4 Words in 1

Stumbling under the Load
God’s time
What do you do with the Signs?
Don’t Let Others Quench Your Spirit

 

Stumbling under the Load

There are many who are carrying some very heavy burdens. Often times, it’s things that almost no one even knows about; it’s easy to feel, like nobody cares. Too often, they don’t. We know about the time we are living in; what was foretold is coming to pass all around us. There’s no longer any doubt, that great numbers, are lovers of themselves. They may pretend to care about others, but it’s really all about self-centeredness. But what I feel we should really talk about just now, is about the load; how we’re handling it; what it honestly feels like.

Jesus stumbled under the load He was carrying. I can’t help but think, how He went through so many things, just so we would know He understood. It is a reality, that at one point, someone else had to take the load from His shoulders and finish the walk for Him. Another reality, is that at one point, He did not want to go through what He was facing; not the human Jesus. And hanging there in such a manner, He felt that God had forsaken Him. I believe it was all for us; so we could come boldly before His throne of Grace. But to us also, was an admonition, to fulfill the law of Christ. And that, was to bear one another’s burdens. He did it, so we would do it also.

The enemy likes to attack people when they are down; he never fights fair; there is nothing fair about him. He also likes to work through people who seem to get some kind of joy out of kicking people when they are down and may not have the strength to fight for themselves. It doesn’t occur in too many folk’s theology, that we are to fight for one another. I say this as humbly as I know how; for this very issue, may be one of the greatest failures of the body of Christ, these past and present years. We acted as if we knew so much about the Word; yet in some things, we seldom practiced the very basics of Jesus Christ. A lot of the Apostles’ word, we just ignored.

Some years back, I had a prophet speak to me openly, in a meeting. He had felt led to call my name and say to me, that we are human. I very well recall the situation that was going on and it’s very likely, I was making some judgments about some people. It wasn’t that they were not doing as I thought they were; they were. But those people told me later, that they were only trying to survive; they were doing the best they could.

My God, I wonder why so many of us have never learned, that until we have walked in another persons shoes, we have no idea of what they have endured. Who told us, we should criticize and accuse; where did we even learn that.

A heavy load, is a heavy load. We’re wrong, not to help people who are so burdened down. It’s risky, to ask, how much of our heavy burden today, is a result of us not helping someone else with theirs. I wish to say to people like me, who sometimes whine about the heavy things they are carrying. Do not beat yourself up; you are only human.

People who carry no real burden, can look down on you and find fault about how you’re feeling; they seem so slap-happy free. Jesus stumbled and if anyone thinks He liked everything He had to go through, they don’t know Him very well.

God does not lift every burden; He allows us to carry a cross; just like Jesus did. He fell beneath the load; did we just stand there, or did we help Him up.

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God’s Time

Before we even start, it might do us well to cite a verse, a comment that Peter felt he had to make. “Be not ignorant, of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord, as a thousand years and a thousand years, as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). Many of us have struggled, and are struggling, with timing. We know about this exhortation and we know that God, does not lie. If He promises something, He keeps His word; because even here, the Word goes on to say, that the Lord is not slack concerning His promises. It takes faith, to hold on to a promise, when nothing seems to be happening.

If there is one particular thing that many of us missed coming up, it might be, that God does not think like we think. His ways, are not our ways. It is a bit of a puzzle, as to why so many folk thought to decide, that God could only work this way or that way. When we do that, it is only pure self that is speaking. If we could ever decide that God doesn’t need our permission about anything, that He does what He pleases, things just might go a lot more easier for us. It seems quite evident to many, that God is allowing some things to go on, right now, on this Earth. He could stop it, but He doesn’t; we’re confused about it and we are full of questions. We just are.

We like to quote the blessings of God; yet, we often don’t understand, that many times, there are necessary actions on our part. A much loved and oft quoted verse, begins with the words “If, my people….” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Timing. If people do not do what is required and suggested, there is no need to expect that He will bring about the blessing.

I once heard a renown lady speaking at a very large camp meeting, and she made a comment that I have never forgotten. She said, “God, is very smart. He’s very intelligent.” It is true, that He may bless us ahead of time; simply because He knows our hearts. But He knows mankind; many would expect the prize, without working for it.

“After ye have suffered a while…,” (1 Peter 5:10) is a statement that we often didn’t want to entertain. It’s because, the Lord did not say, how long that ‘while’ might be. I think many of us have found it can be a, long while. Another term we’ve heard more of even recently, is “At the appointed time…” (Habakkuk 2:3). To the point here, God has given some of us a vision; we likely saw it even many years back now, and in a lot of cases, it hasn’t happened yet. The prophet Habakkuk declared, “at the end, it shall speak, and not lie.” I’m no authority, and I do not claim to know much, but for some of us, we are at the end. Whether it means, at the end of our days, at the end of a certain situation, or at the end of time, we don’t have a great deal of time left. It is going to happen.

I won’t tell about something that was prophesied over me, almost thirty years ago. What I will mention, is how long it took for Joseph’s dreams, to come to pass; but they did. Because our true knowledge, wisdom and understanding is finitely limited, things may not unfold, just as we saw it or thought it would. It also does not matter if we somehow got off track, tried to give up, or even went astray. Once we get back on the path, the vision is going to speak, and it will come to pass; no matter what.

When God said something, He meant it. Whether we are ahead of His will or behind it, what is truly of God, will come into alignment; it will not tarry forever.

