DAWN HILL
Over the past few days, I keep hearing this stirring in my spirit. It began on Sunday morning when the Lord started speaking to me during a time of worship. I heard Him say, "Stop apologizing." I wrote the things down He was speaking to me, and I want to share them with the body of Christ. I truly believe that God is searching for those who will not apologize to the world for the power of His holy Word and the ferocity of His everlasting love yearning to set them free from the entanglement of sin.
As the body of Christ, we have been established as a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. We are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14). If we are the light, why are we apologizing for letting the light shine? You see, His light pushes back the darkness. Jesus doesn't apologize for pushing back the darkness; He simply overcomes it making His ways known. We are to make His ways known by demonstration of His kingdom in word and deed. Resist putting a dimmer switch on the light within you. There can be a temptation to dim the light of Christ from our lamps so as not to offend. Bright light is offensive to those whose vision is not accustomed to it. We inadvertently apologize for preaching more of the Word than our opinion. We apologize away the penalty of sin and the call to righteousness before God. This is good news, beloved! Let it shine!
The word apologize means to express regret for something that one has done wrong. Standing on the Word of God and the truth of His Word needs no apology. No matter how difficult it may be to hear the truth, He changes not. He has no shifting shadow in Him (James 1:17). Be encouraged to stand upon the infallible Word of God in this hour, unashamed and unapologetic. First Peter 3:13 -17 says,
"Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil."
This passage charges us to make a defense with gentleness and respect for our relationship and the hope we have in Christ. This sounds like it would be unobtrusive and without revile before others, but this is not the case. If our personal version of the gospel is edited for content so that it is suitable for the carnal nature of a person, then it is not authentic but rather apologetic. I am increasingly aware of the heart of the Father drawing us back to what truly matters, and every facet of Him matters. Stop apologizing, church. The authentic gospel and presence of the Holy Spirit offends, brings persecution and multiplies the church. Reformation is not satisfied with warm corpses shrouded in bondage, and reformation does not apologize for being mindful of another's eternity. Wake up, church! Arise and shine!
Prophet, Stop Apologizing
I want to speak to the authentic prophetic mouthpieces in this hour. Stop apologizing for a concentrated word. There is a hesitation to release a word that is difficult and not well-received. This is not a statement to usher in rebellion or dissension. This is a rally to all the authentic voices of God to stop apologizing for wielding the sword of the Spirit. The Lord woke me up the other morning to Jeremiah 23, and I wept as I read it. It is past time for a healthy dose of salt to penetrate the body. Sugar is in abundance, and exhortation comes on the winds of loving warnings so that we do not lose our flavor. Contend to be one standing in the council of the Lord, proclaiming His words to His people (Jer. 23:22). Stop apologizing for ministering purity and for refusing to flow with dead fish. Stop apologizing for calling a spade a spade. If it is perversion, then it is perversion. If it is murder, then it is murder. Do not come off the wall, watchmen. Do not relent in sounding the alarm. I know it is hard, but the reward is not the roaring approval of the crowd. The reward is Jesus. I fully believe that God is cleaning house in this hour, and those who will declare the truth of His infallible nature and His infallible Word will be given a voice to those willing to listen because genuine hunger desires substantial sustenance.
Areas where the body of Christ has been spiritually ill will be healed by authenticity only found in Him. I am so encouraged by what I sense in the Spirit because we are on the precipice of something of astronomical proportions. It does not come with bowing to the culture in the world. It comes when the church takes its place and without apology establishes the counterculture originating from the throne room. This is a church without apology.
Dawn Hill is a Christ-follower and a freelance writer. She writes a blog called "Lovesick Scribe."
This article originally appeared at lovesickscribe.com.
Over the past few days, I keep hearing this stirring in my spirit. It began on Sunday morning when the Lord started speaking to me during a time of worship. I heard Him say, "Stop apologizing." I wrote the things down He was speaking to me, and I want to share them with the body of Christ. I truly believe that God is searching for those who will not apologize to the world for the power of His holy Word and the ferocity of His everlasting love yearning to set them free from the entanglement of sin.
As the body of Christ, we have been established as a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. We are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14). If we are the light, why are we apologizing for letting the light shine? You see, His light pushes back the darkness. Jesus doesn't apologize for pushing back the darkness; He simply overcomes it making His ways known. We are to make His ways known by demonstration of His kingdom in word and deed. Resist putting a dimmer switch on the light within you. There can be a temptation to dim the light of Christ from our lamps so as not to offend. Bright light is offensive to those whose vision is not accustomed to it. We inadvertently apologize for preaching more of the Word than our opinion. We apologize away the penalty of sin and the call to righteousness before God. This is good news, beloved! Let it shine!
The word apologize means to express regret for something that one has done wrong. Standing on the Word of God and the truth of His Word needs no apology. No matter how difficult it may be to hear the truth, He changes not. He has no shifting shadow in Him (James 1:17). Be encouraged to stand upon the infallible Word of God in this hour, unashamed and unapologetic. First Peter 3:13 -17 says,
"Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil."
This passage charges us to make a defense with gentleness and respect for our relationship and the hope we have in Christ. This sounds like it would be unobtrusive and without revile before others, but this is not the case. If our personal version of the gospel is edited for content so that it is suitable for the carnal nature of a person, then it is not authentic but rather apologetic. I am increasingly aware of the heart of the Father drawing us back to what truly matters, and every facet of Him matters. Stop apologizing, church. The authentic gospel and presence of the Holy Spirit offends, brings persecution and multiplies the church. Reformation is not satisfied with warm corpses shrouded in bondage, and reformation does not apologize for being mindful of another's eternity. Wake up, church! Arise and shine!
Prophet, Stop Apologizing
I want to speak to the authentic prophetic mouthpieces in this hour. Stop apologizing for a concentrated word. There is a hesitation to release a word that is difficult and not well-received. This is not a statement to usher in rebellion or dissension. This is a rally to all the authentic voices of God to stop apologizing for wielding the sword of the Spirit. The Lord woke me up the other morning to Jeremiah 23, and I wept as I read it. It is past time for a healthy dose of salt to penetrate the body. Sugar is in abundance, and exhortation comes on the winds of loving warnings so that we do not lose our flavor. Contend to be one standing in the council of the Lord, proclaiming His words to His people (Jer. 23:22). Stop apologizing for ministering purity and for refusing to flow with dead fish. Stop apologizing for calling a spade a spade. If it is perversion, then it is perversion. If it is murder, then it is murder. Do not come off the wall, watchmen. Do not relent in sounding the alarm. I know it is hard, but the reward is not the roaring approval of the crowd. The reward is Jesus. I fully believe that God is cleaning house in this hour, and those who will declare the truth of His infallible nature and His infallible Word will be given a voice to those willing to listen because genuine hunger desires substantial sustenance.
Areas where the body of Christ has been spiritually ill will be healed by authenticity only found in Him. I am so encouraged by what I sense in the Spirit because we are on the precipice of something of astronomical proportions. It does not come with bowing to the culture in the world. It comes when the church takes its place and without apology establishes the counterculture originating from the throne room. This is a church without apology.
Dawn Hill is a Christ-follower and a freelance writer. She writes a blog called "Lovesick Scribe."
This article originally appeared at lovesickscribe.com.
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