<a href="https://marylindow.podbean.com" title="Mary Lindow ~ The Messenger Podcast">Mary Lindow ~ The Messenger Podcast

“Tuning In To Listen - Tuning Out Trends” What Exactly IS God Saying In The Middle Of Difficulties, Loss and Adjustment?

Posted in prophetic, Warning signs, Arrogance, Self-Destruction, count the cost, God sees you, loss, Fettered by bitterness, leadership and kings, Pay it forward, Trends and "blah"gs, What does God Require?, Suffering and sorrow, What EXACTLY IS God saying, A Different season, Desperation For God's Help, weary with my crying, not the wisdom of this age, FLESH HATES DISCIPLINE, Man is obsessed with power, ENMESHED INTO DECEPTION, FALSE HUMILITY, LISTEN FOR THE SOUND OF MERCY, WE ARE BEING TRAINED TO TRUST, Choices and Changes, Prophetic Exhortation, Facing Correction is Hard, Emotional Blind spots, disturbance in the days ahead, A TIME LIKE NO OTHER TIME, pain and devastation, seek the Lord Himself, so-called prophetic inspiration, What good is this time of shaking doing, self-promoting, floodgate for revival and deliverance, Prophetic Insights, Purity in spiritual things, testing each heart, Divine dissatisfaction, THE REIGN OF GRACE, take an honest look at your own life, heaven’s refining furnace on Jul 6th, 2019 Comments

By Mary Lindow

As I sit here in the outdoors this evening enjoying an unusually cool and brilliantly moonlit sky, I am stirred to speak openly and transparently about the things that God is not only dealing with in my personal journey with him, but also some of the trends and presumptions that occur in the world of “Christendom” when it appears and feels as if the Father God is far off and seemingly unresponsive to the cries of those desperate for relief and merciful compassion.

Through his own personal agony, King David came to a new understanding of what it really was that God required from man.

ENMESHED INTO DECEPTION

God is not interested in our outward sacrifices or "offerings."

This does not necessarily mean that God never requires outward forms of worship or expression or observances. Many lines of Scripture prove that at times he does. But it does mean that these are not the things that he requires first. If our religious practices contain nothing more than outward actions and performance, then God takes no pleasure in them.

God always looks underneath what goes on outwardly, and looks to the motives and the attitude of the heart. What does he look for there?

David tells us in Psalm 51:16 -17

“For you delight not in sacrifice, or else would I give it; you find no pleasure in burnt offering.

The sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.”

BROKEN AND CONTRITE

These are not common words to our ears these days!

Just what does it mean when God asks that we have a broken spirit?

Does he want us to be beaten down and humiliated?

I am sure that this is not his plan. So? What IS a broken spirit?

It is an “inner self” that has come totally to the end of it-self. It makes no claims, and offers no arguments. All independence, all self-will, self-promotion, all self-righteousness have been pruned away.

Such a spirit simply turns and trusts completely upon God, not trusting in his own skill, merit, popularity, or ability to influence. This one who has willingly allowed the disciplining of his soul knows that he or she must only trust in God and his unrelenting mercy.

If we will ALLOW Him to guide us, HE knows how to produce this brokenness of spirit in each of us. Just remember, he treats us as individuals. And he would never abuse our individuality. He uses just the right amount of intensity needed to accomplish his desires, that we would relinquish our mistrust in his plan and fully step into total abandonment, willingly accepting his plan.

“For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.”

-Lamentations 3:33

AFFLICTION IS ALSO KNOWN AS - “DISCIPLINE”

If there was ever a man who had to face affliction also known as “discipline” - it was David. I am amazed that he never became bitter. He even admitted that it did him good! God allows us to come under afflictions/discipline, not because he is mad at us, nor because he has rejected us. It is actually a demonstration of his faithfulness.

When he sees us taking a wrong turn that will lead to our own harm and damage, he allows difficulty and affliction/discipline to turn us back to the way that leads to peace and blessing.

When I say affliction, I am not accusing God of bringing about harsh and devastating blows in order to knock us down and break our arms in the process.

No! No! No!

In Psalm 119:67, 71, 75 it says:

"I used to wander off until you disciplined me;

but now I closely follow your word.

My suffering was good for me,

for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.

I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair.  

You disciplined me because I needed it.

WHEN WE ARE "THROWN A CURVEBALL"

How do we respond when we are "thrown a curveball" and everything we carefully planned out and prepared for suddenly takes a turn we did not expect?

