Boldness

"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion." Proverbs 28:1

I have been praying lately for more boldness. This is something which also the disciples asked for prayer.

"And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word." Acts 4:29

"And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Ephesians 6:19-20

Variations of the world "bold" appear various times in the Scriptures, but do you know where it appears the most?  In the book of Acts.  At the birth of the church, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples of Jesus Christ and changed them dramatically.  Where they had once been afraid, they were now bold.  I can think of few other words which so appropriately describe their preaching.

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled..." Acts 4:13

"...they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness" Acts 4:31

"...he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus." Acts 9:27

"And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus..." Acts 9:29

"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold..." Acts 13:46

"Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord" Acts 14:3

"And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue..." Acts 18:26

"And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months..." Acts 19:8

They needed boldness, not only because they were facing persecution, but because the pressure against Christians to be quiet is supernatural.  The satanic powers in the heavenlies attempt to pervert the atmosphere globally so as to prevent the Gospel from being preached. There are spiritual powers at work to stop the mouths of Christians and prevent the testimony of Jesus Christ from being proclaimed, because Satan knows that once this happens, the end will come (Matthew 24:14).

This is why, whenever we preach Jesus, we are engaging in a spiritual war.  It is not just about handing out a tract, but we are by virtue of our testimony engaging in a warfare.  It is not something to be taken lightly.  If we do not understand this, then we will clam up instead of standing for Christ.

"But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. 

For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts." I Thessalonians 2:2-4

bold: Greek word parrēsiazomai meaning to speak freely, with confidence and without concealment; to show assurance.

contention: Greek word agōn meaning the place of contest, the arena or stadium; any struggle, conflict, fight, or battle.

The disciples preached the Gospel with much contention. They were not being contentious with people, but they were wrestling in combat with the rulers of darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places. They were fighting against those supernatural forces aiming to shut them up. They were fighting against the demonic strongholds which held captive the minds of the people. They were fighting the good fight of faith.  They were fighting...and we must do the same.

One area where the Lord has dealt with me about this recently was in phrasing what "I believe".  A situation occurred where I had to address an unbelieving, elder family member regarding matters of faith.  I thought about what I should say and how I could be respectful.  "Well, you see, what we believe is..."  God stopped me cold in my tracks.

He was quick to bring to my mind that the Gospel is not merely about what "I believe".  Lots of people have beliefs; they are as numerous and often as [in]valuable as opinions. If I am entreating someone about the Gospel on the basis that it is what "I believe", then I might as well be talking to them about joining Islam, becoming a Buddhist, or being an atheist.  Either what I believe has the weight of truth or it does not; and if so, then that is the only basis upon which others should believe it as well. By presenting the Gospel as merely something I believe, I was downgrading and misrepresenting it, and would only wind up at most making converts to my way of thinking and not disciples of Christ (Matthew 23:15).

The Lord had me reflect upon where in Scripture I had ever heard someone speak in this manner, and I could think of not one instance.  While the disciples would compell others to believe, they never prefaced their preaching with "Well, my understanding is...the way I see it...what I believe..."  They spoke the truth, and they proclaimed it with authority and certainty.  They were bold.

The world would have you think that all beliefs are equal and have similar merit.  It would make you feel that you have to respect the beliefs of others by giving ear to false views or pretending that those views hold some scintilla of truth.  This is a lie of the devil.  People are free to believe what they like, but that doesn't make those beliefs true.  When we share the Gospel, we are not just sharing what "we believe".  We are sharing the only truth which can set them free!

The only way we can speak boldly, not as pleasing men (I Thessalonians 2:2-4), is to not be focused on ourselves and our lives in this world.  I don't want to mentally ascend to being bold.  I don't want to imagine how I will be the one who speaks up in the face of adversity.  If I have not crucified the flesh, then I am deluding myself.  I am praying for more boldness, and I pray it for my brothers and sisters as well.

Speak the truth...and speak the truth with boldness!

Why The Gospel HAD To Be Organic

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16

I recently posted that the book The Organic Gospel is now available, both in print and in eBook format.  I urge you again to get and share a copy of this book.

Friends, this is not about mere book promotion, but about getting into the hands of those who love God and those who need God (and that should be everyone) a message that cuts through the deceptions of religion and points you to the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The devil has done a wonderful job of blinding the minds of men to God's plan of salvation (even those in church) because he aims to pervert the image of God in man.  As long as he can keep man from being born again  - being supernaturally and organically transformed by the Spirit of God to be a new creature - he can keep man bound and alienated from God (Colossians 1:21). Yet, if we can present to people the truths of the Gospel, then there will be a clear call upon their hearts to make a choice. While they may not choose the True & Living way, it will no longer be due to ignorance.

God is not after changing your behavior (your good works or your bad); He is after changing who you are at the core.  He desires to change the very lifetype or nature you possess, from being one that is enslaved by sin to being one made in the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Due to sin, we were all born by nature to be children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3-6).  The answer for salvation then lies in killing that fallen nature so as to be given a new nature in Christ.  This is the liberty we experience in Christ Jesus; no more trying, no more striving, just being who God has created us to be.

Please understand the times we are in and the spiritual war being fought over the souls of men (Revelation 18:8-13).  This is all about saving souls.  I am willing to lay down my life for the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you?  This has to become personal.  It has to become your personal charge to fulfill the calling of the Lord God Almighty upon your life.  Believe me, anything wrong with you (spiritually or physically) will be worked out by Him as you go forward in His name.  He will perfect that which pertains to you as you give your life and body back to Him for His use.

