Month: February 2016

UNEXPECTED and UNSUSPECTING – – The Theme of the Hour When Christ Returns…


Spiritual Blog - Days of Noah

Matthew 24:36-39 – “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.  37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”  NKJV

 

I personally believe that this identifies how UNSUSPECTING the generation will be in which the Lord Jesus returns.  I know it means more than just the lack of awareness but it certainly speaks to that.  What were the conditions of mankind in the days of Noah?  What are some things we can identify that might suggest we are or are not living in days comparable to those of Noah?

We find in Genesis 6 a declaration that because of man’s wickedness God allotted a time in which mankind could repent and avert judgment.  In Genesis 6:5 we read, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil CONTINUALLY.”  [Emphasis added].  Here is a description of a society in which the mantra was SELFISHNESS and lacking RESTRAINT.   Mankind constantly allowed evil thoughts and actions dominate his life. 

Before the flood, people lived to be centuries old.  Adam lived 930 years and living hundreds of years was not uncommon.  Knowledge and technology expanded incredibly during the 1600 plus years from Creation to the Flood.  We know man built cities (4:17), had livestock ranches (4:20), composed and played music (4:21), discovered things such as metallurgy using allows like brass (4:22) and more.  Imagine what it would be like to have 800-900 years to hone and develop a skill or a craft.  Imagine how effectively one could perfect those skills and talents. The positive side is astounding but lest we forget Genesis 6:5, so is developing evil habits, sinister plans, and devious schemes.  This became so vile and corrupt that God made a most incredible statement in Genesis 6:6, “And the LORD was sorry He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”  The longsuffering God of all creation was grieved in His heart at the highly developed wickedness and evil of men’s hearts, lives, and actions.

Because of the incredible depravity and wickedness of mankind God determined to destroy man from the face of the Earth.  However, the Bible reveals that Noah PLEASED or FOUND GRACE in the eyes of the LORD.  He walked in integrity or in the Lord’s ways and God came to him with the instructions for the Ark and the revelation of His intent.  Noah, one can assume, was perplexed and as he tried to persuade people to turn from their wickedness he endured ridicule and scorn.  The heart of man was deceitfully wicked and filled with self.  How that sounds like today where it is ALL ABOUT ME.  My rights, my wants, what I deserve.

In our text verses, the Lord Jesus described the Last Days and the Days of Noah as parallel in the character of mankind.  Luke 17 echoes those conditions and warnings.  Daniel 12:4 reveals a condition that we sometimes overlook as he tells us that at, “the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”  Noah’s days were “perilous” with people self-absorbed in their pursuit of pleasure, material things, convenience, immorality was rampant, violence a norm, and rejection of the things of God.  Is that not what Paul said to Timothy regarding the Last Days in 2 Timothy 3:1-5? 

In Noah’s day there they had an exploding population (Genesis 6:1), rampant sexual perversion (6:2), demonic activity (6:2), constant evil in the hearts of men (6:5), and widespread violence and corruption (6:11).  There was little concern with the spiritual with the focus on themselves.  They were a SELF-CENTERED SOCIETY.  How is that different from today?  They, Jesus said, were busy pursuing their own purposes going about their daily lives with self the center and living as though the fulfillment of their desires was the prime objective.  They were oblivious to the conditions, the attitude of God and unsympathetic to the pleas of Noah to repent and as Jesus urged in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…”

We live in a self-centered society where the individual sees his desires, wants needs, hopes, dreams, and ambitions central.  Even in many churches, we no longer hear the call to repentance, separation from the world, holiness, and the Cross.  What we hear is self-help, self-fulfillment, and motivational speeches.  That is not universal but happens too frequently to be spiritually healthy.  I have long heard the demand that I not offend, not frighten, not upset the status quo, and preach only the positive and rosy.  I am positive and believe that God wants us to enjoy the best of the best this life has to offer, but I also believe that He demands that we remain pure, and be conscious of the times.  We are His voices in the Earth and if we become so like the world they see no difference how will they hear our warnings?

