This Far, and No Further

Thursday, November 07, 2013, 3:00 a.m. – I woke up around 2:30 a.m. because I was cold. I added a blanket and crawled back underneath the covers, but I could not fall back asleep, so I began praying for my brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world, in particular for those who are suffering persecution for their testimony for Jesus Christ. Then, close to 3:00 a.m. the song “My Cry For Mercy” began playing in my mind, so I got up to hear from the Lord. I read Philippians 1 (NIV), and then I asked the Lord to show me how this applies to me or to my world today. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.

Not Christian

I went back to sleep at 4:30 and then got back up at 6:13 a.m. The Lord Jesus led me to read two news stories – one concerning political talks going on in Geneva, supposedly concerning Iran’s nuclear activities, and another concerning the US Supreme Court deciding a case on the appropriate use of prayer at government meetings, in particular with regard to a case in Greece, NY. [News references are at end of this writing.]

There was another song going through my mind at this point, but this one was not a Christian song. This one is called “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” and is taken from the 1945 musical “Carousel” by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The song sounds Christian in nature, but is very ecumenical, has been sung by numerous famous artists, adopted by sports teams, in particular in Liverpool, England in the early 1960’s, and is accepted by people of many faiths because it makes no declaration of any particular faith or God.

The talks in Geneva were between Iran, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China. Apparently, as reported, there is discussion going on there with regard to the US asking Tehran to “agree on a first step to stop advancing its programme further.” And, then in the story about the Supreme Court case on prayer, the concern mainly seems to revolve around the concern that the prayers are mainly Christian. So, the court is examining the situation by asking several questions. For one, they are asking if it might be possible to construct a prayer designed to interest followers of all faiths, “including Wiccans and Baha’i.” One thing being considered here is allowing the town of Greece to continue its practice of prayer at government meetings, but what needs to be examined, evidently, “is whether the prayer proselytizes for or denounces any particular religion.”

What the Lord Jesus was showing me here, in combining the thoughts presented in both news articles, is that what is really going on here, in both cases, is a global effort to suppress Christian proselytizing, i.e. Christians sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others in an effort to win people over to faith in Jesus Christ. I agree with the separation of church and state. I agree that not one religion should be forced on anyone, yet I believe the very thing they are contending is exactly what they have in mind to do globally, and that includes here in America, too. In other words, the plan here is to go toward a global one-world religion, similar in nature to Baha’i, which is all-inclusive. And, it will be forced on everyone. We can still keep the very basics of our individual faiths, at least for now, as long as we don’t try to preach Jesus only, or as long as we don’t try to win people to faith in Jesus Christ. It is ok to say we are Christian as long as we don’t get too radical about it, in other words, i.e. as long as we don’t advance our beliefs any further than beyond ourselves. Even the new Pope is speaking out against proselytizing and for oneness and unity of faith.

So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. ~ Rev. 12:17 NASB

Partnership in the Gospel

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ~ Phil. 1:3-6

Paul was thankful for the believers’ partnership in the gospel from the beginning of their decision to receive Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives up to and including the time when he wrote that letter. A partnership is “a relationship between two or more people or organizations that are involved in the same activity; or cooperation between people or groups working together” (Encarta). So, if we are partners with the gospel, it means we are in agreement with it, we are actively involved in it, and we are cooperating with it by how we live our lives in the power and working of the Holy Spirit within us. These were not just professing Christians or church goers. These believers were actively involved in living, believing and in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. And, this is where we all need to be - understanding that Jesus Christ is the one who began this work in our hearts and lives, and he will carry it on to completion until the day he returns. He will not allow the true gospel or the true church to be completely destroyed. Amen! His word endures forever!

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. ~ Phil. 1:9-11

Advancing the Gospel

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. ~ Phil. 1:12-14

These news stories I shared above both had to do with not advancing some belief or practice. The second one was definitely concerning not advancing in the proselytizing of Christianity in public prayers in government meetings, yet the other was speaking of not advancing a nuclear weapons program. I believe these leaders are acting hypocritically, because the US definitely has advanced in its nuclear weapons program, and apparently so has Israel. As well, I believe very much so that the Lord Jesus has been showing me for some time that the US and its allies are truly guilty of doing what they accuse other nations of doing. Also, it appears they (the global government) are coming against the proselytizing of Christianity, yet that does not keep them from proselytizing their various beliefs and practices which they are forcing on the nations and people of this world. So, this is truly about the persecution of believers in Jesus who are actively advancing the gospel of Christ.

Yet, we are to be encouraged! I believe the Lord Jesus is saying to us, even today, that the persecution we are facing or will yet face will only serve to advance the gospel even more; that the persecution will serve only as a tested and proven testimony to the unbelieving world; and that the persecuted believers’ faith and perseverance will serve only to encourage other brothers and sisters in Christ to become more confident in the Lord Jesus to dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. Amen! Hallelujah! Praise Jesus!

