Sweet Counsel

"We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng". Psalm 54:14

Here David speaks of a beloved  friend who later betrays him.  David speaks a prophesy,  a foreshadowing of Christ and His friend,  Judas Iscariot. 

We are experiencing a time within the church at large which is similar to David & Messiah's experience in their day. 

When men share counsel in the wisdom of Yahweh there is sweet fellowship and a flow of The River, the sweet living waters from the very Throne of heaven. We are wired for and motivated by this sweet fellowship. We long for it.

Did not Lucifer enter the sweet fellowship of Eden to pollute the counsel of Adam & Eve? Still as the millenia roll on... here we find the fallen one has continued to defile the counsels of the church. 

The counsel of Jesus and His red letter Word is not so. It is pure wisdom and pure compassion.

"His mouth is most sweet, Yes, He is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. " Song of Solomon 5:16

The counsel of the Lord is pure and goodly, given freely and without any guile. 

"This also comes from the Lord of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance. " Isaiah 28:29

Isaiah speaks here of The wisdom of -- The Lord of the Harvest. Right now the Lord of Harvest is sifting and winnowing His grain. Will His servants heed His counsel? 

There is no more valuable commodity than to receive the counsel of the Lord. No more wonderful experience than to hear the sound of His voice illuminating the reading of His Word. 

Similarly, there is no greater call for a pastor or shepherd than to complete his service, knowing, he has given the full counsel of the Lord to his people.

"And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 

Therefore take heed to yourselves and all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers; to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

For I know this, after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock." Acts 20:25-29

THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD. 

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful, 

Counselor, 

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace. Of the increase of His Government there will be no end." Isaiah 9:6,7 

COUNSELOR. Jesus is God's Counsel to us. 

What a rare and wonderful thing this is. The whole counsel of the Lord. Too many times we hear the teachings & philosophy of man substituted for the counsel of the Lord. 

That is why we endure these times of shaking. Sifting and winnowing. 

We are in a time when, due to the prayers of many, the wolves are being exposed and judged within the church at large. 

And judgment and exposure surely comes within our government as well because our government was committed to a Judeo-Christian Covenant. Man may have decided to change our constitution but God's counsel does not change. 

If trusted leaders have fallen before your eyes, just know,  it is common to man. Please look to the Lord for His sweet counsel to heal your disillusionment and grief. 

He, The Lord will do justly, He will set into alignment the balances of justice. He is wholly pure, wholly love and wholly just. 

His counsel will bring you into a new understanding. His counsel will bring you into new sweet fellowship. His counsel will bring you into the sweet peace that He is indeed at work on your behalf.

"Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of 

HIS COUNSEL, 

confirmed it by an oath, 

that by two immutable things, in which it is IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie, that we might have strong consolation..." Hebrews 6:16-18

HE DESIRES FOR US TO HAVE STRONG CONSOLATION.  

He does not desire to abandon you even if you were taken in by a deceiver. Either within your church or your political affiliations. Men lie, God does not.

The Lord's counsel, guidance and instruction is dependable though man's is often compromised and toxic with a polluted mixture. Remember the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Mixture. Lucifer always mixes in just enough truth to beguile.

Two things about the counsel of Yahweh: 1. He swore an oath by Himself (giving us His own self- in Jesus) and 2. He cannot lie. A thing is established by the mouth of two or three witness. 

You can become that third witness, by declaring His truth. He has redeemed you. He does not plan on letting you go. Come into agreement with His counsel.

He is truth. As we go through these difficult shakings and cleansings... know that you can ask for discernment, counsel and power to overcome the day. 

If you were taken in by false counsel...you can still ask to hear His marvelous voice and partake of His immutable counsel. 

"OH, that you would rend the heavens! That you would come down! That the mountains might shake at your presence-- 

as fire burns a brushwood, as fire causes water to boil-- To make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at your presence" Isaiah 64:1,2 

This scripture in Isaiah goes on to declare (vs. 4).. 

"the Lord is the One... 

who Acts for the one who waits for Him."

Ask for forgiveness and seek His wonder filled counsel. Wait on His Word like it is your salvation. It is your saving grace! He will rend the heavens for you, He will take action for you.

If you are feeling untethered, deeply grieved and perplexed by the seasons and times we are living in...

anchor yourself to His Word and seek to hear His counsel, His voice. 

There is more restoration for you. His mercy endures forever! His lovingkindness is everlasting. 

There is more than the written Word and men's teaching of it. There is.. 

The Word of His Counsel. 

There is the heaven rending sound of His voice.

"I counsel you to buy from Me, gold refined in the 🔥Fire" Revelation 3:18

He will counsel you. His voice is sweet like the refreshing of a pure mountain stream. There is no guile or deceit therein. His voice is like a living fire which will burn away the defilement of mixture, healing your heart at the same time.

He is willing to cover us with the gold of His character. He walks through this time, this season of fire, with us. Stay close under His wings. 

Stay close, leaning into His counsel. Lean in to hear His breath, to hear His heart beat, to hear His intentions for you and yours.

He cannot lie, He cannot betray.