David did not view afflictions/disciplines as disaster. He saw it as a form of correction - something to adjust his life. He was saying, “Before I was afflicted/disciplined I went astray and I suffered for it. Now I've learned my lesson! It pays to obey your word!”

ARE YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF DIFFICULTY, LOSS, OR AN ADJUSTMENT?

May I caution you? Don't fight back! And whatever you do, do not argue with God! Admit that God is dealing with you and allowing an affliction/a disciplining, a difficulty or disappointment, to address major issues of stubbornness, lazy spirituality, dependence upon others for water from the word, and more than often - a sour and willful independence that does not like accountability in every area.

ASK HIM, "WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE DOING?"

“God? Am I off the pathway that you have planned and have willfully gone my own way?”

The Lord is seeking, looking, longing for you to turn away from things that are harmful and to bring you back to things that are in his purpose and plan.

If we are willing to learn from these afflictions/disciplines, there will come a time when we will indeed look back with gratitude for the things we have learned and matured in.

My dear friends, we were not created to serve ourselves or to meet our own needs. Whatever we need, the Lord will see to it that we get it, as we move along the pathway that he has chosen. You may be asking the question, “Why is it so hard for me to hear from the Lord at first when it comes to difficult issues and decisions?”

We must understand we cannot instantly “unlearn” what we have lived our entire life.

We must as the Scripture says be "transformed" from who we are to what we want to be.

We need to understand with our whole heart that we were intended to be godly in every way. In our relationships with others, and above all, in our relationship with God the father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. If one is out of order then both will be.

But! As a dear brother in the Lord by the name of Larry Reese says,

“We are not to fear the passing of time or fear that we are wasting time by spending time with the Lord, searching out his word, and being still in his presence.

You will never lose anything by doing these things!”

TRENDS, BLOGS, AND COMMENTS

It's no secret that social media has become quite a form of communication! One of the problems that can occur when “listening” to trends, blogs, and commentary from others is that sources quoted and information gathered might well be skewed to interject thoughts and opinions into the minds of those who never think for themselves.

Believers in Christ are not to be uninformed, but they are to be wise about what they “ingest and digest” when it comes to the lifestyle of a Christian.

Do not rely upon the wisdom of men to help you to ultimately reach the destiny that God himself paid the price for. He is not an ego- driven maniac looking for his entourage of followers to validate his importance!

He "paid it forward" so that we would have the opportunity to walk upon a pathway, although narrow, that leads to purposeful living and a fruitful reaping of productivity that will only advance us into further opportunities to speak of hope and a purpose for others.

BEWARE OF FALSE HUMILITY AND UNDERTONES OF DISDAIN

If there were one thing that sickens the heart of God it would be underhanded and slippery craftiness oozing from those who resist the full aspect of allowing God to create in them a clean and contrite heart.

It always amazes me how individuals that need notoriety and a place of “mystical” influence seem to be able to cunningly discredit good and godly saints around them who have perhaps lovingly warned them about deceptive practices or micro-management control issues, knowing that they risk the loss of relationship when doing so.

It is as if these individuals secretly feel entitled to sidestep the issue of preferring your brother or sister, and humbly listening to their insights and observances.

Equally amazing, are those who listen to only one side of a conflict or disagreement, and then spiritualize-away the facts that harm or discord has happened.

And so, the Lord allows the difficulties and afflictions to come and expose the areas of favoritism, embracing the “new and exciting”…

…Rather than the narrow and at times - dry pathway to mature godliness.

There will always be among us, those claiming to have “THE” word of the hour, the “message of the forefathers”, and on and on the platitudes and justifications are listed to justify the mocking and putting down of the simple and unique message of self-abandonment.

LISTEN FOR THE SOUND OF MERCY

Listen to the “tone” in the voice of those addressing the crowd, the congregation, or perhaps a small study group. False humility has a highly "honeyed" pitch of barely restrained condescension, laced with heavy doses of unsolicited advice and counsel.

Rarely will individuals who have an exaggerated view of their own importance allow others to warmly and intimately engage in transparent communication and dialogue regarding the unique and yet equal calling and gifting of each child of God.

NOW IS THE TIME -- THE TIME IS NOW!

These words have been spoken out from the Lord over the lives of many who seemingly can hardly lift their heads due to delays, betrayals, losses, and a deep, deep internal anguish. It seems as if God sees greater fruitfulness when we are at the bottom of the proverbial "barrel"!

