Mary Lindow ~ The Messenger Podcast

Having the form of godliness

Episodes

Wednesday Mar 02, 2022


By Mary Lindow
THE WORDS “HELP ME!” ARE THE DEEPEST CRY OF EVERY HUMAN HEART. It perfectly describes the anguish of the soul, that agony in need to hear God lovingly respond with redemptive help.
He answers as the very person and the very place of help through His son Jesus Christ, providing help for the helpless, a Father to the fatherless, and Hope for the hopeless.
One of the most amazing things about of God and so very precious to the humble needs of we humans is that he is actually the very BEING, the very exact place, where we find help.
Nothing and no one else is so truly and so really, THE place and person from who help comes like he is.
Our need for help is more accurately termed “rescue” when it’s expressed in the fullest sense, and only Jesus himself can provide it!
He rescues us from our daily “sneaky and self gratifying” sins and he rescues us from our falling and our faults, and he rescues us from our helplessness and hopelessness!
 
JESUS ALONE IS THE PLACE OF RESCUE.
He is the ultimate single person of help and we can find no one else to fill that break in the bridge of life! There is no one else, and when we come to this place we realize we need no other fixer!
Now, this doesn’t mean that we don’t need one another as brothers and sisters in Christ and as friends. But unless those brothers and sisters and friends are walking in the light and brokenness of the Lord, they really aren’t much help anyway.
 
SOME PEOPLE RESIST AND PROLONG THE INEVITABLE, and will resist you when you are going through times of struggle and difficulty. There is a certain “ugly distain” in an individual who does not want to admit that they are infallible.
These individuals still feel that they can control the environment around them through their education, their income, and their attitude.
 
OFTEN, THESE KINDS OF INDIVIDUALS CAN CREATE PAINFUL DARKNESS in the lives of others, because instead of extending mercy and compassion, they have a lot of advice that comes out of simple textbook reading, rather than out of any real experience in dealing with their own darkness and personal places of being stuck in dysfunction.
 
SAD AS IT MAY SEEM, MANY PEOPLE APPLAUD THEIR OWN DYSFUNCTIONS, claiming that they are actually “just fine”, and they will pretty much verbally “whack anyone else in the head” that dares to challenge them!
 
THESE ARE THE FRIENDS THAT JOB HAD, AND THESE ARE NOT REAL FRIENDS. They will never understand the life of the disciple of dear Jesus, being refined in the fire, in order to come out of that fire more radiant, and expressing the hope and light of Christ without a lot of pompous preaching or fanfare.
 
The way to the fulfillment of all of life‘s highest peaks and deepest longings is in knowing the depths of the love of the Rescuer,
Lord Jesus Christ himself.
It’s not a quick process by the way!
 
 
HOW MUCH LIGHT DOES A PERSON NEED WHEN PRESSED UNDER by evil pressures, nightmarish reoccurring losses and disjointed, painful relationships? 
Only a very tiny pinhole of light, if it is the Light that comes from God.
 
ONE PINHOLE OF GODLY LIGHT
IS STRONGER THAN A UNIVERSE OF DARKNESS. 
 
It is enough for a surrendered and determined believer to cling to and depend on when all else has failed.
 
Psalm 89:15 says,
“Blessed are those who have learned to give praise and honor to you,
Who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.”
 
When we focus upon the Light of God's enduring and endearing Presence, all darkness will eventually be swallowed up into the Light of His Fountain of light. His Light is victorious over the darkness. ALL OF IT.
 
Psalm 36:9 says,
“For with you is the fountain of life; In your light we see light.”
 
WE ALONE CANNOT BATTLE THE DARKNESS.
Our strength is not enough.
Accept that and know that God’s light comes to dispel darkness.
His strength and Righteous arm smashes dark deeds, enemies, and deceivers and He will bring out into the light the things men think that they have hidden or have justified away.
 
Psalm 90:8 says,
You spread out our sins before you—our secret sins—and see them all.
 
WHAT IS HAPPENING WHEN YOU FEEL BLIND AND LOST IN A DARKENED SEASON? Just as a caterpillar in a cocoon must experience a time of confinement and seeming darkness, there comes a time when it is lead out of darkness into light to stretch its newly found wings of liberty and gracefulness to soar and express Resurrection power, to those who gaze upon its beauty.
Few will fully understand the pain of this difficult process, unless they too pass through it.
 
Isaiah 42:16 says,
Along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; 
I will turn the darkness into light before them
And make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
 
 
SO! WHO ARE THE GENUINE WORKERS OF GOOD AND HONEST DEEDS?
Now, there are those who do acts of benevolence and kindness whose aim is to only gain personal gratification and a sense of power when they “stoop to help others” in times of distress and sorrow.  
Often times, folks with this fleshly and condescending behavior, (although claiming to have some spiritual godliness) will test those whom they share with. This can be either in monetary gifts, acts of service, spiritual gifts, or in counsel.
 
