|City on a Hill - Writings for Refuge

Seven distinctly different churches go in to the end time tribulation, and what comes out the other side is one pure and spotless Bride. Tribulation...the refining fire...is what will produce one pure and spotless Bride representing Jesus to a very confused world. The first disciples always knew tribulation is really good for believers: Romans 5:1-4 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. What Paul was basically saying here was that no matter what kind of storm is going on, WE have peace because we are right with God...the author of the story. If you are friends with the Author of the Story, then the story is always good for you. Paul said the story of the world is...

Look for references to the wedding and you will always find important end-time information. Psalm 19 is an end time Psalm where David shows us the purpose of the end time judgments, the nature of how they will develop, and how to get ready. Getting ready is very important. Every time Jesus spoke to believers about His return, He said "get ready." Being saved is not the same as being ready. The primary way to get ready is to get understanding of what is REALLY happening all around us. We feel the increased intensity of the day, but WHY is it happening? Psalms 19:1-6 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a st...

There is security in obedience. This is what I hear the Lord saying this morning. God desires to "set me before His face" and "uphold me in my integrity", but He won't force me into integrity, as He defines it: Psalms 41:11-12 By this I know that You are well pleased with me, Because my enemy does not triumph over me. As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And set me before Your face forever. David, one of the most victorious people ever, said that victory was directly related to integrity in his trust of God's ways over man's ways. He starts his statement by talking about money: Psalms 41:1-3 Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed. God really cares about what I make my "strength...

This is the state of mind and heart that pleases the Lord: Song of Songs 6:10 Who is she who looks forth as the morning, Fair as the moon, Clear as the sun, Awesome as an army with banners? The one who looks forth...is clear about what is coming, sees both the darkness of the night and the power of the light...this is the one who stands in truth, and lives in the reality of heaven and His plan. She, all by herself, moves Him and to Him is "awesome as an army" that declares who He is (banners) and His strength and victory over the night and the day. Jesus sees the Bride, but He says "who is the Bride but each one that chooses me?" Jesus sees His Bride individually. You don't "blend in"...you aren't simply part of the crowd...with Him. Every response of your heart towards Jesus moves Him powerfully. Infinite love means that there is no lack of attention and delight paid to each one member of His family. Jesus' eyes of His heart are in HD...He see...

The most intense events of prophetic fulfillment are unfolding all around us, yet many do not see them. This is a very specific judgment on God's people...one that God promised as He described the end time events to Isaiah: Isaiah 29:9-14 Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunk, but not with wine; They stagger, but not with intoxicating drink. For the Lord has poured out on you The spirit of deep sleep, And has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers. The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, “Read this, please.” And he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, “Read this, please.” And he says, “I am not literate.” Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their...

Jesus wants back on earth. He is contending for US to be ready. All of creation is not groaning for a new president, or less carbon emissions, or clean water in Africa…NO! All of creation is groaning for this: Romans 8:19-22 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Chief among those earnestly expecting…contending…is the one who stepped into His creation to make the revealing of the sons of God…His own Bride, or co-heirs…possible in the first place. Jesus isn’t just on an extended sabbatical till His alarm clock goes off! No, He is all-in on contending…interceding for us to wake up and get it together. ...

One of the main...the most plainly prophesied...dynamics of the end time is that the motivations of the antichrist and those he is connected to are very obscured...they are hidden. They have taken "crafty counsel" together. This is because one of the antichrist's main ways of consolidating power is to lie...to do one thing and say another. He is one of the world's best liars. This is one of the many descriptions of the antichrist: Daniel 8:23-25 “And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. “Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of...

When faced with trouble, you have to choose how you are going to deal with it. You can meet it head-on, or you can pretend it isn't happening. If you meet it head-on, that begins the process of growing you in strength to actually address the issue. This is how you exchange worry for strength. We actually, by the signs of the earth, live in the time of greatest trouble. It hasn't reached a crescendo yet...not even close...but already great trouble is on the earth. This generation has to deal with the trouble at some point. Everyone will. The sooner you enter in to the dealing phase, the stronger you will be for the time when the level of trouble peaks. To pretend things will "all work out" and that because you "believe in Jesus" no trouble will come to you is a recipe for disaster. Jesus told saved people to be ready.To not get ready is bad: Amos 9:9-10 For surely I will command, And will sift the house of Israel among all nations, As grain is sifted in a sie...

Many people, when they have been given a great gift, think humility is expressed by focusing attention on the challenges of walking out that gift. Complaining is never the correct expression of humility. Many are tempted to focus attention on the negative aspects of their situation in an attempt to minimize the glory of their situation. This is false humility. Humility is not minimizing the positive aspects of your situation or exaggerating the negative. This is falsehood. Humility is truly expressed in thankfulness. Thankfulness for the entirety of your situation... being honest that entire thing is really out your control...both positive and negative...reveals a heart that is honestly led by a good father. Humility is living in the truth of what you bring to the table and what God brings to the table. You can only bring your "yes", and God brings everything else. Anything different from this is rebellion and arrogance. I Chronicles 17:4-26 NKJV “Go and tell My servant David...

This Practical Response to the Trouble You See All Around You: The return of Jesus is great AND terrible. This is because the earth is being divided into two camps...two worship movements...two "mountains". There are false mountains...there have been seven throughout history…seven times the leader of the world’s largest empire has become so arrogant that he has demanded to be worshiped as God…and an eight is rising up right now... Revelation 17:9-11 "Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. BUT, this is simply satan's attempt to put on of His kids on a false mountain of worship to imitate the TRUE uncreated God! God has the true mountains...mountains of night and day ...