DEARLY BELOVED,

I WRITE THESE WORDS WITH A BROKEN HEART;
AND IN TEARS.

BUT I KNOW IT IS THE WILL OF GOD THAT IT BE SAID!
I PRAY IN JESUS NAME, THAT YOU WILL BE AS BROKEN
AND HUMBLED BY THIS, AS I WAS, WHEN THE LORD
SPOKE THIS WORD TO MY HEART.

~ GARY R. KANE ~

I TRULY CAN SAY... "WOE UNTO ME, I AM UNDONE!" I AM A MAN OF UNCLEAN LIPS, AND LIVE AMONG A PEOPLE OF THE SAME! I HAVE BROKEN THE HEART OF GOD, AND DARKNESS HAS BECOME MY FRIEND...  LIKE DAVID, "OH IF I HAD THE WINGS OF A DOVE, I WOULD FLY AWAY, AND BE AT REST. "BUT, "WHERE WOULD I FLY?" WHERE WOULD I GO, THAT HE IS NOT THERE?

SATAN HAS SURELY COME, BUT FOR TO KILL, STEAL, AND DESTROY! HE IS A DEVIL WITHOUT A CONSCIENCE!  A MASTER OF DISGUISE! A CREATOR OF NOTHING! YET A CRAFTY SERPENT, AT OFFERING EVERYTHING!

MY EYES HAVE LOOKED "BACKWARDS," SO OFTEN, AND SAID "OH IF IT COULD ONLY BE THE WAY IT WAS, AT THAT TIME, OR AT THAT PLACE AND TIME." AND YET, WHEN I REFLECT UPON THOSE TIMES... THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THEIR OWN TYPES OF PAIN AND CONFUSION AS WELL! I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION, THAT THERE IS "NO PLACE," WHERE THERE IS A PLACE, WITH OUT "CONFLICT," EXCEPT IN ABIDING IN CHRIST! THERE ARE WARS WITHIN, AND WARS WITHOUT...

THERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL PRAISE YOU FOR THE SMALLEST THING.. THE MOST SEEMINGLY INSIGNIFICANT WORD, OR PRAYER OR HELP IN SOME WAY. AND THEN TO BALANCE THE SCALES, I SUPPOSE, THERE ARE THOSE READY TO PLACE THE DAGGER IN YOUR BACK, AND GIVE IT A GOOD HARDY "TWIST!" AND FOR WHAT? I DO NOT KNOW! IF I UNDERSTOOD THIS, I WOULD BE, OUT OF ALL MEN.. PERHAPS THE WISEST!

THERE SEEMS TO BE A "MAJOR PROBLEM" WITHIN OUR RANKS, TO JUST ACCEPT, AND RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER AS WE ARE! NO STRINGS ATTACHED! NOTHING IN IT FOR US! JUST TO ACCEPT, AND LOVE, AND RECEIVE ANOTHER, AS THEY ARE! AS THEY LOOK, AS THEY DRESS, AS THEY SING OR PRAY, OR LAUGH OR PRAISE... IT SEEMS WE HAVE SET STANDARDS, AND WHEN OTHERS "DO NOT MEET  THOSE STANDARDS," WE SEEM TO THINK MORE HIGHLY OF OURSELVES THAN WE OUGHT, AND BEGIN TO SEPARATE FROM THE VERY BONDS OF LOVE, THAT GOD WOULD HAVE US TO WALK IN.

"BE IMITATORS OF GOD..." THE BIBLE TELLS US! IF WE THINK, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE, AS WE WALK IN THIS WAY DESCRIBED, IS AN IMITATION OF GOD'S CHARACTER, THEN WE HAVE PROVEN TO OURSELVES, AND TO ALL THE HOST OF HEAVEN AND HELL, THAT WE KNOW NOTHING, OF THE NATURE AND CHARACTER, OF THE HOLY GOD AND FATHER OF LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE! THANK GOD HE IS NOT LIKE MOST OF US, WHO JUDGE BY OUTWARD APPEARANCE, INSTEAD, HE LOOKS AT THE HEART! THE FRUIT THAT IS BORN IN THAT LIFE! BUT I AM NOT TALKING HERE ABOUT THOSE WHO DRESS LEWD.

