We are ignorant of the the devils schemes. We think he kills. No he doesn't. He lies. His lies then pervert people's thinking and the result is people kill themselves and each other.
Evil always perverts. It doesn't kill. We do that to each other.
The perversion of goodness and mercy ends up resulting in murder on the streets, victimization, abortion supported by government, fornication, fatherless children, cheating, poverty mentality, incarceration, abuse, mental illness, myths, homosexual normality even in marriage, godlessness from demented religion, weakness, physical decline, slums, dependency and the worst kinds of lives imagined.
The devil has won, and people most abused have allowed this, even invited this by allowing perversion to enter in. I know this sounds like a word against people in poverty and those abused. It is not, it is a word to say what Father says:
"I have good plans for you, plans for a good future, plans for prosperity, plans for you to be in health and a sound mind, plans for you to walk in confidence, plans for you to live according to the ten principles I gave at Sinai. Do not accept the cultural lies, don't allow those around you to drag you down, back to a place I never intended you to be. Your enemy is looking for whom he may devour, and he does it by having you devour one another. Rise up, there is a great future when you turn your back on the things that have brought you to this place. To return to ME you must REPENT, turn around, turn from all those things that have been a lie in your life. I will heal you and come to you like the rain, fresh rain. I will wash you clean and restore you to what you never knew, but you must renounce the lies that have placed you in chains. I cannot restore one who has one foot in the world and one in my kingdom."
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Friday, October 23, 2015
Two Kinds of Righteousness
In the past few days I have been pondering the whole concept of righteousness and it's duality of expression.
One is the righteousness that comes from our relationship with Jesus as Savior. When we come into that, no matter what we did or even do we are righteous in the sight of God. We are saved. Headed for heaven. Righteous by faith, not works. A right relationship with God. Our righteousness is imputed thru the grace of GOD. I don't think many people will struggle with that definition.
There is however another kind of righteousness. One that you DON'T have to be a christian to demonstrate. It is a righteousness of works. Doing the Right thing. Righteousness in the eyes of the world. The Reformers also called it active righteousness, civil righteousness, proper righteousness, the righteousness of the Law, and the righteousness of reason or philosophy. This kind of righteousness the righteousness of character deals with a person’s attitudes and behaviors.
A sinner headed for hell can be righteous in the eyes of the world. You have known some good moral men and women, even atheists who have profound moral centers and would not do a thing wrong that could be questioned. They are many times more righteous than many saints in the church.
If there are these two kinds of righteousness, worldly and by grace thru faith, then is it possible for a person to be saved, even filled with the Holy Ghost and yet unrighteous in worldly things. Not righteous in Character, reason, philosophy, the moral law of God, not actively righteous according to works and demonstrating improper righteousness?
I have known many people who are morally corrupt tongue talking dance sing raise their hands heaven bound Christians saved by grace but unrighteous in the flesh. Some are even ministers of the Gospel.
Do we have a right to judge them? Yes. God does. Yet his grace is secure, they are just outside of the blessing God provides by living righteously. Not saved by works, but blessed in doing right.
I won't define what that is, it is not structured from relativism. Murder is murder, Sin is sin, Adultery and Fornication are still sin, stealing is sin, lying is sin, taking the Lords name in vain is sin. All of those things in the ten commandments are still sin. You can sin against them, be forgiven and still go to heaven, you just go unrighteous in your flesh.
BUT WAIT you say, what about the forgiveness of God? Yes, it exists and is complete. Positionally you are just as a saved as you were. Positionally righteous, but not practically righteous. There is a difference.
I came to this meditation while looking at the promises of God concerning the Righteous. I could list them all here, you can look them up for yourself, but I am beginning to wonder if we don't get the two confused. Here is the passage:
Psalm 37:25-28
25I was young and now I am old,
Have you not seen the children of the positionally saved righteous begging for bread? I have. A lot. They are righteous in the grace of God but not in practice.
In fact if you read the whole Psalm, there is a condemnation that I see on a lot that the Psalmist calls wicked. Some positionally righteous are also wicked. I have known them.. and so have you.
So what of this? We must learn to live in the fear of the Lord, not about sin, Grace covers that, but in the practical righteousness that provides blessing, provision, protection, prosperity, long life, good seed in generations and fullness of Joy.
We do well by doing GOOD. That is the word of the Lord for someone. That will irritate many who think they can live in the free grace of God without practical righteousness and still receive the blessings of the Lord. To paraphrase a commercial. That's not how it works, that's not how any of this works.
One is the righteousness that comes from our relationship with Jesus as Savior. When we come into that, no matter what we did or even do we are righteous in the sight of God. We are saved. Headed for heaven. Righteous by faith, not works. A right relationship with God. Our righteousness is imputed thru the grace of GOD. I don't think many people will struggle with that definition.
There is however another kind of righteousness. One that you DON'T have to be a christian to demonstrate. It is a righteousness of works. Doing the Right thing. Righteousness in the eyes of the world. The Reformers also called it active righteousness, civil righteousness, proper righteousness, the righteousness of the Law, and the righteousness of reason or philosophy. This kind of righteousness the righteousness of character deals with a person’s attitudes and behaviors.
A sinner headed for hell can be righteous in the eyes of the world. You have known some good moral men and women, even atheists who have profound moral centers and would not do a thing wrong that could be questioned. They are many times more righteous than many saints in the church.
If there are these two kinds of righteousness, worldly and by grace thru faith, then is it possible for a person to be saved, even filled with the Holy Ghost and yet unrighteous in worldly things. Not righteous in Character, reason, philosophy, the moral law of God, not actively righteous according to works and demonstrating improper righteousness?
I have known many people who are morally corrupt tongue talking dance sing raise their hands heaven bound Christians saved by grace but unrighteous in the flesh. Some are even ministers of the Gospel.
Do we have a right to judge them? Yes. God does. Yet his grace is secure, they are just outside of the blessing God provides by living righteously. Not saved by works, but blessed in doing right.
I won't define what that is, it is not structured from relativism. Murder is murder, Sin is sin, Adultery and Fornication are still sin, stealing is sin, lying is sin, taking the Lords name in vain is sin. All of those things in the ten commandments are still sin. You can sin against them, be forgiven and still go to heaven, you just go unrighteous in your flesh.
