WHAT'S ON MY HEART & WHAT'S ON GOD'S HEART

Highlights from a message by Cheryl Rector's ...

I sensed awhile back that Pastor Jerry had an urgency and very intentional in what he was doing. I thought that he was just trying to get us, as a body, in place to be doing what we should be doing.  

On April 1st  I  was out enjoying the day and a sense of urgency came upon me of the many things that had to get done. It  puzzled me as I am = someone who is always looking ahead – years down the road. The urgency came upon me strongly and I thought, “Why the urgency?” I felt it was an urgency to get prepared for something but did not know what that something was.

I have always heard people say, “God is not in a hurry to do things.” Yet, God said, “Behold I come quickly” (Rev. 22:12)! God is moving quickly in the earth and setting things in order for the events to come. Events are unfolding so rapidly that we can hardly keep up.”

There is such madness and gross darkness on the earth. In  Matthew 24:22 Jesus says,  “And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.”

The internet is so full of prophetic signs that no matter what little event happens somebody has a prophetic take on it. In the earth there is so much wickedness - in government – so much greed! We hear about earthquakes, the eclipse, things going on in Israel, nations at war with each other. God is dealing with them, and they all may be signs of the times, not to be ignored, but we must be careful not to get information overload.

The event I am looking for is the return of Jesus Christ. I want to see my Lord and Saviour like never before. I have one eye on Him and one eye on what’s happening in the world.  We must KEEP OUR EYES ON JESUS! My urgency has to do with being prepared, for we know that the Church age is coming to an end!

In my own personal life, my routines, eating habits, work patterns, sleep patterns, everything is upside down and I feel like everything is sinking. I am so glad that I have the solid Rock of Jesus! There’s a song Jimmy Swaggard sang: “We’re sailing in stormy weather; all His children should get together; we need Jesus more than ever.”

There is an urgency! I had 3 words… URGENCY, APRIL and CHURCHES.

APRIL: April is interesting. We have just celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus – our celebration brought us into April. They say that April is to be a month of abundant joy. I thought of Esther and Mordecai. When they found out the predicament they were in they had to execute a plan with strategy and precision. The Jews were about to be wiped out. God did a miracle and reversed the circumstances when they fasted and prayed for three days and nights.

April begins the fourth month. In Hebrew it means “door.” I think of the Israelites and the door posts that they sprinkled with blood so that the death angel passed over; and I think of “double doors” of destiny, (doors of healing, of opportunity, of blessing, of judgment, of salvation.) Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev.3:20).

There are 4 elements: earth, air, fire and water. There are 4 seasons. What is April? It’s spring -but it’s also routine and cultivating. There are 4 directions. Is our direction towards Jesus or are we headed in another direction? I have no sense of direction. The slightest shift can put me totally off course.  We have to stay close to Jesus for that very reason.  Like Esther and Mordecai, it is essential that we have direction from the Holy Spirit and work together with God to reach the goals we desire. For them it was salvation of the Jews. Are we willing to work together to fast and pray and repent, rooting out sin and cultivating the Spirit of Jesus? If we fasted and prayed, would it be the salvation of our families with a double portion of joy and happiness.

Revelation 2 & 3: Do you see this Church in the churches, and do you see yourself in the churches?

1.      The Church at Ephesus – The loveless church. They couldn’t bear the evil they saw around them. Jesus said the He saw their works. They were not quitters but there was something wrong despite their zeal.  They had left their first love and stopped depending upon Christ and the Cross. He told them to repent or else He would come quickly to them.

2.      Smyrna – The martyred church. They were poor outwardly but spiritually rich. The only church He didn’t call to repent.  He exhorted them to be faithful unto death.  “I want to be spiritually rich.”

3.      Pergumus – The Compromising Church. God saw where they dwelt – where satan lives. Persecution had come from within.   They had shifted their faith to other things (i.e. money). Yet there were some who had clung to Christ.  Are we depending more upon money and our condition than on Jesus. He called them to repent.

4.      Thyatira – The corrupt church. They had gone into spiritual adultery and salvation by works.  Sad – they did not heed the message to repent.  But Jesus did say, “Hold fast until I come.”

5.      Sardis – The reformed Church – God said that He knew their works, “You have a name that you live but you are dead.”  They needed to get back to the Cross or else they would lose their way. Their faith was based on dead works. They needed to look into their real condition. We need to look at ourselves.

Yesterday I noticed all the dead wood along the highway. I want to be like the river I saw, with living water flowing from me. When we are not obedient to God a little deadness comes.  When we think we are okay we can get a little off course. Jesus said, “Hold fast and repent.”

6.      Philadelphia – Missionary church – Jesus said that He set a door before them to proclaim the Gospel. There are doors of opportunity opening but sometimes we miss them.  They were few in number but they would be kept from the hour of temptation.  He said that He would come quickly and told them, “Hold fast so that no man take your crown.”.

7. Laodicea – The lukewarm church – They said, “I am increased with wealth and am in need of nothing.” We can’t always equate our riches with blessing. Are we spiritually blessed? They were unconscious of their spiritual poverty and thought they were following Jesus. Jesus urges us to buy gold. (Jesus is our Gold). They were self-righteous.

There are so many voices in the world today and sometimes it is difficult to hear the voice of God.

May we find ourselves at the right door. I am asking you to search your heart and ask yourself, “Do I want to open the door? Do I want to walk with Him?”  If we do we need to be obedient and do what He says.  I think He’s asking us to repent, fast and pray for this is a pivotal month.