Wake Up, Disengage and Draw Near!
By
Harry
Oliver
The Lord
has
impressed
upon
many
hearts
that His
chastening,
purging,
and
purifying
judgment
of love
is now
upon His
church
(Matthew
5:13; 1
Peter
4:12-19;
1John
3:1-3; 1
Corinthians
11:31-32;
2
Corinthians
13:5;
Hebrews
12:5-11;
Jude
17-25;
Revelation
2:4, 14,
20; 3:2,
14-22).
God’s
goal in
this
post
9/11
hour is
to
create a
longing
for
“home”
in the
hearts
of His
children
(Romans
8:18-25;
Philippians
1:21-23;
2
Corinthians
5:1-10;
2
Timothy
4:7-8;
Revelation
22:20).
The
shaking
of the
earth
that is
now
occurring,
is
designed
to cause
us to
see this
world of
Satan’s
dominion
and
man’s
depravity
for what
it
really
is:
Brief,
full of
trouble,
and
destined
for
destruction
(Psalm
39:4-6;
90:10;
John
16:33;
Romans
13:12; 1
Corinthians
7:31; 1
John
2:17).
It
is to
AWAKEN
the
people
of God
from our
complacent
slumber
and
sleep
(Matthew
25:1-13;
Mark
13:32-37;
Luke
12:35-40;
Romans
13:1-12;
Ephesians
5:14-17;
1
Thessalonians
5:1-11),
force us
to
DISENGAGE
from the
entanglement
of this
present,
cursed
world,
that is
under
the
control
of
Satan’s
insane
rebellion
against
God’s
sovereignty
(Luke
4:5-8;
21:34-36;
1 John
5:19; 1
Corinthians
7:29-31;
1 John
2:15-17;
Hebrews
12:1;
Colossians
3:1-3;
John
17:15;
Galatians
1:4;
James
4:4;
Revelation
18:4; 2
Corinthians
6:17),
and
DRAW
NEAR to
Him
(Psalm
91:1;
John
15:1-17;
James
4:7-8;
Philippians
3:10;
Hebrews
4:16;
10:21-22,24-25;
Mark
12:30;
Psalm
27:8;
42:1).
I
am
convinced
that a
time of
necessity
is
coming
for the
church
in
America,
when our
only
reference
point
will be
our
intimate
knowledge
of God’s
love and
faithfulness
(Jeremiah
9:6-7,
23-24;
Psalm
32:8-11;
33:4,
z18-22;
34:15-22;
36:5;
37:23-29).
The
severity
of
necessity
will be
determined
by how
much we
are
controlled
by self
and this
world.
Christ
cannot
be
formed
in a
life
controlled
by self
and this
world
(Romans
8:29;
12:1-2).
The
coming
period
will be
one in
which
the Lord
may seem
to you
as being
distant
and
silent.
Depending
on your
view of,
and
approach
to Him,
It may
almost
look and
feel to
you like
rejection
and
abandonment,
as He
begins
to Shake,
Topple,
and
Overthrow,
every
physical
and
intellectual
monument
to self,
both
personal
and
corporate,
that
have
been
built by
the
Pride of
selfish
ambition
and
empty
glory-seeking
using
His
name.
The
Lord’s
purpose
in this
discipline
is
three-fold:
(1) To
correct
the
correctable
and to
prepare
the
wicked
for
destruction
(Isaiah
55:7;
Ezekiel
18:23,
32;
33:11;
Romans
2:4-5; 1
Timothy
2:4; 2
Peter
3:9).
(2)
Remove
every
obstacle
that
hinders
intimacy
with
those
whom He
loves.
(3) To
cleanse
every
spot,
stain,
wrinkle
and
blemish,
that
would
make His
bride
unworthy
to be
offered.
(Psalms
13:1,2;
22:11,19;
27:7-19;
30:6-7;
42:1,2;
44:23-26;
63:1,2;
73:23-28;
102:1,2;
84:2;
143:6,7-11;
Proverbs
3:11,12;
Isaiah
26:7-11;
Jeremiah
29:13;
Hosea
5:15;
John
14:1-6;
2
Corinthians
11:2;
Ephesians
1:4;
5:27;
Philippians
2:3-11;
3:10;
Colossians
1:22;
Jude 24;
Hebrews
12:1-13;
1 Peter
4:17-19).
