BREAD pt.1

MOLDY BREAD

Would you eat moldy bread? 

If you were hungry and had no other source of food you would probably eat moldy bread.  And if you had to consume moldy bread, you would probably get used to it.  Your senses would become desensitized to it.  

“In 1913, a food - borne disease called alimentary toxic aleukia occurred in Siberia. Several larger outbreaks occurred during the war years of 1941-1945 involving several districts in Western Siberia and European Soviet Russia.  The disease claimed at least 100,000 people. The disease was attributed to the consumption of bread made from wheat contaminated with trichothecene mycotoxins…” Quote by Dr. Jackson Kung’u

I think that is interesting how this disease occurred during a war.  Spiritually…. We are going through a war as well.   Our adversary, Satan, wants to take as many souls with him to his final destination- hell and he feeds those, lost and wandering from God, his moldy bread to claim their souls.    

Trichothecene mycotixin is a poison produced by fungi that can have all kinds of nasty affects on the human body.   It is said to have similar symptoms to radiation poisoning/ sickness.  Symptoms include fever, rashes, bleeding noise, throat, and gums, Leukopenia, elimination of bone marrow, and of course death.

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Trichothecene mycotoxins could be weaponized and dispersed through the air or mixed in food or beverages.”

Deadly toxins remind me of spiritual toxins.   They kill just as many if not more people.

Alarming is the quantity of spiritual toxins people consume everyday.  People nurse from the bottle of the world, polluting and numbing their mind to the propaganda and mind washing of evil, sinful and destructive behavior.  This moldy bread of this world influences attitudes and desensitizes their senses.  They accept the solicitations of the moldy bread without even a second thought.  It poisons their mind to rationalize and compromise and be indifferent to the things they are suppose to know instinctively are wrong.  They are hopelessly confused making the opinions of the world their god.

They consume this moldy bread, while listening to music, watching so-called “entertainment”, the nightly news, playing video games, surfing the internet, listening to talk radio, reading the nightly newspaper, relaxing with a magazine, book, or electronic tablets (such as an ipad or kindle).  They are exposed to this moldy bread at the theater, at the park, social gathering establishments, in the city, and in what the government deems permissible but God deems to be evil.  They are exposed to it so often that it now lives in and has tainted and changed their heart.  

Jesus said, "But evil words come from an evil heart and defile the person who says them. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying and slander. These are what defile you.  Eating with unwashed hands could never defile you and make you unacceptable to God!" Matthew 15:18
  

They have eaten the poison apple of the wicked world and fallen asleep like Snow White.  They have been deceived and betrayed by lies and luring of “so-called” gifts like Hansel and Gretel and power like Edmund in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” 

I too was once poisoned by this moldy bread.

This moldy bread people have been eating has made God (Our Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ our Savior, and Holy Spirit -our guide to all truth) more a myth and fable then HIS VERY REAL REALITY.  The moldy bread of this world has made God a religion.  A religion we create ourselves by picking and choosing who God is.  And even when finally start thinking about coming to God because God has been asking us to join him, we stop ourselves because we believe the lie that we have to make ourselves "acceptable" in some way before we come to him. (More moldy bread.)

We believe the lie "we" have to make ourselves right but the truth is "we can't" make ourselves right for everyone has sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard. (Romans 3:23) If you want to get right with God you have to come to God in whatever condition you are in. 

You want some good bread to eat? You simply give your life to God and there He transforms our heart and mind and gives us the Spirit of Christ.  God's word says, "Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty.  He has done this through Christ Jesus, who freed us by taking away our sins.  For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us.  We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us." Romans 3:24

Jesus, with his spotless sinless human life, took the death penalty price for our sin, short comings, and failures.   So when we finally come to God, in a real sincere genuine way, God will accept us.   We just have to surrender our life to God (who is God the Heavenly Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit).  Simply ask God who knows the intentions of your heart, It can be as simple as this prayer:

"Jesus will you become LORD of my life.  Forgive me, I have sinned against you. I want to become the person you created me to be. I want to experience all the goodness and learn to walk in all your ways.  Transform my heart, mind and give me your Holy Spirit. In Jesus Name Amen." 