Have you enlisted in the army of God?  Then it is time to take your place on the battlefield.  It is time to take the true Gospel around the world.  Stop arguing about doctrine or sitting idly by watching the world spin into madness.  Make it your mission to save souls; on the job, in the market, on the streets, in your home...  Don't turn to religious works, but pray that God will give you eyes to see and ears to hear so that you are ever available to Him to be a witness to the lost.  As you do, I know that The Organic Gospel will prove to be a valuable part of your arsenal...such is why the book was written.

"Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 

Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul." Ezekiel 3:17-21

The Private War of a Saint

For all of those who are fighting a personal private battle, may the Lord strengthen and encourage you to trust and fight until you receive your breakthrough.

You're In The Army Now

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." II Timothy 2:3-4

I have been traveling quite a bit with my job lately.  On a recent trip, I was in a shuttle van with military doctors.  The most senior doctor told us many stories on the way, but this one in particular stuck out to me.  He stated:

I was assigned for three months on the base, and a soldier came in to have his wisdom teeth pulled.  The soldier said, "My brother-in-law is a dentist, and he said that I don't have to have my wisdom teeth pulled."

I asked him, "Son, is your brother-in-law a military dentist?"

"No", he replied. "He is a civilian." 

"Well son," I said, "From the day you signed up for this Army, your life and your body have belonged to Uncle Sam.  And Uncle Sam has decided that you need to get your teeth pulled.  So you can either sit in this chair and get your teeth pulled or you can walk out and be discharged from the Army." 

Still, the soldier kept questioning, "But I don't understand why I have to do this...Can you just explain to me what the reasoning is...Why can't I just leave them in?"   

I said, "Look, you have two choices.  Sit in this chair or leave and get discharged from the Army."  Honestly, I was so tired of all his sissy talking that I was ready for him to leave either way.

This guy actually wrote a letter to my Colonel complaining about how I didn't properly explain to him why the procedure was needed and what I was going to do.  When my Colonel called me before him, I thought I might be in trouble, but he balled up the letter and threw it in the trash saying, "We don't have time for this.  We are trying to fight a war."  

"What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" I Corinthians 6:19

As I listened, it occurred to me how alien the military life can be to those who are not used to it. There is not a lot of talk.  Not a lot of explanations.  There are orders given and obedience expected.  You want to continue in the Army?  Then you obey orders given.  Don't want to obey?  Then you can be discharged.

Similarly, when we join the salvation army, we are expected to obey our Commander and Chief, Jesus Christ.  Our lives are no longer our own, but in Him we live, move, and have our being (Act 17:28).

Stop seeking advise from those who are not saved - and therefore, not in this fight - in order to justify your own rebellion.  How do you know they are not saved?  Because they live according to the desires of their own hearts in direct opposition to the word of God.  There is only one Command authority we must obey, and that is Christ.  This authority can be seen in His word and in every vessel which belongs to Him.

If the God you serve does not have obedience to His word as the anchor for your soul, then you are not serving the True & Living God.  If obedience to Christ is an affront to you, then you are serving the god of this world.  Why obedience?  Because obedience is the evidence of your faith; it is the proof of your love (Matthew 8:5-10; Exodus 20:6; John 14:15).

Do not get it twisted.  If you are at odds with God's word, it is because there is something in your soul at odds with God.  You are not alright with God and He is not 'leading & working through you' while you are walking in willful disobedience to Him.

This is the time to come clean. Let go of your own understanding and let your mind be washed and renewed (Ephesians 4:23, 5:25-27).  Getting all emotional when you think of God or starting to cry when listening to Gospel music does not mean you love God.  When you truly love the Lord, you obey Him.  I pray that the below message from Omega Ministries on the true definition of love is a blessing to you.

What is Love?

No More Conscience of Sins

In the early days of my salvation, I remember talking once with my pastor and his wife as she did my hair.  I shared with them how weird it was that - when I first started listening to tapes from their ministry - I would have recurring thoughts about seducing him.  I had never met him nor her before, but it was a very strong urge.  As I listened to the tapes, I would hear, "He should be your husband.  His wife probably doesn't appreciate him like you would." Now keep in mind the insanity of this because I too was married at that time.

I was troubled by those thoughts because they were so atypical for me, but they kept coming.  I would ask myself, "Where is this coming from?  Why am I sitting here thinking about some other woman's husband that I have never even met when I myself am married?  And when listening to Bible tapes no less???  This is crazy!"  It made no sense to me because I did not yet understand spiritual things.  Yet, we need to understand the battle we face when we come to Christ.

I didn't think such thoughts were typical of me, but neither was I aware of all that Satan had placed within me (Jeremiah 17:9).  Satan saw me being drawn by the Father and he was pulling out all the stops.  I wasn't aware that there was a spirit of whoredoms in my soul, but when I started coming to the Lord, Satan revealed his hand.  Not only did he want to stop me from coming to the Lord, he figured he could use me - a vessel he had prepared - to bring down this pastor.  In doing so, Satan thought he could keep me as his own, but the Lord was intent on saving my soul.