In basic terms, it’s set up.
You better perform up to the standard they expect!
Because it’s their reputation on the line if you fail!
(Imagine if Jesus held us all accountable to the acts of His goodness towards us!)
This is NOT a Worker of A Righteous or Good and Honest deed.
This is a form of selfish ambition, entrapment and control.
 
A RIGHTEOUS DEED OR ACT OF GOODNESS IS DONE WITH THE
INTENT OF IMITATING THE NATURE OF GOD’S MERCY AND KINDESS.
It does not expect performance or groveling in return.
It never holds others over the fire with a critical eye, expecting perfection.
 
Often we have failed and disrespected His grace.
Yet He continues in love, and Redemptive acts towards us.
Because He has, no insecurities whatsoever.
 
TO BE RIGHTEOUS OR “DOING WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF GOD” MEANS TO BE:
VIRTUOUS  - MORAL - GOOD  - JUSTICE LOVING
HONORABLE  - HONEST - RESPECTABLE - DECENT
 
I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST AND EVEN AS RECENTLY AS THE PAST FEW WEEKS, OVERWHELMING ACTS OF KINDNESS AND PATIENCE FROM THOSE WHOM I KNOW, GOD MUST CALL HIS WORKERS OF HONORABLE AND KIND DEEDS.
 
THE COMMON THREAD I SEE AMONG ALL OF THESE BELOVED GIVERS OF GRACE and care is that they have all experienced a time of great loss, depravation, near death, or sorrow.
 A Ray of Hope.
A beam of light that draws you out of the darkness that attempts to tow you under in despair or fear.
 
I JUST LOST ONE OF MY SEVEN BROTHERS.
Sudden liver failure and organ failure. He was 63.
He was brilliant, funny and kind.
 
I LOST ANOTHER FRIEND A WEEK LATER. 
One moment a successful surgery, moments later a clot was formed and a stroke took place.
Gone in a moment. She was 62.
A giver, an artist and lover of God.
 
I HAD A VERY DEAR FAMILY MEMBER THAT I LOVE, TURN ON ME SUDDENLY and share privileged information with others who are not considered safe or wise people.
Trust was shattered!
 
ALL THREE OF THESE EVENTS WERE AND ARE PAINFUL!
All three events were and are out of my ability to control!
And friends, grief and loss and betrayal are very, very real, and they are very painful events in our lives.
 
YET, GOD SEND US OTHERS INTO OUR SPIRAL OF PAIN AND LOSS, who "get it", because not only have they been through similar events, they learned that hard won growth can come out of pain and loss, or, you can choose to grow isolated, insulated, and bitter.
 
Jeremiah 9:24 says,
But let him who boasts- boast about this: 
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight," declares the LORD.
 
WHEN TORMENT AND LYING SPIRITS DECEIVE OTHERS  and they foolishly accuse you; know that there are others whom God will place in your life that will bring sober and Godly counsel, as well as loving kindness and help.
 
Proverbs 27:9 says,
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend, springs from his earnest counsel.
 
DO NOT STOP IN YOUR KINDNESS AND IN YOUR CARE FOR OTHERS!
The testing in this hour of the hearts of men and women will only grow more intense as the Lord examines the intentions of the hearts of those who call Him Lord.
 
The hoarding of comfort and help can’t ever be allowed  
in the life of a follower of Jesus.
 
Your comfort, is not number one!
 
SOMETIMES, WE PUT ASIDE OUR OWN NEEDS AND COMFORTS AND SECURITY, AND FORGE THROUGH THE DARKNESS TO BRING HOPE AND RELIEF TO THOSE BEING BATTERED BY A RELENTLESS STORM!
We speak peace to them IN the storm.
Jesus did it! So He gives us the courage and strength to do the same!
 
IF YOU HAVE PERSONALLY CAUSED TRAGEDY, DESTRUCTION OR SHAME to fall upon any of your Family in Christ, and have yet to openly apologize and make the situation you were a part of “right”, know that the risk of a deep darkness of the soul is reserved for those who choose to walk in self-deception and who cloak their denial in passivity.
 
QUICKLY WHILE YOU STILL HAVE TIME, HUMBLE YOURSELF in the sight and the light of the Lord and HE will lift you out of your darkness.
Be humble enough to apologize specifically, for the harm you have done to someone.
Own it, apologize, and ask for their forgiveness.
 
Then, Light will come again into your soul, and so will a flooding peace that cleanses you from shame and the claw of bitterness that demons use to torment and immobilize you with.
 
Philippians 2:3 says,
Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others.
Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.
 
DEAR BELIEVER!
THERE IS THE OPEN OFFER OF AN ABUNDANCE OF JOY FOR
WORKERS OF RIGHTEOUS AND HUMBLE, HONORABLE DEEDS!
 
