Meat from the Meek - Part 5

Joseph Herrin (03-18-09)

This post continues the correspondence between Brad Daugherty and me. Following is a letter I received recently from Brad.

Dear Joseph,

Thank you so much for your recent letter and sharing your concerns. I have always appreciated your honesty and willingness to root out anything you feel may come between us. Satan would no doubt like to drive a wedge between God’s anointed sons in this our. May it never be so with us.

To answer your question; I can say with great assurance to your heart, that I believe it is impossible for an inward transformation of our hearts to occur without having outward results. Surely the word of God says to us, “out of (our) hearts will flow rivers of living water.” If we are truly being transformed into the image of Christ, how can we not be a reflection of His beauty and worth to a dark and depraved world?

If you take into context the whole of what I have written you over the years, you will find a steady witness to an extraordinary word God is doing in His people for an extraordinary time. You will note it in such writings as Blessed is the Soul that Waits, Can These Bones Live?, and Beyond Midian. Surely there is an outward manifestation that can only come from an inward transformation. It is a people that have been raised from the graves by the power of God.

I have no doubt God will give His children an especial grace to walk in an especially difficult time. I believe we serve a God who prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. I have no doubt He will attend us with miraculous provision, protection, and the spirit of power in word and deed. May it be so that many might be saved and come to the knowledge of Him.

With that said, however, I do not believe we can find any greater demonstration of the power of God than that which we find at the cross. I can find no reference in the Bible where the principalities and powers are actually “disarmed,” “made a public spectacle of,” or “triumphed over,” than that which Christ accomplished at the cross.

Colossians 2:13-15
1And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

I believe many opportunities will be presented to the remnant in the coming days which will afford us the opportunity to exhibit this heavenly grace. I do not necessarily mean martyrdom, but a detachment so complete that it would render the things of this earth and the voice of the enemy powerless to move us.

It is this demonstration to the principalities and powers of wickedness that I last wrote you. It is something very seldom taught about, nor thought about for that matter, but for this purpose the church was raised up.

Ephesians 3:9-10
God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places...

It is quite and extraordinary statement that I believe will come to its climactic summation in these end days.

We surely have a role to play in this earth in the saving of many lives. But yet there is something more which His holy remnant must accomplish, which I believe will disarm the powers that rule the air in an ultimate way that will release the earth from its bondage and usher in the millennial reign of Christ.

I believe, little do we know, in the daily giving of ourselves to the cross we have a profound effect on the principalities and powers that rule over the areas in which we live. I believe this giving of ourselves has the power to move the heavens and to release the captives in the areas in which we live. There is a ministry to this unseen world in the heavenlies that has a profound effect on the cosmic battle between good and evil.

I think of Stephen gazing into the heavens as they stoned him. He stood in a power and love few of us have known. He stood in a power where only love and forgiveness flowed like rivers of living water from his heart in the face of horrendous evil. There was no outward deliverance for him, but a power nevertheless that shook the heavens and had a profound effect not only on a city, but ultimately a nation. There is no doubt it had a profound effect upon a young Paul and later I believe greatly contributed to his conversion.

Ironically, when you wrote I was in the process of reading Richard Wurmbrandt’s book Tortured for Christ. In it there is a story of a man who endured inconceivable torture at the hand of the Russians. Through it all He would not deny Christ nor betray his brethren. There was a steady witness of the love of God toward his captors. Finally, they brought his young son in and began to beat him before his eyes. Heartbroken, the man finally called to his son and said, “Andrew, I must tell them what they want. I cannot bear to see you beaten.” The child called back, “Withstand father! Don not betray Him (Jesus). I would rather die than live and know my father betrayed His name.” The remark so infuriated his tormentors that they savagely beat the child to death before the eyes of his father.

There is no doubt a glory and power that rested on that child that had profound ramifications on the powers of heaven. I have no doubt that what looked to be evil’s victory was to God’s glory and went to great lengths to further the name of Christ in Romania.

Whatever graces God may allow in these coming days, whatever spiritual manifestations of His power and glory, must lead one back to the knowledge of His death. Christ crucified must be what is preached and demonstrated to those who are being saved and to the principalities and powers of the air.

The people of Jesus’ day could not get enough of signs and wonders. No matter how many He did it never seemed to be enough. Incredulously, after He fed the 5,000, they came to Him the next day seeking more bread, and yet another sign. They turned away from Him when He preached the very practical matter of turning away from their lives and coming to partake of His own. I believe they looked into the face of that humility and suffering and could not bear it. Maybe for the first time they finally realized the cost.