So as I shared this with both my pastor and his wife that day, my pastor said, "That is not unusual.  a lot of women have felt that way; they just would never admit it."  He was not talking about himself being some sort of magnet for women.  He was talking about the spiritual war every Christian has to face within themselves in order to come to the truth.  I want you to know two things:

1. If you decide to give your life to the Lord, then you had better know that Satan is going to raise up within you every snare he has planted (a fifth column) to try and stop you...even things you did not know were there.  You are going to have to wage a war against these imaginations, thoughts, fears, and unGodly desires in order to be set free (II Corinthians 10:5).   
2. If you are going to preach the Gospel, then you had better know that Satan is working within many of the those to whom you minister in order to keep them bound and to simultaneously bring you down. Satan wants to keep what is his, but he also wants to destroy the light of your ministry in trying to set others free.  You must pray for spiritual discernment not to fall prey to these snares and to have eyes to see the spirits with which you are dealing.

As I pondered my pastor's statement, I thought, "Why did I admit it?  Why was I not ashamed to tell them both the type of thoughts that had gone through my mind?"  The answer is because I was no longer that person; I had been changed.  I had been set free and cleansed from that bondage.

"For since the Law has merely a rude outline (foreshadowing) of the good things to come—instead of fully expressing those things—it can never by offering the same sacrifices continually year after year make perfect those who approach [its altars]. 

For if it were otherwise, would [these sacrifices] not have stopped being offered? Since the worshipers had once for all been cleansed, they would no longer have any guilt or consciousness of sin." Hebrews 10:1-2

In this text, the cleansing we receive from the blood of Jesus is directly tied to the dismissal of the guilt from sin.  We not only need forgiveness from the Lord; we need cleansing.  The blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin (I John 1:7-9); even to the point where we no longer have consciousness or guilt of that sin.  You can then be truly free - free to move on from it and even free to share it as a testimony to others.

After speaking with some women once about my experiences with abortion, a woman came up to me privately sharing how she and her husband had an abortion many years ago.  They just didn't have the money, she said, to have another child.  "I could never tell anyone else that." she said.  "Well, maybe over time God will heal you and enable you to share."  "No!", she said, "I will never tell."

When I first got married, my mother and I used to lend each other money when our finances were short. Now, there is nothing sinful about that, but the way we handled it made it sinful. It became a secret, something that was just between the two of us to the exclusion of our husbands. By trying to keep our activities under the cover of darkness, we had made a covenant, and that is what made it sin.  The Lord always brings the hidden things of darkness to light (I Corinthians 4:5; II Corinthians 4:2).

God tells us to confess our sins because that is our avenue to getting free from them (James 5:16).  As long as we keep them bottled up inside, then Satan can use them to condemn and bind us.  If Christ has taken our guilt and our shame, then why are we holding on to them?   Pride, rejection, and fear wants us to hold on to sin, but your stepping beyond that and letting it go will not only free you, but others also.

This is why it is such a stumbling block to hold on to the law.  It can never free you from sin; only the blood of Jesus can.  The law is only a shadow of the covenant which was to come (Galatians 3:19).

Why then do people choose to hide in the shadows (Genesis 3:8)?  Sin.  People cling to the law because they have not been made free in Christ Jesus.  Since the sin is still present, they must find a way to keep offering sacrifices for that sin.  The simple answer is to just let the sin go and move on in the liberty of the Spirit (Romans 7:6, 8:2; Galatians 3:1-5, 5:18; II Corinthians 3:17).

T.D. Jakes has a sermon out now entitled "From Guilt to Gratitude", where he claims, "It is not sin which torments, but the guilt of sin."  Our problem is not sin, he claims; our problem is that we feel guilty about sin.  Proceeding then with this logic, if we could just get rid of the guilt of sin (which is the conviction of the Holy Spirit), then we can be fine...even while in sin.  Yet the Scriptures say that it is sin which causes us to be in torment (Matthew 18:23-35).

Guess what?  If you break out of covenant with sin then you will have nothing to feel guilty about. Do you see how foolish this is?  Instead of trying to free yourself from the guilt of sin, why not get free from sin altogether?  We can never repay the debt of our sins, so why not just let Jesus take them?  This is why He died.  Yet, the problem is that people often like the sin, so they are always looking for ways to stay in covenant with it.

Remember, Jesus desires to free you completely so that you don't have to carry any of the baggage from sin: not guilt, not shame, no "what ifs" and "if onlys".  Stop looking backwards and keep pressing in to Christ until you have laid every burden down.

"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebrews 9:13-14

The Sin You Defend Is the Sin You Are In

God is so merciful.  It is easy to see the sin that plagues us.  Whatever we fight against in the word of God is what ensnares us.

"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Amos 3:3

One of the purposes of the word of God is to allow us to see where we are out of sorts with the mind of Christ so that we can be changed.

If you justify lying, you are in covenant with liars.

If you justify adultery, you are in covenant with whoremongers.

If you justify homosexuality, you are in covenant with sodomites.

If you justify disobedience to God's word, then you are in covenant with witchcraft (I Samuel 15:23).

It is really not that hard to understand.  Our own words give away what has us bound.  People think they are showing off their intelligence, biblical acumen, or spirituality when they debate Scripture, but what they are really doing is loudly & proudly proclaiming that they are still in covenant with sin.

What does it mean to be in covenant with sin?  It doesn't even mean that you are necessarily a practitioner of the sin.  Why?  Because sin is not defined by what you do, but what you are.   A drunk may not be drinking at this moment, but he is still a drunkard.  Not doing the act right now does not mean he is not guilty of the sin.  If this was not true, then how could Jesus say the following?

"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Matthew 5:27-28

How can this person be judged guilty of adultery, having not performed the act?  Because adultery is still present in his heart.  Truly consider this.  Even if the man never actually commits the act, he is still already guilty; he is still in covenant with sin.