Psalm 45:7 says,
You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.
 
Psalm 33:1 says,
Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
 
NOW, I’M GOING TO SHARE A PROPHETIC WORD FROM THE LORD THAT DOES ADDRESS SOME OF THIS AND IT’S IN AN ACTIVE AND VOCAL WAY THAT THE LORD WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO US, TO PUT A TYPE OF SEAL ON THIS MESSAGE.
 
“HOLD ON! HOLD FAST! REACH OUT!”
 - A PROPHETIC WORD -
 
"I the Redeemer of those who cry out to Me day and night, compel you to hold on to My hand of Faithfulness and Light.
Keep your eyes on the light I provide for you in the darkness. 
Hold fast to it and I will stir the hearts of the Righteous and faithful in me, to reach out a hand of compassion and they will obey Me with acts of blessing, restoration, and supply.
They will do this willingly, for they have tasted of sorrow and know the secret of My abundant Joy!
They have gone out weeping themselves, sowing seeds when they didn’t understand, all now growing up in compassion, only to produce a harvest, abundant in Joy.
Psalm 126:6 says,
Those who weep as they walk and plant with sighs
Will return singing with joy, when they bring home the harvest.
 
I the Lord have tasted sorrow, loss, torment, and death.
Yet in one Redemptive act, mankind was brought the opportunity for the fullness of Joy and the open door from darkness into light, when they too, choose to call upon My salvation, cleansing, and light.
Quickly. Cleanse your hearts of any act of unkindness, false humility, and the use of a heavy hand over your brothers or sisters, or your children.
The pinhole of light...
...My Light, Is drawing you into a New Day.
 
For Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate
and for those in right standing with God.
Psalm 112:4
 
 
Dear Believer! I encourage you to chew on this message.
Let us all bow before the Lord. Get low and sit at the feet of Jesus.
Ask Him to wash you clean of fear and weariness and feeling displaced.
 
This is a different type of warfare that we are experiencing right now!
It’s not one that a lot of us have experienced on this level of pressure.
Ask the Lord to show you that single pinhole of light.
From that light, God shows us He is there with us.
 
Be strong in the Lord
And in the POWER of His Might.
 
Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed
Provided that complete article, podcast link and website information for
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Copyright 2022 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com 
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Wednesday Dec 15, 2021


 By Mary Lindow Through The Holy Spirit
 
TODAY’S PODCAST IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING ONE!
What I’m sharing on this specific podcast is about a vision that I had when my husband and I were first engaged. I was staying in his parent’s home and my husband had his own house about 10 miles away. We spent a lot of time talking together and praying and just contemplating what our future would look like in the Lord, and how he was going to use us, when Steve would come over to spend time with me after work.
One evening I had gone into the living room of my in-laws to play the piano and worship and sing to the Lord, and while I was worshiping Him and enjoying being in His presence, I had what would be described as a screen being dropped out in front of my eyes take place, and I had a very visual picture to watch or as the Bible would call it, a vision.
I SAW MYSELF RUNNING ACROSS SOME SEMI-ROCKY LAND and Steve was behind me. He was trying to direct a group of individuals to stay in line and be in unity together.
All of us had what looked to be like a stretchy headband wrapped around our heads and across our foreheads. Attached on the front of these were round lights like miner’s lamps. Some of lights on the people in the line where Steve was trying to get them to come into unity and walk together would flicker and not come on brightly. Others were very bright and consistently steady.
I was running ahead like a scout and the word “forerunner” came into my mind as I was running ahead. I turned around and looked at what Steve was doing and he was trying to stop these individuals from elbowing each other and fighting over whose theology was the most correct.
 
ABOVE THE HEADS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS I NOTED THAT THERE WERE DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONAL NAMES AND ALSO NONDENOMINATIONAL TITLES.
I turned back around and continued my scouting and forerunning and was jogging at a relaxed pace, but I knew I was heading towards something in front of me that I needed to get to.
The path had embedded rocks and bumps that I had to avoid so I wouldn’t trip. The lamp or miner’s light strapped to my forehead kept a bright light steadily beaming in front of me.
Suddenly, in front of me, was a large chasm or a gap and I had to stop and pull back so I wouldn’t fall headlong into the huge gap.
There was no possible human way to run and jump over it and I was at a dead stop staring over the edge. Intuitively, I knew I needed to get to the other side and that there was something very important for me to engage in and be a part of.
But! I didn’t see a ladder or a bridge long enough or safe enough in any direction, to try to cross over with.
 
I Heard A Voice In The Vision Tell Me To Take A Step Of Faith, and that as I walked forward, not in my own strength, not in my own might or power, but in the spirit, that I would make it safely to the other side.
I remember feeling hesitant and thinking I needed to warn Steve.
I turned around and told him I’m going to take a leap of faith to get to the other side. He looked at me and seem to understand what I was doing and turned around and tried to tell the other individuals that they were going to have to lean upon God‘s power and might and supernatural ability, to get them all to the other side. I once again turned around and backed up and took a running leap across this wide chasm. I was immediately on the other side and waited for Steve.
 