Life and Death

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me. ~ Phil. 1:18b-26

Wow! Don’t you just love these words? First of all, we need to be encouraged here to pray for one another, not just over trivial matters or even over matters of this temporal world, but we need to pray for courage and strength and boldness for each other in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ wherever we are or wherever God places us. And, we need to pray that we would all have this attitude of Paul that while we are on this earth, our lives should be lived by, through and for Jesus Christ, while holding on to the promise of eternity with God in glory one day. Yet, we must be willing to remain, if God wills, for the spiritual growth and development of our brothers and sisters in the Lord, even if it means we will be here during the tribulation period and we will have to suffer, as Christians throughout the world are presently suffering for their testimony for Christ. We should do all for the glory of God, for the salvation of souls, and we should not give way to fear to those who oppose us.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. ~ Phil. 1:27-30

My Cry For Mercy / An Original Work / October 31, 2013

Based off Psalm 86

Hear my prayer, Lord, I am needy.

Guard my life, for I’m devoted to You.

Save me! I’m Your servant.

You are my God. I trust in You.

O, Lord, have mercy on me,

For I call to You.

Bring joy to me, for to You

I will lift up my soul.

You are giving and forgiving.

You abound in love to all who

Call upon You. Hear my prayer, Lord.

Listen to my cry for mercy.

In days of trouble I call to You,

Knowing that You will

Do marvelous things,

Because You are my God.

Teach me Your way; I’ll walk in it.

In Your truth, Lord, You will guide me.

A pure heart, Lord, You will give me,

So that I may glorify You.

Turn to me, Lord, and grant

Strength to Your servant.

O, Lord, You are my help,

For You love and You comfort me.

Teach me Your way; I’ll walk in it.

In Your truth, Lord, You will guide me.

A pure heart, Lord, You will give me,

So that I may glorify You.

http://originalworks.info/my-cry-for-mercy/

News Articles:

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/iran-reports-positive-progress-in-geneva-talks-1.1586909

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/07/21335765-colorful-questions-but-few-easy-answers-as-court-wrestles-with-prayer?lite

Prepare for the Fight

Wednesday, November 06, 2013, 8:00 a.m. – the Lord Jesus woke me with this song:

I Need Thee Every Hour / Annie S. Hawks / Robert Lowry

I need Thee every hour; stay Thou nearby;

Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;

Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;

And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee, O I need Thee; every hour I need Thee;

O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Ephesians 6:10-20 (NIV).

Perspective

In Gary Barkalow’s book, “It’s Your Call: What Are You Doing Here?” he gave a very thought-provoking illustration that fits perfectly here. [This is not an endorsement of the book as a whole.] He was speaking of our lives being like a story. He said, “The story you believe you are living determines how you interpret and react to life.” And, then he illustrated his point by giving two different scenarios.

In scenario one, we are to imagine we have just boarded a cruise ship for the vacation of our dreams. We have high expectations that our trip (cruise) is going to be everything it was advertised to be. Yet, once on board, things begin to change. Bad weather sets in. It becomes turbulent, in fact, and some of our freedoms are taken away from us. We are forced indoors by the turbulence, and so we begin to become discouraged and discontented. The conditions are crowded now, and there are too many needy people crowding in around us. Gary said, “We ask, ‘Why do things have to be like this; why do things have to be so hard; why can’t you come through for me, God – at least once?’”

Then, the author changed the setting. This time we are to imagine boarding a ship, but this time it is a battleship. We are soldiers in an army, so we have prepared for this moment through our training and hard discipline. Expectations are high – “to be in the company of other warriors playing a significant part in a great battle for the lives and freedom of others.” It is crowded here, too, but we are glad we are not alone, and we recognize that we need each other…

He said the first story was about “Personal comfort, enjoyment, peacetime; vacation, and that the second story was about a “Great mission, transcendence, a time of war: the battle for freedom and life.” Then he said, “Most of us live under the illusion of the first story, while assenting to the reality of the second story. As believers, we say we understand that there is a great battle between the kingdoms – the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. But we live as if we were civilians and believe the battle to be an unthreatening distance away. And, so we have made our mission the quality of our lives and the controlling of external factors. We have made our lives about being on a vacation cruise liner, rather than about realizing we are on a battleship heading toward a great mission.” [Wow! What a great illustration! - Though sadly so true.]

Take Your Stand

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ~ Eph. 6:10

When coming up against obstacles, hurdles, and turbulences in your life, which come against your faith, how do you do? Is it easy for you? Or, is it hard? In our flesh, we don’t have what it takes to be strong in the face of a spiritual battle with our enemy Satan. Yet, there is hope! In the Lord Jesus Christ and in his mighty power within us we can be strong, immovable, and steadfast in the face of our enemy, i.e. we can stand firm in our faith. We just have to yield control of our lives over to the Lord Jesus Christ and let him work in us.

