The enemy hates restoration

I have to admit that even though I have walked with the Lord for a decade I am still get thrown at how relentless the enemy can be. The Word does teach us that his nature is to kill, steal and destroy but the strategies by which he will employ in his pursuit of destruction still baffles me. I must say being baffled is no excuse for being unprepared and unarmed with our victory and conquering strategies given to us who are over-comers and victors in Christ Jesus. As I was talking with the Lord in a time of devotion this week it occurred to me that even though I am filled with such excitement and joyful anticipation about the season in which I now find myself; there is also still a sense that the enemy's hands will not relent even as I victorious counter-respond in faith and trust by relentlessly pursue my destiny in God.

Nehemiah 4:7-11 “But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. 8 They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. 9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves. 10 Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.” 11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”

The Lord keeps leading me back to this scripture because He has confirmed that in this season the Body is forcefully advancing. But even as we advance we must posture ourselves to war in order to complete the given assignment. The awesome thing about this war is that the final outcome has already been declared. Beloved of the Lord, God Almighty has decreed that WE WIN. El Shaddai has written of the final outcome and WE WIN. He who is the Alpha and Omega, who knows the end from the beginning, has given us the eternal victory in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!

As a Body we have come to a place of crossing over. The Lord has faithfully led us into a season of transitioning for and into the promise. We have not yet arrived but we are most certainly on the way. We just have to keep advancing; we must keep moving. At all cost we must fix our eyes on the goal, staying focus on the path that has been ordained for us. Philippians 3:13-14 (AMP) “I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.”

The Message Bible just reflects my heart in this hour; how about you? Philippians 3:12-14 (MSG) Focused on the Goal “I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.”

It is time to run and keep on running. As Paul says, you don’t have to claim to have gotten it all but this one thing you can do; do not look back. Looking back stifles and it kills. And do not look back lest you be destroyed like Lots wife who the enemy caused to look back at devastation instead of looking forward to the glorious future of restoration God had planned for them.

My child, you are in a place whereby the storm of your last season has passed by. But you must know that it is in the stillness of when the storm passes that the enemy will try to come in and steal your peace. He will try to fill you with fear concerning your future by speaking into your atmosphere that you will never recover and be restored. Beloved when you allow fear to paralyze, you are not able to hear My voice instructing you on how to get into the posture of transition and restoration. Fear of the unknown can cause your ears to be deafened to My voice. This is the plan of the enemy to cause My sheep to go astray because if you cannot hear Me then you will not know when and where to follow Me. Beloved child I am assuring you today that you can rest in Me. You can gather your strength as you yield to Me in stillness, peace and trust. My Word of truth will quiet every lie of the enemy and silence every storm of fear and doubt. It is time to go forth without hindrance and without fear. Peace be still for I am with you. And be of good courage because I will never forsake you. I have faithfully watched over My word and it will perform exactly as I have sent it to do. You shall recover all. Be encouraged as I say to you there is no place you can go that you will be able to escape my Presence. You are Mine and I will never, no never, leave you or forsake you. Finally, be eternally persuaded that although the enemy hates restoration; I have already accomplished the ultimate plan of restoration that will never fail.

1 Samuel 30:8 “And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, If I pursue after this troop, shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue; for thou shalt surely overtake them, and shalt without fail recover all.”

The Newness of the New

Romans 6:4 “We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.”

Some interesting definitions of the word new include; recently discovered or noticed, though existing before; not yet used by anyone else; recently made, created, or invented; not seen, known, or experienced by somebody before and thus unfamiliar; changed, especially for the better; constituting a revived, different, improved, or more advanced form of something; recently produced by change; as a new life; renovated; repaired so as to recover the first state; different state or qualities introduced by change or regeneration.

