The Oil and Water of the Refugee Crisis

 This is what came to mind this week:
 
The horses stands ready for battle but when it's time for battle the warriors lose their hope and nerve and go home.

Proverbs 21:31 "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord"

They have the numbers but their words and posture were false.  And when the flood of reality came, it undermined their thinking and they could no longer stand united together.

"Knowing their thoughts, he (Jesus) said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand." Matthew 12:25

Fragile we are.... Fools we are to not think so.... oh how we should cry out for wisdom for we would see the enemy clearly.... Like the Vikings of old who did not simulate but came to conquer- so there are those today who want to do the same.  They come for benefits not to simulate.

We have cultures that are oil and water - that are impossible to merge.  They do not share our values and knowing we have no comprehension of this they take advantage of our goodness.... Think! We are not dealing with individuals who grew up in Europe and have Judaeo Christian  values.

You are dealing with the exact opposite. They do not honor our courts.  They have already set up their own courts in Europe and right here in the USA in New Jersey. They have taken over neighborhoods by force, rape women and beat Christians and Jews.   I am talking about those who are Muslim.  Those who have come not for refuge and peace like some of the Syrians refugees...  no they come in a Trojan horse hidden amongst the genuine refugees....  They have killed, injured, beat, stolen ... how much is it going to take?  They have no respect for you and I.  Just do some research... look what is happening in England, France, and Sweden.  Look what is happening in New Jersey.  They don't want what most of us take for granted, they want what is Muslim and they don't care what you want!

The enemy knows our value system and is taking advantage of it because we do not use wisdom.  They know the values we were raised with but since we do not take discernment from Spirit of God- the enemy is stealing, killing, raping, beating and pillaging in the name of our "political correctness".  I want to remind you there is no political correctness with them.  Listen to them speak.

http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2017/march/why-mass-immigration-may-mean-the-end-of-britain


It is important to know truth not just in intellect but in Spirit.  Not knowing the truth we have nothing to stand on and without Spirit of God we lack conviction to stand in the truth and do what is right.  We throw pearls to swine and wisdom yells in the streets and in front of the court houses, "What are you doing!!!"

Wisdom fed up will laugh at our nations' destruction. Read it for yourself in Proverbs 3.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In the Bible, when God's people would no longer listen to him, He let them be overcome by their enemies.   When God's people no longer stood up for truth but went along with the surrounding society - what happened to them? Who simulated who? Who conquered who? 

NOTE: You want a rapist to be tried in a Muslim court or an United States Court? A rapist would suffer nothing in a Muslim court and courts overseas have been letting Muslims deal with Muslims in Muslim courts.



Why were God's people conquered?  Because they no longer "knew" the truth.  It didn't live in their hearts.  They no longer had anything to stand on and nothing to stand on they had no conviction.

In a recent dream a police officer told me this is an unsafe neighborhood... lock up what you have...  in other words these are unsafe times, hold on to what you have been given by Christ.  Let no one persuade you away from the truth. Hold tight to the living truth in your soul.

Jesus said "I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown." Revelation 3:11
 

Time of Perfection

What has captured my attention this week is this verse written by the Apostle Paul.  “For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face.  Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God]. 1 Corinthians 13:12

In college we would sculpt pieces of clay into an art piece… we would then encase it in sections of plaster. 

When the plaster dried we would open the plaster pieces and take out the clay. 

We would then put a sealer on the inside impression left in the plaster by the clay sculpture. 

Afterward we would put the plaster pieces together again where we could pour a “liquefied medium” such as clay slip, plaster, wax, cement, rubber latex and so on into the plaster mold.

When the medium hardened/cured inside the mold- we would open the plaster pieces to reveal the art piece in its new material.

In a way we are like clay works of art encased in plaster.   God sculpts our clay vessel. He seals it … and one day the clay vessel that will return to the earth where soul will enter the everlasting body! 

With the everlasting body God gives us, we will never know what it means to be tired or out of breathe or sore.  We will be able to run all day long and have more energy then even a wild stallion could muster.  We won’t have to deal with getting sick, ill, old, hot or cold.  There will be no need for spectacles, medicines, special diets, genetic disorders in heaven.  There will be no disabilities and no handicap signs in heaven.   All will be new… and kept anew!

