By Jewel Tyler

Is it just me or lately does it seem like the spirit of depression, oppression, suppression and discouragement have become a dominant force in people’s lives today.  People are sharing stories of having no hope, wanting to give up, even to the point of suicide.  Parents killing their children and vice versa.  In China repeatedly there were men going into kindergarten classes butchering children.  Unemployment on the rise, people losing their homes, cars, life savings, and sometimes everything they have invested in stocks and bonds.

I find it interesting that drug abuse (including prescription drugs) and probably the sale of alcohol are at an all time high!  They appear to assist with a temporary fix of not dealing with one’s reality.  The younger generation is walking around like zombies high off of Hydroponics marijuana; no drive to make a difference in society they rather pound their fingers away on a Playstation or Xbox video game while feeding their brain music reeking of obscenities and sex.

I have actually tried my best to take a hiatus from the news and even websites that constantly feed the human race death, devastation, and gossip.  But as you know this day in time that can be difficult because even though you desire to shut down loved ones and friends will bring it to the forefront in conversation, email or on Facebook, Twitter etc.

It feels like to me and I don’t know about anyone else that we are in a complete state of chaos throughout the World not just America but the WORLD!.  Whenever I do entertain the news there are times I feel like I have jumped in a time machine and have gone back to the times of Genesis before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah! (Genesis 13:13:  Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.)  There is no true reverence for the LORD.  But man desires ultimate reverence and respect, even those that stand in pulpits and call themselves Reverends!  I personally feel the only individual that is worthy of me giving reverence to is God not man!  Based on the dictionary one of the definitions of reverence is as follows:  to regard or treat with reverence; venerate: One should reverence God and His laws.  Man will fall short always as long as we are in this flesh, there was only one perfect one that walked this earth and his name is JESUS. 

Years ago, the LORD gave me a very prophetic dream that I am not going to discuss in this excerpt; but the thing that resounded throughout the dream like a trumpet being blown in water (is the best way I can describe it) was “Death and Destruction are among my people saith the Lord”  “Many are called but few are CHOSEN”  “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few” .  It took me almost 7 years to really get the first thing that God said to me - “Death and Destruction are among my people saith the Lord”.  You see for whatever reason I thought God was referring to the people of the World those that are lost that do not know him at all.  But that day 7 years later two words were screamed in my ear MY PEOPLE.  I recall I was on my way back to work from my lunch break and I could hear it resounding in my ear over and over again and then there it was MY PEOPLE rose above all of the other words.  It hit my heart like a ton of bricks, I sat down on the nearest bench in the middle of downtown D.C. and wept.  I could faintly hear passerby’s asking if I was okay.  I didn’t even care what they were saying to me.  I had missed this message accurately for years.  God was talking about those that are saved, and the work that needs to be done.  It took quite some time for me to get it together when returning to work and it was very difficult to even focus for the rest of the day.  I could not wait to get home alone so that I could kneel before him for to ask for forgiveness of assuming and even speaking forth inaccuracies of the message and then to ask “Lord what can I do moving forward.”  The Spirit spoke to me and said my people don’t know me; they do not have an intimate relationship with me, they will not allow me to truly fellowship with them and love them.”  Whew!

We see so many signs of devastation, natural disasters, wars and rumors of wars, climate changes, natural catastrophic disasters (not hundreds of people dying from them but hundreds of thousands of people) that are record breaking, murder, sexual abuse, perversion, one currency, homosexuality, vulgarity, hatred, deceit and this list could go on and on. 

But, now what is becoming more prevalent is the body of Christ regarded as falsehood, hypocrisy, molesters, lovers of money more than the people of God.  Super mega churches that do nothing for their communities or those that are less fortunate and in need of their prayers and assistance instead they get sexual molestation and immorality to name a few.  People come to church because they are spiritually wounded, sick, lost and feeling hopeless, seeking something or someone that can help them understand or take away the pain in their life.  But instead they encounter quite the opposite.  There are churches in existence that require your bank account information before you can become a member so they can take the tithes via direct withdrawal.  Pastors, ministers or preachers that will not step into a pulpit for less than $100,000.00.  “Theologians” that obtain their PhD in theology but have no clue what the spirit of God really is – they have never heard his voice not once!  It’s just an occupation like obtaining a degree in law or medicine; all based on theory and history.

