IN Name Only- A Dream of Two Sisters

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If you have any American cash or coins, take a minute to look at them.  Can you find the words, “IN GOD WE TRUST” on them?

Like streets signs you pass by everyday but pay no mind to their name, so goes the words, “IN GOD WE TRUST” on American currency that gets shoved into our pockets, wallets and purses.

Does America trust in God, considering it’s present undertakings and falling morality?

Annuit Coeptis?  God certainly would not favor America’s present positions.  We would have to be ignorant to His Word for one and brash to think God would continue to favor America and let America get away with such immorality.

Present lawmakers, by their choices, seem to think they can govern and make a nation great without God. This is far from the heart and mindset of the forefathers of the United States who established America’s republic in the everlasting truths of God. 

“The great, vital, and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and the divine truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” - Charles Carroll, Congress 1854

“Had the people, during the Revolution, had a suspicion of any attempt to war against Christianity, that Revolution would have been strangled in its cradle... In this age, there can be no substitute for Christianity... That was the religion of the founders of the republic and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants.” – signer of the Constitution - Charles Carroll.

“Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they, therefore, who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure...are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments”- Charles Carroll

“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.” - George Washington 

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”– George Washington

“In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior. The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.” - John Quincy Adams

Further these present politicians seem to distance themselves from God, and only use God’s name when to suits them.  They forget God makes a nation great and without God, men make a nation and themselves a disgrace.  

It has become like the quote, "History has become legend and legend to myth."  This has only happened in 239 years.

 Two Sisters

In a recent dream, there were two sisters.  There was a younger sister and an older sister.  The younger sister is certain the groom is going to marry her.  In haste she buys her wedding gown and tells people about the wedding but the groom isn’t interested in her but instead her older sister.  He has been in love with her for sometime.  She is not brash like her younger sister but conservative in outer appearance and attitude.   The groom tells the mother he can’t marry the younger sister because he doesn’t know her.   His heart is solely for the older sister.  He “knows” the older sister intimately.  They have danced and he has lain down with her, consummating the marriage. 

I had to look this up but in the Hebrew the word is “ginōskō“.   It is to sexually/intimately know. 

Example of this is Joseph did not “ginōskō” Mary until after Jesus was born. 

“And did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.  And he called His name JESUS.” Matthew 1:25

The groom in this case “knows” the older sister intimately and sexually.  Like Mary, who was a virgin, who became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.  Note: Matthew 1:18

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel (meaning, God is with us).” Matthew 1:23

However I believe these sisters are illustrations.  They are not two human sisters like Mary and Martha or Leah and Rachel but are illustrations of two countries.

Ezekiel 23:2,4 uses similar language as the dream when speaking of the sisters. 

" Son of man, once there were two sisters who were daughters of the same mother."  The older girl’s was named Oholah and her sister was Oholibah, I married them, and they bore me sons and daughters.  I am speaking of Samaria and Jerusalem, for Oholah is Samaria and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

   

I believe the mother, is the illustration, of the belief/faith that birthed these two countries.

I could only think of Israel and the United States as two such countries born from the belief faith in the ONE TRUE GOD.

Historically speaking, Israel would be the older sister and United States would be the younger sister.

Knowing of someone is different then knowing them, trusting, depending, looking to and so on…  The present spiritual state of United States- the powers that be, shows it only wants “relations” with the worldly narrative and society.  It trusts not in God but in worldly elements such as money and popularity.   It may want the benefits of God but she has shown herself unfaithful to God.  If you were God, would you want to marry/support a country that has adulterous and idolatrous actions and thoughts in her mind and heart?  How could God bless a nation that goes against Him?  

God says, “You shall have no other gods before me.”  Who does America trust?  Does it trust in itself?  Does it trust in money?  Does it trust in its past reputation?  What lusts drive it?  Does it have any self-control or does it continue to fall deeper and deeper into sin?

Jesus said, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

James 4:6 says “… God sets himself against the proud, but shows favor to the humble.”

United States in a nation who turns to God in crisis but then forgets Him.