Yes, I believe we are living in a day in which the judgment of God could fall and Jesus could return and the vast majority would be taken completely by surprise.  God help us to recognize the fatality and flaw of self-centeredness and realize that the elevation of self and selfish desire are what cost Adam and Eve their relationship with God in the Garden and plunged man into the darkness of sin.  Jesus came and brought us light.  The world is living in darkness and the value of life is becoming more and more diminished so it is important that you and I become intercessors and stand in the gap to make up the hedge.

God bless you as you go through this day!

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TO OBTAIN THE PROMISE – Follow the Directions…


Spiritual Blog - Directions

Psalm 37:3-8 – “Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.   4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. 

5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.  6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. 

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret — it only causes harm.”  NKJV 

 

Many are the Promises of the LORD for His children and here the Psalmist gives us a view of God’s incredible Promise of Care and Keeping, Provision and Protection, Guidance and Guarding.  As with most, if not all, the Promises of God there are “conditions” or “requirements” on our part.  NO, we can never earn His blessings but He does place on each of us certain responsibilities.  Therefore, let’s consider the instructions of the Psalmist who speaks under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

  • TRUST In The LORD, and…

Yes, there is an “and” in this bit of instruction we are to TRUST, for if we are to receive we must believe and if we are to walk in this way we must trust the one who is guiding and guarding us.  But, he adds a small three letter caveat “AND”, but AND what?  Do Good.  Our actions are to match our words.  We are to talk the talk but we are to walk the walk as well.  He says, “Trust in the LORD, and do good…”  Then, he tells us to DWELL in the land or the place of promise and feed or feast on God’s faithfulness.  As we do that we can readily DELIGHT ourselves also in the LORD and have confidence that from that condition HE WILL give us the desires of our hearts.  That is incredibly powerful!

  • COMMIT your way to the LORD…

In truth, this is “cutting a covenant” in which we commit ourselves even unto death to fulfill that commitment.  I find it interesting and important that the Psalmist says, “Commit your way to the LORD…”  Then adds or reinforces the requirement to “Trust also in Him…”  It is as we TRUST and do good, COMMIT and trust that we have the assurance that God will bring His Promise to fruition in our lives.  That is awesome!  We read here that God will bring forth our righteousness as the light (witness and testimony) and our justice as the noonday.  He will not leave us or forsake us and we can have the confidence Paul speaks of in 2 Timothy 1:12, “…I know whom I have believed and am convinced (confident) that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”  I am Persuaded!

  • REST in the LORD, and…

Another AND is added to REST.  Jesus said, “Come unto Me and Rest…”  We enter into God’s rest through TRUST (Faith) and COMMITMENT (Covenant) and out of that REST we are to “…WAIT PATIENTLY FOR HIM…”   Remember the words of Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”  Our focus is to be JESUS, not conditions, circumstances, situations or people.  Just as when Peter got out of the boat to walk on the water, FOCUS was the Key Factor for as He stayed focused on Jesus, He trusted but when he shifted his focus he began to sink.  We are encouraged that the wicked will not forever prevail or prosper and that in our condition of TRUST, COMMITMENT, and REST we are to “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath…”  We are also to dismiss fretting, worry, and doubt for that only brings harm to us spiritually, mentally, emotionally, economically, and physically.

We have Great and Precious Promises from our LORD but to obtain them and have them manifest in our lives we must RECEIVE those promises from a condition of TRUST, COMMITMENT, and REST.  God bless you as you go through this day!

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The Word is SHALL, Not IF…


Spiritual Blog - Shall

2 Timothy 3:1 – “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”  KJV

 

I often see eyes roll and heads shake when I mention the LAST DAYS whether in a church service, casual conversation, or on the streets.  I have had preachers tell me, “We don’t need any more of that gloom and doom preaching, we need a positive message.”  I agree that we need a positive message but we dare not omit reality and the proclamation of God’s Word regarding the End of Times and the condition of men’s hearts.  If we do, we do so at our peril endangering the eternity of others and for me to be silent when I see destruction or danger coming would be a violation of everything I believe regarding God, the Bible, humanity, and my calling.  I feel an obligation to not only warn but defend lives as best I can in the natural and spiritual.