BUT WAIT you say, what about the forgiveness of God? Yes, it exists and is complete. Positionally you are just as a saved as you were. Positionally righteous, but not practically righteous. There is a difference.
I came to this meditation while looking at the promises of God concerning the Righteous. I could list them all here, you can look them up for yourself, but I am beginning to wonder if we don't get the two confused. Here is the passage:
Psalm 37:25-28
25I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
26They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be a blessing.b
27Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.
28For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Have you not seen the children of the positionally saved righteous begging for bread? I have. A lot. They are righteous in the grace of God but not in practice.
In fact if you read the whole Psalm, there is a condemnation that I see on a lot that the Psalmist calls wicked. Some positionally righteous are also wicked. I have known them.. and so have you.
So what of this? We must learn to live in the fear of the Lord, not about sin, Grace covers that, but in the practical righteousness that provides blessing, provision, protection, prosperity, long life, good seed in generations and fullness of Joy.
We do well by doing GOOD. That is the word of the Lord for someone. That will irritate many who think they can live in the free grace of God without practical righteousness and still receive the blessings of the Lord. To paraphrase a commercial. That's not how it works, that's not how any of this works.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
It is not good for Man to be alone
Many people have rejected church attendance because of the sins of many churches. I won't go into that here. That's not the point of this word. What is important to know is how often people as they get older are alone and die alone. No one to talk to as they pass away. No one to care.
We hear the words, "Church Family" often. It's more often emptier words than it should be. Humans were created for fellowship, relationship, community, friendship and all the pain and joy that it brings. Living and dying all alone is not God's best for any of us.
This is not an argument for why you need to "Join" a church. That's another discussion. It is however an argument why you and I need to be connected to people of like precious faith. People who care. People who will be involved and keep up with you. How important it is to have fellowship and live in community where you will be missed if you aren't there.
Some people find that in a club. Some in a bar. Some in work. That's all good, but if you are a believer perhaps you need to be with others who share your passion for things of God. Iron sharpens Iron. We all know that. Yet. Sometimes the sharpening hurts. It's painful to go thru the process.
In ministering to people, many are alone, many are lonely, many are hungry for human interaction. That is why social media has taken off.. but there is an illusion. Social media is no replacement for human touch. We need each other.
This is particularly true when difficulty and crisis hits. I spoke with two men yesterday who are now single again. Marriages dissolved. For both of these precious men my consolation is that they need to be connected with others.
I will grant you that the church is often weak in this area. It can be as superficial as social media. Yet who else are you going to bond with. You need people around you to speak words of encouragement, words of faith, words of hope when you don't have any. You need to be around people who are of good cheer who won't drag you down.
Protect your heart.
But don't be alone. Find other believers. Stay in fellowship.
You know this, but perhaps we need to hear it once again:
I don't often link to things on this blog, but this word came out of reading this tragic story of a man who died alone. We need each other.
We hear the words, "Church Family" often. It's more often emptier words than it should be. Humans were created for fellowship, relationship, community, friendship and all the pain and joy that it brings. Living and dying all alone is not God's best for any of us.
This is not an argument for why you need to "Join" a church. That's another discussion. It is however an argument why you and I need to be connected to people of like precious faith. People who care. People who will be involved and keep up with you. How important it is to have fellowship and live in community where you will be missed if you aren't there.
Some people find that in a club. Some in a bar. Some in work. That's all good, but if you are a believer perhaps you need to be with others who share your passion for things of God. Iron sharpens Iron. We all know that. Yet. Sometimes the sharpening hurts. It's painful to go thru the process.
In ministering to people, many are alone, many are lonely, many are hungry for human interaction. That is why social media has taken off.. but there is an illusion. Social media is no replacement for human touch. We need each other.
This is particularly true when difficulty and crisis hits. I spoke with two men yesterday who are now single again. Marriages dissolved. For both of these precious men my consolation is that they need to be connected with others.
I will grant you that the church is often weak in this area. It can be as superficial as social media. Yet who else are you going to bond with. You need people around you to speak words of encouragement, words of faith, words of hope when you don't have any. You need to be around people who are of good cheer who won't drag you down.
Protect your heart.
But don't be alone. Find other believers. Stay in fellowship.
You know this, but perhaps we need to hear it once again:
A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12
I don't often link to things on this blog, but this word came out of reading this tragic story of a man who died alone. We need each other.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Why Prosperity Evades MANY Christians
I
posted this. Some of the comments I got were grievous, some
amusing and some uplifting. I see Jesus in everything and understand the
heart of God according to His word. This will test your
heart.
Here's the prophetic truth: How you responded FIRST in your heart to this is the reason Father can or cannot trust you with riches. You are to be a conduit. You are to be His way to bless others (Blessed to be a blessing). You are to walk in perfect integrity. You are to have already made the decision on the right thing to do in this case without question. It should be instinctive. Don't wait till you are faced with this to begin to figure out whether to do the right thing. If you responded in finders keepers losers weepers or maybe Jesus put it there for me to find, you need to check your heart.
I try very hard to live this way and more I see how that relates to God's willingness to trust me. Many times I have argued with a clerk who gave me too much change or forgot to scan something or who undercharged me. Integrity in all things is the door to blessing.
Here's the prophetic truth: How you responded FIRST in your heart to this is the reason Father can or cannot trust you with riches. You are to be a conduit. You are to be His way to bless others (Blessed to be a blessing). You are to walk in perfect integrity. You are to have already made the decision on the right thing to do in this case without question. It should be instinctive. Don't wait till you are faced with this to begin to figure out whether to do the right thing. If you responded in finders keepers losers weepers or maybe Jesus put it there for me to find, you need to check your heart.
I try very hard to live this way and more I see how that relates to God's willingness to trust me. Many times I have argued with a clerk who gave me too much change or forgot to scan something or who undercharged me. Integrity in all things is the door to blessing.
I won't tell you what to do, but you need to know that poverty or
prosperity starts with your attitude towards this question. Father has already tested you in this area more than once in the past, you know that. Every time you
failed, he lets you circle Sinai one more time. He can't bring you into the promised land without getting Egypt out of your heart. A wilderness mentality will keep you in the wilderness of poverty.
