Follow the Lord, Not Man

By: Doug Cook
July 2010

Brothers and sisters,

We have begun the last days and I believe that any true follower of Jesus in these times realizes that the hand of judgment of the Lord is on America and the whole world, for that matter.  A lot of believers, for some time, have been sensing the Holy Spirit’s leading to be mobile and ready to leave their current location in a moments notice.  

However, some have not sensed that they will be moving anywhere even though they fully comprehend that God is shaking this earth.  That’s because God may have a plan to use them right where they currently reside.  The point being this is an INDIVIDUAL decision.

The Lord wants me to caution you that He has a plan for each one of us to fulfill as we go through this time of judgment.  Some of the believers will move to safe havens in a wilderness, some will remain where they are, some will live through the tribulation, and others are called to be martyrs for the cause of Christ.  We should be doing all things for the glory of God after the counsel of His own might, not seeking to save our flesh.

I truly believe God has already begun the process of moving some of His kids to different locations out of harms way.  But a problem arises when He tells leaders/elders in the body to move.  The elders in this case have a tendency to think that because God told them to move, it means other Christians are supposed to move as well and this is simply not true.  Too many believers will be following men to places of refuge that weren’t supposed to be there which will result in strife in the body of Christ.

I remember hearing a preacher traveling the country last year saying that something was going to happen in October of 2009 so he was moving out of coastal state to a refuge in the middle of the country.  He was announcing his need for generators, temporary housing, etc. for his wilderness place.  He was able to get a lot of the stuff he needed donated for the cause.  Yet October came and went and nothing happened.  I believe this preacher was told to move his ministry to the middle of the country, but he wasn’t told to try to get other Christians to move with him.

We are witnessing other elders assuming that because God has told them to move, it means it’s time for “ALL” other Christians to move from certain locations.  This is a dangerous delusion for those believers still following A man instead of following THE man Christ Jesus.  I don’t care how much bible knowledge we elders have or how much we’ve helped you grow in your walk with the Lord; we are not the one’s who will make the decision for you to move.  Each individual decision has to come directly from the Lord Jesus Christ according to the plan He has preordained for every one of us.

Brothers and sisters, God knows what He’s doing.  We were placed on this earth for such a time as this and we need to follow His plan.  He promises to keep us in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him, even in the midst of martyrdom.  Maintain a heart of repentance, humility, and prayer and seek God’s will before you do anything.  DO NOT react out of fear that something is going to destroy the area you live in whether man made or natural, this will guarantee you a wrong decision made in the flesh.  So be still and know that He is God and, as He promises, His sheep WILL hear His voice.

God may part a Tsunami like He did the Red Sea.  Ten thousand may fall at your right hand from a nuclear blast, but it will not come near you.  Our place of refuge is wherever God told us each individually to be.

The whole earth is groaning for the manifestation of the sons of God.  Follow the Lord and watch and see how He will use willing vessels.

God Bless All

Doug Cook