Those who are forever wishfully proclaiming that the “bad times are over and good times are ahead” are sadly attempting to override the ache of the soul when it longs to return to the comfort zone of self indulgence.

“But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless!” -Jeremiah 7:8

Know this. To avoid the chastening and bruising of our souls is a guarantee that not only will you cause devastating and brutal pain to others, but also most importantly, you shall grieve the Holy Spirit.

I ENCOURAGE THOSE OF YOU READING AND LISTENING,

TO TEST THE FRUIT OF THOSE WHO CLAIM TO HAVE

A SPECIAL AND MYSTICAL "IN" WITH THE LORD.

The Lord is not one who neither “excludes” nor leaves the broken out in the cold, nor does he invite into his inner courts of wisdom and revelation, those who would use it to their own personal advantage or fame.

IT IS TIME. NOW IS THE TIME! THE TIME IS NOW!

It is time to face the chastening of the Lord in the light of the purpose he has behind it. Growing up and maturing finally in the things he has been dutifully prodding you to do for a long time now.

PROCRASTINATION FELLOWSHIPS WITH SLOTHFUL AND SLOPPY APPROACHES

TO RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND WITH MANKIND.

For once and for all make the decision to not blame-shift or deflect onto others what God is dealing with in the wickedness of your own soul.

Now is the time to be willing to lose your life, to be afflicted -- yes even to the point of having the Lord remove and expose those who have become disobedient, self-promoting, and abusive in the circles you walk within.

“SEE TO IT that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8

OPEN YOUR EARS

The Lord is speaking! Listen!

He has wisdom to impart to you that may well save and instruct others who might fall into foolish behavior. It is not about your comfort, your "wants" nor even your dignity! It’s about a willingness to be the servant of the Savior, and to emulate His example.

He Is Speaking....

...But are we listening?

“The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue,

To know the word that sustains the weary.

He wakens me morning by morning, Wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.”

Isaiah 50:4

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“The Narrowing” – Choices and Changes - A Prophetic Word

Posted in , refuge, count the cost, God sees you, Suffering and sorrow, Measuring The Honesty Of Our Hearts, A Different season, DON'T GET MAD GET EVEN, serve him and hold fast to him, Desperation For God's Help, PROPHETIC Insights for 2020, INDIVIDUAL RESTORATION, The Narrowing Path, THE GATE OF GENERATIONAL INFLUENCE, FLESH HATES DISCIPLINE, GODLESSNESS IN THE LAST DAYS, PUSHING AWAY CONVICTION, MEMBERS OF THE KINGDOM, EVERYTHING SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE, The narrow gate, Choices and Changes, DIRECTIONAL ADJUSTMENT, DARK DAYS, Prophetic Exhortation, Facing Correction is Hard, testing your faith, Holy place of pure relationship, disturbance in the days ahead, pain and devastation, enemy of our souls, GOD’S TRULY DEVOTED PEOPLE, the earth is in upheaval, REFINING, Prophetic Insights, DISPLACED AND BROKEN HEARTED, PROPHETIC INSIGHTS AND WORDS, The fire Of God, Prophetic Teaching, face our brokenness on Sep 20th, 2016 Comments

By Mary Lindow through the Holy Spirit

WE THINK THAT WE ARE SO KNOWLEDGEABLE about our own needs and ourselves! But, more often than not, we are just opinionated and headstrong people! We refuse instructions from anyone who could tell us about the deeper things of the spirit, because “We know”, or… “Don’t want to know!” (How DARE you address this Mrs. Lindow)!!!

Hmmmm! I think I will continue!! **smile**

We stumble along without anyone's help, and all the while we are overlooking that gnawing,“unsettled sense” inside of us, though if we paid attention to this we would see our true inner condition. It is in this way that we acclimate our souls to straggle along in a dark spiritual wilderness, and how we do ourselves so much harm.

MANY, MANY OTHER CHRISTIAN SOULS ARE JUST LIKE THIS. They don't know how to do anything other than let their human senses guide them, and then one day, God intervenes. He arranges things so that one day when you are all alone, there will heave from within your heart a sudden surprising awareness of absolute emptiness. He may also cause you to have a feeling of complete emptiness, but an overwhelming sense of isolation from others, and a lot of loss.

