A NOW time!
Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken,
as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken,
let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
For our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:27-29
Susan Rowe, 29 January 2025
Word 1/25/25
"You shall keep watch of the house, for I am about to do a work in your midst you would not believe. Do not forsake the gathering of yourselves, for in you will come a wellspring of life that will shift the course of the nation(s). See, I have set before you an open door, faithful ones. Be strong and of good courage; I will not leave you or forsake you. Take heart and do not relent. I will give you the strategies at this gate. What you see today may be gone tomorrow, but in it all, you will see My kingdom come forth and flourish…do not relent." (Susan Rowe)
"You shall keep watch of the house, for I am about to do a work in your midst you would not believe. Do not forsake the gathering of yourselves, for in you will come a wellspring of life that will shift the course of the nation(s). See, I have set before you an open door, faithful ones. Be strong and of good courage; I will not leave you or forsake you. Take heart and do not relent. I will give you the strategies at this gate. What you see today may be gone tomorrow, but in it all, you will see My kingdom come forth and flourish…do not relent." (Susan Rowe)
Coming out of the dramatic multi-centered fires that erupted in California in January, such massive destruction has got our attention. Any fire is devastating, but there were unusual marks in these fires that beg us to look beyond the immediate. They deserve serious consideration.
Briefly, this is not fire season in CA. The ferociousness of these fires engulfing homes, streets, businesses, and marketplaces is not the natural fire pattern here. The fires being off-season and multi-centered throughout Southern CA carry a supernatural weight and should ignite consideration.
Part of God’s nature is characterized and manifests as fire. He showed up as fire in a burning bush to call Moses into His destiny to deliver Israel, Exodus 3:1-3. He guided the Israelites in the wilderness with a pillar of fire, Exodus 13:21. In judgment, He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah by fire, Genesis 19:24. When confronting the prophets of Baal, Elijah built an altar, and called out to God who came as a consuming fire, 1 Kings 18:31. He showed up as the fourth man in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Daniel 3:17-28. In Leviticus, when God described and gave instructions for the “burnt offering,” it was clear that the fire was never to go out, Leviticus 6:13. Hebrews relays the character and nature of God as a “consuming fire,” Hebrews 12: 29.
In short, fire represents a multi-dimensional Holy God who judges that which must be burned up, rewards the sacrifices, guides, and directs us through the heat of battles and fire of adversity. Isaiah was a prophet who lived through, warned, and saw the judgments of God and said, When the judgments of God are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness, Isaiah 26:9. His words are a pillar of Truth we can cling to in the days in which we now live.
THE REAL FIRE
Now, in the midst of these fires, and floods in North Carolina, and other birth pangs that may follow, signals of ATTENTION have been loosed. After the inauguration of President Trump, there was a National Prayer Service traditionally held in the National Cathedral. What came from the pulpit was a major “WOKE” message. A few days later, I woke up after two emergency prayer calls for the fires in CA with an overwhelming sense that the Lord wanted to speak to me.
Putting both what I heard in the national “church” platform with fires engulfing major cities in Southern CA, floods in Norch Carolina, a very clear message came through. What is God saying? He is showing us that the altars of our state and nation are in disrepair. They are broken down. His hand of judgment is manifesting not to reprimand, but to turn America back to its biblical roots. We are not pointing a finger but pointing to a key issue God is calling our attention to. Other nations will be facing their own upheavals and or natural disasters. We must be ready and willing to shift with what God is saying and calling us to do.
Our call now is to build up and repair our broken altars. That means we need to come out of the “Days of Noah,” and living life as if nothing is going on, Matthew 24: 37. After coming out of the ark, Noah built the first altar. When he and his family came out of the ark, what did he do? He did not build a house; he built an altar. Noah’s building an altar after the flood carries a significant message for all of us today. Such an act placed the priority of worship for mankind and history to follow to renew, rebuild, re-align with a Holy God. The altar would be a place of meeting, consecration, re-alignment, communion, and worship with the Lord.
THE ALTAR OF THE LORD
There were no altars in the garden. There was no need of one. We humans had free access with the living God as an extension of Him on earth. We were made in His image. After the fall, there needed to be a place for re-connecting and communion with God. The first mention of an altar is in Genesis 8 after the flood, Genesis 8:20-22:
Briefly, this is not fire season in CA. The ferociousness of these fires engulfing homes, streets, businesses, and marketplaces is not the natural fire pattern here. The fires being off-season and multi-centered throughout Southern CA carry a supernatural weight and should ignite consideration.
Part of God’s nature is characterized and manifests as fire. He showed up as fire in a burning bush to call Moses into His destiny to deliver Israel, Exodus 3:1-3. He guided the Israelites in the wilderness with a pillar of fire, Exodus 13:21. In judgment, He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah by fire, Genesis 19:24. When confronting the prophets of Baal, Elijah built an altar, and called out to God who came as a consuming fire, 1 Kings 18:31. He showed up as the fourth man in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Daniel 3:17-28. In Leviticus, when God described and gave instructions for the “burnt offering,” it was clear that the fire was never to go out, Leviticus 6:13. Hebrews relays the character and nature of God as a “consuming fire,” Hebrews 12: 29.
