There are two passages in the word of God that have to do with the House of God that at first glance seem contradictory. One is very familiar.
Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who
lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Many people think this means we have to eat right, don't smoke, don't drink, exercise, get enough sleep and keep from abusing our carcass in every way. Those certainly are good ideas. BUT if you are going to take care of the Temple of the Holy Spirit how should you care for HIM? He dwells in you.
Then there is a passage from Haggai that seems to speak to these things:
Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You
eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your
fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. Haggai 1:3-6
In this the Prophet is telling people how they are suffering because they aren't taking care of HIS HOUSE.
Now as we consider these things together it is apparent that not keeping up the house causes poor harvest, lousy clothing, hunger, thirst, dissatisfaction, coldness and poverty.
While it is important to have other things in order, more important than all the things we do to keep up the carcass.. there is another part of the house that lies in ruin.
That is what we build the house of God with. We pay attention to sports, movies, entertainment, pornography, gossip, money, anger and a host of other things. They are stains on the walls of His House...holes in the carpet, leaks in the roof. Holy Spirit is dwelling in a ghetto tenement.
What HE needs for us to build up is peace, joy and long suffering. There is a list in Galatians. You know it. His house should be called a house of Prayer. His house should be a refuge. His house should be a place of peace. Not a den of thieves allowed to squat there.
When we don't pay attention to the House of God.. disaster happens. We need to get timber in there. We need to get good shingles. Those come by nailing down the Word of God, good teaching, fellowship. Overall we need attendance, loyalty and stewardship to keep up the external house of God and that which is Dwelt in by Holy Spirit.
Let's build up the house.
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Sunday, May 29, 2016
I hear the Lord saying: "Consider Your Ways"
I heard a stirring talk on the Book of Haggai. In it the prophet is saying to those who are ignoring the principles and the house of the Lord to "Consider your Ways" This in verses 5 and 7.
There is a curse on the land because people have become slothful and full of their own agenda not considering the way they are on. This is not only good advice for us today, it is good advice at any time.
Since Tuesday night, the words have been ringing in my ear.
We live today in a culture that does not consider its way. It rolls recklessly down a certain path destined to destruction.
God was merciful enough to send Haggai to the people returned from Babylon. Now he is once more raising the issue. I sometime sit on a word from the Lord because it might just be for me. Lord knows my ways need considering.
Yet when I see some of the things that people do in the name of self service it shocks me. ways are NOT considered. It's all about me.
The Lord says this:
I confess that as I got this word I was grieved over sin and deception in my own life that I have succumbed to. I repent.. and come back Lord.
There is a curse on the land because people have become slothful and full of their own agenda not considering the way they are on. This is not only good advice for us today, it is good advice at any time.
Since Tuesday night, the words have been ringing in my ear.
We live today in a culture that does not consider its way. It rolls recklessly down a certain path destined to destruction.
God was merciful enough to send Haggai to the people returned from Babylon. Now he is once more raising the issue. I sometime sit on a word from the Lord because it might just be for me. Lord knows my ways need considering.
Yet when I see some of the things that people do in the name of self service it shocks me. ways are NOT considered. It's all about me.
The Lord says this:
"If you look only to yourself and your desires, needs, thirsts, hunger and not look to the others around you, there is a curse upon your efforts. I do not bring the curse directly, I allow the manifestation of the curse of the ground and remove my hand of blessing to allow you to dry up and become fruitless. My Son removed the curse from you but you have the power to enter back into the curse. You can become a curse chooser. Do not think that my hand is less short than it was in the days of my called one as they spoke to my people coming out of Babylon.
You have questioned the poverty, want, need, emptiness, wasted lives and what seems to be a never ending chasing of your tail. You must consider you ways. What you are now is not what I called you to be. There is much peace and joy in my purposes and blessing. You however without your ways carefully considered never find that place.
