standing under – understanding

“…If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”  Proverbs 2.3-6 NIV

We have a great need for understanding in these times.  As the world continues its seeming implosion, where is true insight and illumination into what is actually occurring?   It seems nearly every aspect within our societies is broken and their ineptness becomes increasingly apparent.  The world is not able to deliver on their proposals of the betterment of humanity.  We are left bankrupt with only continuing problematic complexities and no clear remedies. 

We have across the globe an abundance of men and women who sit in positions of leadership that have no discernable amount of wisdom nor understanding into the days in which we live not to mention how we should proceed toward viable resolution. 

“…The sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…” 1 Chronicles 12.32  

Currently, the Body of Christ is not exempt in our great need of understanding.  We should be the people who specialize in understanding the days in which we live, much like the sons of Issachar did in their days.  Rather, we have stored up like megabytes, bits of truth that we hold as mere information only to fill our craniums and inflate our pride.  We have suffered because of this.  We must allow Truth to take up residence in our spirit-man so that we will be illumined with understanding.  Information alone will not serve us well in these days in which we are living.  A perfected and polished theology of favored doctrines void of faith will not sustain us today nor lead the way into tomorrow.  As the darkness continues to increase on the earth, understanding will be necessary.  Only a living, continual communication and interaction with the living Word of God will suffice.

“Give me understanding that I may live.”  Psalm 119.114

This understanding that I am referencing is given from God.  It is not an understanding from within our self.   (“…lean not on your own understanding…” Proverbs 3.5)    Jesus possessed understanding and also imparted it.   (“The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding…” Isaiah 11.2).    Jesus “opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” (Luke 24.45)    Paul  prays that the “eyes of your understanding” be enlightened in order that we may grasp (comprehend and experience) all that is ours in Christ.

The days in front of us will be dark for the systems of this world and all who live by those systems.  Our gaze must not be on the bleakness of our times – we must keep our mind set on things above.   Jesus, in instructing us in how to pray,  told us to ask this of our Father —  that the way things are in His presence (in heaven) become a reality for us here on earth.   Many prophetic words spoken by the Spirit of God have informed us of the dire days ahead.  Now, what will we do with these revelations and warnings?  How do we respond?  As God enlightens us with His understanding we will be given insight into the big picture and why these things are happening; and why the things you are personally going through are happening.  Furthermore, we will be given directives as to how we should proceed amidst all that is occurring around us.  It is imperative that we remain steadfast in our belief that God is working for our good;  He is not against us. 

It will not be enough to just be aware of what is coming.  Even in knowing what is barreling towards us we will not be exempt from the possibility of becoming offended.  We really must steer clear of any inclination or temptation to become accusatory against our God when we see the world around us falling apart.   Our God is only capable of love and is full of goodness.  My suggestion is that we, as the sons of God, ask our Father for a spirit of understanding to be given to us, and that in abundance.  He is a perfect Father and His desire is for us to walk in a mature measure of understanding so that we fully experience all of His love and goodness. (1 Corinthians 14.20).  He really wants to give us understanding – let’s ask Him for it.  With understanding we will be able to look past the current world climate and stand firm in faith fully aware and believing that all of God’s promises that He has spoken will come to pass on the earth.  Living in this understanding will allow us to mature in our inherited positions as kings and priests; learning to rule together with Christ in His ever-increasing government here among the nations of the earth. 

Courage & Strength, 

Christopher Paul

http://anear2hear.wordpress.com

a time to tear down, and a time to build

A time to tear down, and a time to build. (Ecclesiastes 3.3) America has not yielded to the warning  judgments (the disciplines) that God has sent thus far.  So, then, we remain in a season of “tearing down”.  This will continue until as a nation we return to the Lord’s way of doing things.  We have traded sure foundations for feeble foundations and we have allowed these to remain and therefore the structures built on them will not stand much longer. 

Now we will see a further tearing down that will roar like an immense waterfall.  It will seem as if we have plunged over the edge feeling the sensation of falling to certain destruction.  BUT,  “the voice of the Lord is over the waters, The God of glory thunders; the Lord is over many waters” (Psalm 29.3).  This will be a grand opportunity to hear the Lord speaking, even in judgment there is mercy.  In the fear of the Lord there will be those who will turn their ears to find out what the Lord would desire to say; these will become teachable as they allow the Holy Spirit to correct their ways.  “For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” (Isaiah 26.9)   If we will do just this then the course of this nation can be corrected; thereby rescuing our land from certain demise.