And the Lord says, I Am He who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. I Am announcing the new thing to you once again even while you have not yet seen the physical manifestation. This new thing of which I now speak is unlike anything you have ever heard or seen in seasons past. My child you have now come out of the place of transition and you have been crossed over into the new. It is only by My Almighty hand that this new thing now springs forth. I say to you that the former things shall not be remembered, neither shall you bring them to mind because it is time to press forward; beloved it is a time of advancing. The enemy of your soul would love to hold you in bondage to fear and doubt, but I say to you in faith, take a step forward into the newness of the new. You will know and experience Me like never before. Have I not declared that because you are hid in My Beloved Son that you are an entirely new creation? By His blood He has washed away your sins, giving you a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, you must now yield to this truth and receive the fullness of His resurrection power which lifts you out from among the dead in spirit and firmly plants you into the fullness of the newness of life through My Life-giving Spirit. And beloved if the new has come then surely you perceive that the old has passed. The new and the old cannot operate at the same time. If you should seek to continue in the lukewarmness between the two you will be overcome with doubt and fear and remain stagnate in the place of transition. You must now focus on the newness of the new that is ahead. In order to fully embrace the new you must let go of the old press and beyond the place of transition. Your place of transition is not your place of destination; it was designed as a vehicle in the process of change used by Me in a season of pruning and preparation for the promise. Beloved I have called you to be  one of the chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and My own special people. I have done this so that you can be a declaration of My praise in the earth. You are now the people of God Almighty and I say to you today this brand new thing of which I now speak shall be fulfilled, therefore I command you now, walk in the newness of the new.

Revelation 21:5 "And He Who is seated on the throne said, See! I make all things new. Also He said, Record this, for these sayings are faithful (accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy) and true (genuine)."

See your enemy correctly

Nehemiah 4:11-15 (NASB) “Our enemies said, "They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work." 12When the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, "They will come up against us from every place where you may turn," 13then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows. 14When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: "Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses." 15When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.”

Beloved it is true that the enemy comes to kill steal and destroy but the greater truth and promise is that I have come so that you can have super-abundant and over-exceeding life. In this hour you must gain understanding into the realm of the spirit. You must develop a sensitivity and a keen understanding of what God is calling you to see and hear. You must be able to rightly divide all of the information that is coming at you and will propel you and advance the Kingdom. I Am releasing a sound and strategy that will cause you to see the deception, anger, fear and doubt. You are being given eyes to see how the enemy is seeking to derail, destroy and decay the promise in you. You will be able to see and recognize your enemy along your path as you advance. When you walk in this divine eye-sight you gain divine insight into the forces seeking to come against you and you are able to analyze correctly and separate out what is not of God. You will then be able to determine how and if to progress and proceed based upon that information you are discerning. When you walk in vital union and communion with Me it becomes your first nature to recognize My voice and My leading because My sheep know My voice and the voice of another they will not follow. Again I say, see your enemy correctly because you have been called to fulfill My purpose. Therefore, you must be resilient and strong, you must stand the test of time and endure the refining and testing without weakening in your resolve and determination to see My will fulfilled in the earth through you. I have given you eyes to see; advance now without fear but in greater determination. When you see your enemy correctly you are able to use the weapons that I have given you to war, to pursue, to overtake and to recover all, says the Lord.

Fueled by intimidation

Nehemiah 6:9-13 “They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination 10 Later I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, “Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.” 11 But I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!” 12 I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.

Beloved I know that the intensity of the battle has increased. I can see the anxiety that is seeking to overtake you. But have I not said be anxious for nothing? Have I not commanded you to come to Me in prayer and supplication, making your request known to Me? I am not only the Author of your destiny but I am also the Finisher. Do not be dismayed I have decreed that you will finish well. Do not be distracted, instead, yield to My leading because in this hour I am teaching you how to skillfully build and strategically war against every structure that would seek to defy Me by intimidating and harassing you. The enemy wants to intimidate you and ultimately cause you the forfeit the assignment and your destiny. Do not fear and do not be intimidated because this will only lead to the discouragement of your soul. You are not doing this in your own strength; it is by the hand of your Almighty God that you will complete the work that I have given you to do. Remember, it is not by your might or by your power, but by the Spirit of the Living God, your God. We are building this together and I will complete all things that I have started for it is in Me that you live, move and have your being. You have come to a threshold. You have come to the point at which something new begins and your present circumstances must change. You have come to the place where the shift will take place. My child you will cross over into the promise. This threshold that is before you is a doorway and an entrance into the promise. So do not allow yourself to be intimidated to stop the work now; you have come too far to turn back now. Press forward. As you press into the fulfillment your enemy will be put to shame when he realizes that although he has come against you in one way in fright and humiliation he will flee from you in seven different ways. My beleoved be fully persuaded that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. I Am the restorer of the breaches in the wall of your life and if you will move in faith and trust you will see the full manifestation and restoration of all that has been lost in the last season. Do not be intimidated by your enemy instead let the intimidation develop a resolve in your spirit man to war with greater determination to finish the assignment, says the Lord.

