Insatiable for Sin

2 Peter 2:1-3 ESV

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

What is a heresy? It is a dissent (opposition) to and a deviation (departure) from the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am certain there are many, but the primary one is the cheap grace gospel. For, it instructs, or it implies that one can be saved and bound for heaven, but that he doesn’t have to repent of his sins, submit to Jesus as Lord, or obey God and his commands.

Those false teachers who teach this false gospel, thus, give free license to their adherents to continue living in sin, only now without guilt. So, their followers believe that a prayer or a confession or a stated belief in Jesus will be enough to secure them heaven no matter how they live their lives while they are still on the earth.

And, that belief is denying Jesus Christ as Lord and Master of their lives. For, it submits not to him as Lord. For, it also does not believe in the necessity of walks of obedience to our Lord’s commands. And, it will not die with Christ to sin and live to him and to his righteousness, even though that is the very reason Jesus gave his life for us (Rom. 6:1-23; Eph. 4:17-24; 1 Pet. 2:24).

And, many are indeed following their sensuality. Much of the church in America has gone the way of the world, attracting the people of the world to their gatherings by doing what will entertain them and what will make them feel at home so they will want to come back. But the world shouldn’t feel at home in the gatherings of the church.

By accepting this cheap grace gospel, the church overall has been on a massive spiritual and moral decline, which is then reflected in the overall decline of our nation, too, because the church at large has lost its saltiness and has buried its light, for they have become one with the world instead.

Porn addiction is high among men and pastors in the church. It is growing in numbers among the women, and it is high among children, too, especially young boys. Families are destroyed. Marriages are broken. Children are being abused and sacrificed on the altar of their parents’ idols. And, since much of the leadership is also following the lusts of their flesh, they are not doing much if anything to address sinful addictive behaviors, and to stop them in their tracks. So, the church is a mess.

And, those who are teaching the lie or who are following the lie need to know the truth. And, the truth is that if you walk according to the flesh, you will die in your sins, not have eternal life with God (Rom. 8:1-17; Lu. 9:23-26; 1 Jn. 1:5-9; 1 Jn. 2:3-6; Gal. 5:16-21; Gal. 6:7-8; Rom. 2:6-8).

2 Peter 2:12-15 ESV

“But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray.”

There is a secular song, I think from the 1990’s, which is called “Constant Craving.” The Lord put that in my mind today, as he has done before when I was to write on this subject. For, “constant craving” of the flesh is what this is talking about here, and it never satisfies. It always goes back for more of the same. And, often it will become even more sexually deviant because “normal” no longer satisfies. But this is about addictive sinful behavior.

Those who live according to the flesh, who constantly crave what is sinful, what is immoral, and what is abnormal, are creatures of instinct like unreasoning animals. For, they don’t use their minds to think and to reason out if what they are about to do is bad, or to consider who it might hurt. They don’t care. All they care about is their lusts and fulfilling their lustful passions. They are like brute beasts.

They have no real conscience, for their conscience is seared. Even if they do sometimes confess wrongdoing, if all they do is sin, confess, sin, confess, with no obvious signs of moving forward away from the sin to walks of holiness, then the confession is not truthful. It is not sincere. It can even be just a game that they play with others, too.

So, they can sin right in front of you and bold face lie about it, either about what they are planning to do or what they have already done. And, they can fake sincerity, and fake honesty all the while they know they are lying and cheating and that they are deep in sin. For their sin consumes them. It has them captive. So, they can sit right across from you and say they are pure in heart and mind while their eyes are full of lust and adultery.

And, those who are deep into addiction to sin are dangerous for you because they are likely to attempt to drag you right down with them. For, sin loves company and it hates the light, so if you are walking in the light, one who is deep in sin may try to entice you to join in with him or with her.

So, guard your hearts against such as these. Be discerning. Listen to the Lord and not to your emotions. Don’t compromise with the world even one bit, for one compromise leads to another and then to another and then you end up desensitized to the sin, and then you fall into the trap of the devil. Stay in the Word and walk in obedience to the Lord. Resist the devil, flee temptation, and draw near to God in full assurance of faith.

2 Peter 2:17-19 ESV

“These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.”

And, this is where it gets dangerous. There are so many liars and deceivers out there – so many wolves in sheep’s clothing leading people astray. So many of them are winsome, charming, friendly, and persuasive. And, so many of them are spreading that cheap grace gospel which appeases the flesh of man and which does not put the flesh to death.

But the message they are teaching sounds like the truth, on a surface level. They quote Scriptures, but usually out of context, to support what they teach, too. And, they make it sound so good and so inviting, too. And, so the masses are flocking to it. And, they are propagating it, as well.

