I am in the direction of doing wrong. Lord, let my heart desire more of You, and not desire the things of this world. Help me not to conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of my mind. Never let me forget how strong Your anointing is. Never let me draw so far away that I forget how powerful You are. Never let me feel complacent with a show, or with a crowd. Lord, let my goal always be to connect with You and allow you to correct when I am in error. I want to know You. I want to be more like You. I don’t want to be cast away from You. You are my God!
Angela: What a timely blog. I have been saddend lately at what I have seen and it seems the closer we get to revival breaking out in the nation the more it seems that some are falling away, yet I want to cling to the scriptures it makes me want to pull my boundaries just a little tighter. 2 Corinthians 6:17 (King James Version)
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
What a dangerous time we are living in, we must press forward. These situations have troubled me but more and more have convinced me that we need accountability…whether you’re a Pastor or Pastor’s Wife or just sitting under someone…we never can get so exalted that we feel we do not need to answer to anyone…God forbid, If I need to be rebuked than please love my soul enough to do that…flesh might not like it…but my soul longs for it.
Excellent Angela…..Thanks for Sharing.
Thank you, Maria… I value your opinion.