John Bevere - This Will Try to Derail Your Calling
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We don’t complain. The number one group that I showed you are the Christians who were the complainers, and the number three group is the Christians who fear the Lord. We want to be that number three group; can you say Amen to that? Don’t try to write down all the scriptures because I’m going to go through a boatload of them, and there’s a reason for it. Understanding this has really opened up my eyes to the importance of refining.
It’s a prophetic message I’m going to share with you, but I’m going to use a lot of scripture to support it. We’re going to mainly focus on the Book of Malachi and the Book of Jeremiah. Are you ready? Malachi wrote his message 400 years before Jesus was born. It was a very quiet time in Israel between Malachi and John the Baptist. I firmly believe with all my heart that Malachi was writing a prophetic book about New Testament times. Now think this through; he does not have New Testament terms; he doesn’t know what a Christian is. They don’t know what the word «Saint» means, so you’re going to see him trying to articulate his visions using Old Testament terms. Keep that in mind.
All right, let’s begin with Malachi 3:1. «Look, behold, I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.» Now who is that? That’s John the Baptist, right? He was the messenger who prepared the way of the Lord. If you go to the Book of Matthew, Jesus, while talking about John the Baptist, says, «When they finally realized this is the Messiah and they’re coming down from the mountain of transfiguration, they’re perplexed. They said, 'The prophets say that Elijah is going to come first.'»
Jesus said, «Elijah already has come,» and the Bible says they didn’t know that he was talking about John the Baptist. But then he says, «And Elijah is coming,» so that tells me there’s going to be an Elijah before His second coming. He’s talking about that person because he’s not referring only to the great day of the first coming; he’s talking about the terrible day. Now, this second Elijah will have an anointing on a group of men and women, and I believe many of them are going to be young. «Okay, I’m going to pour out my spirit; your sons and daughters will prophesy.» I personally believe that before Jesus’s second coming, thousands of these prophets and prophetesses that God raises up will prepare the way of the Lord.
«Then the Lord, whom you are seeking, will suddenly come to his temple.» Not for His temple; to His temple, okay? He comes for us. In the second coming, He comes to us, but how is He going to come to us? Keep reading. «But who will be able to endure the day of His coming? Who will be able to stand and face Him when He appears? He will be like a blazing fire that refines metal or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes.» Keep going; «He will sit like a refiner of silver or gold, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites.» Now, who are the Levites? They are the priests. What did Peter say? «You are a royal priesthood unto our God.» So, he doesn’t have the language to say he will purify the saints; he will purify those who are Christians. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. Peter said we are the priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices to our God, so he’s seeing into our day. Are you seeing this?
Now, he goes on to say, «Then once more, the Lord will accept the offerings brought to him.» So you’re seeing there’s a little problem here. Okay, there’s a lot of dross in the church just prior to the Lord’s second coming that needs to be gotten rid of. What did Paul say to Timothy? When that dross is gone, you become a vessel that God can use. All right, remember Jesus said many are called but few are chosen. I believe there are thousands—what am I saying? Hundreds of thousands—of men and women who have a calling to walk in that Elijah anointing to prepare the way of the Lord. But many are called; few are chosen. Who are the few that are going to be chosen? Those who cooperate with the wilderness season and don’t fight against it. Okay, all right, let’s keep reading.
«At that time, I will put you on trial.» This is God speaking. Remember, judgment begins in the house of God. Don’t think condemnation when you hear judgment. The word judgment means decision. What happens in a trial? The judge makes a decision. So, you know what God’s deciding? «Are you fit for my service? Are you fit for my service?» That decision has to begin in the house of God. «At that time I’ll put you on trial for these people do not fear me.» There are a lot of people in the church, He’s saying, who don’t have the fear of God. «I am the Lord, and I do not change.» It’s amazing to me the kind of gospel that we’re preaching in America right now. It’s almost like God has changed; it’s almost like He was a mean, bad God, and then all of a sudden, He became a very nice God who approves of everything we do.
«Now return to me.» In other words, we’ve been away, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s armies. Now, I’m going to jump to the 13th verse. Watch this. In the next couple of verses, I’m going to identify three types of people. It’s crucial that we understand there are three groups of people that God’s talking about here; otherwise, you’ll never understand this. So here’s the first group: «You have said terrible things about me,» says the Lord. But you say, «What do you mean? What have we said against you?» Now I’m going to identify this group as the complainers. They’re talking to one another about how bad it’s going for them in their desert. So they’re complaining because, you know, you’re going to see what they say. «You have said; this is their complaint. What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s armies that we are sorry for our sins?»