Return to ME, you have left and now wonder why. Get away from your creature comforts, the money you spend on nothing that lasts, the time you waste on things that have no merit. The secrets you hold that are robbing you of my best. Those are the ways I call you to consider. I am not angry with you, I just want better for you. Not because you deserve it, not because you are worthy, but for MY NAMES SAKE I will deliver you from the snare of the fowler as you consider the ways that got you there.
It's not too late. Consider your ways."
I confess that as I got this word I was grieved over sin and deception in my own life that I have succumbed to. I repent.. and come back Lord.
Monday, May 23, 2016
Becoming Activated as a Prophet
I was interviewed about the concept of how one becomes activated as a prophet. I think you will find this interesting and more important, encouraging. 7 minutes long.
Take a listen.
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Get away from them chickens
We all know the sayings about if you want to soar like the eagles you have to stop hanging around with the chickens.
Yet, many do. Many hope to soar but can't get out of the chicken yard. Their vision can be driven by the desire to hang out with the familiar. People around you will either build you up or bring you down. It's not their problem, it's yours. I am not suggesting that you get rid of old friends. I am suggesting you upgrade the quality of those who speak into your life.
Some people without intending it are messengers of defeat. They will tell you what they think you want to hear. They can cast doubt where faith would better be spoken. They are sometimes dream killers.
Some are those holdovers from long ago, even grade or high school. Some are former associates. Some are from the neighborhood. You will know that you are stuck when you find yourself talking like and talking about back in the day. Living in the past. That is not your destiny.
Your next breakthru will come at the hands of the people around you. Friendliness and approachable behavior will allow you to come into where God wants you to be. You need to expand the tent pegs of your relationships. Far out. Far from the comfort zone you are in right now.
This is not only true professionally, this is true in spiritual things. We all know that once a person gets saved we try to get them to understand they can't go back to the old clubs they used to frequent, they can't go back to hang out with their old pals and gals. They can't keep hooking up. It's going to take separation. It's not enough to believe that YOU will bring THEM up, no they will keep you down. Cultivate good solid relationships with people ABOVE you and then go higher with them. This is true spiritually and is true in your destiny. Your vision comes from the influence around you.
Don't be a climber as much as be a person others want to be with. A person that sees you as higher.
This happens in churches. Particularly in church plants. I have been part of a few. You start with what you have, those people become your core group, but in the long run will be the core that can keep you down. I had a good pastor say to me the other day about someone who is really responsible almost single handedly for keeping a lid on things, "But (the person) takes such a large load off of me administratively I can't set them aside". That pastor is stuck. If you can't expand your vision because of old soul ties, you will never grow.
It doesn't mean you are using people, some (not enough) will expand your vision, some will contract it. Know the difference. It takes real discernment to know. Learn to seek out those with vision for a hope and a future, a real future.
When the Lord says come up higher, he doesn't mean for you to cut back or reduce the Kingdom vision he is trying to get you to grasp, he is asking you to break the chains from the former things and come up HIGHER to his ways.
Learn to soar and leave that chicken yard behind.
Yet, many do. Many hope to soar but can't get out of the chicken yard. Their vision can be driven by the desire to hang out with the familiar. People around you will either build you up or bring you down. It's not their problem, it's yours. I am not suggesting that you get rid of old friends. I am suggesting you upgrade the quality of those who speak into your life.
Some people without intending it are messengers of defeat. They will tell you what they think you want to hear. They can cast doubt where faith would better be spoken. They are sometimes dream killers.
Some are those holdovers from long ago, even grade or high school. Some are former associates. Some are from the neighborhood. You will know that you are stuck when you find yourself talking like and talking about back in the day. Living in the past. That is not your destiny.
Your next breakthru will come at the hands of the people around you. Friendliness and approachable behavior will allow you to come into where God wants you to be. You need to expand the tent pegs of your relationships. Far out. Far from the comfort zone you are in right now.
This is not only true professionally, this is true in spiritual things. We all know that once a person gets saved we try to get them to understand they can't go back to the old clubs they used to frequent, they can't go back to hang out with their old pals and gals. They can't keep hooking up. It's going to take separation. It's not enough to believe that YOU will bring THEM up, no they will keep you down. Cultivate good solid relationships with people ABOVE you and then go higher with them. This is true spiritually and is true in your destiny. Your vision comes from the influence around you.
