Salt & Light Blog

Do not Fear the End Times, Recognize the Signs

2/1/2017

You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you. Deuteronomy 3:22

Today is part two of our intro to the End Times study. We will continue to look at signs of the times. We began yesterday reading Matthew 24; we’ll continue there today as well as look at other chapters which tell us more signs of the season. Yesterday, the signs we read about were: People claiming to be Christ, wars and rumors of wars, many false prophets, increased crime and sin, many of the faithful falling away, and many of the faithful losing their passion as their love grows cold. But Jesus gave us encouragement. He said that those who endure to the end will be saved and that the gospel would be preached throughout the whole world to the all the nations (Matthew 24:4-14). Let’s continue with verses 7-8.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

This not only refers to wars, but political upheaval, realigning of governments, treaties, and allies. Contributing to the problem will be an increase in natural disasters such as earthquakes. Luke 21 records the same teaching and verses 10-11 say it this way,
Then He {Jesus] said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.”
There will be a great increase in famine and disease. We are seeing the beginnings of that now, just as we are seeing an escalation in earthquakes and unusual weather patterns. Becky Oskin with Live Science wrote that “there were more than twice as many big earthquakes in the first quarter of 2014 as compared with the average since 1979.” (Emphasis added, 2014). Scientists have not been able to find a reason for the increase in seismic activity (Oskin, 2014). Another scientific research article wrote that the changing climate has contributed to an unprecedented escalation of famines and disease which are expected to affect 18% of the global population (Ahmed, 2013). That is nearly 1 out of five people on the face of the planet! While we are seeing an increase in natural disasters, especially earthquakes and an increase in famine and pestilence it is not yet to the point it will be. Before that happens will come severe Christian persecution. Verses 12-19 say it like this.
But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

We read about this yesterday. Luke’s account gives a little more detail about the persecution than does Matthew’s. Lovely Family, we do not have to be afraid of the harassment, oppression, and suffering of the enemy through his lost and blind followers. God is with us! We have nothing to fear. We won’t have to come up with a defense. We won’t have to think of a way out of it. Read verse 15 again. for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. Remember that God is our Ever-Present Almighty God With Us. Isaiah 54:17 encourages us this way,
no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,
and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord
and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
How many times throughout scripture does He say, “Do not fear, I am with you” or “Be courageous, I am with you.” A quick search found more than 100 times that God reminds His children He is with us. The first mention in Genesis 26:24 to Jesus’ last words to His followers before His ascension in Matthew 18:20. “…And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Believer, we do not have to fear. We have God on our side, our Warrior King. He is Justice and Vengeance is His! (Deuteronomy 3:22, Deuteronomy 32:4, Deuteronomy 32:35). The troubles ahead will be terrible for many, but we have the LORD. Our Father will not let us be defeated. Jesus is the Perfect Lamb who died to give us life and our Bridegroom. We will be united with Him at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. The Holy Spirit is our Shield. He covers us, indwells us, teaches us and empowers us to persevere any trial or tribulation.
I had planned on going over more than these two signs today, but we can take it slow in small bites. Beloved Brothers and Sisters, Beloved seekers of truth, take courage; it is already written Jesus conquers Satan, Death, and Sin. It is as good as done. Let us take advantage of the times, be aware and watchful, let us be the light for the lost and teachers of the uninformed united in God’s will that none would perish (2 Peter 3:9).

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Will You Recognize the Season of the End Times?

1/31/2017

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“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:32-35

I am so excited to begin this series to help us each to understand the End Times more clearly and fearlessly as prophesied in the Scriptures, God’s Word. Some of us look to the end times with hope and proper fear of the LORD, others look to that time with great fear of what they do not understand. Some of us think God is taking too long and we long for it now. But remember, God has a reason for His timing and a reason He wants us to understand His plan. 2 Peter 3:1-10 reads,
This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