Look at the next statement; this is all their complaint: «From now on we will call the arrogant.» This is group two, the arrogant—these are evil people who have no relationship with God. «From now on we will call the arrogant or the unbelievers blessed for those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.» Now you’re going to notice that they’re talking to one another about this, but I’m going to show you another situation where this comes up, that God actually addresses it in a different way. That’s Jeremiah. Look, go to the next one. All right, so this is Jeremiah in chapter 12. He has gone through a lot of persecution. He’s being rejected; the leaders of his nation are after him; the priests are, and so Jeremiah finally goes to the Lord and says, «Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you, so let me bring you this complaint.»
So first of all, he butters God up by saying, «You always take care of me, right? But let me tell you something.» He says, «Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?» Keep reading; it’s amazing! «You have planted them, and they have taken root and prospered; your name is on their lips, but you are far from their hearts.» He’s like, «I don’t get it! Here I am serving you. I am going through all this hardship, all this desert experience, all this persecution, all this affliction. Here are these people; they really don’t even serve you, God, and yet you’re blessing them.»
So now look at God’s response to Jeremiah: He says, «Hey Jeremiah, if racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against the horses?» In other words, Jeremiah, cheer up; it’s about to get worse! That’s exactly what God said to him. He’s like, «Oh Jeremiah, my boy, I’m so sorry you’re going through all of this.» No, God goes, «Hey boy, straighten up. It’s about to get worse. If you’ve stumbled or fallen on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?» So he’s just saying, «You ain’t seen nothing yet!»
Now, isn’t that amazing? Did it get worse for Jeremiah? Oh, you better believe it! Right? He gets thrown into dungeons—all this stuff! So let’s go a few chapters up. It got worse. Now Jeremiah gets a little stronger with God. He says this: «First of all, your words were found, and I ate them, and your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord of hosts.» Here’s the buttering up part, right?
Look what he continues to say, «I sat not.» He’s now bragging on himself. «I sat not in the assembly of those who make merry, nor did I rejoice. I was a godly man; I sat alone because your powerful hand was upon me, for you have filled me with indignation,» like he’s saying, «Look at how well I’m serving you, God!» Now look at this: «Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable?» You know, can I pause there for a minute? Do you remember I shared with you how I went three levels down in my church? I don’t know how to describe it to you, but I lived in pain. I would get up, and I would feel pain. I would go to the office at our church and sell satellites, and the whole time I’m talking on the phone, I’m in pain. I would eat lunch in pain. I would come home with pain. I would go to bed in pain. When he says, «My pain is perpetual,» I totally get it; I lived that way for months. Finally, one day I got up in my office, I closed the door, and I put my head between my hands and said, «God, why do I hurt so bad inside? Why am I just living with pain?»
You know what the Lord said to me? He said, «Because you’re dying.» He said, «There’s always pain in death, and do you want to know how you’re going to know when you’re dead?» I said, «How will I know?» He said, «You won’t hurt anymore; dead people don’t have pain.» And I remember my next prayer was, «God, would you please hurry up and kill me?» Quick! Why? I can relate to these words: «Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?»
Now listen to what he says: «Will you indeed be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail and are uncertain?» He said that to God. Now you’re thinking, «You better duck, boy!» But no, because Jeremiah has a relationship with God, and he’s not complaining to his peers about God. He can handle it when we go to Him and are very blunt and honest. As a matter of fact, He wants that. My kids get upset; I don’t want them to carry it. They’ve come to me before, but they better be ready for my answer because sometimes my answer isn’t what they were expecting. Okay, so this is why God, as you’re going to find out, is really upset with these people in Malachi, but He’s not upset with Jeremiah; He’s just really honest because look how God answers him:
«Therefore, thus says the Lord to Jeremiah, if you return.» In other words, stop this complaining and give up this mistaken tone of distrust and despair, then I will give you again a settled place of quiet and safety, and you will be my minister. «If you separate the precious from the vile, cleansing your own heart from the unworthy and unwarranted suspicions concerning God’s faithfulness, you will be my mouthpiece.»
So I want to make this really clear: this is Jeremiah directly talking to God. In Malachi, we have people complaining to one another. You got it? So let’s kind of go back to Malachi, and I want to point out the three groups of people again. So I’m going to just review it: «You have said terrible things about me,» says the Lord. So this is group one. Who is group one? They are the complainers. Now, I just don’t get it. God’s not answering my prayers. I just don’t know what good it is for me to go to church every Sunday. I don’t even know why I’m reading books on Christianity. You know, it seems I get more help if I get a self-help book from Barnes and Noble; it’s not even a Christian writing. You know, you’ll hear it over and over again, right?
