The Lord is My Help

No matter what happens today...no matter what you face in the coming weeks...no matter what comes to pass over the rest of the year until the end of your days...you can trust in the Lord.  Don't be dismayed by temporary trials or light & momentary afflictions (II Corinthians 4:17).  What you see now is not the same as what will be.  No matter how stressful it is to our flesh, any present suffering is not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed IN us (Romans 8:18).

God is revealing His glory IN US, and it is the glory of the risen Savior.  This is what it means to be saved.  It is not simply intellectually believing that Jesus died for your sins.  Even the demons know this (James 2:19).  It is having the very nature of Jesus Christ developed in you as you are transformed into His image (Romans 8:29).

People say that the pains of labor are quickly forgotten once the child for whom we have labored is birthed (John 16:21).  So too we may travail in birth pains now as the work of the Lord is being wrought in us (Galatians 4:19).  Yet, consider the end of the matter.  We shall be as He is (John 14:12; I John 3:2). 

Now is not the time to draw back.  Now is not the time to seek comfort for your flesh.  Now is not the time to give up because the way seems too hard...to the flesh.  If we faint in the day of adversity, it is because our strength is small...and our strength fails due to sin (Proverbs 24:10; Psalm 31:10).  Ask the Lord to renew your strength as you deny your flesh. When we are weak [in the flesh], we find our strength [in the spirit] in Him (II Corinthians 12:10).  Press in all the more to the Lord [prayer, fasting, study, praise] and find your refuge in Him.  He is a strong tower & a mighty Deliverer.  Let God have His perfect work done in you so that you may be complete, wanting nothing (James 1:4).

I called out to the Lord in my distress and He answered me.  The Lord is my ever present help...and He is yours too.  Trust in Him.

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 

The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore." Psalm 121:1-8

All Things Being Equal

Degeneration vs. Regeneration

I recently saw the graphic to the right, which has become a recurring theme in the world.  "Inside we're all the same", it claims.

Notice that on the image, you have the misappropriated rainbow symbol that the homosexual community uses to promote its cause.  I say misappropriated because the rainbow is a covenant sign that God made with Noah to never destroy all flesh again...with a flood (Genesis 9:9-17).

The flood in Noah's day was God's judgment against the pervading sin of man.  The sons of God (who were fallen angels) lusted after the daughters of men and mated with them (Genesis 6:4).  The children resulting from these unions are a hybrid creation referred to as the nephilim (meaning fallen ones), or what the Bible calls "giants".  Immediately after this perversion, we see its influence as the Scriptures say that, "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5).

The reality of that time seems almost impossible to consider; EVERY imagination and thought of man's heart was ONLY evil CONTINUALLY?   There was not even one good intent of the heart...ever?  Yet, when we look around us today, we can see mankind coming to the same place now.  The debauchery, unrestrained lust, sociopathic tendencies, and hatred for all things good which we see on a daily basis are unfathomable. One needs to only look at the news, or just look around you, to see that something has gotten hold of man and made him less than human.

Therefore, when I see people using the rainbow as a sign of their solidarity with, and support for, sexual perversion, I always get the mental picture of them shaking their fists at God.  One on hand, it is like they are hiding behind the rainbow, reminding God that He promised to not destroy the earth by flood again - as if they can put off their own judgment.  On the other hand, it is as if they are mocking God; daring Him to do something about their rebellion.  You can be assured that God will do both; He will destroy the earth again (although not by water) and He will judge all unrighteousness (Romans 2:2).

So what is the common refrain now?  "We are all the same on the inside."  Our differences do not matter because they are just external things.  Don't judge those who are different than you.  If you look with the eyes of love, diversity, and tolerance (as defined by the world), you will see that we are all the same.  We are all sharing in the same human struggle.  We are all a part of the human experience.  Deep down inside, we are all equal.  This is the sort of perspective which goes hand-in-hand with the "God loves us all" proclamation.

Many will say, "It is what is on the inside which matters."  And I wholeheartedly agree!  Problem is, the assertion that we are all the same on the inside is not true.  The big question - the only thing that matters - is "What are we on the inside?"  It is there we will find our differences or commonalities, based on the source of life which is within us.   

"Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more." II Corinthians 5:16

The world likes to judge according to the flesh (John 8:15).  What is your race, your political affiliation, your income level, your education, etc.  None of these superficial things mean anything in the Kingdom of God.  Yet this is what most of the world (including the so-called Church) seeks after.  Man has many causes and many injustices he seeks to recitify, but most of them are not the cause of Christ; they are merely the championing of the flesh.  This is why the Lord commands us to judge according to that which is spiritual (John 7:24; I Corinthians 2:15).  It is the spirit of man - what is on the inside - which determines who he really is. In this regard, the Bible says that we are either spiritually degenerating or regenerating.  Those are the only two options.

degenerating: to fall below a normal or desirable level in physical, mental, or moral qualities; to deteriorate; to diminish in quality;  to bring about a decline or reversion in.

regenerating:  to effect a complete moral reform in; to re-create, reconstitute, or make over, especially in a better form or condition; to revive or produce anew; bring into existence again; to renew or restore.

We need to understand this.  In God's eyes, there are only two types of people: those who are degenerating and those who are regenerating.  There is no other [eternal] distinction in man.  We are either soulish or saved; dead to God or born again; carnal or spiritual; God's enemy or His child, for Christ or anti-Christ, damned or redeemed.

If we are truly in Christ, then we ought to also see as He sees.  We should not primarily identify ourselves or others by appearances.  Not Black, White, Hispanic, Asian...not rich or poor...not young or old...  We are either in Christ and bearing forth His righteousness from within or in Satan and bearing forth his degradation from within.  The only people who are the "same inside" are those who are united by the same seed of life within; either the seed of the serpent or the seed of God.

"The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one" Matthew 13:38

Unlike the world will tell you, we are not all children of God (Galatians 3:26; Romans 8:15).  God only recognizes those who have been born again and are led by His Spirit.  Many are the children of the devil by means of the spirit working within them (Genesis 3:15; John 8:44; I John 3:8-10).

So what does degeneration look like?  The process is outlined in Romans Chapter 1.  It starts with ingratitude towards God producing a darkened heart that lacks wisdom.  The empty vanity of man's mind then leads him into idolatry and the worship of himself, which is first seen through fornication.  If unabated, God gives the fornicator up to the  "vile affections" of homosexuality.  Finally, God gives man over to reprobation, where he is filled with unrighetousness and completely unable to be saved. 

What is the answer for those on the path of degeneration?  Repent!  Turn from your ways (which is what repent means) and humbly present yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ to be cleansed. Through all of these stages of degeneration, God is longsuffering, letting man experience more of the "depths" of Satan so that man might turn to Him.  No one gets to reprobation by chance; it is the determined, continued rebellion of a mind which is set against God.

In regeneration, everything that man experienced in the fall is reversed back to the normal state of man when he was originally created.  Man is reconciled with the Father as he is translated from the power of darkness to the Kingdom of His Son.  He is made a partaker of the divine nature and given a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:24-28).  He is cleaned from his filthiness and given the Spirit of the Lord within so that he may walk in obedience to God. 

As evidence of these two different types of life within, we will either display the works of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-25).  This is why Jesus said that we will know those who belong to Him by their fruit (Matthew 7:17-20; Luke 6:33-34).  It is the manifestation of the life within us which declares to whom we truly belong. 

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:6

It is only what is on the inside which matters, and know for certain that we are not all the same. 

For more on this topic, please see the following resource:

Children of the Beast

Sweet Nothings

Babylon's Open Arms

"Sweet Nothings" is an interesting phrase.  It is often used in reference to something that is meant to be endearing, but is actually very shallow.  Sweet nothings are said for the purpose of making us feel good, but the words have no substance behind them; they are meaningless. It is in essence a flattering, heart-warming lie.

In the video below, a young woman presents a message which is filled with sweet nothings.  Her words (and the accompanying "Christian" music) are designed to pull on the emotions, but have no basis in truth.   Yet, what she presents has fast become the rule of thumb for most churches and the prevailing doctrine of many professing believers.  The problem is, while it may sound good, it is a doctrine of devils.

