Ashes - A Time of Testing
Hi Friends, what an unbelievable week! A week ago today, we began a time of prayer and fasting for friends and families that needed real healing. It has been quite a week. God has been speaking and revealing things about situations and what is going on in the supernatural realm that corresponds to the events, people and circumstances.
I have actually written two different complete posts of visions that God has given me, but both times I was instructed not to post them, to abandon them entirely. God used this scripture to let me know that they were for me only. "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brothers or sister to fall. So whatever you believe about theses things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin." Romans 14:19-23
What I wrote about, had nothing to do with food, but the topics of both visions were something that God wanted me to keep between myself and him. So I guess that is it in a nutshell. I think the idea is not to cause someone else to stumble because of what we believe about something. I hope that I have never written anything thus far, that would cause anyone to get tripped up. I have hoped and prayed that what I write is helpful, and encourages us to draw closer to God.
I do want to write today about a vision that God gave me this past week, that I believe I can share. I was in prayer, interceding for my Jewish friends. I have many Jewish friends and former clients back in Illinois, as well as here in New Jersey. I have written letters sharing the gospel with those far away. I would so much love for them to know the Lord, yet I know there is much fear for them to overcome. I can imagine that, all their lives they were told to stay faithful to the one and only true God. And then someone like myself comes along, and tells them that there is so much more to the story that they need to know. Of course, not everyone is interested or wants to listen. One of my dear friends, said, "Amelia, did you know that your letter was 17 pages long?"
There are thousand upon thousands of years of God’s faithfulness shown to the Israelites, but during the time when the Messiah came, their hearts were hardened, and they did not receive him. John the Baptist spoke of this: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:9-13
Isaiah the prophet spoke of the Messiah 700 years before his birth. “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?.....He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” Isaiah 53:1-3 (I am including the entire text at the end of this post)
This is one of my favorite passages. I have wanted to share this with a close friend, but she is too fearful to even read it.
If you would like to see a Jewish believer witness to several people in Hebrew with this chapter from Isaiah, the link is below. This chapter is called the "Forbidden chapter of the Tanakh. This video is filmed right in the city of Jerusalem and includes English subtitles. It is wonderful, and worth every one of the 10 minutes, it is in length. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXSBR047MMk
There is a chart in my bible entitled "Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Christ." It covers four full pages of scripture references. As I was praying, I thought that I should look up each of the scriptures and type the full quote with the corresponding New Testament scripture and compile them into a document. This I could share with those who do not know Jesus as the Messiah.
Earlier this morning, I picked up my Bible and just starting reading at random. This passage, was so precious, it caused me to pause and think, "I should read this every day. No, I should memorize this passage." Then I thought of the passage above Isaiah 53, speaking of the Messiah, and I thought, "Yes, I should memorize this this one too."
Here is the first one that I decided to memorize:
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief . The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then dear friends, since you are looking forward to this make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” 2 Peter 3:10-14
Now to show you the vision:
In the vision, I had the very document, that I had been thinking about earlier, completed. (the four pages of Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Christ, expanded to include the complete scriptures) It was a fairly thick document. I was standing on the threshold of a door and saw the document about 20 feet from me. A woman was near the document, so I called to her and asked if she wouldn’t mind bringing it to me. I glanced down, and to the left of my feet was a black rectangle. Then I looked up again, and the woman had walked to where the papers were. She leaned over to pick them up, and they seemed to have taken on the shape of a sphere. As she reached out to pick up the papers, they immediately crumbled in her hand. The view changed, and I held in my hand, what was formerly the document. It had been completely burned. As I grasped the grey, spherical shape, and closed my fingers around the ashes, everything became like powder, or sand in my hands.
This is what I believe the vision means. The document was a compilation of Old Testament and New Testament scriptures, which represents the Bible itself. I was planning to use the document to witness to my Jewish friends. The place I was standing was a doorway, I believed that where I was, was more safe for the Bible than where it was on the open ground. The black rectangle, represents my cell phone, for after the vision, when I opened my eyes, I saw the black rectangular face of my cell phone sitting next to me. The woman represents the church, or other believers.
I believe that God is warning us to begin reading and memorizing scripture, because a time of testing is ahead, and our Bibles will be taken from us and burned. The cell phone was on the ground, and its screen was dark. People will not want to communicate by phone, for our location will be traced. We will go into hiding because it will not be safe “out there.”
Basically, this vision is speaking of end-times as well as our times. I don’t believe that God gives us visions, because we are bored and don’t know what to do with ourselves. Since the tribulation has already been written about hundreds of years ago, why would God remind us of these things? I believe it is because these events may happen in our lifetime, and he wants us to be prepared.
I remember certain stories that were told about believers in concentration camps, during the Holocaust. When they had opportunity to speak to one another, they would share scriptures that they were able to remember. In this way, they encouraged each other.
In the 1st century, when persecution was fierce, Paul wrote to believers, “Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20
Psalms, hymns and songs, often are filled with scriptures that not only edify us, but as we sing to God, declaring who he is in true worship, we feel his presence. His love, power, provision, mercy and grace become real.
"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11
"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Psalm 119:105
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
I believe God is serious - we must get ready now. We must know the word of God.
I have an earlier post Huis Clo, which shows the vision God had given me several years ago concerning the tribulation and persecution. I know, this may seem scary and far fetched for you, as I am sure it did to those who lived in Noah’s day. After all, one day seems to blend into the next. For Noah's neighbors thought it was so far fetched, it was foolishness to them. Who would ever think that in a semi-arid area, far from the ocean, or sea, that they should be concerned for a flood?
But what did Jesus say about the end coming? “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:4-14
About the rapture he said, "That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." Matthew 24:39-41
When the time of testing comes we need to be able to draw upon the word of God for encouragement and wisdom. By memorizing scripture, the word will always be there in our minds and on our lips.
Let's prepare our heart for his return, and draw close to him. "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Isaiah 26:3
"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." Philippians 4:11
"As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." John 9:4
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12
Well, this was a hard message, but we must know the times in which we live. "God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" Hebrews 13:5
He does not want us to live in fear: "Do not be anxious about anything, but with prayer and petition, present your requests to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6
If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
Will you share this message with someone? The link to the film you can share with one of your Jewish friends too.
And please remember to pray for the persecuted church. Many are undergoing tremendous trials, even as we read this. God bless you!
Love you all! Be blessed!
This is the entire text that the YouTube film quotes:
Isaiah 53
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and will be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