You will never have what you need till you change your heart. No condemnation here, just asking you to think better of your character. Character precedes prosperity. The world will have you thinking otherwise. They will tell you the rich got rich thru corrupt character. I know the opposite is true, I know the very wealthy. I live among them. I have been very wealthy, twice. My character is still in training. Those who achieve ungodly riches fall quickly. I asked the Lord once, why I have made and lost so much money in my life, He told me that it was because I wasn't ready for all He wants me to handle. I want to be ready.
Jesus spoke to this very thing in Luke 16:10 "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. 11"Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? 12"And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?"
And all thru the word of God this is a strong theme:
1 Timothy 6:9-10
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Proverbs 22:1
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
Proverbs 28:6
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
Proverbs 11:28
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
I won't argue about what you should have done. That's between you and God. I'll allow the spirit of God to check you out in this area. I know what I would do, but if you aren't sure.. you aren't ready to prosper.
You will never have what you need till you change your heart. No condemnation here, just asking you to think better of your character. Character precedes prosperity. The world will have you thinking otherwise. They will tell you the rich got rich thru corrupt character. I know the opposite is true, I know the very wealthy. I live among them. I have been very wealthy, twice. My character is still in training. Those who achieve ungodly riches fall quickly. I asked the Lord once, why I have made and lost so much money in my life, He told me that it was because I wasn't ready for all He wants me to handle. I want to be ready.
Jesus spoke to this very thing in Luke 16:10 "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. 11"Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? 12"And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?"
And all thru the word of God this is a strong theme:
1 Timothy 6:9-10
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Proverbs 22:1
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
Proverbs 28:6
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
Proverbs 11:28
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
I won't argue about what you should have done. That's between you and God. I'll allow the spirit of God to check you out in this area. I know what I would do, but if you aren't sure.. you aren't ready to prosper.
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Only God is Perfect, Waiting till YOU are is Killing YOU
This morning I have been impressed of the Lord to encourage you. We know the syndrome. People don't come to the Lord because they want to wait until they are perfect. They think they can't bring their sin into the relationship that Jesus wants to have with them. So they die lost.
That is simply bad theology. But you knew that. Just as I am without one plea.. still applies.
However the reality is we apply this same bad theology to many other parts of our lives, we wait till things are just right before we pull the trigger on life. We wait to take a vacation. We wait to have children. We wait to enter the workforce till we have all the education money can buy. We wait to buy a home. We wait to start a business. Wait till the time is right to get married. Wait to change jobs. WAIT
In life we hate waiting in line, waiting to talk to the help line, waiting to be served. We are impatient with everyone but ourselves. We are the worst enemy we have because we force ourselves to wait. We think we have good reasons, but we know in our heart we don't.
Obedience requires action. I know that passages regarding waiting on the Lord are plentiful. Some have used these verses as excuses for Holy Procrastination. When Noah was called on by the Lord to build the Ark, he did. He didn't wait till it started to rain.
When the Spies were sent into the land and came back with the reports, 10 of them said, "It's just not the right time, we need to wait to go in". Faithlessness generates this kind of procrastination and as a result all those spies and those of the same age were dead before they could enter the promised land. That is happening every day to saints. They hold back till the "Right Time".
While there is a time to wait, there is also a time to act:
That is simply bad theology. But you knew that. Just as I am without one plea.. still applies.
However the reality is we apply this same bad theology to many other parts of our lives, we wait till things are just right before we pull the trigger on life. We wait to take a vacation. We wait to have children. We wait to enter the workforce till we have all the education money can buy. We wait to buy a home. We wait to start a business. Wait till the time is right to get married. Wait to change jobs. WAIT
In life we hate waiting in line, waiting to talk to the help line, waiting to be served. We are impatient with everyone but ourselves. We are the worst enemy we have because we force ourselves to wait. We think we have good reasons, but we know in our heart we don't.
Obedience requires action. I know that passages regarding waiting on the Lord are plentiful. Some have used these verses as excuses for Holy Procrastination. When Noah was called on by the Lord to build the Ark, he did. He didn't wait till it started to rain.
When the Spies were sent into the land and came back with the reports, 10 of them said, "It's just not the right time, we need to wait to go in". Faithlessness generates this kind of procrastination and as a result all those spies and those of the same age were dead before they could enter the promised land. That is happening every day to saints. They hold back till the "Right Time".
While there is a time to wait, there is also a time to act:
- Proverbs 13:4
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
- Proverbs 12:24
The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
- Proverbs 20:4
- The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. (It's just not the right time to plow, right?)
- Ephesians 5:15-17
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
- James 4:17
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
- Ecclesiastes 11:4
He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. (The TIME is never right for those who are too fearful to take action now)
- Proverbs 5:23
He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.
- Proverbs 14:23
In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.
- Matthew 8:21
Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” (the time was not right for him to follow Jesus..)
- Proverbs 22:13
The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” (imagined dangers in action means fear paralyzes)
- Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Wisdom means you won't live forever, but you will die)
- Proverbs 24:30-34
I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. (I'll get to that project tomorrow when the time is right)
Thursday, October 15, 2015
What is Lurking Out There?
People live in some concern about the future. What is about to happen. This is where some of the end times hysteria kicks in. This is why so much teaching on hidden evil, Jezebel, secret this or that.
Then there is the paranormal, UFOs, Ghosts and all kinds of crime shows that show evil lurking around every corner.
This is not to deny that the potential for evil exists. You only have to watch the news to see more than you want to.
But THIS MORNING I heard a word from the Lord that you need to hear too. It might have been for me, but I suspect there are a few of my loyal readers that will be able to receive this:
"I am about to do some things in your life that will surprise you in an excellent way. You don't even suspect the good things I have in store for you. It's more than you can think or imagine. It's more than what you hoped for. It's going to wash away tears and fears you have carried for a long time. I am secretly hiding just outside your view to come to you in new ways. New things. New friends. New opportunity. Like your mom or dad would hide your Christmas or Birthday presents from you, they knew what was in them, they knew you were about to find yourself receiving a wonderful gift you never even knew was there. I KNOW what I have in store for you. I am a GOOD FATHER and in that you can trust. So don't worry so much about what evil, what difficulty, what struggle you have. I am not only overcoming the world and it's system I already know the plans I have for you to do you good. I am lurking just outside your door with great things in store for you and it makes ME happy to see your face filled with JOY. Get Ready... "
Then there is the paranormal, UFOs, Ghosts and all kinds of crime shows that show evil lurking around every corner.