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What do you do with the Signs?

If you’ve been called of God, to be a watchman, you must be very uneasy, just now. Is it that some have more insight than others; or is it really that some, are paying closer attention. I look at world events; I watch the news, I read alternate outlets and listen to other sources; I study the Word, and I listen for the voice of the Spirit. And, I watch for the signs; the ones prophesied and foretold. I keep one eye on the Eastern sky, and the other on what is going on around me; watching.

If I can’t be real, I feel I might as well not say anything. Do you remember the story of a selection of recruits described in the Old Testament. How were they chosen? Some laid aside their weapons and armor and scooped up water with both hands, to drink. A much lesser number, held on to their weapons and armor, and scooped up water with one hand, while they continued to watch all around them (Judges 7). You cannot be any kind of watchman right now, and not cry out; it’s impossible. Unless you have fallen asleep on the wall; or you’re preoccupied with other interests. Guards, who can no longer see.

Forgive me, but I don’t want to hear about this positive thinking ilk [type]. If any person wants to be positive right now, they need to get their eyes open and see what’s coming upon them, at breakneck speed. Oh how clever, the old enemy is; instrumenting devices, that keep people focused in one place; and that’s, downward.

What if you walked up to someone at the airport, on the bus or even driving their car; and said, “Your redemption draweth nigh” [draws near]. I wonder, how many would even know what you’re talking about. Or how about asking them, what did Jesus say about this period of time. As far as that, even, what did the Old Testament prophets say about this day you’re sitting in?

Greed, has eaten up those who are supposed to be on the lookout on the wall. I don’t say this unkindly or hopefully in a wrong spirit, but those who even claim to know sound doctrine, likely cannot tell what Paul said about this time we are in; or what he told Timothy about it. What did the other apostles say about us, and what we would be doing in our day.

The signs we are seeing now, precede other signs; events and occurrences like none we’ve ever seen before. Yes, we were told not to fear; and that was and is right. But in the name of God’s mercy, we were not to have our heads so buried in the sand, and our eyes on everything but the clock that’s turning.

What do you do, when you sound the alarm, you blow the trumpet, and no one is listening. What can you do, when so many are just going about their business, as though things are going to just go on here forever; fellowman, against fellowman. I think you tremble; you weep, you wail and as one brother said today, you grieve and you mourn. That is, if you are a real watchman. And you try it again; even if you know most disdain it; or they simply ignore you. Are we in the book of Revelation.

An attitude has crept in among us unawares; it says, so what. So what if it’s the end-times or the last days; what can I do about it. Excuse me, I’m busy.

Signs; what do you do with them. The rest must come to pass; it was written. And, it’s begun.

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Don’t Let Others Quench Your Spirit

It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever witnessed. We were all at an all night prayer meeting. Sometime after midnight, people were praying deeply; those who knew how, in the Spirit. There was a young woman there who was new to any kind of church life; but already, she manifested a beautiful spirit; she was hungry for more. She was lying on her back, and she prayed ever so softly; tears streamed down her face. I watched in awe, as the Holy Ghost settled gently upon her. There was no loud kind of emotion; others were praying all around the room. Just, a gentle Spirit.

I edged closer, to encourage her, she quietly, began to speak with other tongues; not a lot; only quiet drifts of conversation. She knew she had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit; and she began to grow, from that moment forward.

Not so long afterward, at another prayer meeting in the church building, she gave out a message in tongues. It was bold, clear and powerful. I was stunned. It was the first time I had ever really knew that some people who receive the Holy Ghost are endowed with gifts of the Spirit, right from their new birth. Later through the years, I realized that she was not the only one. I had seen there had been others, many more.

I wish this story ended here; but it doesn’t. From the first, a spirit of envy rose up in some of those who had been in church for years. If I say, that this young woman surpassed all of them spiritually in a short time, it is the truth.

I suppose anyone with any kind of experience, might see that those who had been in church longer, couldn’t understand why God would give her certain gifts they had never received. I would like to remind everyone, she was a babe in Christ. Those who had been around so much longer, should have known better. They began to pick at her and find fault. It was natural that she made some small mistakes, but they blew it out or proportion.

Envy destroyed that assembly before it was finished. I’ve watched this very beautiful lady wander around; doing the same things many others have done. Trying to play down what we received; thinking it was just some kind of emotion. They made her gifts seem less; why shouldn’t she.

The ministry she might have been for that church may never be known. Like so many of us, she thinks those things will go away. As some of us did, she’ll find out they won’t; not ever. What I know today, is that the hand of the Lord, is yet on that woman. He follows her, wherever she goes. And when the time is right, He will bring her forth; a stronger, reshaped vessel.

There’s a young man on Facebook here; the same thing happened to him. When we doubt ourselves, we become despondent and we give up. We often make mistakes; sometimes, we even fail. My heart tells me, God is about to do a quick work, in this hour.

Perhaps unknowing to us, the Spirit was already at work in some people, long before they even knew it; some, even from their mother’s womb. Let people scoff; it doesn’t matter now. God’s timing, is not our timing. We think people have to prove themselves for years, and meet all of our requirements and approvals. We should know better.

I want to encourage every gifted soul, to listen intently to the voice of the Lord. You were chosen by God; for a work, for this hour. Let Him lead; no matter what anyone else says or thinks. God did not bring you this far, to leave you. He forgives, and He restores. Reach up; and let the Spirit decide.

 

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Robert Blackburn