I REALIZED THAT I HAD TO DO THIS ON MY OWN WITH THE LORD, and not depend upon Steve to get me to where the Lord wanted me to be. Nor could I get him there. We were each responsible to trust in the Lord with all of our heart.
It was as if I was lifted back over the chasm for a moment so I could observe what was taking place with Steve and the others.
Several of the individuals who were irritated that others were not listening to their great rhetoric and interpretation of things, began to break loose and run forward while telling everyone how they were going to make it across the gap/chasm. Several of them literally walked off the edge of the cliff into the chasm due to not paying attention, and fell completely to the bottom.
 
OTHERS WERE FIGHTING AND SEVERAL WERE IN FEAR AND WOULD NOT ATTEMPT A LEAP OF FAITH.
They wanted to build a structure or devise a plan to get them there. Their lights were flickering very low by this point.
Steve finally said, “I have to go”, and he too, took a running leap of faith and threw his arms upward, eyes closed, trusting in the Lord’s provision to get him over the chasm. He met me standing on the other side of this wide gap.
 
IMMEDIATELY WE BECAME MEMBERS OF A LARGE ARMY.
Everyone was dressed in a white robe and had different colors of sashes to indicate which battalion or team of army members they were marching with.
Everyone’s headband with the lamp on the front of it was brilliantly white and the lamps were shining intensely! Everyone was in order and marching in unison, with thousands of members.
 
OVERHEAD THERE WAS SOMETHING LIKE ARTILLERY FIRE TAKING PLACE IN THE SKY. 
It seemed as if there were missiles and different kinds of weaponry clashing above us, but we were all marching calmly and firmly in unity and we knew we were marching under the direction of our Leader, King, Jesus Christ.
 
Shortly after this surprising vision I “came to myself” again and sat there and pondered what I had seen, for a very long time.
Steve and I have often talked about this and have often shared the details with each other again as we l pray and ask the Lord why he would show it to us at that time, and what we were being prepared for.
 
CHRISTIAN ALLEGIANCES ARE  “STRANGE AND STRAINED AFFAIRS”
Many denominations and non-denominational groups as well as progressive and New Age influenced churches have chosen to embrace a corporate world structure and more eagerly, “hunker down” into a “murky version” of the word of God.
Many have embraced the cultural pressure to push away pure living, and interpret the word of God to fit the current day embracing of immoral sexuality and freethinking on many levels.
 
THE CURRENT BLATHERING INTELLECTUALS OF THE ERA mock and criticize those who choose to live a morally and biblically pure and truthful application of God’s word.
You know, It just not "cool or hip" right now to not be a little edgy and nasty!
 
I believe that in the vision that I had, those who were elbowing and arguing and posturing while on their way to what they felt was an event (that would be in fact an important moment in the collective body of Christ), these individuals had “dimmed” their approach to allowing their minds to be renewed and cleansed by the word of God. I believe the headbands that weakly flickered with the mining lights were symbols of what they fed their minds with, weakening their discernment.
 
THOSE WHO WERE FOCUSED ON HAVING THEIR MINDS RENEWED by the word of God, being illuminated by his word and having their minds renewed had no wavering or angst taking place.
Those that were fighting and pontificating the most, had the dimming lamps that flickered and seemed to short out, and they insisted that adaptations and adjustments could be made according to the way that they interpreted faith and how to walk with Christ.
THEY REFUSED TO LISTEN TO ANYONE ELSE AND THEY REFUSED TO HAVE ANY KIND OF UNITY, BUT NEEDED TO PUSH FORWARD TO PROVE THEIR POINT.
 
When Steve kept telling them in the vision that they had to be unified and that they had to be humble and to humbly care for one another as brothers in the Lord, they became all the more enraged, condescending, and began to rush ahead in arrogance and with great irritability.
 
ONE INDIVIDUAL WAS WALKING BACKWARDS lecturing everyone and literally fell over the cliff edge into the chasm, screaming all the way down.
 
SO WHERE ARE WE?
Anyone who is doing all they know to do to have a close walk with the Lord right now at this time, who desires to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the churches and us individually, is fully aware of the deceptive clouds of wickedness and filth hovering over the world.
 
LYING HAS BECOME AN HONORED AND CUNNING ATTRIBUTE in order to confuse, control, and break other human beings.
Sadly, many in the faith have chosen to become rabid political activists to the point that it’s all that they devour and think about day and night.
They shun anyone who will not listen to them and certainly have embraced on many levels, the message of a “one world unified socialist lifestyle”. This is where a great delusion has been allowed to deceive many. Second Thessalonians 2:11 warned us about this!
“Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false.”
 
THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF GODLESSNESS IN THE LAST DAYS
In 2 Timothy 3:1-5 we have quite the strong warning about how it was going to roll out and unfold. (I think that we are already there.)
“So! Understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 
For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, but treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but they deny its power. Avoid such people.”
 
WOW! AVOID THESE PEOPLE?
These are strong and difficult words to hear aren’t they?
 
When I was forerunning ahead in the vision, I believe it was a indicator of a prophetic forerunner seeing the things to come as well as seeing what God was asking of his people, as the world became more corrupt and dark, and decisions that were difficult that were coming, were about to be made.
 
THE ENTIRE TIME I WAS RUNNING I WAS WATCHING AND LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT MY FEET WOULD NOT TRIP, and when I came to the edge of the chasm I knew that I had to completely abandon myself, to everything that I could possibly fashion or create in my mind, leaving behind the hopeful use of any personal skills to get to the other side of where God wanted me to be.
 
THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY TO RUN AND JUMP AND MAKE IT ON MY OWN.
I had to abandon myself to the fact that God said to take a leap of faith. That I must trust Him spirit, soul, and body, to be moved into position in His kingdom where I would be in unity marching with His great army of servants.
Somehow in my spirit, in the vision, I knew that Steve was going to be okay and also knew that we had to individually make a choice to trust God completely with our lives, no matter what difficulties we were about to face.
There was great sadness on Steve’s face when he turned around and knew he had to now leave those who were rushing ahead and jumping or still arguing on the edge of the chasm, and that it was his time to risk everything and take a step of faith out into the unknown.
The minute Steve arrived on the other side of the chasm with me we were side-by-side marching to the sound of thousands of feet in unison and voices praising God. There was a look of determination and sobriety on every face that was in every battalion of people, but everyone knew why they were there, and what they were being assigned to.
The flashes of light and military type of war going on above us was constant but no one broke rank and everyone was marching in the battalion that they were a part of. Praise and powerful prayers were coming out of all of all of the people’s mouths as they raised their hands forward in honor of what was up ahead, which I believe was King Jesus himself.
 
In Joel 2:11 it says
“The Lord utters his voice before his army,
For his camp is exceedingly great;
He who executes his word is powerful.
For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome;
Who can endure it?”
 
NOW, I WILL NOT PRESUME TO TRY TO UNPACK ALL THAT IS GOING ON IN THE EARTH TODAY, nor will I say that I understand all of the applications of the book of Revelation or End Time thoughts.
What I will say is that the Lord has told us that the difficult days would come and that antichrists and deceivers would rise up from among us, even trying to deceive the very elect, God’s own precious, set apart children.
 
1 John 4:3 tells this clearly!
Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.
This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
 
You see, This is a time where God is already showing those who have ears to hear what He is saying and that we are being called to take great steps and leaps of trust and faith in Him, like we have never, EVER done before.
 
IT’S SCARY OUT THERE IN THE WORLD, and tyrants and wicked men and women defy and mock anything that interferes with their corruption and filth. They are absolutely not interested in the sound of the voice of the Lord or in his people challenging them. But this is where our faith and trust in God must exceed and excel.
 
It is a time where you and I must continually and constantly renew our minds by intentionally reading and listening to the word of God.
 
HOW MANY TIMES A DAY DO PEOPLE CHECK THE SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES and news feeds on their phones and I Pads? Is this where the light of Christ is found and minds are renewed?
No. It’s a place where distractions and debates and the opinions of man drown out truth and any trust in God.
 
RUN AWAY FROM THE PACK
Believers! Get a firm pace going in your pursuit of the truth!
Be aware of those snares and rocks placed there to intentionally get you to change course or quit and become part of the world’s narratives!
 
There’s no need to figure out what you are going to do
in tough times if you stay close to the word and voice of God!
 
He absolutely WILL guide you, and His word IS the lamp for your feet and the light that will keep your path lit up as you journey through dark days!
 
Psalm 119:105 
"Your word is a lamp to my feet
, AND a light to my path.
 
IN CLOSING, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALLOW THE LORD, TO DO A DEEP PURGING AND SEARCHING OF YOUR HEART.
Don’t push away where he is trying to get you to give up your own, personal opinions about how things are to be done in a time where recklessness and chaos are rewarded.
Get quiet and be still in his presence, and ask him to tell you exactly what to do.
 
HE WILL DIRECT YOU THROUGH HIS WORD!
He will bring people across your path who are either like-minded or who will point the way to absolute sustaining truth.
Stay away from those who are so full of themselves, and who love the sound of their own voices, so that there is no room for tenderness and dialogue for a soul that is hungering after God.
 