The Bible does not say IF or MAYBE perilous times could possibly mark the Last Days but that “Perilous Times SHALL Come…”  There is no “maybe” or “if” in that statement there is an absolute guarantee from the Word of God that IT IS COMING and in many ways IS NOW, HERE.  This is not the only passage in the bible regarding the perils coming to our world.  Peter warned, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?”  (2 Peter 3:3-4)  Jesus addressed the End of Times in Luke 21:25-26 giving us the signs in natural calamities and conditions.  Paul told the Thessalonians that the Day of the Lord would come suddenly like a thief in the night.  (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3).  Joel prophesied that in the Last Days there would be a massive outpouring of the Spirit of God causing the elderly to dream dreams and the young to see visions and that God would empower and anoint mightily His servants and handmaidens.  Daniel told us that understanding of many of the mysteries of God would be sealed UNTIL the Time of the End.  (Daniel 12:4).

Therefore, PERILOUS TIMES are coming so what do we do?  Violence is increasing here in America and around the world.  The flames of hatred are being fanned to the point wide scale violence could erupt at any moment.  Islamic Jihadism is rampant as they pursue their Caliphate.  We have groups calling for the total destruction of other groups largely based on skin color, religious, or social preference.  Our society is being poisoned by hate, fear, and distrust, morality is ebbing into nothingness, and the level of depravity is endangering our entire world and way of life.

Consider the conditions described by the apostle Paul which are characteristics of THE LAST DAYS:

  • Self-Love.
  • Pride filled Braggart and Boasters. Narcissistic Behavior.
  • Blasphemers – Fearlessly decrying the truth and reality of God, morality, the Bible and right living.
  • Disobedient and Rebellious.
  • Hate filled, Unloving, Unforgiving, Bitter, Resentful, Revengeful, and Vindictive.
  • Slanderous Behavior, Anything Goes – No Self-Control and an expansion of a page out of the 60’s, “If it feels good, do it.”
  • Elevating Pleasure and the Flesh rather than God and Holiness.
  • Faux Christians following a doctrine of man rather than serving God with a whole heart. Eliminating the Cross offering hope other than Jesus and polluting and diluting the Gospel of Christ.

In the condition of this present world, I believe that we will soon see riots on an epic scale.  There is coming a time, soon, when it will not be safe to leave your home and you will not be unscathed even in your home.  There is coming persecution to all who take a stand on Biblical Principles and seek to follow the directive of Jesus in Matthew 6:33, “…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…”

Two conditions or streams will occur and flow simultaneously.  There will be Peril, Destruction, Chaos, and Corruption on a scale never witnessed before and there will be Revival, Renewal, Harvest, and Power in the Spirit like never seen.  There is going to be a Scorched Earth and a Blossoming Eden at the same time.  Some, no many, will lose their lives and die as victims of violence or martyrs for the faith.  Some will rise up as powerful witnesses for Christ and the underground, unseen church will rise in power and at the same time sweeping destruction will prevail.  That I see coming!

Now, that I have sufficiently presented a message in which some will only hear the Darkness of the Hour let me say that God is still God and will always be God.  He has not and will not leave us nor will He forsake us.  God is our shield and buckler.  He is our defense, covering, and protection.  I do not want anyone to take this message and allow the devil to instill fear in the heart. Rather I hope that you will understand that by DISCERNING THE TIMES you will be able to prepare and even pluck some as “brands from the burning” and walk in the fullness and power of the provisions of our LORD!  We are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Him Who Loves Us!  Hallelujah!

            God bless you as you go through this day!

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ALLY CAT MORALS…


Spiritual Blog - Morals

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 – “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.”  NKJV

 

I am deeply troubled and have been for quite a long time concerning the mindset of promiscuity among those who profess to be followers of Christ, believers of the Bible and Christians.  How widespread is it?  I do not know and pray that it is less prevalent than it seems.  I do not know how any God-fearing person could not be troubled by the significant decline in morality in our nation and our world.  I am aware of regular church attendees who see nothing problematic in their regular one-night stands, frequenting the clubs searching for sexual gratification.  Some have said, “That’s just the way I am” and “I have needs.”  I am not just talking about men but women as well have become aggressive in their pursuit of lasciviousness.