But it isn’t just that they are leading people away from Jesus and his Lordship, and away from repentance, and away from obedience to Christ, as Lord, but they are coming against the true gospel, and they are attacking it, and are attempting to discredit it, and to attack its messengers, too.

For, this is of Satan who wants to destroy Jesus and his gospel and his church and his messengers. So, they are convincing the masses that freedom from sin is merely freedom from the punishment of sin and that it is freedom to continue living in sin only now without guilt. That is what they call freedom. But that is still bondage.

For under this false gospel no one is delivered from his addiction to sin, just the punishment of sin. So, their followers are still enslaved to sin and bound for hell, not heaven. So, they are being lied to, and far too many are believing the lies. So, we need to reject these lies and we need to believe the truth which will deliver you from your addiction to sin.

Walking in The Light  

An Original Work / November 16, 2011

Based off 1 John 1-2

When I lift up my voice, and

Sing praise unto God,

I will fellowship with my

Lord and Savior, King.

In Him there is no darkness.

He is in the light of truth.

If we walk in His light,

From sin He purifies.

If we repent of our sins,

He’ll forgive us now,

When we humble ourselves, and

Before Jesus bow.

The man who says, “I know Him,”

But does not obey His truth,

There is no truth in him.

In darkness still he’s found.

Do not love the world of sin,

For it is hell bound.

If you follow the world, you’ll

Not in Christ be found.

The world and its desires

Will not last; they’ll expire.

The one who does God’s will,

Receives eternal life.

See that what you have heard from

Christ remains in you.

Then, you’ll remain in Christ, and

In His Father, too.

This is what He promised us –

His eternal life with God.

So, continue in Him, and

You’ll receive a crown.

https://vimeo.com/114160122

Merciful, Blameless and Pure

Psalm 18:25-26 ESV

“With the merciful you show yourself merciful;

    with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;

with the purified you show yourself pure;

    and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.”

Merciful

Who are the merciful? And, what does it mean to be merciful? According to Bible Hub’s Hebrew Interlinear, the word means “kind, pious, godly, gracious, and holy” (1). And, I believe it is important that all those words describe what it means to be merciful.

For, the word “mercy” can be used in a very humanistic context, or it can be used in a biblical context, and they can have opposite meanings. For, what the world may deem “merciful” might actually go against God and against his word, so it is important that we understand that.

Interestingly, the Greek Interlinear says this: "Usage: full of pity, merciful, compassionate. eleḗmōn – merciful, acting consistently with the revelation of God's covenant. See 1656 (eleos)" (2). So, in both cases it is described in terms of godliness and holiness and obedience to God.

So, how did God show us mercy? He (Jesus) gave his life (his body) up for us on a cross to die for our sins. He died that we might die with him to sin and live with him to righteousness. He died to deliver us from our slavery to sin and to empower us to live holy lives, pleasing to God (1 Pet. 2:24; Rom. 6:1-23; Rom. 8:1-17; Eph. 4:17-24; 1 Jn. 1:5-9; Lu. 9:23-26).

So, being merciful (kind, compassionate) to others will never contradict God’s Word or his divine character and will for our lives. So, killing anyone is not merciful. Lying to people is never kind. Pacifying people in their sin is also not loving or kind. Compromising with the world to make peace with the world is also not godly or holy nor consistent with God’s covenant.

But, how do we become merciful? Only by faith in Jesus Christ which involves dying with Christ to sin and living to Christ and to his righteousness. If we do not die with Christ to sin, and if we do not walk in his holiness and righteousness, then we will not be shown mercy. For, we will not have salvation from sin and eternal life with God (Lu. 9:23-26; Rom. 8:1-17; 1 Jn. 1:5-9; 1 Jn. 2:3-6; Gal. 5:16-21; Gal. 6:7-8; Rom. 2:6-8).

Blameless

The word “blameless” means “complete, integrity, whole, and unblemished.” “Integrity” means honest, honor, reliability, faithfulness, and uprightness. And, “whole” or “sound” means unbroken and undivided in our loyalty to Jesus as our only Lord, unspoiled (untainted by the world), and healthy spiritually (Christ-centered instead of self-centered).

So, how do we become blameless? The same way we become holy and godly. We must believe in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives. But this means forsaking our former lives of living to sin and to self, being transformed in heart and mind of the Spirit of God, and now walking with Jesus in holiness and righteousness (Eph. 4:17-24; Tit. 2:11-14).

Pure

The word “pure” means to cleanse, to purge (eradicate sin), to purify, and choice. It also means to get rid of impurities, to be unadulterated and undefiled by the world, and to be wholesome, genuine, and authentic (real).

When we believe in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives, he purifies us from all unrighteousness, for he put our sin to death with him on that cross. And, we are crucified with him in death to sin by faith in him. For, He died to deliver us from our sinful lifestyles, and to give us new lives in him, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:17-24).