YOU AND I ARE RIGHT NOW, A PART OF THE GREAT ARMY OF GOD.
We are to march to the sound of His voice and have our voices raised in praise of who He is and in declaration that we are of another Kingdom.
Even if it seems as if nothing is changing or that God is at a distance, we are not to walk by how we feel, or how things look around us.
We are to be determined to be in union and in communication by the spirit with the Spirit of the living God.
 
Ask the Lord to draw you close to him.
Choose to run after him!
 
Don’t wait for others to lead you or guide you to answer the questions that you have in your heart right now. Jesus by the Holy Spirit is able to speak clearly to you and he is able to give you direction, because, He IS the great I AM.
He IS wisdom.
He IS light!
And, He has promised…
…To never leave us in the dark.
 
Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
But will have the light of life.” - John 8:12
 
Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed provided that complete message, Podcast and website information for Mary Lindow is included.
 
Thank you. Copyright © 2021 THE MESSENGER " ˜ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.marylindow.podbean.com
 
 
 
 
 
 

LIFE- "Behind The Scenes"

Thursday Oct 26, 2017

Thursday Oct 26, 2017


~ By Mary Lindow 
"Save me, O God! The water is up to my neck; I am sinking in deep mud, and there is no solid ground; I am out in deep water, And the waves are about to drown me. I am worn out from calling for help, and my throat is aching. I have strained my eyes, looking for your help." ~Psalm 69:1-3 
 
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS GOING ON IN THE HEARTS OF GOD'S PEOPLE! 
Many believers have gone through pain and devastation because of betrayal and disappointment in those with whom they have at one time “walked with” in the Lord. 
“For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;  Then I could bear it.  Nor is it one that hates me who has exalted himself against me;
Then I could hide from him.   But it was you, a man my equal,  My companion and my acquaintance.  We took sweet counsel together,  And walked to the house of God among the people.” ~Psalm 55:12-14 
 
 LEVELS OF SEPARATION AND DECEPTION 
Church leaders and members or friends often separate. Their unresolved issues and wounds infect others around them. With their tongue and pen, (and Facebook posts) their resentment and bitterness spread in uncontrollable proportions. Christians in other ministries and relationships receive the bad report and often, they don't even know the people involved but - because they have leaned their ears to hear the suggested and well-placed evil reports, the conversation poisons them like toxic waste in their soul. If unchecked, this becomes a hideous, malignant cancer-like cell eventually damaging their mind and above all, their spiritual discernment.
“Who is wise? He will realize these things.
Who is discerning? He will understand them.
The ways of the LORD are right;
The righteous walk in them, But the rebellious stumble in them."
~Hosea 14:9 
The age-old serpent, the ultimate enemy of our souls, has not lost the art of deception even after centuries! He, even now, can cause God's people, including the sincere ones, to miss the mark if they are willing to only hear one side of a story! 
THE GREAT “OCCUPY SOMETHING” MOVEMENT 
The “frenzied entitlement culture” we are seeing hold their protests as a result of selfishness and feeding upon fear, have begun to reach a newly fevered pitch. 
People are “herding” their way into public venues to protest Whatever they may be angry at in the moment, and mostly remaining ignorant as to what or who is really driving and orchestrating the events, reflects the hardness of heart and disrespect for the needs and lives of those around them, 
This type of behavior is a prime example of even how believers have become “selectively “ hard of hearing when it comes to serving one another, or encouraging one another, or having patience with one another!  
One moment we are asking for forgiveness and prayer, and in nearly the next breath, slanderous retorts are spoken out in anger and those driving the malicious train, mean to use others as their well placed pawns of destruction.
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, Fighting and slander,
Along with every form of nastiness." Ephesians 4:31
Once bitter words are spoken or written, they cannot be retracted. Sadly, those who often shout the loudest about being maligned are often the perpetrators of assassinating the characters of those whom have been in disagreement with them or who have possibly warned them about a need for a course correction.
“He who conceals his hatred has lying lips,
And whoever spreads slander is a fool.” Proverbs 10:18
TODAY MANY THINGS HAVE DEGENERATED INTO BLURRED INSIGNIFICANCE  AND UNCERTAINTY. 
The beauty of what God's purpose in His people really is meant to passionately reflect is - missing. Things that are now being said and done do not mean what they did mean originally in His Word. Twisting of truth to fits one’s own idea of God’s will has become acceptable and is often left unchallenged. So many spiritual and scriptural terms are put into motion, but they are not in the same dimension and point of view, which are in the Divine plan! 
The tragedy is that so many well-meaning believers have gone on with the outward appearance of searching for the will of the Lord, and yet they fail to see that the power of His radiant life is missing! 
The Apostle Paul warned us in his letter to Timothy about this…. " This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come… ...Having the form of godliness (true religion) but denying the power there of. "
 
