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To: Cities That Have Ears To Hear
In a city's time of testing:
When one is on assignment from God, His instruction is not based on the lyrics of a song to “get back up again;” nor is it to “fight back” that’s man’s carnal nature, which is indeed warranted in some cases. But God, foreknowing that no one readily comes our rescue, sets forth this primary rule of engagement for those whom He calls to assignment: “Endure.”
Ezekiel 3
⁸But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are.
The servant's endurance is part of what seals God’s verdict against a city. The irony is that, to the natural eye, the servant's “unwavering commitment” often looks like weakness, victim mentality, or even pride, because man judges based on his own understanding, rather than spiritual discernment. God renders judgement against a city based on her response to His testing: “Despise not prophesyings.”
Generally, whenever the message is rejected, the messenger is as well. Consequently, if the messenger were to heed man’s instruction to “fight back,” it would be in direct disobedience to God’s instructions to endure. If your "assignment" is all triumph, no tribulation, and flooded with followers, it's definitely not of God. Therefore, I ENDURE. Man’s perception is therefore irrelevant to the prophecy.
Matthew 7
¹⁴Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
In order to avoid the wide gate of superficial ritualism (idolatry), the city's focus must be on fulfilling her own role when tested, which is to operate according to God’s instructions of justice and mercy, and to heed prophetic warning with reverence.
In a city's time of testing:
When one is on assignment from God, His instruction is not based on the lyrics of a song to “get back up again;” nor is it to “fight back” that’s man’s carnal nature, which is indeed warranted in some cases. But God, foreknowing that no one readily comes our rescue, sets forth this primary rule of engagement for those whom He calls to assignment: “Endure.”
Ezekiel 3
⁸But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are.
The servant's endurance is part of what seals God’s verdict against a city. The irony is that, to the natural eye, the servant's “unwavering commitment” often looks like weakness, victim mentality, or even pride, because man judges based on his own understanding, rather than spiritual discernment. God renders judgement against a city based on her response to His testing: “Despise not prophesyings.”
Generally, whenever the message is rejected, the messenger is as well. Consequently, if the messenger were to heed man’s instruction to “fight back,” it would be in direct disobedience to God’s instructions to endure. If your "assignment" is all triumph, no tribulation, and flooded with followers, it's definitely not of God. Therefore, I ENDURE. Man’s perception is therefore irrelevant to the prophecy.
Matthew 7
¹⁴Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
In order to avoid the wide gate of superficial ritualism (idolatry), the city's focus must be on fulfilling her own role when tested, which is to operate according to God’s instructions of justice and mercy, and to heed prophetic warning with reverence.
Follow-up Message:
Ezekiel 12 (NLT)
²¹Again a message came to me from the LORD: ²²“Son of man, you’ve heard that proverb they quote in Israel: ‘Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing.’ ²³Tell the people, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will put an end to this proverb, and you will soon stop quoting it.’ Now give them this new proverb to replace the old one: ‘The time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled!’ ²⁴“There will be no more false visions and flattering predictions in Israel. ²⁵For I am the LORD! If I say it, it will happen. There will be no more delays, you rebels of Israel. I will fulfill my threat of destruction in your own lifetime. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!”
Isaiah 61:8 (NLT)
“For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them."
If it's not about the city's purpose; it's not about the city's process either. God got this in both realms (If only it were about sports; it is not).
Recommended Reading: Again, Isaiah 30:8-18
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²¹Again a message came to me from the LORD: ²²“Son of man, you’ve heard that proverb they quote in Israel: ‘Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing.’ ²³Tell the people, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will put an end to this proverb, and you will soon stop quoting it.’ Now give them this new proverb to replace the old one: ‘The time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled!’ ²⁴“There will be no more false visions and flattering predictions in Israel. ²⁵For I am the LORD! If I say it, it will happen. There will be no more delays, you rebels of Israel. I will fulfill my threat of destruction in your own lifetime. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!”
Isaiah 61:8 (NLT)
“For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them."
If it's not about the city's purpose; it's not about the city's process either. God got this in both realms (If only it were about sports; it is not).
"Discern this time." "Do not despise prophesies."
Thank You LORD
Recommended Reading: Again, Isaiah 30:8-18