Our
love,
trust,
and
obedience,
must
rest on
our
intimate
knowledge
of His
Word
that
describes
His
character.
It is
through
His
Word, as
it is
written,
and
correctly
interpreted,
that He
reveals
Himself,
and we
gain
intimate
relationship
knowledge
of the
Most
High
God.
Without
it we
cannot
know
Him.
(Hebrews
3:10-11;
cf.
Proverbs
2:1-7;
Jeremiah
9:23-24)
His Word
is Who
He says
He is,
and what
He
promises
that He
will and
will not
do. He
has
promised
to never
leave,
forsake,
or to
let us
fall
(Psalm
55:22;
Hebrews
13:5;
Philippians
4:11; 1
Timothy
6:6-11).
He says
to us:
“Taste
and see,
which
means
(know by
experience)
that the
Lord is
good”
(Psalm
34:8).
It is
easy to
trust
Him when
things
are
going
our way.
But what
about
when
things
in our
safe,
comfortable
spiritual
lives
are
spiraling
out of
our
control,
and all
of our
neat and
largely
self-centered
formulas
of faith
are:
shattered
in order
to be
altered?
The very
foundation
of our
faith
could
soon to
be
shaken,
and our
belief
in the
God who
says
that He
loves us
will be
tried.
Why? An
untested
faith
simply
cannot
be
trusted
(John
16:33;
Acts
14:22;
Romans
5:3;
12:2; 1
Thessalonians
3:3-4; 1
Timothy
3:12;
James
1:3; 1
Peter
1:3-7).
You
don’t
really
know
that God
won’t
leave,
forsake,
or let
you
fall,
until He
takes
you to
the
place of
falling
(Hebrews
13:5;
Deuteronomy
31:6-8;
Psalm
16:8;
21:7;
37:24;
91:7;
145:
14).
Contrary
to some
of
today’s
broad
road,
self-serving,
give to
get,
cost you
nothing
preaching
and
teaching,
that is
becoming
increasingly
more
hollow,
and out
of touch
with the
times in
which we
now live
(Matthew
7:13,14;
2
Timothy
4:1-4).
This is
not the
time for
self-centered
introspection,
the
pursuit
of our
own
personal
happiness,
or
worldly
full
satisfaction
and
attachment,
because,
by God’s
hand
peace
and
security
are
absent
from the
earth
(Genesis
19:15-26;
Isaiah
9:6,7;
45:7;
48:22;
57:20-21;
Jeremiah
6:14;
Lamentations
2:14;
14:13,14;
23:16,17;
Amos
3:6;
Zechariah
9:10;
Matthew
10:34-39;
24:1-8;
Luke
17:26-32;
1
Thessalonians
5:1-11)
as the
consummation
of this
age
draws
near.
(Romans
13:11-14;
1
Corinthians
7:29;
10:11; 1
Peter
1:13;
4:7; 1
John
2:18)
The hour
is upon
the
church
for
emergency
refocusing
(fixing
our
concentration
and
efforts
on
things
above)
Ephesians
1:8-9;
Colossians
3:1-4;
Philippians
3:18-21,
examining
as well
as
streamlining
our
lives
(improving
the
efficiency
of our
lives,
and
arranging
them to
offer
the
least
resistance
to the
changes
that are
coming)
1
Timothy
6:6-10;
Mark
4:19;
Luke
21:34-36;
Hebrews
12:1-2;
1Peter
1:13;
4:1-2; 1
Corinthians
10:12;
11:31-32;
2
Corinthians
5:9-10;
13:5;
James
2:14-26,
and
gospel
simplicity
(faithfulness
to the
testimony
of
nothing
but
Jesus
Christ
and Him
crucified,
risen,
and
coming
again 1
Corinthians
2:1-5;
15:20;
Acts
2:23-24;
1 Peter
1:3-5;
Galatians
6:14;
Revelation
19:11-16;
22:7).