Our bodies of clay will be swallowed up by death but the new bodies we receive in Jesus Christ will be swallowed up and clothed in life! (2 Corinthians 5:2, 5:4)

What we knew… what we matured in… what we spoke of… what yielded to in Spirit…  will no longer have to share room with the earthly flesh but will be fully transformed- as God has known.

A Witness of the LIGHT

Oil Painting by Jeff Johnson

As I was thinking about a name for a painting, “A Witness of Light” came to mind.

I have seen the Light of men. I have seen Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  Matthew 6 says those with a pure heart will see God.   I saw Jesus in a vision and the effects of seeing Him instantaneously changed what was going on inside of me.  I went from discouragement to joy, the instant Jesus smiled at me. The Creator smiled…

You know Jesus doesn’t even have to say a word- for He has said and paid for everything for us with his blood and resurrection.  Jesus smiled and like a gate of goodness pouring forth- my discouragement left me and I began to laugh.  

Sounds insane?  I think for the most part -wonders are insane.  They can’t be explained.  The world loves to explain things away that it can’t understand but God doesn’t fit in the confines of human wisdom and understanding.

I have seen the Light of men and women on several occasions so I don’t have the excuse, defense, reasoning for not believing in Jesus Christ.  But in saying this--- I do not share this for my benefit (though my soul has benefited greatly from what no human eye has seen) but I share for the benefit of you! Yes you!

I share with those who haven’t seen.  I share with those who haven’t believed.  I share with you that you may believe in my testimony and turn to Jesus and believe in Him as your Lord and Savior and He may come and live within.

Jesus says we are Christians are the light of the world --not because we are the Light but because we have the Spirit, the flame of God, living within us.

“John was not the Light, but came to testify about the Light.” John 1:8

We, just like John, are testifiers of God….

Jesus said, “While you have the Light, believe and trust in the Light [have faith in it, hold on to it, rely on it], so that you may become sons of Light [being filled with Light as followers of God].”  Jesus said these things, and then He left and hid Himself from them.  John 12:36 AMP

We are individuals, where we do what John 12:36 say – Our souls inside these earthen vessels are being empowered and clothed with God’s glorious light.  Our soul is the only thing we take with us when we leave this earth- - our bodies will turn to dust and join the earth.  So we must… invest our soul in what is everlasting- The Everlasting God who clothes our soul with His Everlasting Spirit… the mysterious glory of God.  The Spirit of God that the world isn’t looking for…

Jesus speaks of a time when we enter heaven but the only ones allowed in heaven are the ones who have the Spirit of God living in them.  Their soul, no longer clothed with the flesh of this world is clothed with the Spirit of God-- and the only one to give the Spirit of God to us all is Jesus Christ- in whom we need to place our faith.

Jesus said, “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes and trusts in Me [as Savior—all those who anchor their hope in Me and rely on the truth of my message] will not continue to live in darkness.” John 12:46 AMP

Jesus also said, “But whoever practices truth [and does what is right—morally, ethically, spiritually] comes to the Light, so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are –accomplished in God [divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence on Him].” John 3:21 AMP

We are prompted by God’s Spirit to live life beyond the constraints of our often frustrating faulty human understanding.  That we may be testifiers of God’s goodness because we have experienced it and rely on it daily…

In a dream I was on a double-decker bus.  I was up on the top deck with no rails or no real seats… We headed up this steep mountain slope.  There was a steep drop off on one side of the bus and steep cliff on the other…. The bus swerved back and forth as it rolled up this snaking slope.  The bus driver drove fast around the curves and it felt as if the bus would tip.   I thought, “What is the bus driver thinking driving this fast on this narrow road?  Someone is going to fall off the edge.”

Seeing a child next to me I instinctively held tight on to him until we reached a white city with breathing pools of water.

It was then I saw all my fretting was for not.  

Sometimes in this narrow snaking road of life we think, “What is God thinking?”