“All of a person's ways seem right in his own opinion, But the LORD evaluates the motives.” Proverbs 21:2

You see, there is nothing but a bottomless crater to look down into the deadness of our own souls if we are not fully committed to God. If you ever come to this place you will know how quickly your soul wants to run away and rush to find something, anything at all, to "fill" itself up again with noise and activity. Art! Food! Beautiful Clothing! The doing of generous deeds! Perfectionistic exercising and self-improvement to show your “Self” discipline! After all... PEOPLE are watching!

The reality of this is… So Is God.

VERY FEW SEE THIS BLEAK MOMENT FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS. It's a chance to see their need for something that is beyond themselves.

But my friend, this can be a moment where the soul can cross over from its own empty silence into an expected quiet that is alive with his presence. It silences the anguish, the anxious restlessness into a calm and still place of peace. It's as if the soul finds that in this dark place, there is secret well of sweet water,and it springs up and overflows with light and life.

Learning to pass into this place of the spirit and allowing God to keep your soul in refreshing silent tranquility is a true act of the maturing believer.

ALL OF YOUR FLESHY SOUL WILL WANT TO RADICALLY FIGHT THIS, and it will do so by trying to analyze what's happening! All of this kind of behavior will just weigh you down and it'll pull you back from walking in the spirit, to walking simply in your own understanding.

The choice we all must make is encapsulated in this statement made by John the Baptist.

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

-John 3:30

Another translation of this verse says it even more plainly.

“He must become more important while I become less important."

WHEW!

HEAVEN CAN BE ENTERED ONLY THROUGH THE NARROW GATE!

The pathway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes that choose its easy way. But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.

–Matthew 7:13-14

The word “way” translated from the Greek word hodós literally means a natural road or traveled way. It refers to a way of life or a way of thinking. The word is used six times in the book of Acts as a substitute for Christianity itself. We can quickly understand that the Christian faith is more than a one-time decision to accept Christ. It is a faith, which alters the very course of a life.

The word “narrow” comes from the Greek verb thlíbo, which means to press or crush as a worker in a vineyard might crush grapes or a crowd of people might press against one another.

This word also means to experience trouble, difficulty, or affliction. Combined with the Greek word hodós, it insinuates a squeezed, straitened, or narrowing pathway.

The cramped condition of the path seems to imply two valuable truths about the nature of the Christian life. It is a way marked out by the will of God, and it is a way marked by difficulty and struggle.

Remember,when your soul discovers how to let the Holy Spirit bring it into this place of inner peace of learning to rest in this stillness, it’s only because God is carrying you in his arms and that you sense no toil or drive on your part. Friends, this accomplishes much more than all of your own actions or works of performance, since God Himself, is at work inside of you.

“I am confident that the Creator, who has begun such a great work in you, will not stop in mid-design but will keep perfecting you until the day Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, returns to redeem the world.” -Philippians 1:6 (The Voice)

IF WE FACE “THE NARROWING”, the challenge of allowing our soul,our flesh to be fully handed over to God’s pathway, He will teach our soul how to overcome three of the most toxic of sins.

These sins are -

Anger, Envy, and, An unwillingness to obey the Lord.

These run wild through our stony and hardened hearts and they eventually can crumble and ruin us.

YOU SEE, OUR SOULS DESIRE TO FIND COMPLETE HAPPINESS, bliss, consolation and security in this world, and this can never really happen! So, God has to show us our great darkness when our soul tries to find spiritual strength there, because there is no sweet and vibrant life when our soul is attached to the things of this world! It’s a wide and gregarious path in the world, and the crowds on the pathway adore gratification and pleasure of every sort.

Our souls have a natural demand for wanting our own pleasure and achievement, and frustration causes these sins to grow, and they bring the very ugly fruit that is produced from them right into the light! OUCH!

The Lord allows his tool of difficult circumstances to crush and to crack our hard souls. He plants His word of light deep into our darkness. And He pours the living water of His spirit on our dryness and then we soften, as he uproots our old sluggish ways and our complaining about obeying God. Meaning, having to pass up our soothing comforts and pleasures.

I URGE YOU TO QUIET THE COMPLAINING OF YOUR SOUL, with its rebellions. We will naturally want to turn back to its pleasure and demands! But as the world goes further and further into broad deviations of every kind, you as a believer will face a fork in the road.

One of the most cunning temptations of the times that we live in right now for believers is the mindset that says, “ I’m not going to get into any trouble! I can handle things as a Christian just fine! I wont actually “touch the fire” I’ll just play around it!”

