Psalm 85:4-6 (This is a “new song.” The melody came to me at about 2 am.)

The Shepherd stirred my heart with a question: Why do My people hate Me? I thought, why would You speak such a thing? He called me into His green pastures and laid me down in Malachi. The Mind of the Spirit spoke to the spirit of my mind in 1:6:

Malachi 1:6 ¶ A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

Where is my honor? Where is my fear? Why do My people despise My name?

With the priests of Levi, I asked: “Wherein have we despised thy name?”

Along the still waters, I read through Malachi. I noticed many things. God’s complaint is directed to the priests, the Levites, and includes a wonderful prophecy concerning one of the greatest Levites: John the Baptist (Malachi 3:1-6; 4:5-6; Matthew 11:10; Luke 7:27; Matthew 11:13-14; see also Isaiah 40:3 with Luke 3:4). John the Baptist was the son of Zechariah, the Priest, of Levi—John was a Levite. And he preached the baptism of repentance to his people, which fulfilled the prophecy.

We have not offered polluted bread upon your altar, or cried against the table of the LORD, that it is contemptible! But He spoke to me:

Malachi 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

Jerry, is My Name “great among the Gentiles”? Is it great among My people in My Church? If I am Master and LORD, why do they not do the things that I say? (Luke 6:46). My Name is holy, and I would think it would be precious to My people! It is! Lord, hear the many songs we sing in honor of Your Name. He said, You know better, Jerry: “Let him that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19). They stand in iniquity as they sing falsely. Do they imagine Me to be vain? to be moved by flattery? I prayed, LORD, we are far from perfect, we stumble about, and fail often, but, Lord, have mercy.

He spoke: Did you not notice that my complaint against the Levites was not directed to the struggle of Adam’s descendants with the sin that lieth at the door (Genesis 4:7; Romans 7:21)? Despising My word through My servant, Moses, is what offended Me (Malachi 4:4). Do you think I’m Okay with despising the words of My Son?

But Lord, I cried, you have removed these ordinances from us (Colossians 2:14-15).

I heard the Spirit groan (Romans 8:26): Do you not understand? They despise my Name when they despise My Word (John 1:1, 14; 17:17). Am I, or am I not, the Head of the Church? I quickly affirmed the truth: Yea, LORD, You are the Head of Your Chuch (Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Colossians 1:18). If I am Lord, and Master, and Head, why do these rebellious children refuse to obey Me? Weeping, I cried, “Lord, please, what grieves Your Spirit?”

He beckoned me to follow Him into the valley, and I knelt in the shadow of His Cross. I thought, Oh, I see, it is because we do not deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow You (Luke 9:23). I pleaded, I deny myself, LORD, and if there is somewhat of my “self” that remains aloof, and proud, and I am deceived to think I deny myself, I beg your forgiveness, and plead for your mercy, please, help me. He moved to His table and I hastened to join Him there.

At the table, the look in His eyes told me I did not yet understand! He spoke to me from Matthew 18, He said to me with a deep sadness in His tone: “Why don’t my people obey Me? I told them I hated it when they had some evil suspicion, that is, if they thought evil against their neighbor (Zechariah 8:16-17). Do they imagine I am not incensed against them when they harbor evil suspicions against a brother? If they accuse one another in their hearts, and speak of their wicked accusations to one another, and do not speak to the brother they suppose has offended, do not I hate this? I tell you, Jerry, and I have told you often, these rebellious children who refuse to be ruled by my Word, who imagine themselves to be above my Command—it’s a smoke in my nose, and a foul taste in my mouth.

This is a problem throughout His churches, and among pastors, too. I don’t think anything has done more to hinder revival than this spirit. Jesus told me He is repulsed by pride (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5)! We must humble ourselves under His “MIGHTY” Hand (1 Peter 5:6). We enjoy such a sweet spirit at the Lighthouse, but we should not think too highly of ourselves; let’s pray for the members of the Lighthouse and the remnant at large to be honest, humble, and holy!

Praying for revival! 🙏