Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Just A Sinner

I once had a conversation with a fellow Christian about what it means to be a "sinner" and whether it was appropriate for Christians to refer to themselves as such.  I mentioned that not once in the Bible is the word "sinner" used by God in reference to a Christian.  Their response was, "Yeah, but that doesn't mean we are not sinners.  We can't say we're not sinners if we still sin."

But my question is, "Can't we?"  Shouldn't we desire to know what God means by the words He uses?  Shouldn't our professions (and our reality) line up with His about who we are in Christ?
hamartōlos - Devoted to sin, not free from sin; pre-eminently sinful, especially wicked. Most common use of the word "sinner" in the New Testament.

opheiletēs - One who owes another, a debtor; one who owes God penalty or whom God can demand punishment as something due.  New Testament word.

chata' - miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.  Old Testament word.
In the Old Testament, it is entirely appropriate to refer to God's people as still sinners as they had no way yet of being redeemed from that old nature.  They were simply to submit to the law as an outward control on that rebellious old man.

Yet in the New Testament, that old man of sin is to be crucified with Christ and we become a new man (Ephesians 4:17-32; Colossians 3:5-10).  The definition of being a sinner in the New Testament necessitates that one is outside of Christ.  Looking then at the definitions of the words translated as "sinner", are these apt descriptions for Christians?

  • Are Christians described by God as being "devoted" to sin or does He say that we are to abstain from sin?

    "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." I Corinthians 15:34

    "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not." I John 2:1a


  • Are Christians "not free" from sin or have we been freed from sin?

    "God forbid. How shall we,
    that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?...Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  For he that is dead is freed from sin." Romans 6:2, 6-7


  • Are Christians "full of sin" above all others (preeminently) or have Christians been given power over it to be called righteous & holy?

    "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." Romans 6:12

    "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us," Hebrews 12:1

    "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24

    "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." I John 3:6-9


  • Are Christians still "debtors" to God for sin or has the debt been paid in full in Christ Jesus?

    "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." I John 2:12

    "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Matthew 26:28

    remission: aphesis; release from bondage or imprisonment; forgiveness, pardon or remission of the penalty

    "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:14

    "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." Ephesians 1:7

    redemption: apolytrōsis; a releasing effected by payment of ransom

    "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world....Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." I John 2:2, 4:10

    propitiation: hilastērion;  relating to an appeasing or expiating; atonement  

Remember, the question being addressed in this article is not, "Do Christians sin?"  The question under evaluation is, "Is it Scriptural to refer to Christians as 'sinners'?"  The answer is clearly, "No!"
When Christians profess to be "sinners", they are testifying to being, "devoted to sin, still in bondage to sin, full of sin, and outside of the redemption found in Christ Jesus."
It is clear from the Scriptures that the word "sinner" could never - and should never - be applied to a born again Christian. In fact, it never is.  Not only do the definitions prohibit it from being applicable to Christians, so does the context of its use. God's expectation is that we are to be different than "sinners" because we are not sinners.

"For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? For sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again." Luke 6:32-34

If God considers Christians to be sinners, then the above words of Jesus Christ are nonsensical.  Why would Jesus be contrasting His believers against sinners if in God's mind they are one and the same?  If Christians are considered by God to be sinners, then He should have no expectation that we would behave any differently then they.  Yet, it is clear that God does expect us to be different from sinners.

The sad part about this article is that this is a non-issue for those who truly love the Lord. Only those who still want to live for themselves have a problem in this area.  A Christian is not to be a "sinner"; he/she is not to live in agreement with sin and have a lifestyle of practicing sin.  The only ones who cannot cease from sin are what the Scriptures call "cursed children" (II Peter 2:14).  If you are still living as a "sinner", then you need to repent and be born again.

As I have said before, claiming to still be a sinner is not some show of humility.  It is a denial of the very purpose for which Jesus Christ came and died for us.  In being born again, we should no longer identify ourselves with sin because we have victory over it in Christ Jesus.

From the mouths of babes: Change.   I couldn't have said it better myself.

Cry OUT Unto the Lord Jesus

"And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me

And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. 

And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? 

The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." Mark 10:46-52

Don't be stopped or deterred by the naysayers.  Don't hold your peace.  Don't give up.  There is hope for you, no matter your situation.  This is not the end.

Press into Jesus all the more.  He is the only answer for you and for me.  It is His good pleasure to answer your prayer.



Please Don't Pass Me By
Fred Hammond

There was a blind man on the road side, and he heard a commotion
It was Jesus passing by with a crowd and it stirred his emotions
He'd been displaced his whole life,
should he even try

Don't bother Jesus (they say you have nothing)
You have nothing to offer (stay in your place)
Right then he knew (he had to choose)
He had nothing to lose

So he cried Jesus (Jesus), I need you please don't pass me by
He cried out Jesus, I'm not ashamed (to tell you) I need you in my life (I need you in my life)

I'm not much different from that man and this is the honest truth
Could this sinful one with this messed up life, could I ever serve you
People and things clutter my mind,
should I even try

Don't bother Jesus (they say you have nothing)
You have nothing to offer (stay in your place)
I must admit (when I think about it all)
I need you in my life

So I cry Jesus (Jesus), I need you
Please don't pass me by
I'm crying out Jesus,
I'm not ashamed to tell you I need you in my life

Bridge
As the deer (as the deer panted) Thirsty for the water yeah (thirsty for the water) My soul desires and longs to be(to be with you)

Jesus, I need you, please don't pass me by I don't mean to waste your time but I can't listen to the crowd, situations in my life telling me to keep it down but I need you

I know I'm broken, but you can heal me, Jesus, Jesus I'm calling you (I might not be worth much)might not be worth much, but I'm still willing Jesus, Jesus, I'm calling you

Friday, July 27, 2012

Chickens Don't Eat Chicken

Making of US What They Are

There has been a lot of hullabaloo lately about Chick-Fil-A's stand for marriage.  Apparently, they had the gall to assert that marriage was instituted by God as being between one man and one woman.

Now, there are various campaigns set against Chick-fil-A calling for boycotts in an effort to pressure them to conform with the demoralized social standards of this day.

Even supposed "Christians" are rushing forward to profess their love & acceptance for the homosexual lifestyle in order to avoid the fray.  Many of the same are stating that they too will join in the boycotts against Dan Cathy's (Chick-fil-A's President) stand for God's word.

But you know what?  Chickens don't eat chicken anyway! 

"Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." Romans 1:32

What does the above Scripture text really say?   God indicates here that we can know certain truths about those who support sexually perverse lifestyles.  They "do" the same acts as those in sexual sin and "have pleasure" in those who do them.

