Word by Mary Lindow

The Lord has recently been impressing me about what goes on in the hearts of those who choose to not allow others to be promoted or to rise above them in any area that they might have either at one time held influence in, or who are at this moment in time the lead or main voice or an organization, a ministry or institution.

This can occur in a business situation, or in ministry settings where only after you have jumped through certain hoops of performance or other "tests” you will possibly then be esteemed of  “useful” value  and perhaps be allowed a place of input or respect among the “hierarchy of the day”.

The Father in heaven intentionally stripped Himself of His greatest glory....His son ... in order that the wave of redemption needed in the earth might be brought forth through the Son. In doing so, the Father was glorified, exalted, and further honored by allowing this Son to fulfill His part of the Triune plan.  Why is this not modeled by more of those who are calling themselves, leaders, “Bishops”  - Apostles, or even now the newly developed term “Super Apostles”?

THIS IS A SPIRIT ON THE LOOSE FROM HELL 
It is nothing more than a "mimic" of the spirit of pride that Lucifer operated in, and it operates in many others now. It has been working hard to invade the minds of many who at one time were in the forefront of specific moves of God or who were key leaders in areas of ministry building in the past.

This spirit operates much like how Herod the great did during the time when the Savior was about to be born in the earth. Herod was so terribly afraid that someone would "snuff him out" or would "out do" him that he lived in paranoia, and he constantly manipulated and curried favor in order to gain influence or access to whatever he needed to keep his stronghold of power intact.

Let's read in the Word about this first. 

Matthew 2:1-6 
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:  

"But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel."

HEROD WAS A MAN WHO EXPECTED OTHERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE WAS THE ONE WHO HELD ALL COMMAND. 
There was no room at the table for those who would not sway his way! He used smooth talk with other "Kings" and influential leaders to obtain information and tasty morsels of gossip to plan his next move in order to keep his position intact.

As the Chief Priest and keepers of the law were called together, (they walked on eggshells around Herod) the WORD of God spoke about this humble little town where a new ruler was to be “raised up" and would care for the people!

HEROD DIDN'T CARE FOR PEOPLE! 

They were supposed to care for him and fear him! And grovel! He had worked hard for all of this power and honor!

Matthew Ch. 2 7-8 
"Then Herod called the Magi secretly 

and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 

"Go and make a careful search for the child.  
As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

HEROD GATHERED THE 3 KINGS INTO HIS CHAMBERS SECRETLY... 
...To hide his plan from the Priests and lawmakers and with a "slimy" oozing, well-cultivated and deceptive tongue, tried to appear ever so interested in the new "child" that was in his way. He acted out in false humility, and used it to try to obtain information as to where his "upstart enemy" might be located. He wanted to "at least" honor him and worship him too! 

 In all reality...Herod wanted to go and scope out where this new king might live, and see what he had to compete with. 

But! God had planned that the next wave of his power on the earth must come through a childlike and poor son. One who would not get stuck in traditional posturing or in the trends of the era? One who would not manipulate with intellect, cunningness, or through lofty ambition.

GOD HAD GIVEN OF HIS SEED…

…HIS living prepared pathway. He gave it ALL into the next "generation of His Presence" and the move of His glory in the earth. 
Into a SON… 
…Who had lived in the very Presence of God and was one with Him.

"THREE WISE MEN"

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.

Matthew Ch. 2:9 

These three Kings had "heard the true intentions" of King Herod's "heart". They were discerning men, and realized that after having been "hauled off" by Herod to a very secretive meeting to inquire about this new "ministry" and possible challenger of Herod's rule...something was a little off beat!

Herod had left a very "Saccharine" aftertaste in the mouths of the Wise men and, wisely, they still stayed on the course that God had led them on and met the TRUE KING OF GLORY.

He was lowly, He was helpless, and He radiated the pure light and presence of God Himself. 

THESE MEN DIDN’T NEED POMP OR STRONG-ARMED, PRIDEFUL LEADERSHIP to cause them to bow down and give honor to this Tiny King! No! The simple humility of the "Promise to come" was enough to cause them to bow their knees and worship the King of heaven.

