What is the glory of a King? It is the city or country that He rules.  The state of the country is a reflection of Him and His rule….. As we look at chapter 21 of the Book of Revelation. We see the beauty and the glory of the New Jerusalem descending out from heaven.

As the King states His decree of the standards of His kingdom from the throne from verse 5-8, Then He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said to me, Write, for these words are true and faithful. And He said to me, It is done!  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be His God and He shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

John was shown the bride, the wife of the Lamb and the great high mountain descending out of heaven having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal as referenced in verse 10-11.

The Spirit of God is showing us what is ours and who we are to Jesus Christ, if we hold fast to the Testimony of Jesus Christ. He has created a new earth and heaven fitted for His new creation in Christ to habitat, us.

The called out ones will be here with Him one day…. the ones who set their eyes on Him. They believed in faith of His promise and cleansed themselves for the King.

This reminds me of the story of Esther. She was chosen for the king, yet she had to purify herself for twelve months. The six months of oil and  myrrh and six months of perfumes to prepare herself for the king.    She was given an attendant from the king to guide and counsel her so that she could please the king in the way she was presenting herself. Our Attendant and Counselor is the Holy Spirit.

Esther had learned  to have a fragrance that the king was pleased with….. The fragrance, my brothers and sisters, is the walk in and by the Spirit in faith and not by our natural sight. That we see with the eyes of our faith, the ways and hopes of the King and live by them, in spite of what we feel and see and reason in our natural senses. Hey, just a thought, is this what Jesus meant when mentioned often, many are called and few are chosen….. selah!

John was given a reed to measure the length, depth, height and width of the kingdom. I wonder if the measurements were equal to the scripture found in Ephesians 4:13, Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. 

That is why it is so important that we understand that Christ in us is our only hope of glory with our King….. We must live Paul’s prayer of Ephesians 3;17-19, that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now the reason we can strive to live the above prayer is because of the next verse 20, Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask and think, according to the power that works in us.

Our King expects us to obtain His glory. His glory is not for our fame or pride. We will not know  His glory until all of that hidden pride in our heart is burned away like chaff.  He wants us to be filled with His  Spirit, so we can love Him and fellowship with Him. Once we love Him with His  love that comes from Him, then we have  His love for others. Sometimes our motives for people are that we are to be liked so we “love” in flattery instead by His Spirit in truth and grace. Jesus always loved because He spoke the Truth to all. He never held back any truth or grace because people might get hurt or offended. He loves because God is love.

He knows we can overcome all corruption and deceit because He has put His Spirit within us. As stated in 2 Peter 1;3-4, as His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

So during this time of preparation, let us walk by faith in the promises of God, knowing by His Spirit we have all we need to finish His race that He has set before us. We, as His people, long to be presented to Him as He is.

John says in 1  John 3;2-3, Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone that has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 

Remember, beloved of God, we having the glory of God- our light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal- without spot or blemish. Let us now submit to the sovereignty of the King as we  hear and obey His Spirit to counsel us in preparation of that day. That great day when we shall see His face, as He is. Jesus Christ, our King and Savior is now and will forever be glorified from our obedience and love.

This is the city of the Holy One, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; His people, who boasted and followed in His way of the cross of  their Lamb of God and King.

Jesus Christ is our glory and we, beloved, are His.  Only a God like ours can love us in such a  great way as He does.   Increase in our hearts to love You in ever growing way day by day, Lord, for You are worthy of all of our love, honor and blessing.  Amen.

When I was a kid, there was pressure to be in the crowd and do what everyone else was doing…. If they dressed in certain clothes, everyone had to dress that way or they were ostracized. There was certain styles for hair, shoes…. Pick a anything, there was a unwritten rule…. you weren’t cool if you did not go with the flow….

Well, for me, I followed the flow thing, and it almost killed me when I was young. This is the way now for many youths as well as adults. It takes courage to set your walk and ways to a different drum roll. It is easy to go with the flow of the river down stream…. It takes strength to go upstream all the time.