In short, fire represents a multi-dimensional Holy God who judges that which must be burned up, rewards the sacrifices, guides, and directs us through the heat of battles and fire of adversity. Isaiah was a prophet who lived through, warned, and saw the judgments of God and said, When the judgments of God are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness, Isaiah 26:9. His words are a pillar of Truth we can cling to in the days in which we now live.
THE REAL FIRE
Now, in the midst of these fires, and floods in North Carolina, and other birth pangs that may follow, signals of ATTENTION have been loosed. After the inauguration of President Trump, there was a National Prayer Service traditionally held in the National Cathedral. What came from the pulpit was a major “WOKE” message. A few days later, I woke up after two emergency prayer calls for the fires in CA with an overwhelming sense that the Lord wanted to speak to me.
Putting both what I heard in the national “church” platform with fires engulfing major cities in Southern CA, floods in Norch Carolina, a very clear message came through. What is God saying? He is showing us that the altars of our state and nation are in disrepair. They are broken down. His hand of judgment is manifesting not to reprimand, but to turn America back to its biblical roots. We are not pointing a finger but pointing to a key issue God is calling our attention to. Other nations will be facing their own upheavals and or natural disasters. We must be ready and willing to shift with what God is saying and calling us to do.
Our call now is to build up and repair our broken altars. That means we need to come out of the “Days of Noah,” and living life as if nothing is going on, Matthew 24: 37. After coming out of the ark, Noah built the first altar. When he and his family came out of the ark, what did he do? He did not build a house; he built an altar. Noah’s building an altar after the flood carries a significant message for all of us today. Such an act placed the priority of worship for mankind and history to follow to renew, rebuild, re-align with a Holy God. The altar would be a place of meeting, consecration, re-alignment, communion, and worship with the Lord.
THE ALTAR OF THE LORD
There were no altars in the garden. There was no need of one. We humans had free access with the living God as an extension of Him on earth. We were made in His image. After the fall, there needed to be a place for re-connecting and communion with God. The first mention of an altar is in Genesis 8 after the flood, Genesis 8:20-22:
Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done."
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Not only did he build an altar, but he placed sacrifices on the altar and “took of every clean animal and every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar,” Genesis 8:20. The act pleased the Lord and was an act that restored God’s blessings and relationship with His creation. In this act, the altar restored and became a conduit of relationship between God and humankind. From this story, characteristics of altars consistent throughout scripture were laid. Altars represent:
Our invisible altar is in our “heart” where the battle between our flesh and the Spirit of God is fought. God desires to continually feed and fuel the fire on the altar of our hearts. Paul explains to the Corinthians, Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are, 1 Cor 3:16-17. We are renewed day by day through the activity of the fire on the altar on our hearts. When we give-up fleshly worldly, thoughts, intentions, and yield to the Holy Spirit, it is fuel for the fire on the altar of our hearts. Peter explains, You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.1 Peter 2:5.
RECOGNIZING THE DOOR
Over the past two to three years, God has been taking down false and broken altars in the world of Christendom, and now dealing with world systems...governments are in upheaval, and massive natural disasters have hit...why? Such upheavals and disasters are God's grace and signal for a shift and have to do with these false or broken altars. We are in a narrow window of reprieve and must mobilize before this window closes. He is now calling us, as watchmen, to rise, restore, and build up the altars from our personal hearts and communities on up to nations.
We are in a segway….we are at the door for a transformational shift…but first, the altars of the Lord need reparation. What does that mean? It will mean something different for each one of us.
Strengthening the watch is the first step:
In a time of major transformational governmental/kingly shift in Israel, God raised up the priests who mobilized a watch. Jehoram, king of Judah had killed all his brothers with the sword, and also others of the princes of Israel, (2 Chronicles 21:4). His wife, Athaliah, eventually became queen and destroyed all the royal heirs, (2 Kings 11:1). The priests Jehosheba and Jehoiada saw the danger and hid baby Joash in the temple for six years. During that time they set up the watch. Then he commanded them, saying, "This is what you shall do: One-third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall be keeping watch over the king's house, one-third shall be at the gate of Sur, and one-third at the gate behind the escorts. You shall keep the watch of the house, lest it be broken down, 2 Kings 11:5-6. At the right time, they brought the true king of Israel forward, and the rule of this line of corrupt kings/queens came to an end. The gate of Sur was a temple gate. Sur means “turning aside.” The priests' actions may very well have saved the last seed of David for the lineage to Jesus! Joash went on to become a major transformative king who repaired the temple, the altar, and consecrated things.
Today, it’s time for the turning! A massive governmental shift is on its way almost everywhere you look, but we must build up the watch so the necessary repairs on our personal and community altars can be made.
- Places of worship/thanksgiving: Noah’s act of prioritizing the altar lays a foundation for thanksgiving and praise to a God who supplies our needs and saves us.