During those times we must hold onto our childlike faith- seeing God, full of goodness, has everything under control- so fret not.  Doing this will help us continue to be testifiers of the LIGHT living within us.

 

What Does God Say About Authority

Authority

  

Recently I listened to some of the recent press conference President Trump held and found it surprisingly refreshing.  He wasn’t ranting and raving like the mainstream media was trying to make him out to be… it was all done in good but honest humor.

I also got to listen to Israel’s Prime minister and Trump's recent sentiments to each other and appreciated their open genuine support for one another- for we know the bible says, “A nation that blesses Israel will be blessed”.  

We have seen throughout history to now, many have tried to make it their so-called role to have control through various ways of manipulation.  We have seen political parties (foreign and domestic), senators, gangsters, thugs, religious fanatics, mainstream and social medias and even in past church history try to take the role of “authority” only to have foolish and even disastrous results.

I don’t agree with all of Malcolm X’s sentiments but this I do agree with,

“This is the press, an irresponsible press.  It will make the criminal look like he's the victim and make the victim look like he's the criminal. If you aren't careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”

 Just because the mainstream and social media have framed up someone to look and sound a certain way- that we don’t politically agree with- doesn’t mean it is true. 

I find people hate people, out of sure lies and they are too quick to love the words of people who are telling lies…

They trust sources they shouldn’t trust…. But maybe they just don’t care… they have such a dislike and bias for such individuals -that they don’t care if they are lies or not- if it sounds/looks “good” then why not spread the smelly phony baloney.  I hate baloney. I love truth, what is right, justice... and pepperoni. :)

Logic tells us a partial truth is not the truth at all but a lie…   You know who is a master at telling partial truths? Satan… and one of his names is “The father of all lies”. John 8:44

People who practice lies are following in the steps of the Devil.  They are a follower of darkness.  Do you want to be a follower of darkness?    

Distinguishing You?

God and I had a little sit down the last week over the word… “Authority.”

We all know authority is to “Let” someone or something have authority over you. 

In the Christian life we (LET) submit to God, that we can live beyond the natural tendencies to live in the liberating life giving spiritual disposition/character/ temperament of the Spirit of God.

We will either let the fallen world and the flesh manipulate us- where we become a slave to darkness or we can be “yoked to” (LET) God… where we become co-workers with God/Christ Jesus.  This is not only beneficial to persist, endure and persevere but required, vital, and mandatory.         

 Jesus’ beloved disciple writes, “Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.  By this the children of God and the children of the devil are distinguished: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:10

One cannot be faithful without God for he/she without God produces the things of death by what pours forth and is produced by his/her mouth and actions.  For sin results in death and we are only redeemed, saved, released from sin by our faith in Jesus Christ who took upon our sin on the cross that we may have life and eternal life in heaven.  Faith is relationship not religion.

By Jesus’ holy innocent blood, He is Savior, Lord, King.  He has been “authority” over every soul who wants to turn to Him and be free eternal damnation and Satan, the god of this world.  Matthew 28:18

The Apostle Paul writes, “If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people are perishing.  Satan, who is the good 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.”  2 Corinthians 4:3-5

In Whose likeness are we being created in as we mature in Christ?  Did man create man out of the dust of the earth?  Could man ever put the Spirit of God in himself?  No.  We know it was only by God who did these things. 

Who defines us?  Who do we submit to define us?  Who are you giving authority to define you?

Unseen Authority and Seen Authority

If one can’t submit to a seen authority, how can one submit to an unseen authority?

There are people like myself who believe in these words, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God” Romans 13:1

Can you imagine in a world of people who didn’t believe in these words?  I believe without God’s people living in the Spirit of God, earth would be very different place filled with anarchy.

When President Trump became President the Lord said to me, “Be cautiously optimistic but prayerful.”

To me this meant to have “gratitude” but continually petition God in prayer for our leaders.

Trump is not the fixer of our nation, and I don’t mean that in any negative sense… but we need to see the LORD as the one who needs to direct our hearts as well as our President’s heart…

 For the Word says, “In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.” 