I was the kid that asked what do you mean- when a wiser one said if the crowd goes over a cliff, will you go too? I would look at them dumbfounded. Thank God for His grace and mercy.  The Lord pulled me out from following the crowd off a cliff and put me on His Rock of Refuge.  He gave me the strength and then taught me the walk of faith in Him.

As we look at chapter 20 in the Book of Revelation, the promises of God that are before us are coming to pass…. All the warnings of the rewards of the wicked as well as the rewards of the followers of the Lamb.

Our time is short and our God’s grace is huge.

In this chapter we read that there were thrones set; Satan was bound for a while. Why did the Holy Spirit put that there? Is this regarding the authority we have in Christ name now? Have we been given the discernment to know the Truth from a lie because  Christ is within us? Do we have the strength to consistently go against the flow of the crowd?

Jesus spoke in Luke 12:49-51, I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it was already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 

What do you think He meant? I will let you read the rest of His meaning in verses 52-53.  Why did Abraham leave his homeland? Why did Joseph get sent away from his homeland? Why did Joseph, Mary’s husband, get sent away from his homeland? Why did John the Baptist live in the desert, away from the crowds? Why was Paul also secluded away from the crowds? Was he wrong because Paul didn’t hang out with the other apostles?

Do you see a pattern here with God and His chosen vessels…. Are we not also called His chosen vessels set apart for the work of the Lord…?  How do learn His purpose for us?  Life here is very busy. We have our set routines…. We are timed for the day…. however, God works in eternity….

I pray that we set our lives to His eternity, that we step out of our time, our agenda, our reputations. I pray that we step out into the heartbeat of heaven, that we still our selves to hear His voice. May we remain still until His Testimony in heaven is birthed in us.

Paul lived in the deserts for about fifteen years to learn the Testimony that God was giving him… We think if we give the Lord 30 minutes, that is enough time to build in us His Word.

As Elijah learned that God speaks to us in the still small voice…. The crowds are so loud that we miss His call and voice. We think  what the crowds are saying are His voice…. not so….. The crowds crucified our Lord and a couple days before, they were hailing Him, Blessed of the Lord.

Why did the Lord quote Isaiah 6  and then give the parable of the Sower of the seed in Matthew 13?  Heavenly   Father, in Your mercy and grace, give us ears to hear and eyes to see and a heart to understand what You are saying this day, in Jesus name. Amen.

Selah!

In our house we ask ourselves the worth of a major decision. How bad do we really want it and what are we willing to give up to get it.

The burden or oracle of Valley of Vision is in the Book of Isaiah, however, I had to investigate the meaning in Hebrew Strong’s Dictionary…. The meaning of Valley of Vision was a lofty gorge or narrow fortification.

I guess we can conclude that this way to the kingdom of God is a narrow road or a Valley of Vision that few walk.

As we start to look at chapter 19, we see the marriage supper is ready and the wife of Christ- not the bride, but the wife has made her self ready…..She is found in fine linen, bright and clean in verse 7 &8. How is that? A wife already and the marriage supper of the Lamb is ready? Hmmmm…..

My own thoughts here but if I had to go through the persecution and the sanctification method of the Holy Spirit without knowing that Jesus Christ is my Husband and King already…. I do not think I could continue to date or maybe wouldn’t want to.

Nonetheless, He being as a Husband has never left my side. He has always been there through every fire and water that He led me in and out.  I would say that I have grown like Him over the years, at least, I hope so. Even though I see soooooo much in me that needs to be changed  into His image.   But is the cost worth the decision to go with this God-Man…..??  Yes, a million times, yes.  Sometimes I throw in the towel, but only to pick it up again because I can’t say no to His eyes of Love…..

So we are already the wife of the Lamb, but what is this written in verse 14, And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. ????

So here we are, the wife of the Lamb and His army. He proceeds to tell us His plans that are from His Father in doing the business of the Kingdom of God……So what do we do?

