KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Mt. 7:16-18

March 2021

People are complex.  You may have been around someone for many years and still not really know them at all because people will show you what they want you to see. There are many sides to a person because we are spirit, soul and body.  Some of us are finding out that we really did not know past presidents as their lives were later disclosed.  The recent documentary of Abraham Lincoln told us a lot about him that perhaps we never knew.  He suffered a lot of loss of people he loved and races he ran. His attention as a husband also seemed somewhat lacking as he pursued law and politics. He was not necessarily sold on the idea of setting slaves free either.  It was the hot button issue of the day and he made a logical decision.  He certainly was not stating that slaves should be in equal standing with white people the way we have determined today. The narrator of the story explained that it was not something envisioned by the people of that day.  Perhaps not, but the bible in that day surely had envisioned  and taught it.

Look at politics, a very visible example!  There are certainly a lot of politicians that are surprising us every day. Some have come right out and exposed their evil dispositions to us. They will change their opinions, loyalties and decisions about like their wardrobes.  Many have one face and opinion for friends and then another for the public.  Maya Angelou said: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”  Every once in a while someone will let something slip and we are surprised at that side of them but there is probably more there. 

Jesus gave us wise counsel.  He said you can know them by their fruits.  He used the parable of trees to teach us about the nature of people.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Mt. 7:15-18

Life is more complicated than just deciding whether a person is good or evil, but that is a good starting place. Once we discern that, we know what we are dealing with.  Jesus tells us to love everyone; they are made in the image of God, but He also warned us to be wise. Apostle Paul taught: “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord…(1Th 5:12)”. In the crucial times like we live in today, it is a good thing to know the nature of a person and some people in public are shocking us to no end as their true selves emerge.  There are many people who have learned to be silent in times of distress so as to not disclose themselves; but Jesus also declared that at harvest time, maturity will reveal all fruit and it must manifest what kind it is.  

Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Mt. 13:30 

Harvest time reveals what sort of fruit people are as the Lord sends judgment upon the earth. Those that are wise will observe and learn from what is being revealed so as not to be deceived any further.  Remember He gave us warning: 

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Mt. 7:15-16

These are lessons God taught His children so they would not be deceived because wolves walk all around us in deception and seek to devour God’s sheep.  The devil has caught some of God’s sheep unprepared.  We see the results today of many people that have been deceived by false prophets and their lives turned upside down or destroyed because of believing lies told by the liar (Satan).  God gave His children wisdom in the Word of God; so if we are still deceived, the fault is ours.  While many accuse that Jesus told us not to judge as stated in Mt. 7:1; Jesus does compel us to “judge” or use discernment like in Joh 7:24 (Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment).  

More important than discerning that which is evil is to know the fruit of the righteous which is first of all love and it blossoms into many fragrances.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Gal 5:22-23

Jesus has compelled all mankind to come unto Him so that He can make us into disciples of love, where we will learn to bring forth fruit and be pleasing to the Father.  When we are disciples for the Father, we can first of all be pleasing to Him but also our life is purified so that we are real through and through.  There is no longer fear of showing a bad side because Jesus has perfected the fruit. He is that Fruit living inside of us.  None of us are perfect in ourselves but we can be perfected or matured to be more like the Lord. Now, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1Jn 1:8-9)”.  In our best day we, like Paul, will profess that we are not perfect; but have been changed and walk in a closer relationship with God.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Php 3:12-14 

One mystery of the faith is that Jesus has come looking for fruit.  What kind of fruit will He find and what kind are you?

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Joh 13:35 

(This ministry will move forward into more of the teachings Jesus taught and has given me understanding to expound. I hope you will continue to follow and hear some of those teachings as I change my format and website to bring more spiritual insight.)

TRUE LEADERSHIP

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Ps 32:8

February 14, 2021

Perspectives of Reality

People come from many different backgrounds and view life through many different filters of beliefs and circumstances.  Their idea of truth is also viewed through those filters regardless of how misguided.  To find truth we have to go beyond personal interpretations to the real truth.  The real truth was established before my viewpoint or yours.  Truth existed before this world was created.  The Almighty God, who is perfect, existed before us and made the world that we view through imperfect lenses.  It is He that made us and everything we perceive (Gen 1:1) who is able to truthfully tell us what truth is.  It is this God, this Creator, who is perfect and the reality of truth.  We can rely on His definitions and words because He made us and has our best interest at heart.  To reveal Himself and correct our erred ways, He sent us an image of His ways, thoughts, desires revealed through the man named Jesus (Joh 1:14); who was the Son of God or God in the flesh. Through looking at Jesus in the Scriptures, through the preaching of the gospel and through our spirit man; we can get a better image of God, the Creator.  God describes Himself through Jesus as: “the way, the truth, and the life…(Joh 14:6).  God also described Himself as love.  We and our world were formed from that love.

Reality and Truth

For all the good that we received from our God, there was an opposing spirit discovered in heaven among the servants of God.  His name was Lucifer who we now call Satan, the deceiver and opposer of truth.  Unfortunately, we make a choice whether to listen to and follow the God who loves us or the deceiver, Satan, who is hate.  We decide who our leader will be and we are influenced by that spiritual leader’s ways, thoughts and deeds.  Not only us, but our earthly leaders are led by one of two spiritual leaders, God or Satan, as lord and master.  That is why it is so important that we individually become acquainted with the voice and ways of God.

Our journey with Christ, if we choose to accept Him, will show us where we are, how we got here, and how to get to the place He has destined for us in eternity with Him.  We have to prevail above every implanted lie that Satan has sown in our hearts.  We have to willingly release the lie and take on the truth.  It is a process we know as being born again from above and joined in Spirit with our Creator.  The cleansing and perfecting of our spirit, soul and body are necessary for us to live with God (1Th 5:23).  We are told in Ephesian 4 that the whole church and its spiritual gifts are given to bring us to maturity, but few churches walk in the entirety of those gifts that are necessary to raise up the legitimate church of Christ. There is no failure in Christ who will lead the believer all the way from earth to heaven.  It is from that maturity that we should go on to be true leaders who serve and do our work in the church or community.  Those who fail to mature or get this development through Christ cannot faithfully serve in truth.

Our Path Through History

We note that in the body of worshippers under Moses, the family of Abraham was wholly cared for by the leadership of people chosen through their obedience and faith.

And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.  Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:  And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. Ex 18:20-22 

The leaders that Moses set up represent the body of leaders that we today call judges, police, social workers, mayors, etc.  These are leaders that were originally called to be people of faith that serve in the everyday non-religious needs of the people.  They were not religious leaders but they were required to be people of faith to lead the general body.  A leader is one who has been taught and empowered by a higher authority to administer a service to the people for that higher authority. This tradition was carried on through the New Testament apostles as they set up leaders to care for the people.

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Act 6:1 

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. Act 6:3 

It was a tradition of the people of faith to choose believers in Christ for their leaders in order to have godly leadership over them.  America rebelled against the leadership of Britain over abusive rule and taxation but it did not rebel against faith in God.   The nation of America was formed with belief in God and as a “Nation Under God.”  Our Constitution does not require all people or leaders to be declared religious or Christian but the declaration of a nation under God brings us into a covenant agreement of rule by God.  Our God had already promised the patriarchs that He will hear the prayers of the righteous and give them righteous leaders.  The Old Testament illustrates that God allowed evil rule by kings when His people refused to hear and obey Him. 

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 1Sa 8:6-7

It was never God’s desire to give believers a king (secular ruler) over them and even in Moses day, God directed the people through a spiritual leader who followed the voice of God to lead them.  Moses was a religious leader or minister, not a secular leader over worldly matters.  We note that Peter and the other apostles were religious leaders and they specifically set up other leaders for non-religious matters from among the believers.  We note Paul’s expression of this practice in First Corinthians:

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?  If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 1Co 6:1-4 

American Error

We saw in America that Christians, who knew from scripture the displeasure of God about establishing kings over His people, took that fear to its highest level by lifting the secular leader position above the religious leader and God, Himself, and submitted themselves under that secular leader or president.  Religious and secular American civilians who promised to be “One Nation Under God”, set up a secular leader and brought all of their acts subject to that leader.  This they declared was God’s will even though it opposed the God they promised their submission.

God sent Jesus into the earth to sacrifice and die so that the children born unto Adam could be restored to children of God and live in His favor.  Through Jesus Christ, the church has the authority of Christ to rule the earth as Adam and Eve were first given authority but better because of the Holy Spirit.  It is the responsibility of the church to establish the spirit of the kingdom in the earth.  Satan is rendered defeated under the feet of the children of God who walk in the spirit of Christ.  There are false leaders who have taught multitudes that they are the spirit-filled children of God and they have led immature believers to submit to them as rightful religious leaders of Christ.  Unfortunately, young believers may be misled by religious leaders because they are incapable of discerning whether they are God’s servants or not.  As mentioned above Satan has gained authority to rule in the earth and he sets up leaders in the earth for his rule.  He has church leaders who follow him as the scriptures proclaim:  “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light (2Co 11:13-14)”.  If those that are led by the enemy of God’s children gain leadership roles then they are able to subvert those that seek the Lord into false directions that deceive and endanger the soul.

In the nation of America during the last several years, we have seen the repercussions of spiritual warfare showing up in the natural as wrong leaders were selected to rule the community and church.  Religious leaders were willing to bring their church under false spiritual leaders who insisted on leading spiritual affairs as they pursued material wealth, power, fame and prestige contrary to the word of God.  They used their natural talents and religious titles to persuade seekers of God that they must be followed. Immature believers and churches followed because these false spiritual leaders seemed more knowledgeable and connected to God than they.  Jesus had already compelled the believer to read and study the word of God: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Mt 11:29)”. Paul also gave the believer warning “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed (Gal 1:8).”  Many people that failed to learn the word of God for themselves merely followed the leadership of their church into the error of false doctrine as they sought wealth instead of Christ. The Word of God clearly told us: “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1Ti 6:10).”  Peter goes on to tell us that “And many shall follow their pernicious ways…(2Pe 2:2).”

Reconciling Error

The nation of America is in a period of trying to reconcile the upheaval that has occurred in religion, community and politics.  We see them dealing with the legal ramification of the presidential guidance of Donald Trump. People have been physically, spiritually and mentally abused; brought to confusion; misled; displaced and spiritually broken by disruptive events and poor leadership.  At the root of all the problems we have recently experienced is spiritual work by religious people and religious spirits that want to have their way.  Some are misled by flawed efforts to follow Christ and others are empowered by Satan to divert events according to their desires.  The secular community has had to deal with the repercussions of spiritual warfare in the heavens showing up in our day to day lives because religious and political leaders were duped. They may not had the knowledge of the believer or a spiritually mature church, but they had enough knowledge to know things were not right. They also had the power given to them by church failure to take authority in the physical realm and make legal and practical decisions about our rights.  It was not the will of the Lord that the secular community would lead the church but the church has vacated its authority by setting up secular leaders in political authority.  There is still heavy warfare and confusion going on in the spiritual realm as spiritual people for and against God fight to have their way. “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other… (Gal 5:17).”  Stubbornness has prevailed in many Christian souls as they have refused to soul search or receive correction based on scripture.  Not only is the fate of the Christian church in America at stake but also the state of our nation which was set up based on faith in God.  If we cannot go forward to higher levels in God to follow Christ, then surely we will fall into the recesses of sin that even our predecessors and national peers would despise.  Christians are always compelled to confess sin and receive Christ’s forgiveness because we all sin and come short of the glory of God.  Only through daily confession of sin can we expect to stay in favor and fellowship with our God.  Our loving God loves restoration.