Nehemiah 6:16 “When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.”

Do not be afraid of your enemy

Nehemiah 4:6-9 “So we built the wall, and all [of it] was joined together to half its height, for the people had a heart and mind to work. 7But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were going up and that the breaches were being closed, they were very angry.8And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem, to injure and cause confusion and failure in it. 9But because of them we made our prayer to our God and set a watch against them day and night.”

And the Lord says, you now stand in a place of victory on your journey. In-fact this has been your position all along. You have just now come to the place of maturity whereby you realize that you must function out of your posture of victory. If you will apprehend the fullness of your promise you must be fully persuaded that you serve the One who knows the end from the beginning. I know full well that you would come to this place whereby the breaches in your soul are closing up. You were healed from eternity and you must press forth from that same eternal power. Because of who you are and Whose you are you have an enemy. And because you have surrendered and committed your life to walking in the fulfillment of your purpose the enemy will rise up often. He desires to intimidate, harass and frustrate you with his ultimate plan being to cause you to be delayed or to forfeit your promise. I say to you today do not be afraid of your enemy. For have I not promised you that I will be with you always to protect you from all your enemies? Have I not said that although your enemy pursues you to kill you that My hand of protection will never be lifted from you? My reasonable expectation of you is that when the enemy comes in like a flood that you will know that I have already lifted a standard of healing, protection, provision and victory. I have equipped you to war and in your wilderness place I have been preparing you to war and apprehend in the promise land. Remember though the enemy comes to tempt you in the wilderness the giants that are warring to keep you from flourishing in your destiny are in the promise land. The enemy knows that the Promise that comes from Me is eternal and only those who will take the promise by force will walk in its fullness. I have called you to the narrow way so I say to you again, do not be afraid of your enemy for I Am giving you eyes to see and if you will look with your spiritual eyes you will see that it is actually the enemy who is afraid of you and the Promise to be fulfilled in you.

Nehemiah 4:14-15 “I looked [them over] and rose up and said to the nobles and officials and the other people, Do not be afraid of the enemy; [earnestly] remember the Lord and imprint Him [on your minds], great and terrible, and [take from Him courage to] fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes. 15And when our enemies heard that their plot was known to us and that God had frustrated their purpose, we all returned to the wall, everyone to his work.

He restores my soul

Psalm 23:3 “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”

My beloved, you have had so much to deal with in the last season. And even as you are now emerging you still seem to be stuck in the residue of the hardship, the trial and the testing. I know that it has been difficult. I know how you have had to cry even as you stood warring in shaken faith to apprehend sound and steadfast faith. In you I Am well pleased. In you I take delight to know that even though you have had to endure much, your love for Me has only grown and grown. I know that the devil would have destroyed you but today you still stand wanting more; more of Me, more of My love, more of My freedom, more of My peace, and more of My Kingdom. In this I am truly pleased. Even as you have received My Word of freedom and of Promise the enemy wars with you to the very end. But I say to you today stand firm, stand firm for I Am the Lord your God who will hold your right hand and I say to you fear not for I will help you. Be strong and of good courage. I say it again, fear not, do not be afraid, for I Am the Lord your God and I go with you; I will not fail you and I will never forsake you. Be encouraged and know that you are in a season of restoration and many things will be recovered, reestablished and rebuilt in this time. Let your hope arise, let your heart rest in Me because I am upholding you to keep you strong, steady and secure. You shall know Me like never before, you shall see Me and hear Me in new and spectacular ways and you will be strengthen. I Am restoring all things; I Am restoring your joy, your hope, your peace, your faith and your trust. The enemy has stolen much, but he must give it back 7-fold. No longer will I allow you to be harassed or impaired by your circumstances and situations. I Am giving you new strength and new vigor to continue to press forward. Be energized by My Spirit for with your very own eyes you will now begin to see that I am He who restores your soul. This is My word of promise; renewal, revival, and reestablishment will overtake you in this day, says the Lord.

