The Future Of America and What Can the Righteous Do

This is what the Lord has said:

Obadiah 1:15For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations: as you have done, it shall be done unto you: your reward shall return upon your own head.

16For as you have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had never been.

Now really think about what America has been doing in the world for the past decade or so.  Better yet, force yourself to see America from foreign eyes.  If you lived in Pakistan or Iraq or Afghanistan or any country that has been plundered by the World Bank or the IMF, take a look at America through their eyes.  What would you see?  Does anyone export more war to the world than America?  How about social filth like porn, who produces and distributes more of it to the world than America?  Who does more drone strikes on wedding parties and school children than America?  Tough questions, I know but there is a reason for asking.  How does the Lord view America and what has He said about the nations?

For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations: as you have done, it shall be done unto you: your reward shall return upon your own head.

It has also been written here that we should not blame our government, corrupt politicians etc for what America is doing.  The common man, the ordinary person is the problem.  Who turns a blind eye to all the evil done in America and has a continual desire for more?  The common person.  Filth and trash on TV and the internet do not sell in a vacuum.  If people were not consuming it, production and distribution would go down to nothing.  Supply and demand.

If the common man were righteous before the Lord and the nation was full of righteous people, would we have such corruption in high places of government?  Would the Lord give us such wicked princes to rule over us?  No.  Not only that but the people would rise up against the wickedness.  It would be so offensive to them they could not tolerate it.  Need more proof?  How about physical and spiritual law.  We all know that light drives out darkness every time instantly without exception.  If darkness is so thick in this nation that you could cut it with a knife, what does that say about the people's light?

Now back to where we started.  America exports more war to the world than any country on earth.  America is Babylon, the hammer of the whole earth

Jer 50:23 How broken and shattered is the hammer of the whole earth! How desolate is Babylon among the nations!

Now think about this.  The Lord is not mocked.  As we sow, so we reap as individuals and as nations.  America has exported war and death, the light of its people is almost extinguished so what will be their reward?  Check the internet articles all over about DHS buying billions and billions of rounds of ammo.  Understand that DHS does not have a foreign mission, their mission is right within the confines of America.  So why would DHS be stocking up on bullets?

For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations: as you have done, it shall be done unto you: your reward shall return upon your own head.

Nobody became popular by telling the truth.  The Lord sent prophets to Israel and they stoned them and killed them.  The Lord Jesus came telling the truth and they crucified them.  Have people changed?  No, the same truth they did not want to hear back then they do not want to hear right now.

So what, is all hope lost?  No.  In repentance and rest is our salvation

Isa 30:15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.

There is always a remnant.  Its always a few that are set apart from the crowd that the Lord keeps as the apple of His eye.  Many are called, few are chosen

Matthew 22:14 

... "For there are many called, but few chosen." ..

Why are only a few chosen, and why do you never ever EVER hear preachers preach this?  I've never heard it preached once, when I "went to church."  I'll tell you why you do not hear it preached, because people do not want to hear it.   Preach the truth enough and people will leave and when people leave you can't pay the mortgage on your multi-million dollar cathedral to man.  I know this does not apply to all churches but it applies to many if not most.

What does this brother hear the Spirit saying?  Repentance, rest, faith and trust in the Lord our God is where our attention should be.  This is not a new ,message nor is it hard to understand.  We are to walk with our God and trust Him with our wants and needs.  And we are to rest.

Matthew 11:30 

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

grace and peace

The Reality Of The Lord

Here's another little something the Lord brought to my mind as I was thinking about the path this world is on and the bad things are will inevitably happen as a result of being on this path.

When the bad thing happens, the reality of the Lord must be equal to or greater than the reality of the bad thing whatever that is. How do we make the reality of the Lord greater in us?  Time in His presence and that does not mean just prayer time or bible reading time or those special times we have set aside for Him.  Its the walking, talking, living breathing with the Lord every day, day in and day out that will make Him greater in us and to us than the problems we face.

How can we move mountains with our faith if the mountain is bigger than our faith?  How big can our faith be?  Infinitely great because we serve an infinite God.  Compared to infinite mountains aren't so impressive and neither are our problems.