The True Leader

We were told from the beginning who was the True Leader.  The True Leader is God, not a demigod, not man, but God.  “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Gen 1:1). As important as the patriarchs and Moses were, they got their guidance from God.  They were His voice to the people.  They knew the error of Adam and were forewarned of going off on their own.  True leadership comes from our God for His children.  Believers are compelled by scriptures to mature beyond physical leaders to responsibility for their own soul and guidance by the Holy Spirit: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (Ro 8:14).  True church leaders as Apostles Peter and Paul were led by Christ’s spirit.  When leaders submit to the leadership of the enemy as did Korah (Nu 16:32-33), Judas (Mt 27:3-5), Peter before the cross (Lk 22:60-62) and so many others; they disappoint God and lose precious privileges.  True leadership comes to the person who submits to Christ for empowerment to fulfill the work appointed by Christ because they are only His stewards. Christ is our Savior, Intercessor, Near Kinsman, and One Who Is Touched by the Feelings of Our Infirmities.  Christ has made the way for our forgiveness and return to the Father through confession of sins.  The error of many of our leaders today as well as leaders of the past is that they desired to set up their own kingdom in their own way and with their own rules.  All such kingdoms are as houses built upon sand that all fall over inferior foundations as they have throughout history.  If we live our lives in accordance to God our Creator, we cannot fall (Mt 7:24).  Abraham was led by the voice of God in the Old Testament and he became the father of those that believe by faith.  Our leadership today can be surer through biblical examples, the Word the God and the Holy Spirit provided by a gracious Father who has forgiven, saved and empowered us through Jesus Christ, His Son.

The Lesson

Our nation made a 180 degree turn.  The Founding Fathers all came from England during a time when basic education was derived from religious institutions of the Christian faith. The Founders were educated men well versed in the sciences and Christian faith.  The Puritans built communities based on their Christian faith.  The early American settlers included Quakers, Mennonites, Presbyterians Catholics and Baptists who formed the schools and universities that were Christian.  Many of America’s best universities such as Harvard started from seminaries that became secular over the years and began to produce secular leaders.  America’s oldest universities that now debate God’s existence once knew better.  The early settlers and pilgrims came to America for freedom of religion, not dissolution of it.  Religious organizations built facilities that took care of the people and community needs.  Government was local with neighbor helping neighbor.  Ministry was local and pastors helped to hold our communities together.  Our whole society started out based on the knowledge of God but now wants to kick God out and do it on their own. These first leaders as was those Moses established leaders who had faith first and then went out to do work in education, science, health and government.  Now that secularization has become full grown in America and brought us to the brink of destruction, it would be a good time to remember from whence we have come.  My personal study of the history of America led to research of a group of people who over threw the Roman Empire, immigrated to Europe and became Englanders who also have migrated into American culture, producing  our latest crisis.   Their common characteristic everywhere they have lived is fight, conquer and overthrow and take over. We mined out their motivation as white supremacy.  There is an important reason that we study history: so we do not repeat the mistakes of the past and so that we can learn from it.  America has gone 180 degrees in the wrong direction.  If in America, as every place, there is a battle between good and evil and God has taken His role in America as Covenant Leader seriously; wouldn’t He then defend His purpose of good and those that assist it. We may have won a battle, but the devil is not dead and will resurface. He cares nothing about parties, nations or people.  God will never fail those that put their trust in Him.  True Christians must learn from the lesson and rebound.  We must discern what is of God and what is of evil.   We cannot afford to walk in ignorance.  Those that oppose those that walk in Christian love, oppose our Omnipotent God.  “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…” (Joh 16:13).  Love is stronger and overcomes hate. It is the role of true ministers to help our nation throw off divisive hate ideologies and return to our foundation of love of God and neighbor, growing in wisdom from that knowledge to His ideal of community in Christian love.  It would make a world of difference to all of us.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Joh 3:16-17

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Joh 13: 35

A POISONED GOSPEL

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 2Co 11:3-4

February 2021 

The Nature of Poison

The word poison is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as a substance that through its chemical action usually kills, injures, or impairs an organism; something destructive or harmful; to treat, taint, or impregnate with; to exert a baneful influence on; corrupt.  The January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U. S. Capitol is the greatest example I can think of to illustrate what a poisoned gospel does.  What we saw on January 6 is the outgrowth of some of the bible teaching in America during the past 40 years.  We saw people mixed up and confused about what the gospel of Jesus Christ means.  Similar teaching has been fed daily to people on worldwide television through a multitude of teachers.  Erroneous concepts have been taught and a way of life has been formed by people as they absorbed and invested in the teaching.  Networking and organizations have formed around the teachers and their teachings.  A generation has grown up and been established in a mindset developed into a certain way of life and who will now tell them that it is wrong.  The gospel taught by the early Christians went around the world converting souls and nations adapted the faith and grew.  The disciples made from American preaching over the past 40 years have caused people to turn on its leaders and try to destroy their own nation.  Doctrinal beliefs have caused the country to divide into two companies at war with each other because neither understood the Christian message of love.  People from housewives to realtors to retired military rose up, prayed in Jesus’ name and then went out to maim or kill their leaders.  They felt confident in their cause and empowered by their teachers to carry out their assignment.

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Gal 5:14-15 

I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? Luk 12:49 

Unity through Truth

Father God wanted a family in the earth but He did not entrust His plan to angels.  God made man from the dust of the ground and blew the breath of life into his nostrils (Gen 2:7).  He personally taught Adam and Eve the truth about life.  As the progenitors of the human race, it was important that they understood how to live life and be able to train up their children.  They received the word of God in its purest form, straight from the Father, Himself. 

When God sent the word into the earth for the New Testament saints, He again sent the word straight from His own mouth.  The word was not sent from an angel or even a human prophet.  God came Himself in fleshly form as Savior.  He walked and talked with the disciples and they had a chance to observe His day by day life and to ask Him questions.  The word came in its purest form, from God Himself.

The authentic delivery and spirit of a work is always best when experienced from its original source.  No one sings a song or plays a musical piece with the intensity of the one who created it and copies do not retain the original quality.    

Preaching of the true gospel is accompanied by the Holy Spirit to bind us together, to heal, deliver and save.  Peter preached and people were convinced that even his shadow falling on them would bring healing.  Apostle Paul taught about false prophets who tried to duplicate his ministry to bring upon him further persecution and claim power they did not have.  One such incident in Acts 19 caused the false prophets to be beaten by the demons they tried to exercise from the sick.  The authentic gospel comes with the authentic power of God.

As an apostle over the people of Galatia, Paul was concerned that they were becoming removed from the true gospel and believing lies.  First he reminded them that he had received the genuine gospel from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ and that he had relayed to them that authentic word.  He wondered why they were now going astray.  He founded they had been listening to false prophets that had no authority from Christ.  We are seeing similar problems today as ministers teach their beliefs rather than the Word of God.  Paul scolded the believers for tolerating the false prophets and for allowing themselves to be persuaded by a false gospel.

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Gal 1:6-10. 

The best way to identify the false is by being familiar with the real.  Bank tellers can spot false bills because of familiarity with the real ones.  Every born again believer has a real encounter with the “real” Lord and His power.  Once you have experienced the real power of God, you are sealed by the Lord (2Co 1:22) and should have no tolerance for the false.   Where innocent people fall victim to a false prophet, God will, nevertheless, help those that continually seek Him with a sincere heart.  When false prophets teach and preach a false gospel, they make to themself disciples of the god they serve or the devil (Mt 23:15).  Many religious people become so committed to their church until it would be difficult to save them from their false teaching; but if the heart remains open, the truth can enter and break down the wall to dispel the lie (Heb 4:12).  We have seen a generation poisoned with a false gospel claiming prosperity and supremacy over others that has replaced the real Christian goal of love for God and neighbor.  The prosperity message sounds good because it satisfies the need or greed of the hearer.  Jesus rebuked the temple clergy for their distortion of the Law and for corrupting the children of Israel.  This generation of religious people does not believe in being corrected and believe any rebuke is a negative spirit, but listen to what Jesus told the religious hypocrites.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Mat 23:15

For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. Mar 13:22 

The gospel has been spread worldwide by the American church but the state of our Christian witness in the world attests to the type of preaching the people have been receiving.  Many Americans are caught up in their religious rituals without verifying whether or not the preaching is truth.  It is difficult to get Americans to examine their faith through the Word of God because they put their confidence in their preachers.  Our relationship with God is not just a Sunday worship but the preaching of the gospel should bring about a transformed life lived every day for Christ. The attack upon the Capitol by people who prayed and called upon the name of Jesus proves that there is a large group of people who have been taught another Jesus or error about the character of Christ.  They evidently believed they were true disciples of Christ even though they formed a mob to break into the Capitol seeking to hang or kill the legislators while destroying federal property, using profanity and where hatred was so strong that death resulted.  The people who invaded the capitol were from various states, churches, and organizations; but they shared the same erroneous belief about Jesus Christ, accepted an ideology of Trumpism and white nationalism.  The coming together of these groups from various states, churches, and organizations; reveal the wide reach of this erroneous teaching.  False teaching is being expressed through radio talk shows, news broadcasts, churches, political events, newspapers, magazines, and books that influence the minds and hearts of multitudes.  The media is calling this false mixture of religion, politics and conspiracy theories that is corroding minds as it is fed to multitudes of people a form of disinformation.  Groups have united their mixture of religion and ideology over the past 30-40 years and mobilized into the religious right culminating into the group that stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Some of them have awakened from their fog afterward and wondered how they could have been misled.

The greatest concern is whether their indoctrination could cause further threats like that against the Capitol and whether or not they can be deprogrammed to lessen the threat to our society.  The same way that these people were radicalized is the same way they can be de-radicalized by teaching of truth.  Since they believed that the immoral work they were doing was for Christ and Donald Trump, the best place to correct their error is through the truth of the gospel in the church and correct reporting of facts by the media.  Correction should have been done as a matter of the normal preaching of the gospel.  The authentic gospel had gotten lost between the Old and New Testament and had to be reintroduced by John.   As Paul declared to the Corinthians, some preachers are preaching another gospel or another Jesus.  All through the bible, the believer is warned against false prophets and their doctrine.  The believer is admonished to personally read the word, study and pray to prevent deception, even from church teachers.  Jesus cautiously taught and warned the believers in John chapter 10:14-15 about possible encounters with false teachings and how to know the truth.

Jesus warned His disciples about the way the anti-Christ would come in to deceive.    