He cannot allow the wolves to stay within the flock. He cannot allow the predators to stay within our governing bodies. 

He must prepare His bride for Her place beside Him upon The White Horse.

He promised to carry her to a safe refuge with the wings of a great eagle.

But.....

 First, the overcomers will be birthed. Do you sense the birthing pangs? Lean into Him.

He must prepare Her for her seat beside Him at the marriage feast.

Her place beside Him upon His Throne. 

Her place beside Him in His Kingdom. Never ending.

He is looking for His help meet. HIS PARTNER in redemption.

His purpose Has always been redemption, He has not changed. 

His purpose Has always been for you to be at His side, with the throng, ascending His Holy hill.

He has called you His friend and He will not turn away from you. Will you turn fully toward Him?

Before The Passion there were two friends of the Lord- Peter and Judas. 

Only one returned to the Lord

and to the throng of worshipers 

and to the fellowship of His sweet counsel.

This is a season to return to our beloved. We are moving from a season of betrayal to a season of trusting in The Beloved.

"Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?" Song of Solomon 8:5

All My Fountains Are In You

"And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the river goes, will live." Ezekiel 47:9

This river is....The Word...His Word flowing out of the throne of Yahweh. The River is The Holy Spirit flowing from Yahweh's heart to our hearts. 

His mind, His heart, both flowing freely in a perfectly measured portion just for you. Just enough, not too much, freely given, touched by such wonder-filled sweetness.

This river contains the same life giving force which declared, "Let there be light". 

This limitless river is connected to the small springs which we desire to flow out of us; 

"He who believes in Me, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" John 7:37,38

This river is connected to the cloud of witnesses. It's connected to the cloud Jesus was caught up into... 

and the same cloud He is returning within... 

The River connects us to Jesus

and to heavens culture which is harmless yet powerful and full of His life giving person and character.

"And He showed me a pure river of water of life, proceeding from the Throne of God and of the Lamb."Revelation 22:1 

Within the river is The mind of Christ, the good will of the Father and the tongues of men and of angels.

What is this counsel which is released within The Streams? Is this not the wisdom of the 7 voices who testify on our behalf listed in Hebrews 12:22? 

1. Innumerable angels

2. General Assembly

3. Church of Firstborn

4. God the Judge of All

5. Just men made perfect

6. Jesus The Mediator 

7. The Blood of Sprinkling 

So when we pray in this delightful stream- our voices join those of Heavens Courts. When we pray in tongues we are echoing the sounds of the great cloud of witnesses.

To the church I ask: How do we contrive to disdain such honor, justice and order? 

Healing, cleansing and restoration flows in this river. Always.

"He shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season. Psalm 1:3

It's so simple.....why do we make it complicated??? 

We were instructed to sing to this wellspring. Even in the Old Testament, Moses commanded them to sing to the well.

He also commanded the nobles to use their staffs to dig the wells. The staffs represent their authority, counsel and leadership. 

In the New Testament we were instructed to pray in the flow of "The Streams" which He has released within us. This was Jesus' request as a prophet, just like Moses.

The Streams are sometimes a mystery of tongues, designed to hide the strategy of heaven's Hosts from the fallen, malicious ones. At those times, we need His stealth and we need to be hidden under His great Wings.

What a gracious gift He has given to us! Should we neglect His very essence which is the true substance flowing within the Living Water?

"But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive." John 7:39

Our hearts can flow with His Holy Streams ....our faith in Jesus gives us the capacity to flow forth Living Water. This is stunning !!! Such a  gracious & supernatural gift.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord. For He shall be like a tree planted by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; 

but it's leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will it cease from yielding fruit" Jeremiah 17: 7,8

How is it, that we should refuse the kindness and treasure of this measureless and boundless provision? All that is required is a thankful & yielded heart.

Why do we hold back from praying in the Spirit, why do we hold back from praying in this stream??? Simply to make sure we are in control? So we don't lose our dignity!?

Why would we prefer limited human control over the Spirit of truth, comfort and wisdom? He will soften our hearts, all we need is to be willing. 

He allows us to hold the reigns. Always our free will is respected by Holy Spirit. No exceptions. 

(Contrary to some poor examples we have seen, we were gifted free will & Holy Spirit does not violate His own gift to us. 

Those poor examples were man's carnal misuse of a beautiful & holy gift. I'm sorry to find a need to address this issue.

It's a legitimate concern. Yet, He planned for us to grow in discernment in this way.

When ministers misuse the gift, the Holy Spirit will correct them & eventually The Spirit withdraws from them. Holy Spirit uses force against the enemy not his people.)

This is the true way Holy Spirit functions...like a sweet, refreshing stream. Are we so wise as to tell the Lord how to function? 

This is the 3rd person of the godhead. It is so important that we learn the joy, confidence and soundness  which comes from  flowing in His streams.

Let Holy Spirit flow.. if you are firmly rooted in The Word...Will you not be like a tree firmly planted by Streams of Living Water? Indeed this is the legacy described in Psalm 1:3 and in Jeremiah 17:8. 

It's your legacy in Christ. And indeed it is yet to be fulfilled, that.. 