The Devil’s Schemes

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ~ Eph. 6:11-12

The devil has many schemes which he uses to come against believers in Jesus Christ, and most of them involve lies and deception in some form or another. One of the means he is using today against the church is a false doctrine of salvation, and a presentation of this concept of the church being more like a pleasure cruise ship rather than a battleship. These false teachers are among those who say “Peace, peace, when there is no peace,” and they dress the sin wounds of God’s people as though they are not serious (See Jer. 8:11).

In other words, the focus in this pleasure cruise ship church of today is one of fun, entertainment, attracting the world, making the world comfortable there, and diluting the gospel to make it “fit.” Their presentation of the “gospel” is more like an invitation to a pleasure cruise ship than it is to a battleship. And, they give people the impression that “faith” is nothing more than a mere acknowledgment of what Jesus Christ did for us in dying for our sins, and/or that of a heart desire or need to be forgiven so we can go to heaven one day. Yet, they leave out the fact that Jesus said that if anyone is to come after him, he must die to self and sin and follow him in obedience (See Lu. 9:23-25; cf. Eph. 4:17-24).

Another scheme Satan is using against the church today, in particular here in America, is convincing the church to come underneath the authority of the US government via the 501c3 incorporation status. This places the government as head of the church in place of Jesus Christ. Also included in this scheme is convincing the church that the US government is to be worshiped (See the pledge to the flag), not questioned, and that we are the “good guys” in the world, i.e. the “saviors” who go around the globe rescuing other nations. We do nothing of the kind. Our government is part of a global government which has been raping, looting, killing, and destroying the other nations of this world in order to bring us all underneath a one world government – alias or else culminating in the beast of Revelation. They are these powers of this dark world who are aiming for world domination. And, this pleasure cruise ship church is all part of their master plan for destroying the Body of Christ.

The Full Armor of God

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ~ Eph. 6:13-17

We are to put on the full armor of God. So, how do we do that? Well, for one thing we must realize that it is the armor of God, and not our own flesh with which we fight this battle. The armor is given to us by God by his grace, and through our faith we take it up and adopt and accept it as our very own. Having faith in Jesus Christ does not mean we now become puppets on strings and that God just pulls the strings to make us do what he wants us to do. We have to daily choose to die to sin and self and to follow our Lord Jesus Christ in obedience and in surrender to his will for our lives (See Lu. 9:23). Yet, we do this only in his power and strength within us, putting on HIS armor daily in order to fight this battle.

When I was much, much younger, I thought that if I just prayed this armor over me each day that somehow I was then protected from the evil one. Yet, this says we must put it on, i.e. we are physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually involved in this process. Even though our salvation and even our sanctification is the work of God in our lives, we must cooperate with that work. So, we must stand firm, fully prepared for action with the truth as our basis for action, with uprightness and integrity, and with the true gospel of salvation going forth from our lips (and fingers). Our faith in Jesus Christ serves as a shield of defense against Satan’s attacks, and taking our helmet of salvation, by God’s grace, shows we submit to the authority of Christ over our lives. Interestingly enough, the sword of the Spirit hangs from the belt of truth, i.e. it is based in the TRUTH of God’s word, it is his word, and if our lives are dressed for spiritual battle, then we should readily be equipped to pull out our swords whenever Satan tries to trick us, deceive us or manipulate us. We must stand against the lies of Satan by exposing them and by stating and living what is true.

For All The Lord’s People

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. ~ Ephesians 6:18-20 NIV

Not every Christian in the world is traveling on a pleasure cruise ship. Many know the reality of the battleship firsthand. Numerous Christians are among those who are being oppressed severely at the hands of the global elite and their cohorts. They are being persecuted, imprisoned and even killed for their faith in Jesus Christ. The Day of Evil is upon us, or it is most certainly at our doorstep. Are we prepared for battle? Or, are we still under the illusion that the Christian life is a pleasure cruise ship for our fun and entertainment? We need to be in prayer seriously for our persecuted brothers and sisters throughout the world, but we also need to get off the pleasure cruise and join our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world on the battleship - for the lives and freedom (from sin) of others.

God, I believe, is saying we need to get ready for spiritual battle here in America like we have never known before as his church. The Day of Evil is certainly very close, and we can see the rumblings of it in the church and in our government today if we have eyes to see. Our enemy is not sleeping. He is very determined. He will oppose us on every front. That is why we need to daily put on the spiritual armor of God so we are not caught sleeping, but we are fully prepared and ready to take our stand. Yet, God will allow this to purify his church, to make her ready for her husband, to revive her and to make her the shining light for the gospel that he intended her to be all along. Through adversity God will strengthen his church, and she will become mighty in battle – all in His strength and power! Amen!