Joel 2:25 “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.”

Isaiah 58:8 “Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you [conducting you to peace and prosperity], and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”

Integrity

Matthew 5:48 You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The word integrity means to be whole, consistency between our beliefs and our actions.

The Word of God says that “Righteousness guards the person of integrity and that God delights in those with integrity. Proverbs 28:6 states “Better is the poor man who walks in his integrity than he who willfully goes in double and wrong ways, though he is rich.” In this day and hour we must be a people who are robed in kingdom integrity because the integrity of the upright shall guide them. Why? Because again God’s Word says, Proverbs 10:29 “The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked.” And again in Proverbs 10:9 “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”

Through my Pastor’s teaching and wisdom I have learned that anyone who will do anything great for God will be tested and tried greatly. He has also taught my local spiritual family that your talents and abilities can take you where your character cannot sustain. We are seeing the truth of this principle manifested more and more in this hour as even those considered to be “strong in the Lord “ are falling because of conflicts between their beliefs and their actions. Job 2:3 Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.” And how awesome it is to be identified by God as one full of His integrity? There is coming a time that even those who have witnessed your devotion to God and His Kingdom will scoff at you and will blatantly try to undermine your integrity and your reliance upon the integrity of God. Job 2:9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” Even Job’s wife understood that standing on one’s integrity founded upon trust and reliance in God is that which leads to life. Job’s wife knew and sends a message to us that if we should ever abandon our integrity that rest upon the character and integrity of our Sovereign God it will ultimately lead to death. Proverbs 2:7 He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity." As the days grow darker, we know that the time of the complete fulfillment of all things is growing closer. Because we are a people of purpose and Promise we must continue to proclaim like Job: Job 27:5 God forbid that I should justify you--saying you are right [in your accusations against me]; till I die, I will not put away my integrity from me." And like the Psalmist we must be fully persuaded and confess: Psalm 41:12 And as for me, You have upheld me in my integrity and set me in Your presence forever.

And the Lord says, walk in approved faith, maturity of character and tried integrity that has been fortified through your patient endurance. In this mantle of Kingdom integrity you will flourish and confidently stand even as you grow in My eternal hope. As it was with My beloved Son so shall it be with you. Follow after Me as your example because it is the consistency between My actions and My Word which are the basic elements of My nature. My Son walked in integrity that was not based on His own desires but was firmly built upon THE UNDERSTANDING THAT HIS WORDS AND ACTIONS MUST BE THE SAME; this is the way of truth and this is the eternal Foundation upon which you must stand. In accordance to My Word, to the faithful I show Myself faithful; and to those with integrity I show integrity. You shall be preserved by your integrity because it has been tried and tested in the fires of purification. So continually and willingly be washed by the Blood that brings about complete submission to My purity and righteousness. God-like integrity is developed as your surrender and submit in loyalty to My way of being, doing and thinking. You must now identify any potential conflicts that leads to a contradiction in your integrity. Any and all conflicts will be very costly to your walk and your destiny. If you thought yourself to be a failure in maintaining your integrity be encouraged because each failure exposes to you every area rooted in self-sufficiency that is not yet submitted to My Lordship. I am calling you to walk in Christ-like integrity because this is the unchangeable nature of your God.

Hebrews 1:9 You have loved righteousness [You have delighted in integrity, virtue, and uprightness in purpose, thought, and action] and You have hated lawlessness (injustice and iniquity). Therefore God, [even] Your God ( Godhead), has anointed You with the oil of exultant joy and gladness above and beyond Your companions.