So, this means we don’t live like the ungodly world does. We don’t engage in all sorts of wickedness or filth or immorality. We don’t allow ourselves to be entertained by lust, lewdness, sexual immorality, lies, adulteries, sexual perversions, theft, murders, lying, and cheating. And, we don’t engage in any of those unlawful activities ourselves.

Psalm 18:27-28 ESV

“For you save a humble people,

    but the haughty eyes you bring down.

For it is you who light my lamp;

    the Lord my God lightens my darkness.”

So, if we choose to follow Jesus Christ with our lives, and we walk according to the Spirit of God, and not according to the flesh, then we will be saved from our sins and have eternal life with God (Rom. 8:1-17; Lu. 9:23-26).

This is not of our own doing though. This is not us trying to work our way to heaven. It is merely a true picture of what our salvation looks like. We walk the walk. We don’t just talk it. It is either a reality in our life, or it isn’t. Our actions reveal the truth (Rom. 6:1-23; Eph. 4:17-24; 1 Jn. 2:3-6).

But, if we choose the way of the flesh rather than the way of the Spirit, we will not have eternal life with God (Gal. 5:16-21; Gal. 6:7-8; Rom. 2:6-8). We will die in our sins and spend eternity in eternal flames. So, make certain today that you have chosen the narrow (hard) way which leads to life rather than the broad (easy) road which leads to destruction.

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897

Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

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! 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

*Caution: This link may contain ads

(1)       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2623.htm

(2)       https://biblehub.com/greek/1655.htm

The Torrents of Destruction

Psalm 18:1-3 ESV

“I love you, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

    my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

    my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

    and I am saved from my enemies.”

As followers of Jesus Christ, Satan is our main enemy. He is the one behind all our human enemies. But he has no power over us but what God allows. He has no spiritual sway over us, and we are no longer under his control. But we are under human authorities who are under his control, so in that sense only, he may be able to determine what we can or cannot do.

Right now, the world is going crazy. In America, and in at least some other nations in the world, we are going through some trying times. I know they are not yet as hard as what they are going to be, but it is quite apparent where they are headed. It is obvious that our circumstances are being orchestrated by others, and that there is a sinister plot afoot about to unfold. How soon, only God knows for sure.

I believe we are being prepped for what is coming. We are being conditioned to conformity to a new way of life. I don’t believe life will ever be “normal” again. The abnormal is now becoming the new normal. And, we are being conditioned to accepting it that way, too.

So, it isn’t that things are so bad right now. Right now, it is more that we are being asked to relinquish some of our freedoms, and we are being asked to do things outside our comfort level, which may or may not make sense to us. But many of us see these increments of change as steppingstones to something much greater, but not to something good.

Signs of the Times

Many of us see what is happening in the USA and in the world as the rising of the beast and/or as the rising of the New World Order. The signs are there indicating that what this is heading to is the forcing of compliance, cooperation and unity with a one world government and religion. Thus, that means that Jesus is coming soon. How soon, only God knows.

But there is encouragement here. Jesus is our Rock and our strength in whom we take refuge. He is our shield against the enemy of our souls, and so is our faith in him which comes from him.

God is completely sovereign over all that he has made. Nothing can thwart God’s purposes, and no enemy will ever prevail over our Lord. Satan is a defeated foe. He just doesn’t realize it yet. So, God is still on the throne. Amen?

So, what this means is that Satan can only do what God allows him to do. But God is allowing him to do evil, even to Christians, and the book of Revelation teaches us that he will be allowed (via the beast) to conquer the saints of God, though not to conquer them spiritually. But we will be persecuted for our faith and for our testimonies for Jesus Christ.

And, when this one world government and religion begin to take hold, those who are true followers of Jesus will be censored, and they will not be allowed to buy or sell, the Scriptures teach. I am already beginning to see a touch of that with something my state initiated.

Restaurants who comply with the new rules will get a seal of approval. Those who don’t, won’t get it. And, the citizens of our state are being strongly encouraged to not go to those restaurants without the seal. This reminds me of the mark of the beast. If we don’t have it, we won’t be able to buy or sell.

But, and here is the main encouragement here, we can survive this onslaught. We may be killed, but while we are still alive, our Lord will give us everything we need to endure it all. He will give us all the strength we need to persevere and to keep the faith, and to keep sharing his gospel until he takes us home. And, that is how he delivers us from our enemies.

Psalm 18:4-5 ESV

“The cords of death encompassed me;

    the torrents of destruction assailed me;

the cords of Sheol entangled me;

    the snares of death confronted me.”

This is definitely on its way. The Bible says so. Christians throughout the world have had to suffer much persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ, ever since Jesus was put to death on that cross for our sins. Jesus said we would be hated and persecuted as he was. He never promised us that we would not have to be persecuted and put to death for our faith.