NOWHERE IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE, ARE WE TOLD THAT WE ARE ANY MORE "HOLY,"  BECAUSE WE WEAR A SUIT, INSTEAD OF BLUE JEANS, OR THAT A   WONDERFUL SET OF CLOTHES, BRINGS THE ANOINTING, AND A PLAINLY DRESSED MAN, LOSES HIS TOUCH OF GOD! THE CALL TO "DRESS DECENTLY," IN THE WORD, MEANS JUST THAT! " NOT TO BE LEWD", NOT TO COME INTO OUR GATHERINGS WEARING "SHORT-SHORTS," SKIN TIGHT T-SHIRTS, WOMEN IN LOW CUT TOPS, AND HARDLY ANY BOTTOMS! THESE PEOPLE, WHO SAY THEY LOVE THE LORD, ARE LOOKING FOR THE EVER POPULAR "COMFORTABLE GOSPEL," THE, 'COMFORTABLE CHURCH,' THE, 'CROSS-LESS' CHURCH!

 All of these things, that are welcomed, allowed, and practiced, in the church on the corner, will eventually produce the worst fruit on the block.

" THERE IS ONLY ONE "TRUE DRESS CODE," FOR THE CHILD OF GOD IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE... "PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST..." "BE CLOTHED IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS..."

WE HAVE TURNED SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE INTO A "FASHION SHOW," A LEGALISTIC, AND "TRADITIONAL," TIME AND PLACE TO PARADE OUR "CHURCH CLOTHES," THEN GO HOME, AND CHANGE NOT ONLY OUR SUITS AND TIES, AND LOVELY DRESSES, BUT CHANGE OUR SPIRIT... WE LUST AFTER WHAT OUR NEIGHBOR HAS, WE ARGUE WITH OUR MATE,   AND OUR FAMILIES, WE SPEND COUNTLESS HOURS IN FRONT OF THE T.V. SET INSTEAD OF THE WORD OF GOD!

WE CHEAT AT WORK, WE LIE AND STEAL AND ROB GOD! AH! BUT ON SUNDAY, WE ONCE AGAIN PUT ON THOSE MAGIC CLOTHES, THAT WE BELIEVE MAKE US HOLY! THEN WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WE DRESS DOWN A LITTLE! WHY? I ASK YOU, IS WEDNESDAY NIGHT, AND THE WORD YOU RECEIVE, AND THE PRAISE YOU GIVE, AND THE WORSHIP YOU ATTEND, LESS GOD, THAN IT WAS ON SUNDAY? WAS GOD FORMAL ON SUNDAY, AND CASUAL ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT? WE ARE SO BOUND IN TRADITION IT IS A STENCH IN THE NOSTRILS OF GOD! JESUS SAID HE DOES NOT JUDGE BY OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT BY THE HEART!

WE ARE SO VERY BUSY TRYING TO MAKE EVERYTHING FROM THE BUILDING TO THE SERVICE, TO THE PEWS AND CARPET AND CLOTHES "LOOK GOOD," WE FORGOT ABOUT THE HEART! YOU SAY "ALL THIS SOUNDS SILLY TO ME." BUT MY FRIEND, IT IS THE TRUTH! AND IF WE CANNOT GET PAST THIS... HOW WILL WE EVER GO ON IN THE THINGS GOD REALLY HAS PLANNED FOR HIS CHURCH!