1 Timothy 2:1-3 says “First of all, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions  and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,”

All need to see God has “established” Trump as President and to not see this- goes against what God has established... you are no longer fighting a man but God.

“It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding.” Daniel 2:21

President Day is truly a day, as a nation under God, to pray for our President that God's good, pleasing and perfect will to be done.  Amen.

The Prodigals

Who waits on the porch looking up the driveway?
Who waits sitting up at the kitchen table?
Who waits by the telephone?
Who waits looking out the window?

Who prays?
Whose heart is heavy?
Who paces the floor?

Who smells the clothes left behind?
Who looks at the pictures of better times?
Who rereads the cards and notes and letters?

The prodigals have left, they have gone into the world, looking else where, only to enter an empty dark house filled with stupid possessions that mean nothing.  They know their soul lacks and you can tell it by what comes of their mouth and actions.

For once they ate from the table of their Heavenly Father.  They had plenty but now they live as if they never knew the Heavenly Father.

The Heavenly Father awaits for them....

"Come home my son. Come home my daughter."

"Don't worry about your brothers or sisters.  Come home.  I do not think any more or less of them as I do of you.  This they should know as well."

"Come and sit at my table once again.  Share a meal.  I want to listen and talk with to you.  Come and stay... find what you have been missing.  Come.  Remember there has been more then enough."

"It has been a long time.  It has been too long but my love is still the same as when I first created you.  I love you with an everlasting love.  Oh I knew the way in which you would take but I hope you hear me now..."    

"Come home my son."
"Come home my daughter."

"Let us start afresh and new."

"Love your
Heavenly Father."

Preeminent

Webster dictionary wrote this about the word "preeminent ".

"What is noteworthy about the following sentence? "Mount McKinley is a prominent eminence in the Alaskan landscape." You very likely recognized two words that are closely related to "preeminent" - "prominent" and "eminence." All three words are rooted in the Latin verb stem -minēre, meaning "to stand out." But did you note as well the related word mount? Not too surprisingly, "-minēre" is related to "mons," the Latin word for "mountain." That relationship leads us in turn to "paramount," a word closely related in meaning to 'preeminent.'"

—The mountains in the Pacific Northwest are the head of the landscape- well on a sunny day.

Everything from ski parks, cabins, houses, lakes, highway overpasses, forests, wildlife refuges, and the sprawling picnic blankets of the cities sit below the the beautiful but need to be respected mountains. They reach the heavens and bring fresh water and life to the streams and rivers.  They bring enjoyment, recreation and relaxation, wonder, and peace to those who wander their parks and trails... Jesus Christ, God, is the "Mountain" of our life.

As I think about this I think how people who live in the Pacific Northwest can ignore the mountain... Baker, Adams, Rainer, Pilchuck (lol), Helens, Olympus... they drive by them everyday not always admiring their beauty and what they provide...

Then I think about Jesus Christ and how we can ignore Him the Mountain and not see all He provides.  How he should be admired and respected. How in Him is life and that life comes as we make him preeminent in our daily lives. Think about....

Who To Trust?

In Christianity we are told to love people but not trust them.  We are shown it is not good to trust our fellow brother or sister in Christ- for we could easily elevate them to a place where only God belongs.  Who hasn't learned the hard way and witnessed the "fall" or "hurt" from Christians who we thought we could trust? 

Some might ask, “Well if you love someone, don’t you trust them?” 

A parent my love a son or daughter, who steals from them, but doesn’t mean they have to trust them.

God’s word is a safe guard for our soul- God knew if we place our trust in mere humans it could be disastrous to our faith.

Have you ever thought where bias, partiality, unfairness, preconceived notions, favoritism stem from?  It comes from placing faith in people not God.

Why is justice portrayed as a woman with a sword in one hand, a scale dangling from her other hand and a blindfold covering her eyes?  She looks to the unseen God not the biases of society.

Justice only is justice if it uses the wisdom of God.  Justice becomes a joke when it is polluted by a society that doesn't fear God.  

Proverbs 1:7 says,  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Jesus told us, “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6

You treasure liberty, the pursuit of happiness, truth, and justice?

