Walk in His Paths

Sunday, August 30, 2015, 8:00 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Songs in the Night.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Isaiah 2:1-5 (NASB).

The Mountain (vv. 1-2)

The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

Now it will come about that

In the last days

The mountain of the house of the Lord

Will be established as the chief of the mountains,

And will be raised above the hills;

And all the nations will stream to it.

This passage of scripture is speaking of what will take place in the “last days.” In comparing scripture with scripture, it would appear that the ‘last days’ began with Jesus Christ – with his birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection, and then continuing on into the life of the church. All references to the ‘last days’ in the prophecies and teachings of scripture, thus, refer to the Messianic age and the church age before the return of Christ.

In verse three it mentions the “mountain of the Lord” and “the house of the God of Jacob.” Then it says “He will teach us his ways…” Grammatically speaking, the “he” refers back to the subjects “mountain” and “house.” As well, the “he” refers back to the “law” that will go out from Zion and the “word of the Lord” that will go out from Jerusalem. And, in keeping with the understanding that we are speaking of the Messianic era here, the “temple” of God is both Jesus Christ (See Jn. 2:19-21) and it is his church, the body of Christ (See 2 Co. 6:16). Zion is a reference to the church (See Heb. 12:22), as well as is Jerusalem, for physical Jerusalem is of Hagar, the slave woman, but we are of the free woman, and we, Christ’s followers, are the children of promise, the heavenly Jerusalem (See Gal. 4:21-31).

So, understanding all of what we just discovered above, we can read this passage as thus: In the last days, i.e. in the days of the Messiah and his church, Jesus Christ will be established as superior to all other gods, and things that are worshiped, and also places of worship (Ref: mountains as high places of worship). He will be exalted above the heavens (See Heb. 7:26). In fact, “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name…” (See Ph. 2:9). And, all nations will stream (run) to him – to his gospel of salvation – people from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues (cf. Rev. 7:9-10).

His Ways (v. 3)

And many peoples will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

To the house of the God of Jacob;

That He may teach us concerning His ways

And that we may walk in His paths.”

For the law will go forth from Zion

And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Many people will say, “Come, let us go to Jesus Christ. He will teach us his ways…” He (the law) will go out from the church, the Body of Christ. He (the Word) will go out from the church.

After Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, and was resurrected from the dead, after numerous days, and following many appearances to his followers, he ascended back to heaven where he sits at the right hand of the Father. Then, he sent his Holy Spirit to indwell and to empower his disciples, i.e. those who were and are followers of Jesus Christ. Thus, those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives have God living within them in the person of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Christ is the temple of God, and we, being his body, are also the temple of God, with Christ as our head.

Before Jesus Christ left this earth, on the basis that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given him, he commissioned his followers to go and to make disciples of Christ of people of all nations, baptizing and teaching them to obey all that Jesus Christ had commanded them. Many of his apostles were given direct revelation from God/Jesus, which they wrote down, and which we now have as the New Testament scriptures for the church today. As well, since we have Jesus Christ living within us, in the person of the Spirit, the living Word dwells within each one of us who follow Jesus Christ with our lives. Jesus also told his followers that they were the light of the world and the salt of the earth, and that when the Holy Spirit came upon them that they would be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. So, we are among those who are calling people to Jesus Christ, and who are leading others to be taught in Jesus’ ways, to follow Jesus Christ, and to walk in his paths.

So, what are his ways? What are his paths in which we must walk? What is the law that is going out from Zion (the church)? The Law is the Word of Christ. It is his instructions given to us. It is the Word he gave to his apostles to write down for us, which we now have recorded in the New Testament books of the Bible. It is the gospel of our salvation. And, in his Word, and in his gospel, we learn his ways and his paths which we are to follow.

Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and self) and follow (obey) Christ. He said if we hold on to our old lives (of living for sin and self) we will lose them for eternity, but if we lose our lives (die to sin), we will gain eternal life (Lu. 9:23-25). His apostles taught the same thing. Paul wrote that Jesus died that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us who walk (conduct our lives) according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh. He said that if we walk (live our lives) according to our sinful flesh, we will die, but if by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the flesh, we will live (Ro. 8:1-14). Peter said that Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness (1 Pet. 2:24). And, Paul said that Jesus died that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave himself up for us (2 Co. 5:15).

All throughout the New Testament we are taught that belief in Jesus Christ means death to sin and living to righteousness; that it means forsaking our former lives of sin, being transformed in heart and mind of the Spirit of God, and being given new lives in the Spirit, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (See: Eph. 4:17-24). All throughout the New Testament we are instructed in holy living, and are told that we are called to be holy, which means to be separate from (different from; unlike) the world, because we are becoming like Jesus Christ. God’s grace is not freedom from having to obey Jesus Christ. It is not freedom from keeping the Word of the Lord. God’s grace, which brings salvation, teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and desires, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return (Tit. 2:11-14). So, to walk in the ways of the Lord means to obey Christ and his word, in the power and strength and wisdom of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, and not in our own flesh.

He Will Judge (v. 4)

And He will judge between the nations,

And will render decisions for many peoples;

And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation will not lift up sword against nation,

And never again will they learn war.

Jesus Christ will judge between nations at the end of days, and wars will cease. Since we read in Revelation that God/Christ will judge the people of this earth during the time called the Tribulation, and there will definitely be war during this time, this must be referring to the time of the end when Christ will judge, and people will repent of their evil ways, although not all will, but that is why they will discard their weapons of war. I don’t think, though, that we will come to that time where people will never again learn war, until Jesus returns and he rules and reigns on the earth, as will his saints with him.

In the Light (v. 5)

Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

So, the call here is to come to faith in Jesus Christ or to return to the Lord Jesus if you have wandered off from your pure devotion to him to follow the gods of this world. We do this through repentance (turning from sin) and via turning to follow our Lord in faithful obedience, though not necessarily in sinless perfection, yet never to use “imperfect” as an excuse for willful sin. We are to be taught by the Lord Jesus his ways, so that we can walk (conduct our lives) in his paths. We do this through time spent in the study of his word each day, in prayer, in seeking his face, and in allowing the Holy Spirit of God to speak God’s words to our hearts. Yet, we must be receptive to what the Lord has to say to us, and we must walk in obedience to what we have learned, i.e. we must be doers of the word and not hearers only. The more we obey our Lord, the more of himself he reveals to us, and the more he shows us all that he has for us.