PERSONALLY, I AM TIRED OF HAVING TO "LOOK LIKE A PREACHER!" WHERE IS THERE A WRITTEN CODE THAT SAY'S WHAT A  PREACHER LOOKS LIKE? I TELL YOU... HE LOOKS LIKE JESUS! HE BEARS THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD! HE WIELDS THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, AND FEARS NO MAN OR DEVIL! HE LOVES THE SHEEP, AND PRAYS EARNESTLY FOR THEM, HE HELPS THEM WITH ALL THE SPIRITUAL ABILITY GIVEN HIM BY GOD! HE IS A MAN OF PRAYER, A MAN OF THE WORD, A MAN OF OBEDIENCE! HE WAS NOT CALLED TO BE A WHITE, OR BLUE COLLAR WORKER, IN "SPIRITUAL BIG BUSINESS." HE WAS NOT CALLED TO BUILD BIG MEGA CHURCHES! HE WAS NOT CALLED TO "HANG WITH THE ONES WHO CAN SUPPORT HIS DREAMS AND VISIONS, AND NEGLECT THOSE WHO DO NOT "LOOK GOOD," OR HAVE MONEY, OR CAN HELP HIM FULFILL HIS SELFISH AMBITIONS!"

JESUS HAD NO PLACE TO EVEN LAY HIS HEAD! AND YOU, PREACHER, YOU WANT IT ALL! A BIG HOUSE, A BIG CAR, NICE CLOTHES, A GREAT VACATION PACKAGE, COME AND GIVE THE PEOPLE A "POPCORN, COTTON CANDY WATERED DOWN WORD," WHILE YOU ENJOY THE GOOD THINGS OF LIFE! YOU ARE A CLOUD, SIR, WITHOUT RAIN! DARKNESS AND BLACKNESS AWAITS YOU AT THE END OF YOUR PLAYTIME. ALL THOSE YOU HAVE REJECTED, AND "CUT OFF," BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY DRESS OR LOOK, OR BECAUSE THEY DO NOT DO IT "YOUR WAY," THEY, WILL SIT AT THE TABLE OF THE LORD, AND FEAST!

YOU AND THE OTHER PHARISEES LIKE YOU, WILL WATCH FROM WITHOUT, WITH SATAN, AND THE DEMONS OF HELL THAT, CONVINCED YOU THAT ALL THIS WAS A MATTER OF "APPEARANCE." GOD PLEASE HELP US TO SEE WITH YOUR EYES, THAT IT IS THE   FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE HEART, THAT YOU ARE GOING TO JUDGE.  NOT A SHOW BOAT BEAUTY CONTEST!

NO, I AM NOT ON A CRUSADE, OR A BANDWAGON. NOR AM I AGAINST A SUIT AND A TIE, THAT WOULD PLACE ME IN THE CATEGORY OF THE PHARISEE! I AM ONLY SHARING THAT WE ARE A PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL, SO TRADITIONAL, AND BLIND TO THE REAL SUBSTANCE OF GOD, "LOVE!" THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY HEART BREAKING!

THERE IS A PLACE IN OUR GATHERINGS, (I AM CONVINCED), THAT WE
WILL KNOW THAT WHAT IS BEING DONE, IS BEING DONE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND NOT BY US! NO MATTER HOW LARGE, OR HOW SMALL THOSE GATHERINGS ARE, THE LORD IS WANTING US TO WALK IN PEACE AND LIBERTY, IN THE TOTALITY, (AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR A HUMAN), OF HIS GREAT FREEDOM.

I HAVE, WITHIN THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS, AGAIN, WITNESSED THE LIBERATING POWER OF THE LORD. A MAN CALLED ME, (I DO NOT KNOW HIM), AND SAID HE HAD GOT MY NAME, AND HE JUST "MUTTERED AROUND," ON THE PHONE, AND REALLY SAID NOTHING! THEN WHEN I BEGAN TO QUESTION HIM AS TO "WHAT, AND WHERE WE WERE HEADED," HE SAID, HE WAS JUST CALLING CAUSE HE FELT LIKE THE LORD WANTED HIM TO, AND HE BEGAN TO SHARE HIS HEART..