Similarly, after all the signs performed in Egypt, and the parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites turned back from God when they faced the purging of their soul in the wilderness and the testing of their faith.

I say this to simply point out that as wonderful and important as the signs and wonders are, they in themselves do not have the power of the cross to transform hearts. They are only tools in God’s hands to bring one to the divine knowledge of the cross. The cross is the power that the enemy truly fears. It is why he goes to great lengths to discourage us at every turn. He knows in it lies the power to transform the caterpillar into a butterfly.

Now, before there is any misunderstanding whatsoever about this letter, let me say I realize you are keenly aware of the importance of the cross. You certainly don’t need me to lecture you on its benefits. I hope this is not the way you are taking this letter, because that is not my intent.

My intent has been to expound upon and clarify a question I have been asked. I, in fact, would welcome your insight and humbly submit what little insight I have in the matter to see if you have a witness in your spirit of these things. Maybe this demonstration to the principalities and powers would be something that would present itself as a subject you would present to your readers?

Far from being a letter of contention, you do not realize how much of a blessing and confirmation your letter and writings were. I have typed up (at the library) some impressions the Lord has been giving me for 2009-2010. The very morning I completed them I came home and shortly thereafter received your letter. I believe you, as I was, will be amazed at the similarity you will find between our spirits. Even to giving the analogy of the butterfly and the caterpillar and cocoon.

As of to further emphasize this, the Lord gave me a very profound added witness. As I sat and meditated on these things the Lord put on my heart to read the March 9th devotion in Streams in the Desert. It was almost verbatim the things both you and I had just written. I had no idea beforehand what the devotional would say. I pray you might read it also. We surely serve a precious God.

It is obvious we both have a very similar impression of things soon to come upon this earth, and feel there is a simultaneous work of extraordinary proportions being done in His remnant...

With Much Love,

Brad

Streams in the Desert (March 9th)

Descend from the crest. (Son of Songs 4:8)

Bearing the burdens of crushing weight actually gives Christians wings. This may sound like a contradiction in terms, but it is a blessed truth. While enduring a sever trial, David cried, “Oh that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest” (Psalms 55:6). Yet before he finished his meditation, he seems to have realized that his wish for wings was attainable, for then he said, “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you” (Psalms 55:22).

The word “burden” is described in my Bible commentary as being “what Jehovah has given you.” The saints burdens are God-given, leading us to wait upon Him. And once we have done so, the burden is transformed into a pair of wings through the miracle of trust, and the one who was weighted down “will soar on wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31).
[End Excerpt]

Impressions for 2009-2010
Written February 28, 2009 Sheridan, WY
Bradley S. Daugherty

The following insights have for the most part come through countless hours spent alone with the Lord. I have not been privy, as some, to know many dreams nor visions, nor have angels attended me, as with Daniel and Mary, to trumpet forthcoming events. I do not even know if I am a prophet, or one who has simply come to know the voice of the Lord through a prolonged period of dying to self.

It is in this dying that I believe we come to the surest way of knowing the voice of the Lord. It is coming to know the steady witness of the still small voice within when everything outside of Him has subsided. It is with that steady witness that I offer the following.

I believe we are in a year unlike any we may have faced before. It is a year when the saints will be greatly tested, yet purified. They shall come forth as gold, as lights shining in a dark world. It is a year when caterpillars are transformed into butterflies, yet which must occur through great conflict and a final restraint. The conflict, however, will be the very chariots God uses to strengthen His remnant and lift them into the heavenlies with Christ. The very circumstances which try to hide God are the very vehicles that bring us to Him.

There is a beautiful illustration of this transformation in verses 1-6 of the 27th Psalm. I believe this to be a prophetic word for the remnant today. It is a portrait of the soul’s ascension into a life of faith which rises above all that would try to hold it to the things of this earth. It rises above the flesh, the lust of the world, and the voice of the enemy and dwells in the heavenlies with Christ. It is a life procured through great conflict, it can be procured no other way, but it has learned to hide itself in the “secret place” (v. 5), gazing only upon the beauty of the Lord.

It is a year of transition; a year of preparation for a life lived in faith far beyond what any of us have thus far known. This may be especially true for we Americans who have known little of lack, but I can say with great confidence that we will know lack soon.

I see a remnant in this nation who will come to know what it means to sit with Elijah by the brook Cherith and watch it dry day by day. Every tendency in us will be to move and save ourselves, but we dare not until we hear the voice of the Spirit say, “Arise and go to Zarephath.” It will be a time of famine and great suffering, and tragically, many who profess the Lord will choose to live by the soul and perish in the wilderness. But God will have a people who will know a life of surrender, obedience, trust, and faith. He will have a remnant who will walk by the Spirit. May we intercede for His people in this day, and those that would come to know Him through hardship, that they would be strengthened, and come to know a grace which is sufficient to sustain them through all things.