Then, we must take the word of God out to the people of the world, and be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, and be our Lord’s servants and witnesses in sharing the gospel of salvation with the world who needs the Savior. We must not spend the rest of our lives living for ourselves, entertaining and being entertained. This is not to say we can’t enjoy life, or that games or fun are forbidden, but they should not be central to our lives, for our lives are not our own to be lived how we want, for we were bought with the price of Jesus’ blood shed on the cross for our sins.

We are to honor and glorify God with our lives. We should certainly not allow ourselves to be involved in sinful behavior or to permit ourselves to be entertained by others’ sinful behavior. We should examine all that we do, and all that we take into our minds to see if it is dishonoring to God, either because of the activities themselves, or by way of the time and devotion given to them, especially in contrast to the time given to our Lord, to his word, to prayer and to service to him and to others. Basically, if we truly see ourselves as no longer our own, but the Lord’s, we will want to please him in all that we do and are and speak.

So, “Come, let us walk in the light (truth, holiness and righteousness) of Jesus Christ our Lord.” Let us be taught in his ways, and let us walk (conduct our lives) in his paths.

Songs in the Night / An Original Work / December 18, 2013

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,

And the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25 NIV ‘84

Lord, I praise You forevermore.

You, my Savior, I now adore.

Hope in heaven awaiting me,

Because You died at Calvary.

I have been forgiven,

And I’m bound for heaven.

Jesus set me free from

All my sin, I say.

I will praise Him always!

Lord, I love You for all You’ve done:

Overcame death, my vict’ry won!

Jesus saved me, and now I’m free!

I rejoice in His love for me.

I will walk in vict’ry!

My sin is but hist’ry!

I am free to please Him

With my life today.

I will love Him always!

Lord, I thank You for giving me

A new life bought at Calvary.

Loving Jesus, I meet with Him.

Tender mercies now flow within.

Lord, I am so thankful;

Through my Lord, I’m able

To sit at His table;

Fellowship with Him.

I will thank Him always!

https://vimeo.com/112342407

Wake Up!

This is a message to “Wake up” from our spiritual slumber, to rise from the dead, to strengthen what remains and is about to die, to remember what we have received and heard from God, to obey it, and to repent of our sins, and Christ will shine on us. The Lord gave me this very solemn tune. As I listen to it, I can hear my Savior weeping over all our sins while he continues to call us back to him in humility, surrender and obedience to his commands.

Wake Up! / An Original Work / November 25, 2011

Based off Ephesians 5:1-21; Revelation 3:1-6

Wake up, sleeper,

Rise from the dead.

Your God awaits

You to do what

He says to you.

Be not conformed

To your selfish will.

Trust in the Lord.

Do what He says.

He will give you victory.

Do not walk in

Darkness; come into

The light of love.

Listen to your

Savior calling

You to obey

All His teachings.

Repent of your

Sin, and Christ will

Shine His love on you.

He waits patiently

For you to

Heed His whispers to your heart.

Will you hasten

To obey Him;

Not from Him depart?

Live your life from

This day forward,

Walking in His

Love and mercy.

Let Him cleanse you

Of all your sins.

Dwell with Him today.

Do not insult

God’s grace to you.

Do not make light of your sin.

Let the light of

His truth come and

Free you from within.

https://vimeo.com/125863007

An Unfaithful City

Saturday, August 29, 2015, 6:00 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Wait!” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Isaiah 1:21-31 (NASB).

A Harlot

How the faithful city has become a harlot,

She who was full of justice!

Righteousness once lodged in her,

But now murderers.

Your silver has become dross,

Your drink diluted with water.

Your rulers are rebels

And companions of thieves;

Everyone loves a bribe

And chases after rewards.

They do not defend the orphan,

Nor does the widow’s plea come before them.

The faithful city turned harlot being spoken of here is Jerusalem, which was the holy city prior to Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection and ascension into heaven. Now the city of Jerusalem in the land of Israel corresponds to Hagar, “because she is in slavery with her children. But, the Jerusalem that is above is free…” (See: Gal. 4:21-31). In other words, the physical city of Jerusalem is no different from any other city. The holy city is no longer a physical city, but is a spiritual one, i.e. it is the Jerusalem from above. And, it is comprised of those who are followers (disciples) of Jesus Christ, i.e. it is the church, the body of Christ, but not to be confused with the institutional church, which is of human origin.

Many of God’s once faithful people have become harlots in that they have left their “first love,” and have gone off to run after the gods of men. I don’t know about the church in other countries, but I do know that the vast majority of today’s church here in America has become one with the world and is following humans and humanistic and even pagan philosophy in place of their pure devotion to Jesus Christ. They easily believe whatever sounds good to their ears without checking it out to make sure it is true. Much of the church has united with a Satanic and evil government, and promotes government worship within the meetings of the church. Much of the gatherings of the church are geared toward entertaining the world, so that the world will feel comfortable and at home in the gatherings of the church, and thus they have diluted and/or twisted the gospel message and the character of Jesus Christ in order to make them more appealing and acceptable to the world. Thus, they often discard as rubbish those who are truly following Jesus Christ.

So many Christians, in blindly believing their government leaders and the government-controlled media, thus, have inadvertently supported the murdering of innocents and even the killing of those who are Christ’s followers and servants of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can’t trust our government leaders or their media, because most of their stories are lies, cleverly disguised as truth. Our government in the USA, in concert with her “other lover,” i.e. the New World Order ‘beast,’ trumps up charges on innocent civilians for crimes they have committed or else they completely stage news events using paid actors and actresses, or those who have also bowed to the beast and are partners with them in their fabrications and orchestrated “crisis” situations. Our government and their allies are the world’s terrorist organizations. The US government is the Taliban, Al Qaida and ISIS. These are all creations of our government (+ N.W.O.), and they are trained and supported by them.