THE MAN HAD BEEN TOLD BY SOMEONE 15 YEARS AGO THAT HE WAS AN "APOSTLE." AND AT THIS MEETING, I GUESS IT REALLY EXCITED HIM, WHEN THE   MINISTER TOLD HIM THIS. SO HE HAS TRIED TO "PLAY THIS OUT," OFF AND ON, FOR THESE YEARS! (MOSTLY RUNNING FROM IT). THIS MAN, I COULD TELL, WAS PACKING A TREMENDOUS BURDEN, AND WEIGHT. WE CONTINUED TO TALK ACTUALLY FOR ALMOST THREE HOURS! AND THE LORD BEGAN TO DEAL WITH HIM AS WE SPOKE. I SHARED SOME THINGS WITH HIM, AND THE LORD SHOWED ME CLEARLY, THAT THIS MAN WAS UNDER A "FALSE BURDEN," AND A "FALSE SINCE OF RESPONSIBILITY." (THERE WERE SOME OTHER THINGS AS WELL)..

WHEN I BEGAN TO SHARE THIS WITH HIM HE RECEIVED IT. WE PRAYED, HE REPENTED, HE DEALT WITH SOME THINGS, AND HE SAID, "MAN I FEEL REAL LITE!" I SAID "BROTHER, YOU ARE FREE!" THIS MAN HAS CALLED ME AGAIN SINCE, AND HE IS REALLY ENJOYING HIS LIBERTY! YOU SEE, HE HAD BEEN UNDER THE "LAW," FOR SO LONG HE WAS "BOUND UP." NOW HE,(AS HE PUTS IT), HEARS THE "TRUTH," AND EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT. HE REALLY HAS GAINED SOME GROUND IN JUST A FEW DAYS.

ALL THESE YEARS, HIS "STRIVING TO BE HOLY," INSTEAD OF JUST "BELIEVING HE HAD, BEEN MADE HOLY." (ALTHOUGH, HE MAY NOT HAVE 'ACTED HOLY'), HAD HIM BOUND UP IN PERFORMANCE. THIS IS WHERE MOST OF US ARE AT, OR HAVE BEEN.   TRYING TO PLEASE GOD, TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE INTO LIBERTY, TRYING TO PREACH THE GOSPEL, AND USE THE GIFTS, AND SERVE THE LORD....... BUT WITH NOT MANY RESULTS, PLUS MOST OF OUR EFFORTS, IN OUR OWN LIVES, AND IN THE LIVES OR (FRUIT) OF OTHERS, STILL REMAINING,   "SHALLOW," AT BEST!

ALWAYS FEELING TIRED, OR LACKING IN REAL SPIRITUAL "FERVOR." DOING ALL WE CAN TO CAUSE OURSELVES TO BE "CONVINCED," THAT WE ARE 'SUFFERING FOR JESUS,' LABORING TO HELP THE POOR AND THE NEEDY, AND RIGHTLY SO, (THIS IS THE PARADOX),

YES,WE MUST, LABOR TO SERVE THE POOR AND THE NEEDY, AND TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF FREEDOM AND LIBERTY, "BUT WAIT," 

FREEDOM AND LIBERTY FROM WHAT?

FREEDOM AND LIBERTY FROM THE LAW!

FREEDOM AND LIBERTY FROM THE AGONY OF TRYING TO BE HOLY, FROM TRYING TO PLEASE THE LORD WITH ALL OUR SUFFERING AND  PAIN, AND WITH ALL OUR WAILING AND MOANING. (IN THE FLESH). WE HAVE, IF WE WILL REALLY ADMIT IT, BECOME AT TIMES, NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE ACTIONS OF THE 'PROPHETS OF BAAL!' WE JUMP AROUND, AND HOLLER AND "CUT OURSELVES," AND THESE 'CUTTINGS,' REPRESENT, I BELIEVE, THE "SHALLOWNESS," OF OUR WALK WITH THE LORD!