I hope I am wrong, but it seems that too little is said from the pulpit in and private counseling by men and women of God regarding this condition and situation.  Here in 1 Thessalonians Paul spoke plainly that “sexual immorality” damages and even destroys our sanctification.  He spoke about things that I have been told should not be brought up in public meetings, “possessing one’s own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust.”  Just because you can do something does not mean you should and having your brains in your britches is a dangerous course in life.  I’ve addressed this before to have people leave and threaten to leave the church because they didn’t want their teenagers hearing that discussion.  Some of them would later come to me asking for my help and council when their daughters or sons faced life altering decisions because of fornication.  I am not a prude and would never want to crude in this discussion but if we do not warn our children and adults of the dangers of sin why should we be surprised when they fall prey to temptation?

The Bible declares that the “marriage bed” is undefiled and God does not consider it a minor misstep in our walk when we engage in infidelity.  I am not surprised that the apostle Paul spent as much time as he did teaching proper and godly relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and keeping chaste and pure until marriage.  Some schools today pass out condoms indiscriminately, have visual demonstrations that could only be identified as soft porn if not hardcore, and rather than teach abstinence and identify the problems that come from pre-marital and extra-marital sexual relations.  Most teachers are unable to address the effect it has physiologically and psychologically and rather than deal with the hard questions they avoid the subject completely except for the Sex Education Classes and Condoms.

Once we come to Christ it is imperative that we seek to maintain purity in all aspects of our lives including the physical.  Imagine the ramifications regarding members of the community and others far beyond the confines of the church walls or community boundaries when a man or woman of God is “caught” in failure in this area.  It not only affects them, their homes, their marriages, and their congregations but those outside the church who say, “See they are hypocrites and no different than anyone else.”  It severely damages the reputation of the Gospel in the eyes of those who are outside the Body of Christ.  Church, we dare not sit silently while many in today’s world demonstrate the morals of an ally cat.  We must manifest “self-control” and “shun” the very appearance of evil in our own lives.  We are to shun the appearance evil, not people.  We are called to be holy because He is holy.  This is weighing so heavily on my heart and I dare to bring it up.  My prayer is that if it touches one person and prevents them from making a critical error in their lives any push back I receive is well worth it.

            God bless you is my prayer and desire.

 

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CONTINUE EARNESTLY…


Spiritual Blog - Continue

Colossians 4:2-6 – “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.  

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”  NKJV

 

I heard a preacher tell his congregation, “It is the Ten Commandments, not Ten Suggestions.”  He was using that to illustrate the importance of biblical directives offered by the apostles, and prophets in Scripture.  I have long believed that if God considered it important enough to have the human authors write it is important enough to obey and incorporate in our lives.

One of the most urgent directives of Scripture is PRAYER.  It was a central message in the life and ministry of Jesus, the disciples, and the apostle Paul.  I like what Charles Finney stated as a major factor in the success of the revivals he conducted where entire towns would be converted, bars would close and houses of ill-repute cease functioning.  He attributed it to his team of prayer warriors who would often go into a city weeks ahead of his coming and would engage in intercession almost 24 hours per day.  They prayed while he preached and their prayers followed the pattern Paul urges here in Colossians 4.  We would be well served to incorporate this pattern into our lives.  Paul urged them to CONTINUE…

  • Earnestly in Prayer.

I might ask, what value is a prayer that is not earnest?  If it is nothing more than memorized rote, form, or ceremony it is often powerless and ineffectual accomplishing little in substance.  We are to CONTINUE in prayer but that prayer is to be EARNEST and I might add URGENT.

  • Being Vigilant in Prayer.