Unless You Are Born Again

Jesus told Nicodemus that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. When Nicodemus questioned how this could be done, Jesus answered him that people are born of the flesh when they are born from their mother’s wombs, but they must each also have a spiritual birth if they want to have eternal life with God. In other words, we must be reborn, not physically, but spiritually. Still Nicodemus did not understand, yet it was not for lack of knowledge. He knew the scriptures, and he taught the scriptures, yet he chose not to accept what he heard, i.e. he chose not to believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

God the Father gave his Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. Whoever believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life. “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already.” And, this is the verdict of the trial in God’s heavenly court: Jesus Christ, the Light, came into the world to save sinners, but people loved darkness instead of the Light because their deeds were evil. Those who practice evil hate the Light, and will not come into the Light for fear that their evil deeds will be exposed. But, whoever lives by the truth comes to the Light, “so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out by God.”

Unless You Are Born Again

An Original Work / November 3, 2013

Based off John 3:1-21

Nicodemus came to Jesus.

He acknowledged God was with Him.

Jesus said, “You can’t see heaven

Unless you are born again.”

“How can a man be born when he’s old?

Can he enter into his mother’s womb?”

Jesus answered, “Flesh is flesh,

So of the Spirit, you must be.”

Jesus said to Nicodemus,

“You’re a teacher, and yet you don’t

Understand of what I tell you,

Because you will not believe.

“For God so loved the world that He gave

His one and His only Son for your sin.

So, whoever believes in Him

Has eternal life in heav’n.

“Light has come into the world,

But human beings love the darkness,

Because their deeds are so evil,

So in truth, they stand condemned.

“Everyone who practices evil

Fears that the Light will expose his sin.

Yet, whoever lives his life by the Light

Does so through his God.”

http://youtu.be/mcEApwZjhtQ

http://originalworks.info/unless-you-are-born-again/

Are We Being Careful?

Monday, November 04, 2013, 8:20 a.m. – the Lord Jesus woke me with the song “Myopic” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Ephesians 4:25-5:20 (NIV).

When we come to true faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives, it means that we put off our old lives of living for self and sin, which were being corrupted by their deceitful desires, we are made new in the attitude of our minds, and we put on our new lives in Christ Jesus, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness – all because of God’s grace in providing the blood sacrifice for our sins through Christ, and because of the working of the Spirit of God in our lives in transforming us into new creatures in Christ Jesus, as we cooperate fully with that work, by faith, in submission and surrender to Christ (See Eph. 4:17-24; cf. Lu. 9:23-25; Rom. 6; 1 John; Gal. 2:20; book of James, et al).

No Foothold

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Therefore, because Jesus Christ died on the cross, taking upon himself the sins of the entire world so that we could go free from slavery to sin, free from eternal punishment in hell, and free to walk in Christ’s righteousness and holiness – all in the power and working of the Spirit within us – and because he rose again, conquering death, hell, Satan and sin, we should live like we say we believe. In other words, salvation is not positional only, i.e. it is not just our get-out-of-jail free card or our free ticket to heaven. Salvation is freedom from slavery to sin day-to-day, and it is freedom to daily walk in Christ’s righteousness (see Gal. 5:16; Eph. 5:2; Col. 3:7; 1 Jn. 1:6-7; 2 Jn. 1:6; 3 Jn. 1:4; Rev. 3:4). Amen!

The Christian life must be lived out by faith and in the power of the Spirit within us day by day. Daily we must die to sin and self, resist Satan, flee temptation and draw near to God in full assurance of faith. Daily we must put on the armor of God with which to fight off the devil’s schemes which come against us. Jesus Christ won this battle for us, so daily we surrender to him, we yield control of our lives over to him, and we allow his Spirit to work his will in our hearts and lives, submitting to the cross. We willingly choose to cease telling lies, and instead we tell the truth. This is the spirit of transformation which the Spirit of God works in our hearts as we yield control of our lives to God daily. We can’t just stop doing bad things in our own strength and willpower, because eventually we will return to our vomit. The old was replaced with the new at the cross and at our conversion, so daily we must allow this life of transformation to work its will in our lives by putting off what once enslaved us, and by putting on the things of God, allowing the Spirit to do his work.

Be Beneficial

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

When we think of unwholesome talk, what comes to mind? I think we naturally think of people cursing or telling off-color jokes or being downright nasty to each other on purpose, with no thought to how our words might hurt another. Yet, “wholesome” merely means health-giving, beneficial, honest, sensible, and the like. So, “unwholesome” would thus be anything that is not beneficial, that is not truthful, and/or that is not health-giving. So, we should cease with talk that is untruthful and/or which provides nothing of benefit to those who listen or that is senseless, and we should instead talk about things which will help others to mature in their walks with the Lord and to live godly and holy lives, or that will add some benefit to their lives in some way according to their true needs (not their selfish desires). So, how do we do in this? How much of what we talk about is either not honest (perhaps false flattery), has no benefit whatsoever to our listeners, and does not touch on their true needs at all? I believe we should all examine what comes out of our mouths and see how much of what we say is just pure junk, and we should commit our mouths to speaking what benefits others instead.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

No Hint

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.

