Sunday, May 31, 2009
Happy Birthday
I spent some time with the Lord this morning and what he gave me has nothing to do with the escape, it has to do with a vision/mission he has given me to do with the time we have left before he shows up. I don't know whether today or tomorrow or next month will be the day we walk into our "ark" and out of this world, but I do know what our Lord expects from us while we are still here. He expects us to use our faith, to exercise it. That in a nuthsell is the parable of the talents from Matt 25.
If the Lord comes back for us today thats great, we'll be with him where he is..in heaven. If he does not come back then we have an opportunity to use one more day to do something..anything with what we've been given on behalf of the kingdom and our Father's glory. Keep your eyes on the prize and expect our master to show up any minute, you can't go wrong living like that.
grace and peace
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Pentecost Rapture
Set it in your heart now that you will not look back at this world or anything in it. We may hear "the bridegroom cometh" or "are you ready" or maybe something else but the point is the specific warning for remembering Lot's wife was given to us who are on our way out!!!!! The Lord is very detail oriented, you have been warned and prepared for everything you need to know for that special day.
If the escape from all is not on Pentecost 2009 is makes no difference whatsoever to us who are watching every day. We are ready and watching every day unlike so many who surround us. We are soldiers ready for our commander to show up at any minute. Some days are loaded with more significance than others and tomorrow seems to be one of those "loaded" days than others so we would be wise to seek the Lord's face TODAY before he might show up. I was on my knees this morning at 1am seeking his face about the next 24 hours and the only thing I received from him is my earlier post from today.
I am convinced that there will be a pre-departure "something" that is a time interval between notification and departure before the escape takes place. Noah wasn't sawing wood then poof went into the ark. Lot wasn't baking bread then poof found himself outside of Sodom. Noah and Lot were both told in advance what was going to happen and WHEN. In Noahs case it was 7 days, in Lots case it was the day after the angels arrived. We see from the "one taken one left" texts in Matt 24 and Luke 17 that we are told those on the rooftop don't go down to the house, those in the field don't go back to try and get anything, that implies TIME to actually do those things between notification and departure. The cherry on top of this is the parable of the virgins. They all heard "the bridegroom cometh!" but the foolish went away to "buy oil" which relates perfectly with the idea of not going down from the rooftop or coming back from the field to try and get anything.
When you get the notification, perhaps wake your family up and pray for 1. all the brothers 2. your family 3. yourself that we all will REMEMBER LOTS WIFE.
grace and peace
Pentecost Eve
What does this have to do with faith? What if the "escape from all" is tomorrow or sometime over the next few weeks? You do know that there is a "worthiness" factor involved with this escape don't you?
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Unlike the babylonian church's opinion that everyone calling themselves "christians" are on their way up to heaven, we know a worthiness factor must preceed standing before the Son of man.
What are some of the things you think might account for "worthiness?" How about obedience for one? We are told to PRAY that we may be counted worthy of this escape, do you know how many people openly rebel and refuse to do this very specific command even though we've been pointing it out to them for YEARS now? We didn't give the command, Jesus did, disobey and ignore it at your own peril. You will not make the escape without obedience nor will you make it into the kingdom of heaven (being "saved") without obedience. How do we know this? Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Doing the Father's will is called what? OBEDIENCE. So if someone promised you some kind of eternal "life insurance policy" based on a one time decision you made and you find yourself in willful disobedience today, you BETTER wake up and re-read your bible. Because of lies like make a one time decision for Jesus then you are in forever, MANY will be told by the Lord "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Here's where we see the tie in (by the Lord's planning not mine) with the writing here for the past MONTH. Another requirement to be counted worthy of this escape? FAITH. Yep, it hit me like a hammer this morning while reading Hebrews 11, its all just in your face "escape from all" and pre-flood, pre-fire and brimstone rapture, see for yourself..faith and ENOCH, faith and NOAH:
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Could this short section of the Word be anymore loaded with "escape from all" meaning? How was Enoch translated? BY FAITH. How was Noah moved with FEAR to prepare the ark? BY FAITH. Do you really think you are "saved" if you are reading this in a faithless condition? Do you really think you'll meet the worthiness factor required of the escape if you are faithless today? When the Son of man comes back WILL HE FIND FAITH ON EARTH????
I cannot overstate the importance of this. Just yesterday we looked at how upset Jesus became with THE DISCIPLES for their faithlessness in dealing with the demon possessed and the feeding of the 5,000. If the disciples were found lacking how do you think you stand in your faith today? This is not some exercises to scare you or make you feel bad its a PREPAREDNESS check...are you ready?
I heard someone else say it well, these things are not to make you scared, but to make you prepared. Bottom line here we've looked at obedience and faith, two whoppers. What does the Lord tell us to wrap up the "worthiness" idea when we look at how Enoch was translated?
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God
Enoch had the testimony that he pleased God. Simple enough yea? Do you think you can please God living in faithlessness and disobedience? Do you think you can be "saved" or be counted worthy of the escape living in disobedience and faithlessness?
If you want to please God as Enoch did, ground zero, the first building block that MUST be in place is what? FAITH Heb 11:5".....he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him." There is no salvation without faith..we are saved by grace THROUGH FAITH, and that word "through" means your faith is a necessary conduit REQUIRED for the grace to work for you. It does not say "by grace you are saved." By grace THROUGH faith let it sink in. You must be found "in Christ" to be worthy of anything in the kingdom, and how can you lay hold of Jesus with no faith? It's IMPOSSIBLE.
The Lord has been on my heart this past month with the same thing..faith. You have to ask yourself why "many" will be told to go away after calling Jesus "Lord" then going on to recite to him all the wonderful things they have done in his name? WHY will many be turned away? WHY will only a few make it through the narrow gate that leads to life (Matt 7:14)? Do you think its a fair calculation to say that if only a few make it through the narrow gate leading to life, that only a few will be found worthy of the escape from all that's coming? Yep, I think thats a fair enough conclusion. The things written here are written to prepare you not to scare you.