On a slightly different note the Lord has me completely turned away from the things going on in and around the world right now.  The signs and signals are all mounting greater than they ever have before and now He turns my attention away from them.  How strange, His will be done.

grace and peace

An Encouraging Word: Prayer and Answers

I believe the Lord gave me something yesterday that I now share with you regarding prayer and answers to prayer.  This is what the Lord brought to my mind:

Daniel 9:23 At the beginning of your supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show you; for you are greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.


So what happened here^^?  Daniel prayed and immediately an answer was sent but Daniel didn't get it until later.

Got it, we all know that.  So consider that Daniel was highly esteemed however he did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit sent on pentecost, he was not covered by the blood of the new covenant and he was not seen or viewed as we are now "in Christ."  What's the point?  I have always thought that Daniel was a "superman," but the Lord brought to my remembrance how He now sees us in Christ.

As His children in Christ we are blameless.  He holds us in high esteem as we are forgiven and favored children of the king.  Ok, and how does that relate to prayers and answers?

When we pray the Lord answers just like He answered Daniel but many times we do not see the answer until later.  We are answered progressively not instantly.  It is comforting for me to know that the Lord does not delay our answer longer than He has to.  Sometimes the answer has to fight its way to us.  Sometimes the delay is a test of our faith, but the answer is on the way.

Proof?

John 16:24 

... Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full

Matt 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."


Matt 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

The Lord has brought this to my mind repeatedly since yesterday to put this up here so here it is.  We are a needy people, we must pray because we need answers.  We must have answers from our God who protects us and provides for us.  He knows this.

I hope this encourages you as it encouraged me.

grace and peace

The Most Encouraging Thing

I believe this is a message from the Lord's own heart to you (impressed on me this morning 2/16/14).

One of the most encouraging things I can think of is the Lord our God answers prayer:

Luke 18:1 

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Does He always answer how and when we want Him to answer?  No.  For that reason many give up.  What many people fail to recognize and remember is we are in a test.  In this life, our faith is being tested, continually.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in ...

... Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. ... Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith.

1 Peter 1:7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your ...

... The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is. Your faith is more precious than gold, and

1 Peter 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal ...

... Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to test you, as ... do not be surprised, as if it was something strange, if your faith is tested

Luke 8:13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the ...

... And those on the rock are those who with joy give hearing to the word; but having no root, they have faith for a time, and when the test comes they give up.

How does the Lord test our faith?  The primary way in this brother's experience is through time/delay.  Sometimes the answer to prayer takes years to manifest, do we have the faith to stand for that long?  The good news is if we are faithful and patient we get our answer and that is encouraging.

It wasn't too long ago that my faith was in the battle for my own miracle (less than a year ago).  Some of these answers to prayer that we are looking for are do or die, put everything on the line types of things where either we get an answer or we are going to be in a really bad situation in short order.  My mentality at that time was either I stand on my faith or I will not stand at all:

Isaiah 7:9

... If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.'

Either the Lord answers my prayers and I have life or He does not and I die standing on my faith.  This is an all or nothing proposition.  All of my eggs are in one basket, I am counting on the Lord.  He has not failed me in the past, though He has tried me and made me wait and sent me messengers of doom to tell me that my prayers would not be answered to see how I would respond, through it all and after it all I have been delivered

Psalm 34:4I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears.

5Those who look to him are radiant;

their faces are never covered with shame.

6This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;

he saved him out of all his troubles.

7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,

and he delivers them.

Through trial, and tribulation and testing this brother's testimony to you is that the Lord answers prayers and He does deliver.  Not on your timetable and not according to your plan but He does answer and He does deliver.

What good can this brother's hands find to do today?  I can write to you here and encourage you to seek the source of every good thing: the Lord.  I was made for this purpose.  The Lord speaks in different ways at different times and He can speak through anyone or anything.