Earlier this year, entertainer Tye Tribbett gave an interview explaining what he calls the "doctrine of feelings".  His assertion is that "feelings" of sin are natural, but may not be God's best.  According to Tribbett, as long as you don't do the act, you are not sinning.  Even worse, such persons teach you that denying your "natural" lustful feelings is the best that you can do.  Many professing Christians think this way, and it is in error.  If this doctrine of feelings was true, then Jesus would have no grounds for pronouncing the lusting man to be guilty of adultery.

God is not simply looking at what you do, He is looking at your heart (I Samuel 16:7).    Yes, you should press on in obedience to the word of God in spite of how you feel, but the presence of the inclination towards sin is evidence to you that sin is still alive in you and needs to be mortified.  You are not delivered from that sin until it is no longer appealing to you; no pull, no temptation, no enticement (James 1:14-15; John 14:30).  Walking in the Spirit is not just the ability to not act upon sin.  It is the power to crucify that body of death so that you no longer live in sin.

"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Romans 8:13

"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." Colossians 3:5-7, 10

There is some truth spoken by Tribbett in this interview, but it is not the truth.  That is a very critical distinction, because a partial truth will not make you free (John 16:13; John 14:6; John 8:2).  This is not about Tribbett himself, but the false teaching ever present today which exhorts people to act like they are walking in the Spirit while still being bound by sin.

"Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee." Exodus 23:32-33

You cannot sign a peace treaty with unclean spirits.  Any compromise with sin will lead to your ultimate demise. You must press on - patiently and persistently - to take possession of your own soul from that which seeks to bind you (Luke 21:19).  It truly takes a "kill or be killed" mentality.

"For I endorse and delight in the Law of God in my inmost self. But I discern in my bodily members [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh]. O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death? O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." Romans 7:22-25

Yes, there is a body of death which has corrupt desires and will war with us to do the things we should not do.  However, Paul doesn't say , "Oh well.  I guess I just have to war with these feelings for the rest of my life."  There is also deliverance available in Jesus Christ!  Paul says he can be released from that bondage through Christ.  He is only held prisoner - and thereby subject to these strongholds - when he lives after the flesh.

What's missing from this "doctrine of feelings" is the cross.  You cannot walk in the Spirit until after you have taken up the cross. God resurrects the dead, and then He gives you life.  If there is no old man on the cross, then there is no new man through which to impart new life (John 12:24-25).

"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

The old man and his lusts are corrupt.  The goal is not to struggle with the desires of the old man, but to kill him.  God is not after getting you to stop acts of sin; He desires to kill off that within you which is still yoked to sin.

The only one who feels the lusts of the flesh is the old man.  Ask a dead man what he feels.  Do you know what the response will be?  Nothing.  Instead of crucifying the flesh, people are "living in" the flesh and calling it walking in the Spirit, making such no better off than children of disobedience.

"God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 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 6:2-7

To be in covenant with sin means to be in agreement with it, even if you never act upon it.  It is to think that sin is okay, acceptable, natural, normal, or even unavoidable.  It is to strive to live with sin instead of crucifying the flesh which feeds off of it.  Such makes you an enemy of the cross of Christ (Philippians 3:17-19).

If you want to know what stumbling blocks exist in your soul, immerse yourself in the word of God. Whatever you feel resistance to in your soul is God shining a light on that within you which needs to change.  Pray for strength to not give in to that sin, but also do what is necessary to kill it; every inordinate desire.  Don't just agree with God that it is sin, but agree that you can be delivered from it.  Deliverance from sin is available, but you must not compromise with it.

Additional Resources:

Sin is Past

The Power to Lay It Down

Honor Your Father and Mother

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." Matthew 10:34-37

A sister in the Lord contacted me recently in turmoil, asking how to honor parents who are not saved.  She could feel the oppressive tangles of the spirit of witchcraft vexing her soul when dealing with them (which is the spirit walked in by those who are not born again - this link is a Derek Prince study sheet download).

There always seemed to be manipulation, condemnation, control, and discord at work in those interactions.  There were even physical affects from those interactions, whether it was a terrible twisting in the gut, raised blood pressure, ulcer pains, etc.  All because the parents were not in agreement with their decision to live for the Lord and obey Him.

Things had so deteriorated that the parents were trying to use her children against her and her husband.  It had escalated to such a point where she felt like she needed to cut off contact with their parents altogether.

This is a situation - and a feeling - with which I was familiar.  I had even written about it once before. And while I believe the previous article to still be true, it is not the end of the matter.  Yes, choosing to serve the Lord will often bring about variance between you and those who are closest to you. However, what I learned is that the answer lies in the cause of the variance.

The sword is what we need.  It is the answer for how we are to still honor our father and mother, even when they do not currently belong to the Lord.

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

The sword of the Lord not only brings potential discord between family members, but that same sword is working in you to remove inordinate attachments to them.  God may not change your parents right away because they do not belong to Him yet, but He can surely change you...and that is the goal!

God is killing off in you those cords which bind.  With the sword, He is dividing within you that which is soulish from that which is spiritual so that you can sincerely honor your parents without being unnaturally bound by them.  The areas where these bondages are attached are in your soul; your feelings, emotions, perceived shortcomings/injustices, pride, resentments, etc.  Once your soulish life is fully submitted to your spirit man, then you will be truly free to love.  Don't look at these tensions with your parents as evidence that you need to separate from them, but consider whether it is proof that there are still issues in your own soul which need cleansing.

So, your parents are not saved.  Tell me, what is the difference between your unsaved parents and your unsaved neighbor?  If you cannot deal with your unsaved parents, then how will you be an effective witness to your unsaved neighbor?  They are both unsaved!  The difference is that you feel a certain way about your parents, and they know how to push your buttons.  The issue is in you.