Obama and the Pope are strong voices for this New World Order by bullying or manipulating the people and the governments of this world, and the church, into uniting with the New World Order ‘beast.’ The Iranian nuclear deal is not really about curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, as the US accuses Iran of what they are actually doing. The real “deal” is a deal with the devil, and it is to get the people and governments (independent) of this world to comply with the New World Order in unity of mission and purpose. It is to get sovereign nations to yield their sovereignty to the New World Order and to turn against (desert) their own people, and agree to go after all dissenting voices, i.e. all who are not in unity with the New World Order. We can read about this in the book of Revelation, in the book of Daniel and in many other Biblical prophesies concerning these last days before Jesus’ return.

The Pope is trying to get the church to accept a social gospel which takes care of the poor, supposedly, but which ignores the sin nature of humans and their need for salvation from sin. He speaks of “globalized indifference” to the plight of migrants who are trying to gain entry into the E.U., but the New World Order ‘beast’ is truly the epitome of this indifference to the suffering of others in that it has been busy for some time conquering nations, taking what is not their own, destroying or confiscating the property of others, killing at will, and murdering innocents and followers of Christ, etc. The Pope, Obama and the New World Order are preaching a message of unity with the N.W.O. ‘beast,’ which means no more independent nations or national borders, and no more gospel of Jesus Christ which divides the people of this world. The pope wants to have no more divisions, but to have all people come together as one under this ‘beast.’ If we don’t bow to the beast, then we will be targeted for extinction.

The U.N. Chief is preaching the same message. He is asking for EU leaders to behave in agreement with their global obligations, which is to bow to the ‘beast.’ When he speaks of a calamity of unity, he is speaking of the problem of disunity with the New World Order ‘beast.’ They are all concerned about what divides us as a people, but most especially with regard to anything that goes against the New World Order ‘beast’ and its tyrannical one-world government and one-world religion. They are all targeting all who are not united with this beast and are calling for unity, which is also unity in deserting one’s own people and in murdering those who do not follow the beast, but who follow the Lord Jesus Christ. If we have not gotten there yet, though many have, I believe, we will soon be called upon to make a choice in who we are going to follow – the Lord Jesus Christ (our God), or the New World Order ‘beast.’ There will soon be no more riding the fence.

After That

Therefore the Lord God of hosts,

The Mighty One of Israel, declares,

“Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries

And avenge Myself on My foes.

“I will also turn My hand against you,

And will smelt away your dross as with lye

And will remove all your alloy.

“Then I will restore your judges as at the first,

And your counselors as at the beginning;

After that you will be called the city of righteousness,

A faithful city.”

God is allowing all this to take place, for a time, or else it could not happen. Our God is absolutely sovereign over all things, and has absolute control over all people and all events in the world, and he has all power over all kings and kingdoms. I believe he is allowing these things to take place in order to bring his adulterous people back to him, to provide a catalyst for the gospel of Jesus Christ to spread throughout the world, so that many will be saved, and to purify his bride and to make her ready for the consummation of her relationship with her husband, i.e. to prepare the church, the body of Christ, for the return of her Lord (See the books of Isaiah and Revelation). As well, during this time he will judge evil, and eventually he will judge those evil people and entities which he is now using as his divine instruments of judgment against his adulterous church.

Repentant Ones

Zion will be redeemed with justice

And her repentant ones with righteousness.

But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together,

And those who forsake the Lord will come to an end.

Surely you will be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired,

And you will be embarrassed at the gardens which you have chosen.

For you will be like an oak whose leaf fades away

Or as a garden that has no water.

The strong man will become tinder,

His work also a spark.

Thus they shall both burn together

And there will be none to quench them.

God is presently calling out to his unfaithful followers, and he is confronting them with their idolatry and adulterous ways, and he is calling them to repentance and to renewed faith in him. He is also warning of judgment. Yet, he is also encouraging his faithful followers to remain strong and steadfast in faith and commitment to him, knowing that God will never leave us or forsake us, and that he will provide us with all we need to endure and to continue in him until the end. He is also warning all those who desert him, and who choose to follow after the beast, instead, that they will meet their doom. So, repent of (turn from) your sin today, and choose to follow Jesus Christ with your life from this moment on. Your future depends on it.

Wait! / An Original Work / February 8, 2014

Wait for your Lord. Be of courage.

Be strong, and take heart today.

God is always watching o’er you.

Trust Him with your life always.

Sing of your Lord. Praise His blessings.

Believe in His sovereignty.

He delivered you from your sin;

Gave you life eternally.

Rest in your Lord. Know His promise.

Beneath His wings rest secure.

Your God has a plan and purpose.

Let your faith in Him endure.

Trust in your Lord. He’ll not leave you,

Because He is faithfulness.

He will lead and guide; protect you.

In His love you can find rest.

https://vimeo.com/86342154

Healing of the Nations

Thursday, August 27, 2015, 12:30 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “For Our Nation.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Revelation 22 (NASB).

Our Future (vv. 1-7)

Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.

And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.

“And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”

From what I understand of these last days’ events, God is presently calling out to his wayward church (See: Rev. 2-3), is warning them of impending judgment, is confronting them with their idolatry and spiritual adultery, and he is calling them to repent of their sins and to return to their “first love.”

Although I certainly don’t know the timing of all these things, I do know that much of what has been prophesied in this book has already begun to take place. For instance, Satan is enraged at the saints of God and is making war against those who obey God’s commandments and who hold to the testimony of Jesus (See: Rev. 12:17), but he has been doing that ever since Jesus died, was resurrected, ascended into heaven, and sent his Holy Spirit to indwell his followers and to empower them from on high to be his witnesses throughout the world; to share the message of the eternal gospel. Yet, we have seen a recent upsurge in this kind of persecution worldwide, including within the U.S.A.

And, then we have the “beast.” Although I don’t know if this beast is in its final form, it has been forming for hundreds of years. America, I believe, was founded on the premise of bringing the world ultimately under the rule of a one-world government (the All-Seeing Eye). The symbolism is all throughout our Great Seal. The United Nations was formed for this purpose, as was NATO, the Trilateral Commission, and the Council on Foreign Relations, etc. This beast has been rising for a long while. And, the U.S. government has been instrumental in leading the way for the rise of this beast (New World Order).