Don't be a climber as much as be a person others want to be with. A person that sees you as higher.
This happens in churches. Particularly in church plants. I have been part of a few. You start with what you have, those people become your core group, but in the long run will be the core that can keep you down. I had a good pastor say to me the other day about someone who is really responsible almost single handedly for keeping a lid on things, "But (the person) takes such a large load off of me administratively I can't set them aside". That pastor is stuck. If you can't expand your vision because of old soul ties, you will never grow.
It doesn't mean you are using people, some (not enough) will expand your vision, some will contract it. Know the difference. It takes real discernment to know. Learn to seek out those with vision for a hope and a future, a real future.
When the Lord says come up higher, he doesn't mean for you to cut back or reduce the Kingdom vision he is trying to get you to grasp, he is asking you to break the chains from the former things and come up HIGHER to his ways.
Learn to soar and leave that chicken yard behind.
Friday, May 13, 2016
Prophecy is Single Vision
I was impressed of the Lord Today to say:
A true prophet never focuses on your past, and seldom on your present, but sees clearly the things to come.
He or She doesn't spend time on who you were. They don't spend time talking about your past except to say you are to get past those days.
When you hear a person who says they are a prophet and yet spend a lot of time and energy talking about the former days, you aren't hearing the word of God for you.
It is much more than that.
Your future is bright, even in darkness. Look to it. Allow the true prophetic to shine a light so your path is clear.
A true prophet never focuses on your past, and seldom on your present, but sees clearly the things to come.
He or She doesn't spend time on who you were. They don't spend time talking about your past except to say you are to get past those days.
When you hear a person who says they are a prophet and yet spend a lot of time and energy talking about the former days, you aren't hearing the word of God for you.
It is much more than that.
Your future is bright, even in darkness. Look to it. Allow the true prophetic to shine a light so your path is clear.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
When your Church leaves YOU
Many of us over our lifetime have changed churches. Sometimes for geographic reasons, sometimes for others. I have, maybe you. Never out of anger, but out of wisdom.
A dear friend of mine once told me that if you are going to leave a church always leave in order, let leadership know why and don't let the rumor mill take over. I did that yesterday.He also said always look for MORE LIGHT. If you are stuck in a darker place and more light is offered, that is a reason to consider. I don't do that quickly or easily. I do that with fear and trepidation.
Yes there are relationships.. and that has a good and bad effect. It causes people to put you in relational handcuffs. Not a good thing. Sometimes to get to more light, you need to step up into a better place and allow old ties to dissolve, not destroy. In every church we ever left, (it's only been a few) we always have maintained good relationships with those we were formerly connected with. Some for decades. No attempt to recruit, just staying in touch with old friends.
There are times when a church leaves YOU. When changes take place that demonstrate how you no longer fit. Even if at one time the church you belonged to was solid and you were in sync with it, over time it drifts into a new phase and expects you to come along.
I can think of several examples:
The Anglican Church was conservative and did not ordain gays.. but then someone decided they should and many members found their Church had left them.
Same with the Presbyterians.
The ELCA Evangelical Lutheran Church of America began softening their views on such things. Began with Gay pastors, softened on abortion and such things. I was at one time a member of the ELCA and left over the abortion stance.
It's not always theological. Sometimes it is error, corruption, bad leadership or outright crime.
Sometimes it is a wrong headed focus on things that are not your heart. Many churches tried hard to become pure cell churches a decade or two ago and it caused great hurt and dissolved congregations.
Some churches became part of the shepherding movement and it destroyed them.
Some churches got on certain national revival bandwagons and when those wagons ran off the road they went with. I remember well the big Satellite dishes in church yards tuned into a Robert Tilton revival from Texas long ago. Those buildings soon emptied out.