What is that fire? It’s justifying and adapting God’s often narrow and absolute instructions about relationships, marriage, sex, self indulgence, arrogance,“harmless" Occult involvement and lording over those whom you feel are less astute or affluent as you.

GOD WILL AND HE MUST BRING THIS DRYNESS OUT OF OUR SOULS and kill these deadly roots! Quiet the pathetic demands of your soul for soothing comforts and a right to be angry and judgmental! When your path seems empty and silent and desert dry, put your soul’s concentration on God alone. You can hardly imagine the harvest of a lasting joy that comes to you when you learn to be free of your soul’s whining. It's there that God can speak quiet words! They will be so sweet and tender, and he will speak of his great love to us.

KNOW THIS. DRYNESS WILL TRY TO COME AGAIN AND AGAIN. It wants to lead you to self-justification and an easy escape from the hammer and chisel of God shaping your being, turning it into a reservoir for His purposes. It will try to come back with greater strength each time you resist. So stand your ground and stand firm in the quietness of your brokenness. Focus upon His presence guiding you down the narrowing path. He will come to you and His fresh guidance will be more amazing than anything your natural mind can imagine.

A Prophetic Word Fromthe Spirit of God

For Those Facing “The Narrowing”

“Darker and broader and louder come the shouts of world to draw you into its intricate webs.

These webs of deceit are spun with silken tongues and with the softness of the promise of an easier life.

There is a reckoning coming to those that sell lies and imprison those who buy their wares.

But for those who are determined to not walk on a fence, trying to balance between their own thinking and me, there will be a “Divine Might” that will empower them to continue down the narrowing way.

Where does this narrowing journey lead?

What is the payoff at the end?

As you become more determined and lay aside the things that have hindered you over and overagain from fully entering into the deeper places with me, a lightness and freedom will propel you toward a place of Living Light.

That Light is Me, and you will soon know Me in a different way than you have in past years and seasons.

My one warning to many is that they cannot argue that the path is “too narrow”.

What mankind might call “rigid” I call “Straight and Direct”.

If you choose to alter the plans that I have set down for your protection and safety, you will grieve my Spirit and allow a searing of your conscience to override the truths that you know deep in your heart.

“The path of those who do right is straight and smooth. I, who am upright, make the way of the righteous level.” -Isaiah 26:7

“The Narrowing” has begun to increase, and the love for it has decreased among those who choose to remain passive to conviction and pure living.

Allow my Holy Spirit to move freely again. I know what I must do, to break the constraints of man. Let me move! Are you afraid that I might be ridiculed? Or, are you more concerned for your image and patterns before men?

“Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies,

But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.”

-I Thessalonians 5:19-21

Choose the“Narrowing Way”. For I, Am there.

Choose the pathway of rightness with me, even when others scoff at your “narrow mindedness.”

When the days become darker and the world tilts and twists in further unrestrained darkness,You will be the carrier of My Light, which can lead the lukewarm and lost down the narrow, but safe, and integral way, to Me.

Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed,

Provided that complete message and website information for

Mary Lindow is included.

Thank you!

"The Messenger" ~ Mary Lindow

2016 ©

“The Greatest Enemy To Spiritual Growth and The Refreshing Moves Of God

Posted in The Times are RAPIDLY Changing, Humility, fools, The spiritual climate is changing, like-mindedness, Job's rotten friends, leadership and kings, GREATEST ENEMY TO SPIRITUAL, insecurity, Integrity, What EXACTLY IS God saying, DEALING WITH SLANDER -BETRAYAL, PROPHETIC Insights for 2020, maturity in Christ, FLESH HATES DISCIPLINE, GODLESSNESS IN THE LAST DAYS, Man is obsessed with power, IN THE MIDDLE OF DIFFICULTY, human frailty, disturbance in the days ahead, enemy of our souls, Having the form of godliness, DEVOTED TO HUMILITY AND HONOR, GOD’S TRULY DEVOTED PEOPLE, The novice in your midst, DISPLACED AND BROKEN HEARTED, The fire Of God on Apr 29th, 2016 Comments

"THE GREATEST ENEMY TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH"

DEMEANING ANOTHER GENERATION OF LEADERS

by MaryLindow

It is highly recommended that you listen to the

audio version/podcast of this message and join in with

the prayers lifted up on behalf of the Body of Christ

There is a dangerous trend blooming much like a dandelion in the body of Christ that needs to literally be nipped in the root, and in no way approached with a cowering spirit! Somehow it's now a trending youthful "call from God" to be a cutting edge voice that is sent to “correct” the current Fathers and Mothers in the body of Christ. Hmmmm.....