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Mat 24:4-5 

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Mat 24:11 

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, … Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Mat 24:15-16 

Church leaders were given instructions in the Word of God to help identify the enemy and protect the saints against the overwhelming power of the anti-Christ spirit and his teaching.  Our modern-day church has often been compromised by a spirit of greed and pursued a false gospel directed toward material obtainment rather than a relationship with Christ.  Apostle Peter warned the church about this deception in his preaching.

False Prophets and Teachers

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.   And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.  2Pe 2:1-3 

A false gospel has led many churchgoers astray and given ground to the enemy to enter in and do his work.  Apostle Paul warned in the lead scripture to beware of another gospel and heed the true gospel.  False teachings in the church have hindered the truth and opened the door for evil to walk and devour the people.  We have seen the results before our eyes over the past several years as false teaching led to bad political choices, decay in our government, and the rise of an anti-Christ spirit dividing the nation, and insurrection against the Capitol.

Despite the past and present sins of America, it is still the best hope for bringing the world to Jesus if we can acknowledge and repent of our errors and walk in obedience.  Where the devil has used racial division as a wedge between black and white people to divide the nation, the bible readily teaches that we should come together in unity through the teachings of Christ and His love for all.  The white community has held on to the lie of racial supremacy for too long and seems unable to admit to the error of white supremacy and conform to the love of Christ.  Every Christian is taught that salvation starts through confessing of sin, about the original sin that separated us from God, how salvation comes through Christ, and how we must continue to repent of sin to continue as a child of God. 

There are mega churches and denominations that have courted the lie and they should be compelled by the leaders and members to reject the lie and walk in truth.  That is how we turn the general body of citizens from the craziness we have seen.  A church that wants to acknowledge Christ but reject His teaching about loving our neighbors and our enemies is not following the gospel of Jesus Christ and should be rejected as false.  It is not enough to say I go to church; but we must become a born-again Christian and live for Christ to be saved.  America has a lot of showboat Christians and too few genuine Christians.  Jesus asked:  “For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away (Lk 9:25)?”  Similarly, what would it profit one at the end of life to have spent a whole life pretending to be saved and then die and go to hell?

Jesus compels us to come to Him: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out (Joh 6:37).  Life is found only in the Lord and outside of Him is death.  Jesus gives assurance to the believer that He will never leave or forsake him.  No one else is able to truthfully make that promise.  Jesus says to us: “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (Joh 14:6).”  Apostle Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake (Act 28:3), but the power of Christ was with him to save him.  Jesus will keep those that trust in Him.  He has given us very clearly through His words and example the path to find the real gospel and the real Christ.  We can pray to the Lord at any time and at any place in sincerity of heart and be confident that He will hear and answer our prayers.  Christ is the only way back to truth and life. 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Mt 11:28-29

CLOSE CALL

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Joh 13:34-35

January 21, 2021

Life and Death Visions

People having a traumatic near-death experience, often say they see glimpses of their life pass before your eyes where they relive the good or bad times in a matter of seconds. Have you ever imagined what Jesus must have felt when He prayed before His crucifixion (Lk 22:39)?  It is written that His sweat was as great drops of blood. He had vision and could see the past or future before Him and His flesh man did not want to endure the cross He saw. He prayed to the Father: “…O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done (Mt. 26:42). 

Traumatic or near death experiences have the power to turn one’s life around when it is realized there will be no further opportunities to enjoy the life expected.  Some people, after such an experience, turn their lives around and live a more meaningful existence from that point forward.  They decide not to waste life anymore because they learned a valuable lesson.

On January 6, 2021, many of us had such an experience.  Some people were actually in the U.S. Capitol and knowingly or unknowingly had a life or death experience.  There were people headed toward them, hunting them intent on maiming or killing the legislators.  God knew it and He did not allow the mob to find the legislators though some life was still lost among the perpetrators and the protectors.  Some of the legislators may have actually experienced trauma while huddling inside waiting for the danger to pass.  I don’t take lightly their experience; they were actually there.

For the rest of us who watched in horror from our homes as the mob scaled the walls, swore in profanity and struggled to get in; we were aghast and unable to help as it unfolded before our eyes. I am sure many prayers went up as we watched.  We saw the legislators having a traumatic experience and the mob out of control.  Did we consider though that we also were having a traumatic experience?  What was happening there was happening to every American.  This was our experience.  This was our Capitol.  It was the people’s house.  We were being attacked.

It’s About All of Us

We are all casualties of the incident and maybe some of us understand now how detrimental the incident was and perhaps many still do not understand.  This was a traumatic experience.  We have gone through so much over the past several years…so much anxiety, so much loss of property, so much death.  If our life did not pass before us in this situation, it may be because we did not understand the attack was against all of us.  We have heard over and over again that our democracy was under attack.  It truly has been under attack, both spiritually and physically.  We watched the mob scaling of the walls and we were all horrified but we may have mistakenly thought it was a riot that went awry and we escaped.  We, of course, denounced it in the harshest terms as we saw the reruns. 

It was the next morning I thought in a flash the horror of how terrible it could have been when I heard that the Speaker and Vice President were still in the building during the attack.  We had been told during the news broadcast of the incident that they had been removed from the Capitol.  The horror of what could have happened hit me as if it actually happened. I recounted it later in the evening while posting a comment to an online article discussing it.  It was not until a day or so later that the newscasters began to tell the American people that there was actually a close call and they played recordings of the mob talking about killing the speaker, hanging the Vice President and hunting down the legislators.  If they had carried out their mission, they would have decapitated the next leadership of the nation, possibly leaving Trump still in charge of the presidency because of disruption of the certification and election process. 

It was a close call upon the legislators and all of us.  It did not happen and we are grateful to God for that. The ballots for Joseph R. Biden did become certified and he was inaugurated as the new President of the United States of America within two weeks.  He has a robust plan for the recovery and protection of the nation.  The majority of the nation looks forward to the success of his efforts over the next four years.

It Was Spiritual

I am not writing to discuss the things you already know.  I want to share with you what happened not in the natural, but about the threats in the spirit realm.  Many of us need to understand how close we really came to loss of our democracy and more.  Loss of American democracy is a horrible picture no American wants to see because we have never had to do without it and we take our everyday liberties for granted.

Those that are Christian or bible readers will be most able to follow what I am about to say.  People tend to look at the outer world only but there is a lot of activity going on in the spirit world as well.  If you realize that there is a God who created the earth, then you should also realize that there is a devil who opposes God.  God is the spiritual Father of the believer, but the devil is an evil spirit who influences people to disrupt our world and destroy the soul.  Everything that God owns and has declared His name upon, the devil wants to defile or destroy.   As a nation who declared itself to be “One Nation Under God,” we should anticipate the attack of the enemy against us.  The nation has indeed had other close calls during world war, civil war, economic distress and disease; but America has always had at its core a strong praying Christian community.  We prayed for our nation in public and in private.  The last several decades have seen disagreement over core Christian principles and a drop in the spiritual commitment to the gospel truth as believers became more materialistic.  We still church like no other nation, but we have fallen into patterns of ritual without much power or spirituality with little word.  The churches have gotten bigger but the flame weaker.   

It would take time to list all that has occurred over the past 50 years to bring us to the point of the threat we face today but it is obvious the church has weaken.  One quick mistake can be identified as the concept of political correctness.  That concept erased the line between right and wrong and caused our nation to drop a lot of guards that should have remained to protect our integrity and determination toward excellence.  Correctness has nothing to do with politics.  Right and wrong is found in God’s word.  Those dropped standards allowed behavior previously considered unacceptable.  As a result of lowered standards, opinions splintered, confusion set in and people expected less.  People were expected to keep their opinions to themselves.  We were urged to be a team player and not send out alerts, so wrongs went unchecked.  The enemy of our soul and of our nation benefitted from the lowered standards.  The standards for our society were established on morality derived from the scriptures, but the minds and conscience of people were being assaulted by compromise and lies

Recently I heard the spirit of God say, the spirit of anti-Christ is organized evil.  We have always had an understanding that the anti-Christ was a spirit that was against Christ but this definition gave more clarity.  The anti-Christ spirit is an evil spirit that organizes systems into a plot to destroy the influence of Christ upon the earth.  This spirit does not preclude the use of religious people.  When we understand it is an organized and systemic plan of evil intent set on destruction, then we can see that there were forces behind the scaling of the Capitol walls.  Minds were corrupted over time from various sources and turned toward the attack.  If the plan had been exercised successfully, it would have decapitated the government; but it goes deeper than that.  I believe there is an underlining antichrist spirit using the discord of racial hatred and other controversies to destroy the national unity.   Denial of this truth only makes it easier to carry out. 

We have seen racial hatred and its devastating affects but we may not have realized that racial hatred could cause us to lose our nation.  Hate is a demonic power at its root. At the root of racial supremacy is a demonic hate that is based on a lie.  History, anthropology, and biblical scripture dispute the theory that the white community predated black existence or possessed higher intellect than the people originating from African descent which first populated the world.  Lifting up the truth defeats the lie.  If white America insists on proving what cannot be proven, then it has taken a stand on a foundation of lies.  Our nation stepped into a spiritual ensnarement of the evil one based on this lie.  The lie took on a life of its own as it grew in power and gave birth to organized hate groups. Fear of losing their power further fueled their hate.   This lie was always fatal because it tried to prove the unprovable and it divided the nation into two opposing sides destined for confrontation. All of these actions reveal a spirit of anti-Christ set on destroying the authority of Christ established in people and systems formed in a nation under God.  We must know the truth because Jesus promised that truth would set us free.

Our religious leadership in churches is invested with the responsibility to defuel community hatred and bring truth.  The religious right became strongly engaged in the political process to encourage the election of a man for president who practiced lying, stroked racial fear and was called a disrupter. They had a desire to upset the current order and usher in their idea of Christendom that would protect their religious status and establish white nationalism.  Christianity is a religion that:  “…hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth (Act 17:26).” They let the scriptures relating to persecution of Christians cause them great fear, even though their commitment to Christianity compares nowhere near that of Stephen, Peter or Paul.  American Christianity has an expectation of a life of comfort, wealth and ongoing relationships with the world.  It is inconsistent with the persecution of the Jews who resisted corruption to the point of losing their lives for the cause of a Christian witness. Today’s evangelicals were willing to unite with worldly partners of similar fears to increase their numbers and accomplish their unbiblical goal of maintaining white majority rule.  They were willing to establish as president a man who daily set fire to an already blazing flame of racial instability.  Their eyes were blinded by greed, racial supremacy and thirst for power.  They could not see that their presidential choice revealed the same type spirit as that of the renown Hitler leadership that was set on a destructive course to destroy himself, his nation and the world.  Hitler planned to have a nation of racially superior people ‘like himself,” to cleanse the world of people from other ethnic backgrounds he thought inferior, and to set himself up to rule the world.  That is the same plan proposed by the president and his supporters.  It’s important to understand that racial hate was at the root of Hitler’s acts and that it is the same spirit in the land today.  The paradox though is that Americans are very aware of the devastation of Germany’s holocaust.  We fought the war, saw the fall of Hitler’s regime and know that his racial animosity was copied from observing America’s racial conflict.   

