“Neck to Neck”
May 13th, 2007 [ Mother’s Day ]
Scribe: Priscilla Van Sutphin
Matt 23:37-39 NKJV Jesus Laments over Jerusalem (Luke 13:34,35)
"O Jerusalem , Jerusalem , the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'"
“Like a father laments over his stillborn child, I lament over those who refuse My love. My desire for all mankind was to have a people who knew how much I am LOVE, and to have a love relationship with them. So many are so hardened now towards ME, because of judging what they have seen in my church. They have seen the abuse, the compromise, the greed and pride, and even the murder. Yes I said that if you hate others you are guilty of murder.
You gossip, and criticize others through your words and in your hearts, then come to Me and want mercy for yourself. I gave you to be a blessing to the nations and to reflect My heart that is like a mother hen’s to the world. To him who shows no mercy, there will be no mercy.
James 2:13 NKJV For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
To the one who shows MERCY, even when their heart has been so abused and neglected, there will be great mercy shown and they will TRIUMPH over darkness. I do not call you to have mercy on those I do not have mercy on. I do not call you to be yoked to darkness. But you are to honor those whom I honor and love. I love the brokenhearted, and even when they spew forth bitterness, if you will show them true love, those that I show you, then you will see a commensurate healing with the love shown. There are some who are so broken and battered, that no matter what you do, they will see it as rejection, because they look through a skewed lens.
I want to get “neck to neck” with My prophets and apostles right now, with my worshipers, and with my prayer warriors, because I have a greater glory I want for you to receive. You cannot receive it except in My presence. So if you want this gift I have to give to you, of great love, great mercy, great kindness, great joy, great peace and great self-control and all the other attributes that you see in ME, then you must come like a child and lay down your agenda and stay in MY ARMS for a while. Just like a father comforts his hurt child, I will comfort you. I will impart to you My love and kindness. I am pouring out oil and new wine. I am pouring and pouring. Anticipate a GREATER GLORY.
Haggai 2:6-9 NKJV "For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts. 8'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the LORD of hosts. 9'The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the LORD of hosts."
And as you learn to REJOICE in ALL THINGS, you will see more clearly. You will see with eyes of FAITH. You will see with MY eyes of MERCY. You will see people for who I want to make them to be, rather than who they are to you now. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, so you must LISTEN to MY VOICE, and not your own heart. For I alone know what is in the heart of a man or woman, child or youth. I KNOW ALL THINGS. You have to listen to Me carefully as I tell you that there are many even in the church who will not bow, who will not change, even when I send you in with a Rhema word, that brings glory and judgment, there will be many who will NOT repent. Some will , and some will only feel fear for a moment, but then return to their vomit, like a dog. I do not rejoice or gloat over those who refuse My heart. I do not rejoice to have to bring judgment. It breaks My heart. So you MUST understand that when I do bring judgment, there is no goodness in gloating. Be careful beloveds, that you do not render your OWN judgments. You must ONLY say what I SAY.
Prov 28:26 NKJV He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
Come to ME and I will tell you what I SEE. Come to ME and let ME be the ALL KNOWING ONE. Sometimes I will not tell you anything because I am sheltering that broken one. Sometimes I will be silent in order for you to evaluate your own heart in the matter. Also do not be self centered. Do not think that everything you fight is about you. Ask me and I will show you what you are battling, and WHY. Do not give in to the self condemnation that the enemy would like to trick you into. If you repent, I forgive. Even if it takes repentance over and over till you are walking in more freedom. The turning away of repentance, is a progressive process of healing and illumination of truth and a HEART issue. So when the lost come in, be careful not to disdain the one who is young spiritually. Be patient, like a mother who sees her one year old trying to walk – he falls down again and again. She doesn’t get MAD at him. She helps him up, and again he falls, and she helps him up again. THAT is the nature of My heart as well.
Eccl 7:21-22 NKJV Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you. 22 For many times, also, your own heart has known that even you have cursed others.
The humility I want is that of a servant, a heart that knows that with God ALL things are possible, casting ALL your cares on ME, for I care FOR you. Many things ahead will be impossible in the natural to deal with, yet with FAITH in Your God, you will overcome and do great exploits. I ask many of you in the days to come, “Do you love Me?”, just as I asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Do you truly LOVE ME ?” Then FEED MY SHEEP. Do not be like the hirelings and do it only for what YOU can get out of it, whether it be attention, acclaim, reputation, worldly wealth, etc. There is NO LOVE in selfishness. There is no love in SELF PRESERVATION, and self-exaltation. Do all things as unto ME.
When you look into another’s eyes, you are looking at MY CREATION. You treat them as you would like to be treated. Would you want me to uncover all YOUR secret sins ? Would you want me to tell everyone about the things you and I only know you do behind the backs of others, because you don’t understand how much I love you yet ? Of course you wouldn’t want that, so be careful, for with great power comes greater accountability. AVOID taking credit for what I do in and through you. Rejoice that you are Mine, and boast in MY GOODNESS, NOT YOURS. And only share about others when I SAY it’s ok.
1 Peter 5:1-7 AMP
1 I WARN and counsel the elders among you (the pastors and spiritual guides of the church) as a fellow elder and as an eyewitness [called to testify] of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a sharer in the glory (the honor and splendor) that is to be revealed (disclosed, unfolded):
2 Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint, but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages and profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly and cheerfully;
3
Not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation). 4 And [then] when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will win the conqueror's crown of glory.
Not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation). 4 And [then] when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will win the conqueror's crown of glory.5 Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the church)--[giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel]. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)--[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble. [Prov 3:34.]
6 Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,
7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. [Ps 55:22.]
I am FULL OF LOVE for My bride and I am washing and washing, I am pouring on oil, and spraying her with perfume, that she will be prepared to walk and talk with ME and to perform the duties of a GLORIOUS BRIDE adorned with My GOODNESS. I am like a Mother or Father, looking down on My immature teenager, and seeing all the immaturity, and seeing all the mistakes, yet loving her, and loving her, till she realized how much I really love her or him. It is MY LOVE that leads to repentance, and MY LOVE that casts down ALL FEAR. Fear is the root for many of you that are still struggling in the womb. It is usually the first to get inroads into My beloveds. So I will use MY GREAT LOVE to drive it out ! But you MUST be STILL, and know that I AM GOD. It is in QUIETNESS and REST that restoration comes.”
Isa 30:15-16a NKJV For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." But you would not, 16 And you said, "No, for we will flee on horses" — Therefore you shall flee!