This is not to deny that the potential for evil exists. You only have to watch the news to see more than you want to.
But THIS MORNING I heard a word from the Lord that you need to hear too. It might have been for me, but I suspect there are a few of my loyal readers that will be able to receive this:
"I am about to do some things in your life that will surprise you in an excellent way. You don't even suspect the good things I have in store for you. It's more than you can think or imagine. It's more than what you hoped for. It's going to wash away tears and fears you have carried for a long time. I am secretly hiding just outside your view to come to you in new ways. New things. New friends. New opportunity. Like your mom or dad would hide your Christmas or Birthday presents from you, they knew what was in them, they knew you were about to find yourself receiving a wonderful gift you never even knew was there. I KNOW what I have in store for you. I am a GOOD FATHER and in that you can trust. So don't worry so much about what evil, what difficulty, what struggle you have. I am not only overcoming the world and it's system I already know the plans I have for you to do you good. I am lurking just outside your door with great things in store for you and it makes ME happy to see your face filled with JOY. Get Ready... "
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Entering Worship
I know I'm not supposed to look. I know I am supposed to have my hands raised and eyes closed.
But I look.
When I see a worship band participant entering into the worship it makes me realize that the anointing is there for a reason. Not entertainment, not waiting their part till the guitar or drum riff shows up.
I mean when I see a drummer, a keyboardist, a guitar player who does not have a mike singing along, worshiping, entered in, it makes me happy, excited. There is something GOOD about all that.
What grieves me is the passive, "I'd rather be bowling" look I see on some people standing on the platform passively strumming or plinking while the congregation hungers for something real.
Worship is a blood sport, it amplifies the sacrifice and sanctification that the Blood of Jesus brought us and it let's HIM know that we bow down in worship to the King.
Enter in Worship leaders, even if you have to fake it till you make it.
But I look.
When I see a worship band participant entering into the worship it makes me realize that the anointing is there for a reason. Not entertainment, not waiting their part till the guitar or drum riff shows up.
I mean when I see a drummer, a keyboardist, a guitar player who does not have a mike singing along, worshiping, entered in, it makes me happy, excited. There is something GOOD about all that.
What grieves me is the passive, "I'd rather be bowling" look I see on some people standing on the platform passively strumming or plinking while the congregation hungers for something real.
Worship is a blood sport, it amplifies the sacrifice and sanctification that the Blood of Jesus brought us and it let's HIM know that we bow down in worship to the King.
Enter in Worship leaders, even if you have to fake it till you make it.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Dominion is an Internal Work of God
I have said that the wild and woolly world of the traveling Evangelist in Christendom is what keeps the airlines from going broke. I wonder so many times why they don't run into each other on the highway. Minister A flies from Chicago to Philadelphia to bring the word of the Lord to that city while Minister B is flying from Philadelphia to Chicago with both of them having ONE THING on their mind, to bring the word of the Lord to.. well whatever destination is printed on their airline ticket.
I know there is a time and a place for this. One of my favorite people in ministry travels a great deal. Hard working man. YET... I recall how we put together "Mission Trips" to Chicago from Fargo North Dakota. We came, we saw, we didn't do much and we went back. It was a plan. Mostly it was used to broaden the goer rather than those to whom they went.
The same thing is true of those who seek to benefit from having a minister from the USA come to Boogla Boogla Africa or Hiduia India. I get these invites all the time on Facebook and by Email. They pretty much are designed to import money and connect people without a purpose. It's a longer distance low impact mission trip like we made from Fargo to Chicago, full of sound and fury signifying little.
Meanwhile, people who really need to hear the word of the Lord are just down the street. Just over there. Close, hungry, needy. I'm not talking about charity, I'm talking about an encouragement that will bring them out of a hole they have dug, or fell into.
When I look at the Book of Acts... going was only for a few until the diaspora. It was not a job. Most were called to stay. I know it's common to quote Keith Green who famously said, "You gotta be called to stay", but I'm not convinced he was right.
The real engine of evangelism that is changing the world is an internal engine. The sparks have already happened. China is now almost the largest Christian Nation on the face of the earth internally driven. Africa is almost the largest Christian continent. India is burgeoning. All over the face of the globe as we see the Kingdom expanding but it's no longer because airplanes are spending fuel to haul folks there. Let's just tell ourselves the truth, it's more to benefit the goer than the goee. It's a large form mission trip. Expanding horizons, sometimes little more than a Holy Vacation.
This is even true regionally. We are called to go where we are able to make a difference, where we are received, where we can make an impact, where in fact we can make the world we live in better, the woodpile higher because of our presence as we bring the word of the Lord. IF we aren't accepted, received then move on to where we are. Yelling at a brick wall is useless. The other end of the spectrum the closed loop echo chamber. We have that in the Church. Those who recycle the same speakers with the same word and call it breakthrough. We need some cross pollination. We need to hear the word from those you have never heard before. Get out of the echo chamber. We don't need to travel around the world or even across the country to do this. Within a 3 hour drive from where you are right now, you can make a difference. If we all did that and concentrated on bringing our nation to Jesus we would have won the USA by now. But we aren't. Instead, we are off to Africa, India and Pakistan.
I am operating as a prophet telling you what you already know in your heart but never had the guts to say; We have misunderstood the whole Great Commission. Jesus didn't say, "Buy a ticket and go into all the world", what he did say was "AS YOU GO into all the world, the world you occupy, the world you find yourself in, Preach, Baptize and make Disciples (who will also follow suit)". You can do the study on the words and grasp this truth. He knew that there was about to be a great "Going" when Jerusalem was destroyed in 72AD. He was preparing them for that event.
You are not called to go, you are called to do what you do and go where you go and make a difference. Do that and the kingdom will expand. It's proven to work, the Chinese people couldn't go anywhere yet they now are dominant in their culture (They have Dominion). Let's get dominant.
That is the word of the Lord for someone who is feeling sad that they aren't traveling all over the place like everyone else seems to be doing.