Let this be the confession of your heart, Psalm 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for thee.

Un-forgiveness Revisited

Ephesians 4:32 “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

The Lord caused me to be drawn away this weekend for some alone time with Him. I am always amazed at how God will use everything to bring His children to a higher level in Him; that is, if we are willing and submitted. What I learned this weekend has led me to this one conclusion; God truly won’t be satisfied until we too can look from our cross in the midst of our own rejection, shame and crucifixion and say "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

This is not to say that we are to walk in any type of messianic complex but we are charged by the Word, “ And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [ cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:38) and again in Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” It is from this same cross that we say like Jesus, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34.

True forgiveness is not simply an exercise of your Christian duty. It is a matter of a transformed heart that understands it true power. True forgiveness lies at the root of the deeper revelation that says “Judge not [neither pronouncing judgment nor subjecting to censure], and you will not be judged; do not condemn and pronounce guilty, and you will not be condemned and pronounced guilty; acquit and forgive and release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you will be acquitted and forgiven and released.” (Luke 6:37) In other words forgive others, and you will be forgiven. This scripture is paramount to our understanding of true forgiveness and not because God wants to subject us any form of law or religion but because God in His wisdom knows that until we have truly forgiven we cannot and will not understand what it means to be forgiven by God of all of our sins past, present and future. This is also a part of God’s plan to keep us out of bondage to the overindulgence of self; self processing, self-evaluation, self efficiency, self-emotions, and self-thought processes.

This command to hold neither ourselves nor any man in bondage is true forgiveness and this alone leads to true freedom. You know that you are truly forgiven when the offenders words, actions, or inactions lack the power and authority to affect or effect you mentally, spiritually, emotional or otherwise. In fact forgiveness empowers you to move further in your God-given power and authority because you are free from the yoke of bondage to your sin and iniquity. If you are moved in any way by an offense or the offender you have not truly experienced the god-kind of forgiveness that is required of you.

As you walk in this type of forgiveness you relinquish all rights to be right, to be justified, to be paid back, and to be apologized to. What I have learned is that you relinquish all right to be or do anything that is not in direct conformity to God’s plans for your life. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” Because God is Sovereign He knows that all things work together for your good and what your enemy meant for your harm God will allow and use for your good. This scriptures assure us that we don’t have to be subjected to fear of what happens when we yield in forgiveness. If God is calling you to a higher level of forgiveness trust that He knows the purpose and the affect in His destined purpose for your life.

Last week I remember sensing that there was a call of deeper still. I confessed to the Lord Psalms 139:23-24 "Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Lord if there be something in me that you are trying to bring to the surface that is displeasing to you pluck it up and pluck it out! So when He ushered me into this place I was pleasantly un-surprised. At first God so graciously allowed me to know Him as Comforter and He wrapped His loving arms around me allowing me to be broken before Him until I cried out for My Father. When I cried out for my Father He answered me and then as any Holy and Righteous Father would, He disciplined and corrected me. He said, "daughter there is an issue of unforgiveness that I want to deal with".

I have walked with the Lord long enough to stand still during these times of correction. During my earlier years I would run around like a child being spanked not understanding that the discipline and rebuke were for my own good. So now my walk has become a 'deeper still' walk in which I allow God, in the midst of my pain and discomfort, to have His way in me; understanding that His desire is to take me into His deeper things. I asked the Lord to amplify the area and after prayer and meditation in His presence He obliged. He began to show me areas that in past seasons were acceptable but for this new place He is bringing me to it would no longer be enough. I knew allowing God to do this work in me would not only challenge me but it will change and transform me. The awesome thing with God when you are in right relationship with Him is that as you grow He forbears with you as you mature but then you get to a place where what is acceptable for others is no longer acceptable for you and what was acceptable as a babe in Christ is not acceptable for the growing teen-ager. This is a place of deep repentance and forgiveness that ultimately yields a higher level in God.

