Byggandet av Herrens heliga stad

The Building of My Holy City
Judy Bauman
http://www.thefathersloveim.org/

January 15, 2008

An exhortation from the heart of Jesus to yours: The Building of My Holy City

I Am rebuilding the broken walls of My church. I Am bringing together those of like callings to work in concert to rebuild that specific side of the wall - that gate of My holy city. Do not think that because someone is not building on the same wall or at the same gate as you, that they are not in My will or following My plan. My blueprints are vast and no one "movement" would be able to finish what I Am building.

The church must stop its mudslinging against other Christian denominations. They must cease from attacking another believer when they are called from their midst to work on another section of My wall for the building of My Church. Just because someone is building elsewhere does not mean they are out of My will. Nor are they slighting your work. This presumption must stop! My leaders need to be on the lookout for the lost and not take aim at those being called to work elsewhere. This pride and arrogance must be repented of in order to continue in the building of My church. If repentance does not come, those who are guilty will be found building their own kingdom, not Mine. I will not allow leaders that have the blood of My sheep on their hands to continue in My grace. If there is sheep or lamb's blood on your sword, meaning you have wounded the Body of Christ by misusing My Word, you will be held in stricter judgment. (See Isaiah 1:17; Matthew 13:30; James 3:1)

Putting it in today's military terms: The friendly fire must end and it must end now.

If you watch sheep you will see that when they are frightened they all move in one direction as though they were one animal in motion. Those who get separated or are unable to move with the flock are quickly picked out as prey for wolves. Many in places of leadership in the church have leveled accusations against the sheep for flocking from one [church] movement to the next, but it is the nature of sheep to flock to where they feel safe and where they believe they will be fed. If they discover they are no longer safe with the shepherd of their keeping or if they have received tainted food, they will flock to another.

The shepherds watching over My Church have failed, in large measure, to recognize their part in this phenomenon. They quickly blame anything that comes to mind, but they fail to see that they have become "unsafe" in the eyes of the flock. In their ignorance they blame the sheep for biting, not knowing that sheep rarely bite unless strongly provoked to terror. Few of those with five fold ministry titles will admit to themselves that they have wounded and scarred My sheep. The reason they do not see this is because their eyes are focused on building their own kingdom and not Mine. They seek to establish their name instead of exalting Mine. These are hirelings posing as shepherds, but they are only interested in their welfare and not the sheep's. Others had genuine calls on their lives to shepherd My sheep, but instead of waiting for My Gatekeeper, My Holy Spirit, to open the Gate and lead them through Me, they jumped over the wall. In doing so, they have become thieves and robbers and they act as such. Shepherds of My flocks must be recognized by My Gatekeeper and wait to be invited to come through the Gate. They cannot come in some other way! I Am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father but through Me. (See John 10:1-18; 14:6)

Those who will gather with Me and will cooperate with My Spirit will yield great harvests, but those who divide as they murmur, complain and grumble will find themselves lost in the desert wasteland. (Numbers 14:27-32; Luke 3:17; 11:23)

There are many who I have been training who have sought My face in the secret place and they are willing to obey their Master and proclaim their King, "The Lord our Righteous" to the nations. I can quickly bring one down and raise one up who has not stiffened his neck as many leading My flocks are now doing. (Psalm 105:1-4; Luke 3:8; Matthew 28:18-20)

I will, I will, I will remove their lampstands if their stiff necks do not turn back to Me and I will replace them with the ones who say, "Your will and not mine be done, Holy King and Master." (See Luke 22:42; Revelation 2:5)

The building of My Church will not be stopped by man's selfish desires, but it will be accomplished by those who will turn from their desires to Mine. (Mark 4:18-20)

"Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture." "I will place shepherds over them who will tend them and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing." Jeremiah 23:1; 4

Listen only to those who have stood in My counsel and have proclaimed My words to My people. Those who tickle your ears will lead you to an unsafe edge, to a dangerous precipice. Do not allow them to tempt you away from the message of the Cross. The false prophets will tell you what you want to hear and you will be food for the wolves if you listen to them. There are two factions of which to beware as both of these are from the days of old. They have reared up in "prophetic circles" to mislead My sheep to follow their lures. The first will speak of fame and fortune. These speak of fleshly prosperity that is outside the purpose of My blessings. The second will speak of prophetic visions in which they curse their own land or the land of others. If their words bring no hope or plan of redemption to the nations, then they are not of Me. Did I not say I would be with you to the ends of the earth? I always give hope. I Am Redemption! (See Deuteronomy 23:4-6; Jude 1:11; Jeremiah 1:7; Psalms 10:4-7; 33:11; Acts 1:8; 20:30; Proverbs 11:25; 2 Timothy 4:3)

I Am your Standard. Look to My life and to those who pick up their cross and follow Me. Many live very difficult and poverty stricken lives and are completely in My will. They drink from the cup that I give them. These are those who do not try to glamorize Christianity to win the lost. The lost will remain lost under the direction of the false shepherds and the cruel deception of their teachers will lead them to believe a false gospel. You must remain faithful to your pure and sincere devotion to the True Gospel of Jesus Christ. You must test the spirits to see if they are from Me. You will know them by their fruit if they are of My Holy Spirit or of another kind. (Matthew 20:22; 2 Corinthians 11:3-4; Galatians 5:13-26; 1 John 4:1)

The builders with Nehemiah rebuilt the broken walls and gates of Jerusalem with a tool in one hand and wore a sword on their side. Half the men worked while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows, and armor to guard their positions. Those who carried the materials had supplies in one hand and kept a sword in the other. The work of the Lord had to be defended against His enemies. (See Nehemiah 4:16-18) It will be this way in the days to come and even in this hour. Fear not as the building of the Holy City will be successful. Be as My chosen leader and tell the enemy when he comes to distract you, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down." (Nehemiah 6:3)

However, do take note of what briefly halted Nehemiah's work. It was the outcry of the poor that reached his ears that caused all work to cease. The poor were being taken advantage of by their own people. Some were even used as slaves. Nehemiah confronted those who acted in such a disgraceful manner who preyed on their own and made them poor. He admonished them that they were acting worse than their enemies and that they should walk in the fear of their God. He demanded they give back everything taken and made them swear an oath. He shook out the folds of his robe and said, "In this way, may God shake out of his house and possessions every one who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied." (See Nehemiah 5:1-13) Today I am issuing this warning to those who have been taking advantage of My people. I will remove what can be shaken - so that what cannot be shaken will remain. I Am a consuming fire. (See Hebrews 12:27-29)

Follow My leading, Beloved, and wait on My Holy Spirit to open the Gate. Then you will have full access to the work and building at hand. Keep your eyes and ears open and seek those who have like callings. You will have different giftings but similar vision and your work together will enjoy greater success. You will be able to watch each other's back and keep the enemy from hindering your victory. Together your ability to build will be exponentially strengthened.

I Am building My Holy City and it is My desire for you build it with Me and by My side. (See 1 Corinthians 3:9)

Your Faithful Shepherd,
Jesus

Other Scriptures to consider: Nehemiah Chapters 3-5; Zechariah 8:9-12; Isaiah 59, Revelation 21