Lessons in Intercession:
New York, New York
The City that Never Sleeps
(Part 2)
Times Square, Manhattan
“A Merry-Go-Round of Pleasure”
Throughout the mission to New York City, God showed me that many times we can discern the spiritual condition of a particular people group, or geographical area by the residents’ self-diagnosis or description of their culture. This is true of individuals, as well. The root of our bondage and our personal issues are often revealed in the words that flow from our mouths. For example, New York City is commonly called, “The City that Never Sleeps.” The Holy Spirit began to show me the multitudes and high concentration of people constantly active within the city literally 24/7, which is the fruit that bears witness of New York City’s prophetic title, “The City that Never Sleeps.” The Holy Spirit began to stir my spirit to delve deeper through reflective inquiry. What is the purpose of all this activity? Why does the city never sleep? Even Scripture states, “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2, KJV). Yet, there is no rest for the wicked. For, Isaiah 57:20 states “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt” (KJV).
So many are constantly wearied by the lustful drive for sinful pleasures. The wickedness of their hearts have them running a rat race for more and more of the sinful poison that fills their system with an energetic high that is just as DECEPTIVE as crack cocaine. Yet, they are never satisfied with more, and there is never enough TIME in one’s 24/7 cycle of life to satisfy the insatiable desire for MORE and MORE… Thus, so many pseudo lives are best described as nothing more than a round and round merry-go-round of pleasure… until Judgment Day OR Reconciliation Day (depending on which one comes first!) reveals the REALITY of TRUTH that the pleasures of sin only last for a season and then the judgment of destruction!
1 John 2:16 – “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (KJV).
Unknowingly, the tour guide became a source of spiritual revelation pinpointing three demonic roots of destruction within the heart of Times Square. He explained, “The culture of Manhattan (Times Square) is to Eat, Shop, and see a Broadway play.” On the surface, there is no vice in these activities. After all, everyone needs to eat to live. We all shop for the necessities and desires of life, and most people take time out at least once in a while to enjoy a hobby or relaxing activity. Yet, God stirred me to SEE beyond the surface to the HEART of this “refined culture” of eating, shopping, and seeing Broadway plays. This is what He showed me:
The culture of Manhattan (Times Square) is to
1. Eat (Feeding the Flesh),
2. Shop (Consumerism and Materialism), and
3. See a Broadway play (Entertainment).
Yet, this culture goes beyond Manhattan to the very heart of our nation. Scripture reveals, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21, KJV). So, all we have to do is look closely at the industries where Americans spend most of their money, and there lies the heart of our nation. Yes, the wisdom of the tour guide speaks truth concerning the culture of our nation. Our nation’s heart is driven by the lusts of feeding the flesh, consumerism, and entertainment. The Holy Spirit also showed me that the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers through DISTRACTION, especially evident in the heart of Times Square… The lust of feeding the flesh, consumerism or materialism, and entertainment BLINDS hearts and minds through DISTRACTION, so that lives are WASTED on the merry-go-round of pleasure represented in the temporal insignificancies of life. The ultimate consequence is that souls are led daily straight to hell having been BLINDED by the DISTRACTIONS of this world’s system and culture: feeding the flesh, consumerism or materialism, and entertainment.
The most alarming truth is that these distractions have seeped into the church. As God spoke to me, I began to see clear evidence of this culture and perspective in my own life! Although, I have been born again and transformed by the intimate presence of God in my life, I still have not escaped from the stench of this world system and culture. So, what must I do to be SAVED . . . I mean REALLY, REALLY SAVED? I must fast MORE, in order to feast on God’s Word. I must deny myself MORE, in order to spend my life as a drink offering before my Lord! I must abandon myself unto Christ MORE, in order to be undone by Intimacy rather than the entertainment of my flesh. Am I going too far? Am I seeking to be so Heavenly minded that I am no Earthly good? Yes! A million times Yes! We must SEE that in this particular statement, Earth and Heaven do NOT represent physical places. Rather, Earth represents the world system and Heaven represents Christ’s Kingdom, and BOTH are REAL and EVIDENT right here on Earth! I must SEE the Truth of this Message and apply it to MYSELF above all else! For, it is so easy to HEAR and SEE the need for Truth in OTHERS' lives and miss the Truth that Judgement, Chastisement, and Correction comes FIRST to the House of God . . . not that building on the corner with a cross in the yard, but in ME the Living, Breathing Temple, Church and Body Member of Chirst!
Oh, that MY LIFE would be ALL JESUS and NOTHING of me, myself, or I! Oh, that I would live the name that God has given me . . . C. Love, so that every eye that beholds me no longer sees me, but they SEE LOVE! Oh, that I would TRULY DIE that CHRIST may fully LIVE in and through me!
Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (KJV).
While sitting on the tour bus asking God to help me to SEE as He SEES, I heard the voice of God speak, “Everyone is selling something, while I’m giving the BEST thing away for free.” He continued to speak as we surveyed Ground Zero, and my enquiry continued, “How does God see GROUND ZERO?” I am so glad that God never tires of my questioning! Rather, He faithfully replied, “A wake up call to REPENTANCE!” Then He showed me the anthem posted for all to see, “We will never forget!” The Holy Spirit led me to enquire further, “Forget what? America, what is the LESSON that we have learned from 9/11?” We must open our eyes and SEE . . . We are living in 9/11 TIMES! It’s time to CALL UPON HIM! It’s time to repent! It’s time to forsake the DISTRACTIONS of the world's system and culture and completely yield ourselves to the ONE who died to set us free from the bondage of this world's system that we can live as citizens of Heaven . . . Christ's Kingdom right here on Earth!
© 2011 Christine Lombard, All rights reserved, use only with permission
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