We see lies and injustices in government officials and courts, a mounting tidal wave of debt, a rise in drug use, and an American holocaust where babies are killed for convenience and profit.  We see people calling what is good bad and bad good.  We see discontentment and distrust in government leaders, we see same sex marriage become legalized and celebrated even in and on the White House.   We see our government falsely accusing Israel of terrorism for going after those who have hurt and killed their own.  We see our government publically declassifying private information about Israel?  Is that a way to treat a sister?   We see America’s government unable and unwilling to rescue and negotiate for American citizens to be released from a Muslim country but give this same Muslim country billions of dollars to support their “nuclear development technology”.   Further this Muslim country hates Israel and its people chant death to America on public television.  America reminds me of the church of Laodicea who said, “ I am rich.  I have everything I want.  I don’t need a thing! And God said to it,  “You don’t realize you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”  Further America now persecutes Christians with jail time and fines for not following the rules of the land, rules that go directly against God’s word.

How backward American has become, this nation founded on principles and truths of God is now persecuting those compelled to live by the principles and truths of God.    

Followers of Christ remember this:

Jesus said, “God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers.  Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.  And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.”  Matthew 5:11-12

Christians will be like the prophets who spoke out and lived out their faith while their nation fell to sin, was taken by its enemies and was even destroyed.  Christians will suffer by and for actions of unbelievers.  In a way, if we are not taken up before then, we will taste a little tiny measure of what Christ suffered for the sins of the world. 

Jesus said, “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.”  Also “Then you will be arrested, persecuted and killed.  You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me.”  Matthew 24:9

Again God does not “know” a country that denies him.  He does not propagate a nation that does not follow, pursues, trusts, submits to, and loves Him.

I know this isn't an uplifting message and seems harsh but sometimes the truth is the truth, no matter if it's comforting or not.  But I want to share one more thing.  God spoke this to me this morning as I was relieving some burdens, "There are very many moments that come and go on the Christian stage but stay faithful to what you do know so you do not give up hope and become weary."  

 

The Age of You

My wife and I watched the Age of Adaline.  It is about a woman who, after a car accident, never ages.  Being a secular movie, it takes on mostly a worldly morality but several things struck me while I watched this film.

The first is Adaline’s tells her boy friend, “Tell me something I can hold onto forever and never let go.”
And her boyfriend replies, “Let go.”

Reminds me of the verse Jesus says to us, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it, but if you let it go you will save it.” Matthew 10:39

It’s human nature to hold onto things of this life and connect our lives with the things of this life.  They give us meaning, comfort, purpose, a sense of reality of who we are- no matter if they are true or false.  

Have you ever allowed people and/or circumstances tell you who you are?  Have you ever lost a sense of meaning in life when you lost someone special in your life?

Have you ever invested time, energy, money, heart into something that failed and since it failed- it soured you from putting in that much effort into something ever again?  

Thank God, He doesn’t do that to us.

How about when you fail you?  What happens then?  What happens when your body or mind starts to fail you? 

What happens when we hold onto and put our hopes in people and things that are not going to be here forever?
  

Jesus says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Don't get me wrong here... It is good to invest our lives into other people’s lives, it is good to love others and pray for them and see them as gifts from God.  But when people and ourselves out rank God in telling us who we are, then that is a problem.  We can’t assume since people think of us in a certain way that God thinks of us in the same way. That goes for both the positive and/or negative.
 

It does not matter if we are loved or hated by the world- what matters is are we for God.  Are we being influenced by the world or by God?  What context are we living in, seeking, trusting in?  The temporal or God the eternal?  This determines how the heart will be guided.
  

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

What gives light to your soul -regardless to the difficult circumstances in this life?

LIVING VERSES LIFE

Harrison Ford’s character, in the same movie says, “How is this possible? For all those years you’ve lived, you’ve never had a life.”

How true it is that people “live” but have never had a “life”?  They seek “life” but it only in the these temporal forms and way but they never find LIFE.  Think of the richest people who have ever lived but have never found LIFE.  

People instinctively seek what God gives such as joy, peace, love, goodness, and so on but they don’t look to Him.

Even intelligence and wisdom of God's word won't get us there!  

Jesus said, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” John 4:23

Adam and Eve decided on the “temporal” in the Garden of Eden instead of God who is eternal and always and they lost what was essential, the Spirit of God, in their life.  They may have had the wisdom and knowledge and truth but the Spirit of God was not there to help them live in that wisdom, knowledge and truth.  So they lived but did not have life.

God not only creates the living and provides for the living but also gives LIFE to the living. 

Jesus says, “I am the truth, the way and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me.” John 14:6

John says, “In him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” John 1:4

Life is through the Holy Spirit -which God gives through His Son, Jesus Christ.