Then there are the churches that become manipulators. There was a church in Minnesota I know about where the Pastor became the top line of every MLM scheme that came along. No longer were teachings about the heart of God but how we would all get rich soon. No one did, the church folded.
Recently a Pastor I know was arrested for child molestation. He had two churches he pastored. They are both now defunct. No one left the church, the church left them.
I know of several churches were an il-advised building program was the beginning of the end of that congregation. Too much too soon. Great faith idea, with little thought about what if.
Sometimes a church sets you aside. You no longer are part of the team. You don't fit. You are simply a long time attendee visitor. This happens when membership is the focus, not discipleship. When you no longer have a ministry you have to move on to stay healthy. The church essentially divorced you.
The BIG C church never does, but the small c often will.
When you find yourself in this situation, don't jump quickly. It might be an aberration, perhaps repentance will set in. But if a church leaves you adrift and sets sail in a direction you can no longer embrace, you are left..
It's like bankruptcy and insolvency. You can be insolvent, broke, not visible means, but not yet bankrupt except in principle. Until you declare yourself bankrupt, you are stuck. Someday however when your church has left you, you are motherless, you are alone. Declare and start to get well.
You'll be cursed and if it's the Really Wrong kind of church you'll be called all kinds of names and shunned. It that's the case, is wasn't soon enough. If like my experience is, that you are still loved and accepted, even if you leave.. the move was right.
Always go for more light and look out for the crazy people.. even the ones on the elder board or in the pulpit.
A dear friend of mine once told me that if you are going to leave a church always leave in order, let leadership know why and don't let the rumor mill take over. I did that yesterday.He also said always look for MORE LIGHT. If you are stuck in a darker place and more light is offered, that is a reason to consider. I don't do that quickly or easily. I do that with fear and trepidation.
Yes there are relationships.. and that has a good and bad effect. It causes people to put you in relational handcuffs. Not a good thing. Sometimes to get to more light, you need to step up into a better place and allow old ties to dissolve, not destroy. In every church we ever left, (it's only been a few) we always have maintained good relationships with those we were formerly connected with. Some for decades. No attempt to recruit, just staying in touch with old friends.
There are times when a church leaves YOU. When changes take place that demonstrate how you no longer fit. Even if at one time the church you belonged to was solid and you were in sync with it, over time it drifts into a new phase and expects you to come along.
I can think of several examples:
The Anglican Church was conservative and did not ordain gays.. but then someone decided they should and many members found their Church had left them.
Same with the Presbyterians.
The ELCA Evangelical Lutheran Church of America began softening their views on such things. Began with Gay pastors, softened on abortion and such things. I was at one time a member of the ELCA and left over the abortion stance.
It's not always theological. Sometimes it is error, corruption, bad leadership or outright crime.
Sometimes it is a wrong headed focus on things that are not your heart. Many churches tried hard to become pure cell churches a decade or two ago and it caused great hurt and dissolved congregations.
Some churches became part of the shepherding movement and it destroyed them.
Some churches got on certain national revival bandwagons and when those wagons ran off the road they went with. I remember well the big Satellite dishes in church yards tuned into a Robert Tilton revival from Texas long ago. Those buildings soon emptied out.
Then there are the churches that become manipulators. There was a church in Minnesota I know about where the Pastor became the top line of every MLM scheme that came along. No longer were teachings about the heart of God but how we would all get rich soon. No one did, the church folded.
Recently a Pastor I know was arrested for child molestation. He had two churches he pastored. They are both now defunct. No one left the church, the church left them.
I know of several churches were an il-advised building program was the beginning of the end of that congregation. Too much too soon. Great faith idea, with little thought about what if.
Sometimes a church sets you aside. You no longer are part of the team. You don't fit. You are simply a long time attendee visitor. This happens when membership is the focus, not discipleship. When you no longer have a ministry you have to move on to stay healthy. The church essentially divorced you.
The BIG C church never does, but the small c often will.
When you find yourself in this situation, don't jump quickly. It might be an aberration, perhaps repentance will set in. But if a church leaves you adrift and sets sail in a direction you can no longer embrace, you are left..