This brother has been delivered more times than I can recount.  I have had more prayers answered than I can remember.  I have seen the requests for multiple miracles answered before my eyes.  This brother is the least of the brothers, what has been done for me can and will be done for you.  I write to you today as a testimony to our God's faithfulness and His deliverance.  What did He say He would do?  What are His promises?  Are we standing on His promises?  Do we have the faith to stand throughout the test of time so we can see the answer to our prayer on the other side of the trial?

I have been there with you.  I have had my faith attacked and drug (momentarily) through the depths of hell to test what was in me.  I did not know I could be tested in such ways but the Lord saw me through.  What was done for me will be done for you.  I have had those conversations with the Lord telling Him "Lord if you don't come through for us we are in deep trouble.  I will not doubt you but I will stand on my faith and see the goodness of the Lord with my own eyes right here in the land of the living.  I will stand on my faith and I will not give up, if it kills me I will stand and trust in my God.  To the death.  This is all or nothing and I will trust in you my faithful God."

What encouraging thing can this brother give you today?  My testimony.  The Lord answers prayer.  He can be trusted.  Take His promises and your faith to Him today and wear Him out with your persistence.  Does the Lord honor such actions?

James 5.16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

17Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months.

18And he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit.

.

Luke 18:1And he spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2Saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, neither regarded man:

3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary.

4And he would not for awhile: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she wearies me.

6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge said.

7And shall not God avenge his own elect, who cry day and night unto him, though he bears long with them?

8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?

Matt 7.7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.


Ask and it WILL be given to you, not maybe, not kinda, not if the stars align a certain way, ask and it WILL be given to you.  And who said that?  God Almighty said that.  He is not a man that He should lie.  Let us take His promises back to Him "Lord, you said if we ask it will be given to us now I bring you your own Word which you cannot deny and my faith to see this prayer answered.  Answer me in your grace and mercy and loving kindness Lord!"

grace and peace

The Problem and The Answer

Corrupt politicians and businessmen are an effect of the real problem:  the people.  Why do we have corrupt politicians ruling over us?  Because the people are corrupt.  What has the Lord said:

Hosea 4:1Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because [there is] no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

2By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood touchethblood.

3Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field,and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

What we see above is a cause and effect relationship.  Verse 3 is the effect of the cause in verse 1.  There is no truth, no mercy and no knowledge of God in the land.  How do we know this is fact and not just brother D's opinion?

In our lifetimes have we ever seen things like this every day in the news?

Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field,and with the fowls of heaven

dead birds

dead birds

dead birds

dead  birds

dead birds

Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field,and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

dead fish

dead fish

dead fish

dead fish

dead fish

There are churches on every corner but where is the truth?  There are religious people by the millions but where is the mercy?  There are Christians voting to 'make a difference' every political season but where is the knowledge of God in the land?

Light drives out darkness every time, without fail, period.  If all these people and all these churches were full of light how could darkness be so thick?  Would the tribulation which will be hell on earth be coming if most people around us were righteous and knew the Lord (really knew Him)?

Gen 18:26The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

27Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”

“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”

29Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”

He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”

30Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”

He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

31Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”

He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”

32Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”

He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”

33When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.

We know that Sodom was destroyed and we know the Lord promised not to destroy it if even ten righteous men could be found in the entire city.  What does that tell you about that city and what does it tell us about the United States for example?  Is America any better than Sodom as it stands today?  Has America committed all the same sins?  Surely it has, so what will America's reward be?  Can ten righteous men be found in (pick one) the average city?  Judging by what is happening to the birds and the fish, and this has been going on daily for years, I would say probably not.

So what, just another beat down brother D?  No, if the average person is the problem, they are also the solution.  Playing church for generations isn't getting it done.  Being religious like those the Lord condemned in His day isn't getting it done.  Being the church and not playing church might be a good start.  The church is not a man made organization or institution which are dead and lifeless things.  The church is the organic living body of Christ which is Christ Jesus in each and every one of us.  When two or more of us are assembled then the church is assembled, when we are apart we are still the church each and every one of us.  We cannot "go to church" if we are the church.  The statement "go to church" assumes in its very syntax that we are not the church which is a grievous error.