He tells us that it is a day of in the Valley of Vision…. A day of trouble and treading down and perplexity by the Lord God of Hosts in this Valley of Vision breaking down walls ( protection) and crying to the mountain (rulers), Isaiah 22:5. Isaiah 22:12, And in that day the Lord God of hosts called for weeping and for mourning, for baldness and for girdling with sackcloth. But instead, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating meat and drinking wine: Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!

Now what would you do with this information?

In 2 Chronicles 29,there was a king named Hezekiah that was approved by God. This king did was right in the sight of the Lord.  He gathered all the priests and gave a decree: Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out all the rubbish from the holy place…..

In this age of grace, we are the temple and we are the priests of God.  So where would the rubbish be in the holy place?   Selah!  Hey, this sort of reminds me of the time Jesus went to clean out the temple in His day….. The only time the anger of our Lord was very visible…..Selah! He showed His zeal for His Father’s house, shouldn’t we be the same?

The priests obeyed the kings command in verse 15, and they gathered their brethren, sanctified themselves and went according to the commandment of the king, at the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord.

This decree was sent out so that they were prepared to celebrate the Passover or also known as the Feast of  Unleavened Bread.   Let’s recap- there is a marriage feast of the Lamb and we are clean and bright in fine linen….. Now we  prepare ourselves in celebrating the  True Unleavened Bread from heaven. We eat only the True Bread of heaven as our needful Food and our Delight.

This is what happened when  His people turned back to God and sanctified themselves… 2 Chronicles 30;12-13, Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the Lord. Now many people, a very great assembly, gathered at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month.

Verse 27, Then the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard; and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.

Before Hezekiah became king, the country of God’s people was brought very low. The previous King Ahaz had led them to  lose their protection. They were overcome by enemy countries as well as the country’s moral standard had fallen off the charts because of their unfaithfulness, (2 Chronicles 28;19).

Now we are back in room of the table of the King, our Husband and Warrior. Remember He has just told us about the  Valley of Vision and is acting very Lord of Hosts.  So what shall our God’s  (little) king and priests, wife and army do  about the matter of the King?

Our King has called for a time of weeping and mourning….. but the announcement did not tickle the ears of His people. They did not have ears to hear the sound of the Ram’s horn.

What do we do about this matter regarding our Lord of Hosts?   Are we willing to go against the grain of this culture and be His army? His wife being faithful to her King?

Noah- built an ark when there was no rain on the earth. Joshua marched around Jericho seven days in solitude then the walls fell. This unheard strategy of the Lord of Hosts overcame….. Daniel stood in the lions den unharmed being loyal to His God, and death was overcome by the power of his God, ….our God.

Will we answer His call of the trumpet? Seek Him. Hear Him. See His Vision. See His heart and follow His Word!

Let us gather His people and prepare the way for the Lord! Let us clean out the temple of the Lord. Set our hearts to His call.

Selah!

Selah…..

Heaven rules always. The kings of Babylon learned that the hard way.  In the Book of Daniel, He tells us of the events of the pride of the kings of Babylon ran into  justice by the hand of God.  King Nebuchadnezzar was turned into a beast/ bird type creature and ate off the land for seven years. He then learned God rules in the kingdom of men.

The King Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar, was partying blaspheming God by praising things made in this earth and partying with the Lord’s vessels.  He was given a great shaking as a hand appeared and wrote some Hebrew words on the wall. He was measured by God and was found lacking. He lost his life and kingdom that night by an invasion.

In chapter 18 of Revelation, verse 4-5, we are instructed, And I heard another voice of heaven saying, Come out of her, My people, least you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

Paul also warns us in 2 Corinthians 6;16- 7;1, And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell among them. I will be there God and they shall be My people. Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Remember when we were kids, we pushed and pushed our parents to get something we wanted. I believe an expression is to push to the breaking point. Well, our God looks at a cup that becomes full of iniquity and it starts to drip. That is His breaking point, when the time is fulfilled.

