Prophecy: The church is asleep

The following is an open letter to the Body of Christ with prophecy and supporting scripture to highlight the current condition of the church. The Lord has asked me to tell the Body of Christ so we can prepare ourselves, walk in righteousness and be pure before him.

What the Lord showed me

Over the last few years the Lord has given me discernment about the spiritual condition of a number of people. Some of them I know personally, some Pastors, others from online ministries. What the Lord has shown me wasn’t always what was outwardly obvious, but sometimes were the hidden thoughts and motives of the heart. We can see in the following scripture that the Lord can reveal the secrets of the hearts of men to others through prophecy:

1 Corinthians 14:24-25 NKJV
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. [25] And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

Some of the people I was shown are well respected and appear to be walking for the Lord, but in reality their hearts are not set on his ways.

The Lord said to me:

“It’s not the outward appearance of a man that makes him righteous before me.”

The Bible says that man judges by appearances but the Lord looks at the heart:

1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

These people I was shown, although it looked like they were following the Lord on the surface, were actually walking for themselves and after the lusts of their flesh. When the flesh is ruling in someone’s life they want to be seen by other men and do what they do for their own glory.

Some of the people I was shown were stubborn and didn’t want to change even though the Lord had asked them to. Financial gain was also a motivating factor for some. In all cases they hadn’t laid their lives down and they lived for themselves. They claimed to know Christ but their lives never truly changed. They hadn’t put off the lusts of the flesh. Most of the people I was shown you would say they were Christians. Most went to church and did Christian activities. The outward appearance however didn’t match the heart.

Matthew 15:8 NKJV
‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

I said to the Lord about one of these people that I personally knew that he appeared to know the Lord. This person has an online ministry, shared the gospel, was respected and was well versed in the scriptures, however the Lord said to me: “I don’t want you to be deceived by appearances.”

The Lord told me the life he lived was a facade and that he was walking in darkness. If you are not sure what a facade is, it is a front that is put on to hide the true motives in the heart of a person. The Lord told me this person had failed to put off the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life.

1 John 2:15-16 NKJV
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world.

The Lord told me that this person had their own best interests at heart and loved the accolades of men. The most shocking thing the Lord told me was that he had given him the opportunity to repent but he had refused.

When I was told these things by the Lord I could see they were true. Although it appeared that he was helping people, the motivation wasn’t coming from a pure heart. He did these things because he loved to be exalted by others and wanted their respect. This is what was driving him. I was quite good friends with this person and they confessed to me once that they didn’t have love for other Christians.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NKJV
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. [2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. [3] And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

John 13:34-35 NKJV
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. [35] By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

He had even told me that the Lord had spoken to him and asked him to change the way he treated people. This was in regards to people he felt were inferior to himself. I knew him for quite some time after this and I could see by the way he talked about others that he had not done this.

The condition of the church

One day while considering the things that I had been shown, the Lord spoke to me and said:

“I have to show you the condition of the church.”

I said, “Lord, that makes sense. Exactly why are you showing me?”

And he said, “So you can tell others.”

“Lord, what do you want me to tell them?”

And the Lord said:

“The church is asleep. They are walking in complacency. They don’t understand I am coming soon. If they did they would prepare themselves. They have chosen the ways of the world. I need a bride that is pure and unspotted, not lukewarm. The warning has gone out but many have chosen to disobey. I want my children walking in truth. Only then can you be free.”

He then said to me: “Tell them.”

The Lord then showed me that people don’t understand that he is coming soon because of a spiritual blindness that causes them to become complacent. This spiritual blindness is a result of becoming like the world. Because of this they have not prepared themselves.

Matthew 25:6-10 NKJV
“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ [7] Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. [8] And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ [9] But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ [10] And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

These people that are like this no longer fear the Lord but look to each other instead of him. They trust each other and have a false sense of security.

2 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV
For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

When the Lord gives you discernment on the condition of the church you start to see that many don’t look to him. He wants us to understand the condition of the church so we can prepare ourselves and warn others.

You have to be willing to change

The Lord showed me a person I know who claimed to be a Christian. He told me this person was stuck in the error of their ways, didn’t want to overcome and wasn’t going to change.

And the Lord gave me this word:

“Unless you become a new person, you cannot be my disciple. There are many who claim to know me, but their lives do not change. They remain the same. You must be like me, there is no other way.”

The Lord told me this particular person’s sin was great because they know his ways, but have chosen not to repent. And the Bible says:

Luke 12:47 NKJV
And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

As Christians if we love the Lord we will do what he has asked us to do. If we don’t, it’s because we love this life more than him and are not worthy of his kingdom.

Good works don’t save you

The Lord showed me a person that I know and told me that he is preaching a different gospel.

Galatians 1:6-7 NKJV
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, [7] which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

When I asked the Lord how he was preaching a different gospel I heard that word: “Works.”

I then heard:

“You will not enter my kingdom by works alone. You must be walking in my ways. You must know me and I must know you. That is how relationship works. Many are deceived into thinking that they can know me through the works of the flesh. That is idolatry. Come to me that you may have life. Jesus.”

I asked the Lord what are the works of the flesh that people think they can know you by and he said:

“Good works.”

