9-23-2023 Remembering Job

Most people know about the ‘patience of Job’.  Many know what happened with Job – possessions, family and finally self.  But how many actually know why these things befell the man of God.  I say man of God based on the fact that God praised Job calling him perfect and upright (Job 1:8-10, Job 2:3).  However, Satan issued a challenge “If You take your protection away from him, he will curse You.” (Job 1:11, Job 2:5).  So, God told Satan to give it his best shot, but you can’t touch the man, Job (Job 1:12, Job 2:6).

Satan attacked Job but was limited by God’s word.

Sabeans stole Job’s oxen and donkeys and killed the servants tending them.  One man survived to tell Job (1:14-15).

Fire came down from heaven and burned up Job’s sheep and servants and one man lived to come to tell Job  (1:16).

Job’s camels were ‘rustled’ (stolen) and servants slain yet one survived to tell Job (1:17).

Then Job is told how his children were having a party when the roof collapsed killing all, (1:18-19).

This all came rapid fire.  As Job received news from one messenger, the next came in.

Job’s reaction was to mourn his losses but he blessed the Lord and did not sin (1:20-22). 

Later, God gave Satan permission to attack Job again, but this time he was allowed to attack Job BUT he couldn’t take Job’s life (2:6).

After all this, Job’s wife encouraged him to curse God and die yet Job did not sin with his lips (2:9-10).

(How much can a man take? The patience of Job)

The rest of this chapter through Job 35:16, Job & his buddies “discuss” God.  All four knew the law, punishments and blessings from God and why.  Because of his sorrow, Job wishes that he had never been born (Job 3:1-11).  Eliphaz gives his discourse of why God lets things happen to people (Job 4:1-5:27)  Then Job responds (Job 6:1-7:21.  Bildad gives his opinion of what is happening (Job 8:1-22).  Job responds to Bildad (Job 9:1-10:22).  Then Zohar adds his two cents (Job 11:1-11:20) and Job’s responds to Zohar (Job 12:1 – 14:22).  Job and the three men spend the rest of the time ‘discussing’ how we know people sin and what can be done about it (15:1-32:1).  Finally young Elihu comes into the fray as he is angry at all four men as Job kept declaring his righteousness and the three couldn’t get Job to accept his guilt (Job 32:1-37:24). 

Even in the midst of his ‘discussion’ with his friends, Job challenges God.  If I were able to find God and come to His seat, I would lay my arguments as to why this shouldn’t have happened.  I would like to know how He would respond (Job 23:1-5).  Job says that he would speak in his defense, then wait to see how God would answer him.

God does respond to Job’s challenge.  Where were you while I (God) was creating everything?  Father paints a pretty clear picture of His majesty, His authority and His power (Job 38:1-41:34).          

Finally Job gets the picture.  I have heard about You, but now I have seen You (Job 42:1-6).  If you will, Job has had a personal encounter with the Almighty God, YAWEH.  He is no longer mimicking what ‘others’ have told him, but he now has found God for Himself.  He had a personal encounter, even as Paul did with Jesus (Acts9:3-6).

As I said at the start, most people remember the patience of Job.  That he suffered all that loss but didn’t turn against God.  If you read the book, according to the Law, Job did not sin.  But, because all these issues that befell him, his buddies knew that bad only comes upon sinners. God blesses those who keep the law, therefore, Job must have sinned for these events to have come upon him.

Job had a personal encounter with the living God and came to understand the relationship he needed with the Father.  I repeat ‘personal’.  Dare I say that from that moment on, Job referred to God as “You” and not “He or Him”.

So, just what is our personal relationship with the Lord?

Job said he had ‘heard’ all about God (42:5).  He had been taught the Law.  According to the Law that means his dad should have taught him what he knew and the priests or elders would have added in to expand Job’s knowledge.  We can be confident that Job most likely did not have the Tanakh, that is the Torah (5 books of Moses), the Neviʾim (Prophets)  the Ketuvim (Writings) readily available for him to read.  Without a personal relationship with God, Job had to rely on others to keep him informed.  But now, Job has talked with God, man to Supreme Being.