So let's set one thing straight (no pun intended).  According to God's word - there are no Christians standing in support of homosexuality.  When you see self-professing Christians in support of such things, you can know without a doubt that they are not what they claim.  Rather, they are in fact one and the same as the sexually perverse.  Such are not "Christians" trying to show love.  They are in fact sodomites hiding behind a veneer of Christianity.  They "know the judgment" God has pronounced against those who do such things; yet, they not only do the same abominations, but take pleasure in others who do.  When you see someone standing up for their "homosexual friends" and supporting "homosexual rights", you are looking at a sodomite who still needs to be born again - even if they call themselves a "Christian".

I could provide an endless listing of companies who openly, publicly, and proudly endorse gay rights.  However, there are very few who will openly, publicly, and humbly stand behind God's words.  So, what is the big deal if Chick-fil-A chooses to stand with God when there is a plethora of companies who stand against God's words?  The world is aiming to make of us what they are: sodomites.

"But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them

And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door." Genesis 19:4-9

When the angels of the Lord came to visit Lot and redeem him from this damned city, the men of Sodom surrounded Lot's home and pressed into it to reach them.  Their objective?  They wanted to "know" the angels who had come to visit.  This is the same word used to describe a man being joined to his wife to become one flesh.

Some claim that the people of Sodom were just upset that Lot wasn't being hospitable and introducing the visitors to the city.  Yet Lot's response makes quite clear what these men wanted; he calls their request "wicked" and offers instead to give them his virgin daughters.  The men of Sodom wanted to rape the visiting angels so that they could make of them (the angels) what they (the men of Sodom) were.  The nature of these Sodomites was so aggressive and violent, that they almost broke down the door of Lot's home to get to them.

While many assume that the people of Sodom just thought these visitors were men, they could have very well perceived that these were messengers from God.  It was then very important for them to put out the light of God in those messengers so that their own degradation would not be exposed.  This is exactly what people are trying to do to Chick-fil-A...and what many will try to do with you if you let them.

One thing you should realize is that there is no middle round with that spirit.  There is no such thing as having your own viewpoint or perspective...and there is certainly no such thing as "truth."  You have to be one of them (either by open profession or silent compliance) or they will come against you with a fierceness.  You sure cannot come in bringing the light of God's word in the midst of their darkness or you become a target for attack.

Are you prepared to stand for God's word when the attacks come or will you too be chicken?  Know this, if you cannot call sin "sin", no matter what it is - lying, stealing, or even homosexuality - it is because you are still alive to sin (Romans 6:2, 11).  I am not speaking of being sinless here, but about not being in covenant or agreement with sin.  You will never stand against what you are until you are ready to be freed from it.  This is so much larger than Chick-fil-A.  I am speaking of your own personal testimony for Christ.  Do you have one or are you too busy trying to be accepted by the world (John 7:7, 15:9, 17:14; Galatians 1:10; James 4:4; I John 2:15-16)? 

Mike Huckabee has declared August 1st to be Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day and encouraged patrons to stop by and support the business on that day.  Others in the homosexual community have asked their supporters to go into Chick-fil-A to celebrate what it calls National Same Sex Kiss Day with public displays of perversion.  Hey, I say, this should make our job much easier!  Since so many homosexuals may be visiting Chick-fil-A on that day, Christians should go and bathe those places in prayer, being ready to cast out that homosexual demon to set many captives free.  And while you are at it, feel free to wander up to the counter and order a Chick-fil-A sandwich, some waffle fries, and a large lemonade.  :-)

For those who do not understand why marriage is only between one man and one woman, please see the following:

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

I Love To Be With You

The days seem busier, years fly faster, and time seems shorter, but the Lord is ever the same. He is still there, available to you and desirous of your coming into sweet communion with Him.

Don't let this day pass without spending that time with Jesus.

I Love to Be with You

I love to be in Your presence Lord
I love to be with You
For when I touch Your glory
Your Spirit restores me
How I love to be with You
Lord I love to be with You

All my fears disappear
Whenever I'm with You
Every care becomes a prayer
That I can leave with You

I exchange all my pain
And You give me perfect peace
Your steadfast love is like a flood
That washes over me

For when I touch Your glory
Your Spirit restores me
Lord I love to be with You
Lord I love to be with You

God of the Impossible

"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Mathew 19:26

I just want to remind you that our God is a God of the impossible!  There is nothing too hard for Him.

No situation He cannot turn.

No obstacle He cannot overcome.

No need He cannot meet.

No sin He cannot forgive.

No bondage He cannot break.

No heart too hard for Him to change.

No prayer He cannot answer.

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." Mark 9:23

Yes, these days are dark, but God already has a plan.  Look not to the left nor the right, neither be dismayed.  He is able and His will shall be done.  And yes, His will is unfolding still, even in the midst of present darkness in this world. He is not taken by surprise and His hand is not too short to save.

Don't make God too small in your eyes.  Don't be afraid to ask Him, even for the impossible! We often have not because we ask not (James 4:2).

"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Matthew 17:20

Can you believe Him to save?  Can you believe Him to heal?  Can you believe Him to deliver?  Even a lost generation that seems without hope?  Hope in God I say.

Why are you downcast?  Why are you disheartened by the wickedness of the enemy?  Don't you know that the Lord has already secured the victory?  If God is for you, then who can be against you?

Oh, but we serve a mighty God! Have we forgotten our God?  Yet He has not forgotten us.

"For with God nothing shall be impossible." Luke 1:37

Turn your hearts to Him and dare to trust Him.  Dare to stand on His word, even when every voice is telling you it is impossible.  Stand on His word - do not be moved - and see the glory of the Lord!

Jesus is God of the living, not the dead.  So why walk as one who is dead?  Shake off the graveclothes which bind and live I say unto you (John 11:40-44)!

"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God

Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Isaiah 35:1-10

"Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" John 11:40


Monday, July 23, 2012

Mercy Seat

"And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat..." Exodus 25:22a 


Saturday, July 21, 2012

Awakest, Thou That Slumbereth!

I wrote the following article in May of 2004 for the Omega Church & Ministries Center newsletter.  Although that was a while ago, I feel led to post that here today because much of the churchworld is asleep. 

I pray that this message is a blessing to you and encourages you towards self-examination.

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Romans 13:11 

We all know that there are many passages in Scripture warning about the consequences of sleeping at a time when we ought to be awake.  Jesus admonishes us to be vigilant, to be sober, to be watchful unless His return catches us unawares. I have always taken these warnings to heart…so I thought. That is, until this past week.

Let me provide a little background. I was a very religious Catholic when I heard my first tape from Omega Ministries over 9 years ago. Although I had never heard the truth of God before, somehow instinctively, I knew that what I was hearing was the truth. Immediately, I began to thirst for more. I couldn’t learn enough, study enough, pray enough, etc. Other than work (and even while there) I spent my time in fastings, prayer, and study; anxious to learn more about this God that I was now beginning to see for the first time in my life. There was a new life being birthed in me that needed to be fed, and I was happy to oblige.