I know there is a time and a place for this. One of my favorite people in ministry travels a great deal. Hard working man. YET... I recall how we put together "Mission Trips" to Chicago from Fargo North Dakota. We came, we saw, we didn't do much and we went back. It was a plan. Mostly it was used to broaden the goer rather than those to whom they went.
The same thing is true of those who seek to benefit from having a minister from the USA come to Boogla Boogla Africa or Hiduia India. I get these invites all the time on Facebook and by Email. They pretty much are designed to import money and connect people without a purpose. It's a longer distance low impact mission trip like we made from Fargo to Chicago, full of sound and fury signifying little.
Meanwhile, people who really need to hear the word of the Lord are just down the street. Just over there. Close, hungry, needy. I'm not talking about charity, I'm talking about an encouragement that will bring them out of a hole they have dug, or fell into.
When I look at the Book of Acts... going was only for a few until the diaspora. It was not a job. Most were called to stay. I know it's common to quote Keith Green who famously said, "You gotta be called to stay", but I'm not convinced he was right.
The real engine of evangelism that is changing the world is an internal engine. The sparks have already happened. China is now almost the largest Christian Nation on the face of the earth internally driven. Africa is almost the largest Christian continent. India is burgeoning. All over the face of the globe as we see the Kingdom expanding but it's no longer because airplanes are spending fuel to haul folks there. Let's just tell ourselves the truth, it's more to benefit the goer than the goee. It's a large form mission trip. Expanding horizons, sometimes little more than a Holy Vacation.
This is even true regionally. We are called to go where we are able to make a difference, where we are received, where we can make an impact, where in fact we can make the world we live in better, the woodpile higher because of our presence as we bring the word of the Lord. IF we aren't accepted, received then move on to where we are. Yelling at a brick wall is useless. The other end of the spectrum the closed loop echo chamber. We have that in the Church. Those who recycle the same speakers with the same word and call it breakthrough. We need some cross pollination. We need to hear the word from those you have never heard before. Get out of the echo chamber. We don't need to travel around the world or even across the country to do this. Within a 3 hour drive from where you are right now, you can make a difference. If we all did that and concentrated on bringing our nation to Jesus we would have won the USA by now. But we aren't. Instead, we are off to Africa, India and Pakistan.
I am operating as a prophet telling you what you already know in your heart but never had the guts to say; We have misunderstood the whole Great Commission. Jesus didn't say, "Buy a ticket and go into all the world", what he did say was "AS YOU GO into all the world, the world you occupy, the world you find yourself in, Preach, Baptize and make Disciples (who will also follow suit)". You can do the study on the words and grasp this truth. He knew that there was about to be a great "Going" when Jerusalem was destroyed in 72AD. He was preparing them for that event.
You are not called to go, you are called to do what you do and go where you go and make a difference. Do that and the kingdom will expand. It's proven to work, the Chinese people couldn't go anywhere yet they now are dominant in their culture (They have Dominion). Let's get dominant.
That is the word of the Lord for someone who is feeling sad that they aren't traveling all over the place like everyone else seems to be doing.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
There is no Compromise, a Call to Cross the Culture
We live in a world that believes in compromise. That believes in going along to get along. That thinks that anyone who takes a stand against evil is crazy. This is true in all the areas of life. Gay marriage, legal drugs, abortion and anti Christ religious systems like Islam. We could all do better if we just bent a bit on our beliefs. That if we were just more "reasonable" everything would be OK.
That is a trap of the devil. Even the Pope has come to the recognition that something is wrong and that a seared conscience is a victory for the enemy.
Here is a recap of what he said, he is speaking truth:
As believers in Christ we are called to be counter Cultural. Our culture has become violent, murderous, corrupt, hypocritical, cruel and coarse. Listen to the language people use, even women. I remember the first time I ever heard a woman use the F Word.. it stunned me. Not now.
This has discouraged me because as a believer we have lost our way. We have become adaptable. Yet the call to become salt and light once again in a dark and tasteless world is being shouted from the watchtower.
We cannot compromise. We cannot become just like the culture. We must stand or we will begin to fall till we cannot get up. We are dangerously close to that right now. This culture is winning and the church is losing. Jesus is calling to us to stand.
In Ephesians 4:21-32 there is a passage that calls to us to be different from the world.
While the call looks like WE need to be better, it is also a call to be salt and light, counter cultural. Don't go along to get along. Don't endorse or embrace evil. We are to be different, not compromised.
Here's what I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying:
That is a trap of the devil. Even the Pope has come to the recognition that something is wrong and that a seared conscience is a victory for the enemy.
Here is a recap of what he said, he is speaking truth:
“The evil one conceals himself, and comes with his very polite friends, knocking at the door, asking permission, but then moves in and spends time with the man and, little by little, starts giving the orders.”
With his “good manners,” Francis said, the devil makes the man fall into moral relativism, calming his conscience.
We start saying things like “This happens everywhere” and “We are all sinners,” Francis said. Yet “When we say everybody, we mean nobody,” he said. “And so we live this worldliness that is the child of the evil spirit.”
“Calming the conscience, numbing the conscience, this is a great evil,” he said.
“When the devil manages to numb your conscience he has won a real victory,” Francis said, because “he has become the master of your conscience.”
The Pope said that the key to combating the devil is discernment and vigilance. We need to be able to discern situations, he said, to see what comes from God and what comes from the devil who “always tries to deceive” and to “make us choose the wrong path.”
The Christian cannot just accept anything, but must “discern and look well to see where things come from, and what their root is,” he said.
As believers in Christ we are called to be counter Cultural. Our culture has become violent, murderous, corrupt, hypocritical, cruel and coarse. Listen to the language people use, even women. I remember the first time I ever heard a woman use the F Word.. it stunned me. Not now.
This has discouraged me because as a believer we have lost our way. We have become adaptable. Yet the call to become salt and light once again in a dark and tasteless world is being shouted from the watchtower.
We cannot compromise. We cannot become just like the culture. We must stand or we will begin to fall till we cannot get up. We are dangerously close to that right now. This culture is winning and the church is losing. Jesus is calling to us to stand.
In Ephesians 4:21-32 there is a passage that calls to us to be different from the world.
Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
While the call looks like WE need to be better, it is also a call to be salt and light, counter cultural. Don't go along to get along. Don't endorse or embrace evil. We are to be different, not compromised.
