A December To Remember

Julie Volby

December 1, 2004

While worshipping with a friend on 11/29/04, the Lord gave me a vision and spoke a prophetic word regarding the month of December. I believe that what was revealed was not only for my friend and I, but was a Corporate message that is to be shared with those who have ears to hear and eyes to see Him. This writing is given as an encouragement for those who have remained hidden deep within the earth, waiting on the Lord for His perfect time of release. It seems the time has now come and the Lord would provide us with wisdom and understanding as we step out fully into the Light of the New Day or the Third Day.

The Lord said that this would be a “December to Remember”. He did not give a lot of details, but did give a vision that was released through prophetic song. In the vision I saw the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. The Lord revealed to me that what most could not see was that the Babe was wrapped in an unseen blanket of God’s everlasting love and clothed in His glory. It was His love that was surrounding, protecting and keeping the Babe warm. As we enter into the season of Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights, I believe there is a profound significance in relation to kairos or the appointed time overtaking the chronos time. This festival lasts eight days, eight being the number of restoration, and commemorates the miraculous supply of oil that lit the menorah. Perhaps during this time a miraculous supply of heavenly oil, which we know as the Holy Spirit, will flow in and through the Body of Christ to bring restoration to His temple and upon the earth.

As I continued to ponder what the Lord was trying to say through the vision, it became clear that the fullness of time for the birth of the Manchild of destiny is here.

Luke 2:7 - And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Greek word describing Jesus being wrapped in swaddling clothes is sparganoo. It means to wrap (in cloth) to bind a newborn infant in strips of long cloth, a normal act of childcare for warmth and security. I believe that just as Jesus came into the world and was wrapped in swaddling cloths, so the Father would desire us to see that we too are wrapped in layers of His love and glory. It is His presence, wrapped around us, that provides the warmth and security we need to live. Those who are wrapped in Him have died to their carnal nature through identification with Jesus’ Finished work on the Cross and their lives are now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is their life appears, they shall also appear with Him in glory (see Colossians 3:3-4).

As we remember how Jesus first came to the earth, we are also reminded that He did not come in the way that many thought He would. He was not only wrapped in swaddling cloths, but His life was clothed in humility. He came in the humblest of circumstances, where one might least expect, in a lowly stable in the midst of some animals. Jesus, the firstborn of many brethren, was also the Light of the world who humbly came ‘hidden’ in a body of flesh. As Zion is giving birth, it seems that perhaps the King of Glory has once again hidden Himself within a humbled people that have been set aside for such as time as this.

I believe that this December to Remember marks not only a season of Divine release, but also one of Divine judgment. For those that are being released in this season, many have been marked as forerunners and have already passed through the Lord’s purifying fires of judgment. But for those that have yet to pass through or are passing through, the shaking will only increase.

So, what will this impending season of judgment look like? Many look for the day that all evil men will be slain or killed. They wait for justice to be served to those who have committed unforgivable acts. For many this is what judgment is all about. Yet, those who know the Word of God know that judgment does not start in the world, but in the House of God first. Many believe that surely God will judge His own people first. They seem to have no excuse, especially those mesmerized and serving the religious church system. Surely, they will be judged first! However, if you are waiting for fire and brimstone to strike the organized church, I am afraid that you may still be looking in the wrong place.

Many know what I am talking about when I say that the shaking has already begun. However, it has not necessarily begun within a church building, but instead has begun within individual Christians who make up the true Church or Bride of Christ. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6 that our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in us and that we are not our own. Based on this, I believe it is safe to say that the House of God that is coming under judgment begins personally, which inevitably flows Corporately as His Spirit unifies us as One in Christ.

Hebrews 12:25-29

25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those tings that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

If you think God rocked your world when you first placed faith in Jesus Christ, that is not all He had in store for you. God wasn’t planning only to shake your earth, but also your heavens. The shaking that is spoken of in these verses is a shaking of every work of the flesh that has been borne out of the carnal thought life or Adamic nature. The Word tells us that we already have the mind of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:16), but it is through the power of God’s Word that our minds are renewed to see Him as He is and to learn to walk according to the Spirit, rather than according to the flesh. It is the Truth that sets us free. Those thoughts and actions that have been borne of the flesh life must be shaken, so only that which is of God remains. This is part of the purification process of the Bride of Christ. She must pass through the fiery passion of God’s love. He must increase within us until He is everything and we must decrease until we (our carnality) are nothing. This is the process in which Christ within us the hope of glory will be revealed!

If you are going through a great shaking in any area of your life such as relationships in the home or work, health, finances, emotionally stability, broken dreams, broken promises, or the like I encourage you to recall these words.

1 Peter 4:12-17

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God, and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

The Lord would say to those that are suffering to, “Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draweth nigh.” Do not focus on your problems, but instead on the answer to every problem. His Name is JESUS and He holds the answer to everything. Escape the pit of self-pity, unbelief and doubt by using all of the energy you once spent worrying to instead worship and praise the King of kings and Lord of lords! It is through partaking in Christ’s sufferings that He is moving us from glory to glory and faith to faith. Now is the time to invest all of your heavenly currency, which is faith, into the storehouse of God. Let us not be double-minded and suppose that we will receive anything if we are not placing our faith in God alone. But let us instead see a double portion of His power and presence manifested in our lives by trusting in Him to see us through!