If you have committed every fiber of your being to Jesus, you have laid your body soul and spirit down at his feet and you are doing the things you know please him, do you really need to worry? I think not. If you are of the lukewarm crowd who still loves the world and all that it offers and you still enjoy "playing" church instead of being the church, you might need to worry. You know what you are supposed to be doing without me telling you. The Holy Spirit witnesses to each person's heart, one by one. You KNOW what he's said to you and whether or not you are doing what you are supposed to be. We are not perfect, but we should be striving for perfection in his sight: Matt 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
These are the things the Spirit is speaking to me on the eve of Pentecost. He does not stop working for the kingdom even up to the very end. We don't have long to wait to see if the Lord shows up for us tomorrow or over the next few weeks. In the meantime let's do what Enoch did and be found with the testimony that "we please God." We are dearly loved, grace and peace
Friday, May 29, 2009
One of My All Time Favorites
She spelled which word to win the spelling bee? LAODICEAN. That's the front page of msn.com this morning. This is not what my post is about today but this is IN THE WORLD"S FACE kinda stuff. No beating around the bush whatsoever..
To todays writing:
Each time I read this I get a good smile out of it. Not that everything here is something to smile at but here's the part I like:
Mark 9 14 When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15 Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. 16 And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” 17 And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” 19 And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” 20 They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” 26 After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. 28 When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” 29 And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”
Can you picture this? Jesus is standing there with this boy on the ground squirming all over the place, foaming at the mouth and the father of the boy says "if you can fix my boy" to Jesus at which point our Lord gets this incredulous look on his face and replies back to the guy "if you can?" This guy is asking Jesus "if you can.." What I love about this is the Lord's reply. He replies as we should expect him to..what exactly is it that God Almighty cannot do?
Here's the part that's not so funny.
Think about this:
And one of the crowd answered Him "Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” 19 And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!”
Think about it, this is no different than the case of feeding the 5,000 and it all boiled down to BELIEF. Now these guys were not your run of the mill christians, they were the DISCIPLES, the Lord's inner circle and what did Jesus say "O unbelieving generation...how long shall I PUT UP WITH YOU." If the disciples who walked and talked with Jesus every day were accused of being "unbelieving" and told "how long shall I put up with you" then what is the condition of believers today?
When the Lord who is long suffering and more patient than we'll ever be asks "how long do I have to put up with your unbelief" to the disciples, what do you think he's thinking and feeling about what calls itself christianity today? Today's so called christianity has sunk into such a deep state of mediocrity, apathy, powerlessness from playing church and generations of idolatry (pastoral system) that I have no doubt the words he has today for self proclaiming "christians" is much worse than "how long will I put up with you."
Here's another thing about the casting out of this demon and the feeding of the 5,000 and all the other things Jesus did...Jesus expects us to go GREATER THINGS than what he did, and every single thing we should be doing takes GREAT FAITH.
John 14:12 ... Truly I say to you, He who puts his faith in me will do the very works which I do,and he will do greater things than these, because I am going to my Father.
The Lord has been all over this issue of FAITH with me now for weeks. You think maybe he has an expectation relating to FAITH when he comes back?
Luke 18:8
... But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
We have Pentecost coming up which has "escape from all" possibility written all over it. We've got the 3.5 year mark from Dec 2012 coming up just weeks after that which has "escape from all" written all over it. We just had the word LAODICEAN splashed across the FRONT PAGE of one of the most heavily trafficked websites on earth. Just mind numbing...The Lord requires faith of us for everything, especially your salvation. Once saved always saved is a LIE from the pit of hell. If you find yourself faithless today you have BIG salvation problems. You cannot abide in Christ (John 15) without faith. You cannot please our God IN ANY WAY without faith. Our Lord is not some vanilla pudding sugar sprinkled candy daddy who is ok with scraping by with a minimum of effort or no effort at all.
This is so very serious. The people who have no faith/no prayer invested in the escape from all we were ORDERED to pray for, can likely expect to dive headlong into the time of Jacob's trouble. They fought for it, the debated for it, they argued for it and now they will get what they believed for. The Lord has established immutable laws in the heavens that stand firm as iron regardless of what you believe. One of those laws is you get what you believe.
John 11:40
... Jesus said to her, "I told you that if you believed you would see God's glory, didn't I?"
2 Thessalonians 1:10
... when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be regarded with wonder on that day by all who have believed-including you-because you believed our testimony
Matthew 8:13
... And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed that very moment.
Back to what the Lord expects from us, he expects faith and not just any faith. We are to live in a way that is pleasing to our God aren't we? When our Lord told the disciples "how long do I have to put up with your disbelief/faithlessness" that obviously was NOT pleasing to the Lord. We know that great faith makes our Lord marvel. The centurion's faith (a heathen!) made our Master MARVEL and he said he hadn't found such faith IN ALL ISRAEL!!!!! Nope, not in all Israel but in a roman soldier. We've already covered in previous posts what an indictment that was on Israel and the today's so called christianity by extension. What the real focus of today's message is, is that the Lord might show up any day for us. When he does show up what kind of condition will your faith be in? What's the last great thing you've exercised your faith on to advance the kingdom of God? How would you rate your own faith? On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being centurion level faith where would you put yourself?
I can tell you that there has been a shift in my life from standing full time on the wall as a watchman, to now coming down off the wall to put the final pieces in place to meet the Lord face to face. Sure I still peek over to see whats coming now and then because you don't have to look hard to see the signs all around us, like on the FRONT PAGE OF MSN.COM...LAODICEAN. No time for debate anymore with people who have no interest in hearing or learning anything different from what they already think they know.
We know from Luke 21:36 that there is an escape from all coming that allows us to escape ALL that's coming and puts us smack dab in front of the Son of man. Not on earth, standing before the Son of man, its very clear. Standing in front of the Son of man will involve giving an account of yourself to the Lord for the receiving of rewards. Its no coincidence that we see crowned (rewarded) redeemed men in Rev 5. Those men stood before the Son of man to get those crowns. How did they get into heaven to stand before the Son of man? Through the open door in Rev 4:1.
I hear and see the Lord working in my life to shore up and solidify the rewards aspect of what's coming. What a loving and gracious God we serve. He could have just allowed us to skid into the kingdom by the hair of our chin but he loves us sooooooo much he wants us to be STAGGERED by whats waiting for us on the other side of the door in heaven. He is a loving Father. Jesus is a faithful savior and high priest interceding for us all the time. There has never been a lawyer in the history of the world that employs sharper wits, or more insightful arguments on our behalf than what is happening today in heaven, by Jesus for me and you.