Who do entrust those things to protect, honor, and keep?  If it is humans and especially humans that don't fear God then you and I have a real problem.

We can point our blaming finger all we want for the unrest and failure in the United States and the world but it will mean nothing if we don't first take the log out of our own eye.   We must sincerely ask if we are truly seeing clearly? Are we getting all the facts or are we just listening and going along with men and women because they sound agreeable, because they are the "media", because they hold some position, degree and so on?   Are we in line with God's word and using Godly wisdom to protect and guard what we are truly to treasure?  Who are you entrusting your eternal soul too?

Consider the climate of the world today.  Where is the wisdom?  I will tell you where she is … she is calling from the streets and pleading for people to listen to her but no one is listening.  One day she will laugh in our face, have no sympathy at our demise because we chose not to listen to her… (If you don’t believe me look it up in the bible in the book of Proverbs.) People would rather listen to the media, college professors, political party, social organization, themselves then to God’s wisdom.

When a nation or people turns away from God and look upon it’s own faulty understanding and make it god – we have mess.   People start to believe whatever suits them about God.  They believe whatever they want about God’s people? Deplorable? Really? Do you even know what the word means?

God is not a salad bar or a buffet dinner where we get to pick and decide what we want to believe of God.   A god we have made up in our mind is a false god and a false god does not save our soul.

Because people trust the opinions of man and don’t trust God- people believe in sin… sin becomes rampant and sin separates people from God.  Nations become a mess and the dogs and swine of this world have their way.  A house against its self will fall but a people that look jointly to God are like strong pillars in time of trouble. They don't stand, rest or trust in man but stand, rest and trust in God... where true wisdom and life come from.

“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than trust in people.” Psalm 118:8

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.  For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5-7

“Don’t put your trust in mere humans.  They are as frail as breath.  What good are they?” Isaiah 2:22

“But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature.” John 2:24

No wonder why our founding fathers believed in God’s truth and principles and created a nation upon them… for without them a nation we have known would have never come into being... for what was seemingly impossible became possible because they didn’t trust in the opinions or tactics of man but choose to be in nation under God.  They walked by faith not by sight. 

What a picture this should be in our hearts as Christians.  it is not just a picture of the future but can be our lives now….

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Trust not in man but in God.

Breaking Ranks 3

-->

 The Invitation Has Been Sent Out

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”  Let each one who hears them say, “Come.”  Let the thirsty ones   Let them come and drink the water of life without charge.” Revelation 22:17

come- anyone who wants to.

Thirsty? Come! 

No matter who you are, no matter how long you have or have not been a Christian- God wants to change your life!   I believe he said, “Life and Life more abundantly.” 

I believe if life falls short of “abundantly”….

It’s time to break ranks. 

Just as people cannot break free from the bondage that holds them, people cannot break ranks unless they turn to Jesus, repent, let go and start letting God/Jesus teach you to live in the understanding/will of the Spirit of God.

Let this be a refreshing living word for us

Romans 12:2 says “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”

I think we can get into this rut or believe some lie that holds us back and from breaking rank where we truly experience what God wants for us.   

To truly live as God intends us to live we must “let” be reliant on Him in all things.  I mean how much of the burden do you carry? Are you “yoked” with God or not?   

Our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ lived in this way of thinking… and because He did, He continually broke ranks with the ways of men.  Think about it.  He crossed lines that men set.  He went against the grain of society norms.  Men hated and resented Him and do to this day because of who He IS -not truly understanding He is God- not us.

 

He even breaks ranks in the people He chooses to represent Him expecting us to break ranks as well and live by His example- in only being captive in Spirit (Him/God), not to ways of men. 

When we start to believe we are contained by “something” other then God what happens? I can tell you it’s pretty lousy.

But what happens to our cup when we allow God to stir and fill it up?

 Psalm 23:5-6 says…

“You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.  You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil.  My cup overflows with blessings.   Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.”

 And Proverbs 21:1 says…

“The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he turns it wherever he pleases.”

 Think about it....