"My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding...To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead." Proverbs 2:1-2, 16-18

"My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother...For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life." Proverbs 6:20, 23-26

"My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye...That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words...And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner...With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him...Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death." Proverbs 7:1-2, 5, 10-12, 21, 27

Who is the strange woman referred to in these texts?  It is not the woman in the video below, it is the religious harlot named Babylon.  I did not post the full texts of these chapters so as to not make the article too long, though there is more to be understood from just what is posted here.  However, notice how this woman is described.

The woman is strange, meaning that she is a whore.  She will be intimate with anyone who advances her cause; she has no discretion.  Her heart is filled with subtlety & deceit; it is the heart of a serpent (Genesis 3:1).  She knows of God's covenant, but has walked away from it.  She is beautiful...to the flesh.  It is the lusts in man which make her appear to be appealing & attractive.  She is a seductress, who actively hunts for victims.  With quiet charm or unrelenting insistence, she exerts spiritual force to lure people into her traps.  She is on every corner, just as we see with many churches today.  Her ways lead to death.

There is one thing we need to understand.  Babylon is attractive to our flesh, and she is on the prowl.  If there is any part of our flesh that has not been crucified, she will be enticing to us with her smooth sayings.  When we are drawn away by our own lusts, Babylon is there for us, ready to whisper sweet nothings into our itching ears in order to comfort & feed our flesh.

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." Galatians 5:24

We spoke before about how people are going into apostasy in droves.  Well, many of these folks are not outright denying Jesus; rather, they are rushing into Babylon's open arms. 

There is one continued protection cited to keep us from this harlot and that is the word of God.  In these days where the Lord tells us that deception will be extremely high, we need to meditate more in the word of God than we ever have before.  What combats a lie, but the truth?  This is why one of the first things that Babylon has to do in order to ensnare you is keep you from the word of God, deny its authority, or pervert its meaning.  Stay far away (in terms of fellowship) from those who do not honor God's word, because the Lord honors His word even above His name (Psalm 138:2).

"And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." Daniel 11:32

Do you truly know the God you claim to serve?  Ask the Lord to give you a heart for the truth, an ear to hear it, and a will to submit to it for deception is high.  Pray for those such as this young woman so that God would bring them to the knowledge of the true Gospel and give them new life in Him.  The best that religion can make you into is a hypocrite.  True life may only be found in Jesus Christ.  May God keep us in these times of darkness.

Other Resources:
The Jesus Cult
The Road to Hell
This Idol Called Institutional Church

Beware of Christian Music

This morning, I awoke with a particular song on my heart, so I wanted to post it here.  When this song is sung in our church, there is such reverence for the Lord.  There is not a lot of loud musical accompaniment, but an almost hushed tone occurs and the song becomes like a prayer.  It is truly a cry from the heart as the sincerity of it ushers in God's presence.

However, I have scoured Youtube and can find nothing like it.  Yes, there are many versions of the song there, but none really reflected the worship that I have seen when sung in our services.  What I have posted below is the closest I could fine.

Yet, that search leads to the title of this post.  There was one version of this song by Michael W. Smith that I almost posted.  It seemed to have a quietness about it that I wasn't seeing in a lot of the other versions.  Although I am not a Michael W. Smith fan, I thought it was harmless enough.

However, after I embedded that video in this post, the Lord would not let me hit the "Publish" button.  Every time I started to post it, I had a very strong resistance in my spirit about it.  I didn't understand why.

I must have replayed that video about 4 times trying to understand what was wrong with it, but I couldn't see anything.  Then I thought, "Well, maybe I should not be posting this song."  Yet the Lord replied, "I didn't say that."  So I asked, "Then Lord, what is the issue?"  That is when God led me to the following page: Michael W Smith: Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing.