These perverse structures, organizations, institutions, governments, economies, constructs, etc. currently are rooted in falsehood and not in Truth.  Dark motives, the love of money, human exploitation, the indulgence of the profane and base have all flourished.   We ascribe much worth to other “gods” instead of declaring a supreme worthiness for the Most High God – the only One worthy of our full attention, adoration and longing.  These contemptibly inadequate works are all comparable to the Tower of Babel – built by our own whim and efforts instead of by the will, initiating and enabling of a Holy God who’s every intention towards us is good. (Psalm 127.1)  “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by crime!  Has not the Lord Almighty determined that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?  For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord , as the waters cover the sea.”  (Habakkuk 2.13,14)

It is not yet the “time to build”.  But that time will surely come.  The Lord is setting apart “the builders”.  He is currently giving hope and vision to these who will by the Spirit see through and beyond this current climate of dismantling.  They, like Abraham, see a City whose architect and builder is God and they believe fully that He will not be thwarted in His intended goal. (Hebrews 11.10).  The Lord will have those He uses to restore and rebuild the ancient ruins. (Isaiah 58.12) These will be those who desire to see their Great God put on display before the nations in all of His majestic splendor. (Isaiah 60.3,4)

These craftsmen, those who will build, will soon emerge from their hidden places of preparation.  They will rise to the surface to commence “building” and in so doing “terrify the nations” as the habitation of God that is constructed will be on a foundation of righteousness and truth and therefore never falter or be destroyed. (Zechariah 1.18-21)  In part, this will be Psalm 149.6-9, “May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, to carry out the sentence written against them.  This is the glory of all His saints.” 

God loves America; may America come to her senses and find her desire fulfilled in the Desire of All Nations, who is the Lord our God, the King Jesus Christ (Haggai 2.7).  This will be a correct and proper path for us to journey, for “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14.34)

God, we ask, remember mercy ! (Habakkuk 3.2)

Courage & Strength,

Christopher Paul

http://anear2hear.wordpress.com/

you snooze – you lose !

The alarms have been sounding for sometime now. Warning sirens from many and varied voices have been sending out a clear call to awaken as many who would care to listen. My desire has been, and is now, to be a yet another voice to those who may be able to hear from me. We should all be able to see by now that a shift has been set in motion and a momentum is building worldwide. This shift is bringing us into unprecedented perilous, dark days. We can no longer afford to hit the snooze button and fall back to sleep – pretending that life will go on unhindered and remain the same, desiring to stay in a dream state detached from the reality around us.

Please!! - wake up from the mindset of wanting to turn the clock back, longing for the “way things use to be”. Let me be clear, those days are over and gone – we must clearly and coherently be tuned into today so that we may survive and prosper into tomorrow. This must be done WITHOUT FEAR! The fear that is rapidly overtaking the planet does not have to (and must not) attach itself to those who follow Jesus. In fact, we must do all to stay in peace knowing that our refuge can be the Lord our God (Psalm 91). He has also made many promises to us regarding these days – for example, it is in the darkest days that the people of God will wake up & SHINE because His literal glory He will cause to be seen in us and on us (Isaiah 60). Search out and find more promises in the scriptures that are able to keep you in peace in these difficult times.

We really should not even be surprised by all this happening around us. Jesus told us these things would happen. In fact, these things are required to occur in order for a transition from this epoch of time into the next when Jesus will come to “restore all things”. Jesus was not impressed that the folks in his day could tell you what the weather was going to do tomorrow but they had no idea what days they were living in – they could not (or did not) discern the times in which they were living. (Matthew 16). With all the amazing technology we have today, I’m sure the same thing would be said in our day – do we know the days in which we are living?

On the practical side, I do believe it is worth our consideration to take action toward preparations; whether it be stocking up on food for your family, rearranging your finances, evaluating the location where you live, etc – that’s just being wise. But for sure, ask the Lord what you should do in your own situation to be prepared to ride out the dark days so that you can RISE & SHINE and help others in the hard times ahead.

Courage & Strength,

Christopher Paul

http://anear2hear.wordpress.com

hot rod…of iron

I am so often amazed at how it seems our God is the Supreme multi-tasker.  He is continually doing many different things simultaneously in perfect harmony and efficiency all to produce His desires in those who say “yes” to His purposes.  Lately, He has highlighted one of these tasks He desires to accomplish in me (and in you too), if we will choose to allow Him to complete His work.