To hint something can mean to suggest something indirectly (Encarta). This can be done purposefully or it can be done without any forethought whatsoever. If you have ever watched secular movies, which I watched plenty in my lifetime, but no more, oftentimes the actors in the plays do not do something outright where you can see it, but they just hint to it being done, which can be just as seductive, if not more. And, oftentimes Christians will excuse these scenes because, after all, you really didn’t see anything. Yet, that is the lie. What we may not have seen with our physical eyes, we could still see and feel with our imaginations and emotions, and even the hint of it can still have the same effect on us.

Well, that is the danger here. Sometimes we can excuse away certain behaviors because we feel as though we didn’t actually do the bad thing, like a movie that has just a few bad scenes in it, and so we allow the whole in our minds and hearts. Yet, we know in our hearts that we are playing with fire, or that we are not as innocent as we would like people to believe. A hint can also be a very small amount of something, so small that it is barely noticed, yet even the smallest amount of immorality is still immorality. Don’t be fooled!

As Light

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,

    rise from the dead,

    and Christ will shine on you.”

The problem here, as I see it, is that what is being taught and modeled to us in most modern church congregations in America is a diluted gospel, i.e. one which does not teach death to our old lives of sin and new birth to new lives in Christ, walking in his righteousness. So many have reduced our salvation to just a choice between eternity in hell or in heaven, and to a decision to merely choose heaven over hell, if hell is even mentioned at all, which it may not be. “Faith” is not even explained, in most cases, and so one is left feeling that a mere intellectual belief or emotional decision to choose Jesus and heaven guarantees eternity in heaven for them, even absent of a true heart transformation from darkness to light. We are taught that repentance and obedience are not required and that God is pleased with us no matter what we do, and so many believe they are saved when a true darkness (life of sin/Satan) to light (salvation/God) transformation never happened.

So, first of all, we need to have our eyes opened to the true gospel of salvation, and we need to be turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so we can receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are being sanctified and made holy in Christ Jesus (See Ac. 26:16-18). And, then we need to daily walk (in lifestyle) in that light (truth, goodness and righteousness), and we need to find out what pleases the Lord and do it – all in the power and working of the Spirit of God within us as we yield to the working of the Spirit by faith, and not in our own flesh. We should have NOTHING TO DO with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather we should EXPOSE THEM. This means we need to do a careful, prayerful and thoughtful examination of every aspect of our lives, and we need to ask the Holy Spirit of God to reveal to us those areas in our lives where we are participating in even the smallest amount of the fruitless deeds of darkness. Then, we need to obey the Spirit, do what he tells us to do, and we need to expose those fruitless deeds of darkness for what they are so that our brothers and sisters in Christ are not led astray.

Be Filled

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the original language, this really says “Be ye being filled with the Spirit.” In other words, daily as we put off these fruitless deeds of darkness, and we yield control of our lives over to the Spirit of God within us, and we find out what pleases the Lord, and we do it, all in the power and working of the Spirit within us, we are daily being filled with the Spirit of God. Amen! We should be ever aware that the days are evil, and thus we should be so careful (not careless) in the way we live our lives. Our lives should not be out of control, but should be under the direction of the Holy Spirit of God. And, instead of having come out of our mouths what is senseless, useless and which serves no benefit, we should be sharing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with one another, to encourage and strengthen one another in our faith and in our walks of faith with Jesus Christ day by day. Amen!

Myopic / An Original Work / August 19, 2013

Based off 2 Peter 1:3-11

Jesus has given ev’rything

Needed for life and godliness.

His great and precious promises

Free us from our sin and distress.

Add to your faith His goodness;

Knowledge; patience; godliness;

Brotherly love and mutu’l affection;

Kindness and unselfishness.

If you possess these qualities,

Growing in your maturity,

They will keep you from vanity.

You will bear fruit effectually.

Nonetheless, if you lack them;

Forget you’ve been cleansed from sin,

Nearsighted are you; you can’t see Jesus.

You have closed your heart to Him.

Therefore, beloved, confirm, then,

Your calling and your election.

Do this by showing diligence:

Obey your Lord; be repentant.

Practice all these qualities

God provided on a tree.

He died for our sins so we’d be given

Life with Him eternally.

http://originalworks.info/myopic/

No Longer Live

Sunday, November 03, 2013, 9:02 p.m. – I didn’t really have alone time with the Lord Jesus this morning because I spent that time with my husband. We were talking together about lots of different things. I spent most of the day doing things with him, in fact. One of the things we did was to listen to a book on audio, which was written by a Christian author on the subject of discovering God’s will for our lives. We also went out to breakfast.