- Places of sacrifice/atonement: Noah’s altar was the first place animal sacrifice is mentioned, representing our selfish flesh burning; a place where our sin is consumed.
- Place of refuge: Noah means rest. It is a place where we can find rest in God.
- Place for consecration/redemption: God says, “I will curse the land no longer.”
Our invisible altar is in our “heart” where the battle between our flesh and the Spirit of God is fought. God desires to continually feed and fuel the fire on the altar of our hearts. Paul explains to the Corinthians, Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are, 1 Cor 3:16-17. We are renewed day by day through the activity of the fire on the altar on our hearts. When we give-up fleshly worldly, thoughts, intentions, and yield to the Holy Spirit, it is fuel for the fire on the altar of our hearts. Peter explains, You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.1 Peter 2:5.
RECOGNIZING THE DOOR
Over the past two to three years, God has been taking down false and broken altars in the world of Christendom, and now dealing with world systems...governments are in upheaval, and massive natural disasters have hit...why? Such upheavals and disasters are God's grace and signal for a shift and have to do with these false or broken altars. We are in a narrow window of reprieve and must mobilize before this window closes. He is now calling us, as watchmen, to rise, restore, and build up the altars from our personal hearts and communities on up to nations.
We are in a segway….we are at the door for a transformational shift…but first, the altars of the Lord need reparation. What does that mean? It will mean something different for each one of us.
Strengthening the watch is the first step:
In a time of major transformational governmental/kingly shift in Israel, God raised up the priests who mobilized a watch. Jehoram, king of Judah had killed all his brothers with the sword, and also others of the princes of Israel, (2 Chronicles 21:4). His wife, Athaliah, eventually became queen and destroyed all the royal heirs, (2 Kings 11:1). The priests Jehosheba and Jehoiada saw the danger and hid baby Joash in the temple for six years. During that time they set up the watch. Then he commanded them, saying, "This is what you shall do: One-third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall be keeping watch over the king's house, one-third shall be at the gate of Sur, and one-third at the gate behind the escorts. You shall keep the watch of the house, lest it be broken down, 2 Kings 11:5-6. At the right time, they brought the true king of Israel forward, and the rule of this line of corrupt kings/queens came to an end. The gate of Sur was a temple gate. Sur means “turning aside.” The priests' actions may very well have saved the last seed of David for the lineage to Jesus! Joash went on to become a major transformative king who repaired the temple, the altar, and consecrated things.
Today, it’s time for the turning! A massive governmental shift is on its way almost everywhere you look, but we must build up the watch so the necessary repairs on our personal and community altars can be made.
GOING THROUGH THE GATES
God is moving to build a kingdom that cannot be moved. Hebrews 12:27-29 declares it. We are in times of great shakings, upheavals, natural disasters. The question is how do we face them and build up our altars and a Kingdom that cannot be shaken?
R-Repentance: God is targeting our hearts where the war between good and evil is fought. Establishing righteousness starts with a pure heart and is vital for transformation from our individual lives on up to our state/regions and national levels where deliberations of the rule of law are determined. God wants to cleanse the land, but we must ourselves first be clean.
Whatever birth pang, disruption, upheaval you encounter, know there is a living God ready to meet you at your altar. He has paid the ultimate sacrifice and the redeeming power of His blood can override any situation you may encounter. Take hold of the horns of the altar, don't let go, and get ready for the ride of your life!
God is moving to build a kingdom that cannot be moved. Hebrews 12:27-29 declares it. We are in times of great shakings, upheavals, natural disasters. The question is how do we face them and build up our altars and a Kingdom that cannot be shaken?
R-Repentance: God is targeting our hearts where the war between good and evil is fought. Establishing righteousness starts with a pure heart and is vital for transformation from our individual lives on up to our state/regions and national levels where deliberations of the rule of law are determined. God wants to cleanse the land, but we must ourselves first be clean.
- 2 Chron 7:25 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
- Ezekiel 18:30b Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.
- Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
- 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.
- Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord
- Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions. And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me for I have redeemed you.
- Zech 1:3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the Lord of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.
- Job 22:23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; if you remove unrighteousness far from your tent.
- Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
- 1 Peter 3:10-11 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.”
- 1 Peter 1: 18-21 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot….,v. 21 so that your faith and hope are in God.
- Psalm 34:22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
- Hosea 6:1 Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. Hosea 6:1
- Isaiah 40:3-5 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Isaiah 40:3-5
- Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord , And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.
- Isaiah 61:2-4 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
- Paul exhorts the Corinthian Church to emphasize and build up the prophetic ministry: 1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
- It is part of the 5-fold ministry: Ephesians 4:11:12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
- They are vital in strengthening and uniting God's people: Ezekiel 37: 9-10 Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."'" So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
- God does nothing except He speaks to the prophets first: Amos 3:8 "Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
Whatever birth pang, disruption, upheaval you encounter, know there is a living God ready to meet you at your altar. He has paid the ultimate sacrifice and the redeeming power of His blood can override any situation you may encounter. Take hold of the horns of the altar, don't let go, and get ready for the ride of your life!