One of the things that scripture reveals is that in Christ we are, and He is making us into, a kingdom of priests (1 Peter 2.9).  We are to be both kings and priests under the leadership of The Great King, Jesus who is the Christ (The King of kings).  So we see revealed, God’s desire for this people is to rule and reign here on the earth (Revelation 1.6; 5.10).  But how does He accomplish this in us – what is the process He surely must take us through in order that we may be fit to rule and reign with him?  These are the things I’ve been considering lately.  Maybe some of these thoughts will be helpful and encourage you to not give up or turn around and retreat.  His plans for you are good.

Jesus is, currently, the King of a Kingdom that will never end (Ps 145.13).  Not only will this government of Jesus never end, it will never stop increasing.  “Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end. (Isaiah 9.7)  Throughout history a signature accessory of a king was his scepter.  It represented the authority that the king possessed and with which he ruled over his kingdom.  We are told that the scepter that the Lord rules His kingdom with is a scepter of justice (Psalm 45.6) Furthermore; this scepter is further elaborated with the imagery of being an iron scepter, a rod of iron (Psalm 2.9; Revelation 2.27, 12.5, 19.15).

I have been considering that the Lord’s iron scepter with which He rules the nations is actually those kingly priests who reign with him on the earth (Revelation 2.26, 27).  But then how might this rod of iron be produced?  I have looked a bit into this iron making process and I believe there is some helpful insights if we allow them to speak to us.  Iron must be placed in a furnace – with an intense heat in order to make it malleable.  One source of information I found said, “iron is more difficult to form into metal than copper or bronze, because it needs a much hotter fire and a more complicated process, but it is much more useful than copper or bronze as well.”  In history, iron needed to be forged – it needed to be “worked”.  A blacksmith worked iron – black metal.  “Smith” actually comes from the word “smite” or “to strike” (to hit).  The blacksmith would “smite” the black metal in order to fashion it into the instrument of his desire. 

Recall that Israel was held in slavery in Egypt – then God delivered them and set them on a course heading into great promise – including overcoming and ruling nations and the land.  God declares more than once in scripture that Egypt was an “iron furnace” for Israel (Deuteronomy 4.20; 1 Kings 8.51; Jeremiah 11.4).  It seems this “furnace of affliction” was the Lord’s way of preparing – fashioning this people into an instrument of “rule”.  Through Isaiah, the Lord says to Israel – (in my words) look, I’ve refined you, but not like silver; I put you through the furnace of affliction that I might choose you so that I could share my glory with you – with the goal that my name would not be polluted – I would be seen for who I AM through you. (Isaiah 48.10)(also see John 17.22) 

This same furnace of affliction awaits those who desire to come into this place of ruling and reigning with Christ in His Kingdom.  To be so united with Christ in this manner is a stunning & available promise.  However, it requires a process of great intensity where the hot fires of the furnace of our afflictions burn off all of our self-reliance and the ways of the world so that we are an instrument freely wielded by Our Great King Jesus to rule the nations.  If we will endure the hardships that come with this furnace then we will also reign with Him. (2 Timothy 2.3-12).  His great rule of justice and peace will soon be seen on the earth.  Jesus is the desire of ALL nations, He is what they long for – and I very much desire to see and participate in His perfect justice and perfect peace ruling the nations. 

Courage & Strength, 

Christopher Paul

http://anear2hear.wordpress.com

a great precipice

On Wednesday night (early hours of January 20, 2011) I had a dream.  I was in Washington, DC in a room filled with only members of Congress.  A congresswoman was trying to show her peers a picture in an old book (I could tell the book was old because of its yellowed pages and the image she was showing was of a sepia-tone, similar to black & white.  The image was like a drawing more than a photo). 

Referring to the image, the congresswoman kept saying, 

“It’s a ‘Great Precipice’ and we are right there, right now.” 

But it seemed that not really anyone in the room cared to listen to her – they basically ignored her.  She was getting a bit frantic trying to warn the others. 

As I dreamt, my sense was that we had been up against this precipice before as a nation (represented by the ‘documenting of the precipice in this old book).  As I listened to her – I also had this thought, “the plates could shift and cause this” (I was thinking of the ‘tectonic plates’).    This dream ends. 