The KJV renders it “watch” in prayer or have a prayer watch.  We are to be awake and aware of what is happening around us in the natural as well as in the spirit realm.  Remember Jesus asked His disciples to “watch with Him one hour” and they failed to CONTINUE but fell prey to their fatigue and demonstrated a lack of urgency.  Their lack of urgency might have been from a lack of understanding of their hour but nevertheless, they did not CONTINUE with Vigilance.

  • Pray with Thanksgiving.

If we are thankful in prayer, what are we thankful for?  Are we offering thanks for the problem or need or are we offering thanks for Who God is, What God has done, and the Answer?  If our hearts overflow with Thanksgiving to God we maintain a focus and consciousness of His Person, Power, and Presence. 

It is easy to remain diligent in prayer if we are ALERT, AWARE, VIGILANT, and in that state, we realize the need for EARNESTNESS and the importance of THANKSGIVING for without Him we could do nothing and would be nothing.  It is in this attitude of prayer that we can manifest a life lead by wisdom in our dealings with the world and will help us manage our time conscientiously.  It is in this mindset of PRAYER that we find a guard placed at our mouths where our speech is gracious and seasoned with salt or having a redeeming quality and rightly using knowledge which is wisdom.  In that mindset, we not only become effectual and fervent in our intercession but we become those who stand in the gap and make up the hedge for others as well.

May the LORD bless you richly, empower you greatly and guide you gently in the pursuit of His purposes on earth in your life.  

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JOHN’S PRAYER FOR PROSPERITY…


Spiritual Blog - Even As

3 John 2-4 – “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”  NKJV

  

We have no real way of identifying Gaius the beloved to whom John writes but it appears he was a godly man, an elder, and walking uprightly before the Lord.  I have heard a number of sermons and teachings on this passage and some used it as an explanation for sickness or disease causing havoc in a person’s body.  Some have used it to piously proclaim the reason for their financial prosperity. Some have been troubled by it and expressed wonder how any could enjoy the rich blessings of the Lord with the conditions John places on PROSPERITY.

I want to approach it from a three-fold view.  John expresses it is his wish, desire, and/or prayer that Gaius would have PROSPERITY on at least three fronts.  One manuscript adds “en aleetheia” to the verbiage and that would give it a very different meaning, “that you may be sound in truth.”  I believe that is applicable but let’s consider the points John makes in his prayer.

  • He prays for Gaius to Prosper in HEALTH OF BODY.

Physical health is, in my understanding of Scripture, something a believer can have as    well as physical healing.  According to Isaiah 53:5, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and by His stripes we are healed.”  1 Peter 2:24, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; for by whose stripes you are healed.”

Please understand I am not saying if you are sick or a fatal disease comes upon you, it is a curse from God or a revelation that your soul is not prosperous and upright.  I am saying, that if we are sick we have every reason to call upon God with the expectation to bring about healing in our physical bodies through His work of Grace.  So John prays that Gaius enjoy a healthy body just as he enjoys a healthy soul.

  • He prays for Gaius to Prosper in HIS SOUL.

Nothing is more important than a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  Nothing is more valuable than having a “clean heart” and a “right spirit.”  David recognized that and thus prayed in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in me.”  We read in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, the Prayer of Paul, “May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  James 1:21, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” 

  • He prays for Gaius to Prosper in SECULAR AFFAIRS.

Let me give you an amazing passage from Proverbs 16:7, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”  There are times when we need favor with men to achieve the objectives set before us and the Bible indicates that God will cause favor to come to us when our “souls prosper.”  2 Corinthians 9:8, the apostle Paul assured his hearers, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  That is incredibly powerful.

To me, it is evident that that he is praying for Gaius to PROSPER and increase in his finances as well as his knowledge, physical health, spiritual walk, and interpersonal relationships.  He wanted PROSPERITY for the whole man. Some in the Christian faith seem to believe that financial prosperity is a sign of faith and righteousness and if you do not achieve wealth it is an indication you are either lacking in faith or righteousness.  I believe that God wants us to be able to pay our debts and have all we need and more, but the purpose of His financial blessings is not just to bless us but so that we can be blessings and be a flow through for the Kingdom.  We have the Promise of God in Philippians 4:19, “…my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

It is important that we have spiritual health and our souls be healthy.  It is a wonderful blessing to be healthy in body and have the financial health needed to meet all our needs and have the ability to give to every good cause God brings before us.  Therefore, our objective should be a pursuit of Matthew 6:33, “…seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”   God first and foremost in our lives is the fulfillment of John’s prayer.