True to His Word, God drew nearer to me and began to reveal more of Himself to me over time. As the years flew by, the demands of life increased - my husband, children, jobs – but God saw me through it all. No siree! Out of all the problems I could have, slumbering was certainly not one of them. I had no time to slumber!

Yet, I made a big mistake. Somehow, I began to equate “slumber” with inactivity. I thought that those who were “sleeping” were basically those who were doing nothing…people who were lazy…but I couldn’t have been more wrong. That is when God directed me to study sleepwalking.

Webster’s defines sleepwalking as:
The act or an instance of walking or performing another activity associated with wakefulness while asleep or in a sleeplike state.
You see, sleepwalkers are active. They are doing things. From the outside looking in, they have every appearance of being awake. However, they are technically asleep.

Please hear me when I say that this same thing can happen to you spiritually! You can walk through life with no consciousness of your real spiritual condition, in a dream-like state, believing that you are what you are not. You can be active in your church, praying, fasting, studying, and all the while be sleeping spiritually. How do I know? It happened to me.

How in the World Did I Get HERE?

One of the common characteristics of sleepwalkers who are awakened is that they experience momentary confusion. This confusion stems from the fact that they thought they were in one place, but wake-up to find that they are actually someplace different, and with no recollection of how they got there! If you can imagine how disconcerting that is, then you have a good idea of how I felt last week, when God began to awaken me.

Until then, there were certain things that I just knew about myself.  I knew that I loved the Lord.  I knew that I wanted to serve Him with all of my heart.  I knew that I appreciated Him for making me who I am.

Don’t get me wrong. I knew I still had things that the Lord was working out of me, but being part of a strong, teaching ministry, I felt equipped to move on in the Lord. Yet the problem was not with what I knew, but with what I didn’t know. DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF ALLOWING WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE CONFUSED WITH WHAT YOU ARE.

The Lord allowed recent situations to show me the truth of where I was, and one of these incidents was a disagreement with my husband. It was in essence a war of the wills. After this incident, my husband insisted that we listen to a Derek Prince tape on demons and deliverance. So we began listening to a message that I had probably heard at least 10 times before. But this time, it was different. As I listened to Minister Prince describe the workings of witchcraft and spiritual control, I didn’t see my mother-in-law…I didn’t see my mother…I saw myself!

All the knowledge in the world of what I was “supposed to be” hadn’t gotten rid of that spirit of rejection within me that was still vying for power, still fighting for attention. This is why the acceptance of others meant so much to me, why the slightest criticism seemed to cut to the core, why I contested authority instead of submitting to it. I wasn’t functioning as a ‘whole’ person in Christ because I was still nursing the hurts from my past.

This began the unveiling of my sleepwalking state as God forced me to see myself in ways that I haven’t before, and yes, even acknowledging things that I hadn’t previously wanted to see. When I finally came to myself, I was nowhere near where I thought I was. I had been claiming victory in areas of my life where I was actually still very much in bondage. I was trying to “move on” in God without addressing the ties that held me back. The result was a spiritual stupor. I was on a treadmill running at full speed, yet my amount of activity blinded me to the fact that I wasn’t getting very far. Worse, I allowed my activity to mislead me into thinking that I was progressing.

How Do You Know if You Are Spiritually Sleepwalking?

There are several characteristics that the medical world uses to describe sleepwalkers, however, if you examine these in a spiritual light, you can see some parallels.

Inability to Discern

“And said unto them, Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” Luke 22:46
Sleepwalkers tend to display a lack of awareness, lack of responsiveness, and inability to recognize people, even though the person’s eyes are open.
Sleepwalkers have their eyes open, but are unable to respond to, or perceive, their own surroundings. In the spiritual realm, this represents a loss of spiritual perception. The leading of God’s Spirit is not as detectable as it once may have been, and as a result, discernment diminishes. Left unchecked, the result is spiritual blindness.

You have eyes to see, but cannot see.

Repetition

"While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept." Matthew 25:5
Sleepwalkers can routinely perform repetitive activities such as eating, opening and closing curtains, getting dressed or undressed, etc. even while being asleep the entire time.
Do you find yourself just “going through the motions” with God? Have the things of God become repetitive to you? Instead of being THE focus of your life, God becomes just one of many things on your “To Do” list. You continue to do the mechanics, but your heart and mind is less engaged.

Unresponsive

“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.” Mark 13:35-36
Sleepwalkers are also typically unresponsive to attempts at arousal, and speak incoherently until awakened.
Are you de-energized when it comes to things of God? Yes, you know the times in which we live. You are aware of the level of deception being released on the world, but you just can’t muster up the energy to respond. In fact, you feel sort of removed from it all. There is no real urgency about it.

No Remembrance

“Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.” Jeremiah 2:32
Most sleepwalkers have no memory of the event after it is over.
Of course, sleepwalkers are not asleep all of the time. There are times when they are awake and alert, but at those times they have no remembrance of what was done while sleepwalking. It is possible that you may have moments of clarity and revelation, but be completely oblivious to the times when you are spiritually ‘tuned out’ to God. As a result, you may go in and out of a dazed spiritual state and be none the wiser.

Frequent in Times of Stress

“For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.” 1st Thessalonians 5:7
When the body is enduring physiological or psychological stress, sleepwalking is more likely to occur.
It is in times of stress that sleepwalking is most likely to occur. I think this is why Jesus warns so much against slumbering in relation to the end-times. As the pressures of this world intensify and things grow darker, the likelihood of slumber increases. It is a form of escape from dealing with the realities of life.

What is it, Really?

If you start to think about it, how is such a phenomenon possible? How is it possible for your body to be active and you are completely unaware? Who has control of your body at times when your mind is not consciously engaged? It is a spirit! With God, it is the Holy Spirit; outside of Him it is a demonic spirit.

"For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.” Isaiah 29:10

Why does the Lord pour out the spirit of deep sleep? Because the people are drawing near with their mouths and honoring Him with their lips, but their hearts are not in it (verse 13).

Unresolved and unrepented sin opens the door. Unforgiveness, pride, lust, gluttony, self-consciousness, fear...the type of sin does not matter. That is why it is so important to examine ourselves to see if we be in the faith. Don’t let your salvation become something you dream about, or dream away. The day of your salvation is now!

Maybe you read this article and can see some of yourself in these words. Maybe you have been wondering why you are almost comatose when it comes to finding out and doing God’s will for you in these last days. Maybe you are starting to feel as if you are becoming a part of that Laodecian Church. If so, I can only tell you what God has told me, “Wake Up!

“Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.” Isaiah 52:1-2

Don’t think that God will just remove this spiritual haze from your life. Cry out to God for deliverance. Examine your life and see where there may be areas of compromise with sin. God promises that when we wake-up, He will give us the light we need to be revived.