Our government, in concert with this “beast,” creates chaos in various nations, including within our own, so that it (they) can go into these nations and take them over, and that is what they have been doing. If you have followed world news for the past 10 years, especially, with any amount of discernment, you could not help but notice the modus operandi of this beast within these various nations: A problem is created which thus requires a solution, but the nations themselves are incapable of solving their own problems (created by the US/N.W.O.), so the “international community” is called in to “save the day,” but not really. They are there to take over, consume, destroy and kill. They are also hotly pursuing followers of Jesus Christ and are responsible for many deaths and persecutions of Christians throughout the world. The US Gov./New World Order are the world’s terrorists.

So, much of what was prophesied in Revelation 13 has already begun to take place. God is judging his wayward people already, I believe, via this New World Order. Much of the people of this earth are already under its control. It is making war against the saints of God and is conquering (overpowering) them, some through deceit and trickery, and some through persecution and death, i.e. through oppression and military strength and power. It won’t be long before this beast will truly be ruling all peoples of the earth, though I suspect much of the world is presently already under its control, although it may be ruling from behind the scenes, at present, i.e. as a shadow government.

We are being called to come out from the world’s system, and to not take its mark (impression) on our lives, and we are called to follow Jesus Christ in surrender to his will for our lives. God is allowing all these things to take place, not just to judge, but to bring his adulterous church to repentance and revival and to bring many people to faith in Jesus Christ before our Lord returns. When this time of judgment is complete, which includes the wrath of God being poured out on the earth, and on the people of the earth, and on this beast, the false prophet and the dragon, the beast and false prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire and the dragon will be bound for 1,000 years, during which time Jesus and his saints will reign over the earth. At the end of that time, the dragon will be released for a short time, but then he will be thrown into the lake of fire, as will all who worship the beast.

Then, we will have the new heaven and the new earth, for the old order of things, where we lived on an earth cursed by sin, will be done away with, and now there will be no more sin, sickness, death, sadness, pain or tears. Although Jesus Christ is our great physician, and he heals us now spiritually and emotionally and physically, and he comforts us with his love and mercy, a day is coming when we will be whole, completely healed, with no more suffering or sadness. Then we will be with Jesus face-to-face. We will never be tempted by sin again, or know the sorrow of rejection, abandonment and persecution. This is what the saints of God have to look forward to. This is our future, our hope, our salvation. Amen!

Washed Robes (vv. 8-16)

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. But he *said to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God.”

And he *said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.”

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

The majority of today’s church, at least here in America, has fallen prey to Satan’s deceptions, and has gone the way of the world, and is following humans rather than, or over and above God. Rather than the majority of the saints of God going out into the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ, the church has invited the world into the meetings of the church, and has thus patterned its meetings in such a way as to attract the world to the “church,” but not to lead the people of this sinful world to genuine faith in Jesus Christ. Rather than confronting the world with its sin and calling the world to repentance, the church is entertaining the world, and thus has diluted and twisted the gospel to make it more appealing and acceptable to the people of the world. There is not much distinction between the church and the world anymore. The church has largely rejected Bible studies in favor of book studies, of books written by mere humans, in which scripture is neatly placed in order to give an impression that what is contained within is Biblical, but much of it is not. So, God is calling out to his church to forsake her idols and to worship God only.

The “gospel” being taught in much of today’s church is not the gospel according to Jesus and his NT apostles. It is a gospel of human origin. It teaches that God requires nothing of us other than to “believe,” although that belief is not really explained. It comes across more like an intellectual acknowledgment of Jesus and of what he did in dying for our sins, or an emotional decision to make him Savior of our lives, although many do not comprehend what that really means, either. Remember that James said that even the demons believe, and they shudder. The church has lost the fear (awe, respect and reverence) of God. They teach that we don’t have to repent of (turn from) sin, and that we don’t have to obey Jesus, and that once we pray that prayer that heaven is guaranteed to us no matter how badly we sin from that point on, and that God is pleased with us no matter what we do. But, is that what scripture teaches? No!

We read in Romans 6 that salvation means death to sin and living to righteousness; being delivered from slavery to sin so that we can become slaves (servants) of righteousness. We read in Romans 8 that Jesus died that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us who walk not according to the flesh, but who conduct our lives in agreement with the Spirit, for if we walk according to the flesh, we will die, but if by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the flesh, we will live. We read in 1 Peter 2:24 that Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. We read in 2 Co. 5:15 that Jesus died that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave himself up for us. And, we read in 1 John 1:6 that if we claim to have fellowship with God, but we continue (persist in) walking (conducting our lives) in darkness (according to the flesh), that we are liars. In other words, faith in Jesus Christ is not just words we say, but it means death to sin and living to God.

Come (vv. 17-21)

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Jesus is calling out to his adulterous and idolatrous church, and he is saying “Return to me.” He is calling out to the people of this sinful world, and he is saying, “Come to me, and take the free gift of the water of life.” It is free because Jesus died to purchase our salvation for us. Not one of us can keep the whole law perfectly, so not one of us can secure our own salvation. God has provided it for us as a free gift, yet “free” does not mean free to continue in sin. When he purchased our salvation, he purchased us, for us to die with him to sin and live with him to righteousness. We are called to be holy. We are commanded to obey and to repent, and to walk in Christ’s righteousness and holiness. God’s grace is not a free license to continue in sin without guilt and without remorse. His grace, which brings salvation, teaches us to say “No!” to ungodliness and worldly passions and desires, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we wait for Christ’s return (Tit. 2:11-14). So, if you are claiming heaven as your future, but you are living for yourself today, I pray you will turn from your sin, and you will follow Jesus Christ in surrender to his will for the rest of your days.

For Our Nation / An Original Work / September 11, 2012

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.

Jesus Christ is gently calling

You to follow Him in all ways.

Trust Him with your life today.

Make Him your Lord and your Savior.

Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.

He will forgive you of your sin;

Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.

On our knees to God we’re praying,

Seeking God to give us answers

That are only found in Him.

God is sovereign over all things.

Nothing from His mind escaping.

He has all things under His command,

And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling

You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: we’re believing

In our Lord, and interceding

For our nation and its people

To obey their God today.

He is our hope for our future.

For our wounds He offers suture.

He is all we need for this life.