The Lord recently took me through my own personal season of Divine judgment. Many believe judgment is a bad thing, but for those who know their righteousness comes from Christ alone, judgment is God’s mercy. The things that transpired can best be described as a whirlwind. It took me by surprise and was not at all what I expected. It came very quickly and very forcefully. There was nothing I could do to control it. It quickly became clear that there were certain areas of my life that had not been fully turned over to God. So, the whirlwind came and blew my little preconceived world apart. In that time I had a vision of a mound of dirt. I believe the dirt represented the carnal nature or earth, as man was made of the dust of the earth. The mound I saw could be considered a prison, a cave or even a tomb. It was a place where all man-made ideas, presumption, and hope in any work of the flesh had sat and eventually died. It was there that I realized that no work of the flesh could have any part in what God had promised. The dreams of destiny had died and I died (my flesh life) with them. Even my idea of how God would resurrect these dreams was completely wrong. In His perfect time and way He sent the whirlwind of judgment to blow the tomb of my carnal reasoning or veil of flesh away completely. In the vision I saw that, as the dust was taken away by the whirlwind, what remained was a beautiful red stone. It was not in its raw form as one might expect a newly uncovered gem to be, but it was already perfectly cut in the shape that would reflect the most light in order to display its inner beauty the most. It was already buffed, polished and shined. It was ready to be placed in the King’s crown. This jewel is spoken of in Malachi 3.

Malachi 3:16-18

16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. 17 “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” 18 Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.

It is in this season of Divine release that God will reveal these jewels that He has been carefully preparing and has kept hidden under the earth or veil of flesh. They have passed through the Refiner’s fire, and have been cut, polished and shined. They are vessels of honor, meet for the Master’s use, prepared for every good work. They are now being positioned or set in the King’s crown to be displayed for the world to see. Just as in Malachi 3:16, the Lord has looked upon the pages of His book of remembrance and knows these are those who fear Him and meditate on His name. They are called by His name and are His alone.

So, where’s the judgment in all of this? We have talked about God shaking our world up and sending the whirlwind, but how can that be judgment? I believe the idea of judgment can also be seen in Jesus parable of the wheat and the tares. Matthew 13:24-26 says, “24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while he slept his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.’” He continued to say that the wheat and tares were allowed to grow together until the time of harvest.

Jesus later explains the parable to His disciples in Matthew 13:37-40, “37 He answered and said to them: ‘He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.’” It is clear from these verses that the end of the age is not only a time of harvest, but also a time of separation.

I believe the only way to truly understand what is happening Corporately is to understand it personally first. I believe the primary seed is the Word of God or the incorruptible Seed of Christ that has been planted deep within our hearts by His own hand. He waters and nurtures the Seed through the power and presence of His Holy Spirit. He warms the fertile ground of our hearts or the field made of the dust of the earth with His love. These good seeds produce wheat or the offspring of righteousness also known as the sons of the kingdom. They in turn reproduce more wheat or good seeds. This circle of life is the fulfillment of God’s initial command to be fruitful and multiply as given to man in Genesis 1:28. The wheat, or those things birthed through faith in God’s Word, is gathered into God’s barn of storehouse.

In contrast, the tares are those things borne out of the flesh. The deceiver comes when we are spiritually ‘sleeping’ or not keeping watch. It is while our eyes are not on the Lord that the enemy takes opportunity to try to plant his lies in our minds and what is harvested is a work of the flesh, also known as sin. James 1:13-15 explains this clearly, “13 Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘13 I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” Here we see that the offspring of deception and carnal desire is sin, which ultimately results in death. Thankfully, God’s grace is sufficient and He has made a way to escape death. That way is the Cross of Jesus Christ! Paul explains this in Romans 6:6-9, “6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.”

It is in the time of judgment or harvest that the wheat and the tares are separated. The tares, or those things borne out of our flesh life, are harvested. It is at 'the end of the age' or the end of our flesh life that these tares are gathered together and bound into bundles. They are then thrown into the fiery furnace to be burned. All the wood, hay and stubble of our Adamic nature are consumed in the fire of God’s passionate love for a Bride pure and without spot.

It would seem that the appointed time has come for judgment to take place in a global way as the Lord prepares to reveal the sons of God that creation itself has been groaning and laboring with birth pangs together until now. They have been redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb and have safely passed through the Baptism of Fire. They have undergone the great tribulation of the crucifixion of the self-life or Adamic nature and have not been found wanting. The wheat and the tares have been separated in their lives. The tares or works borne of the flesh have been taken away and burned up, while the wheat or fruit of God’s righteousness that remains is kept. That which cannot be shaken is gathered into the storehouse of the Son of Man or the heart of God. The choice is ours to make. Will we choose to try to save our flesh lives or will we lose our lives to gain His? In this December to Remember let us “Remember Lots wife”. She looked back upon her flesh life in Sodom and Gomorrah and her mortal life ceased. Let us instead choose to move forward in this critical hour and choose life - His eternal life!