In the book of Revelation we read that Satan is out to destroy the saints of God who hold fast to the testimony of Jesus, and that the beast will conquer us (have authority over us governmentally), and that we will be persecuted and put to death (Rev. 12-14). And, this is what Jesus said would happen to us, too (Matt. 24). So, we shouldn’t feel as though that can’t happen to us.

So, we should be prepared spiritually, mentally, and emotionally for this eventuality. We should realize this is coming, and that we need to be ready for when it hits. We need to be ready to take a stand either for Jesus or against him, because there is no longer going to be a middle ground, not that it is permitted now. But this is going to force us on one side or the other. So, that is a good thing, for too many have been riding the fence.

Psalm 18:6 ESV

“In my distress I called upon the Lord;

    to my God I cried for help.

From his temple he heard my voice,

    and my cry to him reached his ears.”

So, as things here begin to unfold, and as it becomes more and more apparent as to where this is all headed, and how what we are going through now is just preparation for what is next, we need to call on the Lord for our strength and for our help. We need to submit our ways to him, and we must trust him that he truly is working all things for the good of us who love him.

Truly we are going to be tested in the furnace of affliction and we will be tried as with fire, and through these trials our Lord will purify our hearts and make us ready for him. And, he will revive and purify his church which is now living in open adultery and idolatry against him. And, during this time of tribulation the gospel will go forth and many will be saved, too. Glory to God! And, that is much for which to praise our Lord!

But we are not to be afraid of what is coming. We are not to fear persecution and suffering or to doubt God’s promises to us. We must hold fast to the Lord, trust in him fully, and rely on his strength and support through it all.

His Tender Mercies

An Original Work / January 26, 2014

Fear not! I’m with you.

Be not dismayed!

God watches o’er you.

Trust Him today.

He’ll lead and guide you;

Give you His aid.

He’ll love and keep you

With Him always.

Walk in His footsteps.

He’ll lead the way.

Trust in His love;

Believe that He cares.

He will not leave you.

Faithful He’ll be.

His tender mercies

Now you will see.

Fellowship with Him

Throughout the day.

Tell Him your heartaches.

He’ll heal always.

Rest in His comfort.

He is your friend.

Your faith He’ll strengthen,

True to the end.

https://vimeo.com/379513308

The Days Formed for Me

Psalm 139:1-6 ESV

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

    you discern my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down

    and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,

    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

You hem me in, behind and before,

    and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

    it is high; I cannot attain it.”

God knows us inside and out. He knows everything about us because he is the one who made us. He knows what we are going to think or say even before we think it or say it. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, therefore he can give us insight into ourselves as to why we do what we do and as to why we think the way we think.

For the one who is following Jesus in obedience to his ways, these are comforting thoughts. So, if we respond to a circumstance a particular way or if we blurt out particular words in a given situation, and perhaps we don’t understand our own reactions, he can give us insight into why we did or said what we did or said, and he can help us to change where change is needed.

And, sometimes it isn’t that we need to change, for sometimes what comes out of us is out of the good that is within our hearts, because it comes from the heart of God. So, when we don’t understand, he can comfort us with the knowledge that we have his heart and mind about things, and that we are expressing how he feels about those matters.

So, when the world tries to put us on a guilt trip for speaking the heart of God and for speaking his thoughts, which come from his word, then we can be comforted in knowing that we are in tune with our Lord and that we are feeling what he feels, which is a good thing. For, we should be filled up in our hearts with the passion of Christ and with the truths of his word.

Psalm 139:13-16 ESV

“For you formed my inward parts;

    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

    my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

    the days that were formed for me,

    when as yet there was none of them.”

I was raised by an extremely abusive father and an emotionally neglectful mother who otherwise took good care of us, for the most part. But you know what? God put me in that family. He knit me together in the womb of my mother. He gave me those parents. And, he doesn’t make mistakes. God knew exactly what he was doing. He is completely sovereign over all that he has made. So, why did he do that?

In his book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me. Yes! He had a plan and a purpose for my life that, at that time in my life, I could not see. I knew God/Jesus loved me. I had no doubt. I knew he was there for me always, to comfort and to help me through it all. I trusted in him as my Lord and Savior from early on. But, my understanding of it all was limited. And, I developed multiple misconceptions.

Then I married a man who I still love dearly, but who was/is addicted to the lusts of his flesh, though I did not know that then. We have both shared our testimonies publicly (1), so this is not revealing any private information. And, this is not meant in any way to put my husband down. He still struggles in this area, so if you are reading this, please pray for him and for us.

So, we have had a rocky marriage. And, for a time, I followed after my husband rather than follow the ways of the Lord. But, praise God, the Lord brought me back! But this angered my husband, and so he began to persecute me (again, this is all public, at my husband’s approval).