God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Him!

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WHEN THE SPIRIT SPEAKS EXPRESSLY – Time to Sit Up and Listen


Spiritual Blog - Spirit Speaks

1 Timothy 4:1-5 – “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”  NKJV

 

It is impossible to read this passage and not realize that this is not coming from an alarmist who walks the streets with a sign saying, “Repent the End is coming!”  It is coming from one of the chief apostles and is a statement from God EXPRESSLY or clearly, distinctly, emphatically, plainly and unambiguously.  This is not a “maybe” but a “definitely” concerning the conditions of the Last Days.

In light of our current world and national conditions, I believe it behooves us to consider what the apostle declares to his son in the faith.  If you will allow me I want to take this somewhat systematically and progressively.

  • This Is A Direct Word From God Through the Holy Spirit.

“Now the Spirit expressly says…”  That should attract our attention immediately.  If God is taking the time and exerting the effort to communicate something emphatically we should pay careful attention to what He is saying.

  • This Is A Description of Conditions In The Last Days.

“…in latter times…”  What happens in latter times?  What is the message or conditions we should take note of to help us identify our times and seasons?  Consider his list:

Some will depart from the faith.  I suggest it is difficult to depart from that which you have not had, or from a position or condition you have not attained.  What will they do?  They will give heed or accept “deceiving spirits” and embrace “doctrines of demons”.  It would take more time and space than I have to address those two statements but consider how much of the world and even those professing to be followers of Christ are embracing things, lifestyles, conditions, and attitudes the Bible calls “abominable.”  The move to be PC in the Church has the same potential to destroy as it does in our nation as a whole.

He continues that some or even many in the latter times will engage in “hypocrisy”, have their “conscience seared” thus showing no remorse or moral fiber.  The directive of “forbidding to marry” and “abstaining from certain foods” is in itself a worthwhile study.  Jesus taught the He was Lord of the Sabbath and the Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath.  Paul taught that all foods could be received with thanksgiving and prayer.  Therefore, these prohibitions are part of the “doctrines of demons” and falling prey to “deceiving spirits”.

When I consider the attitude of many regarding the destruction of the unborn, at will and the drive to embrace and accept any belief and practice offering alternative paths to salvation other than Jesus and His Sacrifice on the Cross, I see the Last Days.  We are seeing a perversion of the Gospel and even the refusal to preach the Cross in Churches.  I have heard some prominent well-known National Ministers state that there are many paths to God and included Islam and other religions as valid and viable alternatives to the Bible and the Message of the Gospels.  I find that repulsive and completely foreign to the clear words of Jesus, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.”  (John 14:6). 

There is no alternate path and the apostatizing of the Gospel is, to me, a clear sign of the times in which we live.   God bless you and help you to maintain a steady course walking in the Light of His Word.   Blessings abundantly!

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IMITATORS OR IMITATIONS???


Spiritual Blog - Caution

Ephesians 5:1-2 – “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”  NKJV

 

The Greek word translated “imitators” or “followers” in verse is “mimetes” the root of the English word “mimic” meaning “one who imitates or emulates.”  It is said that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery and while that may be true in the natural, God desires no flattery but does desire us to pattern our lives after His revealed character.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul instructs his listeners to, “Imitate (follow) me, just as I also imitate (follow) Christ.”  He is not asking us to be “fake” or “fake it till we make it” but rather to pattern our lives after the character of Christ.  It is one thing to imitate and another to be an imitation.  It is one thing to pretend and mimic all the right words, right dress, right associations and quite another to pattern your life so that which is visible comes from that which is inside, Christ.