There are hundreds of places I could start but after prayer I have chosen to start with Jesus teaching the disciples about those days. In Matthew 24 Jesus is speaking with the twelve. Verses 3-8 read,
“As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 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. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”
So, first Jesus warns “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.”
I pray we won’t be like the Jewish leaders, most of the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, lawyers, and priests of Jesus’ day. Though, they had and knew scripture, they missed recognizing Jesus. Though, some knew it was Him, they rejected the idea because of their pride. They worshiped the Law not the God who made the Law. We must know who Jesus is to recognize Him when He returns. We already know that when He returns it will not be as a man wandering the desert, or organizing a group to gather on a mountain as some have done and others believed. No! He will return in the clouds, in glory! He will be unmistakable. In verses 23-27 Jesus explains it,
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Mark 13:24-27 describes it this way,
“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.”
John described Jesus’ return in Revelation 1:4-8
John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the LORD God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
When Jesus returns, there will be no mistaking Him, but it will be too late for those who have not chosen to accept His redemption; payment will be due. Each person will either pay for his sins with his own blood and eternal death where there is, as Jesus described, weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luke 13:28, Mtt 8:12, Mtt 13:42 and 50, Mtt 22:13,Mtt 24:51, Mtt 25:30) or he will have accepted Jesus blood payment and receive eternal life, where Jesus will wipe every tear and there will be no pain (Revelation 21:4). So it is important that we understand the truth, recognize the signs that will warn us that the End Times are here and that The Day of the LORD, which is the day when Jesus returns and brings judgement to the nations, is near. If we’re afraid, if we’re ignorant of the facts, or we are passive about the truth, we will miss the chance to bring people to Christ, lead them to understanding and ease their fears about what to expect.
In verses 6-8 of Matthew 24 which we are reading today Jesus gave the next signs to watch for. He said, “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.” Wars are increasing, rumors that wars will break out are increasing. Just the other day I heard someone say that the U.S. will have to go to war against North Korea if the president passes the laws he wants to pass. That is a rumor of war. Social media, online news services, radio, and television all contribute to this increase in rumor of wars. There are many wars across the globe and that will only increase. This, Jesus says, is not the end yet, it is the beginning of the end, the birth pains. There are more signs.
Persecution of Christians will be grow, Christians will be turned in for following Christ, for speaking the truth and spreading the Gospel. Matthew 24:9-14 exhorts Christians to be aware.
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. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 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 will let the persecution and tribulation cause them to fall away, to give in to false doctrines, follow false prophets, and false teachers. They will betray those who were once considered close friends, brothers, and sisters. Just as Jesus was betrayed by his close friend, Judas before his crucifixion(Psalm 41:9, John 13:18), many Christians will be betrayed and handed over to be imprisoned, tortured, and perhaps killed for their faith. Some will let their love, the demonstration and manifestation of Jesus through His Holy Spirit grow cold because of all the sin in the world. I’ve seen this beginning to happen. The crime, the nearly daily mass shootings such as The Pulse club in Orlando and the Bataclan Theatre in Paris, sex trafficking and drugs cause people to lose their passion for Christ, to look to the world and despair for themselves rather than look to Jesus and cry out for justice for the lost and the victims. When that happens they start considering the doubts the thief puts in their minds, “Why would God do this?” Oh, Dear Mourning Friend, God didn’t do it, broken and sinful man did it. But it’s not all doom and gloom; look at Jesus’ encouragement to us. First, if we persevere, if we do not fall away from faith and give into the pressures of persecution, betrayal, and despair we will be saved. On the Day of the LORD, we will be taken up with Jesus and resurrected if we are sleeping (physically dead but not eternally), and be united with our Bridegroom, Christ Jesus.
What a joy that day will be for us! It is the hope that keeps us able to endure and empowers us to be patient. But my lovely family, we cannot merely consider ourselves, there are so many who are lost, who can’t see the love of God because no one has shown them the love of Christ, helped them hear the call of the Father, or demonstrated to them the beauty of the Holy Spirit. He loves them. And so he also encourages us in Matthew 24:14 as a result of our endurance, salvation, and hope,
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.
On the Day of the LORD, every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus is Lord. But not everyone will be bent and confessing in awe-filled worship; some will be bent in terror and confessing too late as they realize their fate. Listen to the way that the LORD-God describes it to Isaiah in Isaiah 45:22-25.
“Turn to me and be saved,
    all the ends of the earth!
    For I am God, and there is no other.
23 By myself I have sworn;
    from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
    a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
    every tongue shall swear allegiance.’
24 “Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me,
    are righteousness and strength;
to him shall come and be ashamed
    all who were incensed against him.
25 In the Lord all the offspring of Israel
    shall be justified and shall glory.”

In the fourteenth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans, verses 7-12 he exhorted them to unity, edification, and support of one another and said,
“For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
    and every tongue shall confess[to God.”
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

You are responsible for the life you lead. You are responsible for living a life worthy of the high price Jesus paid for it. But you aren’t alone in the world. There are lost waiting to hear the good news of Jesus. There are brothers falling away. There are sisters whose love is growing cold. Is your life a testimony to Jesus? Are you collaborating with God and fulfilling His will that none should perish? We will answer for what we did and what we did not do.

There are more warning signs we should learn so that we will recognize the season of the End Times. Though Jesus said, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matthew 24:36). We are commanded to know the season by the signs we have been told about throughout the Bible. In Matthew 24:32-35 Jesus said,
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

We are starting to see the signs come to pass, though not every one of them has yet, it may be that we are the generation or our children or grandchildren, but people, get ready, Jesus is coming!
Matthew 24 includes more signs we will look at tomorrow. Some of these signs are increasing on the earth, some are coming soon. But it is imperative that we understand without fear of the enemy but fear of the LORD as He so lovingly lets us in on His great plan. And Brothers and Sisters, the end is a happy one. Even if the narrative has its ups and downs, the story one of steady hope and enduring love. Do not be afraid, The LORD your God is with you.

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A Call to Worship in Spirit and in Truth

1/9/2017

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In John 4:23-24 Jesus said,
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
To worship God wholly in spirit and in truth means much more than singing a few songs during the first fifteen minutes of a church service. It goes beyond listening to a teacher speak about the Bible. It is a lifestyle, being a hearer and a doer, offering ourselves as a living sacrifice, and pursuing the Kingdom of God and His righteousness above all else.
Romans 12:1-3 tells us,
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
And James 1:19-22 reads,
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Read Joel 2 12-17
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
    and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
    and he relents over disaster.
Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
    and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
    for the Lord your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion;
    consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
    gather the people.
Consecrate the congregation;
    assemble the elders;
gather the children,
    even nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
    and the bride her chamber.
Between the vestibule and the altar
    let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,
    and make not your heritage a reproach,
    a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?’”