I am seriously impressed by the thought of finalizing rewards today. That's what the Lord is speaking to my spirit. Many people won't even make it past the starting line because it takes FAITH to do anything in or for our Father's kingdom. That's a simple but immovable fact. The people who argue that you can still get into heaven without faith are in for a very very rude surprise. If you are reading this you have been warned and encouraged today. You have been warned if you think that entering the gates of heaven is some walk in the park exercise based on one decision made on one day in your life. You must commit EVERY DAY, not one day. You must "make a decision" for Jesus EVERY DAY, one day won't come close to cutting it. This is an adulterous generation that wants to have lovers one after the other, not get married and stay married for life. Human marriage is a shadow of heavenly marriage and judging by the statistics I read lately humans are failing MISERABLY in the commit forever department..... FEW will make it in (Matt 7:14). MANY will be turned away (Matt 7:21+). You should be encouraged if you have given yourself completely to the Lord, body soul and spirit to entrust to "that day" when we will see him as he is..face to face.
You might be able to get by in this world with half hearted commitment and "going through the motions" to "fake it till you make it" etc etc, but that won't get you far with the kingdom of heaven. There is so much mediocrity, so much LUKEWARMNESS that is why many will be SPIT OUT/VOMITED UP by the Lord:
LAODICEAN:
Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Do you really think that if Jesus just spued you out of his mouth you are still "saved?" To be spued out of the Lord's mouth..vomited out, that means you WERE "in him" but you aren't anymore. If you have been vomited OUT that means you are no longer "IN him" you are now outside of him. And we know that apart from being "IN CHRIST" there is no salvation ..period. Forgiveness of sins, being covered by the blood, getting credit for what was done on the cross ALL has the precondition of being found "IN CHRIST." In Christ all of your sins have been paid for. Not "in Christ" none of your sins have been paid for. Wake up people..
I just saw this as I was writing..just now....did you notice that both the church of philadelphia AND the church of laodicea have the DOOR mentioned? LOL...wow. The only two churches mentioned involving a DOOR are phildelphia and laodicea. One church is promised to be kept from the trial coming on ALL the earth, the other is promised to get vomited out if they don't get their act together.
The Rev 3 philadelphia church is shown the OPEN door AND the KEY that opens it
Rev 3: And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
The Rev 3 laodicean church is shown the door with Jesus ON THE OUTSIDE KNOCKING.....with the promise to be spued out if they don't get off the fence.
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
We have just days left before our Lord shows up, or maybe the time of Jacob's trouble doesn't start till 2012, I really don't know. What I do know is that the wisest course of action is to be ready and watching today, and everyday for our Lord's return. Take a good look at the strength of your faith and belief (or lack of). Strengthen what you have. If your "talent" (Matt 25) (faith) is buried somewhere go dig it up quick and put it to work on SOMETHING. Be able to show the master at least a couple coppers worth of faith interest on what you were given.
Last comment and I'm done. The Lord doesn't want us to skid into the kingdom of heaven with the seat of our pants on fire from just barely escaping the flames/just barely making it in. He is a loving Father who wants us to receive a HERO'S welcome when we arrive. Get busy guys..
2 Peter1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
grace and peace
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Thanks, Sing, Rejoice, Seek His Face, REMEMBER
1 O give thanks to the LORD; call on his name: make known his deeds among the people.
2 Sing to him, sing psalms to him: talk you of all his wondrous works.
3 Glory you in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face ever more.
5 Remember his marvelous works that he has done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
When I read this this morning it reached out and grabbed me. These short verses are so loaded, so rich and pregnant with power..
1st, give thanks. Giving thanks IS the will of God for us in this life and the next. We are to be continually giving thanks. If you are not giving thanks continually and your life is full of problems, well....start giving thanks in everything:
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks; for this is God's ...
... in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
We also see the command to "sing psalms to him." That in particular grabbed me. It has been written here frequently of late that we should remember our "first love." That means putting Jesus and the Father FIRST. That means loving on him, showing HIM our affection and love. Our God is not some stone monolith in the sky that cannot be moved. He is tenderhearted and loving toward us and we need to return the love. Many people wonder what they can do to touch the heart of our God, but why wonder, he tells you straight up what you can do. Instead of relying on the hired hand "worship ministry" (whatever that is) to "praise God" YOU are told to sing to the Lord. Anyone who has heard me try to sing can understand that singing to the Lord would almost appear profane since my voice would clear out a karaoke bar before I even touched a mic but the Lord actually wants us to do it.
He tells us what to sing..PSALMS, already prewritten songs for us to sing in our hearts to our master. I suppose singing in my heart may spare the karaoke fans as well as my own ears :-). Bottom line here, he wants us to love him, sing to him give our attention to him.
Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face forever more. We are told to seek him and his strength..not your strength, his strength. Ever wonder why so many run around defeated today? They do everything backwards, the put the cart before the horse, they rush out in their own strength fall on their face then whine to the Lord about it. How about before rushing headlong into things you seek His face and his strength FIRST? Novel idea huh? But that might require waiting and resting in Him awhile before we do things...and who wants to wait? The wise do, fools rush in...Seek him and his kingdom FIRST, everything else will take care of itself in time.
Last but not least....remember
This one is a biggie. We are told to remember what our God has done and give thanks for it.
5 Remember his marvelous works that he has done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
We are told to remember his marvelous works, his wonders AND the JUDGEMENTS of his mouth. The people running around saying "I'm not into fear, I don't mention anything that might cause fear!" don't know the Lord. We are told to remember his judgements. The Lord has done some awesome terrible things to people who fell on the wrong side of his righteousness. People should be VERY afraid to be on that wrong side, but why should we fear the Lord's judgements if we are "in Christ?"
We are told to FEAR the Lord, specifically we are told to fear him who can throw body and soul into hell...WE are given that warning, but babylonian churchianity won't go anywhere near that part of the bible. "I don't want anyone to fear" they say. Well, you don't want them to fear but the author of our faith DOES.
Luke 12:5
... "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!
We are told to remember our Lord's works wonders and judgements but how can you remember something you've never heard? Todays candy coated babylonianity won't go anywhere near the judgements of the Lord and how they are sent to warn US. Since so many rely on their hired hand spiritual employees to spoon feed them our Lord's counsel, and those hired hands won't go anywhere near some of the most important places in the bible (Like John 15, Matt 7:14-28, etc etc) how exactly will they remember what they have'nt heard or read?