I DON'T CARE HOW POPULAR OR TRENDY ANY MOVEMENT IS or any individual who is a gifted speaker is. If they have been given the privilege to address the body of Christ on any stage, in any pulpit, in any gathering, they are to be judged and held accountable by those in leadership for their actions and their choices when they speak to others.

I AM ADDRESSING SPECIFIC SITUATIONS where a young-(ish) man or woman is allowed to speak in a meeting and begins to demand that the crowd responds according totheir commands.

There should NEVER be even the hint of demeaning another generation of leaders publicly, or a shaming and finger-pointing message aimed at somehow "breaking the people" and getting them to be stirred up to do something. Whatever that"something" might be, if people are shamed into action, then it is truly not God's will or God's plan.

WHO GET’S TO ADDRESS PEOPLE FROM THE PODIUM? There's a lot to be said about not quickly allowing a novice or newcomer to your team to have absolute access to speak into the hearts of those who gather to hear of the specific (and most hopefully) -GOD ORDAINED vision that you, as a leader, have been commissioned and assigned to serve and honor! In 1 Kings 12 - Rehoboam rejected the advice of the "older men" who had stood with Solomon, listening instead to the "young men who grew up with him". It divided the Kingdom. HEAR that.

Pride can cause a novice who is actually termed "a new planting" meaning, “still not having put down roots”, to defend themselves and their more "potent" message. Pride can cause them to look down on others. If you allow it, pride will rob them ofthe most treasured mentoring relationships in their lives.

WHEN ANOTHERGENERATION MOCKS THE WORDS OF GOD Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some childish boys came out of the town and jeered at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here you old bald man!” He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled the forty-two the boys.

2 Kings 2:23

THE WORD FOR"CHILDREN" IN THIS VERSE IS TRANSLATED AS PERSONS OF THIRTY ORFORTY YEARS OF AGE and, though these are called "little", they were so well grown as to be able to go out of the city by themselves without anyone to guide them, or to take care of them and they were at an age capable not only of taking notice of Elijah's baldness, but knew he was a prophet. They were able to know what good and evil was and, from a malicious spirit inside of them, they mocked at him. Some Jewish writers say they were called "Naarim", which means"children” because they had shaken off the bond that was keeping people close, the commandments, and "little", because they were of little faith:

THEY MOCKED HIM, AND SAID TO HIM, “GO UP, YOU BALD HEAD! GO UP, YOU OLD BALDY!” Meaning, not up the hill to Bethel, where his coming was not really welcomed since most of the people were idol worshippers, and maybe these children were sent out to intimidate him with their jeers to keep him from entering the city! They had heard about Elijah going up to heaven so they jeeringly told him to go up to heaven after him, and then they would have gotten rid of them both! “Who needs that old man telling us what to do?!”

At the same time that they were mocking him for his baldness, and making a funny story of the wondrous works of God, the taking up into heaven of Elijah, which by behaving so disrespectfully to a “White hairedhead”, a prophet of the Lord, was terribly wicked, and therefore opened thedoor to an external attack from a destructive force. Two full-grown she-bears, who consumed them.

Folks, there are consequences for mockery and deception!

BEFORE AMAN OR WOMAN CAN LOOK DOWN ON ANOTHER, they must first assume he or she is better than the person they are speaking against. A proud man or woman is suspicious of everyone else. A humble man or woman is more suspicious of their own heart than anyone else. The proud heart will detect defects in others before him. But a humble soul sees the evil in his/her own heart before they see evil in others.

CONCEITAND PRIDE ARE THE GREATEST ENEMIES TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH! Newly acquired knowledge often leads to pride rather than wisdom. This is often true with the novice. There is no surer way to fall into sin than to allow pride to lead us into putting confidence in ourselves rather than God. This type of pride always leads to destruction, because it robs us of God’s power to stand against temptation.

WHAT WEACCOMPLISH AS MEMBERS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS DONE BY THE POWER OF GOD. The novice begins thinking that what he/she accomplishes is his/her own doing. The people in Corinth had been developed in every way as well, with the knowledge of God, but pride in what they knew was about to lead to their destruction!