MY HEART IS BROKEN TO SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE HAPPENING ALL AROUND US 
So much is falling short of its original blueprint. There is so much labor and "rallying" being pumped out there into the minds and hearts of people and it is being poured into the “Self Promotion Machine" more than any time in the history of God's people! Yet the toil is ending in heartbreaking disappointment!
Saints, only those devoted to humility and honor can be saved from this deadly poison that lulls those longing to be entertained and pampered into apathy and spiritual powerlessness! 
God's faithful people in this hour should seek Him and that which is upon His heart. What the Lord is doing in this era is so different, and we should be sensitive to Him! 
He is looking for His “People of the Secret Place” in which the power of resurrection may freely function. 
The Apostle Paul said "according to the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20b). 
These “People” will have to be men and women who have “seen”! They shall be like "a voice in the wilderness". 
IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT GOD MUST DO A FRESH THING WITH HIS FOLLOWERS. 
And that actual “thing” is that He is drawing them to seek the Lord Himself and His recognizable presence! Away from the throng, nearer to the Word, bowed in repentance and prayer. 
The Psalmist said, "When You said oh Lord, Seek My face; My heart said unto You, Your face, Lord will I seek." 
 
WILL YOU SET YOUR HEART TO SEEK HIM? 
Oh that God may find His Davids in this crucial hour that will set their faces towards Him at the command of His voice! Without it, the Human race will continue its fall and decline into further confusion, tragedy, and self-preservation. 
“Man’s goings are of the LORD;
How can a man then understand his own way?” ~ Proverbs 20:2 
It’s easy to say, “give your cares to the Lord and trust Him” when everything in life seems to be going well.  It’s easy to say, “I trust you Lord with everything I own” when bills are paid on time and when you just got a promotion at work. 
However, if God striped you of everything you own; If God told you to leave the very job that’s paying your bills, will you trust the Lord enough to do it?  Will you trust God even when you don’t understand; even when life hurts?  
If God told you to leave the familiar and enter the unfamiliar, will you trust Him? 
For many of you, God has done just that.  
He has taken you from what’s “oh so familiar” and redirected your paths into the unfamiliar.  You don’t understand what’s happening in your life; what to do or where to go.  The only thing you know is that the Lord gave you a word (instruction, a promise, vision, etc.) and the only thing you have to hold on to is that word. 
I understand the feeling; you’re not alone.  
THERE IS ENCOURAGEMENT FOR YOU TODAY. 
Many things happen in our lives that we will never be able to explain or understand because God is orchestrating the events of our lives “behind the scenes” (read Job 1-2). Moreover, we cannot detect God physically (through our senses) and we cannot comprehend His plans. 
“But the hour cometh, and now is, When the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: For the Father seeks such to worship him. God is a Spirit: And they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
~ John 4:23-24
Therefore, since we cannot rely on our perception or our reasoning we must turn to something else that is more reliable if we are going to be able to remain calm in the midst of turmoil, to find rest during the storms of life we must rely on God’s knowledge instead of our own. 
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.”
~ Isaiah 55:8-9 
 
LET US RUN RIGHT NOW TO THE THRONE OF GRACE AND MERCY!
Now! While our hearts are freshly tenderized and troubled over the recent events in the earth!
Here is something to remember.  Man is fallible; we fall short and at times we’re unable to keep our promises.  Man can give you instructions that are misleading and imperfect.  With God, none of these things are possible. God keeps His promises, God gives you right instructions according to His perfect will and He won’t mislead you.
No matter how much you don’t understand life as it is right now; no matter how uncomfortable it may seem or how hard it gets, don’t give up. 
If God is with you -  the same God who spoke life into you, the same God who IS and knows the beginning and the end, the same God who knew you before the foundation of this world -is with you, then ask yourself who or WHAT can stand against you.
 
CONSIDER THE SOURCE AND SEEK TO BE OBEDIENT TO THE LORD
Even when you don t understand what God is doing in your life; don’t worry about “this or that” because God has provisions for you.
There is the safe voice of the Father calling us. Let us respond with ears to Hear and hearts that obey.
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
~Hebrews 4:16
Duplication and sharing of this writing is permitted provided
that complete article podcast link and website information
for Mary Lindow is included. 
Thank you. "The Messenger" 
2017
www.marylindow.com

Thursday Apr 28, 2016


"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
 
 
Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed provided that 
complete source, podcast and website information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You Copyright © 2016
“THE MESSENGER” ~Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.globalprayerrooms.com
marylindow.podbean.com
 
 

Saturday Oct 25, 2014


For computer users Please scroll down to the audio player to listen to this messageBy Mary Lindow
 