I also faced a lot of persecution from the church throughout my life, primarily from people in positions of leadership, but not all. They judged me by outward appearance, not by my heart, and not by my walk with the Lord. Some of them tried to hit on me. Others just flat out rejected me. Some tried to silence me or tried to force me to lie about something. Most of them were following the ways of the world, not the ways of God.

But in God’s book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me. Do you believe that? I do!

So, why did God allow all those bad things to happen to me? And, I am not including my own failures here. Yes, he allowed me to fail. But that was my choice. He didn’t lead me into sin. I chose to sin against him when I did. But he allowed many bad things in my life not of my choosing. So, why did he?

He had a plan and a purpose for my life, and the things I have experienced in my life have all played into that plan and purpose. For, I have learned so much about all kinds of things in life, and I have learned so much about God, too, through it all. And, my Lord uses those experiences in what he has me teach from his word each day.

And, through those experiences he made me strong in my faith and in my determination of the Spirit of God to stay the course, to stand strong on the truths of God’s word, to expose evil for what it is, to call people to repentance and to obedience to Christ, and to not waver, and to not run away when I am opposed, but to continue to teach what is truth.

But, in all of this, I remain teachable. I examine the Scriptures every day. I study the Scriptures in context, and I compare Scripture with Scripture to make certain that I am correctly handling the word of truth.

And, if I am challenged, I take it to the Lord in prayer, and I seek his face, and I examine the Scriptures, and I make certain I am on target, so that I don’t teach what is false. I am still human, and not without error, but I am diligent to make certain that what I am sharing with you is the truth.

So, the bottom line here is that the Lord allowed me to go through much suffering in my life to make me who I am today so that I would do what he has called me to do, for had I not gone through all of that, I believe I would not have been prepared for this ministry.

Psalm 139:17-18, 23-24 ESV

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

    How vast is the sum of them!

If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

    I awake, and I am still with you.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart!

    Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Oh, that we would all have that heart that truly expresses that God’s thoughts are indeed precious to us. For, we live in a world and a time in history when much of the church does not regard God’s thoughts as precious. For, they reject much of his thoughts in favor of the thinking of the world. For, the thinking of the world (including the worldly church) allows them to continue in their sin without guilt.

So, we all need the Lord to search our hearts and to try our thoughts to see if they are indeed of God or if they are of the flesh of man, instead. For much teaching these days is being passed off as though it is of God when, in fact, it is of man, instead. So, don’t be fooled! Jesus didn’t die on that cross so you could continue in sin without guilt. He died to free you from your slavery (addiction) to sin so you could walk in his righteousness.

Bow the Knee

Noblesse

Bow the knee; trust the heart of your Father

when the answer goes beyond what you can see.

Bow the knee; lift your eyes toward heaven

and believe the One who holds eternity.

And when you don't understand

the purpose of His plan,

In the presence of the King, bow the knee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc0fwqFt9CM

(1)       https://walkingwounded.blog/i-married-my-dad/

My testimony

Abomination of Desolation

Matthew 24:15-22 ESV

“So, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.”

What is this “holy place”? It is not in physical Jerusalem, which is of Hagar, the slave woman (see Gal. 4). It is the bride of Christ, his followers, his body, the temple of God, the Holy City, the Jerusalem from above, not of this earth. We need to understand that to interpret this correctly.

And, what is an abomination? It is a disgrace, outrage, atrocity, and/or revulsion. And, what disgrace, atrocity and/or revulsion now exists within the church? For one, it is that the church unequally yoked together with the ungodly in an unholy union, at least here in America, to market the church to the world just like any other worldly business.

Secondly, it is that the church – the holy place – altered and distorted the gospel of Jesus Christ to make it more palatable to the world and to the flesh of humans. Thus, they removed the offense of the cross to not offend the flesh of man. That is an abomination to the Lord!

And, why is the abomination of desolation? Because God must judge his adulterous, idolatrous, and wicked church to bring her to revival and back into a faithful and holy union with him as her only God (Rev 2-3). And, with that judgment will come desolation (misery, isolation, & destruction). Sounds like what is happening today, doesn’t it?

And, what does it mean to flee this abomination? I believe it means for us, the bride of Christ, to have no part in this abomination, to not partner with it, which is to not partner with the institutional church which is in this unholy union with the world, and which is marketing the church and the gospel to the flesh of man (2 Co. 6:14-18; Rom. 12:1-2; Jn. 15:19; Rev. 18:1-5).

For the Elect

And, notice with me next what is stated about this time of tribulation to come upon the earth. It is for the sake of the elect that the days will be cut short. And, who are the elect? They are those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ, who have died and are dying with him daily to sin and to self, and who are living to him and to his righteousness in the power of God.