Here's what I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying:
I have called you to be light bearers. I have called you to speak life. I have called you to raise a standard of righteousness. There is no darkness at all in heaven, and there is no darkness in ME. Let no darkness reign in your heart. The enemy roaring lion is still looking for those he can consume. Don't be among them. Many who say Lord Lord will find the answer "I never knew you" on that day. Every day is a choosing between good and evil, darkness and light, my way or the way of perdition. You choose constantly, choose well. The leaven of those who would cause you to stumble is everywhere.. walk carefully as my light and word illuminates your path.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
The Stable Man or Woman of GOD
Psalm 112 has been one of my favorites for a long time. It is a standard I want to live up to. I don't always succeed, but playing till I win is the only way to play. Never ever give up.
Here is the Psalm, without edit, and from a version of the word that I never read.. except this made sense. The easy to read.
My Goal, and perhaps yours:
Psalm 112:
Great blessings belong to those who fear and respect the Lord,who are happy to do what he commands.
Their descendants will be given power on earth.Those who do right will be greatly blessed.
Their family will be very rich,and their goodness will continue forever.
A light shines in the dark for those who are good,for those who are merciful, kind, and fair.
It is good for people to be kind and generous and to be fair in business.
Such good people will never fall.They will always be remembered.
They will not be afraid of bad news. They are confident because they trust in the Lord.
They remain confident and without fear, so they defeat their enemies.
They freely give to the poor. Their goodness will continue forever. They will be honored with victory.
The wicked become angry when they see this. They grind their teeth in anger, but then they disappear. They will never get what they want most.
Here is the Psalm, without edit, and from a version of the word that I never read.. except this made sense. The easy to read.
My Goal, and perhaps yours:
Psalm 112:
Great blessings belong to those who fear and respect the Lord,who are happy to do what he commands.
Their descendants will be given power on earth.Those who do right will be greatly blessed.
Their family will be very rich,and their goodness will continue forever.
A light shines in the dark for those who are good,for those who are merciful, kind, and fair.
It is good for people to be kind and generous and to be fair in business.
Such good people will never fall.They will always be remembered.
They will not be afraid of bad news. They are confident because they trust in the Lord.
They remain confident and without fear, so they defeat their enemies.
They freely give to the poor. Their goodness will continue forever. They will be honored with victory.
The wicked become angry when they see this. They grind their teeth in anger, but then they disappear. They will never get what they want most.
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Meaningless Meaningless.. A Prophetic Word on the Shooting at the College in Oregon
As more unfold about this man who killed the people in Oregon at the Community College, I am reminded of his meaningless life.
People's search for meaning outside of the Living God is futile and empty. I know that's a pretty strong statement, but it's true. Atheism is living death. You live and then you die and then nothingness. Meaningless life.
The killer commented that the devil will welcome him in HELL. I don't know if the devil did.. or not, in my theology that's not how it works. The devil is a fellow condemned being. No welcoming takes place.
Here's what I heard the Lord Say:
Reading Ecclesiastes Chapters one and two NLT. They speak of how life can be meaningless:
Chapter One These are the words of the Teacher, King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem.
Everything Is Meaningless 2 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” 3 What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. 5 The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. 6 The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. 7 Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. 8 Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. 9 History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. 10 Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. 11 We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now. The Teacher Speaks: The Futility of Wisdom 12 I, the Teacher, was king of Israel, and I lived in Jerusalem. 13 I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. 14 I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind. 15 What is wrong cannot be made right. What is missing cannot be recovered. 16 I said to myself, “Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them.” 17 So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind. 18 The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.
The Futility of Pleasure Chapter 2 I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. 2 So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” 3 After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world. 4 I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. 7 I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. 8 I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire! 9 So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. 10 Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. The Wise and the Foolish 12 So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?). 13 I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness. 14 For the wise can see where they are going, but fools walk in the dark.” Yet I saw that the wise and the foolish share the same fate. 15 Both will die. So I said to myself, “Since I will end up the same as the fool, what’s the value of all my wisdom? This is all so meaningless!” 16 For the wise and the foolish both die. The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come, both will be forgotten. 17 So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind. The Futility of Work 18 I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned. 19 And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless! 20 So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world. 21 Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy. 22 So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? 23 Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless. 24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
People's search for meaning outside of the Living God is futile and empty. I know that's a pretty strong statement, but it's true. Atheism is living death. You live and then you die and then nothingness. Meaningless life.
The killer commented that the devil will welcome him in HELL. I don't know if the devil did.. or not, in my theology that's not how it works. The devil is a fellow condemned being. No welcoming takes place.
Here's what I heard the Lord Say:
"People are asking why, what happened to him, what does this mean, how can we stop it? There are some who think they have a solution. The dead soul will replicate itself.. in further death. The answer is life, the life I bring, the life I am in you. You are light and life. There are many walking dead among you, touch them where they are and help them find real meaning. I gave you My Spirit to enable you, to empower you to be the witness you were called to be. As far as those who were bold enough to say YES and were then killed... I got them. They are safe with me. They wouldn't come back even if they could. Yet the potential invested in them is lost. It wasn't my will, but I make all things new, I am using this to remind people that evil is and that I am the answer. Stay strong, speak out life and bring peace. No law or laws can create peace. Peace I give you, MY PEACE. Share it with the lost living meaningless lives."
Reading Ecclesiastes Chapters one and two NLT. They speak of how life can be meaningless:
Chapter One These are the words of the Teacher, King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem.
Everything Is Meaningless 2 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” 3 What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. 5 The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. 6 The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. 7 Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. 8 Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. 9 History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. 10 Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. 11 We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now. The Teacher Speaks: The Futility of Wisdom 12 I, the Teacher, was king of Israel, and I lived in Jerusalem. 13 I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. 14 I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind. 15 What is wrong cannot be made right. What is missing cannot be recovered. 16 I said to myself, “Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them.” 17 So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind. 18 The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.
