My God! The Lord has been dealing with me for a few days about the illegitimate children of His people. In other words, many of us have set up ministries and services that we claim were called of God. As my Pastor put it, we are saying that God has birthed these things in us - that He is the Father of many things He simply has not ordained.
Well, this is the season, God says, when the illegitimate child MUST DIE! David is one of my favorite historical figures. The Bible calls him "a man after God's own heart" though he committed almost every sin under the law. David was REAL, so I can relate to him. I've been studying David this week, and I will admit that God dealt with ME first.
Those that know me understand that I am very studious. I was raised to stick with academics and "earn" my credentials for life. There was a time in ministry when I tried to do the same. When God first called me, I was so concerned with what man would think that I continued to delay what I knew God ordained me to do. Then, I started on a quest to earn ministerial degrees, complete study programs and even sought out ordination so I could have "papers" to justify what I needed to do. Well, I accomplished all of "men's standards" but am still here 13 years after God first began training me for the prophetic office and called me into ministry - BEHIND! Yes, I got all I needed from man to justify me, but God said NO. I must be honest... When God dealt with me about this, I was crushed and hurt. I worked so hard to "live up" and "learn up" to what the Lord asked me to do. But, I understand now that I was in error. I actually made relationships with schools and ministries who don't even share the same vision, just to earn papers. Well, I really didn't even need them. Not only that, but it displeased my Father. I trusted men to prepare me more than the one who called. Now, because of my disobedience, God is stripping it all away. He is cutting those relationships that were not built on Him. Little did I know, God was training me and qualifying me all along. All these seeds I planted along the way, though I thought they were good, were NOT ORDAINED OF GOD! So, I wasted His time and mine. I had to (and continue to) learn to FULLY SUBMIT.
We often means submission only means to do what we're told. It also means not to do anything YOU'RE NOT TOLD! Hmmm....
So, this brings me back to David. We all know the story (2 Samuel 11-12). David fell in love with Bathsheba, committed adultery and had her husband killed on the front line of battle. When judgment came through the mouth of the prophet, Nathan, David repented and obtained forgiveness from the Father. While he was delivered from death, the curse upon his family was not lifted. The child of Urriah's wife was a victim of the curse and died.
2 Samuel 12:
13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.
14 But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die."
15 After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill.
16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground.
17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.
18 On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, "While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate."
19 David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. "Is the child dead?" he asked. "Yes," they replied, "he is dead."
20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
As the Word tells us, God passed judgment against David's family, and it struck the child that was born outside of God's will. Yet, before the child died, David begged and pleaded with the Lord to spare his life. Despite his praying and fasting, the baby still became ill and died.
The Word of the Lord today is that the illegitimate child MUST DIE. Yes, many of us have ministries, projects, jobs, habits, businesses, etc. that have not been ordained of God. So many of them are struggling. The finances can't be met. The people are not growing. There is no fruit coming forth. God is saying, "Was the vision of me? Am I the Father?" If the answer is "no" we must understand that not every attack is of the enemy! AMEN. The devil cannot get the credit for everything.
No matter how much we pray, fast and cry, if it is not of God, this is the season when it will dry up. For some of us, God is saying "The curse cannot be reversed." My God! For some, it is time to do as David did - stop fasting and eat! Stop mourning and move on!
24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him; 25 and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.
After David understood that God's word would not be reversed, he stopped mourning and moved on. He was true to his repentance, and the Lord not only gave him another son, but sent the same prophet who brought the curse back to proclaim a blessing.
Ahhh! God is saying that if many of us would let go of the illegitimate and get back in His face, he'll bless us with a vision that is from Him! Glory to God! The Father wants to increase in our lives, but we must let go of our own agendas.
The prophets have been speaking about the threshingfloor and the Apostolic movement. They have also been speaking about separation and judgment. This is the time to be in place like never before. PRIDE MUST DIE IN THIS SEASON! Discern the heart of God in your own agenda. Anything not of Him must die!
Be encouraged...