Believer, are you living a lifestyle which bears the fruit of repentance? Are you contending for the faith by upholding truth, living pure, and fasting and praying so that you can walk in the power and authority given to you by Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit? It is time to fast and pray. It is time to contend for the faith! It is time to do the will of the Father through the revelation of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Joel 2:28-32 reads,
“And it shall come to pass afterward,
    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    your old men shall dream dreams,
    and your young men shall see visions.
Even on the male and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
“And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

Believer, are you a man, woman, old, young, servant, son or daughter? Then the LORD wants to pour out His Holy Spirit on you. He is calling you to prophesy, dream, and see visions. He is calling you to embrace the power and authority given to you by Jesus Christ to wake up and let the Holy Spirit work through you by prophecy, dreams, and visions. He wants us to heal infirmities by His power, cast out demons by His authority, and do good works in His name! Now is the time. Today is the day.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33). We seek these things by prayer, fasting, and repentance. We seek these things by offering ourselves as living sacrifices to the King of Kings. We seek these things by being doers of the word and not hearers only. Let us worship God in completeness. Let us love the LORD our God with all our hearts and with all our souls and with all our strength and with all our minds and love our neighbors the way we love ourselves (Luke 10:27).

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Genesis 9:18-28 Shame Covered

6/10/2016

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I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10

Genesis 9:18-28
We have been reading about Noah for the last several days. Yesterday we read about how Noah and his family came off the ark and began living a new life under the promises of God. Let’s continue today. Verses 18-20 read,
The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed.
20 Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard.
Years had passed and Shem, Ham, and Japheth had sons and daughters. Not only had they begun to be fruitful with reproduction but they were also fruitful in production, they worked at the various vocations necessary to continue life. Noah worked the soil. He planted a vineyard.
Vineyards, wine are an element important to life. Wine represents joy and celebration. But it is so much more. It is a symbol of sustaining life. Wherever Noah and his family settled it was probably not far from Mount Ararat where the ark landed. There is not an abundance of water there, so wine is necessary to sustaining life. It signifies the covenants of God (Matthew26:27-29). So a vineyard was an essential crop.
But of course Noah was still human, he wasn’t perfect. he enjoyed the wine, his vineyard produced and on at least one occasion he indulged in wine too much. Verses 21-22 read,
He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside.
Noah’s shame was not in drinking the wine. But he became drunk and so uninhibited he lay naked in his tent. It is not that our bodies are something to be ashamed of, it is that nakedness represents the shame of sin. Our naked bodies are for our spouses only in a representation of our transparent relationship with The Lord. But Noah was drunk, he wasn’t using wisdom and discretion. His inhibitions were gone and he was naked where anyone could see him.
And Ham did. Ham saw his father lying in shame and unable to cover himself. He had choices. But what did he do? He went straight out and told his brothers. You and I are often faced with similar choices if we’re living in communities and relationships. Someone confides in us or we discover some sin or shame about a person. We have choices. We can be like Ham and go tell our small group we need to pray for Sister Mary because she really needs help to overcome her drinking problem. Or we can be like Shem and Japheth. Verse 23 records what they chose to do.
Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness.
These two brothers did a beautiful and prophetic act for their father. They didn’t look on his nakedness. Their love led them to refuse to shame him. He was unconscious, he would not have known if they came in seeing his shame or not. They walked in backwards with the garment blocking their view. They intentionally did not look at his shame or judge it. Then they covered his nakedness with the garment.
This is what Jesus does for us. He chooses not to look at our sin. Isaiah 43:25 reads,
“I, I am he
    who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,
    and I will not remember your sins.”
That doesn’t mean God doesn’t know about our sins anymore, it doesn’t mean He forgot our sins like we might forget the capitals of each of the states. It means He chooses not to think of them, look at them or acknowledge them. But more than choose not to remember our sins in forgiveness, He covers us. He gives us new clothes to cover our shame. Zechariah 3:3-5 reads,
Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.
God doesn’t shame us nor exhibit our shame to the world. He doesn’t flaunt our sin in the disguise of prayer circles. He does something about it. There is no condemnation in Christ. Romans 8:1-5 in The Living Bible describes it this way,
So there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 For the power of the life-giving Spirit—and this power is mine through Christ Jesus—has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death. 3 We aren’t saved from sin’s grasp by knowing the commandments of God because we can’t and don’t keep them, but God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours—except that ours are sinful—and destroyed sin’s control over us by giving himself as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 So now we can obey God’s laws if we follow after the Holy Spirit and no longer obey the old evil nature within us.
5 Those who let themselves be controlled by their lower natures live only to please themselves, but those who follow after the Holy Spirit find themselves doing those things that please God.
Focusing on sin doesn’t lead to salvation, focusing on The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit leads to salvation.
Let’s return to the narrative. Verse 24 reads,
When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him,
How did Noah know? It doesn’t say, but I believe it was a revelation from The Lord. The Lord gave Noah some prophecy and I have no doubt He gave him the entire picture. Verses 25-27 read,
he said,
“Cursed be Canaan;
    a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”
26 He also said,
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem;
    and let Canaan be his servant.
27 May God enlarge Japheth,

    and let him dwell in the tents of Shem,
    and let Canaan be his servant.”