The Lord also said to me that this type of forgiveness loves to a greater degree regardless of the depth of the offense or the offender. This forgiveness loves over and over again even to the 7 times 77 level of forgiveness. Matthew 18:21-22 “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Imagine the exponential degree of love from the one who is forgiven much. The scripture also teaches us that who is forgiven much loves much. Luke 7:47 says “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” An even deeper revelation God showed me is if we forgive much we become the recipient of much love. This is the promise and the exchange. You are the recipient of love to the degree to which you forgive.

Today we have a choice. Will we continue to justify our un-forgiveness because of our hurt and disappointment? If this is our position we are in basic conflict with scripture and the nature of our Lord. By esteeming our need to be right, to be heard and to be understood we are in direct disobedience to His will. No matter the offense, great of small, we must be like Jesus. We often feel like the enemy of forgiveness is our loss of control to our offender; but Jesus is saying today you are Mine, I have bought you with the precious price of My blood. With this understood we must reflect our Savior and yield our spirit, souls and bodies to the seemingly unforgivable and unlovable even as we are fully persuaded that truly “greater love has no man than to lay down his life for a friend.”(John 15:13). In fact, Jesus teaches us that there is no such person as unforgivable or unlovable for there is no depth, nor heights that His love cannot reach. God gave His Beloved Son for the whole world, therefore it is His very nature to love all and forgive all.

I am not saying to run out now and call everyone that you have held in bondage to un-forgiveness or for that matter everyone who you know is holding you in that same bondage. Forgiveness is a spiritual exercise. It is done in the spirit. Whether it is received or accepted by the person it is extended to may not be immediatley or ever seen. Jesus forgave the whole world but we know that not the entire world has yet to receive that forgiveness.

But, you must also be ready to move in obedience if God should require you to go to someone and openly ask for forgiveness or ask to be forgiven. Before you proceed please pray for the Lord’s guidance and move in exact obedience to that leading because this will take courage beyond your physical ability and human will.

In my spirit I know there is a promise connected to your obedience to walk in a deeper level of forgiveness in this season. Whether it is the spiritual act alone or if you are also asked to approach someone; God is requiring us to go deeper still in the area of forgiveness as we grow in deeper manifested identification with Him. If you should experience continued conflict that leads to your inaction or if your forgiveness does not yield your desired result remember and be encouraged that the scriptures says that we are to always obey God and not man. God will honor your obedience in unseen and eternal ways and you must be fully satisfied that you have fully obeyed God and not leaned to you own understanding.

And the Lord says, your way may seem to be working for you, or perhaps you are just beginning to realize that although My ways are not your ways I do have a righteous expectation for you to conform to My way of doing, thinking an being. You current state of existence may have proved to be enough for you in seasons past but I tell you in days ahead there will be a stirring up of your soul and you will no longer be satisfied with your standard of forgiveness. In fact, your standard on many things is about to be converted. You will receive the revelation that there is a higher level. I Am calling you to My way of forgiving because only by doing My will are you truly and absolutely satisfied. Yes there is a corporate call to true forgiveness but today I am speaking to each of you individually. Your spirit is bearing witness that this is rhema word for you today. Move in complete obedience and your soul will not only be satisfied but it will rejoice in a freedom that you have never experienced before. Beloved you can choose to exist in the acceptable will of the Kingdom but My desire is that you would crave to be fully satisfied in My perfect will. There are many other areas that I will reveal to you with the desired result of you walking in My freedom. You must conform to My image, that is the Promise and it is your inheritance.  

What else did I learn in submitting to this pruning? I learned once again that my life is not my own. I belong to God and as His precious possession He has the right to use me, shape me and mold me according to His desired purpose even if that means me going to a cross. Deserved or undeserved we will be cut, pruned, placed in the furnace of affliction, thrown in lions dens, left in the pit, and sold into the slavery; but we can rest assured that Father is with us and He will never abandon us. As we submit we learn of Him and His ways and it becomes our good pleasure to conform to His will and His way knowing that truly our lives were meant to bring Him glory. God is calling us higher and deeper once again, let’s just go!

Please read and meditate on the following passages:

Matthew 18: 21-35 “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Luke 7:37-50 “When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” 40 Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied. 41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. 47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?” 50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”