KNOWLEDGECAN BE MISTAKEN FOR MATURITY, but true knowledge is designed to bring us TO maturity. When we parade our freedom before others in an effort to reveal how much we know, we reveal our immaturity and are treading on dangerous ground! Knowledge put on PUBLIC display leads to revelry and scattering.

TRUE KNOWLEDGE BRINGS THE RESTFUL DISCIPLINE OF SELF-CONTROL. Paul’s knowledge ofGod led him to lead a disciplined life for the benefit of himself and others. HUMBLING OURSELVES IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE ROOF OFF TOWARD GOD, AND THE WALLS DOWN TOWARD OUR FELLOW MAN.

Once offences have been committed, whether intentional or unintentional, they must be dealt with! “I was wrong. I am sorry. Will you forgive me?” are healing words that only a humble soul would use. Whenever you find a man or woman willing to humble themselves before God and man, you have found a person who will be exalted, because “humility comes before honor.”

REMEMBER THAT SOME MEN’S SINS ARE OBVIOUS, AND ARE EQUALLY OBVIOUSLY BRINGING THEM TO SERIOUS JUDGMENT.

"The sins of other men might not be apparent, but are dogging them, nevertheless, under the surface. Similarly some virtues are plain to see,while others, though not at all conspicuous, will eventually make themselves felt."

1Timothy 5:24-25

"Don’t reprimand or publicly talk downto a senior leader in your church, honoring him as a father by first showing respect and humility. Treat the young men kindly as brothers, and the olderwomen as nurturing mothers. Treat the younger women as sisters, and nothingmore."

1 Timothy 5:1-2

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“THE MESSENGER” ~Mary Lindow

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“THINK BIG - ACT LITTLE” - A prophetic insight

Posted in , , , , , , Slander, Humility, Arrogance, Self-Destruction, What does God Require?, clear conscience, DEALING WITH SLANDER -BETRAYAL, PROPHETIC Insights for 2020, sober judgment, TIME TO THINK - AND ACT., THOSE WHO SHOUT TOO LOUDLY, FLESH HATES DISCIPLINE, GODLESSNESS IN THE LAST DAYS, PUSHING AWAY CONVICTION, TIME TO EXAMINE OUR OWN SOULS, Man is obsessed with power, Under My shadowed wing on May 21st, 2014 Comments

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By Mary Lindow

I was packing up a box for shipping in the mail and had turned it over to be sure that I had used enough sealing tape to secure the contents in the box. As I began to apply the sealing tape, my eyes were drawn to the simple statement printed on the bottom of the box put there intentionally by the company that manufactures the packing boxes.

It read; " T H I N K B I G - A C T L I T T L E "

RIGHT THEN THE LORD SPOKE TO ME IN GREAT INTENSITY.

He gently said, "Child, the past mentality and insidious mind set of many in ministry has been the direct opposite of the statement; "THINK BIG - ACT LITTLE." Man is still obsessed with power, control, and is driven by the desire to be the biggest and the best. This has crept into the church through a message of self-gratification, and an implied sense of "you deserve it" spoken through many who don't THINK BIG about the consequences of their words!

So many believers think that they have a right to "Big things" but want it all to happen through others doing for them honoring them, and therefore their concern and "actions" in considering others service and faithfulness is minimal.

The current attitude heaven is hearing from among not only many disobedient believers but also sadly among many who think they are in the "forefront" of the wave of My Spirit is in fact, a reversal of the statement, Think Big Act little.”

THINK LITTLE...ACT BIG!

This is the mindset of the selfish and those trapped in patterns of deceit and personal denial!

AS LONG AS WE DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO EXAMINE OUR OWN SOULS,

Which we well know, can be very wicked, we never think about how our “ACTING BIG” and “all anointed and all powerful” and how "on the cutting edge" we might be!

THE LORD INSTRUCTED ME WITH A FIRM BUT GENTLE WARNING,

about those who are trying to "re-package" the same old way of doing things the way they want it done in a different box or presentation.

It's like the statement "THINK LITTLE - ACT BIG."

PUSHING AWAY THE CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS DANGEROUS.

The Lord is in this present hour is granting us much precious time to deal with the hidden sins and iniquities that are well fed and functioning in each of our lives. Ministry leaders, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, sheep. Sadly, many seem to believe that if they just “THINK LITTLE - AND - “ACT BIG” well, others will be really impressed with the BIG Show and BIG Presentation and we won't have to think about or question our motives and manipulations as to why we need to keep feeding the “BIG ACT!”