We are told to remember what our Lord has done. Our Lord has made us many promises, like this one:
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
The people who oppose the "pre-flood, pre-brimstone, pre-Jacob's trouble" escape from ALL tell us we will somehow be sheltered/kept on this earth somewhere. Luke 21:36 tells us something entirely different. We are'nt just told we will escape all, we are also told WHERE we are escaping to, specifically to "stand before the Son of man." And where exactly is the Son of man? He's in heaven just like the slain body that "those in flight/aeros" are gathered to in Luke 17:37/Rev 5:6 , just like the open door in heaven in Rev 4:1, just like the place made ready for us in John 14:3.
I was about to wrap up and the Lord just gave me something else to tie this all together. This is more evidence that "those taken" are the body of Christ and "those left" are not.
Matt 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
One shall be taken? People like to play word games with this but theres no need for that. What does the Lord tell us about being taken in John 14:3?
John 14:3
... And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me, that where I am you also may be.
Notice he did'nt say the "angels" would come and take you (relating to the gathering of the elect in Mark 13:27). He said that HE would come and TAKE us..one taken, one left. This is exactly the picture we see when Jesus decends to the clouds and calls us up to him to be with him forever.
1 Thess 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
^^ No mention of angels anywhere^^
I always amazed at how many different ways satan and his servants come at the believer to steal their hope and faith. Satan knows the word of God. He knows that "as you believe, so you receive" Matthew 8:13
... And Jesus said to the centurion, Go your way; and as you have believed, so be it done to you. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
If the adversary can get to your faith and hope, if he can get you to move off the promise even slightly, he can steal from you, kill you, destroy you. The bible is full of promises that are straightforward and direct. Satan comes to introduce doubt saying "hath God really said....?" Why does Satan try to introduce doubt? Is it that Satan just wants to mess with you or does the enemy KNOW that through doubt he can kill steal and destroy? Nobody ever accused the enemy of being stupid, he knows what he is doing but unfortunately mankind has no idea what they are doing.
Wow, the Lord is working me this morning...this ^^ leads me to hopefully my last point :-)
It relates to manking having no idea what they are doing. Follow me on this additional sword in the belly of the idolatrous pastoral system. Read this:
Mark 6:33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. 34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
^^This is from the place in the bible where Jesus fed the 5,000. He looked at the people and felt compassion for them because in spite of all the priests, Pharisees and Sadducees Jesus still saw them as SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD. Fast forward to today with pastors and so called churches on every corner yet people are SOUL STARVED. I just heard some self-help teacher lady (doesnt even pretend to be christian) say that people are soul starved today, then she offers some useless remedy to that problem but her assessment of the problem is spot on. So called christianity dots every corner of every street in America and the west in general yet darkness, rot and soul starvation is epidemic. That can only make sense when you understand that what calls itself christianity today is a fraud and a lie. The true church is still alive but they are few and scattered. We know this from the statement our Lord makes in Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Bottom line here is, the "pastors" of todays babylonian churchianity tell you that they are "shepherds" but our Lord looks out and has compassion on the sheep for he sees them as they really are...sheep without a shepherd, just exactly like in Mark 6:34. The jews had their clergy, so called christianity has theirs, bottom line is the same for both. The Lord sees the sheep as being without a shepherd.
Come out of the babylonian prostitute manmade sterilizing powerless system of religion calling itself christianity today. The truth IS out there, you can find it your bibles if you REALLY want it. You have to want it really bad just like anything else thats noteworthy in this world. The search for the truth will cost you. Your committment to the finding of the truth will be tested. If you "kinda" want to know the truth then don't bother even start looking. If you are sick and tired of the lies and deceit then I can tell you its about time and our Lord has been waiting for you to come around. The truth is a treasure that men MUST find in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Our God is truth. You can find him when you search for him with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13
... You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Fingers about to fall off..done for today. Keep the faith, grace and peace
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Having a Form of Godliness
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
What does it mean to have a form of godliness but to deny its power?
It means to not really believe, not really have faith. How do we arrive at this conclusion? What is the power behind our godliness? FAITH
2 Corinthians 5:7 ... For we live by faith, not by sight.
This world is a world of faith suppression. Everyone lives by SIGHT. If they can't see it, they can't quite believe it. This is how men were sold the "pastoral system" ie the nicolaitan system from the very beginning. Men want their idols that please their flesh. They want to satiate the senses of the FLESH.
Case in point:
1 Sam 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
Men want to be like other men. Following and hearkening to a God that is unseen takes FAITH and faith is something thats in short supply in this world. American Idol, the pastoral system, give us a king like all the other nations its all the same thing, faithlessness, satisfying the flesh. This is what it means to have a form of godliness but denying its power. It means not being satisfied with following Jesus alone, men want Jesus AND their idols and that just won't work. You can have Jesus or your idols but not both.
I read an argument recently that said this:
2 Thessalonians 2:3 ... Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition
This guy argued that "apostasia"...really means a physical departure.. This argument went along the lines that people are being "saved" all over the world today so there really is no apostasy. Maybe the "apostasia" means physical departure in addition to actual apostasy, but to say there is no apostasy in this world today? To the author of that idea I say: "you must be blind."
If there really are all these "saved" people in the world, then where's the light that drives out darkness? Where is the salt that preserves the world instead of the rot we see everywhere? This is not a subjective evaluation, its an objective evaluation based on everything we see around us. Darkness EVERYWHERE. Darkness everywhere can ONLY be the result of lack of light. Light drives out darkness EVERY TIME no exceptions. When is the last time you turned on a light (that worked) in a room and the darkness did not instantly disappear? Case closed.
This world is being sent all kinds of "sight" stimulation to make the worldly believe a lie, but we don't live by sight, we live BY FAITH. How can this be stressed any more?
Hebrews 10:38 But my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him.
The righteous live BY FAITH. And we see another dagger in the heart of OSAS here as well: if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him. What does it mean to "shrink back?" It means to return to where you started. The OSAS crowd would tell you that its impossible to "shrink back" but the word of God clearly states that it is possible and if it happens the Lord's soul "hath no pleasure" in that person. Does this agree with John 15 which tells us that those who do not "abide" in Christ will be cutoff, thrown out and burned up? You bet it does. Does this agree with few being saved (matt 7:14) and many who do all kinds of "wonderful" things for the Lord told "away from me you evildoers, I never knew you? (Matt 7:21+)" Yep, it fits like a glove.