There are many things going on in the midst of God’s
people. 
Yet significantly there are two things we need
to speak about. 
One
is a movement which is organized by man. And in this
realm we find the organized church system with their planned programs,
teachings and sacraments.  
The
other is a movement of people coming into a frustration with
those organized systems and coming out of those established order of
things. 
So many churches have gone through pain and devastation
because of uprising in their ranks.
Church leaders and members separate.
Their unresolved issues and wounds infect others around
them.  With their tongues and pen, (and emails and Facebook postings)
their resentment and bitterness spread in uncontrollable proportions.
Christians in other Churches receive the bad
report. They don’t even know the people involved but… because they have
inclined their ears to hear them, the report poisons them like toxic waste in their
souls. If unchecked, this becomes a hideous, malignant cancer cell eventually
damaging their mind and attitude towards Churches or Christians. 
But the most sorrowful part is to see these believers
drifting without any type of solid anchor to hold themselves steady
And that becomes another thing in itself. 
The enemy quickly moves to make them into another established ‘independent
group’, away from God’s original thought and purpose. 
The
age-old serpent, the ultimate enemy of our souls, has not lost the art of
deception even after centuries! He, even now, can cause God’s people, including
the sincere ones, to miss the mark!
I believe that this touches the greatest widespread
PROBLEM IN WESTERN churches.
The consumer culture has invaded the church.
Pastors and people are not united "for
better or for worse" but just like it is practiced and encouraged in
secular commercial organizations these days, until the pastor “fails to
perform.” 
And “performance” is compared- even though
unconsciously most of the time – with film and television performances!
 
Church goers in Western countries watch between 15-20
hours of television a week, AND UP TO 100 hours are spenT on mobile phone and
social networks - and then THEY come to church.
They bring with them expectations of the
pastor-as-preacher, pastor-as-counselor, pastor-as-comedian and all around nice
guy! Which are in all roles, for 99% of pastors, unreasonable and totally
impossible to ever fulfill.
Pastors are being asked to be a one man/one woman,
three ringed circus act and need to jump through hoops of fire, be shot out of
cannons, and get into a cage filled with lions and tame them, in order to
somehow “Wow” the people, to convince them that they have a desire for them to
stick around long enough to learn the basics of a godly life!
  
The consumer culture we all now live in and sadly…embrace, is less about serving one
another, or encouraging one another, or …having patience with one another!
It is much more interested with getting  “top dollar value for tithes and time.”  “Or…I Pay - YOU pray!”
 
Today things have degenerated into
vagueness, IRRELEVANCY and uncertainty. The real meaning of what God’s purpose in
His people really is meant to passionately reflect…. is missing.  
Things that ARE NOW being said and done… do not mean what they did mean
originally in His Word. 
So many spiritual and
scriptural terms are put into motion, but they are not in the same dimension
and point of view, which are in the Divine plan!  
The tragedy is that so many welL-meaning believers
have gone on with the outward appearance of searching for the will of the Lord
and they fail to see that the power of His radiant life is missing! 
Well, the Apostle Paul warned us in his letter
to Timothy about this….“This know also that in the last days perilous times
shall come…Having the form of godliness (true religion) but denying the power
thereof .”
 
My heart is really sad to see things as they are
around us. 
Everything
is falling short of its original design.  There is so much labor and “muster” being pumped
out there and is being poured into the “church machine” more than any time in
the history of God’s people! Yet the toil is ending in heart breaking
disappointment! 
Nothing is fully and finally getting through to
the end.  It is all stopping at some place.  Is that not what we read
in the past moves of restoration or reformation?  They all stopped
somewhere. 
Beloved, there is something that is missing and
eluding. There is something that is absent which hinders
the ultimate issue. Is there any one who asks,  “Lord, why is this thing
happening?”  Sadly… The Majority is going on in their frenzy to find a
place where they can dictate on their terms just how THEY have decided to serve
Him.
  
Saints! only those devoted to humility and honor
can be saved from this deadly poison that lulls those
longing to be entertained and pampered, into apathy and spiritual paralysis! 
God’s truly 
DEVOTED PEOPLE in this hour should seek Him and that which is upon His heart. 
What the Lord is doing in this hour is so
different …and we should be sensitive to Him!   He is looking for His New Vessel in which the power of
resurrection may freely work. 
The Apostle Paul said
“according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20b).  These
vessels will have to be men and women who have “seen”!  They shall be like
“a voice in the wilderness”.
It is becoming more and more clear that God must do a
FRESH thing AMONG HIS PEOPLE! And that fresh thing is that He is drawing them
to seek the Lord Himself and His manifested presence! 
The Psalmist said, “When You said oh Lord,
Seek My face; my heart said unto You, Your face, Lord will I seek.”
  
Will you set your face to seek Him?
Oh that God may find His ‘Davids’ in
this crucial hour that will set their faces towards Him at the command of
His voice!
 
Duplication
and sharing of this writing
is
allowed as long as the COMPLETE message and
website
and podcast information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank you.
Mary Lindow – The
Messenger
©2014
www.marylindow.com
www.marylindow.podbean.com
www.globalprayerrooms.com

Copyright © Mary Lindow. All rights reserved.

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