The disciples had a @3 ½ year experience to learn from Jesus.  That is they learned from the “horse’s mouth”.  No disrespect intended here but if we believe God created all thing through His Word (Gen. 1:1-31 – God said 9X) and the Word was with God and was God and became flesh (John 1:1-14), we believe in the unity of God – the Godhead.  We may begin to understand that Job now understood because God, Himself, was enlightening him. 

So, I ask again, what is our relationship with the Father?

Do all that we know aboaut God come from what people have told us (including preachers)?  Do we read the bible just as a book – good reading?  Makes me a well-rounded person, right?  Do we asks the Holy Ghost to guide us as we read the bible?  Hopefully we have accepted Jesus but then do we quench the Holy Ghost abiding in us?  Paul tells us not to quench the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19).  That is, do we allow the Holy Ghost free rein operate in our lives?  Oh, He’s good for when I’m in trouble and need help or when I am sick and I believe Him for a healing.  But just how much of my personal life do I share Him?  Do I seek His direction in all that I do?

How’s my prayer life.  “Our Father which art in heaven …  Is that the extent of our prayer?  Do we pray for others?  Do we pray for situations of which become aware of?  Do we actually bare our hearts open to our Lord and Savior in our prayer time?  Do we share with Him our hurts, our desires, joys?   When we speak (pray) in an unknown tongue, we speak to God and the Spirit speaks mysteries.  In so doing, God edifies us.  But, because I don’t understand what the Spirit says, I also ask for understanding so I might edify not just myself, but those around me as well (1 Corinth. 14:2-4, 14-15).  Paul declares that he speaks in tongues more than all, but also suggests that we ask for understanding so we might edify others (1 Corinth. 14:18-19).  Do we desire to approach Father with all our concerns?  The Holy Ghost is that connection, but do we ask for understanding so we can then be a blessing to others?

 Paul says to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:16) as part of a  list of things to strengthen our relationship with Father.  “Without ceasing”?  Does this mean staying on our knees 24/7?  Of Course not.  But it does mean having a continual attitude of prayer.  When in doubt, don’t just jump and hope it works out.  Seek guidance from the Holy Ghost and be sure of what to do.  This means praying (at least in our heart) in our native language and/or in our heavenly-given Spiritual language.  As we allow the Holy Spirit free rein in our lives, when to pray, how to pray, praying will become a most natural condition of our lives.  We can pray anywhere, anytime and yes, we do need our “quiet time” when we can commune, alone, with our Lord.

As we grow, we discover that more and more of God’s nature becomes more evident in our lives. 

We are made in the image of God and God’s image is love (Gen. 1:26-27, 1 John 4:6-8).

So what do we learn from Job?  God is in control in all that befalls us so we can trust God, giving Him the praise and glory for whatever comes our way.  By the way, did I mention that God blessed many times over for his trouble ().  We seek Father’s guidance (through the Holy Ghost, who is within us) so we can know how to handle whatever we face.  We trust God to see us through to the end because He can and He will, because we have developed a relationship with Him.

And developing that relationship is what we learn from Job.

This means that for today, Father wants a one on one relationship with all His children.

amen

9-9-2023    SG-1 and Spiritual Warfare

 
Consider:

#3        Divine completeness or fullness, perfection)

#7        Resurrection; Spiritual completeness; Fathers (or Spiritual) perfection

#8        New birth; New beginnings, New creation

#9        Fruit of the spirit; Divine completeness from the Father, God’s Visitation, Judgment; it signifies the Gifts, as well as the Fruit of the Spirit 

The past two months (July & August) and this month (September) are a unique lineup of how Father is working in the world today.

Let’s look at what He has been and is doing:

In July, Father has brought some things to spiritual completeness.  We should have completed some things in our lives which Father had set before us.  We should have also seen some ‘old’ things (necessary for now) resurrected in our lives.  That is things we should have dealt with long ago, but haven’t.

In August, Father began a new work in us.  That is, new doors should have opened up for a richer, deeper relationship with our heavenly Father.