What Satan is after is your faith. If he can get you to live by sight, to live by the flesh instead of by faith he knows he has your goose cooked. He knows human nature, and he knows if he can sell the lie of OSAS to men, their flesh will take off like a runaway train. Thoughts like "since I can't be lost/cutoff from Christ, I'll just taste that sin one more time..." Are you still wondering why so few will make it into the kingdom of heaven?
Why has the Lord been so heavy on this topic lately? I'm sure there are many opinions on this but mine is that faith is fundamental to everything we are and everything we do as servants of the Most High God. This is a hurting world and without faith, our Lord can only do so much for the lost and hurting. That means that YOUR (lack of) faith may be responsible for the lack and hurt of many around us. Want proof? Read on:
Matt 13:53 And when Jesus had come to the end of these stories he went away from there. 54 And coming into his country, he gave them teaching in their Synagogue, so that they were greatly surprised and said, Where did this man get this wisdom and these works of power? 55 Is not this the woodworker's son? is not his mother named Mary? and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? from where, then, has he all these things? 57 And they were bitter against him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is nowhere without honour but in his country and among his family. 58 And the works of power which he did there were small in number because they had no faith.
Mark 6:4 But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
The parable of the talents in Matt 25 has everything to do with the faith and belief you do or do not have. You were given a measure of faith to be able to enter "in Christ." (saved by grace through faith). What did you do with it? We know from the parable of the talents that those who used their "talents" (faith) were given MORE and the one who buried his talent, this was his end:
Matt 25 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
There it is again, another dagger in the heart of OSAS. The unprofitable servant (one who WAS a servant of the master) cast into outer darkness where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Does this jive with being "cutoff thrown out and burned up" in John 15? Yep, sure does.
Faith is a fundamental. If you've buried yours then go dig it up and put it to work on SOMETHING for the kingdom. Perhaps put it to work believing for the members of your house that want nothing to do with Jesus today. Or start believing for the souls of the hardcore atheists like Bill Maher who so strenuously oppose us today. The most hardcore opponents today make the BEST advocates when they flip to our side. Put your faith to work today. Do this through prayer and as an act of your will. Labor with it, work on it day in and day out. Have something to show the master when he shows up. This is your act of planting and watering, leave the growing to the Lord, that's his job:
1 Cor 3:5 Who, then, is Paul, and who Apollos, but ministrants through whom ye did believe, and to each as the Lord gave? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was giving growth; 7 so that neither is he who is planting anything, nor he who is watering, but He who is giving growth -- God; 8 and he who is planting and he who is watering are one, and each his own reward shall receive, according to his own labour, 9 for of God we are fellow-workmen; God's tillage, God's building ye are.
Return to the childlike faith that is in Jesus our Lord. His yoke is easy and his burden is light. I don't know how much time we have, but I do know that the escape that's coming has the destination of standing before the Son of man:
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
The Son of man is not on earth, he's in heaven. Those found worthy of the escape will stand before the Son of man in heaven to receive rewards (crowns) that we see on men in Rev 5 immediately after the door open in heaven in Rev 4:1. Depending on how much time is left you might be able to add another crown to your reward, or for many you might just make the worthiness factor needed to be part of the escape.
Done for today, grace and peace
Monday, May 25, 2009
Being "Saved"
^^This my friends is what it means to be "saved." If you dedicate your life to serving him?....follow the words with me:
Dedicate
Your LIFE
Serving Him
I ask you, does that sound like a one time/one day "decision for Jesus?" Certainly there is a day that you make a decision to follow Jesus but that day MUST be followed by the next day and the next day etc etc for LIFE. That's what "abide" means. Re-read John 15 where we are told that we must "abide" in him or we will be cutoff thrown out and burned up.
We know that our Lord does not change. His attitude toward serving him in Solomon's time is the same as his attitude toward serving him today. He expects ALL OF YOU ....everyday. He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, he is GOD ALMIGHTY and he has a RIGHT to demand EVERYTHING from you. Todays half-hearted, powerless, "once saved always saved" babylonian churchianity teaches you lies that will have you told "away from me you evildoers, I never knew you" (Matt 7:21+) on the day you stand before the Lord.
The bottom line here is that todays so called churches teach a DIFFERENT Jesus than the one I read about in the bible. They teach a DIFFERENT GOSPEL than the one in the bible.
2 Corinthians 11:4 When someone comes to you telling about another Jesus whom we didn't tell you about, you're willing to put up with it. When you receive a spirit that is different from the Spirit you received earlier, you're also willing to put up with that. When someone tells you good news that is different from the Good News you already accepted, you're willing to put up with that too.
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Paul marvelled at how soon people accepted "another gospel." The price of preaching and teaching "any other gospel" is to be ACCURSED. "Once saved always saved -OSAS" is "another gospel."
Jesus tells you clearly that you must "abide in Him," men tell you that you don't have to "abide" you just have to "make a decision" for Jesus on any given day then you are in for life. So which is it? We know how we get "in Christ" but nobody talks about/teaches/preaches about STAYING THERE. Staying there is what abide means. By grace through faith you are saved. Take away the faith and theres nothing to be saved "through." Saved THROUGH faith. Yet todays babylonian teachers would tell you that you can even fall away from the faith and still be "saved." No faith=no salvation period.
This entire discussion has brought us right back around to the same topic: faith. Your faith is everything. No faith=no salvation. It takes faith to abide in Christ. It takes faith to please our God in any way:
Hebrews 11:6 ... Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.
If you "made a decision" 5 days or 5 years ago and you find yourself without faith today, you are in trouble. Jesus calls us to faith, great faith each and every day. When Jesus called Peter out onto the water with him, he expected Peter to excercise his faith right in the face of the world's nasty storm and walk on that water. When Jesus fed the 5,000 he first told the apostles "You feed them!" The apostles answered the way the world would (go and buy some/like the virgins oil-matt25?) so Jesus fed the 5,000 with his own faith.
