ONEOFACITY

ONE OF A CITY

After the ten-tribed Israel had been taken into Assyrian
captivity, the Southern kingdom of Judah fell into the same terri-
bly sinful condition which had caused the captivity of the North-
ern kingdom.

In chiding with Judah, the Lord wrote to the Northern
kingdom some statements which were prophetic-- spoken concern-
ing the people who live today, and are followers of the Lord.

It was a clarion call at that time-- for Israel to repent of her
sins and return to the ways of the Lord. It was also a clarion call
to the Christians of today who have backslidden into the denomi-
national system (with the resultant captivity) which we have today.

Malachi bemoaned the fact that integrity and morals had
deteriorated to the place that evil was called good, and good was
called evil. We find ourselves in the same condition today.
Business men say they can not be honest and prosper. Church and
denominational leaders today say they can not embrace the true
principals of Christianity. To do so would wreck their system.
The "system" has become a form of business-- and a cut-throat
business at that. Little wonder the wrath of the Lord is building to
explosive proportions.

When the "system" is crushed-- many of its leaders will
also be crushed. God is not, however, primarily displeased with
MEN who believe on Him. He is displeased with how men have
become CAPTIVE to that which they have invented-- "to further
the Gospel". It (the system) has become a "Frankenstein" of
sorts, and is a very cruel taskmaster.

Yet, ironically, out of, and in spite of, the mess which the
Christian community finds itself in today, God will perform His
Will and Plan for his Blood-bought people world-wide.

You don't believe He can do it? Think again, friend.
Look at the mess which the Hebrew people were in at the time of
the birth, life, and crucifixion of Jesus. Did that deter the Lord
from the timing and performance of His Plan? NO!!!

The message to ten-tribed Israel was: Jeremiah 3:12-14
Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return,
thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; [and] I will not cause
mine anger to fall upon you: for I [am] merciful, saith the LORD,
[and] I will not keep [anger] for ever. Only acknowledge thine
iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God,
and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green
tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. Turn,
O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto
you: and I WILL TAKE YOU ONE OF A CITY, AND TWO
OF A FAMILY, AND I WILL BRING YOU TO ZION:

The prophet Ezekiel was given a vision which troubled him
very much. He saw a terrible thing taking place among the lead-
ers of Israel, and it was causing the people to commit a very great
sin. The Lord sent a man with an ink horn among the people-- to
put a mark upon those who "sighed and cried" over the abomina-
tions which were committed. Then, another was commissioned to
go through the nation and slay everyone who did not have the
mark on them. When so many were slain, and Ezekiel was
spared, he cried out to the Lord, "Lord, will you kill EVERY-
ONE?" See Ezek chs. 8 & 9

These two portions of scripture are prophetic, in that they
give us an idea of what and how God is working within the Chris-
tian Community today-- selecting and marking a group of people
who are meeting the demands of a Holy God for THEIR lives in
this day. You and I have no way of knowing who they are, for
we can judge by appearances only. GOD KNOWS THE HEART.

They are NOT PERFECT. No one is. But, their manner
of life-- dictated by their heart condition, is such that God consid-
ers them to be CANDIDATES for the special ANOINTING AND
IMPARTATION OF HIS SPIRIT which will empower them to do
what He has DETERMINED shall be done in the TIME OF THE
HARVEST.

MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.

II Peter 1:10,11 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give dili-
gence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these
things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered
unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ.

YOU AND I CAN BECOME CANDIDATES!