The Futility of Pleasure Chapter 2 I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. 2 So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” 3 After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world. 4 I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. 7 I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. 8 I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire! 9 So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. 10 Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. The Wise and the Foolish 12 So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?). 13 I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness. 14 For the wise can see where they are going, but fools walk in the dark.” Yet I saw that the wise and the foolish share the same fate. 15 Both will die. So I said to myself, “Since I will end up the same as the fool, what’s the value of all my wisdom? This is all so meaningless!” 16 For the wise and the foolish both die. The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come, both will be forgotten. 17 So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind. The Futility of Work 18 I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned. 19 And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless! 20 So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world. 21 Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy. 22 So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? 23 Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless. 24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
An Honest Inquiry, Are we Watching Long Deep Cycles of the Prophetic?
Can we be honest and not rely on simple dogma? Can an honest question be asked? I'm asking a question that no other prophet has the guts to ask. I'm not saying thus and so, thus saith the Lord, I am saying HE DID SAY THIS and now once more it seems to be something to pay attention to. I'm going to explode a few heads here.. the end of the world is not imminent, but something is up. We have some Biblical information as to what is potentially on the horizon. I can find no historical parallel for this event. It doesn't seem to be anywhere I looked.
I have maintained for a long time that to understand Bible Prophecy you have to look at the then, later and eventual serial fulfillment. Long Deep Cycles. That some did happen, some have happened and some will happen again. They are there for our understanding that history has the same players doing the same things under the influence of evil. The devil has no new schemes. This is not a harbinger regarding the end of the world, this is just one more chapter in history. I am publishing in full passages from Ezekiel that seem to be relevant once again. I am as preteristic as the next person but there are deep long cycles at work.. remember the enemy has nothing new.. he just recycles old strategies starting with the first one, "Hath God Said".
Bolding and footnotes inserted are mine.
Ezekiel 38
New Living Translation (NLT)
A Message for Gog
38 This is another message that came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of man, turn and face Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him. 3 Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: Gog, I am your enemy! 4 I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws to lead you out with your whole army—your horses and charioteers in full armor and a great horde armed with shields and swords. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya (Iran and the other Islamic States) will join you, too, with all their weapons. 6 Gomer (Probably Armenia or Azerbijan) and all its armies will also join you, along with the armies of Beth-togarmah (Turkey) from the distant north, and many others.
7 “Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. 8 A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be enjoying peace after recovering from war and after its people have returned from many lands to the mountains of Israel. 9 You and all your allies—a vast and awesome army—will roll down on them like a storm and cover the land like a cloud.
10 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: At that time evil thoughts will come to your mind, and you will devise a wicked scheme. 11 You will say, ‘Israel is an unprotected land filled with unwalled villages! I will march against her and destroy these people who live in such confidence! 12 I will go to those formerly desolate cities that are now filled with people who have returned from exile in many nations. I will capture vast amounts of plunder, for the people are rich with livestock and other possessions now. They think the whole world revolves around them!’ 13 But Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish will ask, ‘Do you really think the armies you have gathered can rob them of silver and gold? Do you think you can drive away their livestock and seize their goods and carry off plunder?’
14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: When my people are living in peace in their land, then you will rouse yourself. 15 You will come from your homeland in the distant north with your vast cavalry and your mighty army, 16 and you will attack my people Israel, covering their land like a cloud. At that time in the distant future, I will bring you against my land as everyone watches, and my holiness will be displayed by what happens to you, Gog. Then all the nations will know that I am the Lord.
17 “This is what the Sovereign Lord asks: Are you the one I was talking about long ago, when I announced through Israel’s prophets that in the future I would bring you against my people? 18 But this is what the Sovereign Lord says: When Gog invades the land of Israel, my fury will boil over! 19 In my jealousy and blazing anger, I promise a mighty shaking in the land of Israel on that day. 20 All living things—the fish in the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the people on earth—will quake in terror at my presence. Mountains will be thrown down; cliffs will crumble; walls will fall to the earth. 21 I will summon the sword against you on all the hills of Israel, says the Sovereign Lord. Your men will turn their swords against each other. 22 I will punish you and your armies with disease and bloodshed; I will send torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur! 23 In this way, I will show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
The Slaughter of Gog’s Hordes
Ezekiel 39 “Son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am your enemy, O Gog, ruler of the nations of Meshech and Tubal. 2 I will turn you around and drive you toward the mountains of Israel, bringing you from the distant north. 3 I will knock the bow from your left hand and the arrows from your right hand, and I will leave you helpless. 4 You and your army and your allies will all die on the mountains. I will feed you to the vultures and wild animals. 5 You will fall in the open fields, for I have spoken, says the Sovereign Lord. 6 And I will rain down fire on Magog and on all your allies who live safely on the coasts. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
7 “In this way, I will make known my holy name among my people of Israel. I will not let anyone bring shame on it. And the nations, too, will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. 8 That day of judgment will come, says the Sovereign Lord. Everything will happen just as I have declared it.
9 “Then the people in the towns of Israel will go out and pick up your small and large shields, bows and arrows, javelins and spears, and they will use them for fuel. There will be enough to last them seven years! 10 They won’t need to cut wood from the fields or forests, for these weapons will give them all the fuel they need. They will plunder those who planned to plunder them, and they will rob those who planned to rob them, says the Sovereign Lord.
11 “And I will make a vast graveyard for Gog and his hordes in the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Dead Sea. It will block the way of those who travel there, and they will change the name of the place to the Valley of Gog’s Hordes. 12 It will take seven months for the people of Israel to bury the bodies and cleanse the land. 13 Everyone in Israel will help, for it will be a glorious victory for Israel when I demonstrate my glory on that day, says the Sovereign Lord.
14 “After seven months, teams of men will be appointed to search the land for skeletons to bury, so the land will be made clean again. 15 Whenever bones are found, a marker will be set up so the burial crews will take them to be buried in the Valley of Gog’s Hordes. 16 (There will be a town there named Hamonah, which means ‘horde.’) And so the land will finally be cleansed.
17 “And now, son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Call all the birds and wild animals. Say to them: Gather together for my great sacrificial feast. Come from far and near to the mountains of Israel, and there eat flesh and drink blood! 18 Eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of princes as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls—all fattened animals from Bashan! 19 Gorge yourselves with flesh until you are glutted; drink blood until you are drunk. This is the sacrificial feast I have prepared for you. 20 Feast at my banquet table—feast on horses and charioteers, on mighty men and all kinds of valiant warriors, says the Sovereign Lord.
