The Lord's Exiles

The Lord prompted me to turn to Jeremiah 24, and He drew my attention to something that I hadn't noticed in these passages.

Jer.24:5 - "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, 'Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the captives of Judah whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans.'"

Jer.29:4 - "Thus says the Lord of hosts.... to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon...."
vs.5 - "Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce."

An "exile" is one who separates himself from his home. It is someone who is either forced or is voluntarily absent from one's country or home. The Lord speaks very clearly in Jeremiah 24 and 29 that His Blessings and Prosperity are for those who He sent into captivity. These exiles were those who obeyed Him, even though the outward circumstances of leaving their homes and country seemed just the opposite of wisdom. In fact, God pronounced a curse upon those who remained behind and who didn't choose to go into exile with their brothers. The blessing and the promise of a future inheritance in Jer. 29, which is so familiar and so often quoted, was for the EXILES who had obeyed God!

Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:37 - "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me....", and in Matthew 19:29 - "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, shall receive many times as much, and shall inherit eternal life."

Abraham was told in Genesis 12:1-3 - "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives, and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing." What if Abraham had not obeyed God by leaving his country and his people?

Nugget of Gold: God always requires separation from all that is in and of the world, including our loved ones. This separation, or "coming out", is most often in our hearts alone, but sometimes more will be required of us. God will have no other gods/idols before Him. Thus, we are required to place children, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, etc., on the altar. We are required to leave all to follow Him.

Have we become exiles from the world for His Kingdom?

ALERT!

This morning while in prayer, I felt that I heard the following: "Mushroom cloud"; "Battleship ready"; "Watch port side (left side)"; "Strait of Hormuz".

The Strait of Hormuz is the most strategic passage for oil tankers to deliver oil to the United States, Japan, and western Europe. A disruption in this flow would greatly increase the price of oil and would create a great hardship on this and other nations. As we know from recent history, the Persion Gulf area is one of the most volatile on the planet, and word about an impending attack would not be surprising.

My purpose for recording this is twofold:

1. Have a record of this word in writing, as only time will tell whether or not it is a true Word of the Lord.
2. Urge immediate prayer for this situation, and a continued watchfulness into the future.

Entering The Glory

In the Book of Exodus, God told Moses to consecrate the people and set a boundary around the mountain where He was about to meet with him. Then, Aaron and seventy of the elders of Israel were permitted to ascend to a certain place on that mountain, but Moses alone was able to enter the glory to see God face-to-face.

Exodus 24:1,2 - "Then He said to Moses, 'Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance. Moses alone, however, shall come near to the Lord, but they shall not come near, nor shall the people come up with him.'"

Exodus 24:16,17 - "And the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai.... and to the eyes of the sons of Israel, the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the mountain top."

Psalm 24 gives us an understanding of why only Moses was able to approach God, and this example holds a vital truth for us today.

Psalm 24:3,4 - "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord (His Glory)? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands (body) and a pure heart (spirit); who has not lifted up his SOUL to falsehood."

The Lord is holy, and His word is pure (Psalm 12:6). Only those who have been sanctified spirit, soul, and body may approach Him.

1 Thess.5:23 - "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), and the fire of His jealous love consumes all that hinders our walk with Him (Song of Songs 8:6). Ask the Lord to examine your heart AND your soul (mind, will, emotions), to purify your motives, and to bring everything into alignment with His perfect will for your life. Then, we can pray with assurance that our heart is pure, and that we have not "lifted up our soul to falsehood." We will enter His glory realm and experience all that He has prepared for us!

Glory Deposits

I believe the Lord revealed that He has made "Glory Deposits" in the land. These deposits are both supernatural and literal. Much has been reported in recent months about gold "flecks" coming down from the heavens during times of intense praise and worship. Chuck Pierce prophesied during a recent conference that "God is looking for certain places to manifest His glory."

Scripture speaks much of the Gold of Ophir, a region from which both David and Solomon obtained gold for building the temple. It's exact location, however, is a mystery. I believe we have entered a time when the Lord is aligning the heavens with the earth in such a way that His "hidden treasures of darkness" will be released and manifested for His people. The land has always been part of our inheritance, and God is now positioning us and bringing His Bride into a right relationship with the earth.

Isa. 45:3 - "And I will give you the (hoarded) treasures of darkness, and hidden wealth of secret places..."