“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Ephesians 5:14

The Dark Night Rises

The Following article is from Bro. Joseph Herrin at The Parables Blog.  Although I have shared his articles before in the past, for those who do not know, Bro. Joseph has a gift for understanding the spiritual significance of events in this life.  In the following post, he discusses the tragic shooting which occurred at the opening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012.

Before getting into his article, I would like to point out one more connection that this movie has with end time conditions in the world.  In the news recently, an interview with Morgan Freeman is quoted where he expounds upon his views of God.  While basically sharing that he believes mankind invented God, he goes on to say that if he believes in god it is because he believes that he is god.

The denial of God and the elevation of man into some sort of godhood itself is also representative of the type of media message the "illumined" have been promoting to the masses and in line with the type of mindset we see revealed in Scripture for the last days.

Lastly, this same message to incite fascism and class war can be seen in much of what is promoted to our young people today.  From songs like Jay-Z's Run This Town to movies such as The Hunger Games (which also was represented by a symbol indicative of anarchy). What many do not understand is that this is not about finances or classes at all.  That is simply a means for Satan to launch a targeted attack against God and His people.

Please don't walk around in a stupor about Christianity and the times in which we live.  Satan and his illuminated ones are preparing mankind for the world they have planned in order to secure their control of the people and the resources.  However, God is preparing His people as well to stand during these times and show forth the power of God to save those who are lost before Jesus comes again in judgment of the nations.  Redeem the times I pray you, for if you are seeking the Lord with your whole heart, He is placing within it the wisdom and discernment to be prepared for the times we are in.

"Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:6-16

With that said, please read on to see Joseph's review of the tragic events accompanying the launch of this movie.

_____________________

The Dark Night Rises
Joseph Herrin (07-20-2012)

Isaiah 60:2
For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples...

The first e-mail I read this morning contained a link to a news item on the shooting in a Colorado theater where the movie The Dark Knight Rises was being screened. The movie was a midnight showing, the very first opportunity for theater goers in America to see the latest installment in the Batman film franchise. Witnesses testified that a young man dressed as Bane, the villain in the movie, burst through a door as if on cue. Some testified that it was timed to coincide with a shoot-out in the film, while others say it occurred at the same moment Batman first appeared in the movie.

The intruder to the theater reportedly tossed one or two tear gas canisters into the crowded theater, then fired some shots from a weapon into the air. He then lowered the barrel of the gun, or rifle, and began to shoot patrons of the cinema. In all, more than fifty people were shot and twelve have died. Among those injured were a three month old baby, and a six year old child whose parents had brought them to this dark and violent movie.

There is much in this news event that arrests the attention. The first thing that struck me was the profusion of homophones - words that sound identical to other words that have different meanings. For example:

Movie Name
The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Night Rises

Actor Who Plays Batman
Christian Bale
Christian Baal

Villain in the Movie
Bane
Bain (Bain Capital, Mitt Romney’s Company, has been in the news).

Other Characters in the Movie Played By
Michael Caine (Cain, the murderous son of Adam)
Gary Oldman (“put off the old man with his deeds” Colossians 3:9)
Morgan Freeman (See verse below)

Revelation 6:15-17
Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

There were also significant details. The theater complex that the attacker entered had 16 cinemas. He attacked those in cinema number 9. E.W. Bullinger in his book Number in Scripture provides the following information on the Biblical significance of this number.
[Nine] is the last of the digits, and thus marks the end; and is significant of the conclusion of a matter.

It is akin to the number six, six being the sum of its factors (3x3=9, and 3+3=6), and is thus significant of the end of man, and the summation of all man's works. Nine is, therefore, THE NUMBER OF FINALITY OR JUDGMENT,

for judgment is committed unto Jesus as "the Son of man" (John 5:27; Acts 17:31). It marks the completeness, the end and issue of all things as to man—the judgment of man and all his works.

It is a factor of 666, which is 9 times 74.
[Source: http://philologos.org/__eb-nis/nine.htm]
This was a MIDNIGHT screening of the movie. The attacker entered the theater around 12:30 A.M.. In “the dark of night,” during a movie titled “The Dark Knight Rises” an act of great darkness was committed.

This was the very first scheduled showing of what is predicted to be a blockbuster movie. It is the third part of a trilogy by the same director, featuring the same actors. The previous movie in the series pulled in more than one billion dollars worldwide. It too was marked by death as one of the main characters, Heath Ledger who played the character of The Joker, was found dead of a suspected drug overdose. Ledger’s death occurred after the second Batman movie was filmed, but prior to its release. The interest generated by his death was linked to the tremendous success of the movie. A thought provoking article on Heath Ledger’s death can be found here:

http://vigilantcitizen.com/moviesandtv/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus-and-heath-ledgers-sacrifice/

This is now the second consecutive movie in this series that has been born out of some act of death. This “coincidence” causes me to reflect on the use of human sacrifice in the works of Satan. Human sacrifice is very real. That Satan has inspired men to practice such rituals to incur favors from the rulers of darkness, or to release dark spiritual energy to accomplish some wicked purpose, is recorded in the Bible. Human sacrifice was practiced by the inhabitants of Canaan, and was one of the transgressions that brought forth the judgment of Yahweh.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12
"There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire..., for whoever does these things is detestable to Yahweh; and because of these detestable things Yahweh your God will drive them out before you.”

An interesting account that reveals the connection between human sacrifice and invoking the powers of fallen angels and unclean spirits is recorded in II Kings.

II Kings 3:26-27
When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him 700 men who drew swords, to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not. Then he took his oldest son who was to reign in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel, and they departed from him and returned to their own land.

When this passage says that “there came great wrath against Israel,” we need to identify the source of this wrath. The wrath did not originate in the people of Moab, for they were already intent on slaughter and warfare, but were not strong enough. The wrath did not come from Yahweh, for He would not honor the king of Moab slaying his son. The wrath came from those principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, the spiritual forces of wickedness in high places, to whom the sacrifice was offered. Human sacrifice is still required by Satan and those powers in league with him. When men seek the favor and power of Satan they will commit murder to accomplish their ends.

Consider the timing of the following connected events.
Following a bid headed by former Olympic champion Sebastian Coe and the then Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, London was selected as the host city on 6 July 2005 during the 117th IOC Session in Singapore, defeating bids from Moscow, New York City, Madrid and Paris. London will become the first city to officially host the modern Olympic Games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948.
[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Olympics_2012]

The 7 July 2005 London bombings (often referred to as 7/7) were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in London which targeted civilians using the public transport system during the morning rush hour.