If there was ever a time that this world needed men and women with great faith, it is today. At the time of this world's greatest need, there's the least amount of faith. Jesus knew in advance what to expect when he said:
Luke 18:8
... But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
People are hurting and in trouble, and what they need is the TRUTH not some candy coated false gospel that is preached all over the world today. People need POWER in their lives not empty promises. The power of God comes through FAITH. It's time to get out of the boat and walk with Jesus on the water, that will take faith. People ask what they can do in this dark world and I say you can read your bible and find out what the Creator said for you to do, then do that.
Satan is about to reveal his supernatural POWER to this earth. The Lord expects us to walk, talk and pray in his POWER and our power comes from our faith. If you need more faith then get on your knees and ask the author and finisher of our faith, the Lord Jesus to give you more. Read, heed and believe what was written. We should be walking in a faith today that makes our Lord marvel at us like he did with the centurion:
Matt 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
You need to hear from the Lord today. What is the Spirit saying to the churches today? I know what he is saying to me, I have a vision/a mission and I am excercising my faith day in and day out for it. You need to hear from the Lord to know what it is our Lord would have you do to put you in the perfect center of his will for your life. There is nobody else on this earth just like you. Our Lord treats you like the individual you are, but he also treats you according to your faith.
On a slightly different note, the birthday of the true church is coming up in 6 days: pentecost. I can see an argument for why the Lord might pull us out of here on that day. The next 45 days or so could be very interesting or they could be regular "pre-flood" days. Our job is to be looking up, to be watching and ready TODAY and everyday for our Lord's return. While we await our Lord's return we need to be faithful servants, putting our "talents" (Matt 25) to work for the kingdom. I don't know what your "talents" are but the Lord does and hopefully you do. If you don't know, ask Him. We are not a cookie cutter body, we are diverse and scattered across the earth working towards a kingdom that will have no end with our Lord as its King forever and ever.
Keep the faith, BELIEVE. Be watching and ready, grace and peace
Sunday, May 24, 2009
First Things First
... But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;and all these things shall be added unto you.
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent
While people run around chasing their tails today, the Lord is calling us back to fundamentals. What does this mean? It means putting first things first. Things like "first love" and seeking the kingdom of God are first. I can't think of any more important things to do today than these things. How much time is left before the time of Jacob's trouble begins? Who knows, there are plenty of indicators that hint at sometime over the next 30-40 days. If the Lord comes back for us today or tomorrow or the next day, what's really going to matter? First love, and seeking first his kingdom.
Speaking of first love, what exactly does that mean? It means loving Jesus first. How do we love Jesus first? We obey his commands.
John 14:15
... "If you love me, you will obey my commandments.
Notice that this scripture ^^ is John 14, and the very next chapter John 15 we have this:
John 15
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
^^This tells us very clearly that YOU can be CUTOFF from the vine, thrown out and burned if you do not "abide" in him. That means you enter "in Christ" and you STAY THERE. How do you abide/stay in Christ? Obey his commands. Obeying his commands proves that you love him, it proves that you are not a liar:
1 John 2:4
... The person who says, "I know him," but doesn't obey his commandmentsis a liar. The truth isn't in that person.
There it is^^ if you say you know him but don't obey his commands you are a liar. You don't "know him." And we know from the ongoing dialogue here that "knowing" our Lord and him "knowing" us is HUGE:
Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
How could one who professes to "know" Jesus be told "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity?" Lack of obedience. If you think some decision you made last week or last year or two decades ago bought you some kind of spiritual insurance policy then you are fooling yourself. The word of God clearly tells you that obedience is tied to "knowing" Jesus and PROVING that you love him.
More evidence for "proving" your first love and "knowing" Jesus:
James 2:26
... For just as the body without the spirit is dead,so also faith without works is dead.
What kind of works? Works that put you in the center of this: "he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
How can you do the Fathers will if you don't know what it is? If you are trusting your hired hand "pastor" to tell you what the will of the Father is you are in HUGE trouble. Do you trust these men with your eternal life? Many do. What happens when your "pastor" is an apostate wolf and you trust them to teach you the will of the Father, which they do not do, where does that leave you? In big big BIG trouble.
How does a person come to know the Father's will? Through the word of God which is Jesus the person and the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth. Too many people's faith is in their hired hands (idolatry) and not in the Son of God who is the only one who can get you into the kingdom.
I highly suggest today that you look closely at what you believe and why. Why is one of the most important questions in life. Why do you believe? Where is your faith? Who is your faith on, Jesus or some man or 50/50-Jesus/men?
The Lord could come back for us today. The escape from all is coming. I have come to notice how definitive the words used in the Bible are. Escape from ALL is very definitive. We know from Noah and Lot that the escape takes place BEFORE the flood or fire and brimstone. We know that the escape involves physical separation and physical place of safety just like Noah and Lot. For those people who say we are "kept" here on earth, how do they resolve this dilemma?
If we are still on earth and the man of sin is given authority and power to overcome the saints/every trible and people and tongue and nation then that means he has authority and power to overcome us, how can we be "kept" and overcome by the man of sin at the same time?
Revelation 13:7 ... It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, andauthority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.
How exactly is that "escape ALL?" How does that jive with the stories of Noah and Lot? They argue we will be kept on earth, how does that jive with this the trial to come upon ALL the world/ALL those dwelling upon the earth?:
Rev 3:10'Because thou didst keep the word of my endurance, I also will keep thee from the hour of the trial that is about to come upon all the world, to try those dwelling upon the earth.
This single handedly destroys any notion that we will be "kept" on earth. ALL THE WORLD leaves nowhere on the world to be "kept." DWELLING ON THE EARTH gives us clear spatial reference. The Lord gives us the promise of being "kept" and he tells us that it will not be "upon the earth" when he tells us the trial will be for ALL the world/those dwelling upon the earth. Very clear, very specific. Does this jive with escaping from ALL that's about to happen (Luke 21:36? Yep. Does it jive with the open door in HEAVEN in Rev 4:1? Yep. Redeemed and rewarded men in heaven in Rev 5? Check and checkmate. All the pieces have to fit folks, and they can't be jammed/crammed in to make a piece fit where it does not fit.
What you believe will determine everything about your destiny. It takes faith to believe and faith only comes from the Son of God. There will be fake raptures/fake signs and wonders and the cherry on top of this will be the delusion send directly from our God to those on earth for their refusal to love the truth and so be saved. If you don't love the truth do you think you'll be saved? There is a worthiness factor associated with the escape, go read it again. Candy coated apostianity won't touch these things with a 10 foot pole. We are told to fear God for a reason. YOU can be cutoff from the vine which is Jesus Christ, thats a fact (John 15). Our God CAN throw both your body and your soul into hell, that's a fact:
Luke 12:5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!