It's like bankruptcy and insolvency. You can be insolvent, broke, not visible means, but not yet bankrupt except in principle. Until you declare yourself bankrupt, you are stuck. Someday however when your church has left you, you are motherless, you are alone. Declare and start to get well.
You'll be cursed and if it's the Really Wrong kind of church you'll be called all kinds of names and shunned. It that's the case, is wasn't soon enough. If like my experience is, that you are still loved and accepted, even if you leave.. the move was right.
Always go for more light and look out for the crazy people.. even the ones on the elder board or in the pulpit.
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Wisdom IS still the Principle Thing
I heard the Lord say today:
The Mind I offer people when they come to Me is not hard. It is pure, it is holy, it is wisdom. I offer gifts that allow those called by my name to make good decisions, to not be easily mislead. to find truth when deception is all around. Discernment is one of the covenant gifts of MY Spirit.
Yet many are swayed by the world around them by popular attitudes and ideas. Thoughts processed by the crowd. Clever deceptions that take people off track.
The crowd has never been wise. The Crowd called out "Crucify". They walked away when it got hard as I said "Unless you eat my flesh...". They denied Me.
The crowd has never been any ideal of wisdom. Only Me. Only My mind renewed in you matters. If you lean on your own understanding you will fall.
So look to me, seek wisdom, I call from the high places and say, come to ME... for I will give you rest from the things targeting to take you from my best for you.
Seek wisdom and understanding, for it remains above all the principle thing.
The Mind I offer people when they come to Me is not hard. It is pure, it is holy, it is wisdom. I offer gifts that allow those called by my name to make good decisions, to not be easily mislead. to find truth when deception is all around. Discernment is one of the covenant gifts of MY Spirit.
Yet many are swayed by the world around them by popular attitudes and ideas. Thoughts processed by the crowd. Clever deceptions that take people off track.
The crowd has never been wise. The Crowd called out "Crucify". They walked away when it got hard as I said "Unless you eat my flesh...". They denied Me.
The crowd has never been any ideal of wisdom. Only Me. Only My mind renewed in you matters. If you lean on your own understanding you will fall.
So look to me, seek wisdom, I call from the high places and say, come to ME... for I will give you rest from the things targeting to take you from my best for you.
Seek wisdom and understanding, for it remains above all the principle thing.
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Of Prophetic Dreams
As a prophet I don't engage in much dream interpretation for people. I know there are many who do and I'll leave that to them.
Dreams are for me a revelation of the state of my emotions, desires, fears and things that torment. Not all bad, not always good. Some are wonderful, some are scary.
Dreams are not manufactured, they happen. Sometimes out of the tenor of the day.
It would be wrong to ignore dreams, I have been warned in dreams. I have found some dreams to cause me to rethink. Some are images of a hope.
While I don't interpret as Joseph did, or Daniel, I do honor and hear them. Sometimes the Lord does give me insight into a meaning, But not often. I don't believe every dream has meaning, but some do. Remember, the mind is a battlefield and when we are asleep we can be vulnerable. The enemy also whispers in our ears as we sleep sometimes.
The Word of God has things to say about dreams, dreamers and prophecy. It is a balanced message.. One we need to heed:
Zechariah 10:2
For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.
Genesis 46:2
And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here am I.”
Joel 2:28
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
Numbers 12:6
And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.
Ecclesiastes 5:7
For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.
Amos 3:7
“For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.
The Lord can use dreams, and does. It's a part of His plan.. but they are not to be superior to the Word of God... and they need to be carefully considered. Not all dreams are prophetic, some are... some are just last night's pizza.
Dreams are for me a revelation of the state of my emotions, desires, fears and things that torment. Not all bad, not always good. Some are wonderful, some are scary.
Dreams are not manufactured, they happen. Sometimes out of the tenor of the day.
It would be wrong to ignore dreams, I have been warned in dreams. I have found some dreams to cause me to rethink. Some are images of a hope.