The removal of the past president was the preservation of our nation.  We survived four years of Donald Trump that could have been a life-time rule by a tyrant.  It was a close call.  If your life did not pass before your eyes, it should have because we were dealing with the life and death of a people, a nation and the idea of liberty.  We could have lost it all over greed.  We can and must do better.  The Word of God has prophesied these events and established leaders with this information so that believers would not be caught off guard. Many people may choose to stop their examination of our close call at the examination and penalty placed upon Donald Trump but the fault line goes further than him and deeper in the body of our people.

Morals Guide a Nation

The population of the nation is influenced by biblical doctrine and political views which come through media, educational facilities and churches, etc.  Jesus found fault with biblical teaching when He came to Jerusalem to be received by the Jews.  The doctrine of good and evil is taught primarily by our churches; and if they get it wrong, our communities will reflect it.  It is the responsibility of the church to warn the people of the consequences of living for good or evil.  The fear of God and the fear of hell have kept many people on the straight and narrow.  The church must renew the pledge to teach truth and to teach how we love and live among all people.  Jesus showed us how to live in a community that is inclusive of all people, that loves all people and cares for all people even though it is His family that reigns with Him.  America has promised to reflect the equality that is in the mind of God.  Jesus illustrated how to minister to all kinds of people to raise them to a higher level.

Our nation can come into unity by taking on the ways of Christ and living in union with Him.  Satan tries to unite people around his evil ways, but Jesus has already defeated him and empowered believers.   If our churches fail to promote a unity for Christ in our community then our communities may unify in evil as we saw in the insurrection on January 6, 2021.  If our leaders are wrong or have a wrong spirit then so will the people. The churches and belief systems that produced the catastrophe of January 6 are still in place and can boil up again at any time. Christians have to realize that wrong doctrine led a lot of seekers in error and begin to help correct fellow believers. We have seen an anti-Christ spirit rise up in our nation and try to lead the nation into white supremacy rule.  Our churches were ill prepared to stop it because of pursuing other goals.  Believers must refuse to follow false teaching and read the word of God personally and frequently to stay in truth. 

Unlike some other nations, Americans have the liberty to read the word and live for Christ. The Holy Spirit helps us to know Christ for ourselves and He will reveal deception.  The church has the power of God to fix our societal woes because it has the fullness of Jesus Christ available to it.  We can choose to love our neighbor regardless of their behavior or status while praying for their needs as Jesus taught.  America can still be a light on the hill and example to other nations if we follow our God.  The Holy Spirit’s power was given to the church to supply our needs; and with His help, we have lesser need for restrictive laws, government and medical care.  It starts with loving our next door neighbor and witnessing Christ. Regardless of past faults and behavior, Jesus loves us and our neighbor and inquires why can’t we.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Joh 3:16 

The Leadership Dilemma of This Hour: An Explanation for 2020 – Part 2

I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me… Isa 45:5 

January 14, 2021

This is Part Two of my last article and I believe it will give more clarity to the events we are now experiencing. I am writing because the church is living far beneath its privileges, spiritual leaders are failing to stand up for Christ and we are all suffering as a result.  It took me years to understand the long awaited answer to the question I had asked God shortly after joining the church in 1982.  After reading about the miraculous power of God in the bible, I asked: “Lord, where is your church?” I believe now I can explain the answer after many years of religious experience.  The spirit of the Lord had led me when I was unsaved and living in D.C. to go back home and I obeyed.  Within two years, I had joined the church, was spirit-filled and determined to obey the Lord.  A lot of people may be trying to reach that point, but that is the place where the Lord began to truly save me.  Thirty some years later I am so glad He did not leave me at that same spot.  Many people, even Christians, do not understand what it is to be saved and that is the reason why the church is in such a dire condition.  The work of salvation is a continuing process and is a deep work in the soul of the believer. It is a lot more than just trying to resist sin.  You have to meet Jesus and walk with Him to get truly saved.  The early Christian patriarchs understood it was more than just going to church or professing Christ. God offers real power and real change.

The answer to my question about seeing the Lord’s church took me places and through things that eventually revealed the real church and the mystery of a life in Christ.  In I Corinthians 1:10, Paul rebuked the believers for their many church leaders, divisions in the body and differences in doctrine.  I previously wrote about this issue, but the Lord showed me how fractured the church was and how it was supposed to operate.  In the early 80’s, there were other people like myself who wanted a deeper relationship with God. I visited and was exposed to many popular churches and their doctrine while the Spirit guided me concerning their practice of faith.  There came a time after about a decade in the faith when I realized God was leading many seekers of the Lord who had left their denominational roots to return and strengthen the brethen (Lk 22:32).  I went back and tried to do so, but as you might imagine the effort was not well received.  Fortunately, I had the blessing of having obeyed and the Spirit continued to lead me.  I observed that some of those that did not go back in obedience continued to go forward but went out into the fringes. 

We have seen over the past several decades, people operating from the fringes who went on to lead and teach. Many of these ministries failed to line up with scripture and could not easily be corrected.  New churches sprang up and a fire was lit (Mk 4:5).  Many of those groups are now recognized as evangelicals and the rest is history.  A real journey with the Lord may lead into strange waters and only those that stay obedient and close to Him will survive and come out in maturity.  I recommend reading the popular book, Pilgrim’s Progress for a better understanding. This journey with the Lord will kill off fleshly pride, arrogance, greed, selfishness, and a striving for fleshly desires.  Many people who did not finish the journey are those we see falling from the high places.  They may be rich, well known and have multitudes of people following them and yet God is either absent from their ministry or standing at a distance. This is flawed leadership where people suffer from false teaching. Evangelicals have developed multi-million dollar church organizations and many recently endorsed an unlikely choice for president that they believed God ordained. The evidence has been questionable as we are now seeing.  They also claimed God gave them a prophecy on how to take kingdom control before Jesus comes. People of lesser knowledge have followed faithfully but in error.  Read here (How self-proclaimed ‘prophets’ from a growing Christian movement provided religious motivation for the Jan. 6 events at the US Capitol) an article to get more information about this group. They call it the seven mountain mandate where they have taken control of certain areas of authority to possess the kingdom of God. Here are the seven mountains they set out to control:  1) Education; 2) Religion; 3) Family; 4) Business; 5) Government/Military; 6) Arts/Entertainment; and 7) Media. They believed in placing representatives in each of these areas that gave them a lot of control. You can read more about their beliefs on this website: (https://www.gotquestions.org/seven-mountain-mandate.htmlWhat is the seven mountain mandate, and is it biblical?). The list of people involved in this nationwide movement is a who’s who of top American religious leaders. I watched them from afar because I know that Jesus is Lord over the church and He leads and guides His own followers to places of authority and unity by the Holy Spirit. A few weeks ago the Spirit dropped a revelation on me while I was walking through my home. I had been studying end time prophecies in the bible and was in constant shock as the truth unfolded before me.  I heard the following words in my spirit: “The anti-Christ spirit is organized evil.”  I immediately saw and understood it in my spirit.  Later I saw a video on YouTube of someone struggling to explain the seven mountain prophecy and I immediately thought: “They believe this is a revelation from God.”  I was horrified that professing Christians were falling into this error.  They were ensnared in their own prophecy (2Co 10:12).

Unfortunately, when a believer goes off in error or believes a lie, the enemy has ground to lead them astray by their own lust for things outside God.  You might remember that the devil tried to deceive Jesus by offering power and grandeur in the wilderness if He would just bow down and serve him.  If we wait on God, He will prepare us before the wilderness journey (Mt. 4:1; Ex 12:3) and go with us. God always gives a warning to those that will hear but people have freewill and can choose to obey or not. 

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2Th 2:11-12 

The verse above comes out of the same chapter that discusses the man of lawlessness who would come on the scene.  The true church has insight and responsibility to warn the saints of false doctrine (Jud 1:23).  Lack of true preaching leaves people vulnerable to false doctrine that promises benefits without suffering.  We have seen evangelical ministries aligning with people from all kinds of groups and beliefs to gain power.  It has been very strange to see some of these people from secular lifestyles claim Christianity.  Though anyone can come to Christ, Christian living requires a life separated from the world and its evil.  Cheap grace has lured people into the  sanctum without cleansing or commitment and set them up for failure. While preachers have sought for numbers and dollars, they have compromised doctrine and purity for large gatherings.

Churches with conflicting doctrine have united for the purpose of wealth, power and politics.  From the early days of the Moral Majority, we saw white Christians unite behind racial hatred, anti-immigration policies, abortion rights, and white nationalism.  None of these positions are in line with the word of God so it is out of the will of God and provides vulnerability for the enemy’s snares.  White Christians, afraid of losing racial power and majority rule in the nation, have compromised truth and united in error to stay in power over other racial minorities.  Their erroneous doctrine is not a secret because there are plenty of books and articles written itemizing their error.  My own book (Christianity and Ethnicity: Is Christ Concerned About Race?; 2017) was written to alert the black community of falling susceptible to deceptive doctrine to gain political control.  Religious leaders who have not been purged of pride are not easily corrected and are reluctant to receive prophecy but Paul taught all in the church can prophesy. Leaders should receive God’s correction in the privacy of the church or home to prevent public chastening but either way God will not be ignored.  Here are just a few pertinent references from my recent reading of public material.

“When a whole community has become immersed in a moral crisis, what’s actually gone wrong becomes difficult to recognize with any clarity. The threat of Donald Trump (even now, one week after the election) and of what now deservedly can be called Trumpism has never been primarily about policies. Democrats and Republicans, Libertarians and independents, have always differed and will always differ about taxes, Iran, immigration, abortion, criminal justice, climate change, trade, minimum wage — you name it. Arguments over issues are the routine work of a functioning political community. But in our current moment, a focus on policies amounts to misdirection. What we are witnessing right now is a crisis of truth and character. –  David P. Gushee; November 11, 2020; Why Trump’s Electoral Crisis is Really a Moral Crisis; religionnews.com. 