Shem was Abraham’s 9 times great grandfather (Luke 3:34-37). His descendants would one day become Israel. Canaan’s descendants would be conquered by Joshua and Israel, becoming their slaves when Israel took the Promised Land, the land of Canaan. Shem was blessed by being the people by whom God would reveal Himself to and save the world. He fathered Abraham, Israel, David, and Jesus.
Japheth was enlarged. In the picture of this prophecy, his descendants became the gentile nations. He became all those who would benefit from Israel’s rejection of Jesus as Christ and so dwell in the places the Jewish and Muslim nations could have. Japheth’s heirs inherited all Shem’s heirs could have.
This chapter closes with verse 28.
After the flood Noah lived 350 years.
Consider that, Noah lived 950 years, even in those times when lifespans were centuries long 950 years was nothing to be sneezed at. Methuselah lived 969 years and he lived longer than any other person recorded in the Bible (Genesis 5:27).
Believer, whatever shame you are holding onto, remember this, between you and God there is no reason to hide. He chooses not to remember your sins, He forgave them and gave you new clothes. Remember this too when you consider the people in your family, community, and world. If God chooses not to focus on sin, what right do we have to do so?

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2 Peter 3 The Day of the Lord is at Hand; It’s Reality not Fantasy

5/30/2016

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Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed! Revelation 16:15 On Photo of Amber Sky by Lani Campbell

2 Peter 3
God is so wonderful to us. He has warned us from the times of Daniel and Isaiah about the end times. He has let us know about the end of this earth so we can prepare for the beginning of the new earth and eternity united with Him as His Bride.
Many people like to point out to us that we sound crazy, always touting the same message, “Jesus is coming back” and “The Day of the LORD is at hand.” We’ve been saying it for thousands of years. We’ve been waiting for Jesus’ imminent return for nearly two millennia with just as much hope as the first Christians did.
The world doesn’t believe it. It has been turned into a horror movie or a myth that only the superstitious, naïve, and foolish believe is real. But it is real. For the believer there is nothing to fear in that Day, but the lost will experience the consequence of their sin, the wrath of God. They will suffer the consequence of sin in the world which is death.
Peter wrote this letter to remind Christians that the day was coming and encourage them to be patient, not focusing on that one Day but on the lives they were living now. He urged them not to fall for lies but cling to the truth. Verses 1-4 read,
This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

I’ve heard the scoffers. I’ve seen the depiction of Christians in films carrying signs which read “The End is Near!” The Christian is almost always made to look crazy and obsessed so that the world will continue to mock and twist the prophecies and not take them seriously. The only hope Satan has is that he can keep as many people from knowing and believing the truth as possible.
Did you know that nearly every culture in the world has a story about a flood destroying the earth? We all come from Noah and his sons. The tale of what happened was told from generation to generation and made its way to the chronicle of nearly every society that has existed. But many people use this fact as a reason to discount the flood, instead of understand it as an undisputable fact of world history. If they believe the flood, then they have to believe the rest of scripture and that includes the countless prophecies about Jesus Christ, His return, and the Day of the Lord. They’ve heard The Day of Fire is coming but they dismiss it. Peter discusses this in verses 5-7.
For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

The world laughs at the idea of the Day of Judgment. But you and I know it is real and nothing to be laughed at. But sometimes the ridicule and the constant re-making of prophecy into a scary story can lead us to lose heart and begin to doubt. Sometimes the long wait can lead to despondency. But God is so good. Do you see that our wonderful wedding day is their doomsday? God loves them just as much as He loves us and He wants them to have every chance to repent and know Him before they are forced to their knees in defeat on the Day of His return. We are that chance! We are the ones who can show them the love of Jesus so that they might not have to suffer the Wrath of God. God loves them! He wants to gather them in His arms when He gathers us into His arms. Verses 8-10 read,
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed

It may seem like it’s taking forever to get here to us, but it will be at exactly the right time. Israel felt as if they had waited an eternity for the Messiah to come, but Jesus came at exactly the right time (Galatians 4:4). He died at exactly the right time (Romans 5:6). People were so sure they had interpreted the Scriptures and Prophecies properly that many of them missed Him and still wait for the Messiah they imagined rather than the Savior who was promised. That is how it will be with Jesus’ return. So many people have interpreted scripture using their own minds and logic rather than The Holy Spirit that they are missing the truth. They do complicated math, find “secrets” hidden in scripture, pick dates and they tell the world what they think will happen, they make films and write books with their own understanding and version of events that they and billions will not see it until it happens and is too late. We feel as if it is taking forever to arrive, but it will be at the exact right time and it when it happens people will either be prepared and know it because of the prophecies or it will be sudden because they didn’t recognize the signs and events. Verses 11-13 say it like this,
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Knowing that for many people the Day of the Lord will happen with such abruptness, we ought to be living in a manner that not only prepares us for our eternity but gives the lost a chance to know the awesome power and love of Jesus. Our lives lived in faith, walking in the Spirit and letting Him transform us speak volumes to the world. They may scoff at the complicated myths false teachers, false prophets, and pseudo-Christians tell, but they can’t mock the sincerity and the concrete evidence of the power of God at work in our lives. Verses 14-18 read,
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Your life and my life lived in the Spirit are the chance for the lost to know God. But we have to know God in order for that to happen. We have to be certain of the truth, not flailing around listening to and believing every stray myth, story, and lie that false teachers propagate. So as Peter encouraged us, I encourage us as well to study the scripture with the Holy Spirit and grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our lives should be consistently moving closer to the image of Christ and we should be consistently learning more and more about who God is, not by the words of whoever, but by the Word of God.