The Scriptures give every indication that the saints of God, who are Jesus followers, will still be here during the time of tribulation on this earth. For, if you read the Scriptures regarding the last days in context of the Messianic age, then you must realize that only those who believe in Jesus Christ are Israel. So, we are Israel in these last days, not unbelieving Jews who are antichrist and who don’t believe in the God of their ancestors.

(Rom. 9:6-8; Gal. 3:10, 16, 26-29; Gal. 4:22-31; Eph. 2:14-18; 1 Jn. 2:22)

And, during this time of tribulation, which is near us, I believe, we are going to be persecuted severely for our walks of faith with Jesus Christ and for our testimonies for him and for his gospel.

And, I believe this persecution of Christians is close to happening here in America. All the signs are there that all this stuff that is going on now is headed toward the persecution of Jesus’ followers - his witnesses, servants and messengers who are sharing the true gospel of our salvation.

For, they are trying to prove that our nation is broken, that our government is broken, and that our nation is full of hate, anarchy, rebellion, and division, and that we need help. And, so, they will have a “savior” planned for us who will bring us a message of peace and solidarity, which will mean compromise of our faith to be one with the world.

But we must see this for what it is, and we must flee from it, and not be taken captive by it. But we must stand strong on the truth of God’s word, and keep sharing the gospel of our salvation, no matter what persecution comes at us. And, we must never compromise with the world to bring a false peace to the world, which is really no peace at all but tyranny and oppression and forced unity, and compromise, and rejection of truth.

Matthew 24:29-31 ESV

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

And, we must hold fast to our hope in Jesus Christ, in his salvation, in his gospel of deliverance from slavery to sin, and in his promise that what awaits us will be worth it all. For, one glorious day our Lord Jesus is going to return for us, and he is going to take us home to be with him forever. And evil, pain, sorrow and crying will be no more, but only rejoicing!

Join in Exultation

Acapella Hymn

Lyrics by: James Rowe (1914),

Music by: Samuel W. Beazley (1914)

People join in exultation, voices raise;

Let ev’ry people, tribe, and nation sing God’s praise.

Make all the hills and vales today with music ring;

Let voices soar with joy, more and more, extol the eternal King

He has brought us full salvation, sing, friends, sing;

Fill earth and sky with jubilation, praise the King.

Oh, worthy of our praise is he forevermore;

His love proclaim, give praise to his name, ‘till all shall our God adore.

We shall reach the home supernal by his grace,

And, gathered round the throne eternal, see his face;

Then let us give our hearts’ best praise— adoring, sing;

With heart and voice proclaim him our choice, our great and eternal King.

Sing, tribes and nations, wake the vales and the hills with song:

Extol the Saviour, unto whom praises glad belong,

‘Till earth and heaven shall with glad hallelujahs ring;

Let voices soar with joy, more and more, extol our eternal King.

https://youtu.be/WeQm0IGYaP8

*Caution: This link may contain ads

Endure to The End

Matthew 24:6-8 ESV

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”

I am 70 years old, born the last day of 1949. All my life, as far as I can recall, my nation (the USA) has been involved in wars with other nations.

And, since the fall of the World Trade Center Twin Towers on 9/11/2001, my country has invaded many other nations. They have bombed them, robbed them of their natural resources, killed many of their people, taken over their governments, and brought them under the New World Order, as best as I understand it.

And, they lied to the American people about what they are/were doing, convincing many Americans that they are over in these other nations protecting our freedoms and keeping us safe from terrorists. Last that I read, our military has 800 military bases in 70 other countries in the world.

As best as I understand it, the USA was created for the purpose to bring about this New World Order of the beast (of Revelation). Our national seal and emblems and statues and buildings give evidence of that fact. And, they are patterned after Roman, Greek, and/or Egyptian gods and goddesses.

Thus, we are also not the “Christian” nation they claim we are. We were founded on a myriad of religious beliefs, in fact, including freemasonry. And, some of our former presidents are/were members in what I believe are demonic organizations, too. The evil that has existed and still exists within the US government is unprecedented, and cleverly disguised.

A few years ago, all this information and much more was readily available on the internet. That has slowly been changing, so I am not certain how much of it is now available. But there are still some sites which cover the atrocities of the US government and military throughout the world.

Also, the US government serves a group of elites who run the world, basically. And, this group of elites are the de facto government of the USA. Our political leaders, thus, are just actors and puppets playing their parts in the taking down of sovereign nations, including the USA, and bringing the world at large under the rule of the beast (of Revelation) and its one world tyrannical government and one world religion.