«You have said terrible things about me,» and they were completely clueless! «What have we said wrong about you?» So God responds, «You have said, what’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s armies that we are sorry for our sins?» Keep going; «From now on, we will call the arrogant.» These are people with no covenant with God. «We call the arrogant blessed, for those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.»
But now let’s keep reading; then here’s group number three: «Those who feared the Lord.» So who is group three? They are also believers. Group number one was believers that were complaining; group number three are the believers who feared the Lord. Now, the fear of the Lord doesn’t mean you’re scared of God; it means you’re terrified to be away from Him. When you fear God, you give Him the deepest awe, reverence, and respect. Right? You tremble before Him because you respect Him so much. Right? «Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other.» What are they speaking to one another? They’re speaking the word of God; they’re speaking the promises. You know, they’re singing beautiful songs of worship to Him. They’re going through the same struggles that the complainers are, but their response is different. Their response is meditating on the word, speaking the word, and talking to one another about the promises that God has made: «I know God is faithful; He’s going to come through.»
«Then those who feared the Lord spoke to each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In His presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared Him.» He’s writing it down: chosen vessel, chosen vessel! «They’re going to go forth; they’re going to be one of My Elijah prophets, one of My Elijah prophets, one of My Elijah prophets!» Oh, she’s amazing; she’s going to be one of My Elijah brothers! God’s writing it all down, okay, to record the names of those who feared Him and always thought about the honor of His name. They’re not complaining; they’re thinking about the honor of God’s name. Are you seeing this? This is so powerful.
Now watch what happens when all this happens, when God writes all these names down: «They will be My people,» says the Lord of Heaven’s armies, «on the day when I act in judgment.» Remember, judgment begins in the house of God. «They will be My own special treasure.» What a promise! I want to be one of God’s special treasures, right? Everybody wants that! «I will spare them as a father who spares an obedient child, a child who honors his father.» Watch this; now this is amazing. «Then after God makes the decision in the house of God, you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked.»
In other words, you couldn’t tell the two apart. I remember when Amy Semple McPherson prophesied about the last day’s church. Do you know what she said? «I see the righteous and the wicked worshiping God together in the same building.» So in other words, before the refining, you couldn’t tell the difference between the righteous and the wicked. «Then again,» so in other words, after the refining comes because it’s going to expose what’s in you. Fire causes snakes to come out. You know that, right?
«Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked.» In other words, you couldn’t tell the difference before the fire came between those who serve God and those who don’t. Now keep reading; it gets so good. Now we go to chapter four, verse one. «The Lord of Heaven’s armies says the day of judgment is coming.» Remember, judgment means decision, burning like an oven. Now wait a minute; this is the day of judgment on the wicked. I’m so sorry it’s coming, burning like an oven, burning like a furnace. «On that day, the arrogant and wicked"—so that’s group two. Remember, these are the people who do not serve God and even test God, right? The arrogant, the wicked will be burned up like straw. You’re not going to see them anymore. In other words, they’re not going to be the prosperous ones anymore; they’re not going to be the happy ones anymore. «They will be consumed, roots, branches, and all.» But watch this! «But you who fear My name"—who are those? The ones who are going through all the wilderness, the trying, the refining—"but you who fear My name, the Sun,» not S-O-N, the S-U-N, «a big ball of fire of righteousness will rise with healing in His wings.» That’s us! We’ve gone through all this refinement, and you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.
On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet, says the Lord of Heaven’s armies. That is prophetically what is about to happen in these next several years, and I’m ready for it! How about you guys? So to continue with what Job stated—remember I said in the last refining lesson, «I have treasured your words more than my necessary food.» The next statement out of his mouth—look at this: «My foot has held fast to His steps.»
Hey, can I say something about Job? He started off saying, «I’m not cursing God.» His wife said, «Curse God and die!» Right? But then the longer he got, he kept complaining a little more, but God saw that even in his complaining, he was still being very faithful to God, but very much despising the day he was born. «My foot has held fast to His steps; His ways I have kept and not turned aside. I have not gone back from the commandment of His lips.» Even though he had gone through all this, lost everything, he said, «I have esteemed and treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.»
That’s the behavior in the midst of the refining. Those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. That’s what we do when we’re going through refining, okay? We don’t complain. The number one group that I showed you are the Christians who were the complainers, and the number three group is the Christians who fear the Lord. We want to be that number three group; can you say Amen to that? Finally, what Peter said to us is this: this refinement in our lives will bring you much praise, glory, and honor on the day that Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.