UPDATE:  Bro. HannielOnline has shared that the above linked article is apparently a snippet of a larger piece that may be found here for those wanting to look into this further:  Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

Now, I know nothing about this site and have not researched it, so don't consider this an endorsement.  However, this particular article I thought was very important to share.  It is evidence of just how badly the condition of the church has become.  To quote the author of this article, "It may be a sign of the times, that Christian ‘discernment’ is so utterly lacking."  I link to the article not to talk about Michael W. Smith, but to ask each of us to consider the spirit behind the music to which we listen...even if it is called "Christian".  This is of particular importance as many of the leaders of music in the "Christian" church are homosexual (whether openly or not).

It is this mindset which perverts music.
God says that "all things" were created
by Him and for His pleasure (Rev. 4:11).
"Good" music is not a matter of our
personal preferences.  It is a matter
of what is pleasing to God.

We have spoken before about how Satan uses music to receive worship and fill people with his spirit.  We have also shared how most "Christian music" is in actuality anything but.  We have spoken about how Satan is a master of music.  We have spoken about how there is music inspired by God and music which is not.

So it should come as no surprise that Satan has incorporated much of the occult inside of the church.  The music from Michael W. Smith represents the tenor & tone of most of what is played as Christian music today...and it is filled with occult mysticism.  Much of this music is not just "un-Christian", it is outright Satanic!

We know about secular music.  We know about the deceptions of so-called holy hip hop and Christian rock.  But what about music considered praise and worship?  It is not enough for the lyrics of the song to be ok, but what is the spirit behind the ones singing the words?  Even the words of God spoken in the wrong spirit are nothing but the conjurings of a smooth-tongued devil.  When Satan used Scripture to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, he was not inspired by righteousness (Matthew 4:6).  We must remember that even Satan can be transformed into a minister of righteousness (II Corinthians 11:15).

In our home, each of our children play praise & worship in their rooms throughout the night.  While we started this when they were babes by continuously playing Scripture Memory Songs in their rooms, they have chosen to continue this tradition.  Even now, although they are out of town visiting grandparents, they take their music with them to continue playing at night.  The problem is that there are now sites like Pandora whose idea of what is Christian is certainly not the same as mine.  Sure, you can pick and choose which artists are in your play list, but they also play other artists whom they consider similar to those.  For example, I have awoken at night to hear Toby Mac playing in my son's room (God forbid).  We have had to teach them that something is not "Christian" just because it is labeled as such.  Not understanding this may be the equivalent of ingesting cyanide.

As parents, and even just as servants of the Lord, we must take care about the "Christian" music to which we listen.  It is not just that some singers don't represent the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In many ways these artists are the same as the secular ones...except they are more devious.  They are not just singing about a watered-down Gospel, they are attempting to entice people into the occult or at the least, use witchcraft in the music to bind them.

What is the difference about the song below when it is sung in my church (and I am sure others as well) compared to much of what I heard on Youtube?  Even though the song's lyrics are the same, it is the spirit behind the worship which makes the difference.  May we exercise Godly discernment.

Beware of "Christian" music.

God Will Not Recognize a Bastard

Sometimes, the things God says seem harsh.  In my studies this morning, He said to me, "I will not recognize a bastard" and then He told me to make that the title of a post.  I said, "REALLY God?  You want me to put that as the title of a post???"  I thought, "Man, that is kind of raw."  Yet His thoughts and ways are higher than our own (Isaiah 55:9).

This type of word from God just does not mix with the tolerant, accepting, non-confrontational, nonjudgmental type of [false] God presented in most churches these days.  Yet, there is goodness AND severity in God (Romans 11:12).

Imagine being the Creator of all and yet the creation made originally in your image becomes marred and eternally separated from you through sin.  To rescue them from themselves, you send your Son to give His life for them - being viciously tortured & dishonored - so that they may be reconciled to you and saved from the wages of sin.  Would you take the rejection of that sacrifice of love lightly?  Would it be a "small thing" for people to then still reject you so that they could stay in sin?  I figure that God is entitled to be as raw as He wants to be.  He will not pull punches nor will He mince words.  His desire for our reconciliation with Him is the motivator and it is just that serious.  He loves us enough to tell us the cold, hard truth. 