Matthew 24:9-12 ESV

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”

This is coming soon. President Trump alluded to it in his speech Friday, July 3^rd, at Mount Rushmore. He blamed “leftists” for it, but truly our government (right and left) is fomenting hate, discord, and distrust. For, our government works for that group of elites who are conquering the world, and who are bringing the people of the world under the rule of the beast.

And, we are going to be required to bow in submission to the “beast,” which as I understand it is comprised of the wealthy and powerful elite of the world. And, if we don’t, we will be shamed as dissenters, censored, punished, and persecuted for our non-compliance with this New World Order beast and its one world religion (see Rev 13).

Our leaders have been talking about this for a long while. I know that when Obama was president that he and the pope continually spoke of the importance of world peace and harmony, unity, and the breaking down of all which divides us as the people of the world, so that we can all join together as one, and be of one mind, one heart, and one voice.

We will no longer be allowed to be different from one another. We will be required to be all the same. The face coverings now that many are required to wear do, in a sense, make us all look the same, like minions. It has this idea with it of conformity, of all of us looking and acting the same.

And, they are pushing big time this whole idea of us betraying one another, and reporting on one another, too. And, people will comply out of fear, because fear is what is driving all of this. They scare people into compliance so that they are willing to betray family members, friends, neighbors, etc.

And, as far as false prophets & teachers are concerned, they have been around for forever. But, in the past 20 years or more they have increased within the gatherings of the church greatly. And, they are leading many people astray with their false cheap grace gospel which convinces people that they can be saved and going to heaven but that they don’t have to repent of their sins or obey the Lord.

So, they are also promoting lawlessness with their cheap grace, because it teaches we don’t have to submit to Jesus as Lord, we don’t have to forsake our sinful lifestyles, and we don’t have to obey our Lord’s commands. That is lawlessness. And, that is what many people who call themselves Christians have bought into. For, they want to hold on to their sins, and they don’t want to have to obey God, but they still want heaven guaranteed them.

We, too, are seeing the love of many grow cold. But we are also seeing the pushing of a global “love” for all humanity that is not based in God’s love, but that is based in this idea of unity of all people (conformity) and of world peace (absence of differences). And, along with that is being pushed this idea that to love with God-like love is actually hate, discord, disharmony, disunity, and the like, and therefore it is bad and to be discarded.

Matthew 24:13-14 ESV

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Many Christians in America believe in a pre-tribulation rapture of the church, and so they are convinced that the Lord will remove them from this world before things get really bad. I don’t believe that is the truth, but I am also not here to debate that issue, either. I do believe that is primarily an American belief, and that it has not always been around, either.

I believe the Scriptures teach that the adulterous church will be judged during the tribulation and that during this time the Lord will be purifying his bride and making her ready for his return. As well, the saints of the Lord will be persecuted by the beast, and many will be martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ and for their testimonies for the Lord and for his gospel.

Many people who profess faith in Jesus Christ also believe that once you are “saved” you are always saved regardless of how you live your life on this earth. But I believe the Scriptures teach a progressive salvation which will not be complete until Jesus returns. And, thus they also teach that we must endure to the end to be saved and to have eternal life with God.

This is born out to be true in much of the writings of the New Testament that teach us that eternal life with God is dependent upon our walks of faith in Jesus Christ in submission to Christ as Lord and in walks of obedience to his commands. For, our faith in Jesus is not an emotion but it is what we do in obedience to our Lord (Rom. 6:1-23; Rom. 8:1-17; Eph. 4:17-24).

I also believe that, through tribulation and the persecution of the saints of God, that a remnant of the complacent and adulterous church will be revived, and that the rest of the saints will be purified and made ready for the Lord’s return. And, the church, thus, will be serious and passionate about spreading the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ so that many people (not the majority) will come to faith in Jesus Christ during that time, as well. And, then the end will come.

And, because many people will be saved during this time, and the adulterous and idolatrous church will be revived (or a remnant will be), there will be much cause for rejoicing and thanksgiving, even in the midst of much pain, suffering and sorrow. And, that is my hope, that those who are now wandering from the Lord will return to him and endure with him to the end.

In That Day  

An Original Work / May 21, 2011

Based off Isaiah 12

In that day you will say:

“I will praise You, Lord.

I know You were angry;

anger’s turned away.

God is my salvation;

I’ll trust; not afraid.

The Lord, the Lord, my strength;

the Lord, Lord, my song;

He is my salvation;

Lord, my comforter.”

With joy you’ll draw water

from salvation’s wells.

In that day you will say:

“Give thanks to the Lord.

Call on His holy name;

make Him known today.

Proclaim: He’s exalted.

Tell what He has done.

Sing, for He is glorious;

make this known to all.