Pastors dot every pulpit of every church dotting the corners of the landscape, but what does the Bible say about pastors?  I am not asking for men's opinions or making square blocks fit into round holes, what specifically does the bible say a pastor is and does?  The only mention of the word pastor in the new testament that goes anywhere near these questions is one verse in the book of Ephesians, thats it.  Paul never mentioned meeting or greeting a pastor once throughout his entire journey through Asia in the book of acts, coincidence?  Paul never mentioned a singe 'pastor?'  That's right, not one.  So where do these men who call themselves pastors get their Biblical authority to be and to act?

Men have given themselves titles and positions, they have created lifeless organizations and institutions and called it all the church.  The true church of Jesus Christ is not an institution and it is full of life and light that drives out darkness every time without fail.

The birds and the fish are dieing all around us.  That is called judgement.  And where does judgement begin?

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

If the common man is the problem and the solution then the problem and solution starts with the house of God.  From the ground up, the christian jargon, to the institutions, buildings, organizations, hierarchy (nicolaitan) etc it is all corrupt.  Nico=conquer, laitan=laity=you the people.  The Lord says He HATES the nicolaitan system but people seem to love it and what has it brough them?  Corruption and darkness, sin and death.

Revelation 2:6 

But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate

Where in the Bible can you find any brother being called a "lay person?"  What the heck is a lay person in the church?  Its not in your Bible but the system setup elevating the pastor and priest over the "lay person" is what mankind accepts today without question.

Just because men have been living in error for generations does not make their systems right.  Just because the majority accepts something does not make it right.  The majority will be proven wrong, the proof is right in our faces:

Matt 7:13“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

The many, the majority enter through the broad gate that leads to destruction.  That is not my opinion, that is the Word of God.  The few, a handful find the small gate that leads to life.  So when people follow the masses to lifeless organizations to do what the majority accept they march down the broad road.  The wisdom of this world is not the wisdom of our God.  He does not think like men do

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa 55:8-9)

The problem and the solution are in our hands.  The true church has the power to shut the heavens up, to move mountains and part the seas so what will we do?  Will we continue to accept the ways of the nicolaitans that the Lord told us He hates twice (Rev 2:6, 2:15) when speaking to the churches?  Will we continue to follow spiritual hired hands who have appointed themselves with titles and positions (pastor) that have no foundation in scripture?  I see the word elders all over the place in the New Testament and I see the word pastor once, think about it.

1 Cor 12:28And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helpers, administrators, various kinds of tongues.

^^^^No mention whatsoever of  "pastor."  These self appointed conquerors of the "laity" have 1,001 opinions of what a pastor is but what does the Bible specifically without interpretation or guessing say a pastor is?  It doesn't.....The solution starts there.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

grace and peace

An Update

I haven't been posting as much lately because I believe the Lord has turned another corner.  You have read about the earthquakes and signs in the heavens here and even now all the signs are accelerating but what does the Lord say?  The lunar tetrad is coming up and the Lord would not have this brother write about the judgement and wrath planned for this world?  No.

Why not?  All the signs, all the signals are not ends in themselves, they all point to something:  the coming of our Lord and Savior.  What was His guidance to me this new year?  Be a man who walks with God, rest in the Lord.  Do I believe we are close to many earth changing events?  Yes, and yet the Lord would have us take our eyes off the world and focus them firmly where they always belong, on Him.

Does that mean I will not write on the signs anymore?  That is not what I am hearing.  The signs are important and littered throughout the book of Revelation and the books of the prophets.  He pointed us to the signs that point to Him.  At a time when the world is in tremendous upheaval, this brother believes He is calling us to peace and quietness alone with Him.

In the end this is all that matters anyway.  We must know our God and He must know us.  We walk with Him and He walks with us.  Its that simple, through all the ups and downs of life we walk and talk with our God.  He loves us and we love Him.  We must exercise all of our power to make sure we never ever hear this:

Matt 7:21Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out demons? and in your name done many wonderful works?

23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

I do not want this post to be a downer because that is not the impression I get from the Lord.  I am encouraged by the Lord's call to have us draw near to Him in these days and listen for the quiet and still voice that He uses to speak to men.  I pray that you are encouraged too.

grace and peace