The Breakdown

After we ordered our food at the restaurant, I sat at a table and just looked around at the other people in the restaurant while my husband was waiting to collect up our food. I saw a man alone at one table with his laptop plugged into the wall. He was busy looking at something on there. At the table next to him was a boy of maybe 10 years old. He was playing with a Smart Phone. He was alone until his parents got the food and they sat down to eat with him. At another table sat a teenage girl and a young boy who was, perhaps, her little brother. They were both plugged in to electronic devices. They both appeared to have Smart Phones and they were listening to something. At another table were two men sitting across the table from each other. I think they were both busy with electronic tablets (like IPads) and/or with Smart Phones. As well, there was a TV playing in the room.

My first thought was about how the popularity of these electronic devices, including TV and home computers, has contributed to the breakdown of communication between or among people. Many families in America have the TV on during all waking hours or at least during primetime evening hours. Many eat their meals together around the TV set and so they don’t talk to each other. Then, with the introduction of the home computer, there was yet another electronic device to steal time away from marriages and families and that also introduced the potential for pornography addiction to be taken to another level, as the internet is now available in most American homes 24/7. And, then with the tablets and the Smart Phones, now private internet access is available at our fingertips, and is even handed to young children at alarming rates. Maybe some parents are able to monitor what their children do on these Smart Phones and tablets, but private access to children 24/7 who know much more about computers than we do is just plain stupid, and dangerous for young minds. So, I began talking with the Lord about all of this while I waited for my food.

Like the World

Then, I thought about why it is bad to invite the world into the church. I am not speaking of it being bad to invite people to faith in Jesus Christ, which then ushers them into the body of Christ, but why it is bad for believers in Christ to invite the people of the world (the unsaved) into fellowship with the body of believers while they are still in their unregenerate state. We are taught in scripture to come out from the world and to be separate. We are still to live in the world, and we are to be lights to the world for the gospel of Jesus Christ, but we are not to have intimate relationships and close fellowship with the people of the world because there is no fellowship between light and darkness. So, when we invite the people of the world into our times of worship and fellowship, we are inviting those worldly influences into the church, as well. All throughout Biblical history God warned his children not to intermingle with the people of the world lest they begin to adopt their customs. And, now the church in America has become so much like the world that it is barely distinguishable between the church and the world anymore, and thus the church is on a moral and spiritual decline, not unlike some of the churches mentioned in Rev. 2-3.

If the church is so much like the world, and they are involved in so many of the same things as the world, including sinful practices of all kinds, and they are just as distracted with all these electronic devices as the people of the world, then who is out there reaching people for Jesus Christ with the gospel of salvation? And, then why are we surprised when we see our nation and our government going down the toilet? The answer is not in getting a better person in public office, either. The answer for what ails this nation of ours and for what ails the church in this nation is the Lord Jesus Christ and us fully surrendered to him, being who he has called us to be and doing what he has called us to do. I believe America is on a path to destruction because the church in America is falling down on the job. This is not a call for civic action or for political participation, though, because human beings in public office are not our hope. This is a call for revival in the church and for the church to rise up and to remember what our salvation is all about and who and what God has called us to be.

Become Mature

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. ~ Ephesians 4:11-24 (NIV)

We need spiritual leaders in our churches who will truly disciple the body of Christ, and who will spiritually equip them to do the will of God and the works of service to which God has called them to do. We are not on this earth to please ourselves, to be entertained 24/7, and to be self-absorbed and self-consumed with little time left over for God and for his work. We need to be fully surrendered to our Lord Jesus Christ, ready, available, willing and spiritually equipped to do his work and will within the body of Christ in ministering his grace to each other in its various forms, and also in going out into the world to make disciples of Christ of people of all nations. We need to encourage one another and help strengthen one another in the faith so that we will go out and share Christ with the people of the world, and so we will live godly and holy lives in the power of the Spirit working within us. Then we can help one another to mature in Christ and to no longer behave like spiritual infants being tossed back and forth by so many distractions and by the call of sin, and to no longer be drawn to follow after various popular winds of teaching that look good, sound good, but are not good.

There are so many lies, manipulations and deceitful practices being disguised as truth within the church today, and so many people are being led astray by these feel-good approaches to Christianity. There are so many church leaders today who are saying what people’s itching ears want to hear, and people are buying it by the masses because it feels good. Yet, we need to speak the truth, even if it is not as fine-sounding, smooth and comfortable as the lies, and even if it gets us hated and rejected in return. We have to love people enough to tell them the truth in love so that they are not led astray by those who would lie to them and deceive them. There are not many ways to heaven. Jesus is the only way. Not everyone has God inside them, only those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. We are not supposed to be tolerant of what the Bible defines as sin, but we are to no longer live the way we did before we accepted Christ as Savior. Not every good person is going to heaven, only those who have been crucified with Christ to their old lives of living for sin and self, who have been made new in the attitude of their minds and who have put on their new lives in Christ created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness - by submitting to the Spirit of God and his work of regeneration in our lives.