___________

The very next evening (January 21) I had another dream – I was with other believers just chatting and visiting and I happened to notice a bottle of shampoo on a coffee table.  It seemed out of place, but I picked up the bottle and saw written on the front, at the top the word -“Precipice”.  I then told my friends with whom I was speaking that the Lord was confirming what He had shown me the previous night (I then told them the “Great Precipice” dream).   The dream ends.

                                                                                                                                     

Dreams are one of the ways in which God speaks to His people.  This dream, I believe, was given from the Lord as a warning – a wake up call and an invitation into increased prayer for our nation (USA).  It seems as though He is alerting us that a happening on a national scale with negative consequence is imminent.  The imagery is of our nation literally cascading off of the side of a high cliff with devastating results.  My personal response to this dream (and I encourage you to consider similar action) is to in prayer ask our Lord to stop our forward progression toward the “cliff’s edge”.  But if that is unavoidable at this point, I am asking in His mercy that He would minimize the resulting devastation.  A third thing I am asking of Him is, if possible, would He delay this judgment so that more intercessors could join in and call out to Him for mercy.  It is abundantly clear that our nation no longer desires God’s way – we have turned our back on Him in multiple ways and God will only tolerate this for so long.  We have listened to a lie and have believed that God is against our good – the contrary is true, He has a good plan for this nation, but we must cooperate with Him to achieve our destination that He desires.  We have believed that we are so wise,  rich and power that our way is the best – we could not be more wrong!  May God have mercy and cause us to change our mind and say “YES” to the ways of God.

Courage & Strength,

Christopher Paul

run to rest !

The ancient paths made available to us to journey on offer an amazing end – “rest for your soul” (Jeremiah 6.16).  This “rest” however is not a respite in regards to activity or a license into laziness – quite the contrary.  For those who desire to know their God, great invitation is offered them to engage in wonderful “works”.   It is much like a son working right beside his father.  A son loves to imitate his daddy – watching every move he makes; desiring to mimic his skill and therefore always learning and maturing.  The father initiates the necessary activity he and his son will participate in on any given day and the son does not care as much about what the activity is but treasures more the time spent next to his daddy.

Jesus put on display perfectly this type of relationship with His Father (God).  He himself said of this relationship “the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.  For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” (John 5.19,20).  This prescribed pattern is meant for us to imitate.  We have been given a promise that offers a place of rest.  It is a place of living where we are not led by our own mind, will or emotions (a.k.a. – our soul).  This rest is only available when our spirit is led by Holy Spirit.  The activities in which we engage in this natural realm must not be of our own initiating – this only produces stress on varied and multiple levels.  As humanity continues to insist on finding within themselves the “answers” to living, note how the stress level of humanity is on the rise.  Anything prompted by Holy Spirit and our spirit responding accordingly will always result in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.

Ok, so that may sound all fine and well to you – but how does this really occur?  It is as simple as hearing the voice of our Father – God.  It is simple – but not easy.  My own experience has shown me that it requires turning off every other voice that tries to capture my attention.  Each person has different “voices” that call out to them – different things that try to distract and persuade them to journey down a path that cannot and will not lead to “rest”.  It is literally a life and death matter to learn to hear the voice of our God – coupled together with hearing comes faith that we must respond to with belief.  It’s like saying “ok Lord I hear you and my response is YES!  My heart’s desire is to work along side You”.   This pattern will cause us to cease from our self-initiated “works” and enter into only those things God has chosen for us to do with Him.  It is truly an exhilarating existence, this hanging on to every word our “Daddy” speaks and then cooperating with Him to engage in activity of His choosing.  It is life at its fullest.

Be afraid – be very afraid…of not entering this rest that has been promised (Hebrews 4.1).  How tragic to be given an amazing promise – something nearly unimaginable but yet absolutely available and then to not “cash in” on that promise simply because we chose to say “well that’s just really too good to be true,  I don’t believe it!”.  The result for such an individual is severe – it is literally choosing death over life.  Let’s run after this “rest” –  we will not be disappointed, we will find it to be the high-way of LIFE!