During
this
shaking
God will
be
making a
distinction
between
those
who are
His and
those
who are
not (2
Timothy
2:19;
John
10:14; 1
Corinthians
8:3). He
will be
confronting,
exposing,
and
calling
to
account;
impure
motives,
false
teaching,
false
professions
of
faith,
as well
as all
well-meaning
ministry
efforts
based
upon
erroneous
theology
and
doctrine
that
have
distorted
and
hindered
the
clear
mission
of
Christ
(Hebrews
12:25-29;
2 Peter
2:1-3,
17-19;
Acts
22:1-8;
Romans
10:1,2;
1
Corinthians
2:1-5;
4:19,20;
Romans
15:19;
Galatians
1:13,14;
Philippians
3:4-6;
Matthew
15:7-9;
Luke
19:10;
Isaiah
32:6;
Colossians
2:8).
The Lord
is
forcing
professing
believers
to
choose
between
true
biblical
Christianity,
that is
narrow-road,
kingdom-focused
and
Christ-centered
(Matthew
7:14;
Luke
13:24;
Ephesians
2:1-10;
Colossians
1:5;
3:1-4; 1
Peter
1:4,5;
Hebrews
12:2),
or the
popular
worldly
churchianity
being
practiced
by the
cult of
popular
church
culture,
that is
broad
road,
earth-focused
(Matthew
7:13;
John
6:15;
18:36; 1
John
2:15-17;
1
Corinthians
7:29-31;
Colossians
2:8;
James
4:1-10;
Philippians
3:18-19),
and
man-centered
(Matthew
16:23; 1
Timothy
4:1; 2
Timothy
4:3, 4;
2 Peter
2:1-3).
Just as
it is
unnatural
for
church
leaders
to allow
themselves
to be
glorified
(1Peter
5:1-3;
Philippians
2:5-11;
3:7-10;
Matthew
20:28;
23:11,12;
Luke
22:27;
John
13:13-17;
1
Corinthians
1:26-31;
2:1-5;
4:1,2,6,10,13;
9:16-19;
2
Corinthians
1:24;
8:9; 1
Peter
4:10;
Acts
20:19;
Isaiah
2:11,22;
23:9;
42:8),
it is
unnatural
for a
child of
God to
be
broad-road,
earth-focused,
and
man-centered,
which is
idolatrous
personality
worship.
Note:
The fine
line
between
being
honored
(valued
highly
with
respect)
and
being
glorified
(exalted,
magnified,
promoted
and
renowned),
has been
crossed
by some
professing
Christian
leaders
(1
Corinthians
1:11-13;
3:1-9;
4:1, 2,
6, 9-13;
Galatians
5:19-24;
1
Thessalonians
5:12-13;
1
Timothy
5:17-20;
Hebrews
13:7,
17).
The
lengths
that
some
church
leaders
go to in
their
attempt
to give
professing
believers
a
different
option
other
than
death to
this
world
(John
15:18-21;
17:14-16;
John
12:25-26;
Galatians
6:14; 1
John
2:15-17;
James
4:4) and
the
surrender
of self
is
amazing,
because
Jesus
provided
no such
option.
He
always
plainly
declared
the high
cost of
discipleship
to the
ignorant,
and
immature
multitudes
that
followed
him
(Matthew
10:37-39;
Mark
8:34-38;
Luke
9:57-62;
14:25-33;
John
12:25-26).
The
fruit
produced
as a
result
of the
unfaithfulness
of these
leaders,
is
pampered,
double-minded,
self-consumed
church
members,
who are
preoccupied
with the
perverted
search
for
acquisition
and
significance,
in this
world of
the
walking
dead
(Ephesians
2:1,2;
Colossians
2:13).
And who
are
tragically
ignorant
of the
cost of
true
discipleship
that our
Lord
demands
(Luke
9:23-26;
14:25-33;
John
12:25;
Philippians
3:7;
Hebrews
11:23-26).
Foreign
to the
teachings
of
Christ
is the
easy
believe-ism
that is
rampant
in the
professing
church
today
(Matthew
7:13-27).
In
teaching,
we
believe
a
distinction
must
always
be made
between
receiving
Christ,
which is
totally
by the
free
gift of
believing
faith
(Ephesians
2:8-10;
Galatians
2:16;
John
6:44;
Acts
13:48),
and the
consequential
demand
of true
believing
faith;
the
sacrifice
of self
(Luke
14:25-27;
2
Corinthians
4:11;
Romans
12:1,2;
Matthew
16:24-27;
Phil.
