RELIGIOUS TENSIONS
When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” (Luke 21:9, NIV)
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.” (Mark 13:8, BSB) There is no doubt that our world has slipped into another level of chaos as the nations experience profound besetting challenges. One cannot but be moved at the sorrows, pain and deaths resulting from plagues, drought, famine and wars as they continue to ravage world economies. The displacement of people and the fragility of life at social levels continue, almost inconspicuously, as nations deal with their struggles by becoming inward looking. The challenges presents social problems of unrest, tensions and lawlessness as people become perplexed by the constant changes and upheaval to their lives.
Recently I was watching the unfolding of the public outcry in Iran of injustices against women not conforming to the hijab rules . As I watched the disturbing scenes, I was saddened at the desperate attempts of officials, trying to control by subjugating protesters and to level punishment at them. It is in order that the people have a voice and collectively express their concerns. Now I am not speaking of Iran but rather all nations. These unrests are end time manifestations. We are in a prophetic time and biblical prophecies are swiftly unfolding. Because the people of the nations belong to God there will be turmoil and flashpoints as the Spirit is stirred to bring into being God’s will. God’s desires for mankind’s healing and restoration to spiritual wholeness must come to pass in the passage of His time.
Control and forced attempts to restraining others are not of God and are a biblical sign of witchcraft. These measures fail to address the root causes of a problem. When society rebels, retaliatory forced actions to bring control are often counter-productive. The underlying causes are effecting the outbursts and inner tensions that are emerging to the surface. Social and religious tensions are indicative of longstanding repressed feelings.
God is preparing the paths for nations to rebuild the spiritually broken down walls and to restore the way to salvation. The spiritual heritage of nations are in effect rooted in christianity. The Jewish nation was chosen by God to be custodians of the Mosaic law. In time, through the Judah tribe, Jesus would come to supersede the Mosaic Law and impart to us the eternal law of grace. In our Lord’s offering of Himself we can be restored to our spiritual heritage.
A New Pentecost
We can expect to see further religious tensions arising around our globe as God brings His people to spiritual maturity. The religious walls around the global Persecuted Church and estranged ethnic christian groups are coming down. These are not my words but a biblical fact. Every word given by God will come to pass. He is preparing the nations for His New Order under a New Pentecost movement. What an awesome time it will be as a new, refreshing and vivifying outpouring of the Holy Spirit, not yet seen in the history of man unfolds. I am feeling the anointing.
The call to destiny, given by God to me may seem a long time coming but the spiritual climate must be conducive to the reception of this phenomenal momentous experience. I find myself, on one hand, dancing with joy and then spiritually breaking down for the word given for the Alevi people. “I want you to establish it in a conference in the place of the 7-fold churches”. The move towards the fulfilment of this word is not mine to initiate. It is for the glory of God. I am just a chosen vessel and in obedience, I carry out all that is required of me and await the revealing of the remnant of apostle John’s prolific ministry. (9) I John, your brother and fellow-partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was in the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. (10) On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, (11) saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” (Revelation 1:9-11, BSB)
The groundwork and preparation for this call has been phenomenal. Over the last few months I have been given further clarity concerning the vision. I have been busy crystallising the blueprint. The time is now, as we come into the ending of the Sukkot season.
Restoring National Spiritual Paths
The spiritual foundation laid by Jesus of His restorative reconciling ministry, though trampled, trashed and covered over by diverse entities in the history of man, is now being raised up and revealed. In the fullness of God’s timing the spiritual grounds in the nations are being uncovered. The time for spiritual transformation has come to fullness. Jesus stood up at the Sukkot Feast and cried out to the rebellious people who were against His Ministry. “On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.’. (John 7:37, BSB). The plea is being echoed today.
As we go through this Sukkot season of 2022 , I pour forth these words.. The invitation of Jesus is still relevant these many centuries later. Jesus loved the people but His message was lost on them because of religion.
Let us show care and compassion for the souls of humankind. We will be held accountable before God for every precious life that is cut short. Jesus showed compassion and love over religion. “…Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. (5) In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?” ( John 8:4-5) Jesus answered them by saying, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” (John 8:7,BSB). Who can morally police anyone when we are all wretched, sinful beings in the sight of God?
GWENDOLYN SMITH. #NEWPENTECOST. 13TH OCTOBER 2022