On the morning of Thursday, 7 July 2005, four Islamist home-grown terrorists detonated four bombs, three in quick succession aboard London Underground trains across the city and, later, a fourth on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square. Fifty-two people, as well as the four bombers, were killed in the attacks, and over 700 more were injured.
[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_July_2005_London_bombings]
It was unanticipated that London would be selected as host of the 2012 Olympics. Paris was the frontrunner. When the IOC announced that London had been chosen people were stunned. Some unseen force had made certain that London would be the host city for the 2012 Olympics. The next day the city of London experienced massive deaths and injuries as a terrorist event occured on her subway system. Was a ritual sacrifice demanded as reward for this selection? Were the spiritual forces of wickedness in high places being offered up a sacrifice to insure that these games were spiritually charged with Satanic power?

For those unfamiliar with the London Subway bombings, they have been as controversial in England as the 911 bombings have been in America. Many have suggested that the government of the UK was behind the bombings, that those accused of setting off explosions were themselves victims.

Video Link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4943675105275097719



If you have been following the posts in the series titled Babylon Rising, you will be aware of the Satanic nature of the Olympic games being held in London. I believe the timing of London’s announcement as host of the XXX Olympiad, and the deaths and injuries that followed the very next day in London, were linked. A human sacrifice was offered to Satan, and you can be certain that these Olympic events will reveal the presence and power of Satan. His cunning is already visible in the symbols, buildings, rites and images associated with the 2012 games. The opening and closing ceremonies will be profoundly marked as Satanic rituals of the highest order.

These deaths and massive injuries at the inaugural showing of The Dark Knight Rises in the United States arrest my attention. One must ask “In what way is this movie being used as a tool of Satan?” I believe that one way the movie is being used is in continuing to set forth a message of class warfare. It is espousing that there are those with money and power who are hoarding the world’s wealth for their selfish purposes while the masses go without. One movie reviewer has suggested that the movie presents a fascist message.
[Fascism] promotes regulated private enterprise and private property contingent whenever beneficial to the nation and state enterprise and state property whenever necessary to protect its interests. At the same time, fascists are hostile to financial capital, plutocracy, and "the power of money."
[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism]
Note especially the highlighted words from the Wikipedia article on “fascism.” “Fascists are hostile to financial capital.” Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate for president of the United States, was one of the founding partners of a company known as Bain Capital. This fact has been much in the news of late as Barack Obama and his supporters have accused Romney of exporting jobs out of America through his role at Bain Capital.

Here is another interesting homonym. The name Bain sounds like “bane.” The English word bane is defined as follows:
1. a person or thing that ruins or spoils: Gambling was the bane of his existence.
2. a deadly poison (often used in combination, as in the names of poisonous plants): wolfsbane; henbane.
3. death; destruction; ruin.
4. Obsolete. That which causes death or destroys life: entrapped and drowned beneath the watery bane.
[Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bane?db=dictionary]
The bane of capital would be that which destroys, or ruins, the wealth and possessions of others. The deceit involved in that which is being fomented by a hidden cabal of wealthy men and women is that they are egging on this class warfare, knowing that they are themselves untouchable. The anger and jealousy of the lowest classes of mankind will not reach them. It will only bring death, destruction, and ruin to those individuals within the reach of the lower classes. In effect, what remains of the middle class, and the upper middle class, will be destroyed by those who are incited to looting and rioting.

This is actually what is portrayed as occurring in the movie The Dark Knight Rises. Posters from the movie show Gotham City in flames. An army arises from underground that is set upon destroying everything above them. The venom of the rabble is especially aimed at those who are living the good life, having attained some semblance of prosperity. Rather than building something of their own, this underground army has no higher aim than to pull the city down upon their own heads. Everyone is thereby reduced to poverty and ruin.

This is precisely what Satan and those “illumined” individuals in league with him are seeking to bring about. With the entire world reduced to poverty and chaos, the elite’s power and rule over the world, will be assured as they control the military, the corporations, the financial system, and food and fuel supplies of this world.

What the world has been seeing in the past couple generations is a massive aggregation of wealth. Companies like Bain Capital have taken over multiple corporations and companies that were formerly standalone businesses. Each of these standalone businesses had their own owners, shareholders, and officers which tended to spread the wealth around, creating a solid middle class. As companies like Bain capital have bought up these companies, they have cut out much of the middle class. There is a sharp delineation between those massively wealthy individuals who control these conglomerates, and the average man on the street.

Bain Capital controls hundreds of companies. Among them are such well known businesses as AMC Entertainment, Burger King, Burlington Coat Factory, Clear Channel Communications, Domino's Pizza, DoubleClick, Dunkin' Donuts, Guitar Center, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), Sealy, The Sports Authority, Staples, Toys "R" Us, Warner Music Group and The Weather Channel. There was a time when each of the hundreds of companies controlled by Bain were standalone enterprises, and this fostered a vibrant middle class. By aggregating all of these businesses together there has developed a class of the super-wealthy. These are not the one percent that the Occupy Wall Street group has set their sights upon. These super-elite, and phenomenally wealthy individuals, are at the top tier, the very top fraction of the one percent. The amount of global wealth they control is staggering. One Internet article reports the following:
Corporations not only completely dominate the U.S. economy, they also completely dominate the global economy as well.  A newly released University of Zurich study examined more than 43,000 major multinational corporations.  The study discovered a vast web of interlocking ownerships that is controlled by a "core" of 1,318 giant corporations.


When the team further untangled the web of ownership, it found much of it tracked back to a "super-entity" of 147 even more tightly knit companies - all of their ownership was held by other members of the super-entity - that controlled 40 percent of the total wealth in the network. "In effect, less than 1 percent of the companies were able to control 40 percent of the entire network," says Glattfelder. Most were financial institutions. The top 20 included Barclays Bank, JPMorgan Chase & Co, and The Goldman Sachs Group...


Giant corporations have become so dominant that it has become very hard for small businesses to compete and survive in the United States.


Today, even though our population is increasing, the number of small businesses continues to decrease.


According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 16.6 million Americans were self-employed back in December 2006.  Today, that number has shrunk to 14.5 million.


This is the exact opposite of what should be happening under a capitalist system.


Big corporations completely dominate the media.  Almost all of the news that you get and almost all of the entertainment that you enjoy is fed to you by giant corporations.


Back in 1983, somewhere around 50 corporations controlled the vast majority of all news media in the United States.


Today, control of the news media is concentrated in the hands of just six incredibly powerful media corporations.


Big corporations completely dominate our financial system.  Yes, there are hundreds of choices in the financial world, but just a handful control the vast majority of the assets.


Back in 2002, the top 10 banks controlled 55 percent of all U.S. banking assets.  Today, the top 10 banks control 77 percent of all U.S. banking assets.


The "too big to fail" banks just keep getting more and more powerful.  For example, the "big six" U.S. banks (Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo) now possess assets equivalent to approximately 60 percent of America's gross national product.
[Source: http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/corporatism-is-not-capitalism-7-things-about-the-monolithic-predator-corporations-that-dominate-our-economy-that-every-american-should-know]
People, those with the true wealth and power are the 1,000th of 1 percent. Civil unrest will not touch them. They control everything. They choose which men run for government office. They control the media so that only the world view they want promoted will be heard. If class warfare erupts, and they seem to be intent on insuring it does, all that will occur is that the last vestiges of the middle class will be wiped out. Then the world will be a true two-tier system. There will be the super wealthy ruling class, and a massive population of drones, or worker bees.

