With all our errors and sin, we have not been abandoned by God. He continues to show His love and regard for us; by sending us fresh manna and healing virtues. The fervency of His word has led us into faithful worship and adoration for our God. It is the heart and mind of God to send us out as His messengers and witnesses of His love for mankind. And this He will do. I asked the Lord concerning the posture that we must take for each of us to be a part of His end time global revival. He simply said, “I change not. Do as it was done in the days of old.”
2 Chronicles 36:15-16
15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:
16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy” .
The passage above begins to explain how and why the Lord chastened Israel, by using the army of the Chaldeans. Before the wrath of God was poured out upon them, He sent messengers to them crying out for repentance and the return to their God.... rising up betimes. It means to enquire early; to seek early and earnestly, to look for early and diligently; to start early in the morning. I truly believe that this word “betimes” refers to before the times of the day begin. In other words, the first watch of the day is at 6:00 a.m. This 6:00 a.m. watch is the start of a new day in which there are five more watch hours.
Seek the Lord betimes, simply means, before you begin your day. The prophets of old communed with God enough to know His preferred fellowship. They met Him early in the morning. They discovered that He rose up early to look upon the nation; and to see if there were any who sought after Him on behalf of the nation.... and sending. It was also in these early morning sessions, that the sending forth of the Word of God to the people took place. The eyes of the Lord are always upon the Body of Christ and the nations of the world. The prophets of God ought to be seeking Him early for a Word that would make them His messengers. If they approached Him with a pure heart and a sincere love for the people of God, and the nations of this world, then He would indeed reveal His heart and mind to them. There would be a sending. Likewise, He would make known to you the things you need to know concerning your personal life and those involved with you. He would answer the questions in your heart, simply because you acknowledged Him early.
Psalm 78:34
34 When he slew them, then they sought him:and they returned and enquired early after God.
It should not take the righteous indignation of God coming upon the Body of Christ, for us to seek Him. It should not be that evil has to come into your home or sphere of influence for you to seek the counsel of the Lord. You need to have fellowship with the Father. He lives in you by His Spirit. The Holy Ghost is waiting for us to fellowship with Him. He has so many things to tell us and to show us. But we are too busy or too occupied with the affairs of this world.
Hosea 5:15
15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face:in their affliction they will seek me early.
It is pointless to rise up early to seek the Lord if you are not willing to acknowledge your sin and wrongdoings. It has become a habit for the people of God to go about their daily routines without repentance for sin. Their pride has made them comfortable and content.
But there was a time, when ministers would not want other up and coming leaders to think of them as dishonest, untruthful, and untrustworthy. We would not rest until we got it right. But now there is a new spirit that has seduced the hearts of some who once reverenced holiness. They have attitudes and are arrogant. Regarding counsel, they say things like, “Well, I have said all I’m gonna say about it, they can believe and do whatever they want.” In these attitudes, there is no regard for the presence of the Holy Ghost. Such saints see the sons of God after the flesh and not the Spirit. They do not fear flesh and blood, so they say and do as they please. Beloved, this should not be named among the children of God. Nevertheless, the Father has a response to our attitudes and arrogance.... in their affliction they will seek me early.
The Lord knows how to chasten His own. He knows what to bring in our lives that will get us to seek out righteousness and repentance. There are those whom God will give satan access to their marriage, their children, their livelihood, their loved ones, their health and of course their ministry. There is always a consequence for disrespecting the Holy Ghost.
Isaiah 26:9
9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
The judgments of God, which is the word and counsels of God, are given to the Body of Christ so that it might know His thoughts and ways. The word is powerful and alive. It is able to discern the intent in the hearts of men.... with my spirit within me will I seek thee early. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?... (1 Corinthians 2:11). Our spirit or conscience is full of the knowledge of God and longs always for fellowship with Him. However, the conscience also knows the disposition of the heart. He sees that shadow of turning in the soul. He is aware of the pride that won’t allow you to completely humble yourself. Until these issues are resolved you will never have true fellowship with God. You can pray every day, all day, but the Lord has already said...I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence... Until you acknowledge how you have disrespected the Holy Ghost, and the people He is using, you will not see the face of the Lord in peace.
Isaiah 26:10
10 Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness:
There are those whom God has blessed tremendously, that disrespect Him just as much. Some of us would not have a life, had not God given us one. Having received much favor from God, yet they are wicked in their ways. They reside in attitudes that are detestable to God and contrary to their nature. They do always resist the Holy Ghost. The Lord is calling for repentance. He is not being subtle about it either. He is demanding it. We have done despite to His Spirit and He is not pleased. This is the time to believe the Word of the Lord. It will not go well for you if you resist the truth and cling to the lie you have or will become.
Repent and return unto righteousness and God will uphold you with His mighty hand. He loves us saints and He truly wants us to make it into His marvelous Kingdom.