Your "self" life must die.  At that point, the things done to control you will not matter anymore. There will be no puppet strings to pull because the strings have been cut.  I have found this to be true in my own life. As I grew and matured in the Lord, those things that people used to do to control me - which truly got under my skin - just didn't have the same affect on me that it used to.

Yet, it is not merely my own experience which bears out the truth of this statement.  Look at the very next verses of Scripture.

"And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." Matthew 10:38-39

After talking about the sword which might bring division in your family, Jesus immediately moves to speaking about the need for you to take up your cross and die to self.  This is because that is the key.  We need the sword of God's word to divide us asunder so that we can be led of the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh - even the lusts of envy, wrath, strife, bitterness, and hatred.  Only then can we forgive from the heart and be healed.

I'll share something else with you.  When it comes to unbelievers - or even just compromising Christians living in sin - you rarely have to bring about the separation.  If the Holy Spirit is not drawing them, then they will separate from you all on their own; especially once they see that they can no longer control you.  Yet, there should always be a spirit of reconciliation at work, ready to receive them again as the Spirit leads,

It is true that your family may not be able to receive the Gospel from you, being unable to move past who you used to be (Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:4).  Yet, that is on them.  Let it not be unforgiveness in you which has become the obstacle.

Satan's answer is to cause permanent alienation.  After all, he cannot have you rubbing off on them or drawing them to Christ, right?  Yet Jesus' answer is to bring about healing...even if it is just within you.  Whether your parents ever change, you can be made free from everything which would make you captive.

Additional Resources:

Seven Steps to Revival - Volume 2 - *particularly the study guide Witchcraft in Disguise (this guide will download to your computer if you click it)

The Prayer of Desperation - Part 1 and Part 2

How to Live in a World Falling Apart - Part 1 and Part 2

The Cross Nullifies Witchcraft - Part 1 and Part 2

The Seeking of Control - (this guide will download to your computer if you click it)

Not That Outward Adorning

"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 

For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." I Peter 3:1-6

Most people understand that this text is in part about the true beauty of a woman being on the inside and not the outside.  It is not an admonition to not wear jewelry or braid your hair.  It is an encouragement to value that which God prizes most: a broken spirit and a contrite heart.

This is true, not only for women in general, but for the Bride of Christ as a whole.  Much of the churchworld is promoting worldly extravagance as the evidence of their holiness before. and acceptance by, the Lord.  They use Jesus as an accessory to their lives; some flashy adornment which draws accolades their way.  They point to the outward works to prove that they are saved when such is a delusion (I Timothy 6:5).

Don't let worldly advancement deceive you into thinking such is the acceptance of the Lord.  The mark of a Christian is bearing forth the spiritual fruit of righteousness (John 15:4; Hebrews 12:11), which is an inward work of the heart.

"Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:21

It matters not how you are "moving and shaking" and claiming that God is pouring His favor upon you. All the accolades about how much of a blessing you are and how you are a great man/woman of God are fit for the trashcan.  You know in your own heart the sin with which you struggle; the unGodly thoughts which plague your mind.  If you are not being transformed in the inner man to be made into the image of Christ, then your religion - no matter how active - is in vain.  God is not concerned with the outside works, but the inner work.  If the inside is clean, then such will take care of the outside all by itself (Matthew 23:25-26).

Not understanding this has left many of our young people striving in religion to serve the Lord, but never actually being born again.  When you are truly born again, you do not remain what you are/were. God begins to change you into a new creation.  If this does not happen...if this new life is not coursing through your veins to make you over...then you have not really been born again (II Corinthians 5:17).

Many enter Christianity and are immediately turned towards a life of being justified by works by those who have no knowledge of spiritual things and who quite honestly often desire to pimp them.  Don't you know that most professing Christians are completely ignorant of demons, spiritual rebirth, and even the spiritual war in which we are engaged?  All they can tell you about is your false obligation to tithe and how God is going to take you to the next level.  ANY spiritual message that is focused on this world - and your success in it - is from Satan.

The video below is not posted to hold the young man featured up to ridicule, but to really pierce the heart about the tragic condition of much of the church.  As he justifies as normal the presence of femininity in men, he continuously asks one very important question, "If femininity in men is wrong and against the nature of God, then what is he to do about being an effeminate man?"

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind..." I Corinthians 6:9

This is to the shame of the church!  Where are those who know the Lord and can lead this young man (and those like him) into true repentance to be born again and filled with the Holy Spirit so that he can be metamorphosized into the image of Christ?  Where are those elder men in the faith who know the way and are able to disciple this young man saying, "This is the way. Walk in it."?  What this young man does not understand is that he is being infected and affected by an unclean spirit.  God doesn't simply want to get us to stop committing acts of sin.  He wants to cleanse us from that which led us into sin and purge us from the ways in which that sin defiled us.

Effeminacy in a man is not an attribute of Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:8; Luke 7:25).  And if we are not like Christ, then whose image are we bearing?  Being effeminate is not itself the issue (because God can change you), but thinking that such is normal or of no consequence to God is the issue.

The entire world, including much of the churchworld, is being woven together by the King of Sodomites to be made drunk.  Babylon sets up Satan's ministers as minsters of righteousness - often under the perverted authority of female pastors or emasculated men who are merely figureheads in their own congregations - and entire generations are left stumbling in darkness.

