"Through the fog there is hope in the distance
From cathedrals to third world missions
Love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave.
Tonights the night,
for the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide,
in a beautiful display
It's all love tonight, when you step across the line
We can sail across the sea, to a city with one King
A city on our knees."
About a week and a half ago I woke up with those lines from the song "City on our Knees" playing in my head. I couldn't shake free from them, but then again I didn't want to. Simultaneously, the Lord was speaking to my heart. As I was hearing "for the sinners and the saints, two worlds collide.....; I was also hearing, "Today I put you in that place." It took on a very personal meaning as I knew that God was about to place me in a situation to reach into the lives of people who had not given Him any serious thoughts in quite awhile.
He did, it happened, and I have assurance that a door has been opened for me to have continuing influence into some special lives.
It didn't stop after that day. That song and those thoughts keep pounding away in my head and in my heart some 10 days later. I have heard other followers of Jesus talking about getting the same type of message. Confirmation is happening between us. And I have a message for the saints who have decided to follow the Lord God fearlessly and without compromise:
Do not delay. Be prayed up. Be steadfast. Man your "stations" that God has given you. We are in the latter days. God hates sin, but yet He desires that not even one should perish. So, as He has promised throughout the scriptures, His spirit is going out. The God of mercy, forgiveness, love and life is doing mighty works in an attempt to turn hearts back toward Him. The lost, the broken, the hopeless will be and already are coming. There will suddenly be many, even in the church, who once thought that they were ok in their faith, but in reality are lukewarm at best and cold at worst, who will be coming. God is bringing them to us, expecting us to be salt and light. God's spirit, flowing like oil, rich in mercy and full of grace, trusting us to show others, to lead others and to testify to them of the hope that can be found in Jesus Christ.
Two worlds colliding.
It was by no accident that a few days after those lyrics began ringing in my head that suddenly I felt that I was supposed to read the book of Hosea. I really didn't want to and I remember thinking, "Hosea, really?" The account of the prophet who was told to take a prostitute and make her his wife just didn't sound appealing to me, but obedience led to enlightenment. God didn't ask Hosea to do anything that He isn't willing to do and in fact has already done and is doing now. It is in the beauty of this book that we learn of the FAITHFUL FOREVER GOD!
I need to keep this short, easy to read, and letting it be Holy Spirit stirring your thoughts. So I will simply encourage you to read especially the first 3 chapters of Hosea and do your own study on them. I think you will see a parallel of where Israel was at that time and where the church is today.
As much as I like to talk about the grace and forgiveness that God brings, I want to remind you that this is for a season of time. The days of dabbling in sin, compromising God's word and morals need to be over. NOW! While I believe we are in a period of God extending His grace in order to save many, this season will one day end.
As two worlds collide, waste not the time.
("So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.") Ephesians 5: 15-16
For the sake of the call,
Mark S.
From cathedrals to third world missions
Love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave.
Tonights the night,
for the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide,
in a beautiful display
It's all love tonight, when you step across the line
We can sail across the sea, to a city with one King
A city on our knees."
About a week and a half ago I woke up with those lines from the song "City on our Knees" playing in my head. I couldn't shake free from them, but then again I didn't want to. Simultaneously, the Lord was speaking to my heart. As I was hearing "for the sinners and the saints, two worlds collide.....; I was also hearing, "Today I put you in that place." It took on a very personal meaning as I knew that God was about to place me in a situation to reach into the lives of people who had not given Him any serious thoughts in quite awhile.
He did, it happened, and I have assurance that a door has been opened for me to have continuing influence into some special lives.
It didn't stop after that day. That song and those thoughts keep pounding away in my head and in my heart some 10 days later. I have heard other followers of Jesus talking about getting the same type of message. Confirmation is happening between us. And I have a message for the saints who have decided to follow the Lord God fearlessly and without compromise:
Do not delay. Be prayed up. Be steadfast. Man your "stations" that God has given you. We are in the latter days. God hates sin, but yet He desires that not even one should perish. So, as He has promised throughout the scriptures, His spirit is going out. The God of mercy, forgiveness, love and life is doing mighty works in an attempt to turn hearts back toward Him. The lost, the broken, the hopeless will be and already are coming. There will suddenly be many, even in the church, who once thought that they were ok in their faith, but in reality are lukewarm at best and cold at worst, who will be coming. God is bringing them to us, expecting us to be salt and light. God's spirit, flowing like oil, rich in mercy and full of grace, trusting us to show others, to lead others and to testify to them of the hope that can be found in Jesus Christ.
Two worlds colliding.
It was by no accident that a few days after those lyrics began ringing in my head that suddenly I felt that I was supposed to read the book of Hosea. I really didn't want to and I remember thinking, "Hosea, really?" The account of the prophet who was told to take a prostitute and make her his wife just didn't sound appealing to me, but obedience led to enlightenment. God didn't ask Hosea to do anything that He isn't willing to do and in fact has already done and is doing now. It is in the beauty of this book that we learn of the FAITHFUL FOREVER GOD!
I need to keep this short, easy to read, and letting it be Holy Spirit stirring your thoughts. So I will simply encourage you to read especially the first 3 chapters of Hosea and do your own study on them. I think you will see a parallel of where Israel was at that time and where the church is today.
As much as I like to talk about the grace and forgiveness that God brings, I want to remind you that this is for a season of time. The days of dabbling in sin, compromising God's word and morals need to be over. NOW! While I believe we are in a period of God extending His grace in order to save many, this season will one day end.
As two worlds collide, waste not the time.
("So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.") Ephesians 5: 15-16
For the sake of the call,
Mark S.