I then heard:

“They think they can earn their salvation. They don’t understand, I already paid the price. It is a gift that can’t be brought.”

Many people think they can earn their way into heaven. They think if they do good works they are right in the sight of God. It is true that the Lord has prepared work for us to do, but we are not doing this to earn our salvation. Doing these works is not a substitute for a relationship. Many people get caught up in doing works, but never sit at his feet and learn from him.

Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, lest anyone should boast. [10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

To teach others that you need to do works to be saved is preaching a false gospel. This person that I was shown had twisted the gospel and was trying to tell people to follow parts of the old testament law to earn favour with God. He even went as far as telling men that it would be pleasing to God if they went and got circumcised. Myself and another Christian tried to tell him for a long time of the error of his teachings, but he refused to listen.

Galatians 5:1-4 NKJV
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. [2] Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. [3] And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. [4] You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

We are not saved by doing good works but by knowing him. Most of the people I was shown would probably say they know the Lord. The Bible is very clear though that there are some who think they know the Lord, but on the day of judgement he will say to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. [22] Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ [23] And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

The people highlighted in this scripture were prophesying, casting out demons and doing miracles. If you knew these people you would probably say they were Christian. You might have even said they were on fire for God. Unfortunately they were not right in the sight of the Lord and the works they were doing were unable to save them.

Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. [14] Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Luke 13:23-24 NKJV
Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, [24] “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Matthew 22:14 NKJV
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The Bible says there are few who find the narrow way and many are on the broad road to destruction. Many are called and few are chosen and many call him Lord but don’t make him Lord. They have an appearance of godliness but their lives do not truly change. These people might go to church every week, sing gospel songs but they never lay their lives down. They live for themselves. There really is no fear of the Lord anymore. Part of this problem is because of the people who are supposed to be overseeing the church.

Religious leaders today

The Lord has shown me that many of the religious leaders today have the same heart as the Pharisees and they are in fact no different. The Pharisees loved money just like many of the big name religious leaders today love money and live a lifestyle of luxury.

Luke 16:13-15 NKJV
“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” [14] Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. [15] And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Many people today use the platform they have for personal gain and manipulate people into giving them money. As the Bible says though you cannot serve God and money. When I see Pastors doing this I know they don’t know the Lord and usually they are teaching incorrectly and leading people astray. Just like it says in the scriptures above about the Pharisees justifying themselves before men, we see the same thing happening today. These people pretend to know the Lord but they have chosen to fulfil the lusts of their flesh instead of having a relationship with him.

Matthew 23:27-28 NKJV
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. [28] Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Here is the thing though the Pharisees actually appeared righteous before men but the Lord knew what was in their hearts. Many of the leaders today are greedy, corrupt and involved in sexual immorality but pretend to be righteous. These are not the people the Lord wants leading his church.

Matthew 23:5-7 NKJV
But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. [6] They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, [7] greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’

The Pharisees did what they did to be seen by others for their own glory and many of the leaders today are doing the same thing. The hearts of men are no different now then they were back then when Jesus walked the earth. We have been given this warning though:

Matthew 5:20 NKJV
For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

What I see when I look at some of the big name Pastors of well known churches, I see motivational speakers that are spreading a message to make people feel good.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 NKJV
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; [4] and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

The message might sound good, it might tickle the ears but it doesn’t save and it doesn’t transform.

A Pastor with a fear of offending

The Lord showed me a Pastor I used to know who had a fear of offending his congregation. It was revealed to me by the Lord that he had this fear because people had left before. As a result he now preached a message with what the Lord told me was, “Smooth sounding words.” When I received this prophecy from the Lord I went and shared it with the Pastor. He confirmed that what I had heard in the Spirit was true.

When we preach the gospel it is inevitable that some won’t receive the truth. We should never water down the message because of those who might be offended.

It is time for the church to wake up

It is time for the church to awaken out of her sleep and the Lord has asked me to sound the alarm. The Lord said to me:

“Too often I have watched as my children have gone astray.”

And be said:

“Tell my people I am coming. Prepare yourself.”

Another time he said:

“Ben, I am coming. My people are not ready. Tell them to walk in righteousness and truth all the days of their lives.”

And here is a message the Lord gave me for the Body of Christ:

“Hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches: My bride must be pure and unspotted, without wrinkle. Sanctified by my Spirit, walking in truth. Without your wedding garment you will not be able to enter my kingdom. Nothing that tells a lie will enter. No fornicator or immoral person. No thief. You must be pure before me. That is the only way. I give you the grace to do everything I have asked you to do. Without me, you can do nothing. Take me at my word and live a life sanctified by my Spirit and I will receive you. Believe my words and you will live. I will give you life on the last day. I am coming soon. Jesus.”

The time is now to seek the Lord with all your heart.

Romans 13:11-14 NKJV
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. [12] The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. [13] Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. [14] But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

I pray that this message edifies you and draws you closer to the Lord as the time draws near. I also have a testimony by a Brother named Howard Pittman on my site which you can watch here and is very similar to mine. If you want to read how I came to the Lord please click here. For more prophecy click here.

To download a pdf version of this please click here.

Ben Billingham
healedbyjesus.net
servantforchrist296@gmail.com