3:7-8;
Romans
6:5-8;
8:12-14,17;
12:1,2;
2 Tim.
2:11; I
John
2:6; 1
Peter
2:21;
John
6:38;
13:5;
Matthew
11:29).
Jesus
denied
and
sacrificed
His life
to
conquer
sin and
Satan
and gain
the
risen
life. It
will
cost us
our life
to live
in the
full
power of
resurrection
newness
of life.
(Genesis
3;
Romans
5:12-21;
Hebrews
10:19-21;
1
Corinthians
15:22; 1
Timothy
2:5-6;
Philippians
2:5-11;
Isaiah
53:4-5;
Matt.
1:21;
John
19:30.)
He calls
on us to
deny and
sacrifice
ourselves,
because
the
consequences
of
Adam’s
sin and
rebellion
presents
obstacles
both to
the
development
of the
Christian
life, as
well as
our
being
vessels
fit for
the
Master’s
use
(Matthew
16:23-27;
Mark
8:34-37;
John
12:23-26;
Jeremiah
17:9;
Acts
20:24;
Romans
3:10-12,
23;
5:12;
6:23;
7:14-25;
8:3-8,13-17;
12:1,2;
1Corinthians
9:23-27;
15:21,22;
2
Corinthians
5:14-15;
Philippians
2:3-5; 2
Timothy
4:6,7;
Psalm
51:5;
Galatians
2:20;
5:16-25;
Isaiah
53:6).
I
believe
that the
Lord has
impressed
upon our
hearts,
that
this is
a final
call
hour. It
is an
hour for
closing
doors,
settling
all
issues
in our
lives,
and
“choosing
this day
who we
will
serve.”
The
Kingdom
of
heaven
is
preparing
for the
wedding
and
coronation
day of
the King
of
Kings,
and Lord
of
Lords.
This
present,
imperfect
world is
being
prepared
for
Jesus to
come
back
again,
to
complete
what He
finished/accomplished
at His
first
coming.
That is
the
blessed
hope of
the true
believer
(Titus
2:13;
John
14:1-3;
John
12:27-33;
19:30; 1
John
3:8;
Acts
1:1-11;
3:21;
Romans
8:20-24;
Zechariah
14:1-9;
Daniel
2:44;
7:14;
Phil
2:5-11;
Revelation
11:15;
12:10;
19:11-16-
20:1-3,
11-15;
Isaiah
65:17-25;
21:1-8).
“Forgetting
those
things
which
are
behind
and
reaching
forward
to those
things
which
are
ahead, I
press
toward
the goal
for the
prize of
the
upward
call of
God in
Christ
Jesus”
(Philippians
3:13-14).
The
church
is the
fellowship
of the
called
out ones
(John
15:19; 1
Peter
2:9-12).
As God’s
children
(John
1:12; 1
John
3:1-3);
we are
called
out of
this
world,
which is
the
kingdom
of
Satan’s
darkness,
sin and
death
(Luke
4:5-8; 1
John
5:19;
Acts
26:18;
Ephesians
6:12;
Colossians
1:13-14).
We are
called
out to
witness
that we
are not
of this
world,
but are
united
to the
glorified
Christ
in
heaven
(Ephesians
1:18-23;
2:6;
Colossians
3:1-4).
PLEASE
BURN
THIS
INTO
YOUR
BRAIN:
We are
left
here in
this
present,
imperfect
world,
for one
very
simple
reason:
As
ambassadors
of the
kingdom
of
heaven;
we are
to
submit
ourselves
as
living
sacrifices,
that can
be
molded
by
Christ
into
useable
vessels
through
whom our
Lord can
preach
the
gospel
(Good
News) of
the
coming
of His
kingdom
(Mark
1:14-15;
Luke
4:43;
9:1-2;
19:10;
Acts
8:12;
28:30-31;
1
Timothy
1:15;
Romans
12:1-2;
John
17:14-18;
2
Corinthians
5:18-20;
Philippians
1:
21-27;
Colossians
4:2-6; 1
Peter
3:15).
COMMITTED
TO
AUTHENTICITY.
Harry
Oliver
holiver11@yahoo.com