We had a great time on a Zoom call, the night before the morning that I woke up with this word – written in italics below. But, first I want to share a little about what it stems from; we were talking about Paul’s work in Ephesus. How his synagogue visits went as usual, some argued some received. But then after a while, according to Acts 19, those that seemed to have been receiving, started hardening their hearts again, towards his message. To the point Paul threw his hands up in the air and walked away! Taking twelve disciple’s with him that got filled with the Holy Spirit, through his ministry.  It’s not an unusual happening, people receive the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, at first with joy; but inevitably, pride will be exposed and we’re faced with a choice, do we repent and move on? Or, do we cycle back around through the wilderness again, one more time? Never quite arriving to the destination we know is out there for us because we keep stumbling over our own hard headedness just before getting there. For some, this is a reality that has lasted for decades in their life. Like the children of Israel (in the wilderness) a whole generation fell short of the promise land because of their obstinate spirit. After that Zoom call that went late, the very next morning I woke up seeing a swirling vortex of letters as I was coming out of a dream, forming words, that came into my understanding as I spoke them out of my mouth. Still groggy, I wrote them down. When I was finished I was amazed how it even seemed to rhyme. I don’t think a prophetic word has ever come that easy. But this is a hard word! Like honey in the mouth, so sweet, but bitter in the belly. Oh, God this is a hard word! Triggered by reading Acts 19. We seriously need to step back and look at how we stop moving forward in this walk with the Lord, repent and start hating the things he hates. A proud look, a lying tongue. Obstinance, is an objection that we can’t get past often because we’re not going to agree with something that demands us to renounce pet beliefs that have nothing to do with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus told the Rabbi’s your “traditions” make the word of God of no effect! Splitting hairs over issues of the Law. Endless genealogies, fables and unsubstantiated histories. Theological questions, and emphases on scripture that are sort of right and sort of wrong, that we’ve made an unreasonable stance on. That has more to do with error than truth, but we refuse to back down! Or maybe it’s just pet sins we do not want to let go of, or maybe we just have a hard time with God ordained authority. What ever it is when we’ve got that kind of thing happening to us, where we are being challenged, and some how we find our nose bent out of shape, these are not the days to become insolent! We don’t have time to mess around.  

Moving Past Obstacles of The Heart. 
It was something in the preaching, something in the teaching, it was a word in the counseling you didn’t want to hear. It touched on something no one likes to see. You were growing, you were blessed, things were changing in your life, and you finally were making strides. The promise land for you, began to come into view. But now you’re at an impasse with God. The cycle of failure is standing at the door. He touched on a thing that took you to your core. Your open hand is now a fist, you’re not moving any more. Pride has to bow, but you wouldn’t bend, an idol (called your opinion) is in charge again.

Acts 19:8 And he [Paul] went into the synagogue [in Ephesus] and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning, arguing, and PERSUADING them about the kingdom of God. But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient [to the word of God], discrediting and speaking evil of the Way, before the congregation, Paul left them, and took [12 newly baptized in the Spirit] disciples with him …

1 Samual 22-23 To obey is better than sacrifice to heed than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,

And stubbornness is an iniquity as the sin of idolatry.

Revelation 2 Ephesus Repent, return to your first love. Do the works you did at first.

Lord Jesus make us more like you, remove it to the core, resistance standing at the door, that blocks my new day! I lay down my old man. My old ways, and breathe in Christ anew! In Jesus name I pray amen!