GODLESSNESS IN THE LAST DAYS

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power.

HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM.

They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, (men as well!) who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

2 Timothy

MANY TIMES THE BODY OF CHRIST IS FOUND TO BE CHASING AFTER MIRACLES AND SIGNS AND WONDERS…

…In order to get a new thing to happen in your church or community. It is THINKING LITTLE. You have trained yourself and others to pursue God, only if blessings and miracles occur. But when hardship and testing and refining occur it's easier to “THINK LITTLE” about these.

Why?

THE FLESH HATES DISCIPLINE AND TRUTH!

With every wave and Dimension of Glory the Lord releases, there is always the crowd of the 5000 looking for a good free meal, a good public speaker, and a few miracles. These days toss in a "new groovy worship ministry" and you've arrived!

HOWEVER! When the real work of God is getting close, the numbers drastically reduce and those who are not willing to extort others or use others for fame and gain, become again, like a Gideon's army. Rugged, broken, obedient, and they THINK about the BIG THINGS God can do, but “THEY ACT LITTLE” or small and humble.

Philippians 2:3

Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others.

Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.

BEWARE OF THOSE WHO SHOUT TOO LOUDLY;

"HEY! WE HAVE A BIG THING HAPPENING!"

“And you need to come and uh… well, if you really want in on it, don't think much about the fee of $200 or more to attend what God is doing!"

DID THAT POKE AT YOUR SOUL A LITTLE BIT? WELL GOOD!

WE ARE IN A SEASON WHERE MONEY CHANGING IN THE NAME OF THE LORD'S ANOINTING IS GOING TO BE DEALT WITH.

Just after this paragraph is a small list of a few other things the Lord has asked me to bring a gentle warning about. Things that He is going to allow His exposure and His Holy fire to touch, if they are not personally dealt with through our own choice in repent humbly to Him and to others we are supposed to have some kind of accountability with.

(You are accountable to someone other than yourself aren't you? ( hint ) That may be a mentor, a prayer group, a couple or two, maybe a husband and wife together. But we all must have someone that we share an account of our lives with.

HE IS GIVING ALL OF HIS PEOPLE, SHEEP AND LEADERS ALIKE…

…TIME TO THINK - AND ACT.

- GENTLE WARNINGS FROM THE LORD -

1.) Key Leaders need to become tender towards those in their service.

Sharing with them as co-laborers and hard workers, fair and even above and beyond, financial support, honor, and deep respect.

1 Peter 5:3

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

Romans 12:3

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

2.) Many in ministry settings embrace too quickly, those who "appear" to have a large ministry influence and grant them levels of authority without knowing what their home life is like, what their accountability levels are, and how they appropriate ministry funding they gain through travels, conferences or support. THE LORD URGES THOSE WHO ARE PASTORAL TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT THEY EMBRACE

AND BRING INTO THEIR SHEEPFOLD. PASTORS ARE JUDGED MORE SERIOUSLY.

James 3:1

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Psalm 101:7

I will not allow deceivers to serve me, and liars will not be allowed to enter my presence.

3.) The Lord warns about slandering others in ministry or in the general Body of believers, publicly as well as in private settings. Shaming others is usually a form of control and can often be used to hide behind, rather than to lovingly confront, a situation.

MANY BOOKS AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES ARE GOING TO BE RELEASED IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

THEY WILL SLANDER, LIE, AND EXAGGERATE STORIES ABOUT HOW THE BODY OF CHRIST AND THOSE MEMBERS IN IT HAVE

"DONE EACH OTHER WRONG."

This will be a total turn off to the generation that is watching those who are to be modeling grace, patience, kindness, and self-control. The Lord warns that once the doors of your mouth begin to slander and shame others He will expose and do unto you what you have done unto others.

Hebrews 4:13 "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Leviticus 19:16

"Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.

Do not act as a merchant toward your own people.

Do not try to get ahead at the cost of your neighbor's life, for I am the LORD.

2 Timothy 3:3 - "They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; They will be cruel and have no interest in what is good."

YOU SEE, WE ARE TO THINK BIG ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD

AND ACT LITTLE, ACT SMALL …

…ABOUT OURSELVES.

Humility brings honor and favor.

Deceit brings Judgment.

THINK BIG...

...ABOUT THAT.

Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is permitted provided that complete source and website information for Mary Lindow is included.