THAT IS TO SAY... THESE 'CUTTINGS,' WERE ALL DONE AROUND A "SACRIFICE," THEY WERE OFFERING 'SOMETHING TO GOD,' (their god), IN ORDER TO GET HIM TO "COME INTO THEIR PRESENCE!" BUT, IT WAS "SUPERFICIAL," THE CUTTING DID NOT, "GO DEEP TO THE HEART!" IT WAS JUST ENOUGH, TO, (GET THIS), SHOW THE PEOPLE AROUND THE ALTAR, THAT THEY WERE, (IN THEIR OWN MIND), "HOLY!" THESE CUTTINGS, WERE, 'SELF INFLICTED, SUPERFICIAL, OUTWARD APPEARANCE!" ALL THEIR SHOUTING, AND ALL THEIR PAIN AND SUFFERING, AND ALL THEIR, "DEMONSTRATION OF WORSHIP AND SERVICE," WERE NO MORE THAN A 'SHALLOW EXPRESSION OF A HEART THAT WOULD NOT LET THE GOD OF ELIJAH, GO STRAIGHT TO THE HEART!

AND ALL THE WHILE THE PROPHET OF GOD SAT ON THE HILL IN PEACE! WHY? BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN WOUNDED! HE HAD BEEN CUT! HE HAD KNOWN PAIN! AND IT WAS ALL FROM THE HAND OF GOD TO HIS WILLING HEART! IT HAPPENED AT KERITH! (A PLACE OF CUTTING)! IT HAPPENED AT ZAREPHATH! (A PLACE OF BURNING)!  SO, NOW HE HAS THE POWER TO SEE THE 'HAND OF GOD MOVE,' ON MOUNT CARMEL!'

YES, HE BOWED DOWN, AND GAVE IN TO HIS FEARS LATER! BUT ONLY TO AGAIN, FIND HIMSELF ALLOWING GOD TO  REVEAL HIMSELF ONCE AGAIN IN A WONDERFUL WAY! I AM CONVINCED, FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND EXPERIENCED MYSELF; THAT WE ARE A PEOPLE OF THIS VERY NATURE! WE ARE GOING BY OUTWARD APPEARANCE AND FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS. WE ARE DANCING AROUND THE ALTAR, WITH A SUPERFICIAL WOUND,' INFLICTED BY OUR 'OWN DOINGS,' AND WE ARE MAKING, "A BIG NOISE," TO BRING GOD TO OUR SITUATION!

IN I KINGS 19: 9ff, THE HEADING IN YOUR BIBLE READS...... 'THE LORD APPEARS TO ELIJAH.' AND THE FIRST THING HE ASK WAS.. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" WHERE? GOD HAD HIM TO GO OUT OF THAT "CAVE," (A PLACE OF UNREST AND CONFUSION) AND STAND ON THE MOUNTAIN, (A PLACE OF SECURITY AND AUTHORITY), AND TOLD ELIJAH; IN VS. 11, "THE LORD IS ABOUT TO PASS BY!"

THEN A GREAT WIND BLEW UP, AND SHATTERED THE ROCKS BEFORE THE LORD WHAT A POWERFUL WIND! "BUT THE LORD WAS NOT THERE!" THEN, AN INCREDIBLE EARTHQUAKE! "BUT THE LORD WAS NOT THERE EITHER!" THEN, THERE WAS A MIGHTY FIRE! "BUT THE LORD WAS NOT THERE EITHER!"

WHAT IS THIS? IS THIS A GAME THAT GOD WAS PLAYING WITH ELIJAH? WAS IT THAT ELIJAH LOST HIS ABILITY TO HEAR THE LORD? PERHAPS HE WAS DREAMING, AND THIS WAS ALL A NIGHTMARE! NO!.... FOR AFTER ALL THESE EVENTS, CAME "A GENTLE WHISPER!" "A GENTLE WHISPER!" AND ELIJAH COVERED HIS FACE WITH HIS CLOAK! ONCE AGAIN HE HAS HEARD THE VOICE OF GOD! AND THE LORD'S WORDS ARE THE SAME! "ELIJAH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" NOTICE THIS MIGHTY PROPHET OF GOD.. HIS FIRST WORDS WERE NOT AN ANSWER TO THE LORD'S QUESTION,  INDEED IT WAS A "DECLARATION, OF HIS GREAT ZEAL AND FERVOR FOR THE LORD! SOMEWHAT OF A BOASTING OF ALL HE HAD DONE! HOW SO MANY WERE IN SUCH SAD CONDITION, YET "HE STILL STANDS, (IN HIS OWN MIND), AS ONE WHO GOD CAN COUNT ON!" AND ALL THE WHILE HE IS IN HIDING! HE IS ON THE RUN FROM A JEZEBEL! UNIMPRESSED, THE LORD DID NOT IMMEDIATELY REBUKE HIM, BUT TOLD HIM TO GO BACK THE WAY HE HAD COME; THERE, YOU WILL OVERCOME YOUR FEARS, AND I HAVE WORK FOR YOU! THEN THE LORD REMINDED HIM, "HE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE!"