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Deuteronomy 33 Part One: Jesus is The Warrior King Fighting for Us

4/5/2016

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The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. Exodus 14:14

Deuteronomy 33 Part One Verses 1-7
There was a tradition for a father to bless his sons before he died. That tradition went back further than Jacob to his sons and probably further back than Abraham to his sons. Now before Moses died he continued the tradition, but he blessed each tribe of Israel, his spiritual children. As with the other patriarchal blessings in Scripture, they were prophetic and meant for good. And also like other prophecy in Scripture there are multiple layers and we can see Jesus, our Lord and Savior revealed in each one. Verses 1-5 read,
This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the people of Israel before his death. 2 He said,
“The Lord came from Sinai
    and dawned from Seir upon us;
    he shone forth from Mount Paran;
he came from the ten thousands of holy ones,
    with flaming fire at his right hand.
3 Yes, he loved his people,
    all his holy ones were in his hand;
so they followed in your steps,
    receiving direction from you,
4 when Moses commanded us a law,
    as a possession for the assembly of Jacob.
5 Thus the Lord became king in Jeshurun,
    when the heads of the people were gathered,
    all the tribes of Israel together.”
The Lord chose Israel to be His people and receive His Law. He chose us to receive His Word, Jesus Christ. He chose to indwell us and write His Word onto our hearts. His glory and presence is so magnificent and bright that when He came to Sinai His light shone on Mt Seir as well. God’s Law, His Word is like fire. It purifies, melts hearts, and divides bone and marrow. His Word is Righteous, His Law is Justice.
Moses’ blessing echoed Enoch’s prophecy. Jude verses 14-16 talked about false teachers. It reads,
It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
Who are the ten thousands of holy ones? Believer, they are us, gathered with Jesus Christ on the Day of the Lord executing justice to the nations. As God was King of Israel, He is our King too. But we don’t reject Him for earthly kings. Jesus is our Christ, our King of kings. His fiery Word is written on our hearts and executed by our lives. His presence rests in us and shines out for the world to see. He is obvious in us. The Edomites and Ishmaelites could see The Lord’s glory on Sinai; the world can see His glory in us.
Verse 6 reads,
“Let Reuben live, and not die,
    but let his men be few.”
This short blessing for the descendants of Jacob’s eldest son says they will endure. Although they were on the outskirts of The Promised Land, faced many battles and hardship, they would endure. They wouldn’t endure because of their strength but because of God’s power. We do not persevere because of our might but The Lord’s. It is He who strengthens us and it is He who is glorified in the victory when we are weak.
Believer, I know you’ve struggled. I know you’ve been blessed. I know you have suffered through trials and I know you have overcome and conquered. How do I know? Because The Lord saved you, He resides in you and He is glorified through every circumstance of your life when you abide in Him and let Him be The Lord. Paul described it this way in his letter to the Philippians,
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:12-13).
Verse 7 is Judah’s blessing.
And this he said of Judah:
“Hear, O Lord, the voice of Judah,
    and bring him in to his people.
With your hands contend for him,
    and be a help against his adversaries.”
God hears you when you pray. Your prayers are not mere venting or whining opportunities. They are a conversation with The Lord your God. Prayers unite the church and call God to fight for us. Your prayers have great effect and impact! James 5:13-16 read,
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working
Prayer is the first line of defense in the war with the enemy. During a recent battle, I was praying constantly. God spoke to me and to several other people for me. The word I received was always the same. God said, “I will fight for you, you only have to be silent. I am defending you. I am God; I am your Justice.” God does fight for you. Your prayers are powerful because they let you let God be God for you.
Prayer also allows you to act, to obey and fight for the lost, the weak, and those in need. Judah was not only blessed to be a praying people but a people who fought for others against the enemy. Jesus was born out of Judah. He prayed for us (John 17:20-26). He laid down His life for us. He resurrected for us. And He fights for us. If we are glorifying Him, if He lives in us, we ought to be doing the same, praying for and fighting for people, even loving them to the point of laying down our lives if it comes to it. 1 John 3:16-18 reads,
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
There is so much to glean from these blessings that it would be a shame to gloss over each section and take it in all one sitting. So we will continue the chapter tomorrow.
Believer, The Lord fights for you. He conquers your adversary. He saves. His Word is in you, inscribed on your heart, purifying your soul, renewing your mind, and living out in your hands. Let Him shine into the world. Show the world who Jesus your Warrior King is.

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Deuteronomy 18:9-22 Live Supernaturally or Unnaturally

3/18/2016

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So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

Deuteronomy 18:9-22
The Kingdom of God is not like the world. We live supernaturally and though many in the world think they live supernaturally, they live unnaturally. We look to God as the giver of all good things, be it provision, wisdom, discernment, or gifts. But the people of the world look to themselves, and the devil is happy to answer them in unnatural ways to keep them from seeking God and the joy of knowing Him.
Even Christians can be pulled into the aberrant ways of the world seeking the supernatural way we should be living our lives and falling instead for what the world thinks is beyond the natural. Moses warned the Israelites not to practice any of the perverted practices of the nations they would dispossess. Verses 9-14 read,
“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer 11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, 12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, 14 for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.”
The call of connecting to the “other side” is strong. People know there is more to life than life but they don’t know where to look. They look to death for the answers they seek. They want to know what the future holds and think the dead can help or that they need to “find themselves” to get the answers.
The devil will never give them the Truth; he is the father of lies. John 8:43-45 says it this way,
Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.