I don't care what ministry you have, what talents you have been given, or what calling you feel is upon your life, you must be cleansed on the inside to be filled with Jesus' Spirit so that you can walk in the will of God. Pure water cannot come through a dirty vessel; it will be polluted.  This is why it is so important for each and every one of us to be purged.  Jumping right into "ministry" with no regard for the process of sanctification only leads to pride (I Timothy 3:6).  The very compulsion to justify one's self - no matter the area - is also pride.

You must be able to receive correction and you must have a love for the truth.  If we are simply looking for justification to stay as we are, then we will never receive the word of God by which we must be cleansed (Ephesians 5:26).  We must deny all fleshly pride and agree with God in every matter. Wherever our lives are out of alignment with Him, it is we who must change...and He will enable us to if we yield to His ways.

In posting this video, the young man says, "Every man does not, neither is he required to live by the same standards!!! The masculinity in a man is not defined by society but by his own thinking!"  That is the problem in a nutshell.  The best false religion can do for you is to make you into your own god as you reject God's words in exchange for what you think is good or evil (Genesis 3:5).  You begin to worship your own god based upon the dictates of your own mind, your own imaginations (II Corinthians 10:5).  No one can tell you otherwise because your own mind tells you that your god is pleased with you.  He is right in that the standard is not the opinions of others.  Yet, there IS a standard, and that standard is the Lord.  We must cling to His word - the word of truth - if we are to be saved (II Thessalonians 2:10-12).

Let our adorning be the hidden man of the heart, which is patterned after His nature, incorruptible and of a great price.  Pray for this young man and others like him, who are ensnared by that sodomite spirit.  These are the times when we will have to confront those devils seeking to bind people so that they may be set free in Christ.

"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." I Peter 1:22-23

Additional Resources:

Man Up

Operating in the Spirit Realm

The following is a series from Pastor John S. Torell and is entitled "Operating in the Spirit Realm". 

"The purpose of this series is to mentally prepare you to face the antichrist régime and damage it with the spiritual weapons that have been provided by God.

If you live during the reign of the Antichrist, it is because God has selected you to live during this time period and be a soldier for Him. If you understand this truth and start to think in the supernatural, you will be a shining light in a dark world!"

I believe this is a message which needs to be heard.  When you have some quiet time, take time to listen to each video, which includes the following titles:

1. Supernatural Intervention
2. Satan's Final Shots
3. The Modern Church vs. Jesus
4. Despair to Victory
5. Fire From Above
6. Holy Ghost Power
7. The Story of Pentecost
8. What is Holy Ghost Power?
9. The Mystery of Iniquity
10. The Dawn of the Antichrist
11. Manna in the End Times
12. Protection from the Antichrist
13. Thinking Supernaturally
14. Keeping the Faith

Key Points in the Series

• We are living in the physical world, but the time has come where we need to break into the spiritual world.  Not by the power of Satan, but through access to the power of God via the Holy Spirit.
• Demons cannot be cast out unless you enter the spirit world and attack them by the power of the Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit wants you to move in and out in the spirit world doing damage to the kingdom of Satan.
• The decision to be led and filled with the Holy Spirit may mean you have to make a choice between Jesus and your family & friends.
• The Kingdom of God is within you and you establish a small part of the Kingdom of God wherever you are.
• We need to expand our minds and recognize who we are in Christ.
• Do not settle for unbelief! You can do all things through Christ.
• Americans are the hardest to believe the power of God because they have been educated in unbelief via the school system.
• Most people believe that God can do anything, but they struggle with their own personal connection to Him in whether He would do it through them. 
• Oftentimes, we erroneously project the perceived failures of our earthly parents on to God.  We must get to the point of believing that if God has said something to us, then He is faithful to perform it and He will not let us down.
• The birth of Jesus Christ was a supernatural intervention of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit into the physical world.
• You must fight the devil every day because he does not give up.
• Satan and his demons needs bodies to do their evil work.
• Unbelievers are possessed by demons and citizens of Satan's kingdom. When you are dealing with someone demon possessed, you are not necessarily looking at the characteristics of the person, but the personality of the demon.
• A demon cannot touch you unless you have fear.
• Many church people are afraid of demons, but if you have learned the power of Jesus' name then demons will flee.  Unbelievers and many church people are also afraid of Spirit-filled people.
• God is tired of religion and people playing church.
• Every single person is called into the ministry, whether your mission field is where you live, work, or if you are in full-time ministry.  
• Do not be part of a church which does not preach the baptism of the Holy Ghost or does not cast out demons.
• We need the baptism of the Holy Spirit because it is how we access the power of God.  To be baptized by the Holy Spirit means to be possessed by the Holy Spirit.
• When you receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, you will not be able to contain the Gospel, but you must share it.
• The primary purpose of the Church is to destroy the works of the devil, but instead of fighting, most churches are focused on recreation and entertainment.
• In the last days, we must preach the hard truths of the Gospel in power in order to impact lost souls.
• The moment you come closer to Christ, you become a target of Satan.  The way he treated, taunted and killed Jesus he will attempt to do to you and me.  Yet, we do not have to be defeated in battle with him; it is your choice to be defeated.
• Unbelievers despise Christians mostly because the Christians do not have the power of Jesus Christ available in their lives.
• We are to confront Satan in order to move him down.  You must learn to fight.
• There is power in fasting.  A lot of Christians want the power, but don't want to pay the price.
• Fasting is denying yourself as a sacrifice of sincerity to God for our desire to receive an answer to prayer.  Some demons only come out by prayer and fasting.
• The power of God is available anywhere on this earth.  The question is, "How do you harness it?"
• God knows in advance the plans of the enemy.
• We must recognize that we cannot fight spiritual enemies with physical weapons.
• God will fight the battles on our behalf and even send confusion into the camp of our enemies so that they be destroyed.
• God is looking for people who will be strong and do exploits.
• Instead of lamenting that the end times are bearing down upon us, praise God that He is wrapping up the earth and we can be part of the last harvest.