“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Here there is not conflict with the law.” Galatians 5:22-23

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” Romans 8:2

How our heart sinks and goes to dark places when we trust in and look to the temporal things of this life.

The last thing that struck me in the movie, was when Adaline finally decides to stop running from the truth and.... she receives her life back. (Sorry spoiler coming!)  She ceases from just living and begins to have life she never thought would be possible.

Is this not true of our spiritual life as well?  It’s only when we “stop running” from God and turn to God in whatever condition we are in- that we realize and grow in Jesus who is the truth, the way and life.  We find LIFE and value, freedom is in Him not the temporal things of this world.

Yep... "He has made everything appropriate in it's time.  He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end" Ecclesiastes 3:11

For each of us has an eternal soul that God has created.  A soul that is to live forever.   God has set eternity in our hearts, which is LIFE, and we only discover this LIFE and find and get to experience it in Him.  That we don’t have to continue make the same mistakes as Adam and Eve by seeking life in the temporal but instead -the eternal.  God is to be the author and finisher of our faith/life but in order for that to happen we must surrender and continually surrender to Him.  And in doing so we discover and experience what God has planned for us from beginning to end in Him.

In a manner of speaking this is the age of you.  Jesus came to... what did he say, "I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Note John 10:10
 
We all have decide is if we only want to just live or if we want LIFE.

    

Daily Establishing Our Hearts For the LORD's Coming

Prayer: God as we go over what you have given me to share, be with us- that what is shared here will not just be your truth but a living word that will continue to establish our hearts upon you.  That you will firm up what might be lacking in us and continue to encourage us in what we have done well in so far. In Jesus name Amen.

There has been some reluctance, on my part, to share what I have to share with you because I have mentioned this topic already and I didn’t want to make the seriousness of this topic to just become  common.  Where one might think something like "Yes I have heard this all before. No need to go and revisit it."  BUT the more I sought the Lord for direction the more He used what He had given me in July as a foundation for this devotional.

Read: Luke 21:8-28  Note: We need to pay attention to what is happening in Israel and her enemies surrounding her.

In July I was given some verses (repeatedly) and then a dream.

These two scriptures came from Matthew 24 where Jesus is speaking of the end times.

Matthew 24:37-39.  Jesus says, “ When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day.  In those days before the Flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat.  People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the Flood came and swept them all away.  That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.”

Matthew 24:28 “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.”

Note: Jesus is saying in Matthew 24:28 that people will gather, celebrate, applaud, push for the things that end in death like vultures gathering around a carcass.  

Then came the dream.  In the dream I  was witnessing this “happening” where people were vanishing and the ones I saw vanish left this fine golden twinkling dust in the air.  Oddly people did not all vanish all at once like we have seen in the “Left Behind” movie but vanished at different intervals.

After I woke I was reminded of what Jesus said Luke 17…

“Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns.  On that day a person outside the house must not go into the house to pack. A person in the field must not return to town.” Luke 17:30-31

I never gave it much thought before but why would Jesus have to tell us not to go down into the house to pack or not to return home if people vanished all once?  This makes sense because people were disappearing at different times and people were witnessing this happening.

In the dream I also witnessed some people losing their nerve as they were witnessing the reality of the rapture and ducking into doorways.  They knew what was going on but did not want to meet their maker.  They were afraid and wanted to hold on to this life.   

 I must say the entire experience was a bit unnerving and frightening but I believe that is why Jesus said, “Watch out! Don’t let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life.  Don’t let that day catch you unaware, as in a trap.  For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth.  Keep a constant watch.  And pray that, if possible, you may escape these horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36

Another verse in  Hebrews 10:38-39 says “BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”   

Jesus also gives us a picture of those ducking into doorways.  In Luke 17:32 he says, “Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.

I was then reminded of the last part of the dream again-  as I went over my notes.

I watched one who was not raptured, but thought they would be.  They went to their "wise" person -not really giving any thought of why the wise person was still there also.  When they asked the wise person why they were still there, the wise solemnly answered with only two words, “Your words.”

I was reminded of these things

“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:37

“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” Proverbs 18:21

I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 as I thought of the wise person.

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clinging cymbal.  If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I could understand all of God’s secret plans and possessed all the knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”

I was then given the sutures for these verses in 1 John 4:8

"But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

I was reminded of those who drank from the same rock in the wilderness, which was an illustration of Christ Jesus, but some never made it to the promise land.

