SMELLING SMOKE

July 26, 2017

Where do I begin? I have been praying for sometime "Lord, consume anything in me that is not of You and purify what is of You." It seems that I have seasons of growing, pruning and burning, with each thing God reveals it is to shape me into the vessel for His kingdom purpose.

Though God has not called me into the ministry, He has gifted me to operate in the ministry. The gifts He has given me are to be used at His appointed times to support my pastors and edify the body. Yet there are things buried deep within me, that I don't want to see, don't want to accept, nor have God reveal them to me. It's like standing naked before God and looking into a mirror at the same time. ( all exposed and looking ugly)

As my heart's desire is to be in the will of God, seeking Him praying for revival and saying "Lord let it begin in me". God honors these prayers. And as painful as exposure is, repentance will bring such a healing peace that pushes me forward in victory over my flesh.

God has been talking and burning and pruning a lot these last few days, can you smell the smoke? But what He has said to me today is, when I allow these hidden sins to go on, they will hinder me in His plan for my work in our body. I just remembered my pastor recently had a message on that (more than one) my sin affects the whole body and sin breaks the unity. Wow! The Holy Spirit is so good! God has shown me over and over how much He loves me, then here comes the discipline. Our recent conversation Me: "Lord what is wrong with that person?  I need discernment Lord to see what is happening". God: "No Linda you need to see what is wrong with you." Ouch! Jesus spoke about this as I remembered Him speaking on removing our plank from our eye.

We are told to examine ourselves, the Holy Spirit will reveal and bring to the surface, through conviction, not condemnation, for the purpose of true repentance. Thankful God shows us a little at a time, like peeling away layers.

Without seeing our need to repent, why would we think we needed revival? 

During this process, we will find that the consuming and the pruning are just as painful, yet most necessary for our transformation, our spiritual growth and our moving forward with Jesus.

Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire

Psalm 66:10 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined

God will prepare us for His outpouring, but we have to lay ourselves on the altar and say: " Here am I Lord, cleanse me as one who refines silver, test me and see if there is an unclean thing within me." This also a part of our dying to self, our surrender to His will, His way. Whatever we may think of our maturity level, suddenly in this process we are humbled with the truth.

Some of you may wonder "Why does she write this stuff"? So let me say this, I want to encourage each of you, our journey of growing is on going it did not stop with our salvation. I was 27 years old when I came to know Jesus, I was not always faithful to God. But when I came to my senses I came running back to my Father, and have set my path to never run from Him again. I am now closing in on 70 years of age and God continues to love me, to bless me and to discipline me. He has never let go if me, He desires that I walk in victory so when something  has sat up in my thinking, my actions, my words He quickly reveals to me that this is not His way, this is sin! And I in repentance must acknowledge my sin to Him and ask for forgiveness. Our testimony in Christ continues as long as we are on this earth. The word says we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by our testimony. 

Be encouraged, it is good for God to show us our sins, so we can move as victorious conquerors.