The Hideouts of the Homosexual Spirit

Unclean spirits do not want to be exposed
and will try to hide in an attempt to
remain undiscovered.

In ministering once to someone who is dealing with a spirit of lesbianism, I stated, "You know, there are other ways a homosexual spirit can express itself outside of just sexually."  They responded, "I know!", in a defensive and aggravated tone.  Actually, I should more rightly say that the spirit within her responded in that way.  She was not ready to consider that this spirit was still influencing her even though she was no longer participating in same sex unions.

Yet, the truth of the matter is that a homosexual spirit is not merely expressed in same sex attraction. It is primarily a spirit of perversion; it perverts how you see yourself, how you see others, and how you see God.  It gives you an upside down perspective of life, blinding you to the truths of God.

perversion:  the process of improperly changing or corrupting that which is good; an aberrant or reprobate practice or interest

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." Proverbs 15:4

Consider this text.  Remember, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:24, 15:8; Luke 6:45).  Perversion within man is the result of a breach in his spirit.  Instead of being whole, there is an inner opening to the enemy, giving him access to torment and pervert them. It is this access that I am speaking of today.

Spirits have appetites.  They feed off of the lustful affections of the persons they afflict.  If they cannot be fed one way, then they will seek another avenue.  If they cannot have a burger from McDonald's, then they will settle for some chicken from KFC; anything as long as it can be fed.  This is what I mean by the "hideouts" of the homosexual spirit.  When you see the attributes below in manifestation, you can know that you are dealing with the roots of a homosexual spirit - whether or not the person is actively engaged in same sex unions.  More importantly, those seeking deliverance from this unclean spirit need to be aware of its devices so that they can be truly set free.  Demons do not want to be exposed and will do whatever is necessary so as not to have to depart from what they consider their "house" (Matthew 12:44).

Inordinate Relationships

We have spoken before about how a homosexual spirit will seek to be fed by inordinate relationships.

inordinate: exceeding reasonable limits; immoderate; improper 

If this spirit cannot express itself physically in an intimate relationship with those of the same sex, then it will seek to do so spiritually.  It does this by trying to cull others off into some unique or exclusive relationship with itself.  How so?  By giving you gifts, creating a common contempt for those of the opposite sex, or even by sharing intimate (and often sinful) secrets which should be kept private.

The goal of these efforts is to create a soul tie with you, thereby binding you to them in ways which are unnatural.  Such relationships are so clingy and possessive that this spirit will jealously attempt to disrupt other relationships in your life which threaten its attachment to you.  It wants you all to itself.  Remember, this is not about sex; this spirit just wants to be fed and can use any inordinate relationship to do that.  This can be a relationship between a parent and child, "best" friends, co-workers, brothers and sisters "in the Lord", etc. 

When you are plagued by such a spirit, you will find that you are only comfortable with those who have that same homosexual spirit, regardless of gender.  It makes one unable to have normal, healthy relationships with those of the same or opposite sex.

Against What is Natural

The spirit behind illegal church authority
(such as female pastors) is the
same spirit behind homosexuality; it is
perversion and rebellion.

Not only does this spirit pervert natural affections in relationships with others, but by definition it stands against all that is natural for man; natural roles, natural order...  It is not content to exist on its own; this spirit has to "make of you what it is", as the men of Sodom attempted in Lot's day (Genesis 19:5).  It can only thrive in an environment of lawlessness, as it seeks to change that which is natural into that which is against nature (Romans 1:26). 

As such, there will be a strong denial of gender roles and a push to eliminate gender distinctions; turning men and women inwardly into the opposite of what God has created.  Have you ever wondered why God refers to homosexuals as "effeminate" (I Corinthians 6:9)? Why Jesus berated those sitting in kings' houses seeking "soft" things - same word as effeminate (Matthew 11:8)?  Even in the world, people know subconsciously that a "soft" man or a "hard" woman are indicative of a homosexual spirit.  When you masculinize a woman or feminize a man, this rebellion sows the seeds for the sodomite nature to grow into full stature (homosexuality).  

This spirit is not only seen in rebellion against natural roles, but is also present in a rejection of God's natural order.  A person may not reject their gender, but may reject the role in which God has called them to serve.  In outlining this order, God says "...the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (I Corinthians 11:3).   Nature itself was designed by God to complement this order (I Corinthians 11:14).   

Some will claim to be "led by the Spirit" in rejecting God's order.  Particularly in the churchworld, spirituality is used as a cloak for this rebellion by those who refuse to acknowledge and submit to Godly authority (i.e. raising up women to be the spiritual heads of men).  However, while such may be led by a spirit, you can know that it is not the Holy Spirit because it is out of accord with God's word.  When one wars against the natural order of men and women - including the patriarchal authority God instituted - it is the same homosexual spirit at work.

Perverting God's Word

Because this spirit makes you a rebel against Godly authority, one must as a result reject the truths of God's word.  Whenever you see someone perverting God's word, you are looking at the seeds of that same spirit.