Their reward was to have a visitation in their dreams to not return nor to converse with Herod about the new wave of glory that would be coming through this child.

12 “And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod,  
they returned to their country by another route.” 

WHAT THE LORD IMPRESSED ME WITH THROUGH THIS PROPHETIC INSIGHT/TEACHING IS THIS; 
Whenever there is a fresh wave or move of God’s Plan in the earth in regard to the redeeming of souls, there is also a counter movement at work among the "religious" and prideful intellectuals of the day.

These situations are brought on through the influence of evil spirits who have been assigned to try and destroy the future generations of passionate and unspoiled servants of grace that God would plan to use in the earth. The “Sons and Daughters" of the King. 

SOME OF THE EVIL SPIRITS COME AND TAUNT THOSE WITH OLD RELIGIOUS RESIDUAL MINDSETS. 

Those who feel that there is a "deserved" spiritual hierarchy in the ranks of the King. Many have assumed that because they have labored and have paved the pathway with their life's blood for the next wave of the King, that they deserve a place of special recognition and a form of "holding onto the leash" of those they have coming up “underneath” them.

 
If this is not humbly acknowledged and repented of, this can cause what the scripture calls “exasperating your children" to occur.

Colossians. 3:21  
“Fathers, do not exasperate your children,  
That they may not lose heart.” 

This creates an atmosphere of shame and pushes many into a place of frustration in not wanting to dishonor their mentors, but feel that they will be watched in their every move and smugly, with an “accusing raising of the eyebrows"  be "discussed" in demeaning terms, as they too try to reach their destinies and calling in the Way of the Lord. 

AS WE BEGIN TO SEE THE DAWNING OF THE PROMISED WAVE OF GOD’S GREATEST HARVEST EVENT

EVER KNOWN TO MAN SINCE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST JESUS,  THE LORD IS GOING TO ALLOW

THE "HEROD SPIRIT ATTITUDES" TO BE JUSTLY ADDRESSED.

There are those who were once deeply a part of what God was doing and have “lost" that so called advantage to either the aging process, transition in ministry, or through focusing strictly on their own ministry advancement.

THE LORD IS LOVINGLY ALLOWING PAINFUL TRAVAIL TO OCCUR, 

in order for the current generation of Fathers and Mothers in the faith to see that through releasing and affirming the sons and daughters in their care, or… who are now, (due to the season) moving past them in influence or in special anointing, that they too WILL once again... run hard and multiply themselves through Imparting and sending out the new wave of the King’s regiments! 

HINDERING OR HARVESTING?

The hidden prophetic and travailing element of individuals who are being shaped into the fabric of God's own weaving are currently being made ready for a swift and dynamic change of pace.

What was once long and hard will become shortened and filled with rest. Release of God’s grace and abundant mercy is coming into fulfillment as you end your course of instructions for this season. 

MANY OF YOU ARE IN YOUR LATE 40'S TO YOUR MID 60'S.

You have not had the pleasure of faithful mentoring. So. The Lord has instead, made your life one of mentoring and preparing others.

Look now at the pathway the Lord has allowed you to pave and one that others might walk upon when they too experience nights of darkness and difficulty. Your lives have a Divine Radiance that has prepared a “footing" for them in Christ, so that they may not stumble and fail.

A PROPHETIC WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

"I the Lord have prodded, whispered, shouted, and commanded many to assist you in paving the way.

If you are weary of waiting for releases and the fulfilled promise, take what you now have and in reckless abandonment cast it upon the water. I will see to it that you will not be left with empty hands.   I bless what is little if it is given in humility and obedience rather than much given in false humility and personal safety.

Come to the place of safety. Under My shadowed wing.  
Anguish has been your companion too long as well as the gaping ache for friends that stick closer than a brother.

I have begun building relationships among you that stem from brokenness in each of you and also where you have learned the value of discretion. See Me fulfill and direct your path. 

Watch the answers dawn upon your list of asked and yet unanswered questions. 

See ME as the One who can move upon the hearts of those who quickly obey when I touch their inner man with compassion and spiritual insights. 

I have a few in the earth who live...  
...To obey Me, Promptly." 

www.marylindow.com