Trust Him with your life today.

https://vimeo.com/112351857

Our Eyes on Jesus

4/23/12: The other day I was praying through some present situations in my life. I was feeling weary and I was losing heart over the situation, so I prayed for renewed strength. Then, I pulled out the Bible study we are doing in our ladies’ Tuesday morning Bible study, and I read Hebrews 12:2-3: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Wow! That immediately spoke to my heart, and the situation I was going through, and God began to fill me with his peace and joy. Then, today, as I prayed for words to a tune the Lord had given me, he led me back to this passage of scripture, and once again he encouraged my heart to rely on his strength.

Our Eyes on Jesus / An Original Work / April 23, 2012

Based off Hebrews 12:2-13

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.

Our faith starts and grows in Him,

Who for the joy set before Him

Endured all our sin.

Scorning the shame of the cross,

He sat down beside God above.

He was willing to die for us,

To save us, in love.

Think about the opposition

He endured from sinful men,

So when you go through life’s trials,

You stay strong within.

Knowing all He went through for us

Helps us not grow weak of heart;

Not grow weary; don’t give up;

And not from Him depart.

In your struggle against sin’s ways,

Resist not to shed your blood.

Have you forgotten the words

God spoke to us in love?

“My child, don’t ignore it when

The Lord corrects you; do faint not,

Because the Lord disciplines those

That He loves, of God.”

God rebukes us all for our good;

Share with Him in holiness.

It produces a harvest of

God’s own righteousness.

Therefore, strengthen all within you

That is weak and might give way.

Stand firm in the faith God gives you;

Trust Him and obey.

https://vimeo.com/125489683

All Things New

Tuesday, August 25, 2015, 7:13 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Songs in the Night.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Revelation 21:1-8 (NASB).

The First Things (vv. 1-4)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

When God created all things, there was no sin curse. Humans were in perfect relationship to God. But, then mankind (Adam and Eve) sinned against God, and now they knew sin, and thus God put a curse on them and on the earth, and he banished them from his presence. Since that time, all humankind has been born with sin natures, separated from God, and doomed to eternity in hell. So, God the Father sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to take on human form, to suffer like we suffer, and to be tempted in like manner as we are also tempted, yet without sin. He also sent him to the earth to die on a cross for our sins. When he died, our sins died with him, and were buried with him. When he was resurrected from the dead, he rose victorious over sin, hell, Satan and death. Amen!

By God’s grace, via Jesus’ blood shed on the cross for our sins, through our faith in him, we can be forgiven of our sins, be made righteous in God’s sight, be restored to fellowship with God, and have the hope of eternal life with God, both now and forevermore.

When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, we die with Christ to sin, and we are resurrected of the Spirit of God with Christ to newness of life, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (See: Eph. 4:20-24). Peter said that Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness (1 Pet. 2:24). Paul said that Jesus died that we might no longer live for ourselves but for Jesus who gave himself up for us (2 Co. 5:15). He also said that Jesus died that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us who walk (conduct our lives) no longer according to the flesh, but according to (in agreement with) the Spirit. And, John said that if we say we have fellowship with God, but we continue (persist) to walk (conduct our lives) in darkness (in living according to our sinful flesh), we are liars (1 Jn. 1:6). We will die, unless by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the flesh (Ro. 8:1-14).

Yet, many people on this earth do not yet know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. As well, many who claim to know him do not live like they have been set free from slavery to sin, but they are involved in addictive sinful behaviors, and have wandered off to follow after the gods of this world. So many people have been deceived by Satan’s lies, and have followed after the lies, instead of seeking the truth. So, God has planned a time at the end of time where he will judge his adulterous people and the people of this sinful world so that he can renew them and restore them to a right (correct) relationship with him (See: Rev. 2-3). Yet, God is not confined merely to these final years on the earth to discipline those he loves, for he does that on a consistent basis. One of the ways in which he disciplines is by exposing the people’s sins. I think here of this recent news event, whether real or orchestrated, I do not know, where a website provided for people to have extra-marital affairs has now been exposed. If this is real, it is certainly one way of disciplining the wayward in order to bring them to their senses, so that God can heal them.

During this time of judgment, God’s people (the elect), who are living in spiritual adultery and self-indulgent behavior (See: Rev. 2-3), will lose their shirts, i.e. they will suffer great financial loss and loss of possessions. There will be consequences for their sinful behaviors, yet they will not be lost for eternity. God will change their hearts, they will repent of their sins, forsake their idols, and he will restore them to fellowship with him. When God completes his time of judgment on the people of this earth, through which time his church will be revived (made ready for her husband), and people from all nations, tribes, and languages will stream to Jesus Christ, he will roll up the heavens and the earth like a garment, and they will all be changed (See: Heb. 1:10-12). The curse of sin and death will be gone, and we will be in perfect relationship with God, like Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden. There will be no more tears, no sin (hallelujah!), no pain and no death, for the old order of things (under the curse) will have passed away. Amen! And, Amen!

Everything New (vv. 5-8)

And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

I see here in this writing a sense of both present and future, i.e. of the time we still have on this earth, when we can come to the spring of living water, and when we can overcome, through faith in Jesus Christ, the temptations of our flesh, but also a promise of a future renewal of all things, when the old order of things will have passed away, and all things will become new.

For us to come to Christ and to his salvation, we must thirst for him. We must realize our need of him and of his life-changing Spirit living within us, and we must desire that changed life, of the Spirit of God. We must turn from (repent of) our sins, be transformed in heart and mind of the Spirit of God, and be given new lives in the Spirit to be lived for the glory of God, where we walk daily in fellowship with God in his holiness and righteousness. Yet, we can do none of this in our own flesh. There is nothing we can do to earn or to deserve our own salvation. We can never be good enough to win God’s approval. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ, and in what he did for us in dying for our sins, that we can be made righteous and have eternal life with God. Even the ability to repent and to believe and to walk in obedience to our Lord is of God, and can only be done in his power within us, as we cooperate with and participate with him in death to sin and living to righteousness.

As well, we must be overcomers. True faith in Jesus Christ is continuous, persistent, enduring and lasts until the end. We are not saved based on past belief. Eternal life is only promised to those who believe (present tense) on Jesus Christ. There are many people who believe a person can pray a prayer to “receive” Christ, then live how they want, and still have eternal life guaranteed them, even if they deny Christ by their lives. This is not what the Bible teaches. Yet, I don’t believe scripture teaches sinless perfection, either, for we read in I Jn. 2 that these things were written that we might not sin, but if any of us do sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, who speaks to God in our defense. That is why we are being saved, being made holy, and being conformed into the likeness of Jesus, and why we must die daily to sin and self, because we are still a work in progress.