And, now, for September.  9 is 3X3, divine fullness or perfection.  Not double your ‘pleasure’ or double your ‘fun’ BUT triple!  As we approach and move through Rosh Hashanah (9/15-9/17), Father will be bringing more things to completeness, that is our gifts, abilities and/or talents can be increased.   That is, our understanding will become more vivid and/or alive.  We should see an increase in the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control  (Gal. 5:22-23) and the gifts which are the word of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues and their interpretation (1 Corinth. 12:4-12).  And as we seek our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord, because the Holy Ghost is alive and well within our heart, we will not only see but receive (to some degree) these increases.

Now is the time to be obedient in the Word of God so we can reach out and receive!  And then share.

Now, what does “Stargate SG-1” have to do with all of this?  Glad you asked.

I’m a Sci-Fi fan.  I enjoyed the ‘Day the Earth Stood Still’, I liked ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Star Wars’ were okay and I loved ‘SG-1’.    However, I never saw the spiritual battle in SG-1 before this AM (Labor Day 2023).  OK, so I’m a slow learner (lol)! 

But Father started running it through my little brain.  In the beginning, the goa’uld were the primary nemesis against whom SG-1 battled.  They were snake-like parasites who needed a host (human) in which to live (they needed arms & legs to do anything) and according to SG-1, they were responsible for transporting humans throughout the universe since the Egyptian dynasties.  Hmmmm.  However, I don’t think they ever explained how more advanced humanoid life occurred.  Oh, they did introduce the ‘Origin’, didn’t they?  And they did introduce more technologically advanced human-types throughout the series.  The goa’ulds needed a host and they forced themselves – not onto, but into, a not so willing host.  Of course, the host then became a vicious, egotistical wanna-be ruler proclaiming to be a god.  Though more intelligent and technological they were still ‘just’ created beings.  However, SG-1 later introduced the Tok’ra who were also humans possessed by a goa’uld but rather than by force, there was a mutual agreement so both entities could work together and benefit from the agreement.  One forced possession, the other by mutual agreement.  Think about it.

In the beginning, God put Adam and Eve into the garden and gave them free reign with one exception, the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 1:26-1:31, Gen. 2:7-17).  With this one negative command, Father gave man a choice to disobey and eat or to obey and be obedient and not eat of this tree.  The choice is still ours to make but look at how the ’field’ has grown since the garden!  Not just a tree but a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,  a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that run to do mischief, a false witness who lies and one who sows discord (Prov. 6:16-19).  And this just speaks in ‘general terms’, not specifics.

Don Stewart, associated with the “Blue Letter Bible , a non-denominational group organized to provide free bible study info , suggests that angels were created when God created the heaven and the earth (Gen.1:1)

Billy Graham suggests that the Bible tells us that the angels were witnesses to the creation of the world, which indicates they were created long before that great event. God asked Job, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation … and all the angels shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7).  Now, this seems to be on the same wavelength as with Mr. Stewart.

The book of Revelation tells us that a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and a third of the stars of heaven were cast to the earth as they were ready to devour the child of the woman (clothed in the sun) (Rev. 12:1-4).  The word for ‘stars’ here is the Greek word aster (G792) and translates ‘star’.  Take note that God put the stars in the heavens on the fourth day (Gen. 1:14-19), which included the greater and lesser lights (sun & moon).  The Hebrew word used for stars here is kowkab (H3556) which is likened to a blazing object.  I cite Doug Addison here.  Doug runs a prophetic ministry in California and has claimed to see balls of shining light which he, in the Spirit, was told were angels and he has seen and apparently interacted with them.  Implication is that there just might be a relationship.

A quick look t the first two days of creation: the Spirit of God moved across the face of the waters,  mayim (H4325) which is urine, sperm, flood or spring.  Then He created light which He separated from the dark.  Light is owr (H216) which is bright, clear morning, sun (happiness), and dark is alataw (H5939) which is a cover or dusk.  He separated the waters from the firmament.  Firmament is raqiya (H7549) an expanse, the arch of the sky. 

Hmmmm!  Is there a correlation between stars and angels?  I don’t know, but it is something to consider – concerning when angels were created.  Before Genesis 1:14, God was setting the stage for life, here on planet earth.

Okay, ‘nuff about angels and astronomy.  Let’s get back to SG-1 and spiritual warfare.