Shout aloud; sing for joy,

people of Zion;

Great is the Holy One,

who among us dwells.”

https://vimeo.com/127213615

Our Strength and Song

In That Day

Isaiah 12:1-2 ESV

You will say in that day:

“I will give thanks to you, O Lord,

    for though you were angry with me,

your anger turned away,

    that you might comfort me.

“Behold, God is my salvation;

    I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the Lord God is my strength and my song,

    and he has become my salvation.”

In what day? A day of judgment, a day of deliverance, and a day of salvation. A day when God judges his adulterous and idolatrous church, and through judgment, a remnant are delivered from their bondage to sin and/or from their adultery and idolatry, and they are united or reunited with the Lord in purity of heart, mind and soul.

The Plot Afoot

There is a New World Order of the beast of Revelation, of a group of wealthy, powerful and elite people of the world, who run the world and who are the de facto government of the USA. And, they are plotting the takeover of the USA and the world, most of which they have already conquered.

The virus, the protests, the riots, and the destruction of property of late are all part of the plan for conquering our nation and its people. But mostly or primarily this is about Satan conquering the saints of God who are followers of Jesus, and especially those who are spreading the true gospel of Jesus.

What we have been enduring so far this year on a national scale is about dividing and conquering us, and silencing all those who are opposed to Satan and the New World Order, and especially conquering and silencing those who are preaching the true gospel of our deliverance from slavery to sin.

So, first they create chaos and upheaval and crisis situations so that they can come in as “saviors” with a pre-planned solution for our “problem.” And, that solution is going to mean that we are all going to have to unify, and make peace with the world, and become of one mind and heart with the world, or else face the consequences. This is their modus operandi.

The End to Freedoms

So, this is not only about the end to America, as we know it, but it is about the end of free speech, and freedom of faith (religion), and freedom to worship and to believe in Jesus as the only way to heaven, and freedom to share the truth of the gospel with others, and freedom to expose the lies and the deceivers and the false teachings and the antichrist, too.

And, this is not liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican. This is of a one world order of which the US government is a part, and to whom our government bows in submission, and for whom our government works.

So, the whole of our government intends to end America, and to shame dissenters, and to demand total submission from anyone who disagrees with them, for they work for the beast. If we do not bow to them, and if we don’t stop talking about Jesus and sharing the gospel as Jesus taught it, then we will be persecuted, censored, and punished (Read Revelation 12-14).

For, their plan is to bring the whole world under a one world order, which is tyrannical and oppressive, the likes of Hitler’s regime, only globally, and to bring us all into a one world religion where we all agree to set aside all that divides us as a people in order to unite together as one mind and voice.

And, just because any politician claims he or she is not part of this global order doesn’t mean he or she is telling us the truth. So, don’t put your hope in any man or woman, but put your hope fully in the Lord. For, these days are just around the corner, and they are inevitable.

But these tribulations and persecutions are for our good, to bring the church which is living in spiritual adultery and idolatry back into intimate and obedient fellowship with the Lord Jesus, and to purify all of us, and to make us ready for the coming of our Lord and for the completion of our salvation.

And, for that, we should thank and praise the Lord that he loved us enough to do what needed to be done to revive his church and to make us ready for his return.

Oh, What Joy!

Isaiah 12:3-6 ESV

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day:

“Give thanks to the Lord,

    call upon his name,

make known his deeds among the peoples,

    proclaim that his name is exalted.

“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;

    let this be made known in all the earth.

Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,

    for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

I am certainly not looking forward to what is coming, for it is going to be a very difficult period of time with much pain and sorrow. And, it will be a time of pure evil unlike we have ever seen before in our lives. But it is necessary that we endure this in order for the Lord to revive his adulterous people.

But the sorrow we will experience will be overshadowed by the joy we will also experience at the sight of people coming to faith in Jesus Christ, and adulterous Christians (or professing Christians) repenting of their sins, and turning away from them to follow Jesus in purity of heart and mind, and in surrender to his will for their lives. That will be glorious!

We will have much to be thankful for in that day, and we will have much to praise our Lord about. And, no matter what threats may be against us, or what persecution we must face, we must remain faithful to our Lord. And, we must continue to spread the good news of the gospel so that many will be saved from their sins before our Lord returns to take us home with him.

His Tender Mercies

An Original Work / January 26, 2014

Fear not! I’m with you.

Be not dismayed!

God watches o’er you.

Trust Him today.

He’ll lead and guide you;

Give you His aid.

He’ll love and keep you

With Him always.

Walk in His footsteps.

He’ll lead the way.

Trust in His love;

Believe that He cares.

He will not leave you.

Faithful He’ll be.

His tender mercies

Now you will see.

Fellowship with Him

Throughout the day.

Tell Him your heartaches.

He’ll heal always.

Rest in His comfort.

He is your friend.

Your faith He’ll strengthen,

True to the end.

https://vimeo.com/379513308