Breaking Ranks 2

 

…. God says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.  I have called you by name; you are Mine. When you go through the deep waters, I will be with you.” Isaiah 43:1-2

I was reminded of a passage written by the prophet Ezekiel.  A man (probably Jesus) showed Ezekiel water that was coming up from beneath the threshold of the temple.  The stream passed to the right of the alter and went though the south side of the east gate. The man measured the stream every 1750 feet.  He did this four times and each time told Ezekiel to cross the stream.  The first time it was up to Ezekiel’s ankles.  The second time it was up to his knees.  The third time it was up to his waist and the fourth time the stream had turned into a river that was too deep to cross without swimming.  The man led Ezekiel back along the riverbank and to Ezekiel’s surprise there were suddenly fruit trees growing on both sides of the river producing a new fruit crop every month.  This fruit was for food and the leaves from these trees for healing (Revelation 22). The river then flowed into the desert where it entered the Dead Sea where it turned the salt water into fresh water.  Fish of every kind abound there and fishermen would stand along the opposite of shores drying their nets but the marshes and swamps did not become purified but became sources for salt.  (Note Ezekiel 47:1-12)

What a WONDROUS illustration this should be to us….

Combined God’s word and Spirit (the stream/river) is the source of power and life for His temple (us).  His Word and Holy Spirit purify and flow from within, maturing, sanctifying and clothing us.

1 Corinthians 3:16 says “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?”

His Spirit brings an understanding of His GREAT love until we are literally swimming in it (Ephesians 3:17-20, 2 Peter 1:5-8).  God’s Spirit goes where? The desert.  He sought me out in the desert.  He brought me life and he planted me along the riverbank (Psalm 1) where we produce the fruit of the Spirit and gifts of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

His Spirit brings life to where there was nothing.  He touches people of every kind and leaves us examples of what happens when we don’t trust God, try to control, are not obedient to HIM and look to and practice sin -hence the salt marshes and swamps where nothing lives and death remains.

God is the God who makes all things new.  His thoughts are higher then our thoughts and His ways are higher then our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9, Revelation 21:5)

Without God’s Spirit at work within us, we are naked. 

Jesus said to the Laodicea church, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor 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 blind and naked.”  Revelation 3:15-17

 

We have no relationship with God if we don’t have the Spirit of God at work within us... Remember the foolish brides/virgins in Matthew 25?

 

A people, who experience spiritual death and spiritual birth/LIFE, should break ranks.  They should want to experience renewal and LIFE and not settle.  Remember God speaking to the dry bones in the valley and giving them tendons and them with flesh and skin and breath again? (Ezekiel 37:1-14) 

Breaking Ranks 1

Just as there is a time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones, there is a time to close ranks and a time to break ranks.

New Christian Jews grew up with the law and though they could not live up to them, they had a difficult time leaving them behind.  The law was what the Jews “knew”- this living by the grace of God through Jesus Christ was all new to them.  They were breaking ranks with the old ways.   No longer did they have to bring their sacrifices to the temple for their sins, which were “tangible”… and made them feel in this sort control but now they had to trust in the “intangible”. 

In all honesty, churches in this age have the same problem.  They want “comfort” that is controlled by them. 

This past December my wife and I walked into a young man's hospital room whom we loved and appreciated.  Just by looking at his body you would have thought he was just sleeping.  Even the monitors in the room recorded a steady heartbeat but upon closer examination all brain function had stopped.

A life support machine gave his body the appearance of "life" keeping his organs and tissue viable for transplant.  

The church can be on "life-support".  It can look alive but spiritually "dead".  It can have the appearance of "life" with programs, events, bible studies, teaching and so on but "activity" doesn't necessary mean it's spiritually" alive "

Jesus said to the church of Sardis, "I know all the things you do, and you have a reputation for being alive- but you are dead." Revelation 3:1

 … the intangible is unpredictable, challenging, unorthodox and at times irrational in our understanding.  I am sure when Jesus told the man to fill the containers with water and pour some for the master of ceremonies, he probably thought, "How can water be mistaken as wine?"     

I was given a picture once.  The Spirit of God was like a beautiful wild stallion and He comes when we are still.