Whiteshift: the turbulent journey from a world of racially homogeneous white majorities to one of racially hybrid majorities. This is the century of whiteshift.  As Western societies are becoming increasingly mixed-race, demographic change is transforming politics.  Over half of American babies are non-white, and by the end of the century, minorities and those of mixed race are projected to form the majority in the UK and other countries.  The early stages of this transformation have led to a populist disruption, tearing a path through the usual politics of left and right.  Ethnic transformation will continue, but conservative whites are unlikely to exit quietly; their feelings of alienation are already redrawing political lines and convulsing societies across the West.  One of the most crucial challenges of our time is to enable conservatives as well as cosmopolitans to view whiteshift as a positive development. – Eric Kaufmann; Whiteshift; Abrams Books, 2018

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation will quickly discover, Du Mez is not describing a movement in search of a happy medium. For the past 80 years, she argues, white evangelical speakers, writers, and media figures have been idealizing a form of manliness that is at once all Jesus and all John Wayne, calling their audiences to hyper-masculinity as an orienting center. Men are pushed to be extra-manly, wives to be sexy and supportive, and children to mind authority as they grow into their own designated gender tracks. Along the way, this model of Christian patriarchy seeks to govern the home, the school, the church, and ultimately, the nation.- Kristin Kobes Du Mez; Liveright; 2020; Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation

Most of our nation’s problems stem from improper leadership operating in positions of religion, government, education, media, entertainment, and family. Oppressive control over the minds and wills of people is what Christ warned us about and He protects the church  with the Holy Spirit. The fight of our lives from authoritarian control came from the highest office holder in the land where all our lesser leaders all gave over authority to him.  The only reason we are prevailing at this hour is because nonreligious, secular people have insisted on telling the truth.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Joh 8:32 

As I stated in Part 1, we have to use the truth to destroy the lie.  Telling the truth represents standing with God whereas telling a lie represents standing with Satan, the destroyer.  Destruction is in our land today because our nation has been embracing the lie and the liar. Multi-layer authority in the church and government was for our protection.  The Holy Spirit’s guidance over a believer is for personal connection and protection with our God.  Christians are supposed to know that the devil will mix truth and a lie to deceive the vulnerable just like he fooled Eve in the Garden.   If we want to survive Covit-19 and many other issues we are dealing with, we have to start doing what we know is right.  Those that know to do right must take the lead and do right like Gideon did (Jdg 6:27).  We should remember the fate of Germany when evil was ruling and the white religious and community people stayed silent.  Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.  The evangelicals believed they are right because they are religious but Jesus rebuked the religious Pharisees and Sadducees of Jerusalem because they were in error.  Jesus walked with the laborers and tax collectors instead.  When a people have reached their pinnacle, it is either time to be commended or condemned.  We have witnessed the climax of this society and its results.  The Lord will rise up whoever He wants to use to do His work because this is a time of demotion for some and promotion for others.  All the chips are on the table and black Americans and other groups that know the Lord have their opportunity to rise up and be blessed by God in His kingdom.

The year of 2020 was the time for God’s dealing with wickedness and helping His people.  The whole bible teaches about God’s judgment and how the people should not be found living in sin.  The white community has had the liberty of the last several hundred years of black labor, accumulated wealth, political power and Christian understanding  to fulfill their destiny in America; but it has not brought them peace and assurance because of their spirit of oppression.  The job of the preacher is to prepare the people to find their peace in Jesus but many got distracted by filthy lucre.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1Ti 6:10 

Let me briefly respond to the question about 2020.  The other morning I awoke and heard the word “generation”.  When I searched it out in my bible, I was led to the scripture of God talking with Israel about 40 years in the wilderness.  When I counted back 40 years it came to 1980.  That was the year I returned home and it was also an important time for the church.  Many of the current popular churches were beginning to catch on fire with the Holy Spirit around that time and churches were springing up and prospering.  God works in generations and at the conclusion of a generation, He has expectations of growth but His judgment falls on the third or fourth generation of those that hate Him (Ex 20:5).  We are at the end of a generation and dispensation, where God is judging our work.  There is so much more to say but I hope I have shared enough to help people see that each of us have it in our own hands to believe God and do what’s right or bring destruction on our own heads by continuing to do evil. Evil has fallen upon us because we individually and collectively let down the standard and the enemy has been sowing seeds of error to prepare for this time to take charge.  Ultimately, God says:   “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph 6:12). God has shown us what wickedness in the high places look like and how we have to be alert and knowledgeable to withstand evil.  We each have been given a personal connection with God through Jesus and we must never let it fall.  If we stand with God, we win; but we have to stand against evil.  Nations stand or fall because of its people and we are all involved in saving the nation. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Joh 3:16-17

The Leadership Dilemma of This Hour: An Explanation for 2020 – Part 1

I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me… Isa 45:5 

January 10, 2021

Confronting the Problem

The American media recently announced that the nation was being attacked on several fronts and they went on to name the culprits:  Coronavirus, Economy, racial conflict, political upheaval.  After announcing these problems, they concluded the report outlining what is being done on each front. Most of us that listened were comforted in each solution or resolution that came about.  We believed the reports that the politicians would eventually take care of the problems.  Many Americans believe that it will all be well as soon as the new president and administration are in place.

America has seen days when the experts came together and took care of the nation’s common problems and we all went back to our place of rest.  America has had the good fortune of leaders who rose up with the foresight to move the nation forward.  How many times though can you patch a garment before you have to do some serious repair work or replace it?  When we are talking about correcting something built on a divine foundation, it becomes a whole different matter.  What if the damage needing repair is our world?  There are some things that we just do not have the tools to repair.

Who Is In Charge?

Our modern world seems to forget that this universe and the nation of America started from a spiritual move activated by God.  The bible clearly tells us that God spoke this world into existence.  The founders of the nation of America told us about how divine providence was involved in the forming of this nation and how they put their trust in God for the nation’s wellbeing and guidance as they declared the nation to be “One Nation Under God.”  They made some major mistakes, but the founders started out with reverence for God and asking for His guidance.  More than 200 years down the road, our leaders and citizens now expect to have the wherewithal to fix the problems we have racked up all by ourselves.  For every major problem we put a patch on, we should be thankful to be able to go a little bit further.  Perhaps someone prayed, someone sacrificed, or maybe it was because people came together and in that unity received an answer.  God has promised to help us if we seek Him.  Perhaps we did that, but did we really acknowledge and thank God for that answer or did we applaud ourselves for ingenuity.

Our nation cannot continue to ignore the need for spiritual guidance from God and expect to have continued success.  The whole bible witnesses this fact.  God is long suffering but He is also a God of judgment.  He has given us an allotted time in which to acknowledge Him and do what is right.  Like any good parent, children are expected by their parents to grow up within a specific time, mature and become responsible; but what if we have never grown to maturity or are still disobedient, spoiled children expecting their own way?  We have all marveled and grimaced at Donald Trump being called a baby president.  What a misnomer!  No one with that much power should be acting as a baby nor appeased in bad behavior.  We all know how ridiculous that is.  What about how foolish the most powerful nation in the world is looking to the rest of the world when the nation cannot handle even the simplest matters that every other nation in the civilized world has handled.  How is it that Americans could not agree to wear a simple face mask to stay alive from a deadly disease?  How is it that the “One Nation Under God” could not all agree on what is a lie and what is the truth.  How is it that the most powerful nation has been laughed at by less prominent nations?  Forsaking God has its consequences. 

Acknowledging Error

Difficult times tend to bring us to a point of consideration or reckoning, where self-examination is warranted.  Those options depend on someone actually knowing the truth and bringing others into consideration.  Normally we expect our spiritual leaders to guide us into repentance.  Our problem is that long before the crisis of this hour, many of our spiritual leaders had already compromised the standards of truth.  They had been led astray by religious entrepreneurs to seek their highest wealth by marketing religion through promoting business systems rather than within spiritual relationship with God.  Ministers have sought to be more like everyone else in secular life rather than live set aside for the Lord’s use.  They remained in the church role but considered ministry to be similar to other secular jobs.  They contended for wealth and a worldly reputation like other occupations rather than entering behind the veil to commune with God.  They forgot that the preacher’s employer is a spiritual employer with unlimited power and higher standards than carnal man.  As they brought down God’s standard, the standard for every other occupation was brought down as well until truth seemed fallen in the streets.  The watchmen on the wall were asleep. The nation has reached the repercussions of a generation who sought worldly gold rather than intimacy with God.  They had the wrong response to the question: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul (Mar 8:36)?”

While the secular world tries to patch up the damage again, God is now requiring more than a patch this time.  There comes a time of reckoning when we have to deal with the real problem.  The real problem is the nation’s disobedience to God and having broken the agreement to obey His Law to love God and neighbor.  Secular professionals cannot deal with this problem because its root is spiritual disobedience and their solutions would merely kick the can further down the road.  God withdraws His protection when a people unite to do evil. Solution will require the true church to recognize their error and acknowledge the failure to obey God.  That presents a problem because the nation’s citizens and leaders are promoting carnal rather than spiritual solutions.   The leaders who led the nation astray used a mixture of religion and politics as their snare like the prophets of Baal did (1Ki 18:19) and they are quickly claiming no fault.  God always leave a faithful remnant to plead the people’s cause though.  He is requiring a heart change and a patch is not going to work this time.   Even the secular world recognizes how desperate the times are and want real answers.  We will not be able to smooth over these problems.  Only the truth can deliver us from the snares and influent of past lies .

Can the church get back on track?  Some churches have assumed the position of silence in the midst of world shaking problems.   Their sermons still relate to worldly interest rather than the distress of end time troubles.  Carnal leaders expect to ride out the storm and resume normality at its conclusion. Normality…how was that working for us before?  Church leaders have the responsibility of watching and preparing believers until the Lord comes.  Most churchgoers are accustomed to being led by the words of the pastor and are unprepared to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Today’s tumultuous times prove the need of hearing God for yourself.  Pastors have enjoyed a platform where they have been the sole leadership authority and developing member maturity has been at their discretion.  This leadership error (Eph 4:11) needs to be called out to believers who have a right to grow to maturity.  So let’s look at the real problem and we have to go to God for that. God has already spoken to this problem in the moment and in prophecy. Let’s just see what God has said:

Eze 34:10  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. 

Jer 2:7  And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. Jer 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. Jer 2:9  Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children’s children will I plead.

Commentary on Ezekiel 34 – The shepherds of this chapter were not the religious leaders of the people, but rulers who sought in their government not the good of the people but their own selfish ends. But the statements made by the prophet may be rightly applied to rapacious priests who care more for the fleece (animal fur skin) than for the flock. Pastors are required to lead the flock of God not for filthy lucre (money) but as examples for the sheep, 1Pe 5:2-3. It is their duty, also, to strengthen the spiritually diseased, heal the sick, bind up the broken in heart, and seek the lost. – F. B. Meyers

Bearing in mind that the bible is written for all times and that the 34th chapter of Ezekiel is not dated for a specific time, the prophecy is spoken against rulers who are both religious and political who abuse the people for their own worldly gain.  Where rulers abuse the people, God will judge them on their performance and service to His people.  God promises both here and in the New Testament example of Mat 21:41, 43: “They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” 

The decree of God for the unfaithfulness of His servants who reject His rule is for removal from office and replacement by someone who will obey His authority and care for the people. Our nation is struggling with this issue today but Jesus’ handling was clear.  Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees when He came to the Jerusalem. 

Mat 23:13  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves . . . 31  Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32  Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33  Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 34  Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35  That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36  Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 

History tells us that the temple was destroyed by the Titus of the Romans, so the Pharisees and Sadducees did indeed get tossed out of their positions and the New Testament church was established by the apostles with no need of Pharisees’ service.  If they did not convert and accept Christ, there was no place for them in the faith.  Even though there is prophesy of building a third temple, the Jewish leadership has been without a temple ever since then. 

