Michael’s hammer beats on the invisible dome over the town across the river with jarring precision.
As I stand in my usual spot, the ground shakes with each impact, sending pins and needles through my feet each time.
Gatherer stands beside me and looks out over the river, turning his head to watch the cars drive over the bridge, then looking up to watch Michael hammer at the air.
Gatherer:
“The spirit of poverty causes even the wealthy to hold onto their material gain tightly. You are to be rivers, not dams. Wealth is to go through you, not to you.
Even the elite among you preach that you are blessed to be a blessing, yet the majority of what they receive becomes opulence and they call it context. They preach that your material possessions will prosper as your soul prospers. They are right but they are wrong.
The soul prospers when it does the work of the Father. Wealth is not a fruit of a prospering soul. Joy, peace, kindness, patience – such wealth cannot be measured.
Those who heed your words must take special note that the Son creates special places for those who forfeit material wealth in favor of obedience to His word. Has he not commanded that you should not build for yourself more storehouses?
Those with businesses and large income are to labor with joy and make sure that every child is raised in the word without lack. There must be no lack among you. If you have the power to bring provision yet do nothing, you forfeit your very soul.
The kingdom of heaven is a place of generosity and selflessness. Those who think that the Son embraces the indifferent and the selfish will be sorely disappointed. What does it profit a man to gain a bit of wealth at the cost of his very soul?
No son of sorrow, righteousness and generosity cannot be separated. You cannot have one without the other.
Neither can you call yourself a servant of God if you rebel against His directives. The Son, who is the way, the truth and the life, has clearly shown you, through His life and teachings, that the poor are His priority. Even tax collectors had to repent and take care of the poor.
To rebel against this directive is to rebel against God Himself.
Intentional indifference is a grave sin son of sorrow. It is against this hard heart that Michael wars so. For with hardened hearts do they lift their hands in praise and worship. They seek a touch of God but refuse to touch others for God. And then they groan and complain that God does not speak to them.
Hear this son of sorrow:
To ignore the word will deafen your ears to the still, small voice. And to be deaf to the still, small voice is to be deaf to both angels and witnesses.
Indeed. Holiness without generosity is hypocrisy. Your prayers will hit the ceiling. The kingdom of heaven is closed to the selfish and the indifferent. For they seek their own as their father the devil seeks his own and to hunger for the presence of God while willfully disobedient to His instructions is futile.”
Me:
“Truly it is impossible to enter the kingdom of heaven! What of Grace?”
Gatherer:
“Your sins are covered by the blood of the lamb but the son expects you to steward His gift to you. As grace is given, so must it be passed on. If you debts are forgiven yet you refuse to forgive those who owe you debts and even throw them in prison, you too will be thrown in prison. The blood of the Lamb is not a free pass to become sinful and selfish son of sorrow. And no, it is far from impossible. For your (plural) nature is selflessness. To turn your back on those in lack is a conscious decision. You brand your conscience with the burning iron of indifference and inspire others to do the same. It was thus with Satan. Even the purest presence of God will not override your choice to worship mammon.
Generosity is the anointing that heals the soul and those who are generous do so because they are driven by a hunger for righteousness.
You cannot separate righteousness from generosity son of sorrow. The heart of a giver is a heart that responds to heaven!”
Me:
“The owner of the land has agreed to a direct sale, the repayment is high. What am I to do?”
Gatherer:
“When ten commit from this nation, other nations will follow. Continue to pray and fast. Continue to exercise spiritual discipline.
Every major principality on Africa wages war to make sure that this vision does not come to pass. For if this vision succeeds, unity shall rise, blessing shall be commanded and poverty shall fall. We continue to speak to many mighty men and women and we continue to send champions. Very few hear, even less respond, but those who respond are as the Centurion, driven to advance the kingdom at any cost.
Hold fast son of sorrow. Continue in prayer and fasting and recruit others to join you.
Pray that ears will open in obedience. Continue to seek first the kingdom!
The kingdom is all!”
ME:
“The kingdom is all!”
I wake up.