I was also reminded of the five foolish bridesmaids in Matthew 25 who didn’t bring enough oil for their lamps so while they went to get some more oil the Lord took those who were ready.  In verse 11, “Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!

But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’”

The wise and foolish bridesmaids all knew Jesus was coming but the foolish ones did not continually seek a relationship with the Lord.  They had the knowledge of the Lord and the things of God but the Spirit and truth was not allowed to live and flow in them.

Think about this, do we know examples of those who knew of the Lord, have experienced the miracles of the Lord but have walked away from a relationship with the Lord?

We see this un-establishing problem even when Jesus speaks to John in Revelation about the churches.

To some in the church of Sardis, He says, “I know all things you do, and that you have a reputation of being alive- but you are dead.  Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead.  I find your actions do not meet the requirements of God. Go back to what you heard and believed first; hold to it firmly.  Repent and turn back to me again.  If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.”

To the church of Laodicea, He says, I know all things you do, that you are neither hot or cold.  I wish that you were one of the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot or cold, 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 blind and naked.

But to the church of Philadelphia he says, “I know all things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close.  You have little strength, yet you have obeyed my word and did not deny me….” He continues with “Because you have obeyed my command to preserver, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.  I am coming soon.  Hold on to what you have, so that no one can take way your crown.   All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of God, and they will never have to leave it.  And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizen in the city of my God- the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God.  And I will also write on them my new name.”

Jesus wants us to be seriously ready for His coming knowing what is happening in this country and around the world.

This bible devotional started with the prompting of the Spirit using: James 5:8 says, “You, also be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

Established means to take courage, be strong, fixed, strengthen, to be steadfast, set, make firm, to render constant, confirm in the Lord.  One might say to be firmly rooted upon or planted in Him.

Our Check List.

• Does God have the respect He deserves from me? The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Is He feared above everything else?  Proverbs 9:10
• Am I loving mercy, doing justly, and walking humbly with God? Micah 6:8
• Am I loving the Lord my God with all my heart, all my soul, and with all my mind?  Am I loving others as I love myself? Matthew 22:37, 39
• Am I fully trusting in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior or have I added my works for justification? Romans 3:22
• Am I looking to be internally renewed each day by the Lord? Am I looking for a living word each day for my life from the Lord who is the author and finisher of my faith?
• I am looking to see what and whom he places upon my path?
• Do I remember his mercies are fresh every morning? Lamentations 3:22-23
• Am I surrendered to and being sanctified in Christ Jesus?  Am I rendering myself to the Lord or acknowledging the Lord continually throughout my day and am I allowing myself to be venerable to the Lord? Is Jesus my way, my truth, and my life? John 14:6
• Is my heart settled upon God or something else?
• “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 3:5
• Is Jesus my anchor and my rock?
• Am I allowing anything to be placed higher then God’s love for others and myself?
• Is there anything that I might be holding me back from God?

Last scriptures and we will close.

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23

"The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think.  No, he is being patient for your sake.  He doe not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.  But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.   Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment." 2 Peter 3:8-10

May the Lord continually stir up the reality of this information in our hearts and that we are right with Him, surrendered/devoted to Him and that we continue in our relationship with Him so when our salvation draws neigh we will look up without any doubt and join Him. Amen.

Who Is On The Throne of Your JOY?

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“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

Last week I took a “Narcissistic Personality Quiz.” http://psychcentral.com/quizzes/narcissistic.htm

The N.P.Q measures narcissistic mindsets and tendencies… in how one looks at authority, their own body, superiority, entitlement, manipulation, equality, self-sufficiency and vanity.

I did not score high enough to be a categorized as a narcissistic individual but I found the questions interesting and I remember when I had such “narcissistic tendencies” and once acted and thought upon them.

I then read 2013 article on new.discovery.com that reported that data has shown an increasing amount of Americans are becoming narcissists.     http://news.discovery.com/human/narcissism-epidemic-college-students.htm

This was not surprising considering how self-absorbed our society has become and in doing so has become a joyless society. 

We can point the finger at a lot of things… such as the baby boomers or our expectation and reliance on convenience.  But that's not it .... It's who's on the throne of our life.

What happens when life isn’t convenient? 
  