As it is written in Psalm 75: We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near. When I choose the proper time, I will judge uprightly. The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved; I set up its pillars firmly. I said to the boastful, do not deal boastfully, and to the wicked, do not lift up your horn on high; do not speak with a stiff neck.  For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is Judge. He puts one down, and exalts another. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; and it is fully mixed, and He pours it out; surely its dregs shall all the earth drain and drink down. But I will declare forever, I will sing the praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked I will also cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

There are two cups in the hand of our God. One is of wrath and one is of mercy…. the blood and life that was shed of our Lord :

Palms 116;12-19, What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord, now in the presence of all His people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. 

Why do you think it is written that the Lord holds precious to His heart the death of His saints?

Paul stated in Galatians 6;14-16, But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. For in Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God.

As we are bathed in the blood of our Lord Jesus, may we walk in the fullness of the newness of life that He has died to give us.  May our ways show to His heart how much we treasure His cup that He has offered us in Himself.

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

God has warned us to get out of Babylon, so we do not share in her sins and live in her plagues…..Well, we live in the world but we are not to be part of it….

Holy Spirit, please increase in us the way to love the Lord with our whole heart, mind and life today. As we hear Your voice today, may we have ears to hear and to turn to righteousness. Thank You that we can do all things by Christ who strengthens us. Thank You for Your grace and mercy, Father. We delight that You have called us Your sons and daughters. Lord, teach us how to walk in fullness of Your kingdom today.  In Jesus Name, we ask this and thank You. We Love You.

Our Heavenly Father gave us His Food for His kingdom at a great cost. He made sure we are fully satisfied by His Provision.  Babylon offers no comfort for our restless hearts. There is only One Place that satisfies our broken hearts.   Living there is our fullness of joy and our hearts contentment. Living in the heart of our Father in Christ Jesus, our Lord. The Best Secret Place in the universe and eternity…. and it is ours, beloved!

We thank You, Heavenly Father, for our independence in this nation of America to be able to live our life free in depending on You as our One True Living God.  We take a bold stand to obey Your commands and live according to Your ways. We proclaim Your Sovereignty in all things that pertain to our lives and this nation.

We hold the standard high,  boasting of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. We walk  in humility, as we are poor in spirit. How we hunger for Your righteousness and justice. How we labor to seek after You with our whole heart, having great thanksgiving that You hear our cries. O Holy One, there is no one like You. We are so thankful that You have called us to be Your own. May You see in our hearts and lives that You are our Treasure.

We come to You, Father God, today, and ask that You forgive our turning away and compromise. We repent that we have been slack in standing in the gap and standing watch.  We have grown complacent in our blessings, they have been our distraction instead of us seeking Your Face in more diligence, the blessings have drawn us from You.

Please renew our hearts in the Fire of Your Presence.  May You increase in us the boldness and strength to complete the race that You have put before this generation to hold Your standard high.  As the enemy comes in like a flood, Father, we ask that we are strengthened with abandoned love to lift the cross of Jesus Christ and His shed blood over all influx of evil. In Your abundant grace and mercy,  may we, Your people, continue to be Your light on a hill.

May Your glory live through our lives as our lives glorify Your name. O, Father, thank You for all of Your love always pouring forth in Your mercy. Your mercy triumphs in judgment.  Only You, Father, can change hearts to You and Your Son. I thank You, that You do not delight in the perishing of the wicked, so again we ask for Your Spirit of grace to hover over the people of this nation and do what You do best- draw men with Your love and grace to Your Son, Jesus Christ.

You are our only Solution to the vast plagues that our vexing this nation. We declare, as Your people, our delightful dependence on You, our great God.  Please increase  our hearts in Your strength and power. So we may live by Your Spirit in  a life purely sold out to You and You alone. All the glory, honor and blessings  are Yours forever and ever. Amen.

We love You Father. We love You, Jesus Christ and  We love Your Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father, I ask for Your abundant mercy and grace to awaken Your people in this land today. May we learn the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom that we may know how far we have fallen from the position You have called us in Your Son.

Thank You for hearing our prayers. There is no one like You. You will be exalted in this nation, for You are God and there is no other.

In Jesus Name, we ask. Amen!