"A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD." Deuteronomy 23:2

bastard: mamzer, meaning: bastard, child of incest, illegitimate child

How does one become a bastard?  By being the offspring of an illegitimate union.

illegitimate: born of parents who are not married to each other; born out of wedlock; unlawful; illegal 

We know that those born outside of the holy union of matrimony are considered illegitimate in the world.  Instead of bringing forth fruit from the loin of your husband, you conceive from one to whom you are not married.  Instead of raising up seed from your husband, you produce seed from another.  This is what happens when we are led by a spirit of whoredoms.  We prove ourselves to be unfaithful, an adulterer, a fornicator, a harlot.  In such, we become "joined to" the one who is not our husband (I Corinthians 6:16).  It is the same in the spirit.

"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." II Corinthians 11:2 

We are born again by the seed of life planted within us from the Holy Spirit (Mark 4:14-20).  However, if we start to fornicate with the world, being led by the lusts of our own flesh, we pervert that seed (James 4:4; I Corinthians 9:11; I John 2:16).   God espouses us to Christ so that we can bring forth a Godly seed (Malachi 2:15).  Instead of bringing forth fruit from the one to whom we are betrothed, we conceive from the serpent's seed and bear forth fruit that is defiled (Matthew 13:24-30, 15:13; Hebrews 6:7-8).  Not only do we fail to produce righteous fruit, the very life we possess no longer reflects the character of God, but the one to whom we have joined ourselves, Satan (Hosea 4:17).  God will not receive that type of life because He did not birth it.

"And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." Genesis 22:15-18

In the above text, the Lord tells Abraham that because he did not withhold his son, the Lord will bless him, his seed, and all the nations of the earth.  Notice that the Lord refers to Isaac as Abraham's "only son".  However Abraham had earlier fathered another son with his wife's maid Hagar, named Ishmael (Genesis 16:1-4).  God did not acknowledge Ishmael in this discussion.  It was as if Ishmael didn't even exist.  God was still righteous towards Ishmael, and he could even experience earthly prosperity, but he was not recognized as a son (Genesis 16:10).  The only son in God's eyes was the one HE had called forth.

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed." Hebrews 12:6-13

The Three R's of Rebellion

Here me on this.  God chastens "every SON" whom he receives.  Who is the Lord speaking of in this text?  His sons.  He receives us as a son and then He starts the chastening.  If we (His sons) endure the chastening, then God will continue to deal with us as sons.  If we (His sons) do not endure chastening, then we become bastards and not sons.

Some claim that this text about being a bastard is not directed to the sons of God.  It most certainly is.  Another way in which we know this is because God puts forth a justification for why it is only reasonable for us to submit to His chastening (and not become bastards).  If we could understand why it was right & just for us to submit our earthly fathers for correction, then we should surely understand why it is important to submit to His correction.  God does not expect the sinner to submit to His correction because they have no ability to (Romans 8:7).  It is only by God's Spirit that we can yield to Him, and in submitting to His correction we will find life and become partakers of His holiness.  Contrarily, in not submitting we become bastards and are "turned out of the way", finding death and becoming partakers of Satan's unrighteousness.

Why are so many bastards when they have been called to be sons?  They will not withstand chastening.  They receive with joy the word when it is first received, but when the correction of the Lord comes, they cannot receive it.  As Matthew 13:21 states, such persons have "no root" or discipline in themselves.  Therefore, when tribulation comes because of the word which has been sown in them, they are offended.  Yet the Lord says that tribulation works patience, and patience experience, and experience hope that is not to be ashamed of (Romans 5:3-5).  God's correction is the way that His love is shed in our hearts.

In order to be a "chaste virgin" we must go through a "chastening".  These are the times for us to cut ties with everything which defiles (if we have not already).  These are the times to submit ourselves to the FATHER of Spirits so that we may live!  Don't draw back from God's correction because He is trying to produce righteous fruit in you so that He may give you life.  We must have the love for God as a Father (a Disciplinarian) in our hearts in order to be recognized by Him as His own.