If they would only look to God. Jesus holds the answers they seek. We are the vehicles Holy Spirit uses to tell them and show them. They can’t believe the truth and be free unless they hear the truth and see God’s immense power displayed through His inexhaustible love. As followers of Christ we look to God, we live in this world as Citizens of Heaven who see the invisible and eternal. Our power comes not from ourselves or the prince of the power of the air but from God who indwells us with His Holy Spirit, from the Grace of the Father who looks at us through the blood of Jesus Christ. He gives us each gifts and by these gifts and by the fruit of the Spirit’s transformative power that we lead others to live in Him above the natural world around us, walking in the supernatural way of Mighty God.
Moses told the Israelites they would not need to look to the unnatural for direction because God would speak to them through another prophet like him. They could not handle the power of God speaking directly to them, they needed an intermediary. Verses 15-19 read,
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16 just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 17 And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.”
Today, believers can each speak directly to God and hear directly from Him. While we all have the ability to prophesy, some have the gift of prophecy. Whether it is your gift or not, you are called to speak God’s word to the nations. You are called to use whatever gifts you have to demonstrate the truth to the masses, build up the church, and minister to whosoever. But it is a great responsibility and it must be done, not by exalting ourselves as mouthpieces for God but exalting God as His servants.
When you show mercy, it is God’s mercy you reveal, not your own. When you heal, it is God’s healing you express, not yours. When you prophesy, it best be God’s word you speak and not your own. God commanded we obey His word and speaking your own word in God’s name will lead to death for the hearer and the speaker. Verses 20-22 read,
“But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.”

The Lord gives us discernment. We know His word and voice if we follow Him. Israel did not have the Holy Spirit in them, but we do. They had to go by the external, we hear and discern Him by His Spirit. Jesus described Holy Spirit like this in John 16:12-15,
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

We can recognize the truth because, He is in us. If you have trouble discerning God’s voice ask yourself, “Did the word glorify God or man?” “Did it come to pass?” “Is it true, does it agree with Scripture?” If you prophesy, do not speak out of your own hubris, heart, or head. Speak the truth, demonstrate love, and free the captives.
Do not seek the answers in the world, the devil will be happy to feed you lies; look to the Lord your God and He will give you the truth, peace, and every answer you seek. He wants you to find the truth. Proverbs 25:2 reads,
It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.

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Believer, You are a Prophet, with a Responsibility to Prophesy

2/6/2016

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What is Prophecy?
Amos 3:7-8 describes it this way.
“For the Lord God does nothing
    without revealing his secret
    to his servants the prophets.
8 The lion has roared;
    who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken;
    who can but prophesy?”
The central goal of prophecy is to reveal the word and will of God, it is the Word of God revealed in order prepare us or embolden us to act. The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:10).
We are all prophets but not all of us have been given the gift of prophecy. 1 Corinthians 12:27-29 reads,
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.”
But in Christ, we are all called to be prophets. We are prophets, whether or not we were gifted with prophecy by The Holy Spirit. Acts 3:22-26 says,
“Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
The phrase sons of the prophets was used to denote the prophets of Elisha’s day. He was their father and they were his sons. He taught, led, and mentored the prophets and they followed his lead and became like him. Elisha was a type of Christ (a foreshadowing of Christ), raised up by The Lord, anointed by Elijah, and a mouthpiece for The Lord. Jesus was raised up by God, baptized by John the Baptist and revealed God’s Word and will to the people.
When John saw the vision of Revelation the angel of the Lord said that we are prophets. Revelation 22:8-9 reads,
“I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
John’ brothers, the prophets are you and me! We are prophets, and although we may not all have the gift of prophecy, we can and are expected to prophesy. Numbers 12:6-8 describes how the Lord chooses to speak to His prophets, who are His faithful friends.
“And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?””
Under the Old Testament God chose a few men and women, poured out His Spirit on them and assigned them to be prophets. But today we are all prophets. We have the Holy Spirit in us! Joel 2:28-29 says it this way,
“And it shall come to pass afterward,
    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    your old men shall dream dreams,
    and your young men shall see visions.
29 Even on the male and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit.”
The scriptures are the Word of God. When you share scriptures, when you use them truthfully and in the Spirit to teach, rebuke, reproof, counsel, or comfort, you are prophesying. When you listen to the voice of The Lord and obey, that is prophecy. When you share the testimony of Jesus Christ you are prophesying. We are responsible for the Word of God we receive, and as believers we all receive it. We have to know God to hear and recognize His voice (John 10:27). We have to discern what is from the Lord and what is false.1 John 4:1 says,
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
And 1 Thessalonians 5:17-21 tells us,
“pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.”
Why do we prophesy? Why do we tell people the Truth of Jesus Christ, The Word of God? Revelation 22:12-16 answers.
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
God loves you and He loves the dogs, sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. He doesn’t want anyone to perish and go to Hell. (2 Peter 2:9). He sent Jesus so that no one would perish but so that everyone could have eternal life (John 3:16). He has called us to tell them, to snatch them from Hell and make disciples of them. Jude verses 17-25 reads,
“But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
Prophecy has another purpose. It builds up the church. It causes the church to grow become stronger. It encourages brings confidence, and inspires action. It comforts through times of suffering and develops character in the believer. It builds up the church. It tells the world who Jesus is. 1 Corinthians 14:3-5 says,
“On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.”
Not every word we receive is one we want to give or hear. Sometimes it is a rebuke or it includes bad news. But remember, the faithful have no reason to fear bad news, we trust The Lord God Almighty. Psalm 112:6-9 encourages us this way,
“For the righteous will never be moved;
    he will be remembered forever.
7 He is not afraid of bad news;
    his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
    until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever;
    his horn is exalted in honor.”
Rebuke and discipline from The Lord means He loves you. (Proverbs 3:11-12). If God gives you a word, a revelation, or a vision and He tells you to tell someone and you do not, you are taking on a serious consequence. Ezekiel 2:7 commands,
“And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.”
Ezekiel 3:17-21 in The Message warns,
“Son of man, I’ve made you a watchman for the family of Israel. Whenever you hear me say something, warn them for me. If I say to the wicked, ‘You are going to die,’ and you don’t sound the alarm warning them that it’s a matter of life or death, they will die and it will be your fault. I’ll hold you responsible. But if you warn the wicked and they keep right on sinning anyway, they’ll most certainly die for their sin, but you won’t die. You’ll have saved your life.
“And if the righteous turn back from living righteously and take up with evil when I step in and put them in a hard place, they’ll die. If you haven’t warned them, they’ll die because of their sins, and none of the right things they’ve done will count for anything—and I’ll hold you responsible. But if you warn these righteous people not to sin and they listen to you, they’ll live because they took the warning—and again, you’ll have saved your life.”