We are told clearly here the REASON to fear: the authority to kill and cast into hell. We also know who the audience is....YOU..."yes, I tell you, fear Him."
Its tragic that so called christianity has no stomach anymore for the full counsel of God. This babylonian form of christianity around us is overburdened with anything but the dessert tray of God's word. If its pleasant and soothing they can deal with it, if it has to do with anything else in the bible its "for someone else."
The people of churchianity today are saying the same things the people of Israel said to the prophets of their time:
Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel! ( Isaiah 30:9-11)
The time for playing church is over and has been over. Warning after warning after warning has been sent to mankind but who has ears to hear them today? There is so much deception in the world today (just like Jesus told us) that people must have direct, 1 on 1 knowledge and dealing with the Lord for themselves. YOU must seek the Lord's face today, you must read his word today. You must get a word from him today. If you think your spiritual hired hand can maintain and develop your "first love" then you are really in big trouble, that's the truth.
The Lord motivates his people with the carrot AND the stick. He pulls you toward him with his promises and he pushes you forward from the rear with FEAR. You have not been given a spirit of fear that's true, but so many take this out of context. The Spirit you have been given is the Holy Spirit, that's all that's saying. It's not saying that everything written to YOU in the bible about fearing God, and fearing the consequences for sin, disobedience faithlessness etc etc are null and void. Satan always come to you with the same tired things "hath God really said?"
Hath God really said he would cut you off from the vine? (John 15)
Hath God really said there is an escape from ALL thats about to happen (Luke 21:36)
Hath God really said the wages of sin is DEATH? Rom 6:23
Hath God really said only a few will be saved? Matt 7:14
Hath God really said all your religious "good deeds" are worthless if you do not do the Fathers will? Matt 7:21
The list goes on. How foolish men are to trust their eternal souls to hired hands. In the greatest time of deception this world has ever seen people farm out their relationship with Jesus to hired hands. It's mind boggling. Keep the faith, develop your first love. Find out for yourself what the fathers will is an DO IT.
Done for today grace and peace
Friday, May 22, 2009
The Church, "Pastors"
This brings me to another place in the bible that tells us what the activity within the true church looks like compared to the lie. Behold:
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Did you read that^^^^? Does it say the "clergy" teaching and admonishing us? Does it say your "pastor" teaching and admonishing us? NO, it says teaching and admonishing EACH OTHER!!!!!!! Guess that means all the conquer-laity (nicolaitan) clergy should be out looking for jobs then huh? If we are teaching and admonishing each other what do we need laity conquerers (pastors) for? What the heck is a "worship ministry?" WE SING spiritual songs with grace in our hearts to the Lord. Oops, there goes another laity conquering "ministry" out the window.
What's the deal with bringing people into buildings and making everyone stare at the BACK of everyone else's head and the only face we get to see is the laity conquerers (pastor)? We all face the back of someone else's head so the only face we get to stare at is the hired hand? What is that? How exactly can I teach or admonish you when only one person gets to speak (pastor)? And these pastor's wonder why PRIDE is such a problem for them? People still wonder why idolatry runs rampant throughout so called christianity?
You know what teaching and admonishing each other does? It keeps us all on an equal (humble) footing. It teaches us practically that we are all brothers not us the sheep and them the shearers (clergy). There is no clergy laity system in the true body PERIOD. We are all brothers, the only Guru in the entire body is the Master himself..JESUS.
Gosh, without laity conquering clergy who will lead us? What do you think the Holy Spirit does? What does the head of the church (Jesus) do? The HEAD makes the decisions for the body and the only head the true body of Christ has is Jesus. Anything with more than one head on it is a monster and thats what todays babylonian form of christianity is, a monster.
Elders perform the oversight for the body of Christ, but they do it as an older, been around for awhile, seen those battles brother who is honored for having been around the block and fighting many battles, not for being a one way talking ponificating "guru" all eyes on "ME- pastor" that every "church" I've ever stepped foot in has.
The term poimen that men have butchered into "pastor" is mentioned rarely/sparsely in the bible yet they cover the landscape of churchianity like an army of locusts, WHY? You'd think by what we see around us today that "pastors" would have been mentioned ALOT MORE in the bible yet Paul never appointed one, spoke with one, commanded that anyone go out and "hire" one etc etc. Paul told us specifically what we should see in the church and pastors were NOT mentioned:
1 Cor 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Do you see "pastor" mentioned anywhere in that list? I don't.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
See "pastor" mentioned anywhere ^^^? I don't
Eph 4:11 and He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as proclaimers of good news, and some as shepherds and teachers,
See "pastor" mentioned anywhere ^^^^? I don't (^^^literlal translation folks, not the butchered man honoring translations)
Today we see an army of nicolaitan "pastors" everywhere yet try as I might reading through the entire new testament I can't find a SINGLE INSTANCE of the apostles EVER meeting one/speaking with one/NOTHING. Don't you find that odd? Should'nt "pastor" have been mentioned at least once in all of Paul's travels to the churches? Yea, mention of them would be appropriate IF they were the indispensible spiritual guru's you've been sold your entire life. But since Jesus HATES the deeds of the nicolaitans (rev 2:6, 2:15), you never read about the true church having any nicolaitan/clergy/"pastors."
Men have been sold an idolatrous lie and because they love the lie more than the truth they've bitten down on it hook line and sinker. In fact its mankinds love of lies that will bring about the great delusion thats coming to this world in the (near?) future.
2 Thess 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
They receive NOT the love of the truth. What calls itself the church has no power, no salt, no light and yet men cling to it like a liferaft. "Churches" and "pastors" on every corner yet thickening darkness is flooding this world. How do they reconcile the fact that darkness CANNOT exist in a room full of light, they claim to be light and yet this world is getting darker by the day? If they were light and salt this world would not be darkening and rotting but it is because they are not. People see the darkness falling upon mankind yet they never look to their beloved laity conquerers as part of the problem.
