Many of us appear to have it together. Most would be shocked to find out, we don’t.

I am coming to believe, that what we often see these days on the face of others, is not at all what is going on inside.

We have practiced so long putting on a face and pretending everything is fine, that we don’t realize we have convinced everyone that all is well. What are we seeing when we look in the mirror today.

Some of us are literally starving for love and affection. We walk through each day just wishing at least one person would say an encouraging word, a real word, not our shallow or petty and pat remarks.

We in this country, have a classic greeting and it is, “Hello, how are you?” and the answer is always, “Fine.”

And everything is not fine, how can it be. The truth is that most of us don’t want to hear someone else’s problems, and we are sure no one wants to hear about our troubles either.

So we all say “fine” and nobody’s the wiser. We’re too busy, too much to do, places to go, jobs to get done, phone calls to make, kids to see to, cleaning, shopping, running, driving.

We’re scared to open up to someone, afraid they won’t like us, might judge us too harshly and they might think we are weak. Keep the mask on, no matter what.

In short, people who are going to be used of God in these last days will be under fire. Not only will they be a target of the enemy but they will be assailed and rejected by their peers and those in authority.

It is absolutely paramount that we encourage these people. If God really is going to restore full apostolic operation to the church, then many of those gifted in ministries and those who are the true oracles of God will be despised and thrown out by many organized fellowships.

Those in power are not about to give up control so easily. God is moving away from some of us and we do not even know it.

Only the mercy of God has kept back judgment. Many of us are so smug. We do not see that many of our castles are about to topple.

It was said today, our buildings and all of those things are not the body of Christ. People are. Our exclusion of good-hearted people from our buildings has not impressed God at all.

Some people are at a crossroads. Suffering and disappointment have totally rearranged their preset ideas about how God runs his business.

It will not be business as usual in the days ahead and they know it. Many more are breaking away and walking away from what they realize does not work anymore, if it ever did.

They need our help. Slowly God is raising up a group, a remnant as it was called again today to do a work no one else is qualified for.

Because this remnant sees through the eyes of the Spirit, they can now recognize others who are also being set apart.

These people will be from every walk of life and we will not always know them by what they look like. We will know them by the Spirit we see inside.

They must be lifted up and encouraged to know they are not alone. One of the most clever devices the evil one has concocted is to make you feel like there’s no one else who understands and you must be the only one going through this gleaning, this pruning and purging that strips away your very dependence on the things of this world.

Total dependence on the Spirit and the grace of God is required for this last and great battle.

It is our responsibility to encourage others. I told someone recently that we are not so spiritual that we aren’t human anymore.

We need a nice compliment, an uplifting comment from someone real once in awhile. Those whom God has chosen for this next mission will need safe havens, places to rest and be among others who possess the same kind of gifts and to refresh one another in love and peace.

I am reminded that God has not asked us to do something for Him without giving us all the power and wisdom we need to accomplish his plan.

Heaven will fight for these people but flesh will also fight against them. And so will a lot of church folks. Learn to recognize these fellow travelers everywhere you go and let them know we are on the same side.

Connect in the Spirit, fellowship with love and compassion. There’s no going back for some of us. There’s nothing to go back to. Amen.

First published: July 19, 2010.

~ Robert Blackburn

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Robert Blackburn

 

 

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