The Refining Fire

Hello My Dear Sisters (and Brothers) in Christ!

I have not written to you collectively since December 2007. Why? I HAVE BEEN BUSY IN THE FIRE!  My mouth was singed shut! (LOL)

It feels so good to be able to put a "LOL" (laugh out loud) after that statement! Even six months ago I was not ready to "LOL." But now, I am learning about "resting in the flames!" It is amazing that a thing that starts out excruciating can turn into something good.

The truth is, the flames have not changed at all. They are still hot and unrelenting. They are still burning up things in my life that I thought I could not live without. They are still mercilessly taking things away. So what has changed? ME.

I preached a message some years ago called, "The Cost of Obedience to God." It is a good thing that God does not show us everything we will go through in advance -- because I would likely have never preached that message. I thought that I had already paid the cost. As I ministered that message, I thought I was preaching something I had already lived. But there was an even greater cost that I knew nothing about.

In that message I talked about the respective price paid by some of our brothers and sisters from the Bible. It was about what it cost each of them to be called "obedient to God." I remember speaking of the prophet Hosea, and what it must have cost him to marry the harlot in obedience to God's Word. I went on about him losing his reputation, probably losing his own dreams and plans, possibly his standing amongst his Jewish brethren in light of the law, etc. [Hosea 1;Deut. 22] How many of you know that when God gives you instructions sometimes going forward with them can give the appearance that you are actually going against sound teaching. Even Jesus was accused of being, amongst other things, a lawbreaker.

I spoke about Ezekiel and how he had to lie restrained by God on his left side, then on his right side for a space of two years with a representation of the sin on his body. [Ezekiel 4] MY GOD! Individuals that are set apart to serve God's people often have to endure HARD things just because he or she is chosen. Sometimes you have to carry the burdens of others so they can see them more vividly, and be challenged to change.

Also there was Isaiah who was required to literally expose himself so that the Word of the Lord could be brought home to God's people. (Isaiah 20) Any of you ministers of the gospel ever had your lives turned into object lessons for God's people to learn something God wanted them to know? Ever had your life put out there in such a way that it felt like your hindparts have been exposed? I know a God that will allow you to go through embarrasing things -- not because of sin in your life, but to be an example for His people.

Through your circumstance, through your trial they are are able to see the power of God at work as you stand in the flames and still push out a praise. They are able to see that God is really real when you still pray for them and they know all hell has broken loose in your house. Can you still preach when the car is being repossessed? Can you lay hands while your own baby is sick? God will allow whatever is necessary for His people to be equipped, and also for His will to be established in the lives of his ministry gifts -- the bishops, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, elders, deacons, intercessors, etc.

That life altering message even spoke of John the Baptist who, in spite of his allegiance to righteousness and abstinence from all aversions, in spite of him fulfilling purpose and destiny unto death and, even in spite of Jesus Christ Himself asserting that no greater prophet existed than he, John was accused of having a demon! (Luke 7:28-35) MY GOD! Have any of you given your all to ministry, to seeking the face of God and giving it your best only to have your leaders or the sheep question your allegiance and make a mockery of your stand for Christ? Don't worry -- we are in good company. John the Baptist went through it -- and the One for whom he was a forerunner did too.

Women of God, I am living out my message. I am paying a price that I thought at first was too high. But, I am finding strength in the flames. Is this season over yet? No. Then why am I writing you now? Because God told me that it is almost over! He told me to get ready! He told me to prepare myself! He told me that like so many of you, I am about to be that phoenix rising from the ashes!

He told me that the Refiner's fire produces more purity. He told me that it produces more anointing. He told me that I will be able to encourage more of you, because I have now been some places with Him that I had not been before. He told me that I will make it, and that He is surely going to bring me out. He told me that there will not even be the hint of the smell of smoke. He told me that I will recover all, and gain even the more.

Evangelist Menette Young (Praise Him MeMe) prophesized to me some time ago that Chosen Women was going someplace else than where we were. I did not realize at that time when she looked at me in my eyes in such a sobering way that I was going to have to through a firestorm to get there. But, I am almost out, daughters of Zion! If you have been in your own inferno, be encouraged -- He's about to bring us out!

Keep looking up . . . the King is COMING!