Let the thoughtful individual consider that Mitt Romney is a Mormon. The Mormon church was born out of Freemasonry. The first Mormon groups met in what were called Mormon Lodges. These were Masonic lodges promoting their unique blend of religion. Utah, where the Mormon church is headquartered, has adopted the beehive as a state symbol. It is on the state flag.

The symbolism of the beehive contains an esoteric meaning. Only the “illumined” ones are intended to know its true meaning. Even as a beehive is ruled over by a single individual, and all the rest of the hive are worker bees, or drones, so too do the elite ruling class seek to establish a world system where a very small number of individuals control the vast multitudes of the population.

London City Hall - The Beehive
This same symbolism is found in London, that center of global banking and secret government. The Lord Mayor of the City of London meets with his privy council in a building that is nicknamed “the beehive.”

People of God, the movie The Dark Knight Rises, could very well be titled The Dark Night Rises. It is a prophetic foretelling of the collapse of civilization into anarchy. Class warfare, race warfare, religious warfare, and every imaginable form of strife is being fomented by the powers that exist. David Wilkerson had visions of New York City (the model of Gotham City) in flames with tanks rolling through the streets. The day when such an event occurs is not far off. These things are depicted in the movie that this blog post is examining.

I looked at the sound track for the movie. It is a dark and somber musical score. The titles of the songs are equally dark. Following is a partial list of songs from the movie soundtrack.

A Storm is Coming
On Thin Ice
Gotham’s Reckoning
Underground Army
Born in Darkness
The Fire Rises
Nothing Out There
Despair
Fear Will Find You
Why Do We Fall
Death By Exile
Imagine the Fire
Necessary Evil
Rise
The Shadows Betray You
The End

People of God, I believe there is a prescient anointing to this movie and the music that goes with it. It is foretelling of that which stands before mankind. “A Storm is Coming.” I have not watched the movie, but the preview reveals the substance of the opening song. A woman is dancing with Bruce Wayne, the billionaire who is secretly Batman. She tells Bruce Wayne that a storm is coming. She speaks of the evil of the rich hoarding their wealth and the discontented masses who will rise against them. Following are the exact words spoken in the movie trailer.
You think this will last. There’s a storm coming Mr. Wayne. You and your friends better batten down the hatches. Because when it hits you are all going to wonder how you ever thought you could live so large and leave so little for the rest of us.
Video Link: http://youtu.be/GokKUqLcvD8



Does this movie serve as a Satanic pronouncement of that which is even now at the door? I believe it does. I believe the movie’sopening being birthed in mayhem, in blood, and death, is a token of that which is coming soon to the nations. The dark night of mankind is at hand. Chaos and civil unrest will come suddenly, even as it came to a theater in Aurora, Colorado last night. Most will not expect it. They will be focused on entertainment, ease and pleasure when their world is rocked by sudden tragedy.

Our Father has been telling His sons and daughters that these things are coming. He has been directing His called out ones to make themselves ready spiritually, and physically. If you discern the hour you live in you will not sleep as others sleep. Cast off the stupor. Cease living as those who are blind and deaf. Seek Yahweh while He may be found. The dark night rises. A storm is coming. David Wilkerson declared before he died that what is coming will be of such severity and burst forth with a suddenness that it will cause even the godly to tremble.

I encourage you to read the following devotion by this man of God and prophet to America.

http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/2009/03/urgent-message.html

May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Beware the Ever Bleeding Soul

Will Thou Be Made Whole?

"The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?" Proverbs 18:14

You can have a sickness or weakness in your body, yet still be emboldened by your spirit to endure and even prosper.  However, who can carry around or lift up a wounded spirit? The implication is that no one can...but there is one who will.

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

My children and I used to watch a series that they loved growing up called The Donut Man.  The premise of The Donut Man was that every person is born with something missing in their lives which can only be filled by God.  If I reflect on it, I can still hear my children singing, "Life without Jesus is like a donut, cause there's a hole in the middle of your heart."  LOL

It is true that we are each born with that type of "hole" because what we need and innately seek is to be made whole through reconciliation with the Creator who made us.  I have found it interesting that even adopted children- having been placed in loving homes - often still want to know who their birth parents are.  Even in the natural, there is a yearning to know more about and connect with where we come from.

Whether we know it or not, attempting to fill this "hole" is what drives everything we do in life outside of coming to Christ.  People spend their entire lives trying to, but to no avail.  And it doesn't have to be something illicit they turn to like fornication, alcohol, drugs, stealing, etc.  It can be something as seemingly benign as good works, relationships with others, or religious ritual.

In describing the vanity of this type of effort, Augustine wrote in his book Confessions:
“I carried about me a cut and bleeding soul, that could not bear to be carried by me, and where I could put it, I could not discover. Not in pleasant groves, not in games and singing, nor in the fragrant corners of a garden. Not in the company of a dinner table, not in the delights of the bed: not even in my books and poetry. It floundered in a void and fell back on me. I remained a haunted spot, which gave me no rest, from which I could not escape. For where could my heart flee from my heart?  Where could I escape myself? Where would I not dog my own footsteps?”
There is only one conclusion he could make:
“Dear Lord, You have made us for Yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.
Anything to which we turn in an effort to fill that hole (other than Christ) will never satisfy.  It will make us restless in life until we put our hope in Christ (Psalm Chapter 42).  I mention this and a number of people will gloss over it thinking, "Yes, that is true.  Only Jesus fills the hole in our lives."  Even so, many will try to find something else to fill the void.  They walk around as professing believers, but still with gaping wounds within, always seeking something or someone to fill it.  Yet this should not be.  If Jesus alone fills the hole, and we claim to have Christ, then why are we still carrying these wounds or expecting others to fill them (and being let down when they don't)?

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman called "Long Way Home" where the lyrics state in part:

And there's a bag of regrets 
Should of beens and not yets
I keep on dragging around 
And I can hardly wait till the day 
I get to lay them all down

Isn't the day we get to "lay all of these burdens down" the day when we come to Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30)?  We don't have to wait for some day "when we all get to Heaven" to be freed and healed from that which spiritually plagues us.  It is a wrong impression that we must keep nursing these hurts, burdens, and abuses after we have entered into salvation.  If we do not understand that Jesus is the burden-lifter, wound-binder, a heart-healer, and soul-restorer, then we haven't come to know Him as we should. 