My youngest got a free ticket to a theme park as a reward so we went for the day and while we were patiently standing in line at the concession stand for a refill in our cup, a group of people walked up to the counter and demanded that they be served even though they could see everyone else was waiting in line.  And when the people at the concession stand wouldn’t serve them they got down right rude and disrespectful.  Where did they get that idea of entitlement over all those other people waiting in line?

Who was ruling on their throne? 

I guess you could say we saw a principle of God’s word come to life that day because the many who thought they would to be first ended up last and those considered last ended up the first.

Ever feel bad because you don’t get recognized for doing something?  Where does that come from? 

The N. P. Q is a simple man made test.  It does not adequately measure the accuracy of how God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart.  I may not be narcissistic in the world’s eyes but that doesn’t mean “I” or “me” doesn’t wants to crawl up on the throne and paint and color the circumstances of my day.   
  

We as Christians must remember we are children of our Heavenly Father.   God allows us to crawl up on the throne of our hearts to experience that we are not the source of our own joy.  Some learn this and some don't.   And He also allows us to sit on his lap to KNOW HE is the source of our JOY.  

Ever seen the LORD smile? When He smiles there is nothing like it and it fills you with so much goodness that there is no room for the negative symptoms you were experiencing. 
   

We must surrender the throne of our life to Him.  We also must be patient and wait upon the LORD and He will establish our hearts where they need to be set.  He is the good medicine for our heart.
 

“For he shall not often reflect on the days of his life; because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.” Ecc 5:20

To WHOM Do I Belong?

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There is a children’s book about a little bird that cracked open his egg and fell out of the nest and goes looking for his mother who he has never seen.   The little bird asks a cat, a dog, a cow, and even a car and a dirt scoop…. if they are his mother. 

We think this is silly and illogical but isn’t that precisely what people do with… God?

We can plainly see through history and artifacts of people worshipping the creation and not the living true God- the Creator.  The Egyptians worshipped the gods of Ra, Isis, Horus, and many more.  The Israelites made a golden calf to worship instead of worshiping the true living God who miraculously gave them freedom from slavery in Egypt.  We see and hear about ancient Greek and Roman gods like Apollo, Cupid, Hercules, Zeus, Hades, Diana, and Aphrodite.  We see in certain Catholic churches Mary and the saints are worshipped as gods.  We see in the Native American culture that creation is worshipped not the Creator.  In Mexico and sad to say, here in America there are shrines and statues to Satan, the one who seeks to destroy all those created in the image of God. 

People ask… sciences are you my God?

Money are you my God?

Circumstances are you my God?

Job is it my God?

Doctors, professors, clergy, therapist are they my God?

Husband, wife, girl friend, boy friend are you my God?

Me, my feelings, my thoughts are they my God?

How many people do you know who have been cursed/controlled by their lifestyle of tobacco, alcohol and/or drugs which is causing them not only to make bad decisions, but destroying their body and life? These substances have become a god to them. 

How many people do you know who have been cursed by divorce and adulterous relationships?  It’s not just the spouse that pays but the children as well.

How many people do you know who have been cursed by sexual sin? 

How many people do you know who have been cursed by trusting in money?

How many people do you know who have been cursed by hatred?

How many people do you know who trust in only what they see and they are cursed by it?  How many people do you see deeply hurt by the actions of others and they can’t get past those hurtful actions?

How many people do you see cursed and blinded because they don’t trust God?

These are examples of false gods/idols in people’s lives.  They are saying, “These are my gods.  I trust, use, follow, listen to these things more then God.  These things are what I allow to rule over my life… if they fail me I am without hope because I choose to trust in mere idols and circumstances then the true living God.”

Let’s read Romans 1.

“Yes they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks.  And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.  The result was that their minds became dark and confused.  Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.  And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols make to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes.  So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired.  As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.  Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies.  So they worshipped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen.  That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires.  Even women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.  And men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other.  Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved.  When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done.  Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.  They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent proud, and boastful.  They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents.  They refuse to understand, break promises, and are heartless and unforgiving.  They are fully aware of God’s death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway.  And worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.”  Romans 1:21-32

Look at the ROOT issue… The root issue is making other things gods instead of the living true God
be God of their life.