Are we in the age of the Church of Laodicea?:  Revelation:  3:14-22 - To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:   These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

People pledging their life savings for a newer bigger synagogue after moving in their current facility five years ago.  If we are under the new covenant where does it say that I have to give 10% of my income and then Love Gifts, and Building Fund money and Pastor needs a new Car, Pastor needs a trip to Europe and you have never been to Europe yourself, you are driving a used vehicle and paying rent in a cramped apartment. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying I do not believe in giving, but I at least have to know that we are providing clothing to the homeless we have a kitchen or pantry to feed the hungry.  How about building a rooming house next to the current church for people that need it.  Teens being abused, battered women, members that have lost their jobs and are evicted; instead of building another million dollar synagogue how about Pastor putting in some serious time for the fancy car and house etc. and conducting maybe 4 sermons a Sunday if you have that many members?  I’m just thinking aloud here.  It is difficult this day in time to find a serious Church that believes in being there and supporting and providing for the less fortunate people in society.  If you are even a member of a church and you are down on your luck and you to go to the church for help, I have heard and even witnessed them pulling up their accounting software looking at how much tithes you have paid in to see if they even want to provide you with $100.00 of assistance.

When someone calls or crosses your path and asks you to please pray for them, when you get home do you really pray for them?  Or are you just praying for self?  Why not stop whatever you are doing right then and there and pray WITH them and FOR them.  There are so many broken hearted, and lost individuals in the world and sitting RIGHT IN THE SYNAGOGUES and HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS!  What is wrong people of God?  What is really going on?  Where is the unconditional love you should be sharing that you want God to grant your way?

Satan, Lucifer, Enemy whatever you refer to him as is having a destructive party with the body of Christ and in many churches and especially with the youth of today.  Do you know his attributes?  What are his gifts?  How can you begin to fight an enemy that you are unfamiliar with?

Where are the TRUE SOLDIERS OF GOD that will stand in the gap?  Are you a Private, Captain, Admiral in his army?  Or, better yet are you AWOL or MIA.  Are you a willing vessel to be used by God when he calls for your service; if and when he calls you to pray for a stranger you don’t even know, when he sends a homeless person across your path and asks if you could spare some change so they can buy a burger from McDonalds instead of eating moldy food from a trash can?  Will you stand in the gap Child of God when the WORLD makes a mockery and criticizes anyone that is a Christian?  Hollywood and comedians do it every day, and folk laugh and even retell the joke (it’s all in fun – RIGHT?)  But this is our Savior or even God Jehovah and his precious gift to mankind the Holy Spirit they are making a mockery of.  Where and when do we draw the line?  When you see someone that you know is under the influence of demonic spirits, do you run, grab your purse, lock your door or do you begin to pray for those spirits to leave that individual to release them?  Ephesians 6:12 states:  “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” 

When is the last time you fasted and prayed to draw nearer to God?  I cannot believe the people I have come across that FAST AND PRAY for materialistic things and money?  Cannot let go of their fleshly needs and desires for a 24 hour period let alone 8 to 12 hours.  My goodness Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights!  He pressed into prayer so deeply for US (you and me) until he was sweating blood!  If anyone has seen the Passion of Christ – come on now he was wounded for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities, and you cannot even commune with him on a spiritual level for one full day to sup at his spiritual table.  God is a spirit so when we fast we come before him in spirit – why on earth are you fasting for THINGS that will perish?  Your spirit is suppose to be destined for eternal life!

Everybody in Church singing and shouting they want Jesus to crack the sky?  I think folk better give that a second thought because if he does, is your lamp dressed and ready?  Or will you be the one trying to borrow oil from the Saints  that have their LIGHT/lamp filled? 

WE HAVE WORK TO DO PEOPLE OF GOD, SAINTS OF GOD.  Hear the call:  DEATH AND DESTRUCTION ARE AMONG MY PEOPLE:  Many are called, but few chosen – the Harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.

Are we in the last days of time?  If so, what are you doing about the salvation of those lost in the World?

Each one teach one, then they can reach another.