I have spoken before about the movie "Pilgrim's Progress: Journey to Heaven". In the movie, a man named Christian is saddled with a huge burden that seems impossible to carry.  In fact, he gets no rest from it.  It is with him everywhere he goes, even in his sleeping hours.

Seeking refuge and help for the destruction that he senses is coming - not only for himself, but for his family - he starts on a road to find an answer.  At one point he comes to Mount Salvation and as he kneels down before the cross, his burdens miraculously unravel and fall down on the ground.  He is then free for the first time in his life as he cries out in thanksgiving to God saying, "You have given me rest by your sorrow, and life by your death."

That was by far not the end of Christian's journey, but in that one scene we see what so many Christians do not seem to understand. We may come to Jesus with a bleeding soul, but we don't have to stay that way.  He is waiting to heal us if we would just trust Him and lay those burdens down at His feet...even right now.

Why go on one moment longer carrying what you were not designed to shoulder and what God tells you that you cannot bear on your own (Proverbs 18:14)?  Aren't you tired of circling in the same wilderness of rejection and bitterness which continue to haunt you, in spite of the smiling face you wear in public?  It is not just words when Jesus says that He will indeed make you free (John 8:36).

Not only is it good for us to be made whole, but we cannot be effective ministers for Christ if we have a bleeding soul within us.  In spite of possible good intentions and no matter how much we may witness to others, we will wind up gathering people up unto ourselves instead of to Christ.  We will use people (their presence, their encouragements, their accolades, their love, their gifts, their prayers, etc.) - even unintentionally - as a crutch to help us fill our void.  Because nothing will ever be enough, this leads to a cycle of continual disappointments, depression, and failed relationships. We become the walking wounded, always feeling that others are responsible for bringing healing to us, thus making even our view of salvation self-centered.  As my pastor used to say (and I paraphrase), "When are you going to stop always being the one in need of prayer and actually become an answer to prayer for someone else?

We also need to be able to recognize when this is in operation in others for it will be a significant physical, emotional, and spiritual drain. This has been referred to as spiritual vampirism, for it sucks the life right out of you (Proverbs 17:22).  This is often present in those who have a spirit of rejection/abandonment as they are constantly in need of reassurance, comforting, and nurturing.  No matter how much you give, it is never enough; it's like trying to fill a black hole.  While some individuals do this in ignorance and just need to be directed to the Lord to be made whole, it is also a tactic of the enemy to distract you and stymy your spiritual growth.  We must understand that some people just don't want to be made whole.  Instead, they would rather have you make them the center of your world, which is idolatry.  They might even try to make you feel like you are not being a Christian if you do not prioritize their needs in your life.  Do not let Satan deceive you by using your zealousness for good works as a snare to bind you to others in inordinate ways. 

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." Isaiah 55:1-3

Those in Christ do not have to walk around with bleeding souls.  Those who do need to learn Christ anew (Matthew 11:29).  We must know that the Lord is our Shepherd and He desires to restore our souls (Psalm 23:3).  He knows our wounds and He alone has the balm for them.  There is healing in Jesus and in Him we find rest...when we trust Him.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The Witness of the Spirit

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."  Acts 17:11

When I first began to learn about Jesus Christ (having come out of a Catholic upbringing), I was cautious.  I didn't want to be fooled again and brought into yet another religious delusion.

I was learning about the Lord through a Bible Study hosted by a woman at my job and I also began to listen to taped sermons from her husband, who is a pastor.  Although I had never heard the truth of the Gospel before, somehow within me I knew I was hearing the truth.  There was some inner witness that what I was hearing was true.  Although I didn't understand that at the time, I now know that it was the Holy Spirit witnessing with my spirit about the truths of the Word of God as He began to draw me to the Father (John 6:44).

The first time I met the pastor, I told him, "I don't believe everything you say just because you say it.  I read the word for myself to see if it is true."  He responded, "That's good.  How has it been so far?"  I answered warily, "You have been okay...so far."  He got a good chuckle out of my comments, but I was dead serious. 

"This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth."  I John 5:6

I was reminded of this interaction recently due to a conversation with a commenter on this blog.  The commenter implied that they had been in agreement with a minister at one time.  Then they heard something reportedly said by that minister, causing them to consider that the minister was a false teacher.

Only one question stood out to me for that poster, "Where was the witness of the Spirit in their life?"

It was not of concern for me really whether the poster thought the minister was false or not.  What was of concern was that there didn't seem to be any inclination to find and honor truth.  If the Holy Spirit had once confirmed for them that this minister was preaching the truth, then why were they willing to so casually set that witness aside?  And if the Holy Spirit had never confirmed for them the truth of these teachings, then why were they following them?

Again, this is not about man, for no man is perfect.  It is about seeking to be led of truth in all things.  The standard for a Christian must be the witness of the Holy Spirit.  If not, we will fall into error every time.

No One Knows Their Own Heart

"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." Proverbs 28:26

We do not know our own hearts (Jeremiah 17:9, Hebrews 3:12).  As such, we will not know what is truly motivating us apart from the light of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 16:23; Luke 9:55).  We can fool ourselves into thinking we are serving the Lord, but really be moving away from Him.  This is why we cannot be led by what we feel, what we think, or what we want. The things which come out from us (words, actions, etc.) will be a product of what is in our hearts...whether clean or unclean (Proverbs 4:23; James 3:8-18).

Unclean spirits do not like to be found out.  They hide in darkness, which is why darkness is often a cover for sin, particularly for Christians (Ephesians 5:8; II Corinthians 6:14; I Thessalonians 5:5; I Peter 2:9).  One can outwardly appear to be a Christian, saying all of the right "code words" and posting Scriptures, but in the darkness of our hearts, what is really present?

This is what God desires to deal with, if we would but submit to His work (Psalm 51:6; Jeremiah 17:10; Matthew 23:27-28; Luke 16:15; Hebrews 4:12-13).  When we fail to submit to that inner cleansing, we have no choice but to run to a religious delusion.  We will deceive our own selves about our condition and God will leave us right there until we repent & submit to Him, so that He can take us further on the path He has for us.

Not only do we not know our own hearts, but others do not know their own hearts.  There may be times when the Lord will show you that an unclean spirit is at work in another person.  Even when confronted, the person may deny or justify, claiming that such is not the case.  Will you dismiss the word that the Spirit has given you or will you hold to the truth, even while praying for the other person to be set free?  There may even be times He tells you to break fellowship with someone because they do not want to give up an unclean spirit (I Corinthians 5:1-13).  Will we stand by what He shows us, even when it means us making unpopular or hard decisions?  Do we treasure God's acceptance over the acceptance of man or are we still seeking to be men pleasers (Galatians 1:10)?

As we work out our salvation with fear and trembling, we must be sincere enough before the Lord to examine what is really in our hearts.  By His Spirit, He will search our inner most parts so that we can truly be vessels of honor.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

God has a Path for You To Follow

There is a path, a destiny that God has specifically for you...and it may not be the same as what He has for others.  You cannot afford to simply do what others are doing, say what you think others want you to say, or follow someone else's lead.