Fast forward to the modern church today and we are seeing chaos.  Some people may remember that a few years ago, Congress tried to get an accounting of the finances of the mega churches.  Some of the major charismatic televangelists like Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn and others were contacted by congress to reveal their financial records.  Some churches complied but many charismatic leaders resisted the demand for an accounting of personal use of donated church funds and verification of tax status.  Their resistance prevented the correction of the church abuse of funds for the minister’s exorbitant personal affairs and such use has greatly excelled since those days without accountability. This brings to mind the story in scripture of the master’s calling for an accounting of his servants’ use of his funds and his dealing with them according to their use of his funds (Mt. 25:24).  Since this government inquiry, the charismatic and mega churches have changed their efforts to involvement in political appointments, legislation, judges and particularly the 2016 election of President Donald Trump.  They resisted government’s oversight of their lawlessness and have taken oversight of government by advising, support and promoting the president and politicians. Now even though this may seem proper, we need to examine their motion, which was their intent to keep using church funds for personal use without any oversight.  When church and government are both corrupt, neither represent righteousness and God must intervene.  This is the time for the people to wake up and throw off false leadership before God brings judgment on the whole system.  The leadership error is the epitome of the Ezekiel 34 accusation. The religious, business and government leaders conspired together to reduce the tax burden on the rich while they oppressed the people.  During the Corona 19 pandemic that has hit the nations of the world, it impacted the United States to a greater degree because of mismanagement and disregard by the nation’s president.  When the unemployed workers of America reached millions and relief checks were dispensed by the government to help the needy, first in line were the rich and mega church pastors who had also benefitted from the generous tax break.  This was the kind of collusion and abuse that God prophesied in Ezekiel 34 that the rulers would levy upon the people.  While the lawlessness of the president, false evangelism and a renegade congress have cracked the Christian foundation; chaos has ensued because there is no common ground on which to stand or use as a standard for agreement.  God has exposed this corruption to open the eyes of the innocent of His people and call them to deal with sin and sinners who corrupt the nation.

We saw how God dealt with the corruption of pastors or prophets, kings, princes and temple leaders but the New Testament gives us different set of commandments.  The believers are called to be awake and part of the kingdom that hears from God and use spiritual gifts and talents to guide the church, community and nation in righteousness.  Today every believer is held responsible for his or her personal ministry to Christ and His kingdom and will have to answer for what they have done for Christ.  Some churches have false teaching or may be set up incorrectly but Jesus said: ”My sheep hear my voice and a stranger they will not follow.”  We see Apostle Paul in scripture with had the mind of Christ to both correct and direct the churches he raised up.  As their elder leader, he had authority to teach, lead, and correct their behavior.  Jesus, our Lord, had already given the sheep warning of false leaders.

Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees

Lk 12:1  In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Lk 12:2  For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

In the scriptures above we see the Lord warning His disciples to not be deceived by the Pharisees’ false teaching and preaching because they are hypocrites.  Jesus further explained that these religious leaders teach the scriptures but do not obey the scriptures.  The bible authority is timeless and written for instruction to those that live today. So the Lord’s warnings are for us as well.  We should be aware of the doctrine being taught by religious leaders who preach and teach but do not obey the word they teach to others.  Jesus did not set up religious leaders as religious monarchs but as servant leaders.  The concept of servant leaders is not readily accepted in our nation where preachers, pastors, evangelists are superstars who first competed with Hollywood for name recognition and now Hollywood comes to them and receive accolades. The humility of Jesus was our example to follow.

Individual Responsibility

Just as Jesus was needed to correct the church at Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit is moving to bring correction today.  The church and its moral laws are the foundation of our moral society and corruption of the church results in corruption of our society.  Correction of our society and nation requires the uprooting of corrupt leaders in our church and government.  They cannot function without the support of individual citizens and Jesus has called upon and empowered the believer to pray and assist in cleansing the church and saving our world.  Where God has given the individual believer His Holy Spirit, He will direct them in their part of the work.  Spirit filled believers are called in Rom 8:14 the sons of God.  The believer represents Christ in the earth and has a responsibility to work to bring forth the kingdom of God.  It is done in righteousness by the spirit and not by hostile takeover.  While God is by the Holy Spirit cleansing His house and the land every spirit filled child of God needs to seek his role in possessing the kingdom.  This is a new day.  The truth shall stand but “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up (Mt. 15:13).  This is the time that Jesus empowered each believer and the united church body to stand up for Jesus and His rule in the earth. There will be a Part II to this article in the coming days, you will want to check in for a more revealing version of 2020.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luk 10:19

THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Isa 9:6

Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

Christmas 2020

The Christmas season is a special time of the year; and wrapped up in its story are important messages about life.  When we take the time to internalize the message of Christmas, it has the power to change our whole life.  There is a popular story of Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’  “A Christmas Carol” that tells of a man who was a miser and hated Christmas.  In the latter years of his life at Christmas time, he realized he had missed the real meaning of Christmas and life.  We have the potential of doing the same if we do not take the time early to learn what this season really means.  In the story, fortunately, Ebenezer had a chance to redeem his life.

Parents bring joy the hearts of their children at Christmas with gifts because of how much they love them.  Children are joyous that their parents and “Santa” remembered them.  Many of us are fortunate enough to find a way to express that same love for others through gifts they will enjoy.  Also, if we are fortunate, that love will be returned by someone who cares.  It’s a circle of love that makes us all feel loved and blessed but Christmas is much more important than exchanging gifts.  Christmas celebrations may be perfectly planned and still not everyone will experience the same burst of joy and love during the season.  The season can mean for some a time that bring up regrets, sorrow and memories of good or bad days.  It can reveal breaks in relationships or lack.

The real meaning of Christmas is the expression of love by God, the Father, for all His children and that love can be experienced even if no one is around.   He, who gave everything to His first born (Adam and Eve) and saw them lose it all, loved so much until He decided to restore everything that was lost.  Christmas is all about a remembrance of His love and His giving.  The example we see in the birth and eventual death of the Savior is one of true love.  It is the unselfish giving of something precious for the benefit of someone else. 

God shows us that we have the power of sharing the joy of giving and receiving makes life better for both parties.  The big difference in God’s giving and our giving is that God’s gift has the ability to make the receiver’s life complete whereas our gifts only give temporary joy.  We do have the ability to give a gift to someone that improves their life for a longer period.

God inspires us to give meaningful gifts, gifts that make a difference in someone’s life.  If we follow Christ’s example, we can learn to do the same.  By taking the time to know someone and what their life is about, we can give meaningful gifts that make a difference.  When we give meaningful gifts, we can give a person joy for more than a day and improve their life in some way.

Ultimately, God gave us His gift to make our lives better eternally.  He saw the deterioration of the earth and decided to restore its lost joy by replacing what was missing.  What was missing was a relationship with the Father.  When the first family was in relationship with God, there was no lack.  There was no sickness, no danger of animal attack, no lack of food, no lack of heat or A/C, no lack of shelter or clothing and no lack of knowledge because the Father taught all that was needed in regular fellowship with His children.

The Old Testament of the bible foretold of a time when God would return the lost blessing to man.  All Israel anxiously awaited the time when the promised blessing (Is. 9:6-7) would come and everything would be restored.  And then fulfillment came when the Father sent the promise through the birth of Jesus, Savior of the world.  In the life of Christ, we see how God loves us through everything Jesus did and said.   Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we witnessed how much the Father was willing to suffer for our restoration.  Once Jesus was sacrificed on the cross and ascended back to the Father, the miraculous gift was released for every soul in the earth.  The Holy Spirit’s coming represents the fulfilled promise made available for every soul to have a restored relationship with the Father and their needs met.  God specializes in ministering to whatever is missing in our lives.  The gifts of God often come through the Spirit but some are manifested in the natural realm with the aid of other humans.

God has charged parents to raise their children with the knowledge that there is a God who loves them and for family experience that will be enjoyed in a larger, more significant setting as we grow in the Christian body.  He has charged preachers to teach about this God who loves all His children of every color, culture, position and condition.  Jesus taught His disciples to spread the good news of salvation and help us interact with each other to bring about a loving community.

The hindrances we now see in our communities and families are a result of failure in some of the authorities God entrusted responsibility in our lives.  Resources come from the Father but often flow through earthly stewards who are entrusted to provide a pathway for the resources to flow through authorities or caretakers to recipients.  Where God has blessed the rich beyond their needs to have an overflow to sow into those of lack, many of the rich have kept their portion as well as the overflow for themselves, leaving a community that is impoverished.  Where God has given us leaders who are empowered to implement the distribution of resources throughout our communities, some leaders have kept an abundant supply for themselves and caused inequity in the community because of personal prejudices.   Where God brought us teaching through Christ on how to discern and care about the needs of others and minister to people as Jesus did, too many people have heaped blessings and the overflow upon themselves, rather than share the blessings with others. An obstructed flow accounts for much of the lack we see in our environment because God “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Mt. 5:45).” We are called to be blessed instruments for God’s flow to others.

There is still an overflow and abundance of rain being sent into the earth by the Father for His children, but blockage in the river’s flow of blessings can cause an overflow at one end and poverty at the other.  God is a gracious and plentiful God, lacking nothing and freely gives to all.  Ministers are called to help God unclog the river of flow to those it was intended to reach.  During the Christmas season, we feel an abundance of God’s love flowing through our environment inspiring all of us to give and share with others.   It is that spirit of love we should carry with us all year.  Those in need may still have a need long after the holiday is over but the Savior’s birth is for more than a holiday.  Christ’s spirit empowers us to imitate His life and ministry.

Christmas is not just a holiday.  It represents the spirit we have been given to live a life of love, sharing and caring every day of the year.  The spirit of Christmas we feel at this season is for every day.  Christ came not for a day but for life and eternity.  The Father sent His Son to bring us back to a place of love, joy and plenty that was lost through the error in the Garden of Eden.  Receive the His best gift, Jesus Christ as Lord.

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove (And makes the nations prove)
And glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love

Joy to the world then we sing
Let the earth receive her King!
Joy to the world then we sing
Let the angel voices ring

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Lk. 2:14)

The Spirit of the Land: Truth or Lies

December 17, 2020

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Joh 8:32

The Power Behind Truth and the Lie

This Christmas season, at its core, represents the battle between truth and  the lie.  Jesus Christ, the Truth in bodily form, came to earth during this season to destroy the destructive work of the lie that had contaminated mankind.  Everything God created was good, therefore, we know everything opposing truth comes from evil.  Even before the earth was formed, everything in heaven was good until evil was found in Lucifer, the chief musician, angel and cherubim in God’s heaven.  That was the beginning of evil and its deteriorating force against all that is good.  Lucifer is the author  and father of all  lies (Joh 8:44).  When Lucifer, also called Satan, was kicked out of heaven by Father God; Satan fell down to the earth and, as an evil spirit, began his campaign of lying, corruption and destruction.  Regardless of how difficult a year, the Christmas season always bring us back into remembrance of the miraculous power and goodness of God; and it influences us to do good toward others.  During this season, the evil influence in our environment is usurped by the flow of good will from God’s Loving Spirit that is shared among us.  It is up to us to hold on to it.