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

The Spirit of God cannot be tamed.  He does not fit or can he be contained nor does he feel welcomed by wayward hearts, lip service, man made customs and rules learned by rote. (Isaiah 29:13)

 He is the Spirit of God that must be FREE not shackled and directed by unreliable men!

This same stirring and restless should live in the believer!
 

For a people to live as GOD intends us to live, we must not only break ranks with the unjust ungodly rules, social norms, and sinful ideals of this world but religious mindsets.  

Ever hear, “That is the way we have always done it”?   

How about thinking and living too much in the past? What does this mean to the new Christian?!!!    How about compromising the word of God to appease the views of the world? Who is the church to reflect? God or the world?
 

Look at the beautiful cathedrals and church buildings in Europe where God’s people used gather.  Do you wonder why some nearly stand as empty shrines for tourist to visit and held religious ceremony?   
Why did they become to be this way?  What became law in their hearts? What encroached and infringed? What became censored?  How were they scrutinized? Were they persecuted?  Were they tamed by society? Did they compromise the word of God and in doing so... God became no one to honor or fear? 

When churches become like tombs, God becomes an absent “god” in people’s minds.  He becomes that “unknown God” that people give little thought to even when they walk through shadows of steeples that hold up a cross.  And the signs are obvious... a rot and decay of society... the suffering and loss of souls for lack of knowledge of God (Hosea 4:6).  The church building soon becomes just a social gathering place, a club for “Christians”.

Do we see this happening in America?

Comforts

A Christian church will die if:
1. It compromises to the ungodly pressures or thinks it's doing the world a service by agreeing with it's sin.   This is dangerous, laws are made in people's hearts and legislation and soon "anything evil" goes.  (Sin separates us from God.)

2. If it thinks it has "arrived".   It has experienced worldly success and soon sees no need for workings of Spirit of God.  It does what it feels is best without consulting God.

And just as the" law" did nothing for the Jews except to show their guilt of sin so are these so-called “comforts” that are like a plague to a church.

For as children of God we have heard these words, “The law kills but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6)

The “comforts” of man do little to sustain our spiritual house in fact I have found they actually weaken and brings instability into our life and those around us- for sanity and peace are gifts from God to those who trust and are guided by Him. 

 Colossians says," Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." 2:8

Restoration

I am not going to be long.

The last few weeks have to do with "Restoration" of the church and individual.

There is much work still to be done.  No time to waste.  There is also "opposition" within the church to ignore the work that has to be done.   They want to cover up the problems and focus their attentions else where.

There are those who only want to play church and keep the status quo- madness.

The King has requested his priests to make repairs to the temple but nothing has been done so He will soon take things into his own hands.
    
The idea of obedience and deep reverence of God seems to be lost on some of the churches of this day.   We much rather talk about the grace and mercy and love of God instead of the justice and judgment of God.

The materials that were used before on the temple were not sustainable materials.  They did not lasted and the temple has suffered.

Pray, reflect and evaluate yourself.
Pray for the church.

Remember God is in control.  

Establish Your Hearts.

James 5:8 “You also, be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

I find in this day and age, people aren’t as patient as they used to be.  They want things the day after they order them from a website.  They want their shows to be nicely wrapped up by the end of the episode.  They want a quick fix to their problems.  

People are offered a pill to solve their problem but does it? (Have you heard or read some of the side affects to some of these medications that can result in death?  They are often worse then the problem itself.)  And does it solve the problem or just mask the symptoms or issues? 

(Not much good to say about many of man's quick fixes as the mind goes to things like abortion and death at convenience.)

Patience is difficult.  It is also difficult in the most difficult of circumstances.  
 
When we don’t avail ourselves to God we don’t have patience.  When we think we should be the one in control, we don’t have patience. When things aren’t going the way we think they should go, what happens?  Many destructive and sad things happen when we try to control.  True in the bible and true now.

Do we really have control?

The word of God says that Spirit of God (The Holy Spirit) gives us self-control/self-restraint.  He is given to those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  He is to help us from wandering into the busy unsafe highways of lust, fear, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, worry, frustration, and doubt.