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer / Thomas O. Chisholm / W. J. Kirkpatrick

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming

Now to receive anointing divine;

All that I am and have I am bringing,

Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,

Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYhiK2nQBg

Let Both Grow Together

Saturday, November 02, 2013, 10:27 p.m. – I lay in bed trying to fall asleep, but to no avail. The song “My Cry for Mercy” kept playing through my mind. So, I got up to hear from the Lord.

Last night at Bible study someone brought up the scripture passage from Matthew 13 (vv. 24-30, 36-43) concerning the parable of the weeds. It has been on my mind ever since then, so I began studying and praying over the passage, seeking God for understanding.

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

…Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

The Good and Bad Seed

Jesus Christ is the sower of the good seed. The good seed are the people of the kingdom of God; the saints of Almighty God; followers of Jesus Christ; the church scattered throughout the world. We were sown by God/Jesus in the world to be lights for the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world around us. He has sent us, and has commissioned us to go into the world to make disciples of Christ of all nations, and to be his witnesses for the gospel to all people. We are not to hide our lights, but we are to let them shine brightly for all to see Christ Jesus in our lives and so all can hear the gospel and can know the way of salvation.

Yet, our enemy Satan does not want us to share the gospel, and he does not want us to let our lights shine before men, so he very slyly and cleverly has sown weeds in among us.

Now, since the field is the world, not the church, these weeds can be anywhere – in our families, in our churches, in the workplace, in our neighborhoods, in our homes, and in our governments, etc. They can be anywhere we are since they are sown in among us. The thing is, these weeds appear to look a whole lot like the wheat, so they may not really be distinguishable until they begin to reach maturity. So, it is very possible that these weeds represent wolves in sheep’s clothing and/or false brothers and sisters living among us who have the appearance of being Christians when they really are not. Thus, the purpose of sowing weeds which look like wheat among the wheat would be for the purpose of deception, and to pull God’s people away from their pure devotion to Jesus Christ, perhaps to “another Jesus.” Or, they could be quite obvious, but yet they take us by surprise.

The Servants

The owner of the field is God/Jesus, so his servants are either angels or they are followers of Jesus Christ. The explanation of the parable does not define for us who these servants were. Since the method for pulling up the weeds and for separating them (pulling them away) from the wheat (the good seed) appears to be divine judgment, and the divine instruments of that judgment are angels, it would appear either that the servants were indeed angels, and that God was telling them to wait for the time of harvest, because they were the ones intended to serve as his agents of judgment, or, perhaps they were his followers who were calling on him in prayer for divine intervention and that, through prayer, they would be effecting this divine judgment against the weeds (the people of the evil one).

As evil reigns in the world and the true church suffers much persecution at the hands of the evil one, even at the hands of these weeds made to look like wheat, I am certain there are many followers of Christ who have prayed to God for mercy and to rescue them from their persecutors and from the deceivers. And, God has answered back, “Wait on the Lord. Be of courage. The time is not right. Wait for the harvest.” Yet, when we see all the evil taking place, and especially when our eyes are opened to see all of the deception, manipulation, and falsehood that is going on in the world, and much of it in the name of Christianity, there may be times when we long for God to act in some way to rescue us, yet he answers back that the timing is not right, for if the means of removing the people of the evil one is judgment, then that would mean removing the wheat (the good seed), too, and then who would be here to be a light for the gospel?

Though it is the evil one, i.e. our enemy Satan, who sows the weeds in among us, God allows it for a time and for a purpose, because he is slow to anger, abounding in love, compassionate, merciful, patient, and not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Also, through the trials and tests we go through because of these “weeds” among us, it should drive us to Christ’s breast, and it should put within us an even greater determination and commitment to follow our Lord Jesus Christ in all ways.

Come out and Be Separate

So, how does this teaching in this parable jive with the teaching that we are not to be partakers with the world, but that we are to come out from them and be separate?

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them

    and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

    and they will be my people.”

Therefore,

“Come out from them

    and be separate,

says the Lord.

Touch no unclean thing,

    and I will receive you.”