Believer, consider the responsibility you have as a prophet of The Lord. How will you edify the church? Prophet, how will you snatch people from Hell?

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2 Kings 8:7-15 Loving and Trusting God Requires Giving the Whole True Message

1/28/2016

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This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4

2 Kings 8:7-15
Elisha had received a word from God for Ben-hadad, the King of Syria and so he obediently went to the home of Israel’s enemy to deliver it. Verses 7-9 read,
“Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, “The man of God has come here,” 8 the king said to Hazael, “Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord through him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” 9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels' loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’”
Ben-hadad was sick and he wanted to know if he would recover or die. He was happy to have Elisha there to tell him. He was not a Jewish man, he had no idea how to inquire of God, or what the requirements were. He treated Elisha as more of a soothsayer and magician than a prophet. He paid him very well for Elisha to give him the answer he wanted to hear. But he did recognize Elisha’s authority under The Lord.
Elisha had something to tell Hazael and Ben-hadad, but it was not the answer to the question they asked. Verses 10-13 read,
“And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.”11 And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” 13 And Hazael said, “What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you are to be king over Syria.”
Elisha’s answer was that it was not the illness that would kill Ben-hadad but murder. He then went on to tell Hazael that he would be an evil king. Although the man tried to play innocent, he was not. God’s message did not deter him from his mission, it confirmed it for him. So why would God tell him? He told Hazael that his plan would succeed and that he would be evil because He wanted the aide to know that He is The LORD. He wanted to give him a choice to recognize God as The LORD and humble himself before Him or reject Him. Elisha offered God’s salvation in that moment. What did Hazael choose? Verses 14-15 read,
“Then he departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me that you would certainly recover.” 15 But the next day he took the bed cloth and dipped it in water and spread it over his face, till he died. And Hazael became king in his place.”
Hazael lied to his king by not telling him the entire prophecy or message from God. He made the king feel good instead of giving him God’s message. He had been entrusted with a word from God and he did not obey. Elisha said, “Go say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.” Hazael left off the second part of the message for his own benefit. He then killed Ben-hadad in his bed.
Have you ever left off part of God’s message for someone? God tells you to tell someone about His love for them and how He longs for a relationship with them. He tells you to tell them about Jesus. But in your discomfort you stop at ‘God loves you’ or ‘Jesus loves you.’ After all you’re sure that they won’t give their lives to Jesus and they’ll think you are one of those ‘Bible thumping extremist Christians.’ Believer, when we do that we are being false prophets. God gave us a mission. He knows who will accept or reject, we do not. He still wants to give them a choice. He is God. He saves, we do not. We obey or flout His commands. Our obedience to the Lord is one way we love people as Jesus loves them. Our obedience to God is one way we glorify Jesus and so allow people to see Him. Our obedience to love is how people will know we are Jesus’ followers. John 13:34-35 reads,
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Is it love to think of our comfort or reputation instead of trusting God has a reason to give someone a message? Is it love to withhold the whole Truth from someone? Penn Jillette, outspoken atheist said, “how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?
“I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”[i]
I want people to see me as a Bible thumping extremist Christian. My goal is to be the image of Christ. I want to be loving, patient, kind, humble, content, peaceful, joyful, perseverant, faithful, good, and self-controlled (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Galatians 5:22-23). When God has a message to give someone and He chooses us to give it, it is imperative to obey. The person’s response is not our responsibility, delivering the message is. Ezekiel 33:7-9 says it this way,
“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.”
Every man deserves a choice. Who are we to say he will or will not believe? Who are we to take the choice away from him? God desires a relationship with all people (1 Timothy 2:3-4). He rejoices when the lost turn to Him, even the most evil (Ezekiel 18:23). He honors us by letting us tell the world His message. Who are we to displace The LORD and decide the message should be anything other than whole and true? Romans 10:13-17 reads,
“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Elisha traveled to enemy territory to give God’s word to people who did not believe. He obeyed. He could have been killed for his obedience since Hazael probably had no desire for people to know his insidious scheme. But Elisha loved Ben-hadad, Hazael, and Syria enough to go and even to weep for their future. Do you love and trust God enough to obey Him? Do you love His creation enough to tell them the word of Christ?