You may wonder why the "pastor" gets roasted here. Stop wondering, Jesus did not say that the nicolaitans were a minor irritation he said he HATES the deeds/teaching/practices of these people. HATE is a strong word would'nt you say? Is it any wonder that someone who claims to be filled with the same Spirit that Jesus has would HATE the same things Jesus hates? If that does'nt make sense then please stop reading and go back to sleep.
The church is being called back to what it is supposed to be. The church is being called back to fundamentals. We teach and admonish one another, thats a fundamental that will put the nicolaitans on their heels. You are being taught and admonished right now, mission accomplished. Read the bible for yourself, seek the Lord's face, asking him for more faith, asking him to fill you up to overflowing with the Spirit. Ask him for the ability to think the way HE THINKS so you can undo the brainwashing done by your lifelong institutionalization.
Keep Jesus centered in you mind heart and spirit. Maintain your first love with him. He is first above all else. Done for today-grace and peace
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Ascension Day
Supposedly today is ascension day, maybe today is the literal day Jesus rose up into the heavens maybe it isn't. Nailing down exact dates and times is a waste of time for us who are looking for our masters return EVERY DAY. I hope you are beginning to understand why we were told to be watching and ready all the time, every day. We were given promises that are not dependant on our knowledge of particular spots on a calendar. We are to focus on the promises with every ounce of faith we have.
Living for the Lord is not a one time "make a decision" event as so many would have you believe. Praying a prayer is great today, making a "decision for Jesus" is great for today, but what about tomorrow and the next day and the next? We are told over and over again that we must ABIDE in Christ. Abide means this walk "in Christ" is an ongoing every day thing, not a one time "flash in the pan" event. If making it into heaven was as easy as saying a 30 second prayer then we would'nt see Matt 7:14-28 in the bible.
On a day like today we can remember Jesus rising up into the heavens to sit at the right hand of our Father. We can also remember the promise that he will come back to take us where he is. Where is he? He is in heaven. The place he has prepared for us is not here on earth, its in heaven just like the open door we see in Rev 4:1. We have a promise of escape from all thats about to happen for those found worthy of the escape.
These past days the Lord has impressed upon me that so many of the problems in the world are a result of faithlessness. People have no problem "going to church" and yelling "amen" and dancing around while they are being "serviced" but do they really believe the promises? What is real faith and real belief? What can a real believer do? I am fully convinced that Satan laughs rolling on the floor at the institutionalized, sterilized, pasteurized and neutered "church people" that cover the earth. I'm not speaking of the true church, but the powerless so called christianity we see all around us today. I am also convinced that Satan trembles at the men and women who really believe, who are full of faith, who seek our Lord's faith on their knees daily. Jesus said we can tell mountains to be removed and cast into the sea if we really believed, and he was not kidding.
Yesterday the Lord gave me this little tidbit about faith, belief and how to get it/increase it.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
What that says is Faith comes from the word of God. We know that the word of God can be found in your bibles, but where else can it be found? It can be found in the living, breathing person of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the word of God... remember? So reading your bibles is one piece, but on your knees in the presence of Jesus Christ himself is the other. All this is a long winded way of saying that there is no substitute for time spent in the literal presence of the King of Kings. Theres something that happens in the presence of God almighty that can take place nowhere else. Basking in the real presence of God Almighty is basking in the word of God. Faith comes from the word of God who is Jesus Christ, the person and the written word-BOTH.
Its been said here before, Jesus alone is the key that unlocks everything. It takes faith to do everything worthwhile in this world and the next. There is no "believe" without faith. Faith comes from Jesus Christ the key to unlocking EVERYTHING. So if you are reading your bibles everyday, here's a big hug but if you are not getting on your knees and entering the presence of the Almighty often you are really really hamstringing yourself.
Satan likes to ask you "where's your God now?" right in the midst of his attacks on your life. I've had a demon literally say that to me through a lady in my past, right in the middle of an attack on my life "WHERES YOUR GOD NOW?" Forget what Satan is doing in this world, we get it, the signs are everywhere. What are we doing with these last days before the time of Jacob's trouble?
I would tell you to be praying in faith today not only to be counted worthy of the escape from all, but also for everything and anyone that will in any way build the kingdom of God:
Matthew 6:33 ... But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;and all these things shall be added unto you.
Our God does not look at things the way we do. He sees faith as the SUBSTANCE of the thing prayed about. What we see around us is not reality, Spirit, the unseen is the reality behind all things so what you believe in faith is counted as reality in God's eyes. If people in your family are not yet "in Christ" then pray in faith that they are "in Christ." Why do I bring all this up today? Because right after the escape comes "standing before the Son of man" which is what?
Matthew 5:12 "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is
... Rejoice and be extremely glad, because your reward in heaven is great!
Revelation 22:12 "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is ...
... I am coming soon! My reward is with me to repay everyone according to his work.
Repay according to our work? Well, what is this "work?" John 6:29 ... Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God: to believe in the one whom he has sent." So believing is the work of God, and what does it take to believe? FAITH. No faith=no believing=no work of God=you are bankrupt. Instead of getting all caught up with what Satan is doing in the world how about we get caught up in faith works of God that earn an everlasting reward? Your faith determines everything regarding your day to day walk as well as your eternal destiny.
There was a time when I think the Lord wanted me to point out all the signs and signals in the world to those who would listen. What I hear from him today is "the signs are obvious and everywhere" today so much so that even the blind deaf and dumb are noticing. Whacking a dead horse gives us no progress. We are disciples/followers of Jesus which means we are to perfect our way before him, align ourselves to the very center of his will for us.
The church is weak and scattered today which is why the Lord tells us in Rev 3 that we are weak (little strength). When a football team or a military unit starts to fray at the seams you know what the coach/commanders do? Force a return to focus on fundamentals, tackling, blocking, marksmanship, physical strength etc etc. All the best coaches and commanders put a strong emphasis on fundamentals. We have a commander in heaven who is telling us to refocus our attention on basics/fundamentals. That does'nt mean going back to milk from strong meat, it means putting first things first. Attention on Jesus is first, he is our first love, from him comes faith for belief which is how we do the work of God. No PhD or seminary degree required for any of this.
You personally need to hear the Spirit of God speak to you today. What is the Lord saying to you personally? Your hired hand spiritual employee (pastor) will NEVER be allowed into the intimate place reserved for you and Jesus alone...EVER. So I suggest you get there, the Lord is waiting for you.
grace and peace