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A City of Habitation

Organizations are made up of a group of people brought together to achieve a common goal. Whether the goal pertains to business, humanitarian, or academic, as God’s people, our organizations should be as a light in the darkness. Not only in how the customer is valued but in what goes on within the bounds of the institution in how employees are dealt with. As followers of Christ, we should conduct the affairs of each day with Kingdom principles such as servant leadership, integrity, love, compassion, and encouragement and doing all we do in the seen and unseen for the pleasure and delight of God. This also means treating those from the loftiness to the lowliest of positions with genuine respect and honor.

When we operate with the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control) such behaviors are evidenced in religious and secular organizations we will shine as lights to all who hunger and thirst after God and we preach the gospel without even saying a word. Our mission field may not be in a jungle, desert, or far away city, but it can be within formal institutional walls right where we are positioned.

I received the following word from the Lord for a leader of an organization who had faced a setback in operations by pursuing an avenue the Lord did not direct. We can learn so much from the way the Lord deals with others and apply these eternal principles. God is unchanging and His ways are always righteous, so I share it below in hopes others can apply these truths and find encouragement and refreshment:

    Be not discouraged for is this even the path I’ve desired to take your organization? Return, return to the foundation stones upon which this institution was built – through prayer, faith, and trust in Me. That you would pour out My love to all and not be a respecter of persons. You would be unmoved by credentials and moved by men’s hearts. Why did you move your trust from Me to your own self efforts and man’s reasoning of what is the right way? Did I not build you from nothing and make you great as you followed Me and went against what man said was possible? Why now do you turn to man’s reasoning of the possible for your future?

     Return to Godly leadership and remove that which has muddled the waters, for how poisonous have the waters become. This place at one time was as a refreshing spring to all who partook, poured out from, and offered their giftings, but it has become a den of vipers with backbiting and prideful self-exaltation. Consider each one and shake the foundations as you purify your house. Remove these I have placed on your heart and raise up those I have revealed. In doing this great step I will surely restore the foundations and once again singing and praise to Me will be heard in the halls. There will not be a heavy atmosphere but one of lightness. You will not have to force people to enjoy one another, it will happen spontaneously.

     Remove the heavy restrictions and control and let your people walk about in freedom, position them in their gifts and watch what I will do. A large workforce does not need heavy restrictions, even though this is the thinking in man’s logic. When the organization is committed to Me, when the leaders are seeking My heart and seek the good of others above their own selves, when the people are filled with awe of Me then how much effort they will pour out as unto Me. How bound up you are, how bound up and you do not know the way to go but consider placing even more rules and restrictions. Enough, stop operating under the old law and operate with My grace principles. Instead of legalism pour forth mercy. Watch what will happen and how far I will take you.

     I desire to give you the world, so seek Me and not man’s standard of excellence. Let Me make you great. Operate with My principles, remind yourself what these are and let My power raise you up to levels that you would not have expected before, even above what you could have attained through man’s highest standards. I will give you favor that you do not have to manipulate or buy, favor with the leaders of nations and governments. Think largely not small. Enlarge your tent stakes for I will surely give you the nations, but you must be ready to receive them and pour Me out.

     Let Me work in you to prepare, refine, and purify so the works you do will not only be a blessing in this life but will reach into eternity for you will be working as unto Me, following My promptings and leading, and operate in love and unity toward one another here on earth giving many a picture of heaven. Oh My love, this is not too far off or too lofty to attain, it is not a method of operating that is only in your past – you remember to days of unity and excitement. My love, these I desire to restore.

     I want to unstop the wells of righteousness you dug many years ago and let the waters flow to give life and nourishment to all who drink of it. I want to pour through you again and let you feel My joy and pleasure, to speak with you as you survey the parking lot and look over the land I have given you. I want to whisper to you, “This it is the way, walk in it.” You will not operate in confusion but in My peace. You will go forth in joy and be led by My peace. Man’s counsel of what is possible will no longer be your guide, but what I say is My goal for you will be your mark to behold and work toward.

     I desire to do a new thing here, let Me. I desire to reveal Myself to you in more intimate ways and powerful manifestations than you have known before. Do not limit what I can do even within your halls – just know it will be great and talked about throughout the land. Many will know this place as a city on a hill, a light in the darkness. Your light has been snuffed out for a while, but I reignite it and it will burn brightly for all to see.

     You will lie down again in peace and safety and as you dream I will meet with you. How pleasant and joyful will be your walk – free of men’s pride, clamorous counsel, absent of men trying to exalt themselves in your eyes at any cost, but you will be surrounded and walk with those who cling to sincerity, and are called by Me and operate in My anointing. I will give them counsel that confirms what I tell you. Oh let us walk together, oh king, for I want to delight you once again.

 

Psalm 107:4-9

“They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them but of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

Isaiah 26:1-19

“In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust. Feet trample it down – the feet of the oppressed, the footsteps of the poor. The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth. Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the Lord. Lord, your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame; let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them. Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. Lord our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone do we honor. They are now dead, they live no more; their spirits do not rise. You punished them and brought them to ruin; you wiped out all memory of them. You have enlarged the nation, Lord; you have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for yourself; you have extended all the borders of the land. Lord, they came to you in their distress; when you disciplined them, they could barely whisper a prayer. As a pregnant woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we in your presence, Lord. We were with child, we writhed in labor, but we gave birth to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth, and the people of the world have not come to life. But your dead will live, Lord; their bodies will rise – let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy – your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.”

Matthew 5:13-14

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”