Courage & Strength,

Christopher Paul

http://anear2hear.wordpress.com

to journey on ancient paths

I’m not going to beat around the bush – the bottom line is, it’s all about  life vs. death.  Yesterday it was true, the same for today and it will be so tomorrow that there stands before each of us the choice of advancing into life or retreating into death.  “…I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice and hold fast to Him.” (Deuteronomy 30.19 niv)  This was God speaking to Israel while they were in the wilderness.  But let’s go back even before that.  Adam and Eve in the garden were offered the same thing.  They had available the Tree of Life which had no restrictions.  Then there was the Tree of the knowledge of good & evil.  This tree was there so that a choice would be required of Adam and Eve.  They were told if they took the fruit of that tree and ate it – then they would literally be choosing death.  And we know that they opted for death.  Seems crazy huh? 

Well,  I have been considering how much “death” I choose everyday.  Every choice for “life” advances us further down the road where the light shines brighter and life actually increases.  The full intention of God from the very start was for man to never die – Adam was created already possessing life that would never end.  He actually had to choose against that life and by his own decision select death instead.  The whole scope of history has been the unveiling of God’s remedy for that really bad decision.  Jesus Christ is the remedy. He fixed the whole situation when He actually gave himself up to death – he actually purchased back this “unending life” for those who would go after it by faith and believe it to be so.  “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2.9 niv)  Now, as it was in the beginning, life unending is again available to humanity.  But not by default, life still remains an option – it is a choice. 

But we stand in a position opposite of where Adam and Eve originally stood.  We, by default, are eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  We are already “feasting” on death.  We were born into this “way”.  Simply said it is the way of the world – it is being driven by our soul & flesh – instead of following our spirits as it communes with God’s Spirit.   So then, one must abandon that “instinct” and choose to eat from the tree of life.  The continual dining on the fruit of this beautiful tree will cause us to walk like Jesus did – with every increasing relationship with our Father God.  This is the only way that will produce life; life without end (and let me further say Jesus himself said that I would not be able to follow the example of any other human to achieve this end – no one else throughout history could do it, Jesus alone walked it out flawlessly). 

Adam walked with God in the garden.  This is what I desire – to walk with God – it is the purpose for which I was created.  But even greater than that, it has always been God’s desire – he always has wanted to walk with me!(and the same goes for you too!)  Consider this imagery.  God has prepared a “path” – it is the way prepared for us to walk into this “life” that has no end.  Jeremiah 6.16 says that it is an ancient path – it has existed throughout every age for it is perpetual.  The path is unremarkable – it is simple.  It is straight and level.  Upon setting foot here, one will proceed westward for the path leads into light that will be shining brighter and brighter.  Much of the time it is a lonely road for few select to venture there.  Yet for those who dare to proceed, the voice of their Father will be their comfort as He speaks instruction on how to put one foot in front of the other in order to advance.  The further this traveler journeys the more dependent he becomes on hearing that voice – for Wisdom has taught him that without that continual hearing he will veer off this life destined path; and from experience he fears abandoning this way for the putrid smell of death has become increasingly repugnant to him.   It seems more desirable to starve from lack of physical food than to experience a famine of his Father’s voice; for in true reality it alone leads to life without end. The Promise lies just ahead, it is very near as this one traveling secures increasing rest – his Father has always longed for this son to join Him in this rest.

Courage & Strength,

Christopher Paul

http://anear2hear.wordpress.com

the crossroads

“This is what the Lord says:  ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’” Jeremiah 6.16 (NIV) 

As has occurred at various times throughout history, the world again stands at a crucial, pivotal point.  The decisions made in this current season will affect not only our own personal journey but also the environment for coming generations.  This is true, I believe, on many levels for society as a whole but for my purpose here I would like to share some thoughts regarding our personal journey with God.

Transition, change, & shift – these words seem to be showing up everywhere these days.  It seems that many are being brought to a place where suddenly our eyes are being opened and we are discovering that we cannot continue with business as usual.  I believe God has caused this stirring in us.  He desires to advance us; not further into our base humanity but rather back into His original intention. 