And,

“I will be a Father to you,

    and you will be my sons and daughters,

says the Lord Almighty.” ~ 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

“‘Come out of her, my people,’

    so that you will not share in her sins,

    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

for her sins are piled up to heaven,

    and God has remembered her crimes. ~ Rev. 18:4-5

It appears to me that God has called us, as his children, to go out into the world for one purpose – to be lights for the gospel; to share the gospel; and to make disciples of Christ of all nations. Yet, we are not to become like the world, we are not to partake in the sinful practices of the world, and we are not to have close fellowships with the people of the world. So, why is it that we have been convinced that we are to invite the people of the world into the fellowship of the Body of Christ? Who sows the weeds (the people of the evil one) among us? The enemy! For what purpose does he do this? - To destroy us, to put us to sleep, to steal from us our pure devotion to Jesus Christ, to distract us, and to get us to compromise with the world of sin. And, he is doing a good job at it, too!

If we invite non-believers into our fellowships and into our times of corporate worship, how does that jive with this teaching? We have nothing in common with unbelievers. Light cannot be in fellowship with darkness. We are the temple of the living God! Our times together as Christ’s body should be for the purpose of fellowship together with Christ and with one another – to encourage, build-up, edify, instruct, nurture, and help mature one another in the faith so that we are strengthened and encouraged to go out into the world with the gospel. Just because the enemy has sown his weeds among us, and just because some within the church have bought into the idea that we are to bring the world into the church – into our intimacy with Christ and his Body – and just because God is loving and patient and he will not pull the weeds out from among us (wherever we are), it does not mean we are to invite the world into the church or that we are to continue trying to blend our times of corporate worship, fellowship and mutual encouragement with evangelism.

I believe scripture is very clear that God’s people are not to intermingle (mix) with the people of the world and that there can be no fellowship between light and darkness, and that there is to be a definite distinction between the church and the world. And, I do believe that God is presently calling his followers to come out of the worldly institutional church (Babylon) and to be separate so we don’t share in her sins or her punishment, and he is calling us to return to the model he set forth for us in scripture for what the church is supposed to be like, and to the original purpose of our times together, so that we can be strengthened in our faith, so we can go out into the world with the gospel of salvation.

Yet, we may not be able to avoid all “weeds” from coming in among us, so we must trust God that he will remove the weeds, in judgment, when the time is right. Yet, we should be in prayer for the weeds to turn from the evil one and to be transformed into wheat before that great Day of Judgment, and we should be diligent to let our lights shine before them. As well, I believe we need to pray for spiritual protection from the evil one over ourselves and over one another, for the strength and encouragement of the Holy Spirit in one another’s lives, and we need to pray for miracles of God’s grace in all people’s lives.

My Cry For Mercy / An Original Work / October 31, 2013

Based off Psalm 86

Hear my prayer, Lord, I am needy.

Guard my life, for I’m devoted to You.

Save me! I’m Your servant.

You are my God. I trust in You.

O, Lord, have mercy on me,

For I call to You.

Bring joy to me, for to You

I will lift up my soul.

You are giving and forgiving.

You abound in love to all who

Call upon You. Hear my prayer, Lord.

Listen to my cry for mercy.

In days of trouble I call to You,

Knowing that You will

Do marvelous things,

Because You are my God.

Teach me Your way; I’ll walk in it.

In Your truth, Lord, You will guide me.

A pure heart, Lord, You will give me,

So that I may glorify You.

Turn to me, Lord, and grant

Strength to Your servant.

O, Lord, You are my help,

For You love and You comfort me.

Teach me Your way; I’ll walk in it.

In Your truth, Lord, You will guide me.

A pure heart, Lord, You will give me,

So that I may glorify You.

http://originalworks.info/my-cry-for-mercy/

My Cry for Mercy

There are times in all of our lives when we feel particularly vulnerable, weak, tired, sad, confused, and hurt; rejected and/or alone, etc. It is in these times, especially, when we need to call upon our Lord to save us from ourselves; and to give comfort, encouragement, counsel, direction, strength, joy, miracles of his grace, hope and healing.

My Cry For Mercy / An Original Work / October 31, 2013

Based off Psalm 86

Hear my prayer, Lord, I am needy.

Guard my life, for I’m devoted to You.

Save me! I’m Your servant.

You are my God. I trust in You.

O, Lord, have mercy on me,

For I call to You.

Bring joy to me, for to You

I will lift up my soul.

You are giving and forgiving.

You abound in love to all who

Call upon You. Hear my prayer, Lord.

Listen to my cry for mercy.

In days of trouble I call to You,

Knowing that You will

Do marvelous things,

Because You are my God.

Teach me Your way; I’ll walk in it.

In Your truth, Lord, You will guide me.

A pure heart, Lord, You will give me,

So that I may glorify You.

Turn to me, Lord, and grant

Strength to Your servant.

O, Lord, You are my help,

For You love and You comfort me.

Teach me Your way; I’ll walk in it.

In Your truth, Lord, You will guide me.

A pure heart, Lord, You will give me,

So that I may glorify You.

http://youtu.be/dJZqdFY8z_Q

http://originalworks.info/my-cry-for-mercy/