What if God calls you to go and do what He has not called from anyone else around you?   Will you still obey and follow Him?  We must be able to discern God's voice in order to know these things as no one else can speak them to us (John 10:27; Acts 17:28; Colossians 3:3).

I often think of Ananias, when God commanded him to go lay hands on Saul so that he might receive again his sight (Acts 9:10-16).  At this point, Saul was a great persecutor of the Church, attempting to imprison and sanctioning the death of many who named the name of Jesus Christ.

Scripture doesn't record that God made an announcement to the general church body that Saul was to be converted.  Yet in a vision, God gave this message to Ananias.  I am sure there could have been questions from other believers about what Ananias was setting out to do and whether he was really being led by the Lord, and maybe not all agreed.  But he went anyway.  Sometimes, the path God has for you is for you to walk alone because he is developing your faith in & dependence upon Him.

This is not to say that God cannot speak through people, for He surely can.  However, even then we must seek the confirmation of the Spirit to know what is truly from the Lord and what is not.  Years ago, God was leading me to minister to a particular young woman who was in sin.  He had me working on a series of articles which would help to open her eyes and draw her closer to Him.  However, a brother in the Lord rebuked me for not confronting the woman and demanding that she change.  Out of a false sense of submitting to authority, I followed this brother's advise and as a result destroyed the testimony the Lord was using me to build with this young woman.  It matters not what this brother intended in his rebuke.  All that matters is that I rejected the leading of the Spirit in order to adhere to man's impressions of what I should do. 

The word from others - including fellow brothers & sisters in the Lord - may not be God's word for you...and we must know the difference  We must never expect any man or woman to do what the Holy Spirit alone can do - be the purveyor of all that is true. There are various men/women of God to whom I listen, but I always run everything I hear by the Holy Spirit.

If we are to follow God, then we must get used to knowing and heeding His voice as it is He alone who directs our path.

In These Particular Days, Deception is Rampant

Article from Gay Christian Watch
Satan is a deceiver and he likes to mimic the things of God, even to the point of appearing as an angel of light to try and deceive the very elect (II Corinthians 11:14; Matthew 24:24).

We need to make sure that the "spirit" we are receiving is actually the Holy Spirit.  For example, the Scriptures warn specifically of "silly women" in the latter days, ever learning but not able to actually submit to the truth because they are filled with diverse lusts (II Timothy 3:6-7).  Yet, these same are being raised up as "teachers" and  "ministers" of the faith today, leading others down the path of damnation.  They have a "spirit", but it is a false religious spirit.

One example of this is the recent testimony of Juanita Bynum where she acknowledges her previous life of sin, including fornication, drugs, and lesbianism.  She then uses these experiences to promote her "inspirational" gospel about the "power of purpose."  How does she move forward from trauma, tragedy, abuse, and sin?  Was it through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ?  No.  It was by finding her "purpose & destiny" in learning that she has the power to change her own life.

If asked what spirit inspires her, Bynum would surely say that it is the Holy Spirit - and she may even believe this to be true - but it is not (II Corinthians 11:4).  How do I know this?  By the message she preaches.  If we do not yield to the Holy Spirit in repentance from sin, then God will send us a strong delusion whereby we fall for a lie (II Thessalonians 2:10-12).  This is where every religious delusion comes from, even in the world of Christendom.

Am I criticizing Bynum for being honest about her sin?  Not at all.  Do I mean to imply that the Lord cannot deliver even from lesbianism or any other sin?  Of course not!  He is much more than able to deliver us from all sin.  However, I am trying to point out that - as the Scriptures say - if we do not turn from and on those perverse lusts that dwell in man's heart, then we will turn to a false "Christianity" as a cloak for our sin and ultimately deny Christ.

The telltale sign of one still filled with unrepentant lust is that they will not receive the truth, but will instead run to religious activity.  They do not want the truth because they are not yet through with sin.  I am not speaking about having issues in sin that you are seeking to overcome.  I am talking about deciding to stay in sin and not being willing to turn from it.

You don't have to know what is going on "in the dark".  Simply examine the word being spoken. Is the person promoting prosperity, kingdom living, self-empowerment, and a "purpose driven life" centered on our existence in this world?  Then they are trying to pamper the flesh and its lusts.  Why?  Because they still love themselves.

Instead of denying self, they want to exalt it, being consumed with self-love and a selfish perspective on life (which is the essence of the sodomite nature).  This is particularly an issue with the spirit of homosexuality and lesbianism because such is the fullest expression of self-love.  Instead of turning from this sodomite nature, many are taking it to the pulpits (in churches and on the Internet) as they become self-proclaimed teachers of "the word".  It is a road to reprobation that every single individual is on according to Romans Chapter 1, unless they have been born again in Christ so that God can renew the spirit of our minds.  Even after salvation, we must continue to deny self or we cannot be a disciple of Christ (Luke 14:26-27; John 12:25). 

Be careful who you receive from in terms of those speaking for the Lord.  We cannot be in rebellion against God, disobeying what He puts His finger on in our lives while jumping up to be His "minister" or "prophetess".  Can God do a "quick work" in delivering us from the bondages of sin?  Yes, but such is directly tied to our willingness to submit to that work. 

We must all seek to become vessels fit for the Master's use through sanctification from sin as empowered by His Spirit (II Timothy 2:19-22).  In this way, we can be sure that the spirit within us is in fact the Holy Spirit of God and He will likewise confirm those who are speaking for Him (Acts 5:32).

We NEED the Witness of the Holy Spirit

We must never forsake seeking the witness of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Such witness is needed in order to:
  • Acknowledge even what is in our own hearts so that we can turn and be cleansed from evil
  • See what spirits are in operation around us so that we can be protected from deception and be an effective witness/intercessor to those who are bound
  • Know the path that He has laid out for us so that we can fulfill His purposes (not our own) in this life
  • Discern which spirit we are of by knowing God's voice from the voice of the enemy which aims to lead us away from Christ
Above all, do not take lightly compromise with sin.  Do not grant an open door to the enemy by thinking that God's words are just not that serious, that we can always change tomorrow, or that God will have some emotional attachment to us that will cause Him to overlook our stiff-necked rebellion.

In the Wilderness of Sin, many whom God brought out of Egypt died unable to receive the promises, except for Joshua & Caleb.  Why?  Because they possessed a different spirit (Numbers 14:24).  While the others still nurtured the spirit of the world, Joshua & Caleb were filled with the Spirit of God.  As a result, they were able to possess the land.  Be honest before the Lord, and He will show Himself faithful to do all that He has promised in your life as He transforms, fills, and leads you by His Spirit.

You may also benefit by reading the following from David Wilkerson Ministries: A Different Spirit