“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” Proverbs 25:28

Ever been hurt by someone or a group of people?  Ever been greatly discouraged because of a situation?  What is your tendency to do when hurt or discouraged?  Is it finding a way to get even, quitting, withdrawing, indulging in ways of temporary escape and/or believing in the lies and so on and so forth?  God knows our tendencies so he says in His word….  

“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, and turn their hearts away from the LORD.  They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future.  They will live in the barren wilderness, on the salty flats where no one lives.”

Is this not true or what?  We allow hurt or loss or the betrayal of a situation to become our poison.  We become stunted, feel hopeless and feel justified to throw a little pity part.  We start living in this bleak mindset where it seems no one can help us.  But look at the contrast of these following these verses…

“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.  They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.  Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.  Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:5-8

So we must ask ourselves what do we allow to be above God in our life?  What is going to be our deep and growing and strengthening resolve in life? Are we going to allow circumstances and situations cause us to turn our hearts away from the LORD? And if we do turn our hearts away from the LORD, what are we saying is our god?  What God/or god is over this situation?” we must ask ourselves. 

Who am I going to turn to, turn the situation over to, and trust? 

Genesis 1:27 says, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God; He created him, male and female he created them.”

Three times in the same sentence it says is “God created”.  If you are created by God, then you belong to that HIM.   Knowing we belong to the LORD will make a big difference in our life.  We can turn our life over to Him our Creator and Savior Jesus Christ.  Instead of destructive ways of living, God will guide us to constructive ways of overcoming.  We will grow to know WHO is our strength and shield and He will bless us because we know we are in need of Him.

“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” Colossians 3:10

GOD of FIRE and LIVING WATER

While in prayer at a church board meeting recently I saw a vision of fire… fire that had no source.  It was floating in the air. It’s flames were neither reaching upward or downward. 

It could have possibly been what they saw in the book of Acts, “Then what looked like flames of tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.” Acts 2:3

I am also reminded by the Spirit of this passage, “Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.  Suddenly, the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush.  Moses was amazed because the bush was engulfed in flames, but it didn’t burn up.  “Amazing!” Moses said to himself.  “Why isn’t that bush burning up?  I must go over to see this.”  When the LORD saw that he had caught Moses’ attention, God called to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

“Here I am!” Moses replied.

“Do not come any closer,” God told him.  Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.”  Exodus 3:1-5

We are living in a time where there is little respect for Living True God and His WORD.

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29

God is a FIRE with no origin.  He has no creator or parent. He is GOD!

“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” Psalm 33:8

“To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.” Exodus 24:17

“But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.” Deuteronomy 9:3

That last one (Deuteronomy 9:3) reminds me a bit of a picture we see in Revelation…

“His eyes were bright like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns.  A name was written on Him, and only He knew what it meant.   He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the WORD of God.  The armies of heaven, dressed in pure white linen, followed Him on white horses.  From His mouth came a sharp sword, and with he struck down the nations.   He ruled them with an iron rod, and he trod the winepress with the fierce wrath of almighty God.  On His robe and thigh was written this title: King of kings and Lord or lords.”  Revelation 19:12-16

God is a FIRE that destroys those who are rebellious and don’t submit to Him.   God is a FIRE that should be given respected and awe.  God is the FIRE who we must seek for HE alone encourages, and strengthens and gives us living inspiration by His word and Spirit to carry on in a dark world.

 A world that says what Isaiah writes,

“What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that the dark is light and light is dark, that the bitter is sweet and the sweet is bitter.  What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.  What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wine and boast about all the alcohol they can hold.  They take bribes to let the wicked go free, and they punish the innocent.  Therefore, just as fire licks up stubble and dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will rot and their flowers wither.  For they have rejected the law of the LORD of Heaven Armies; they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 5:20-24

This world that will experience terrible sorrow when it’s Creator, the Lord, returns.  We are only seeing the birth pains of His coming with earthquakes, hail, floods, drought, fire, war, famine, hatred for what is good...
 

John the Baptist said about himself and Jesus, "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. "His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Matthew 3:11-12

Some have forgotten and act as if they are God when deciding what is good and right.  They have disregarded God’s word.   Some have lost hope and/or don’t know God’s goodness and have drowned in what they see in the world but God reminds us that though we live in the world we are not of the world and these circumstances that surround us are not to define us or our mindset.  We cannot spiritually eat of what the world gives or else we become spiritually sick minded and the sick minded trust in only what they see in the world, which makes them blind to God and benefits of God.