"But if any man love God, the same is known of him." I Corinthians 8:3

Also recommended: The Three R's of Rebellion

Works of Darkness

I received the following newsletter from Bro. David Wilkerson's ministry this morning.  There seems to be a consistent theme God is communicating to His people in this hour.  I pray we all take it to heart.

God is extending His hand as foretold in the letters to the Churches in Revelation.  The main theme?  Repent!

Don't be swayed by doctrines of demons put forth to shipwreck your faith.  Don't think that God will simply overlook wilfull sin; don't think such things will remain hidden.  Jesus brings all hidden things done in darkness to light (I Corinthians 4:5).  Don't think your church activity and "good works" will save you (Matthew 7:21-23). Don't believe that your previous diligence will protect you from your current malaise.

Jesus is the author of salvation for those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9).  Yet, even now there is a gentleman continuing to submit comments about how we don't have to obey God to be saved.  How that is a "works" salvation when God says that it is a free gift and not of works.  How we are eternally saved unconditionally.  The Scripture is plain. It is staring him right in the face.  Yet, he still cannot see the truths of God.  Why?  Because he is in sin.  And this man is not alone.

If you are one of the ones continuing to post to this blog, but not seeing your comments approved, take that as a hint that you should move on.  I will respond to sincere questions.  Further, if the Lord tells me to approve such a comment for His purposes of addressing it for the benefit of others, I will.  Otherwise, if a post is contentious or of the wrong spirit, it will not be approved.

Once again, there is only one problem man has with God, and that is sin.  We will always be blinded to His truths until we bring forth fruits worthy for repentance (Matthew 3:8, Luke 3:8; Romans 8:7).  Let's search our hearts and ensure that we are who we claim to be.

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Galatians 5:24-25

"Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults." Psalm 19:12
_____

Works of Darkness
by Min. David Wilkerson

"If thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matthew 6:23). Scripture makes it plain that hidden sins are "works of darkness." We know from God's Word that light has no communion with darkness.

Peter tells us Christ "preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient" (1 Peter 3:19-20). Disobedience cast these souls into a prison of darkness. Likewise today, every willful act of disobedience causes the light of discernment within us to darken. Over time our perception of truth becomes distorted, and our "open heaven" grows clouded.

The Lord suffers greatly whenever hidden sin brings gross darkness upon our souls. And nothing grieves Him more than when we resist and reject His warnings and convictions. Consider this tragic case described in a letter we received:

"My husband has given himself over completely to Internet pornography. Now I've filed for divorce, and he doesn't even care. We were happily married for twenty-five years before all this happened. I couldn't understand why he spent so much time shut up in his room with his computer. Then one day I walked in and was shocked by the ugly filth I saw on the screen.

"He became obsessed. His personality changed, and a meanness came over him. I knew he was addicted. He said, 'I can't help it. I'm going to do as I please.'"

The apostle Paul directs a horrifying statement to those who walk "in the vanity of their mind" (Ephesians 4:17). Such people justify their sin, no longer seeking deliverance from it. Paul says of them: "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart" (verse 18).

How did they become so dark and blinded? They fell under a blindness that comes upon all who give themselves over to sin: "Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness" (verse 19).

John Owen, the Puritan writer, spells out the tragic result: "A man under the power of some predominant lust is under false security and does not discern coming perilous times."

The Father that dwelleth in me, HE doeth the works

A Time of Revealing

"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." John 14:10

I have been getting a lot of emails about professing Christians falling into apostasy in droves now - from denying the authority of God's word, claiming there is no need for Christians to repent, and even validating all types of immorality & fornication as acceptable. This is a sign of a reprobate mind.  Jesus said this would occur.

"Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols." Revelation 2:20

Jesus said that the last days church would have to contend with the spirit of Jezebel who teaches and seduces God's servants to commit fornication and ingest idolatry.  When you see professing Christians (male or female) maligning the Lord, justifying idolatry & and encouraging all forms of illicit behavior - you are looking at the spirit of Jezebel at work.