While I don't interpret as Joseph did, or Daniel, I do honor and hear them. Sometimes the Lord does give me insight into a meaning, But not often. I don't believe every dream has meaning, but some do. Remember, the mind is a battlefield and when we are asleep we can be vulnerable. The enemy also whispers in our ears as we sleep sometimes.
The Word of God has things to say about dreams, dreamers and prophecy. It is a balanced message.. One we need to heed:
Zechariah 10:2
For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.
Genesis 46:2
And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here am I.”
Joel 2:28
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
Numbers 12:6
And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.
Ecclesiastes 5:7
For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.
Amos 3:7
“For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.
The Lord can use dreams, and does. It's a part of His plan.. but they are not to be superior to the Word of God... and they need to be carefully considered. Not all dreams are prophetic, some are... some are just last night's pizza.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Crossroads
Life is full of choices. What to eat, what to wear, what road to take when they divert from each other.
We make even more life changing choices when we start a career, decide who to marry, where to live and the greatest choice of all to follow light or darkness, Jesus or not.
When we come to these crossroads in life, there is sometimes a way back, you can go back to school to learn something new, or quit your job and start another. You can move to a new city if you don't like where you live. Of course you can always choose to divorce and marry another. You can come back to God.
Those are restarts, those are choices that set you back and sometimes cost you much or sometimes lead to much better things. Choices can be confusing. Too many in the cereal aisle can make you walk right by without buying any.
Now we are facing choices in our culture that will be life changing for your children's children. No matter how you see it, the choices made in the USA, Wars, Supreme Court Rulings on Marriage, Abortuary infestations, homosexual rights and hundreds of other bad consequences come from decisions made in the past.
So, once again, we are asked to choose again. Joshua said, Choose this day whom you will serve, but for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Will you. Will you choose rightly?
If you think this is a political post, you are wrong. This is about the culture and it's decline that brings us to the point of choices that are worse than Sophie's. The capacity to choose light over darkness no longer exists. It is varying degrees of deep darkness placed before us. Obscured. Lies. No truth in them.
Now what? How do we get out of this? It is up to us to shine as light in the Dark Places. Call evil truly evil and celebrate the GOOD. Christians have too long allowed the culture to call evil good and good evil.
It won't be easy, you will be ridiculed. You will be shunned by a fallen christian culture. But if you don't stand, who will? Who will stand in the middle of the Colosseum and say, ENOUGH OF THIS before the lions once more come to kill and destroy.
This is your prophetic call to stand against the evil growing.. perhaps this is the beginning. Perhaps this is the end.. We are at a crossroads.. now choose you this day....
We make even more life changing choices when we start a career, decide who to marry, where to live and the greatest choice of all to follow light or darkness, Jesus or not.
When we come to these crossroads in life, there is sometimes a way back, you can go back to school to learn something new, or quit your job and start another. You can move to a new city if you don't like where you live. Of course you can always choose to divorce and marry another. You can come back to God.
Those are restarts, those are choices that set you back and sometimes cost you much or sometimes lead to much better things. Choices can be confusing. Too many in the cereal aisle can make you walk right by without buying any.
Now we are facing choices in our culture that will be life changing for your children's children. No matter how you see it, the choices made in the USA, Wars, Supreme Court Rulings on Marriage, Abortuary infestations, homosexual rights and hundreds of other bad consequences come from decisions made in the past.
So, once again, we are asked to choose again. Joshua said, Choose this day whom you will serve, but for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Will you. Will you choose rightly?
If you think this is a political post, you are wrong. This is about the culture and it's decline that brings us to the point of choices that are worse than Sophie's. The capacity to choose light over darkness no longer exists. It is varying degrees of deep darkness placed before us. Obscured. Lies. No truth in them.
Now what? How do we get out of this? It is up to us to shine as light in the Dark Places. Call evil truly evil and celebrate the GOOD. Christians have too long allowed the culture to call evil good and good evil.
It won't be easy, you will be ridiculed. You will be shunned by a fallen christian culture. But if you don't stand, who will? Who will stand in the middle of the Colosseum and say, ENOUGH OF THIS before the lions once more come to kill and destroy.