He establishes our heart.  He feeds the heart of what it needs most. He prepares our heart.  He encourages our heart.  He gives our heart hope.  He gives our heart boldness and strength yet humility.  He gives our heart the ability live in the satisfying will of Himself… IF we just avail ourselves to Him.

  

The issue is… we as people of Adam and Eve are accustomed to availing ourselves to us and our understanding, not to Him/God.  God says not to depend on our own understanding because often it leads to harm and hurt to us and others.

We each have been given a will and it is our choice to trust God or not.  God’s word says he has put a measure of faith of Himself in each one of us to see and know He exists.  God knows what is going on in our hearts and what is happening in our days.  Like flipping the pages of a small book with his fingers, He has seen our so brief life.  He also knows our eternity and our choice to trust in His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior or not.

The baby that was born of a virgin on Christmas morning will be returning as King for those who have surrendered their heart to Him (Jesus Christ).  Some have and will scoff at this and the bible speaks of people who will scoff at this.  BUT what matters more then the temporary scoffing, which will mean nothing in the complexity of eternity, is that our heart is established for His coming?

 

If this truth doesn’t warm our heart but unsettles our heart think why?

If our heart is unsettled maybe a reason is because we haven’t surrendered or completely surrendered our heart to Jesus (the reason for Christ-mas) who lives and establishes our heart with this comforting reality that He is coming back for us.

Our relationship with God is suppose to be daily- (for me it needs to be an hourly thing… I need it.)  But in journaling, reading His word, listening and conversing with Him, God settles and confirms our heart.  As we avail ourselves to Him, God avails Himself to us.  

True. This takes time. Time not to be filled with just ourselves and our own schedule but time with God.  For we must remember this time in which we live is all we got.  There is no more and we really don't know how much we do have.  But time with God is worth every little bit to our soul.  And I am a bit amazed when He expands on what was previously thought already expanded upon.  And how what was so dry and crusty before can become a refreshing piece of food for my soul.    

 For the Word of God says, “For in Him we live and move and have our being.”

This experience we call “life” (this type of school, this type children’s camp, this type of hotel or boot camp) will soon be over, as we know it.  Jesus will be loading up the “spiritual buses” and taking us home… a home He has created for those who have trusted and believed in Him.

Some of you know this but let the "knowing"… remain in the living knowing of the heart not just the mind -for what comes out of the heart will also come out of our words and actions.  Amen.

Again, in love… “You also, be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

 

Hindered Prayers Part 4

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:20

Did God answer my prayers when I lived as the world?  I must say, by His grace and mercy God did answer my prayers but why did he do so?  I mean my “god” was a salad version of the real God.  I now think back upon those answered prayers as if they were breadcrumbs or stones leading out of the desert of my misery to Him. 

I am reminded of this verse:

“This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” 1 Timothy 2:4-5

By answered prayers God was helping me come to the knowledge of the truth BUT by no means was I receiving “empowerment” from God.  I was still hindered.  I had escaped the “troubles” of that moment BUT I was not free for long before I was suffering from some other trouble.  Yep “Futile”.

It wasn’t until AFTER I gave my life to Christ Jesus I discovered another aspect of prayer- empowering prayer.

“Unhindered prayer” is “empowered prayer”.  Empowered prayer is allowing the Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit) to empower us and often that includes the word of God.

Example: We feel the urge to worry.  The Holy Spirit reminds us of a verse like: “Don’t worry about anything instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Before I came to Christ Jesus I couldn’t “receive” this verse.  It was far out of my reach.   It wasn’t until I came to Christ Jesus that I received such a peace.  The Holy Spirit pinpoints the verse we need to “hear” so we can comply and when we comply -He then can implement this verse in our life.

Ephesians says by the Holy Spirit, we become God’s own people and receive everything God has promised in His word.  (Note Ephesians 1:13-14).

Don’t be fooled.   How can we be empowered if we don’t learn God’s word?  What can the Spirit work with to “activate” in our life if we don’t have truth in us?  THE Spirit activates “living” words in our life not myths? 

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

Colossians 3:16 “Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise.  Use his words to teach and counsel each other.  Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.”