Yet, for those who choose to continue (persist) in walking (conducting their lives) according to their sinful flesh (in darkness), they will not have eternal life, but they will die in their sins. So, if you think you have heaven guaranteed just because at some point in your life you made a decision to “receive” Christ, but you do not obey Christ, but you continue to go your own way, then think again, because your life depends on you walking in the truth.

Songs in the Night / An Original Work / December 18, 2013

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,

And the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25 NIV ‘84

Lord, I praise You forevermore.

You, my Savior, I now adore.

Hope in heaven awaiting me,

Because You died at Calvary.

I have been forgiven,

And I’m bound for heaven.

Jesus set me free from

All my sin, I say.

I will praise Him always!

Lord, I love You for all You’ve done:

Overcame death, my vict’ry won!

Jesus saved me, and now I’m free!

I rejoice in His love for me.

I will walk in vict’ry!

My sin is but hist’ry!

I am free to please Him

With my life today.

I will love Him always!

Lord, I thank You for giving me

A new life bought at Calvary.

Loving Jesus, I meet with Him.

Tender mercies now flow within.

Lord, I am so thankful;

Through my Lord, I’m able

To sit at His table;

Fellowship with Him.

I will thank Him always!

https://vimeo.com/112342407

Fine Linen

Tuesday, August 25, 2015, 2:58 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Search Me, O God.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Revelation 19:1-10 (NASB).

True and Righteous (vv. 1-4)

After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,

“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her.” And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”

When God formed the earth and he created all things, including his creation of humankind, well, even before that, since he always was, and he is all knowing, and he is completely sovereign over all things, he knew and he planned how things would go for us. With our finite minds, this is difficult for us to comprehend, at least it is for me, but he knew who we were going to be before the creation of the world, and he had a plan and a purpose for our lives. He created Lucifer (Satan, the devil) fully knowing he would rebel against God, along with many of his angels. He could have destroyed Satan and the angels he took with him, but he didn’t. He allowed them to exist. He allowed evil to exist. And, he allowed mankind to be tempted by evil. In other words, he gave us a choice to accept him and to walk in his ways, or to refuse him and to go our own way. But, that choice has consequences.

If we refuse God, and all of us are without excuse (see Romans 1), we will be eternally separated from God, and will suffer eternal punishment in the fires of hell. If we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives, because of what he did in suffering and dying for our sins, then we have the hope of eternity with God in glory. Yet, there is a time of judgment to come on the earth prior to this final judgment, at which time we will either be rewarded with spending eternity in heaven, or we will be punished with the reality of eternity in hell. Our God has designated a specific period of time in which he will judge the inhabitants of this earth, including his adulterous church, and/or including this great harlot who rides the beast. The multitudes in heaven will then rejoice, not that human lives have been destroyed, I don’t believe, but that God triumphed over evil, and he judged the evil which was corrupting the world, and which was leading many, many people astray.

Give Him Glory (vv. 5-9)

And a voice came from the throne, saying,

“Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.” Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying,

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.

Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Then he *said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he *said to me, “These are true words of God.”

There are a lot of professing Christians in the world today, particularly in America, who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture of the church, prior to things getting really bad. From my studies of scripture, I don’t believe that is biblical. Yet, this teaching, which seems to have originated in the mid-1800s, has gained popularity, particularly here in America. Even though the church (followers of Christ), throughout the world, has suffered great persecution and tribulation over the years since Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection and ascension into heaven, in America the church has largely adopted the idea, not only that they can be “saved” and live however they want and still go to heaven when they die, but that God will not allow them to go through a time of great suffering while they still live on this earth, but that he will remove them from the earth, just because they prayed a prayer to “receive” him into their hearts, even if they don’t honor him with their lives at all.

Yet, if we read the book of Revelation, we will see that the book begins, not with a warning to the unregenerate world to repent of their sins, but with warnings to the idolatrous and adulterous church to repent of her sins or face the judgment (punishment, divine correction) of Almighty God. After the church is encouraged in some areas, and warned in others, then the Lamb who was slain, and who was found worthy to open the scrolls, begins to open the seals on the scrolls, and what ensues is God’s divine judgments on the earth. The servants of the Lord are given a seal on their foreheads, and then we are told of a great multitude in white robes from every tribe, nation, people and language standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb, who are coming out of the Great Tribulation, who have washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. I believe there are many prophecies in scripture concerning this time of the end which indicates a revival of God’s church, and the spreading of the gospel, and the salvation of many people from the ends of the earth.

Then, we read in Rev. 12 of the dragon in pursuit of followers of Christ – those who obey God’s commandments and who hold to the testimony of Jesus. In Rev. 13 we read that the beast is given authority to make war against the saints of God and to conquer them. “This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints” (v. 10b). In Rev. 14, the redeemed of the Lord sing a new song to the Lord. These are those who not only were righteous because Jesus’ righteousness was credited to their accounts, by God’s grace, through their faith in him, but they are those who live righteously through faith, and in the power and working of the Spirit, as they conduct their lives according to the Spirit, and not according to the flesh. They follow Jesus (the Lamb) wherever he goes.

Then we read of the eternal gospel being proclaimed to those who live on the earth. They are told to fear God and to give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. We then read of the fall of Babylon, and a warning to not worship the beast. Then it says, “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus” (14:12). Then we read about more judgments, though I realize these visions given to John are not necessarily in the chronological order of the events which have taken place or that will yet take place. Again, we are told about the fall of Babylon, and that is where we read of how the bride of Christ, the true church, has made herself ready for her wedding with her groom, Jesus Christ. Since we know that scripture teaches that we are saved (past), we are being saved (present-ongoing), and we will be saved (future – when Christ returns), and that we are being made holy, and we are being conformed into the likeness of Christ, we know we are not made ready just by an initial prayer to receive Christ, but through the process of sanctification of the Spirit in our lives.

We also know from our studies of scripture that this work of the Spirit in our lives requires our participation and cooperation. In other words, if we say we have fellowship with God, but we persist in conducting our lives according to our sinful flesh, and not according to the Spirit, we lie, and we will die, and we don’t have the hope of eternal life with God.

Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness (1 Pet. 2:24). He died that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave himself up for us (2 Co. 5:15). He died that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us who conduct our lives, not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Ro. 8:1-14). As well, we know that the Lord disciplines, corrects and rebukes those he loves, and that he has planned that we will go through tribulations, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties in this life, for by them we grow and mature in our walks of faith, we learn perseverance, we learn to rely on God and not on ourselves, and we become much more compassionate towards others who are suffering in like manner as what we have suffered, or are suffering. Through tribulation, in other words, we make ourselves ready by daily putting off the deeds of the flesh, by the Spirit, and by cooperating and participating in the Spirit’s work of sanctification in our lives.

Worship God (v. 10)

Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he *said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

So many people within the church today have become followers of humans over and above, or even in place of being followers of Jesus Christ. Some of them may not even realize that is what they are doing, because the deception has been so gradual, and so subtle, to the point to where they believe that what they are being taught is of God, which some is, but much is of man. The problem stems mainly because humans within the church are not testing what they hear against the Word of Truth, but are just accepting whatever their leaders tell them, because it sounds good. Part of the problem with that, I believe, is because the church itself has adopted the ways of the world, and has thus invited the world into the meetings of the church, so there is not much distinction between the world and the church anymore, but they are blended together into one body, but it is not the body of Christ, but the body of institutional Christianity, which is not Christian at all. And, a lot of that has stemmed from the fact that so many professing Christians live just like the world because they are convinced God does not require repentance or obedience from them.

So, God is calling out to his church (see Rev. 2-3), to those who are living like the world, instead of being transformed into the image of Christ, and he is saying that they must repent of their sins of idolatry and spiritual adultery, and they must return to their “first love.” He wants to revive his church, and to have his people walk in the fear (honor and respect) of the Lord, instead of living their lives for themselves, to entertain and be entertained. He wants us to do a heart examination, and to allow him to show us where we are missing the mark, i.e. how many are not conducting their lives according to his instructions given us in scripture, but also to reveal to us what scripture teaches us with regard to how we should live our lives, according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh.

God is judging, and he will judge his adulterous and idolatrous people, in order to bring them back to himself in revival and in renewal, so that they can be the light of the world he has called them to be, and so that many, many will be saved before Christ returns. So, if you are living to please yourself, with little regard for God or for his will for your life, I pray you will examine your heart before him, and turn from your sin, and follow Jesus wherever he leads you from this moment on. A surrendered life is the BEST LIFE EVER!

Search Me, O God / An Original Work / July 12, 2012

Based off Psalm 139

O Lord, You search and know me.

You know all that I do.

O Lord, You discern my ways.

I put my trust in You.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Where can I flee from Your presence?

Where’er I am, You are with me,

Guiding me in love.

O Lord, You made and formed me

In my own mother’s womb.

Your hands beautif’ly made me.

I give my praise to You.

My frame was not hidden from You

When I was made in the dark place.

All the days ordained for me

Were written in Your book.

O Lord, how precious to me

Are Your thoughts, O my God.

When I wake in the morning,

You are still here with me.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offense.

Lead me in Your truth.

https://vimeo.com/125488883

Keep On!

This is a song about faith in Jesus Christ and about keeping that faith strong, vibrant and ongoing. It begins with repentance and obedience to Jesus Christ and to his commands for our lives. It moves from there to our daily walk of fellowship in his love. We cannot have fellowship with God if we are not obeying him or if we are still holding on to our past sins. Jesus said that if anyone is to follow him he must die daily to himself and to sin and must follow Christ in full obedience and surrender to his will for our lives. From this foundation of faith we then grow in our faith and our trust in our Lord to meet us in all of our needs.

As well, we will face spiritual battles with our enemy of our souls, Satan, and we must put on the armor of God daily so that we can fight off Satan’s attacks against us. We must determine and be resolute that we will, in the strength and power of the Holy Spirit within us, not deny Christ Jesus, not bow to the gods of men or to men as our god, not stop speaking in the name of Jesus Christ, and not stop sharing the gospel message. We must determine that by God’s grace of salvation at work within us in cleansing us of all sin that we will no longer allow sin to rule our hearts, but we will make Jesus our only Lord. Amen!

Keep On! / An Original Work / December 15, 2011

Praise the Lord! Praise Him now!

Before Him humbly bow.

Repent of your sins now.

Turn to Him; obey now.

Walk in fellowship with Him daily,

And abide in His truth.

He will forgive you,

And He’ll cleanse you,

And He’ll give you new life.

Trust in Him. He is truth.

He will not forsake you.

Rest in Him. Let Him lead.

He will meet all your needs.

Obey His ev’ry word to you,

And listen to all He says.

He will be faithful

In all His promises,

So rest in Him.

Do not bow – gods of men.

Let Christ rule in your hearts.

Do not stop – share your faith.

Keep on: speak Jesus’ name.

Share His truth with all He leads you to

Be a witness for Him.

Never yield to sin

Against your God.

Obey Him in ev’ry way.

https://vimeo.com/125862760

A Common Purpose

Sunday, August 23, 2015, 10:30 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “For Our Nation.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Revelation 17 (NASB).

The Great Harlot (vv. 1-7)

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.” And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly. And the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

In Revelation 18 it describes for us the punishment of this great harlot. It says to those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ, “I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities” (vv. 4-5). In one sense, thus, this great harlot knows no physical boundaries, for all of God’s people are commanded here to come out of her.

This reminds me of 2 Co. 6:17 where it says, “’Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you.’” This is in reference to not having close, intimate, and binding relationships with the people of this sinful world, because there is no fellowship between light and darkness. With regard to not being yoked together with unbelievers, the sense here is that of joining two people to a single plow, meaning that they are in sync with each other, going the same direction, and doing the same things. We are not to join in with the sinful world in their sinful and worldly activities and behaviors, their ways of thinking, and their humanistic philosophy and worldly values.

This means we should also not allow ourselves to be entertained, via TV, movies, music, the internet, and the like, by the sinful acts of the people of this world. We should not join in with or adopt the ways of this sinful world, even or most especially within the church. We should not copy their ways, but that is largely what the institutional church has done, at least here in America. So, I believe God is calling his true church to come out from and to be separate from the institutional church, which is of human origin, and which is run just like any human-based business, with the government as its head in place of Jesus Christ.

