From the desk of Steve Shultz:
Some prophetic people are picking up that many in the churches have a spirit of slumber on them. I can also assure you that hundreds of thousands don't have this spirit but, just in case, maybe this will cause you to examine yourself to see if you are walking in the faith, for we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Kathie Walters was one of our first writers for the Elijah List and shares an important and sobering word on the spirit of slumber in her latest article. Now, I know that neither Kathie nor I want to put anyone under condemnation or the law because we both know that Jesus paid the entire price, but some are seemingly trying to get "there" by their works, which means some are working hard but cooperating with the spirit of slumber. Not a good thing.
Kathie Walters:
God Wants to Help Many WHIP that Slumber Spirit
A Vision of the Spirit of Slumber
On a recent morning, just before I awoke, I had a dream/vision of a beautiful young woman lying on a bed. She looked comfortable, beautiful and peaceful. Actually, she looked like "Snow White." Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).
Then I saw a handsome Prince who stepped toward her and kissed her. He held out His hand; her eyes opened and she smiled. She rose up and went with Him. I saw this same vision happen over and over.
A young woman nearly always represents the Church in a dream or vision, but I wondered why I saw the same scene happening over and over. I realized it was the Church in many areas and places.
The spirit of sleep (or slumber) is deceptive. To have a spirit of slumber on a church or area doesn't mean that people aren't doing anything. They can be very busy working for God but have a spirit of slumber and are asleep to their identity and inheritance. I have met many people who are very busy working in the Kingdom, but they have no clue who they really are and what is the inheritance of the saints in the Light.
This spirit of sleep or slumber is one of the most insidious evil spirits there are because it masquerades as God. People are brought under a "conviction" that they must serve God and work for God. Some people feel guilty if they take a break and enjoy anything. But the Lord has called us to enjoy Him and be with Him and delight in Him. In the original Greek, the translation of "His yoke is easy" in Matthew 11:30 reads like this: "Take My yoke upon you...for My yoke is easy and My burden is light and DELIGHTFUL. It's not harsh and neither is it heavy." The religious spirit makes everything "heavy."
A good friend of mine just wrote to me and said, "I am so worn out and tired—mainly from trying and worrying! I have to do this. I have to stay busy or involved. It's sick!" This is someone who knows what our calling is, but sometimes we get drawn back into the muddy pool of striving, trying and working at it.
Jesus is Not "Enlisting"
You
to Work for Him
JESUS QUALIFIED YOU ONE HUNDRED PERCENT. There is nothing you can do to earn anything. Salvation, from beginning to end, is ALL of Him. He saved you, called you, redeemed you, gave you His Spirit. (He, Jesus, is going) to present you faultless before the Presence of His glory with exceeding joy.—Jude 24
A new heart...and a new spirit I will put within them is a New Covenant promise (see Ezekiel 36:26). You are His trophy, you are His workmanship, you are His creation. The Spirit of the living God dwells in you. How much more saved can you get?
Awake—wake up to His calling and what your calling is in Christ. It is an awesome thing to be adopted by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Creator of the Universe—that's your heavenly Dad (Abba). Arise my love... (Song of Solomon 2:13). He didn't call you to "work for Him." He loves you to pieces, but He doesn't want you to work for Him. Jesus is not trying to "enlist" you to work for Him. He has called you to delight in Him as He delights in you.
What is Our Inheritance?
Are you going to go to the ball and be a princess? Or are you going to stay in the kitchen and be a maid? Even Jesus said, The works that I do are not My works, but the works of Him who sent Me, and, The words that I speak are not My words, but the words of Him who sent Me. It's the same with us—we are not called to work for Jesus; please resign, abdicate, get off the throne of works and let the anointing flow through you. It's not trying and it's not working; it's yielding to the Spirit of God. It's Him flowing through you. It's allowing Him.
Wake up to your inheritance. Jesus died and rose again to impart to you the same inheritance He has. The realm of the Spirit, the supernatural realm, the angels, heavenly visitations, etc., are meant to be a normal part of your life. This is your inheritance: to dance with Him, to dwell in Him and walk in Him.
I love to tell people, "Snuggle, don't struggle. Nestle, don't wrestle." All the "working at it" will keep you asleep to the delightfulness of your Love. And you will slumber in the bed of trying and striving. There is nothing you can do except yield and enjoy the Lord. He called you to enjoy Him. When you enjoy Him, then you can serve Him, and then you will have something to give.
Wake Up to the Good News
I hate to tell you this but no one out there is really interested in your religion—yet they might be interested if you get something good. The goodness of God is meant to be seen in your life. It's all Him! Wake up to the Good News. Religion brings slumber; it keeps people busy in the natural and religious realm, but keeps them asleep to their real spiritual inheritance. The devil doesn't care how much you do, as long as you keep out of the anointing. Because it's only the anointing that affects his kingdom.
I love what it says in The Message Bible in Galatians 3:
You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it's obvious you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the Cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.
Let me put this question to you. How did your new life begin? Was it by WORKING YOUR HEADS OFF to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it?
AWAKE! Wake up! Arise to your inheritance and the awesomeness of who you are in Christ.
Rest from Your Own Works and Enter into His
There...(is) a rest to the people of God, it says in Hebrews, chapter 4—but that means resting from your own works and entering into His. The spirit of slumber or sleep keeps people blind to their true inheritance. He is waiting to dance with you. Jesus is calling you to rise up to His presence and enjoy Him.
Believe me, there will be plenty to do, but it won't be you, because it's Him working through YOU. And He gets all the glory, because He does all the work. Amen.
Kathie Walters
Kathie Walters Ministry
Email: kathiewalters@mindspring.com