What about judgment? Perhaps you are wondering if I am ever going to get to the part about the unbelievers being judged? Surely there must be some justice that needs to be served to them! If you are waiting for the world to be judged, you don’t have to wait long. Jesus explained in John 12:31 when this judgment would take place. He said, “NOW is the judgment of this world; NOW the ruler of this world will be cast out.” So, when will judgment take place? NOW! The ruler of this carnal world is the Adamic nature or self. The only power Satan and his demonic hordes have is the power the flesh life gives him to operate. His authority was completely stripped at the Cross and his only weapon is deception! Public enemy number one is not Satan, but instead the carnal nature of a man or woman who does not know Christ or has not fully submitted to His rule and reign in his or her life. The truth is that those who do not know the Lord are already walking around condemned. They are the walking dead, who have yet to be born again. Therefore, to pronounce fire and brimstone upon them will have little affect, except to perhaps scare them into believing that they are bound for hell, which they may already be experiencing a measure of as they walk the earth. In Romans 2 Paul warns those who judge others that whatever they judge another in they condemn themselves. Let us not despise the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, and remember that it is God’s goodness that leads us to repentance.

Even Enoch prophesied of this coming judgment. Jude 14-15, “14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, ‘Behold the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.’” The way that judgment will fall upon the corruption of man’s systems will be through a people who have already passed through the refining fire of God’s judgment. These are a people who are no longer governed by the law, but who have learned what it means to walk in God’s love, which is the fulfillment of the law. They are a Corporate Body that is empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in the FULLNESS OF THE GOSPEL, who is Jesus Christ. They are the Firstfruits Company who have died to self and it is no longer they that live, but Christ who lives in and through them.

In this season of release this Army will begin to walk in the full power and manifest presence of the Lord. They will bring judgment upon the religious system in what is considered the Church on earth today. Not only will the Babylonian system be torn down in the organized Church by the manifest presence of God within this people or holy nation, but this order of corruption will also begin to crumble in all world systems. All works of the flesh will come tumbling down at the revelation of CHRIST IN US the hope of glory, rather than the hope for His glory to fill a building or a program or system. This Company has moved past a desire for visitation and have become a habitation of the Holy Spirit. While there is no room at the Inn of Carnality for Jesus to lay His head, He and His Father have made Their home within the hearts of those who truly love the Lord. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, They are seated on the throne of these hearts ruling and reigning over all the earth of these earthen vessels.

The time of harvest is also the time of restoration. It is through this Firstfruits or Manchild Company that many will come to know God’s love and forgiveness. Multitudes will leave of the Valley of Decision and step through the gates into the Kingdom of God. No flesh can stand in God’s presence. Therefore, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Divine Order will be re-established within the earth. But we must remember that this happens one life at a time.

So how are we to move as we are released into this season of Divine destiny? I believe Isaiah 52:12 has God’s answer for us, “For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight; For the Lord will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” Just what is your rear guard? It is God’s glory!

Isaiah 58:8 – Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”

I believe these two verses are parallel and that it is our righteousness, who is Jesus Christ, that has already gone before us to pave the way because He is the way! The Hebrew word for rear guard or rereward is the word ‘asap’. It means to store, gather, harvest, bring in, collect, or assemble. It is clear that is it GOD’S GLORY that will bring in or gather the end time harvest that generations have waited to see. No work of the flesh will be allowed in this move of God. It will be His light so shining through us before men, that they will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven! This sure sounds like a no sweat or priesthood ministry to me. The good news is that it is!

One last thing that the Lord desires for us to remember about the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger is His position. Jesus’ position was a state of complete rest and trust in God. This rest is spoken of in Hebrews 4:9-10 “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” The Babe lay peacefully in a manger, not doing His own work, but depending fully on His Father for everything. If Jesus, who was fully God and fully man, was found in a manger resting after being birthed, how much more do we need to follow His lead and rest in Him as He releases us into our destinies? This is the type of childlike faith the heart of God is after in this appointed season. It is the Sabbath rest that is also spoken of in Isaiah 58:13-14, “13 If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, 14 Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

In this ‘December to Remember’ we have many things to remember. I pray that each one of you will remember first and foremost how Jesus humbly came to earth to pay the price for your sin on the Cross out of His everlasting love for you. Remember all of the trials and tribulations that He has brought you through to mature and strengthen you. Remember how He has never given you more than you can handle through Him. He has never failed you and never will. He is more than able to supply all your need according to the riches in glory by Christ Jesus. I pray that unlike the rebellious Israelites in Psalm 78, that you may set your hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments. These commandments are to love God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength and to love one another. By obeying this, the rest of the law is fulfilled.

May this be a December to Remember for each one of you! May your hearts swell with the joy of your salvation who is JESUS! To God be the glory! Hallelujah!