We must continually walk by faith- prayer- Spirit and truth.  Faith changes things and we see in Jesus Christ all things are possible in a upside down world.

Because we live in this world it can feel “spiritually” suffocating at times… but in those times we must push off the world’s oppressive thirsty surface and seek the ROCK who gives refreshment to our soul.

The rock of Horeb where water flowed like a river into the desert.

Remember the rock of Horeb.

“I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.” Exodus 17:6

“Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.” Numbers 20:11

“He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them water as abundant as the seas;” Psalm 78:15

“He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert.”  Psalm 105:41

That rock is an illustration of Jesus Christ who was struck for us to give us life and life more abundantly.  He is the perpetual spring living in us (Holy Spirit) as we live in this parched wilderness of a world.

But let us take careful note as we read further...

“And all of them drank the same miraculous water that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.  Yet after this, God was not pleased with most of them, and he destroyed them in the wilderness.  These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did or worship idols as some of them did.  For the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged themselves in pagan revelry.”  And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.  Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. And don’t grumble as some of them did, for that is why God sent his angel of death to destroy them.  All these events happened to them as examples for us.  They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close.” 1 Corinthians 10:4-10   

We know we cannot hope in what the world puts hope in for those things are only temporary, shortsighted, false and empty but we are to put our hope in GOD who is everlasting and eternal.  He is full of goodness, love, grace, compassion and mercy to help us stay on the right path.  And because our Hope is “living” and “active” we know none of us can become sufficient in ourselves. We do not have the strength alone nor do we know what we need at the precise time we need it to overcome the daily obstacles in our life but God does. We all need in these times the constant yoke of Jesus who the author and finisher of our faith. 
 

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke fits perfectly, and my burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

The mountain of Horeb, is not just a historical story but an illustration of who GOD is.  For from the Mountain of GOD, where there is FIRE came Jesus Christ who gives us the Holy Spirit, spiritual water, for our born again soul.

"He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.  The world cannot receive Him, because it isn't looking for Him and doesn't Recognize Him.  But you know Him, because he lives with you now and later will be in in you." John 14:17

Remember this is LIBERATING SUSTAINING LIVING TRUTH THAT SATISFIES THE SOUL! The world is constantly thirsty because it looks to everything else but God to be satisfied.  It will collapse and be destroyed by it's own doing because it refuses to turn, repent, and submit to God.

Remember the dream I was given by God to share with you.

“Do not partake from the sea of humanity but take from the Mountain, the ROCK- that gives only good life sustaining water.  For the water that comes from the sea makes one sick and naked and fruitless.  I have seen the seawater do what is unnatural.  Instead of staying in the sea it is pouring onto the land stripping the trees of their bark leaving them unprotected and exposed.   There are no leaves in their canopies; all the fruit has been laid to waste.  The lands have been poisoned.  The way into these lands is fenced off to my companions and I, to only witness the shame.  It is a hopeless land.  It is a cursed place.  It has trusted and given into the ways of man instead of God, the GREAT MOUNTAIN and ROCK.”

GOD is the GOD of FIRE and LIVING WATER

You want this living water for your soul in this thirsty world?  How about going to heaven when you die? How about being able to understand God's word?

In book of John that is written to the us, Jesus said to Nicodemus, a devoted religious man,

"Very truly I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of GOD unless they are born again." John 3:3

Jesus is saying no one can have the life giving spiritual benefits of God- the ones that nourish and encourage our soul, until we are born again.

Then in verse 5 & 6 Jesus says,

"Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to the flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit."

We cannot enter heaven without being born again in the Spirit.

Jesus Christ is the one in which we all must go and submit our life to be born again in the Spirit of God.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me." John 14:6

So if you want to go to heaven and have your life transformed, genuinely do these things from your heart with me.  Pray to the Lord.  Know that he paid with his life for you and me.  Know Jesus rose from the dead and now sits with next to the Father interceding for you and I today.  

If you like can say these words with me.

JESUS, I have sinned and I have served the things of the world and I have become very thirsty and unsatisfied.   Please forgive me.  I want to give my life over you now, to be saved and for you to become LORD and Savior of my life.  That I can come to know you more intimately, that I will go to heaven when I Pass on from this life and I can have your life giving Spirit living in me so that I may understand and experience all that you have for me.  Thank you Jesus for all you have done and are going to do.  AMEN. AMEN. AMEN.