YEAR OF EXTREMES by Marsha Burns:
September 18,
2020 at sundown begins the two-day celebration of Rosh
Hashanah. The Hebrew word Rosh
means “head” or “beginning.”
Hashanah means “the year.” This
reference is found only once in the Old Testament in Ezekiel 40:1 with the words
at the beginning of the year. Rosh Hashanah is more commonly known as the
Feast of Trumpets. It marks the
beginning of the spiritual new year, a special time set apart for a new
beginning with the Lord.
My own tradition for the Feast of Trumpets is to seek the
Lord for prophetic insights with regard to the coming year, which I will do my
best to share with you.
Year of Extremes
There will be ups and downs.
Middle ground will be hard to find.
Expect extremes in weather patterns and in human behavior.
There will be a lack of moderation and a departure from tradition and
basic common sense in many cases.
Your stability will come in having a God-connection.
Mixed Bag
In a vision I saw a brown, paper bag of things that
shouldn’t be together, like a half-eaten sandwich, a shoe, a cat toy, a book,
and I heard the Lord say that the nature of the year to come will be a mixed bag
or a diverse assortment of things.
Unity of Opposites
Unity of opposites is defined as situations or opinions
which are opposite to each other yet dependent on each other.
There wouldn’t be an up without a down, right without wrong, or good
without evil. The way to escape the
division that results from opposing viewpoints is to seek the Spirit of Truth.
Those who do not want to choose one side or the other have only one
option and that is to walk in the Spirit, which is above the pride of human
opinion.
Unity of the Spirit
Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace is an
endeavor that needs to be carefully preserved.
It opposes all of man’s ideas of unity, which is usually to find “our
people.” We search for those who have
the same interests, beliefs, and goals that we embrace.
But it always produces division with those who do not hold those same
values and ideals. Therefore, we
become tribal as we seek to join a group, party, or sect that we can identify
with. Tribalism is the behavior and
attitudes that stem from strong loyalty to one’s own tribe or social group,
producing an in-group and an out-group where love is replaced with hatred, often
leading to violence. Proverbs
10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.
Ephesians 4:1-6
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the
calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with
longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as
you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
The way out of a position of strife and division is to
refuse to allow carnal nature, or flesh, to rule.
Then, you can learn to walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-17 I say
then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;
and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you
wish.
Unity with others will be possible when there is unity with
God through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit.
John 17:20-23
"I [Jesus] do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will
believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are
in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe
that You sent Me. And the glory
which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I
in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world
may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”
Love of God
We can only love others when we know the love of God.
John 15:12 "This is My commandment,
that you love one another as I have loved you.”
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,
or peril, or sword? As it is
written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep
for the slaughter." Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through
Him who loved us. For I am
persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers,
nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other
created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
SMALL STRAWS:
I speak to tale-bearers who are addicted to gossip as you
share things that are none of your business.
Treat others with the same love and respect that you desire for yourself.
I tell you honestly that you are sowing seeds that will produce a harvest
you will not enjoy. Be done with
the pride that comes from judging others and set your mind and heart on things
of the Spirit.
This is a time of sifting and sorting.
There are things to keep and things to throw away. You are already aware
of this process, but you have not finished the course.
This exercise will not only be in the physical realm, but will also be an
activity of the soul. Internal work
will continue with greater clarity than ever, as you experience more spiritual
refinement.
Great spiritual revelations will be released to those who
are genuine truth-seekers.
Revelation will come to you when set your heart to have a strong, personal
relationship with Me and set your priorities in proper order.
I say to you, stay strong and focused.
You have heard about Me and you have read My word, but you
now have an unparalleled opportunity to know Me on a very personal and powerful
level. Now is the time to grow up
spiritually and have a first-hand experience.
1 John 2:27 But the
anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need
that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all
things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will
abide in Him.
The challenges and changes you have endured will usher in
opportunities to begin again. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things
have become new.
I will lead you forth with great grace and give you the
wisdom and ability to do all that your destiny requires.
Believe it and receive it!
The coming spiritual year will be more of the same in many
ways. However, you can make choices
that keep you from division and strife.
You can choose to walk and live in the Spirit and to love one another as
you are loved!