We stand at a crossroads and a decision will be required of us.  Considering this crossroads image I think of two scenarios.  First, one may be tracking along a good course – desiring more of God, following hard after Jesus, dying to self, letting go of the love of the world, etc – but then we come along to a place where we are confronted with options.  These options, if we were to choose them, will cause us to veer completely away from the course we had been traveling.  It would be like making a 90-degree turn at an intersection of 2 roads – roads that have opposing destinations.  A second scenario is that one may currently be traveling along a road with a less than good destiny.  “There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14.12 & 16.25)  In this second case, upon encountering the crossroads, wisdom would welcome the opportunity to make the advantageous 90-degree turn down the opposing good and proper path.    (to clarify – I am writing this in an attempt to encourage present followers of Jesus Christ – so then, I am not referring here to the notion of securing your “ticket to heaven” or some similar labeling.  There is much more that God is about than that)

Our Father God has, in His perfect provision, made this path available to us to journey.  This path was made available from the beginning of time/creation.  It is the path our Father God always intended for man to travel.  It is a truly ancient way.  It is where Adam walked. This path leads to ever increasing life, as opposed to death.  Until he broke relationship with his Father, Adam journeyed along this most wondrous path.  I believe that others in scripture came to discover and travel down this path as well; Enoch, Melchizedek, Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist, Jesus – to mention a few.  These at some point in their earthly journey came upon the “crossroads”; they considered wisdom and selected to go the proven, supreme, ancient path.  “For inquire, please, of the former age, and consider the things discovered by their fathers.  For we were born yesterday, and know nothing…” (Job 8.8,9 nkj)

It is laid out so plainly for us (Jeremiah 6.16).  Stand, look, ask, & walk – there is a progression it seems to discover and journey in this way of the ancients.  This current season I believe has caused many to stand before this juncture of opposing paths. So then “look” and consider how to proceed – where will these divergent paths ultimately lead?  Then make request of the Lord that he show the path of wisdom, leading into increasing life.  Once we ask, trust Him to speak.  “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, yours ears will hear a voice behind you, saying ‘this is the way, walk in it.’” (Isaiah 30.21)  Also recall this promise; “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119.105).   (more on “walk” later…)

The planet is changing.  Don’t resist it – rather consider how to proceed.  Allow all this current shifting to transition you onto a sure path leading into more of God.  For those who dare to venture there, increasing light and life is sure.

Courage & Strength,

Christopher Paul

http://anear2hear.wordpress.com

Enoch 2912

On the first day of summer, June 22, 2009, I was given a dream. I was at an airport – I was going on a trip and boarding the airplane. As I stepped onto the airplane, I handed my boarding pass to the attendant at the door – I never saw the attendant, but was simply aware that he was there. As I handed him my boarding pass he said to me “Enoch twenty-nine twelve (2912)”. I knew that he was reading from my boarding pass, my seat assignment. I thought to myself that it was unusual – I had never heard of this type of seat assignment.

The attendant began to walk ahead of me escorting me to this unusual seat assignment of “Enoch 2912″. As we proceeded, the plane seemed to look more like a building with a center hallway. There were rooms to my left and to my right. As I walked by a few of these rooms the doors were open and I looked in. There were many people in these rooms, some of whom were sitting at what looked like a large dining table. I noticed that the doors to these rooms were labeled – each room was labeled with one of the Tribes of Israel.

The experience ended at this point. With the attendant still escorting me, I never arrived at my seat assignment. But I knew that my seat was located behind all of these 12 rooms designated for the tribes of Israel. My seat would be closer to the back portion of “the plane”.

————

The weight of this experience was heavy as I awoke and realized that the Lord had spoken profoundly to me. I immediately began asking Him for insight and understanding into what He was showing me. But He spoke nothing. For 3 1/2 months I inquired of Him the meaning to what He was intending to show me through that encounter. Suddenly one morning as I was with Him He did open it up to me.

As I share what He gave to me as the understanding, I urge you to take hold of this for yourself. Yes, I was given the encounter and there is personal application for me – however, i do feel the Lord has instructed me that this is not simply for me alone. It is for whoever would desire the same, therefore this is the reason why I am sharing this with you.

I believe that the Lord has given me an invitation (the seat assignment) into a reality. He desires and intends to take me somewhere – He has a destination in mind for me. In order to arrive at this intended destination, it will require that I be escorted by Holy Spirit (represented by the attendant). He knows where the “seat” is located and how to take me there. I do not know how to get there – i simply must follow His lead. It is an ancient path that must be encountered. A path that precedes even the Old Covenant that the Tribes of Israel lived under. It goes back to the days in which Enoch lived.  “This is what the Lord says:  Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6.16)  Only Holy Spirit can take me there. Enoch walked this path. Scripture states the “Enoch walked with God.” (Genesis 5.24) It goes on to say that “then he (Enoch) was no more, because God took him away.” There was something so unique – so unusual about Enoch’s relationship with God that I believe He came into a place of complete unity with God – He was joined together with God (not that He became God). I feel this is an early reference to the relationship the Church (or the Bride of Christ) is invited to have with her husband – Jesus.