Through the years, I have had people ask me to mentor them and have been told they were following me.  I always caution, “Follow me, just as and only as I follow Christ.”  If what you see or hear, in my life is not consistent with the revealed word, heart, and character of Christ DO NOT FOLLOW.  When I was in Bible College there was a saying that all who attended SAGC in those days will remember, at least, a version of this.  I would hear, “If it is not Harrison it is heresy.  If it is not Jeter it is junk.  If it is not Moon it is malarkey.”  There were others but that illustrates what I’m trying to convey.  We said those things jokingly but it is something that all in positions of leadership must contend.  We want people to accept what we are presenting and to be able to follow us but never want them to become disciples of us but Disciples of Christ.

As a pastor and when traveling in itinerant ministry I frequently advise the congregations, “Do not take what I’m saying because I’m saying it as truth.  Examine the Holy record and if what I present aligns with the written word of God incorporate it into your life.  If it does not then please come to me with what you see and after we discuss it if you and/or I consider what I’ve said inaccurate we will discard it.”  Just because I say something or believe something does not mean it is the final truth for we are all progressing on this path and as we learn we adapt and a metamorphosis takes place.  We move from glory to glory, line upon line and precept upon precept.  It is both flattering and terrifying that people are willing and desirous to follow me.

I want to imitate Christ not be an imitation.  I want the Christ who lives in me to live his life through me and when the world sees me, they see Jesus in me.  I want my life to be as John the Baptist declared, “…a decrease of me and increase of Him.”  It has been said that we are the only Bible some will ever read and if that is accurate then what is the message they are receiving through our lives?  As a follower of Christ our conduct, character, integrity, presentation and presence should be that of the heart and nature of our LORD.   It is “Christ in us” that speaks volumes to those we come in contact.  I had a person say to me some years ago, “If we were on trial for being Christians would they find enough evidence to convict us?”  

Let us “walk in love” demonstrating and exhibiting the Love of Christ and thereby be imitators of our Lord Jesus.  I desire to be a follower or imitator, not an imitation.  God bless you as you embark on the journey through this day in Christ!

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THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT…


Spiritual Blog - Devil

Genesis 3:11-13 – “And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” 12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” 

13 And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”  The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”  NKJV

 

I find this account arresting, alarming and amusing for I have encountered the same kinds of excuses regarding behavior through the years.  I am unable to count the number of times I’ve had someone say as justification or excuse, “The devil made me do it.” 

I notice that when God came to Adam, the first in line for responsibility and Adam blamed God indirectly and Eve directly for his failure saying, “The woman whom You gave me…”  It’s your fault God because You gave me a flawed vessel as my companion.  I’m not responsible!  Then when God went to Eve she continued in the same vein but she could not blame Adam because she offered him the fruit.  She could not blame God directly so she took the path that humans have taken since that time blaming the Serpent or the devil.  In essence, she said, “The devil made me do it.”  God was buying none of it for His directive or command required obedience and choice and they had failed.  Adam could not blame Eve, Eve could not blame the serpent and none of them could blame God.

Does the devil tempt?  Of course, he does and is incredibly good at it.  James declared in 1:4, “Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires…”  Paul gives a list of the “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5 and that list does not include “the works of the devil”. It is our personal responsibility and in truth, the devil cannot MAKE us do anything UNLESS there is full demon possession.  You really do not want to make that your defense.

When I am angry, I have the choice to speak or act out or take control of my emotions and allow the Holy Spirit to bring a calmness to my heart and mind.  If I am tempted I have the choice to succumb to that temptation gratifying whatever desire or yearning it seeks to feed or satisfy or resist.

  • God Does Not Tempt – He Tests.

That is a clear message in the Bible and especially in the account of the Wilderness Temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4.  James tells us that when our faith is tested it produces perseverance or patience and enables us to weather the storms of life.

  • The Word Is Our Defense.

If we follow the pattern and example of Jesus and have invested ourselves in consuming the Word of God we can also say, “…it is written…” and ward off the assaults, uncover the lies, and thwart the temptation of the devil.  We are told to resist the devil and he will flee from us.  If he had the power to make us do things that would invalidate that truth.