When Leaders Fail

Jesus Christ was birthed into this corrupt world and grew into maturity without sin under parents devoted to God.  During His earthly ministry, He went into the synagogue and healed the sick but the religious leaders objected to his breaking their Sabbath ritual.  Then as now, the church was steeped in performing rituals and the government was a burden to its citizens.  Jesus came to restore the truth that would set all men free from institutional bondage but it was resisted by the established systems.

In our society today, little black boys born in the ghetto inquire of their mothers about their missing fathers. Their single mothers try to do their best to make it with low income and government assistance but may still lack decent housing, clothing and educational needs of the children.  How does she explain that his father is in jail from stealing or drugs, which may have been all he ever knew in the gang that raised him? How does this family survive and where is the truth for them.  In the church, she is told to bring an offering to the altar and God will help her; give a sacrificial offering and God will give her prosperity.  Where does the money come from when you can barely pay the bills, buy food and clothing and still have money left for car fare to go to work?  Is this the truth that Jesus came to bring her…one that makes the preacher rich and keeps her poor?  How can she accept a Jesus who is always asking for money? How long can she endure this gospel that is giving her hope on one hand and taking it on the other?  Is this the truth Jesus came to bring?

Pure Religion and the True God Offers Hope and Help

God proclaimed through Prophet Isaiah that the coming of Christ would bring good tidings and great joy.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound…To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isa 61:1,3 

The impoverished people of Jerusalem looked forward to the restoration of King David’s kingdom because under it they were blessed and protected.  They hailed the coming of the Son of David. When Jesus came to the temple at Jerusalem to be celebrated, He found the temple in disobedience.  Merchants were buying and selling at the entrance and the temple leaders devoured widows’ houses (Joh 2:14).  It is pretty much the same today and we wonder why things are so bad.  The church house is still distorting the truth and the government is still burdening the poor through inequitable tax burdens. The citizens of Jerusalem were suffering sickness, poverty, oppression, spiritual ignorance and had little hope while the religious leaders lived in fancy houses, ate well, wore fancy clothing and cooperated with the government to keep the people in silent oppression.  Not a lot has changed.  The temple was the center of society and the Torah was ritually read in the square by the scribes; but the truth was withheld.  It is pretty much the same today.

The world had been darken with leaders who lied and deceived but Jesus had come to bring light.  “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (Joh 8:12).”  If Jesus came into Jerusalem and found the same things we are seeing today then what is the answer?  Jesus told all His disciples: “Follow me.”

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. Joh 12:26 

Somehow the message Jesus gave of following Him became distorted to following the preacher.  It can be difficult to imitate the preacher’s life that is lived within gates and behind walls.  Before Jesus came, John told of the Savior and made it clear that men were not to continue following John but were to turn and follow Christ, the Savior.  John stated that he was not worthy to loosen Jesus’ shoes and he would have to decrease while Jesus would increase.  Upon hearing that, the disciples left John and began to follow Christ (Joh 1:35-37).  Somehow the church has made man to increase and Jesus to decrease.  The preacher has taken center stage and Jesus can hardly be found.  Darkness has returned because man has taken the place of Jesus, the Light of the world.  Jesus described His ways in scripture so the believer need not be deceived.

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. Joh 10:9-15 

Discerning True Leaders from False Ones

Christ came to show us our Father and reestablish our lost relationship with God.  We need that relationship with God for our help and protection.  Adam and Eve had no lack in the Garden while walking with God, but they lost it all when they listened to the serpent.  Christ disciples united have the ability to stand up for truth under the protection of the Holy Spirit and bring the vulnerable into the arch of safety through faith in Christ.  If we believe the truth that Jesus taught then God is our Father:  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (Joh 14:6).”  True Christian leadership looks like Jesus. Jesus warned us that not every preacher is a true minister from Father God.  Jesus rebuked the false ministers and exposed their work as from the devil.  They were the ones who led the people astray and blocked the truth with lies.  They were the one who blocked the light and opened the door to darkness.

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. Joh 8:44 

Churchgoers today are not well taught the difference between true ministers and false ones but Jesus was not ambiguous in revealing the difference.  While God looks to promote true disciples to leadership positions, Satan looks to replace true leadership with his followers so he can be established in power.  We live in a time of celebrity preachers where great names are exalted and marveled at while integrity and truth are displaced by fame. God has uncovered the sins of some leaders to set their followers free from fear.  Again, Jesus told believers to follow Him, He did not tell them to follow celebrities or idols.  Because some churchgoers have followed the lie, they have found themselves entangled in the lie and darkness again.  The Word of God is truth and it is always available to be read and listened to or watched with our modern technology.  There is no excuse for not knowing the Word of God and we are expected to stand in truth, knowing that God fight our battles.  True servants today have the same ability as the first disciples to turn this world around for God.

In our nation over the past year, we saw dark forces working to make this a terrible year.  It has been a year that we do not want to see repeated.  The darkness has existed for the past four years because the nation made some bad choices.  Religious leaders should lead the people to the godly path but many of them directed our nation to follow a man that we all saw repeatedly speak and do evil. They pronounced him godly and to be one appointed by God to the highest political office.  It was a lie but many people believed it and brought themselves under a cover of darkness. All professing Christians should have known better.  Our nation was already in trouble but this lie and other lies, i.e., white supremacy and white nationalism, brought in the power of darkness and opened the door for destruction. The boldness of lying is a prophesied sign of the last days and the antichrist spirit in the land (1Ti 4:1-2).  If we knowingly put away God’s ways, we invite the enemy in.  Pride, arrogance, racial prejudice, hatred, greed, and a false gospel are all rooted in Satan’s efforts to deceive and destroy a people.  We can choose to reject the lie, regardless of who told it, and choose to believe Jesus Christ, the Truth.  Our nation cannot reject Christ, the Truth, and maintain His protection. We will either be under Christianity and a blanket of protection or under a blanket of lies and vulnerability.  The choice is still ours.  This is a time when we should examine our walk with the Lord.   Each of us is accountable for the condition of this world because we each have the opportunity to change it like the first believers did.  We can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens us.  Jesus came to empower us to be the light of the world (Mt. 5:14).

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isa 9:6 

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

The Savior is Born

Why A Trump Loss Was Necessary

O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. Dan 9:8

November 14, 2020 

Confusion of Face

This is a very confusing time for believers and nonbelievers because neither understands the other in respect to the presidential election.  The religious right believes they voted for Christ and His causes and they have struggled to understand why their efforts failed.  They had done everything within their power to prevail and only God, Himself, could deny their efforts.  Those that were on the left, believers and nonbelievers, cannot understand why the religious right could not see that Trump was wrong. I fit in a very precarious position in the midst of both positions. I also believe that it is Christ’s position because the word of God does not fully support either position: one supporting blatant lies and the other supporting late term abortions.

As a Christian, I believe in many of the same principles as the religious right regarding maintaining Christian values; however, it is their methods and attitudes that have troubled me.  I also believe that Trump was terribly wrong for the presidential office because his motivations are wrong, and his speech and behavior makes him a terrible role model and example for men and youth. “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them (Eph 5:5, 7, 11).” Religious people who identify with Jesus Christ should know and choose to do that which is right. When people claim Jesus and do the opposite of what He said, they cannot be His followers. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me…( Joh 10:27).” We have seen Republicans claim to be Christians and yet choose to align themselves with people and groups who publicly oppose truth and spout hate.  True Christians are those who try to maintain a Christian witness and would not want to be condemned with the world.

Good or Bad Fruit on the Tree

The truth is that Christ did not leave us without help in discerning good from evil.  The Word of God and the Holy Spirit provides help for discernment.  Jesus taught us to examine a person’s fruit because a tree’s fruit reveals what kind of tree it is.  The word fruit refers to the outward appearance, mannerisms and actions of a person that reveal whether he or she is motivated by good or evil forces.  Despite the good that the religious right claimed that Trump did, his speech, behavior and mannerism never changed from proving bad fruit.  Jesus went on to say, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit (Mat 12:33)”. We all had advance knowledge of the confessed and reported bad behavior of the candidate for president but the religious right supported him for the highest office in the land anyway.  They lifted up him, his ways and ideas to lead and influence our nation.  Our highest offices are modeled after the virtuous leadership of Moses and the Father, where we are told to obey “…all that are in authority…” (1Ti 2:2).  God would not call upon us to model after or submit to a spirit contrary to His, but some people of religious right have condemned believers for not supporting this president.  This presidential administration has been exposed as liars, thieves and traitors to the national good; but the religious right have continued to support them, jeopardizing the nation’s security. All of the negative characteristics (fruits) were regarded as insignificant as they pursued their goal of helping God protect Israel while empowering themselves and uniting around goals of white supremacy and nationalism.  They helped cause rather than alleviate division and confusion.

Test Of A Good Leader

Let’s look at God’s method and process in selecting the best candidate for high office. 

And he [Samuel] sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.  And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him.  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.  Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.  And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.  And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.  1Sa 16:5-12 

This story reveals God’s preferred way of choosing a leader.  He did not choose the oldest, largest or tallest. David’s looks were mentioned but he was not chosen because of his looks.  David revealed his leadership qualities to King Saul in 1Sa 17:34, 35, 37

And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:  And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. …The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.

David qualified for service because of a proper heart with proven leadership and faith in God.  David had a relationship with God and God was with him.  This was not true of his brothers who appeared more qualified than their little brother.  The story shows that God does consider character and David was anointed as king based on his already established character present even in childhood.  Other stories tell of God’s rejection of servants on issues of character.  King Saul, proven disobedient and of poor character, was disqualified to continue as King; and the sons of Eli and Samuel were refused office based on character.  If God made character a necessary qualification for high office, surely we should as well.  The character flaws in this administration have jeopardized the security and reputation of the nation.  Jesus Christ came and displayed perfect character:  honest, obedient, faithful, loving, caring and diligent in the work. 

A Leader’s Effect on the People

Poor leadership character affects a nation, ergo the saying a fish rots from the head down.  The Old Testament revealed many examples of how the leader’s sin caused the people to suffer.  David appealed to God to spare the people the repercussions of his sin (2Sa 24:17).  In the New Testament, every person is judged and punished for his own sin but a leader’s sin still impacts the people.  We see Jesus in His final words on the cross stating that he had sanctified Himself so that the people were sanctified through His words. The people should enjoy the favor of God upon the leader as was the case in David’s kingdom.

This president was lifted to a place of idolatry as some people acquainted him with biblical spiritual significance even though he rarely attended church. The president believed he was his own best counsel and displayed a spirit of arrogance as he opposed expert counsel. Idolatry means giving to man or some other thing that which belongs only to God.  God always pulls down idolatry.  Celebrity preachers were relating to Trump as God’s man and Trump basked in the compliments and grew in authoritarianism.  America provided a wrong witness to the world of Christianity and democracy.  Impressions were made on young minds that cannot be undone.