In another sense, though, this is speaking of a specific entity in a particular physical location. In the past nine years, since the Lord Jesus has been showing me these things, with regard to what is truly going on in my nation and within the world at large, he has pointed me to the US government in Washington D.C. and in New York, and has shown me the US government, and their military arm, as this harlot. If you have ever done a search on the Internet with regard to the US government, you might learn that our capital is filled with statues and monuments patterned after Greek, Roman and Egyptian gods and goddesses. You might also learn that the layout of Washington, D.C. contains many Satanic and occult symbols. You might also notice paganistic symbols in the Great Seal of our United States of America, and come to the conclusion that we are not a Christian nation, but one that was founded upon Satan, the occult, foreign gods and goddesses, and religious syncretism. So, when we, as a nation, claim to be one nation under God, it begs the question, “What god?” It appears the answer is that it is the god of our own making.

The Beast (vv. 8-13)

“The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.”

It appears that the USA was founded on the idea of the eventuality of a one-world order, i.e. that our country was somehow to be the catalyst to lead the way to this rule of the beast, which is symbolized in our Great Seal. The beast is a conglomerate of globalists who exist within various areas of power throughout the globe, i.e. such as within governments, banks, corporations, education, and the media, etc. Included within this beast is also the Trilateral Commission, the United Nations, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Bilderberg Group. It is comprised of the elite, wealthy and powerful of the world. Its goal is to bring about a totalitarian world government and one-world religion. Some people like to call this a conspiracy theory, yet we know that the Bible foretold that this would come.

“The common theme in conspiracy theories about a New World Order is that a secretive power elite with a globalist agenda is conspiring to eventually rule the world through an authoritarian world government—which will replace sovereign nation-states—and an all-encompassing propaganda whose ideology hails the establishment of the New World Order as the culmination of history's progress. Significant occurrences in politics and finance are speculated to be orchestrated by an unduly influential cabal that operates through many front organizations. Numerous historical and current events are seen as steps in an ongoing plot to achieve world domination through secret political gatherings and decision-making processes.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_Order_(conspiracy_theory)

Consider this, though: “How could the public be so deceived? Part of the answer lies in subtle power of gradualism -- the incremental steps that function like the proverbial frog in the pot of slow-heating water. You become so used to gradual change that you hardly notice the next step.” “Hindsight helps us trace the early, incremental steps toward a world government, and we can now look back at a foundation laid by an eclectic blend of socialist visionaries, global-minded financiers, communist revolutionaries, secret societies, New Age leaders, wealthy capitalist and tax-exempt foundations primarily in Great Britain and the USA. Long before the United Nations became an official organ under socialist leadership, that early vision had spread through all the main institutions.” http://www.crossroad.to/Excerpts/chronologies/un.htm

A Common Purpose (vv. 14-18)

“These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”

And he *said to me, “The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire. For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled. The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

This great harlot (prostitute) is considered to be an adulteress with whom the kings of the earth committed adultery. Adultery has to do with someone who is married to one person but who is involved in a romantic or sexual relationship with someone with whom that person is not married. Certainly much of the church of today, in particular in the west, is living in spiritual adultery because she is giving her love and devotion to humans, the government and/or to the things, values and philosophies of this sinful world over and above, or in place of her loyalty, commitment and devotion to her husband, Jesus Christ.

As well, the government of the US has forsaken her people, and she has gone after this beast, and has caused other nations (kingdoms) in this world to join in with her in her adultery, for these other kings have had to forsake their own people in order to also join in with this beast, for the beast is an authoritarian world government which has no place for any loyalties other than to it, and which has no place for independent nations, thinking or beliefs. All must come under this one-world government and religion or pay the price, but the greater price to be paid is for those who bow to this beast, for they will face eternal punishment in the fires of hell.

Right now the US reigns as queen, but for the beast to have total world domination, the US government, as with all independent (sovereign) governments, must be done away with. God will judge this great prostitute for her role in leading other kings into adultery with her, but also because she is responsible for the death of the saints of God. If you do the homework, you will see that the US (and possibly their close allies) recruits, trains and finances many terrorist organizations, including ISIS, the Taliban and Al Qaida, and for their own evil purposes, too, which is to bring about this rule of the beast, and to bring all people into submission to this New World Order. This means that the old order of things must be done away with, so that the “phoenix” can rise out of the ashes of the old order.

Yet, we don’t have to fear the rise of this beast, or the occurrence of these events as prophesied in scripture, which are sure to come, for Jesus, the Lamb, has overcome! God will never leave us or forsake us. He will give us all we need to endure these difficult times, and he will take us home one day to be with him forever. We just need to be walking in daily fellowship with our Lord, no longer living to please ourselves and our sinful flesh, but we must to be conducting our lives in agreement with and under the power and direction of the Holy Spirit within us. We need to pray for discernment to see the lies of the enemy so that we are not trapped by them, but so we can expose them.

As well, we need to know and accept the fact that faith in Jesus Christ is not just a get-out-of-jail-free card, and the promise of heaven when we die, but it means death to sin and living to righteousness. So, we need to die daily to sin and follow Jesus Christ in obedience and in surrender to his will for our lives. We need to be separate (unlike; different) from the world, because we are becoming like Jesus. We must not be yoked together with the world. And, we must love others with Christ’s love, giving of our very lives to see others go free from sin and to have eternal life with God. As well, we must be sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ by our lives and with our words so that others may be saved. Then we will be overcomers, and we will not be taken in by the tricks and lies of this beast.

For Our Nation / An Original Work / September 11, 2012

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.

Jesus Christ is gently calling

You to follow Him in all ways.

Trust Him with your life today.

Make Him your Lord and your Savior.

Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.

He will forgive you of your sin;

Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.

On our knees to God we’re praying,

Seeking God to give us answers

That are only found in Him.

God is sovereign over all things.

Nothing from His mind escaping.

He has all things under His command,

And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling

You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: we’re believing

In our Lord, and interceding

For our nation and its people

To obey their God today.

He is our hope for our future.

For our wounds He offers suture.

He is all we need for this life.

Trust Him with your life today.

https://vimeo.com/112351857