"HIS glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the seas."

This is the legacy the church has yet to fulfill. Yet, His Word will come to fruition. 

I ask the church: Will you deny or refuse your God given legacy?

"But the singers and the players on instruments say, 'All my fountains are in you'." Psalm 87:7

Allow His fountain ⛲ to come forth; there will be new songs, new understanding of ancient paths, new wisdom and compassion...

 and His profound, everlastingly pure and sweet counsel will fill your heart with overflowing joy.

The Name

"Praise the Name of Jesus, Praise the Name of Jesus, you're my Rock, you're my Fortress, you're my Deliverer, in You will I trust! Praise the Name of Jesus."

This song comes to me in the wee hours of the morning. It is a song 🎵written from scripture. 

The Name (the many names of honor and revelation) of Yeshua, Salvation, Jesus,  are amazing and provide a safe haven. 

"The Name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and they are saved."

Matchless Name, Name above all Names. At the Name of Jesus, every knee will bow. 

"I am the Lord, that is my Name." Isaiah 42:8.

His name literally becomes a tower fortress into which we can escape. A tower connecting heaven to earth. A tower we can ascend to look out over the land, to observe from a new perspective. 

This Name is so powerful that scripture 📜 declares,

"All who call upon His Name, will be saved." 

This means your soul and spirit will be preserved unto eternal life.

"He has sent redemption to His people, He has commanded His Covenant forever, Holy and Reverend is His Name." Psalm 111:9

If you are frozen or paralyzed with fear, your spirit can simply declare His Name, Jesus Name, within your mind, within your soul's inner place of voice, and He will respond. He will hear you. 

The Bible, which is a legal document, signed and sealed by The Courts of Heaven, guarantees your right to call upon His Name. By His Name you have access to His fortress tower, a place of safety and escape.

"OH, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His Name together." Psalm 34:3 

I wrote a piece called, "Tower Song", in my book, "Zamiyr", 📖 recording many of the Names of Jesus and of the bride of Christ and of the Holy Spirit.

 There has been a wonderful focus on The Names of Father God already within the church at large but did you know the Names of the bride are already recorded?

Also Revelation speaks of a New Name which He has prepared for those who would be overcomers. 

He has written His Name throughout the Word; its like a money order which we can cash in-  if we sign His name to the check. He believes in you and you are His treasure, His investment.

I don't know how to describe the experience I had when I wrote this article; "Tower Song"  but suffice it to say, I was in The Tower when I wrote it. (p. 132-134,  Zamiyr, Governmental Waterworks)

Only one thing is magnified above His Name... 

"I will worship toward your holy temple, and praise your Name for your lovingkindness and your truth; for you have magnified Your Word above all your Name." Psalm 138:2

Find a favorite verse to declare outloud, as your prayer, and call upon His Holy and Reverend Name.

During these times of duress, these times of historical upheaval and transition...come with me into the tower of hope. This tower is like a Lighthouse. You don't have to do anything special to qualify, just call upon His Name! 

JESUS- SAVIOUR-YESHUA- LORD

The Gift of Repentance

In my life, I have discovered that personal and community repentance is a gift that flows from the very presence of Yeshua. 

Yes, we begin on our level, with a free will; with a yearning to know who God is...but something prompts or awakens this desire to repent, to grow & change. Something sweet, something like a soft gentle breeze, a breath of heavens air. (John 3: 8)

When I pray for our nation or an individual I ask for "the gift of repentance". Because when repentance came to me, it was a gift. 

The Voice of the Lord touched my heart and the hardness created by hurt, anger and stress just began to melt. 

Scripture promises "He will take away our stoney heart" in Ezekiel 11:19 and 36:26.

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes." 

In a recent well known national prayer movement they were announcing that our nation would not turn back from the abyss it was headed for... unless we all individually and corporately Repented. 

Something in that statement just did not sit right with me though I knew it was based in a fundamental truth from 2 Chronicles 7:14,15. I did not feel it was wrong or false...just missing something key.

Repentance is not a work of man, it is a work of The Spirit.

I began to pray, "Lord would you release, would you grant us, your gift of repentance"? Why? Because you cannot contrive or strive or work up repentance...it is a supernatural work of the Spirit.

It comes from the sound of His voice. In the Gospels, Jesus first proclamation was, "Repent for the Kingdom is at hand." 

He wasn't inquiring or pleading or asking. He was commanding. Yet His very countenance exuded the love, perfection and goodness of God. 

People flocked to Him to confess, repent and turn. People flocked to Him for healing, cleansing and deliverance from demonic oppression. 

He was not condemning...He was safe. He did not list their sins, they already knew their need. The teachers of the law had taught them and John had loudly called out their needs as they were baptized. 

Now...as Jesus appeared upon the scene...He released the grace gift of repentance. It was a gift.

He is The Word of God...He was declaring, decreeing, releasing a creative word- for repentance to fill the atmosphere. Just as He had proclaimed in the Genesis.. "Let there be light". 

Those who were willing immediately received the ability to repent. John the Baptist had prepared the way to hear His voice but it was Jesus proclamation which released the softening of the heart.