The harlot church - Babylon - thrives on this spirit; both in the preachers and in the pews.  They intentionally use a spirit of perversion to bind people because they are after filthy "lucre"; even spewing lies about an obligatory tithe to keep Christians bound.  As Scripture says, they pervert judgment because they want your money (I Samuel 8:3; Proverbs 17:23; II Peter 2:2-3).

We see this personified when the King of Sodom tried to bargain with Abram for the captive people who had been rescued (Genesis 14:17-21).  When does the King of Sodom attempt to make this deal with Abram?  As soon as the "Word" is revealed; when Abram enters into covenant with Melchizedek, king of Salem - a type of Christ.  The King of Sodom will always try to prevent the people from being reconciled to God, and he will malign God's word to do it. He pays big money (the rewards of iniquity) to his servants to accomplish this.  Remember, Babylon trades in the souls of men (Revelation 18:13).

Similarly, people under that same spirit of Sodom will today pervert God's word in order to be enriched off of the bondage of the people. 

Whoredoms

All sexual sin has its roots in the homosexual spirit: pornography, sodomy, fornication, masturbation, adultery...  Engaging in these activities further feeds that spirit.  If you are involved in sexual sin of any kind, then you are on your way to becoming a full-blown homosexual.  This is what Satan has in store for you, he simply has to keep degrading your mind to erode away your resistance to it.  Romans Chapter 1 outlines man's progressive steps into homosexuality and finally into reprobation.  This includes initially, a dishonoring of one's body with another, which is sexual sin (Romans 1:24).

God's instruction to us is that our bodies should not be used as instruments of self-gratification (I Thessalonians 4:3-5).  Rather, even sexual unions are to be expressions of selflessness - which is the true definition of love, used for the benefit of our spouses (I Corinthians 7:3-4).

We have spoken before about Baal Peor, and how this abomination was used by the enemies of Israel to derail them right before they were to enter into the promises of God.  However, notice what God says about Israel before they engaged in this abomination of oral and anal sex:

"He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them."   Numbers 23:21

No matter what Balaam did to try and curse Israel, he could not because God could find no perversion in them. Remember, there must be a breach in the spirit of man for perversion to set in (Proverbs 15:4), and sexual sin brings about such a breach.  Why does all sexual sin feed a spirit of homosexuality?  Because all sexual sin comes from a place of selfishness. 

Self at the Center

I have stated before that homosexuality is an expression of self-love; one is so in love with one's self that one can only be with those who are like themselves.  It is the epitome of selfishness, which is opposite to God's character of love (selflessness).

Being self-absorbed does not just mean that one is full of pride, although that can be part of it.  Whether thinking highly or lowly of yourself, the issue is that you are consumed with yourself; one's perspective in life centers around one's self.  Even salvation in Christ Jesus becomes all about you; how people treat you, how you feel, what you think, how you can finally be somebody... You become unstable and driven by your emotions instead of moved by the Spirit and word of God because all you can see is you.  The Scripture tells us that in the last days, men will be lovers of themselves (II Timothy 3:1-2).  That is indicative of this spirit. 

The world will tell you that you should love yourself; God never says that.  God says that you should love others as yourself, meaning you think no more highly of yourself than any other.  If you truly love yourself the way the world encourages you to, then you will never lay your life down for another (John 15:13).  You will never "deny yourself" and therefore can never be a disciple of Christ (Luke 14:27).  This spirit will lead you to pamper the flesh instead of crucify it, making you one with the world rather than sanctified from it. You become one with the world's music, tv shows, movies, sports, fashions, culture, morals, etc.  Why? Because that spirit of perversion is making people just like its Daddy, who is the god of this world.

Conclusion

The purpose of this article is not to beat up on, or finger point at, those who are seeking deliverance from a spirit of homosexuality.  It is my hope and prayer that this info will be a means of providing freedom to those who truly desire to be free.  Jesus said that the truth will indeed make you free.

There is no need to hide out in religion, trying to pretend that you are not dealing with the things with which you know you are struggling.  Why claim victory, yet still remain bound?  These are unclean spirits and Jesus has made the way for you to be free from them once and for all. 

Further, this is also written to help others understand what they are encountering, especially in the churchworld.  This spirit has a stronghold in religious circles because people mistakenly believe that being under the influence of a homosexual spirit is only about sex.  Through a lack of knowledge, many are destroyed.

As God instructed Israel when they were to inherit the Promised Land, "Do not enter into covenant with the strangers in the land.  Do not make peace with them as they will be a snare unto you and lead you to sin against me." (Exodus 23:32-33; 34:12; Deuteronomy 7:16; Joshua 23:13; Psalm 106:35).

Similarly, we must not compromise with the unclean spirits which seek to bind, blind, and deceive.  Do not rest until you have been fully delivered.  Don't grow weary in the fight.  Cut off every avenue by which this spirit tries to sustain its influence over you.  Do not settle for the outside of the cup to be clean, but pray that God would clean all that which is within.  Jesus has already made a way.  In your patience, possess your souls (Luke 21:19).

The following may also be helpful:

A Microscopic Examination of the Homosexual Spirit

Prayer of Deliverance from the Homosexual Spirit

Demon Gangs - by Derek Prince

Age of Deceit

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."  II Timothy 3:1-5

God warns us, but who will take heed?

Are we still caught up in the cares of this life - whether good or bad - at this late hour?  Do we really still believe that we "have time" to get right with the Lord at some point in the far future?  When the word of God is unfolding right before our faces, will we have eyes to see and ears to hear or will we taken captive by Satan at his will, bewitched by the lies & fantasies in which he has clothed the world systems?

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." II Peter 3:3-14

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.