It is a cop-out to say, “The devil made me do it.”  It is seeking to transfer the blame for our choices to someone or something else.  We are commanded to “resist temptation” and that is facilitated by having those you can turn to in times of temptation who will give you sound biblical advice.  Making prayer and Bible study a daily part of your life will give you the information to resist.  Surrendering your life totally and “seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” will open the door for the power of the Spirit of God to come and when you have done all to stand He enables you to stand.  No, the devil did not make you do it, you cooperated with him, took his suggestion and did it.  YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE!

          God bless you as you go through this day!

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IS GOD UNFAIR???


Spiritual Blog - Fearfully and Wonderfully

Psalm 139:14-16 – “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.  15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.”  NKJV

 

Through the years I have encountered those who defend particular lifestyles and abhorrent character flaws, declaring that “God made them that way.”  My problem with that ideology is that, if true, makes God a horrible tyrant and not the God of Grace the Bible describes.  The Bible clearly reveals that God is Love and that He is also Holy and demands holiness from His children.  He does not wink at sin and holds people accountable for their actions.

I heard a politician says recently regarding homosexuality, “…they were born that way…”  This politician has also declared a strong commitment to the Christian faith.  I won’t name the politician for I would not be surprised if more of them feel the same but have not heard them say so and rather than making this political I leave the politician nameless.  My immediate question was and is, “If God made them that way, how can he then call the lifestyle an abomination?”  I would press it further and ask, “Is God to blame for sin?  Is God a sadist?”  How can a loving merciful God create someone with a genetic makeup that causes them to exhibit characteristics that He calls abominable?  If that is God, then I have a problem with God, and I do not.

This issue goes far beyond a particular sexual preference for if they are made this way it is not a preference but a normal execution of who they are.  Could this be applied to pedophilia or a host of other conditions or choices people make?  If this is how they are created then they are not responsible for their behavior, God is.  It cannot be viewed as sin if they are the way they are because of how God made them.

Jeremiah spoke as a messenger from God in 31:30, “…every one shall die for his own iniquity…”  I have heard the defense so often that I wonder if I should have chronicled them and published the protests of people seeking to justify their behavior and blame God.  Let me give you a few quick examples:

  • ANGER – – I have dealt with people who have an incredibly short fuse and when confronted they would often argue, “God made me this way. I just tell it like it is.”  Matthew 5:22 addresses that issue, “But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to the same judgment!  If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council.  And if you curse someone, you are in danger of hell fire.”  [NLT]  The Message Bible translates it, “I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder.”  The NKJV renders it, “…whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of judgment.”

If God places uncontrolled or unbridled anger on the same level as murder, why would God create some people more susceptible to anger?  Genetics are a factor but so is one’s environment, upbringing, developed attitudes and ultimate choices.  That could be applied to many of our flaws and failures where discipline or lack thereof and choices play a major role.

  • PROMESQUITY – – I have had more than one tell me that their almost insatiable appetite for gratuitous sex was simply the way God made them and they could do nothing about it. So, you are violating the marriage covenant, participating in decadent behavior and living like an alley cat is God’s fault.  1 Corinthians 6:18, warns, “Flee from sexual immorality…”  Galatians 5:19-21 describes this as a “work of the flesh” and sin.  2 Timothy 2:22 issues the warning to “…flee youthful lust or passions and pursue righteousness…”  (Choice not Creation).  Romans 13:13, the apostle Paul issues the directive, “Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.”

God made us “fearfully” and “wonderfully”.  We are created in the Image and Likeness of God.  If God made us, as some argue, with the inability to be anything but what the Bible calls abominable and reveals as sinful, He is a diabolical sadistic terror and not the God the Bible describes.  How you view God is important and if you blame Him for your failures you create a God I could not serve.  God is Love and He is Holy.  He not only created me fearfully and wonderfully, He has made provision for me to live a life that is pleasing to Him and consistent with His word.  Another statement, I will address later is, “the Devil made me do it…”

         God bless you as you go through this day!

 

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