Lies were being substituted for truth and witnessed by “Christians.”  Religious leaders were proclaiming, backing up and fulfilling their own prophesies. The president was supported by churches that failed to prepare their people; and when trouble came, the government supported these churches with financial resources while neglecting the suffering of the people. How is it possible for the real church be fooled by false leaders? The bible tells of a time of church apostasy that would lead into a time of the anti-Christ deception, judgment and the coming of the Lord.  The Christian church has grown worldly and changed the word of God into a smooth gospel that soothes rather than convicts.  Bible scripture warned us about these times and Jesus and his disciples left us important messages to consider:

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees [religious leaders]. How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Mat 16:6-12

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 1Ti 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

God set the earth in order after a chaotic stage and charged the church to maintain godly order. Christ equipped the church to be able to stand against evil, but the church has gotten distracted.  The church must realize her error and make corrections. Christians must agree with the word and come into agreement with each other. Our nation with a great entrepreneurial spirit is used to establishing its own systems; but we cannot change the bible to suit our own preferences and expect God to support it.  The Word of God is established for all eternity. God, the Father, validated and announced His approval of Christ at very important stages of His ministry and still validates His disciples that walk in truth, while denouncing the lie and liars.  “Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity (Psa 94:16)?  God stands with those that stand up for truth.  This battle has challenged and divided the Christian community but we can still learn from it and do better.

            By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.  Joh 13:35 

ULTIMATE AUTHORITY

He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Psa 66:7

November 2020

Ultimate Authority Made Known to Man

Regardless of which nation you live in, there is some man at the top who believes he runs the show and there may be a penalty for citizens saying otherwise; but the ultimate authority in the earth and the world is and has always been Creator God.  It does not matter that some people deny this fact because ultimate authority rules without asking permission of subordinates.  Man’s failure to respect God as Sovereign has caused the chaos we now experience in our world.  Creator God in the beginning introduced Himself and met regularly with the first man and woman in the Garden of Eden to give them guidance for a wholesome life.  They eventually broke the rules and nothing has been the same since (Gen 3:16-18).  They had to pay the penalty for breaking the rules and we all as descendants came under their penalty. 

Obedience to Law

Abraham was a man who developed a covenant with God based on respect and honor that bought tremendous blessings upon his life with a promise to eventually bless all nations through him (Gen 18:18). Descendants of Abraham were given the Law of Moses with its list of blessings and the curses to consider and guide them to obedience in God (Deu. 28).   We read in the Old Testament Chronicles the experience of leaders and the people of various nations who failed to obey God and the consequences they suffered. Is there anything worse than being submitted to wicked leadership in authority where your own conscience and better judgment is supplanted by the demands of the wicked leader.  We are seeing in America today the type of government that mirrors that of evil kings of ancient Israel in the Old Testament where things got worst and worst due to lawless leaders who would not submit to the righteous laws of man or God.  God often moved through consequences and people to remove these leaders and restore justice.  I think citizens today have become so accustomed to civil authority until they have forgotten the God of history who has wielded swift and devastating justice.  David experienced this when he committed adultery with another man’s wife, had him killed and tried to hide the murder and pregnancy because he had the highest office in the land.  God sent the prophet (2Sa 12) to tell David that his crime was seen by God and his punishment was coming.  David agonized over his punishment in losing the baby he conceived in adultery. He suffered great humiliation and public shame in his house and family.  His sin caused continuous war at his door throughout his life (2Sa 12:10) and he was denied the joy of his desire to build God’s temple.    

Warfare Between Good and Evil

The anarchy  of Satan in heaven with wicked angels against the throne of God is still being fought through the inhabitants in the earth.  Our system of laws was intended to rein in disobedient men who feared breaking God laws because of consequences.  Where good men were willing to stand up in God’s stead and protect and honor God’s authority, peace prevails as wickedness is put aside.  During times of great lawlessness, God would raised up judges to rule the people by His spirit.  In such a time, one man named Samson was raised from birth to be God’s judge over the people (Jdg 13:24).  We see in scripture how Samson was born and reared to use brute strength to conquer wicked men for God.  The worst of men feared him because God had put ability on him to destroy multitudes of men by hand. As the earth and men grew in age and power, the contest between good and evil grew as well. The devil empowered his warriors and God empowered His.  This is an age-old contest that started in heaven and will not end until Judgment Day when Satan is imprisoned in hell with his followers (Rev 20:2).

In the worst of scenarios where men seemed to overwhelm the good, we have seen God in His sovereignty overturn evil, cities and the world.  We know the popular stories of Moses’ day when Korah was swallowed up by hell (Num 16:32), how Lot barely escaped Sodom and Gomorrah burning to a cinder and how Noah’s Ark alone survived the flood.  Man cannot escape God when wrath is sentenced against him.  His only hope is God’s mercy if man repents.  As the lineage of King David went from good to evil rulers, only God’s promise that David would not fail to have an heir on the throne and the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, spared our world from wrath through mercy.

The Authority of Christ in the Earth

God is still sovereign and the wages of sin is still death; but Jesus Christ suffered the death penalty for man’s deliverance from the wrath of God.  Satan’s authority has been usurped in the earth through the power of Jesus Christ given to the believer. The true church and spiritual believers now possess the authority of Christ to reign over evil and bind Satan’s work in the earth. Lack of teaching may prevent the church or believer from exercising their power but it is theirs to wield against the enemy. Ultimately the Lord has given the church authority in the earth to pull down strongholds and establish the kingdom of God to rule in the earth.  The lawlessness we see in the land today is the same kind of wickedness Jesus met in His entrance to Jerusalem.  When we do not learn from the past, we are bound to repeat it.  Wickedness in leadership was dealt with by Jesus in Jerusalem and the church must deal with it now by His holy power.  Evil’s uprising was prophesied and the church was given power to withstand it in righteousness. Now God has given to the individual believer and all Christians the power to stand against wicked laws and leaders and to bring down strongholds over the body of Christ in the earth. If righteous people do not exercise their authority, evil will rule until God moves against it.

We note that the bible lists the alignment of God’s authority as the righteous authority of the Christian church (which are the believers), civil government, communities, and the head of household.  In the Old Testament alignment of authority after sin, males were given as head of the home, government and church. Females did not carry any authoritative power and had to come under the authority of the male figure of their home or near relative.  It was a shame for a man to not take care of his home or poor relatives.  Public opinion or reputation was everything to a man and his word was his bond.  These were the days when men made contracts by verbal agreements and went to war over broken contracts, but that was yesterday.  Men have not always proven themselves faithful in the home and God made adjustments from time to time in the Old Testament, i.e. Eli and his sons, Samuel and his sons, Deborah as judge and leader in war and the daughters of Zelophehad.

Since Jesus came everything has changed because Jesus’ mission was to set the captives free.  Mankind had been captive in bondage to other men because of race, debt, prison or enslavement.  God also saw the bondage of women under the authority of ungodly laws, abusive husbands, and other unjust males.  Jesus came to give everyone an opportunity to be free from bondage through salvation.  Christ did indeed bring deliverance from bondage but the devil still seeks to bring deception and bondage where he can; and individuals, churches, and government must insist on righteous rule. 

Church Authority

The church was that instrument used by God to help deliver men from bondage; but when penetrated by evil, it can cause bondage like that caused by the Pharisees and Sadducees in Jerusalem.  The Catholic Church grew large and claimed authority based on the ministry of Peter but suffered protest by Martin Luther over corruption.  Luther’s protest brought deliverance from burdens upon the people with the church’s unjust demands.  Through the protest of Luther many branches of Christian churches were formed allowing much more freedom to worship Christ and to live a life of spiritual freedom.  Freedom came through the Protestant movement but it also brought the unfortunate medieval burning of women as witches in Europe and Salem, Virginia because of foolish religion.  Belief in Christ has allowed churches to be established by men who were not always being led by God.  People submitted to these ungodly men were often subjected to rules and behavior that were also ungodly, requiring deliverance from a cruel church or leader.  Christ never promised our life would be easy or that one battle would bring pure liberty.  Our life is a struggle against evil in many forms and at various times.  Our struggle is ongoing and we must always be diligent in our watchfulness against evil attempts as forewarned in scripture: 

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2Ti 3:13)

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.  2Co 11:14-15

We are living in a time today where church has gotten too big and too encroaching on the lives of believers. This was never Christ’s intention and He gave instructions for liberty rather than bondage.  People are accustomed to having leaders instruct them in various areas of their lives.  From the time of Moses, leaders were supposed to help people in making right choices and religious leaders were expected to provide righteous leadership for church, society, business and the home.  We are in a time when righteousness does not always come from the pulpit and wickedness is being organized in religion and throughout our society.  It is not unexpected because Jesus and His disciples warned us of it and the saints need to stand boldly.  We are in need of another divine intervention in our churches and society.  God requires all men to submit to the authority of the law and ultimately to God. Those that will not obey expose themselves as the rebellious.

Home Authority

In America, we have seen men leading the home but oftentimes women suffered abuse of various types because she had no rights.  Women’s suffrages in America brought some liberty for women who were subjected to abuse from male authority in society.  While church authority has helped in some homes, in others the church has failed to give proper guidance for the liberty of women in the church and misogyny has prevailed in society. Men support male positions and often do not want to see the female gain her liberty in Christ even though Gal. 3:28 makes it clear there is no physical identification of race or gender in Christ.  A lot of progress has been made in America for the home, business and church but much more is needed.  We have seen regression in America’s home and church settings because of ungodly men, greed, lust and power.  (See my earlier writing:  “The Unrestrained Nature of Man.”) When men are given opportunity, they will revert back to their basic instincts of getting what they want, when they want, and from whom they want to get it.  There is a level of lawlessness in America today that mirrors the Wild, Wild West before civil society. Men prefer to be like John Wayne but Jesus Christ modeled the perfect male image for all men to follow.  Jesus Christ was a manly man, strong when needed and gentle when appropriate. 

A Check on Authority

Authority rarely checks itself.  We see in the Godhead the agreement of God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Ghost.  They are all holy and agree as one but man has difficulty bringing holiness to his three-part being.  The pleasure of man often overrules his deepest desire for order and righteousness.  Just as Adam fell into sin along with his wife, men tend to fall into sin over pleasure with females and other lustful drives, i.e. money, fame, power.  God gave woman in Adam’s life as a helpmeet and women can also help men to remember his goals when he is tempted to go astray; but the ego of men often overrules his wife and he continues on the fulfill his base instincts.  Man was given the law and its consequences of “an eye for an eye” to persuade him against evil but then God in His mercy gave us grace instead.  Man that does not obey grace proves the purpose of the law.  When men unite in rebellion to do evil in the home, society, government and church; it is oftentimes God who has to overthrow man’s will as we have seen Him do throughout history, i.e. Tower of Babel, Greek Empire, Roman Empire, German Holocaust, Britain Tyrants and now American lawlessness.  He who was first rebellious against God wants to lead all men to join him in the punishment of hell.  The first man was told of ultimate authority and he must be reminded continuously because his nature is to rule by his instincts even when he has not trained or restrained his base desires.  Where wives, other men, society or laws cannot restrain man; God ultimately will restrain him.

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous… 1Jn 2:1