I believe the Lord also opened up the mystery of the number “2912″. This is the number of days equaling 8 years. So what I believe the Lord is indicating is that I could arrive at my intended seat assignment in eight years. That will be the summer of 2017. This timetable I believe indicates that I can arrive at “that path” by that date — not that I will have arrived at the end of that path (Enoch had 300 years walking on that path). Now, this has really caused a trembling in me — such that I immediately understand the only way for this to occur is that I hand myself over to allowing Holy Spirit to take me there – and even the dying to myself that will be required will only occur as His grace enables me. But nothing is impossible with God and I do desire this. I desire to come into a place of walking with God, a place of unity – of being one with Jesus.  A reality that Enoch knew.

God desires this for many – this is what we were created for – to encounter God at this level. The invitations are being given now — who will accept the invite and determine to follow Holy Spirit?  He alone is willing and able to take us to this intended destination.

Courage & Strength,

Christopher Paul

http://anear2hear.wordpress.com

a decade of “a-Ha!”

Great change is occurring and will continue in both the Church of Jesus Christ and the world in general.   Change that will produce increasing light for the Church and increasing darkness for those not in pursuit of Jesus (Isaiah 60.1-3).   We are entering a season that could be described as the “Decade of A-ha! “ (this is how it was spoken to me).  The inference here is that it will be a time of mysteries being revealed.

I find it interesting that man has been created with a capacity to be fascinated by mysteries.  People speak of the “mysteries of the universe”, and there are plenty of television programs dedicated to probing “unsolved mysteries” and there is even a genre of literature known as “Mystery”.  God has created us with a longing to peer into a mystery and the desire for the discovery or the unveiling.  In a mystery novel the very moment that the mystery is revealed is called the “A-ha” moment; when in an instant what has been hidden is made known and everything suddenly becomes clear.  

As we arrive at 2010, the new decade will bring some inventions that will be important for humanity.   The most notable coming inventions will be the result of “crushing necessity”.  In other words the difficult days ahead will produce an environment ripe for invention and discovery.  Some of these having been worked on and pursued for years with no success will seem to be suddenly unveiled to the inventor.  The various fields within science and medicine will have great discoveries; innovative technologies and inventions will increase – I believe that there will be an emphasis on transportation.  A popular quote is “necessity is the mother of all invention.”  This will certainly prove true in the coming decade.

But most important are the mysteries that will be revealed to the portion of the Church desiring more of God.   The Lord will grant that the veil be lifted off of some mysteries (even a profound mystery) that have been hidden from the ages until this appointed time.  Fresh light and revelation will come on portions of scripture that will cause us to realize that we’ve never truly seen the fullness of truth hidden there (the A-ha! moment).  Specifically, I believe the Lord highlighted Ephesians 5.31,32 regarding Christ and His Church becoming one flesh, this mystery is said to be profound.  An understanding of this truth that the Church has never walked in will be granted in order to move Her into the place of manifesting that truth.  This will bring needed maturity to the Bride of Christ so that she will begin walking in the full measure of Christ (Ephesians 4.13).   As well, I believe there is a coming revealing of the mystery regarding that “we will not all sleep”  (1 Corinthians 15.51) ; so that greater understanding will be given regarding that truth, to give opportunity to begin engaging our faith in that regard.

Jesus would speak with the crowds only in parables, therefore speaking as in a mystery.  But only when He was alone with his disciples would He remove the veil and give them the understanding into the mystery (Mark 4.34).  In the same way today’s disciples of Jesus will have to “get alone with Him” in the place of intimacy, to receive these revelations into the mysteries that will remain hidden from “the crowds”.  He doesn’t reveal His mysteries to casual followers, only His “disciples”. 

By the end of this coming decade His disciples will have a more “normal vision” of Jesus as they have welcomed greater understanding into mysteries of God that have been opened to them.  This proper vision also will come as they fix their gaze on Jesus in response to the “crushing necessity” of the difficult times ahead.  The fuzzy vision that we now have entering this season will become clearer and clearer as we go through the decade.  Jesus is helping us as He perfects our faith – that time is getting nearer where our faith will have vision.

Courage & Strength,

Christopher Paul

http://anear2hear.wordpress.com