There in your sincere prayer, God will give you the ability to understand his word, the bible.  The bible won't just be words on a page but will have "meaning" that will affect your soul.  They will be a great part of your spiritual nourishment.  Jesus says, "People need more then bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God." Matthews 4:4  You will be able to communicate and speak with God.   God will show himself to you in wonderful ways.  You will be able to see the things of God.  You will experience his presence in your life as you seek God, praise God and worship God.   He will quiet your soul as you trust him and meditate on his words.  His Holy Spirit will enable you to do and experience things you never thought possible.  And you will grow and mature into the person God created you to be while touching other people's lives for and in Christ Jesus.  But those who choose only the moldy bread of this life can't have this.
   

The moldy bread of this world twists the mind, hardens the heart, making people spiritual dull, indifferent, blind and deaf.   The saving Gospel of Jesus Christ is hidden from them because they love the moldy bread of this world and know no other spiritual bread in which they can eat. But you know now there is GOOD BREAD to eat that comes daily from God as you seek Him.

Moldy bread has and still affects church folks today.  They are told even by certain seminaries that the Holy Spirit no longer works as He did in those days.  These are varied and strange teachings with no benefit to our soul.  These who teach such things forget GOD doesn't change he is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8-9) 

Jesus says to those people, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot or cold.  I wish you were one or the other!  But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!  You say, ‘I am rich.  I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ “And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and naked.  I advise you to buy gold from me- gold that has been purified by fire.  Then you will be rich.  And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness.  And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.   I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love.  Be diligent and turn from your indifference.  Look! Here I stand at the door and knock.  If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.  I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sit with my Father on his throne.  Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” Revelation 3:15-22

They have gotten stagnant, stale, and blind by the moldy bread of this world instead of choosing to have a continual wholesome, strengthening, life changing meal with the Lord.  He encourages and strengthens me daily as I go to Him.

Both sets of people (the people of the world and lukewarm church folks) are unaware of the good bread God has for them.  The bread that makes us rich in faith experiencing what…

 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined. But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit.  For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

God’s bread changes our hearts so we become:

“Productive and useful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least, very shortsighted.  They have forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin.”  2 Peter 1:8-9

Jesus said: “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”  Matthew 16:26

Jesus said: “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” Luke 9:25

This moldy bread makes a veil in the minds and hearts of men and women and causes them to perish.

Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge….”

Isaiah 5:13 “Therefore my people will go into exile for lack of understanding; their men of rank will die of hunger and their masses will be parched with thirst.”  

2 Corinthians 4:3 “But even if the gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”

Satan weakens and deceives the nations with his moldy bread.  (Isaiah 14:12/ Revelation 20:3)  Satan deceives now just as he did in the beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Satan’s deception brings death to those who believe his lies.  Remember Adam and Eve.  He deceives to kill and have vengeance.  He wants power over people’s lives.  To keep them so busy with the moldy bread of this world that they perish for not knowing the true God who can give them the power to defeat Satan and this world. 

Jesus declares this: “The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself." John 12:31-32

1 John 5:4-5 “For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory.  And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Jesus says, "The thief [Satan] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly.” John 10:10

Jesus says, “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”  Matthew 5:3

 1 John 2:15-17 says:        

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.  For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.  These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave.  But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”

God’s love cannot work in us if we “love” this world or if we chose to stay under the eclipse of the world, or accept what the Satan, the god of this world offers and solicits. 

Jesus says God blesses those who are poor… and those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  People need to realize they poor when they eat just what the world offers them and every person needs to see that they need God in their life.

Remember the voice?

“Make a highway for the LORD through the wilderness.  Make a straight, smooth road through the desert for our God. Fill in the valleys and level the hills.  Straighten out the curves and smooth off the rough spots.  Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all the people will see it together.  The LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 40:3-5

Who we make room for in our heart is who we serve and will glorify.  We serve who we put an emphasis on.  We serve this world… then we believe the things Satan solicits.  Lies like: Money will make us happy.  Possessions will make us happy.  Popularity will make us happy.  Pleasure will make happy.  Hate and vengeance will make us happy. 