This is your prophetic call to stand against the evil growing.. perhaps this is the beginning. Perhaps this is the end.. We are at a crossroads.. now choose you this day....
Monday, May 2, 2016
The Battlefield that No One Loves
People constantly talk about spiritual warfare. Declarations, prayer, mighty words of God.
That's all true and effective, but the enemy knows where the real battlefield is.. It's in YOUR MIND. He will do all he can to confuse, misdirect and pollute your mind. It's subtle enough. It happens because we live in a culture designed to deceive. Media and entertainment are pipelines to get you off track.
It isn't easy. Some decide they will allow zero influence. No TV. No Internet, No Magazines or Newspapers, No Movies, Little Radio and carefully selected books. That will work for a while but when a virgin mind is all at once set upon later in life by these foxes looking to spoil the vine.. things fall apart. Not of the world, but not in it either. Unengaged.
The stories of people protected and then suddenly tricked into capitulation is the thing of legend. People who never come of age, are unprepared to the age to come.
There is a shelter. It's clear from scripture. Under his wings. Wearing the Full Armor of God. Washing and regeneration by his word. Yet.. it isn't easy. It isn't simple. Those things are right and useful but the attacks won't stop just because. You have a shield because fiery darts are going to come.
Resisting the devil till he flees is not easy, it is the stuff of spiritual warfare. Defying temptation and deception is a constant engagement. We must never ever give in or give up and when we do (which we most certainly will, even the Apostle Peter did and he walked with Jesus) we have to get up and go on. Defeat is only experienced when we give up.
If the enemy can't get to you when you are awake and aware, he will often torment you in dreams or visions. He will create fear, doubt, discouragement and defeat. You will sometimes wake and feel like you are dragging an anvil.
This is the stuff of Christian Maturity. It is the warfare we must do battle in till the day we die. It seems like it gets more difficult, but some of that is the awareness that those not so engaged don't see.
The Lord says this:
That's all true and effective, but the enemy knows where the real battlefield is.. It's in YOUR MIND. He will do all he can to confuse, misdirect and pollute your mind. It's subtle enough. It happens because we live in a culture designed to deceive. Media and entertainment are pipelines to get you off track.
It isn't easy. Some decide they will allow zero influence. No TV. No Internet, No Magazines or Newspapers, No Movies, Little Radio and carefully selected books. That will work for a while but when a virgin mind is all at once set upon later in life by these foxes looking to spoil the vine.. things fall apart. Not of the world, but not in it either. Unengaged.
The stories of people protected and then suddenly tricked into capitulation is the thing of legend. People who never come of age, are unprepared to the age to come.
There is a shelter. It's clear from scripture. Under his wings. Wearing the Full Armor of God. Washing and regeneration by his word. Yet.. it isn't easy. It isn't simple. Those things are right and useful but the attacks won't stop just because. You have a shield because fiery darts are going to come.
Resisting the devil till he flees is not easy, it is the stuff of spiritual warfare. Defying temptation and deception is a constant engagement. We must never ever give in or give up and when we do (which we most certainly will, even the Apostle Peter did and he walked with Jesus) we have to get up and go on. Defeat is only experienced when we give up.
If the enemy can't get to you when you are awake and aware, he will often torment you in dreams or visions. He will create fear, doubt, discouragement and defeat. You will sometimes wake and feel like you are dragging an anvil.
This is the stuff of Christian Maturity. It is the warfare we must do battle in till the day we die. It seems like it gets more difficult, but some of that is the awareness that those not so engaged don't see.
The Lord says this:
I have overcome the world, I have overcome the tribulation in it, you can be of good cheer. Yet, your enemy is roaring around looking for potential victims. He sees you as one and will try, yes you are victoriou8s and you will defeat him, but he looks for the places your armor is not yet fully covering. Stay steady, when you fall don't stay down, get up and run to the giants in your life. Run to the battle..for hiding from it will only keep you in defeat.
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