Judgment comes by necessity whether it is at the personal level or the national level. Love demands that we have a choice of the path we take: blessing or cursing. The path of cursing is a broad path of destruction whereas the path of blessing is the “narrow” path. Why? Self-preservation is an extremely powerful force in each of us. It draws its power from the original sin of Adam in the garden. Jesus overcame this sin at the cross. Each of us must receive Christ fully and take on our own cross and die to the flesh.
As Kemper mentioned in our Bible study on Sunday, “Fasting is denying the flesh and praying is nourishing the spirit”. Fasting without praying leaves a void to be filled. In Matthew 17, Jesus divulges the need for our spirit to be built up in order to overcome the enemy:
15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
It appears to me that there is a convergence of judgments coming from different fronts. Political, economic, and religious systems have all been exposed and will be judged: “You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting”. Perversity in society is reaching new heights. Scandals in the political and economic systems are everyday occurrences. Manipulation of markets is the new standard. The health of a nation is now defined by its level of pharmaceutical usage. Herbicides and pesticides are used to “control” agricultural production. It is though the protective covering of Our Heavenly Father has been lifted and the demonic influence has been given free rein. The hedge has been lifted. To what end? We will come to the end of “self”.
Ultimately, judgment will come and “Then you shall know that I am the LORD”! Our Heavenly Father has given the current kingdoms of the world their opportunity to pursue righteousness. HE has retained a Remnant who remain loyal to HIM and carry the seed of righteousness through the current season of lawlessness and corruption. Men have mocked those who have remained steadfast but the time is at hand when judgment will be released on the current system. Some have been called to lead in Spiritual Warfare. Others have been called to protect, prepare, and mature the Remnant. These are the ones who have placed their trust in Our Heavenly Father. They have broken down and removed the idols from “their land”. Their first Love is for Our Heavenly Father and the fire is growing in their hearts. They have set aside every weight that would hinder them from fulfilling their purpose. By necessity, a division will come. The tares will be removed from the wheat. The Fiery Law will judge the tares and burn up the unproductiveness found therein.
Are you suffering from unbelief? Quit nourishing your “flesh” and start nourishing your spirit. You will then be prepared when the fullness of judgment comes, in what ever manner it arrives.