IN ALL THE ACTION PACKED ADVENTURES ELIJAH HAD ON THE MOUNTAIN, WITH THE WIND, THE EARTHQUAKE, THE FIRE, GOD CAME IN A STILL SMALL WHISPER!

DOES THIS MEAN WE SHOULD NOT LOOK FOR GOD TO DO ANY "MIGHTY WORKS AMONG US?"

NO!

DOES THIS MEAN THAT GOD DOES NOT COME AS WIND, AND FIRE, AND ONE WHO SHAKES THE MOUNTAINS AS AN EARTHQUAKE?

NO!

ONE THING IT IS SAYING TO US IS THIS.. THAT ALL THAT POWER AND ENERGY, ALL THE SPECTACULAR, ALL THE ELECTRIC ENERGY, "CAN BE PRODUCED IN A WHISPER!"

UNLIKE THE PROPHETS OF BAAL WHO THOUGHT THEY HAD TO "SHOUT IT OUT!" UNLIKE THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES, OF SUPERFICIAL REPENTANCE, (THE CUTTINGS), AND DANCING AROUND THE ALTAR OF THE "SACRIFICE OF OUR OWN CHOOSING," GOD IS SAYING TO US, I COME TO THOSE WHO ARE DESPERATE FOR ME, FOR MY TRUE PRESENCE! I COME AMONG THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO HUMBLE THEMSELVES IN SUCH A WAY AS TO RECEIVE MY REPROOF, AND TO GO THE   WAY THAT I WOULD LEAD THEM, EVEN IF THERE IS NOT A SPECTACULAR MOVEMENT AT THE TIME!

GOD IS MOST CERTAINLY A GOD OF THE "SPECTACULAR!" BUT ONLY WHEN IT SERVES HIS PURPOSE, NOT OUR OWN! WE DO NOT HAVE TO "CREATE THE SPECTACULAR," TO BRING THE  PRESENCE OF GOD TO OUR LIVES! WE RECEIVE THE "EFFECTS OF THE SPECTACULAR," WHEN WE SIMPLY CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD, AND DESIRE HIS FULLNESS AND HIS LOVE, AND ARE WILLING TO LAY OUR LIVES DOWN ON THE ALTAR OF HIS PERFECT WILL FOR OUR SELVES, AND IN OUR GATHERINGS AS WELL! (Romans 12:1-3). LET US GO ON THEN, BY THE PATHWAY OF FAITH! LET US KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD! LET US NOT LOOK AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT, LEARN THE  DEALINGS OF GOD, IN OUR LIVES, AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS AS WELL.

THEN, I BELIEVE, THAT THE YEARNINGS OF HIS HEART FOR US, WILL BE KNOWN BY THE "WHISPER,"  THAT INWARD LOVE RELATIONSHIP, IN THE QUITE OF HIS PRESENCE. THEN I AM CONVINCED, THAT WE SHALL "KNOW," THE POWER AND THE PRESENCE, OF ALL THAT IS TRULY GOD! AND WE WILL BEGIN TO TRULY EXPERIENCE "THE EFFECTS," OF THE WIND, THE EARTH SHAKING POWER, AND THE FIRE!

IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS!

GARY R. KANE