[i] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6md638smQd8

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1 Kings 22:1-40 Do not Despise Prophecies

1/13/2016

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Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:10b

1 Kings 22:1-40
Prophecy is truly a wonderful gift from God. He speaks to us through the Scriptures, into our hearts and spirits, through signs and by His voice. But not every Word we receive is what we want to hear. Sometimes He must rebuke or reprove us. There are times when He warns us. And there are times when His answer is just not what we want to hear.
This was the case with King Ahab; he didn’t like hearing bad news. All but one of the prophets who served him gave into his fears. Verses 1-6 begin the narrative.
“For three years Syria and Israel continued without war.2 But in the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” 4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
5 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”
Four hundred prophets all gave Ahab and Jehoshaphat good news. But God also spoke to Jehoshaphat and impressed on him that there was another prophet who Ahab had not included in the gathering. Verses 7-9 read,
“But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?”8 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” 9 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.”
Because Micaiah prophesied truthfully to Ahab, Ahab said he hated the prophet. Jehoshaphat was quick to gently rebuke the king. Micaiah was a prophet, a servant of the Most High, and a vessel for the Word of God. Hating him was sinful. Hating a servant of God is akin to hating God. 1 John 2:9-11 says,
“Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
Ahab was still acting like a spoiled child hating discipline and bad news. He was afraid of bad news. The faithful have no reason to be afraid of any prophetic word, good or bad news. The faithful has no reason to fear anything. God is the LORD, He is I Am Who I Am. He is with us and will remain with us. He is our power, authority, and shield. Psalm 112:6-9 encourages us this way,
“For the righteous will never be moved;
    he will be remembered forever.
7 He is not afraid of bad news;
    his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
    until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever;
    his horn is exalted in honor.”
Micaiah came into the throne room and watched another prophet prophesy. Verses 10-14 say,
“Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’” 12 And all the prophets prophesied so and said, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”
13 And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 14 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak.”
Zedekiah prophesied victory for Judah and Israel in a dramatic way with horns (symbols of power) made of iron (symbols of strength). But was he leaving something out? Every one of the approximately 400 hundred prophets said the same thing. But Jehoshaphat still wanted to hear form Micaiah. Micaiah was a true prophet who made an oath that he would only speak what The LORD said, even when he was warned of the danger of including the bad news that the rest of the prophets knew, but omitted. Verses 14-24 read,
“But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak.”15 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 16 But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 17 And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’” 18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” 19 And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20 and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’22 And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ 23 Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.”
At first Micaiah withheld the entire message and told the kings only the good news. But Ahab knew he had more. Although he didn’t want to hear it, it irked him that Micaiah would prove him wrong in front of Jehoshaphat by waiting to finish his message. God wanted Ahab to ask for the truth and receive it. So Micaiah gave him the rest of the news. King Ahab was not governing Israel well, the people were lost and scattered and so the plan to take back Ramoth-gilead was put into him by the Lord so that he would go into battle and be killed in order to give Israel the king they needed.
The bad news upset more than just Ahab. Zedekiah realized if Ahab died his cushy time of “prophesying” what the king wanted to hear would end too. He also realized that he could be punished for not speaking the true words of God. His rash reaction and King Ahab’s reaction are recorded in verses 24-28.
“Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?” 25 And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.” 26 And the king of Israel said, “Seize Micaiah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son, 27 and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this fellow in prison and feed him meager rations of bread and water, until I come in peace.”’” 28 And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!”
Zedekiah hit Micaiah in the face! And Ahab threw the prophet in prison until he returned safely. Micaiah promised the king that he would remain in prison because God had promised Ahab not return safely. Ahab wanted to battle but decided he could outwit God and live. Verses 29-41 read,
“So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. 31 Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.” 32 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is surely the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out.33 And when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.34 But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” 35 And the battle continued that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, until at evening he died. And the blood of the wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot. 36 And about sunset a cry went through the army, “Every man to his city, and every man to his country!”
37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. 38 And they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes washed themselves in it, according to the word of the Lord that he had spoken. 39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, and the ivory house that he built and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 40 So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.”
Ahab couldn’t hide from God. A ‘random’ arrow directed by The LORD just happened to hit Ahab in the tiny space in his armor. Ahab didn’t die quickly. He watched the battle and slowly bled to death. Did he use the time to repent? Did he use the time to curse the Lord? We do not know. He had time to do either. We do know Ahab had despised prophecy and so had not let God’s Word teach him, help him grow, or allow him to know God on a deeper level. He was still the childish and selfish king he was on the day he had repented for his evil with Elijah (1 Kings 21:27-29).
Had Ahab listened to the true and complete prophesies of Micaiah, he would have grown, he would have come to know and love the Lord more and more. God would not have been moved to remove him from the throne. Not every word we hear from God is sunshine and roses. Not every promise He gives us is lollipops and rainbow. But every word from God is wrapped in love with a purpose that is good for us. Every word He speaks is gold and precious. Proverbs 3:11-12 reminds us,
“My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline
    or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
    as a father the son in whom he delights.”
Prophecy has a purpose. It builds up the church. It causes the church to grow become stronger. It encourages the church, it emboldens and inspires action. It comforts through times of suffering and develops character in the believer. 1 Corinthians 14:3-5 says,
“On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.”
Believer, we are in a time with more and more prophecy being given and fulfilled. The testimony of Jesus is spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10). We do not have to be afraid of any word God gives us. He loves us. But we do have to know God well enough to discern His word from a lie. Even Ahab knew the prophets were withholding the truth from him. In our time, heeding prophecy and prophesying are a significant part of a faithful life of following Jesus. Paul said it this way in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-25,
“Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us.”

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1 Kings 22:1-40 Do not Despise Prophecies

Donna Campbell

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