21 “In this way, I will demonstrate my glory to the nations. Everyone will see the punishment I have inflicted on them and the power of my fist when I strike. 22 And from that time on the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. 23 The nations will then know why Israel was sent away to exile—it was punishment for sin, for they were unfaithful to their God. Therefore, I turned away from them and let their enemies destroy them. 24 I turned my face away and punished them because of their defilement and their sins.
In view of all this, it seems like a bad time to sign up to be a Russian Soldier..
I have maintained for a long time that to understand Bible Prophecy you have to look at the then, later and eventual serial fulfillment. Long Deep Cycles. That some did happen, some have happened and some will happen again. They are there for our understanding that history has the same players doing the same things under the influence of evil. The devil has no new schemes. This is not a harbinger regarding the end of the world, this is just one more chapter in history. I am publishing in full passages from Ezekiel that seem to be relevant once again. I am as preteristic as the next person but there are deep long cycles at work.. remember the enemy has nothing new.. he just recycles old strategies starting with the first one, "Hath God Said".
Bolding and footnotes inserted are mine.
Ezekiel 38
New Living Translation (NLT)
A Message for Gog
38 This is another message that came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of man, turn and face Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him. 3 Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: Gog, I am your enemy! 4 I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws to lead you out with your whole army—your horses and charioteers in full armor and a great horde armed with shields and swords. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya (Iran and the other Islamic States) will join you, too, with all their weapons. 6 Gomer (Probably Armenia or Azerbijan) and all its armies will also join you, along with the armies of Beth-togarmah (Turkey) from the distant north, and many others.
7 “Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. 8 A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be enjoying peace after recovering from war and after its people have returned from many lands to the mountains of Israel. 9 You and all your allies—a vast and awesome army—will roll down on them like a storm and cover the land like a cloud.
10 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: At that time evil thoughts will come to your mind, and you will devise a wicked scheme. 11 You will say, ‘Israel is an unprotected land filled with unwalled villages! I will march against her and destroy these people who live in such confidence! 12 I will go to those formerly desolate cities that are now filled with people who have returned from exile in many nations. I will capture vast amounts of plunder, for the people are rich with livestock and other possessions now. They think the whole world revolves around them!’ 13 But Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish will ask, ‘Do you really think the armies you have gathered can rob them of silver and gold? Do you think you can drive away their livestock and seize their goods and carry off plunder?’
14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: When my people are living in peace in their land, then you will rouse yourself. 15 You will come from your homeland in the distant north with your vast cavalry and your mighty army, 16 and you will attack my people Israel, covering their land like a cloud. At that time in the distant future, I will bring you against my land as everyone watches, and my holiness will be displayed by what happens to you, Gog. Then all the nations will know that I am the Lord.
17 “This is what the Sovereign Lord asks: Are you the one I was talking about long ago, when I announced through Israel’s prophets that in the future I would bring you against my people? 18 But this is what the Sovereign Lord says: When Gog invades the land of Israel, my fury will boil over! 19 In my jealousy and blazing anger, I promise a mighty shaking in the land of Israel on that day. 20 All living things—the fish in the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the people on earth—will quake in terror at my presence. Mountains will be thrown down; cliffs will crumble; walls will fall to the earth. 21 I will summon the sword against you on all the hills of Israel, says the Sovereign Lord. Your men will turn their swords against each other. 22 I will punish you and your armies with disease and bloodshed; I will send torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur! 23 In this way, I will show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
The Slaughter of Gog’s Hordes
Ezekiel 39 “Son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am your enemy, O Gog, ruler of the nations of Meshech and Tubal. 2 I will turn you around and drive you toward the mountains of Israel, bringing you from the distant north. 3 I will knock the bow from your left hand and the arrows from your right hand, and I will leave you helpless. 4 You and your army and your allies will all die on the mountains. I will feed you to the vultures and wild animals. 5 You will fall in the open fields, for I have spoken, says the Sovereign Lord. 6 And I will rain down fire on Magog and on all your allies who live safely on the coasts. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
7 “In this way, I will make known my holy name among my people of Israel. I will not let anyone bring shame on it. And the nations, too, will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. 8 That day of judgment will come, says the Sovereign Lord. Everything will happen just as I have declared it.
9 “Then the people in the towns of Israel will go out and pick up your small and large shields, bows and arrows, javelins and spears, and they will use them for fuel. There will be enough to last them seven years! 10 They won’t need to cut wood from the fields or forests, for these weapons will give them all the fuel they need. They will plunder those who planned to plunder them, and they will rob those who planned to rob them, says the Sovereign Lord.
11 “And I will make a vast graveyard for Gog and his hordes in the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Dead Sea. It will block the way of those who travel there, and they will change the name of the place to the Valley of Gog’s Hordes. 12 It will take seven months for the people of Israel to bury the bodies and cleanse the land. 13 Everyone in Israel will help, for it will be a glorious victory for Israel when I demonstrate my glory on that day, says the Sovereign Lord.
14 “After seven months, teams of men will be appointed to search the land for skeletons to bury, so the land will be made clean again. 15 Whenever bones are found, a marker will be set up so the burial crews will take them to be buried in the Valley of Gog’s Hordes. 16 (There will be a town there named Hamonah, which means ‘horde.’) And so the land will finally be cleansed.
17 “And now, son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Call all the birds and wild animals. Say to them: Gather together for my great sacrificial feast. Come from far and near to the mountains of Israel, and there eat flesh and drink blood! 18 Eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of princes as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls—all fattened animals from Bashan! 19 Gorge yourselves with flesh until you are glutted; drink blood until you are drunk. This is the sacrificial feast I have prepared for you. 20 Feast at my banquet table—feast on horses and charioteers, on mighty men and all kinds of valiant warriors, says the Sovereign Lord.
21 “In this way, I will demonstrate my glory to the nations. Everyone will see the punishment I have inflicted on them and the power of my fist when I strike. 22 And from that time on the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. 23 The nations will then know why Israel was sent away to exile—it was punishment for sin, for they were unfaithful to their God. Therefore, I turned away from them and let their enemies destroy them. 24 I turned my face away and punished them because of their defilement and their sins.
In view of all this, it seems like a bad time to sign up to be a Russian Soldier..
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