There will be a rise in crime and civil strife not known in this nation since maybe the times of the civil war. It will be imperative for the saints to see our war is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities and powers of wickedness. These are never defeated with the sword, but can only be defeated at the cross. When we are so dead to ourselves as a people, then the world, the enemy, the flesh, nor any of the things of this earth have power any longer to move us. We will live in an unshakeable kingdom though all the power of hell rage against it. It is a life which must pass from itself into the resurrection life of Christ.

Violence and overthrow will not defeat the enemy. There is not a political or military solution for the affliction that arises against us. Jesus did not come with a sword, but a cross. He did not overthrow Rome, but overcame within. Love will, and must, always prevail over evil.

Do not fear what they fear. Do not be moved by what moves them. Stand and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. Sing in the fire until the gates of hell are broken down and the Lord thunders from above. Satan has no recourse for one so dead to self and alive in Christ. He is disarmed at the cross where death has no sting, and the seduction of the world has no hold.

As we go through internal strife and civil unrest as a nation there will be those outside our borders who will prey on our weakness. As western financial systems and economies collapse, Communism and Islam will be strengthened and emboldened in the world. I do not know if we will see roving armies within our borders, but I believe every attempt will be made by such nations as Iran and Russia to fuel the unrest it sees here with well timed counter operations within our borders. This could mean well timed terrorist attacks, or attempts internationally to further weaken our financial and economic systems. I have no doubt the issue of oil will once again rise to prominence in our lives. It may very well be the thing which ultimately brings nation to rise against nation. I have no doubt we will come to know an America in which portions of it will become desolate, basic services are sporadic, food and fuel scarce, and chaos and disorder rage throughout.

In this time I believe the U.S. government will take great liberty against its people in its use of martial law. Basic liberties will be stricken, words spoken could mean hardship. It will be done with the same liberty as has been taken with U.S. taxpayer money during the current financial crises. Things which would have seemed incredulous only months ago will suddenly be passed effortlessly in the interest of national security. It could very well be the thing that is spoken about which will require the enduring patience and faith of the saints. May we be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. There is a God who sets a table before us in the presence of our enemies and provides manna in the wilderness.

Finally, I believe in the days to come the relationship between the United States and Israel will grow contentious. The fall of America will precipitate the fall of Israel. All of our fleshly schemes and our fleshly alliance will come to pass and Israel will lose her shade. It is a relationship that has not been lived out in the Spirit of God, but rather the arm of the flesh. It has relied on military might, compromise, and countless broken peace treaties. It has been lived out in the wisdom of men and not in the almighty God. The fulfillment of this can be found in Isaiah 31:3, “Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, both he who helps will fall, and he who is helped will fall down; they all will perish together.”

This will happen to Israel that she may be converted and know the Lord alone is her salvation. The fall of America and the rise of Communism and Islam around the world will embolden those nations around Israel who seek to destroy her. There is no doubt those nations will be helped by those who also wish to see her fall. She must go through a devastating death, that she may rise and return with a converted heart.

Ezekiel 36:18, “I poured out my fury on (Israel),” v. 19 “I scattered them among the nations,” v. 21 “But I had concern for my Holy name.” v. 23 “I will sanctify my great name when I am hallowed in (Israel)” v. 24-36 “For I will take you among the nations, and bring you into your own land. I will cleanse you from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.” v. 28 “Then you shall dwell in the land I gave to your fathers. You shall be My people and I will be your God.” v.33 “The ruins will be rebuilt.” v. 36 “The nations which are left around you shall know that I the Lord have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate.” Ezekiel 38:24 “David my servant shall be king over them.” v. 26 “I will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore.” v. 28 “The nations will know that I the Lord sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst.”

These verses obviously speak of a future time when Christ will rule over Israel in the Millennial reign. It is a time when a converted remnant of Israel has been restored to its land after a cataclysmic event. It is an Israel who knows the Lord as their God and the nations around them know that God is in her midst. Modern day Israel could never meet such scrutiny in the Scriptures. When she was brought back from the nations in 1948 it was not with a converted heart, she had not been cleansed from her idols, Christ does not rule over her, and the nations certainly do not tremble believing that God is in her midst. It will take yet a final death of Israel, yet a resurrection. It will occur in a day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063