Tough to hear but we also serve Satan when we believe his defeating lies and give into his tactics.   We will get the results of this decaying world if we choose to believe Satan over God.  Satan lies… you know those lies… they sound like thoughts that say we aren’t smart enough, good enough, knowledgeable enough, well enough, tough enough, they bring about accusations and negatives points of others which can cause blockages so we can’t experience all that God has for us.

Instead of building in God’s goodness, moldy bread builds strongholds for the enemy in our life and allows him to tear down what God is equipping with us to over come Satan and this evil world.  

Satan wants us to put an emphasis on us (prideful or doubtful thinking) but in truth the emphasis should not be on us but on God  -living in and doing the work through us.  

When God is at work in us, the emphasis is off, the world, Satan, others and us and on God’s will. (They were of one accord.)  He is the one who brings about understanding and gives us the words to speak.  He is the one who gives us boldness to do righteous acts.  He is the one who impacts and empowers our lives.  So why do we put such an emphasis on other things first instead of God?   

“And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.” Exodus 23:25

You want to be healed from the sick moldy bread of the world then each of us has to choose to serve God?  Then worry; fear, anxiety, frustration etc will be taken away from us. 

As a Christian just seeing the limitedness of what the world has to offer discourages me.  It shouts, “Take this moldy bread! Take this moldy bread! Take this moldy bread! And soon solicitors of moldy bread surround me.   But then I am reminded I have a choice I don’t have to eat this moldy bread.  I don’t have to give into and accept the solicitation of this world.  I don’t have to stand under this world’s eclipse but I can look behind it and see God who is bigger then all things.   God is bigger then anything we might temporarily face in life. 

We have a choice to believe in Satan’s lies and offers. If Satan, the father of lies says, “We aren’t going to make it,” then you can be assured that we will make if we trust God to make it.  I can chose to carry all these building concerns in life or give them to God where he can take care of them one at a time as I diligently seek, walk and trust in him.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.  Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy.  He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.  Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith.  Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all around the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.”  1 Peter 5:7-9

“In” Jesus Christ, Satan is deprived of the power and influence he exercises in the world and tries hard to overshadow our lives with.  In the submitting and humbling of ourselves before Jesus Christ, he enables us to never give up, never lose faith, always be hopeful and endure through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:7)

THE BREAD FROM HEAVEN

The bread from heaven is the only “way” to cure to the effects of the poisonous moldy bread in our life.

Jesus said, “The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  John 6:33

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

Jesus is light to the soul.  We have to treasure that and keep it close to our heart. 

Jesus said to the people, “I am the light of the world, if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

And as we trust Jesus, our lives will bear witness to his bread of goodness and righteousness.

Jesus said “You are the light of the world- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.  Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead put it on a stand and let it shine for all.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”  Matthew 5:14-16

Jesus said “If you love me, obey my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you.   He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.  The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him.  But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” John 14:15-17

“The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.  Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven.”  John 3:5-6

Jesus gives us spiritual bread (nourishment) from himself through the Holy Spirit. 

THE HOLY SPIRIT and Evil

“He [The Holy Spirit] gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires.  As the Scriptures say, ‘God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble.’  So humble yourselves before God.  Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you…”  James 4:6-8

So He [Jesus] said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as [it is] in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one." Luke 11:2-4

The Holy Spirit’s daily bread helps us recognize and honor our Father of Heaven, allows the kingdom of God to be lived through us, enables us forgive the trespasses of others and be lead away from the temptations of Satan.

EXPERIENCING GOD

“So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.  This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary.”  Hebrews 6:18-19

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.  And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”  Hebrews 10:19-22

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.  But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit.  For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.  No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.   When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom.  Instead we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.  But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit.  It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.  Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.  For, ‘who can know the LORD’s thoughts?  Who knows enough to teach him?’ But we understand these things for we have the mind of Christ.”  1 Corinthians 2:9-16 (NLT)

If we are eating the spiritual nourishment through the Holy Spirit, which Jesus gives, then we will have the mind of Christ.  So don’t get discouraged by the world.  It’s the world – what do you expect?  It’s the moldy bread maker but we know where to get the good bread to share with those who will listen.

God is good…