My children are mistaken about the meaning of the Church standing up and fighting against the oppression which believers are facing. For though they have a right to gather and worship Me, it is not My wish for them to be openly defiant, where they thumb their noses at the government, as this sends the wrong message out to the public about what it means to be a Christian.
So then those who are gathering in larger numbers, who openly resist the state, are sowing discord into the community, thus falling prey to the enemy’s trap. He would like nothing better than to have the Church physically rise up in this nation and push back against the government’s restrictions, for then he will see to it that the doors of their church buildings are chained shut. And though it is important for My children to gather in this season, where fear and anger are running through their communities, it is not a defiant voice that shall soothe the hearts of their neighbors.
Unfortunately, this will be read by many as an aggressive stand, and cause an unexpected backlash to hit these congregations. At this point, the general public is more interested in compliance, because many believe this tactic will end the shutdown more quickly. This is why openly rejecting the government is not a good idea, for it shall breed anger and resentment towards My Body for not following pandemic guidelines.
Remember that there are always unintended consequences when believers doesn’t heed My instructions, for this disobedient stance has only thickened the wall of offense towards believers held by many in their communities; a barrier which would have been easier to tear down, but instead, has now been strengthened and will take much longer to break apart. For those who are offended will become incensed over the Church’s decision to put public safety in jeopardy just so believers could exercise their First Amendment rights.
This is precisely the reason why I asked My own to meet in homes, out of the public eye. For though I desire they join together and worship Me, their gatherings were meant to be in smaller groups. It’s not the size or number who meet that matters, because even when just a few come together in My name, the power and authority they carry can still move mountains.
Therefore, which of these choices expresses an attitude of love to non-believers: the one standing up demanding its rights, or the more humble stance of quietly gathering? Where would My Son be found in the midst of this shutdown? The answer is easy to ascertain if what He already did is studied. For He did not lift a finger of resistance when the authorities came to arrest Him in the Garden, as He then rebuked Peter for drawing His sword; even healing the ear of the guard who was struck with His disciple’s blade. Never once did He demand His rights and insist He is treated fairly, for He knew the victory to be won dwelt in the spiritual realm.
So then again, My own have chosen the wrong strategy to defeat their evil foe, as he was expecting this kind of counter-offensive from many church leaders: those who would be so concerned with re-opening their doors that they would miss the real reason for his attack, which is to stop the true revival I have planned. And because many in My Body believe this to be a congregational resurgence, they are fighting to keep their churches open, not realizing that the Great Awakening that is coming shall rise up from within more intimate settings: those in-home gatherings where My own humbly join in authentic, meaningful worship because My Spirit is allowed to lead them.
But since many believers and church leaders have misinterpreted how this revival shall come, it has been easy for the enemy to distract their attention off of the real point of this season, which is to usher in the “new” I am doing in My Church. Though there is a destructive spirit that is attacking this nation, he was allowed to enter because My Body did not take this threat seriously, and therefore, were not standing watch over the spiritual borders of this nation.
Then war has surely come to their doorsteps, yet their ‘ acts of the flesh have obscured the way of victory ‘. For though their intentions appear to be godly (since their efforts are to re-establish corporate meetings), yet for quite a few, the underlying motivation was about going back to what makes them feel comfortable.
However, these have yet to perceive that what is happening in the natural towards My Church is only the means I am using to bring about a much-needed change, because, for this generation of believers to operate and function in the “new” I am bringing, the Body as a whole must be transformed. This is why she could not remain in her stagnant state, for I am readying her to receive fresh wine. And so the squeezing and pressing had to come upon each one in the entire Church, as every drop of the “old” wine, even the dregs, had to be squeezed out from her midst; which is why My children are feeling tension in their spirits, and are experiencing physical oppression.
So then they would do well if, instead of succumbing to the voice of their flesh (which is prodding more action to be taken), My own stopped asserting their ‘rights to assemble’ and considered how their actions will affect others. For being the Church is not about holding congregational meetings, but, rather, is defined by the people who encompass My Body: those who live as Christ because they follow His ways, and demonstrate His love to every nation and tribe.
Therefore, embrace these days with surrendered hearts, as those who have submitted to My will. For if you set aside your own ambitions to see churches reopen, and heed My instructions, then your hearts will be prepared to receive a full measure of the “new” which My Spirit is blowing across the Church and this country.
So let the assemblies gather, and let their voices be raised to their Lord and Savior. But instead of joining in large numbers, let their congregating be in small groups, where they praise and worship Me in each other’s homes.
“Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” -Matthew 9:17
“Thus says the Lord: “As the new wine is found in the cluster, and they say, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,’ so I will do for my servants’ sake, and not destroy them all.” -Isaiah 65:8