In spite of what people proclaim verbally, what is truly in the heart is being made manifest.  All these years, folks have been sitting next to you in Church...Amening your posts on Facebook...lifting up hands in praise & worship....and talking about how gooood the Lawd is.  Yet behind the scenes they are still revelling in sin.  They are not only still slaves to sin, they have no desire to be free from it.  They love sin and have only used the Lord Jesus Christ as a cloak to cover their unrighteousness.  They are not born again.

I have said this before, but I will reiterate.  The only problem people have with God is sin.  As long as you are enslaved to sin, and want to be, you will be offended by the Lord and those who represent Him.  A heart of repentance still remains the foundation for even hearing let alone receiving the Gospel.

During the last days, what is really in our hearts will be made manifest.  There will be no more play-acting and no more hypocriting around.  Those who belong to the Lord will be manifest and those who don't will be likewise shown for what they really are (Romans 8:19; Revelation 3:17-18).

To that I say, "Let the Father do the work!" 

There is no time for arguments and soulish debates with those who deep down actually hate the Lord.  Stop casting pearls before swine and ask the Father to give you eyes to see those He has prepared to receive the word of truth.  Those who continually deny His truths will be sent a strong delusion so that they will believe a lie and be damned (II Thessalonians 2:10-11).

I have no mind to even discuss these matters with such folks. They cannot hear the truth because they do not want to hear it. Such people are not sincere seekers asking questions, they are trying to justify their own rebellion and take others with them to the pit of Hell. That is the nature of Satan; he justifies his rebellion against God and tries to drag down as many people as he can.

Let the Father do the work!  It is no time to try and figure out what is wrong with folks and wonder why they are falling away from the truth.  As Jesus said, if they will not hear the truth, then wipe the dust off of your feet and keep on going (Matthew 10:14).  The great apostasy is happening right in front of our eyes.  All we can do is tend to our own hearts, examine ourselves to see if we be in the faith, and work out our own salvation in fear and trembling.  Pray for them if the Lord puts upon your heart to, but don't let someone else's denial of the Lord cause you to lose sight of the prize.

Romans 1:32 indicates that one becomes reprobate, not just by continuing in sin, but by agreeing with or "taking pleasure in" those in sin. Consider this as well.

"Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure." I Timothy 5:22

The words "lay hands" above references endorsing someone, giving them your support or vote of approval. When we receive a person who is an unrepentant sinner (calling them our friend, saying they are a Christian, encouraging others to receive them...) we make ourselves a partaker of their sins. God sees us as guilty of their sins, even if we haven't personally committed them.  Take care who you call your "friend."

I don't care who it is, family or foe, such people are not my friends. I will not straddle the fence trying to make nice with the Devil. If someone is against my God, then they are against me...and I am against them. I feel absolutely nothing about it.

To do things in ignorance is one thing. To have known the truth and turned away from it is another (II Peter 2:22).  We should be more concerned about offending God than offending man. If we can consider a friend someone who we know is anti-Christ, then we need to start wondering what is wrong with us and who we really are.

People like this I will cut out of my life with no regrets.  Any thing or person which is an unGodly influence in my life, I seek God to remove. I am not holding on to any "friends" or "family"; nothing but my God and those who are either in Him or desire to be in Him.  There is just not enough "being nice" cozying up to those who viciously hate God (even if they "claim" to be Christian) in order to justify being damned to Hell...or worse, disappointing my Father.  I am running for my life and all I can say is everybody else ought to so run as well (I Corinthians 9:24; Hebrews 12:1).

Let the Father do the work!  If the Father dwells in you, then the Father will do the work.  When the Father does the work, there is no question, no confusion, and no debate. The very life that the Father has imparted to you by His Spirit will testify to the truth all by itself.  Only those without the Holy Spirit need to do a lot of talking and convincing of others because they are relying on soulish power & charisma versus the power of the Holy Ghost.  What we need to do is stay before the Father as He faithfully completes the work He has started so that we are conformed into the image of His Son.  Only then will we be light unto the lost. 

I recommend the following articles as well which speak of this false religious veneer encouraged by Babylon  and the signs that one is going into apostasy.

The Road to Hell

Arrows of Reproof and Apostasy

Based on recommendation from Sis. Joy, I am posting the following video from Pastor David Williams.