In spiritual warfare, there are two ways the enemy influences our thinking.  The imagery and sounds around us.  That is, he uses what we see and hear to draw us into his realm.  When this becomes all that we consider, we call this obsession, becoming totally immersed in that to which our enemy exposes us.  And, of course, outright possession, where a devil actually takes up residence within us as with the man in the Gergesenes (Matt. 8:28-34) or the damsel with the divining spirit, whom Paul encountered (Acts 16:16-18.  And as we see in these examples, yes, there is deliverance (PTL). 

The Holy Ghost is a God-given gift as shown with the baptism of Jesus (Matt. 3:11-17) and then the apostles (Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-18).  Now were 120 in that upper room, so not just the 12 apostles but 108 other disciples were also baptized in the Holy Ghost.  Today, this means we, too, can receive this baptism.  The Holy Ghost does give us power (dunamis G1411) to do the things that Jesus did and more (John 14:12-14).  Of course, whatsoever we do in Jesus’ name, we have to believe that He will do it (Mark 11:24) and as with Peter and John with the man at the beautiful gate, do something (Acts 3:1-11). 

Now, even though the Tok’ra had a ‘working’ relationship with their ‘goa’uld’, generally speaking the goa’uld took their hosts by force.  Whereas we ‘invite’ the Holy Spirit into our lives and as we follow Him lead, we find ourselves drawing into a closer relationship with our heavenly Father.  No little parasite of any kind within us!

Keep in mind that the goa’uld do represent a literal evil entity, wich become a literal, controlling parasite within.  The Holy Ghost is the ‘breath of God (ruwach, (H7307) & and in the Greek pneuma (G4151) who is inseparable with the Father (YHWH [Yahweh] and Son (Jesus).  And it is He who takes up residence within our heart, when we invite Him in.

The battle that rages is for ‘where will we spend eternity’?  Humans contend with the goa’uld for the safety and freedom of the universe.  Jesus contends with Satan for the freedom and safety of our soul.  Satan uses devious methods to woo us into his clutches, the goa’ld use a more direct approach – accept or be killed (some choice).  Jesus fights for us by persuading us with the truth of the Almighty God.  Because Jesus desires our love, the choice is totally ours.

Now, I’m not proclaiming that SG-1 is a true reflection of spiritual warfare, but I do find it interesting how this saga does parallel spiritual warfare.  We see the ongoing struggle between good and evil from a ‘human’ perspective.  With all the books, magazines, TV shows and movies, I find it interesting how much man thinks about spirituality while trying to deny there is a true and living God who has the final say in all things. 

We want the truth on spiritual warfare, of course, so we need the bible as our guide for it as it leads to our Lord and Savior (Jesus), who strengthens us and it is in Him whom where find victory victory.

Nonetheless, I find it amazing what we can learn from the world around us.  We pay attention to those things which appeal to us most.  Or do we?  All we have to do is look at the world around us and observe, then realize our relationship (or non-relationship) with our Lord.

Get the picture?

Amen     

8-26-2023 Why do we Fast?

 

                        Weaken                                                           Submit

As I read Isaiah chapter 58, Father had me focus on several verses, but also had me read the whole chapter to fully understand what was happening.

The first four verses speak of how Israel fasts and prays and honors the Sabbath, but as they do, it is for their own satisfaction.  They ‘do’ the right things, but for the wrong reasons, personal gain.  Then they wonder why God does not hear them. 

Father starts explaining “His” fast in verse 5.  First, He asks us to afflict our soul.  That is to anah (H6031) deal harshly with, weaken or – submit – totally to Him.  

Then to bow down as a bulrush (in the wind).  Bulrush  comes from the Hebrew  gome (H1573) the papyrus plant which is very absorbent, and gome comes from gama  (H1572) which is to absorb, drink, swallow.  When we fast, we are to completely absorb ourselves in the Lord to take in what He wants us to know.

Father then says we should spread sackcloth, sprinkle it with ashes then ‘have a seat’.  The word used for Sackcloth is saq (H8042) which is a porous cloth (like a burlap bag) so water can pass through, not spoiling any grain which it might contain.  It is also used for mourning (showing remorse).  The ashes (epher H665) carries the connotation of ashes being strewn around.  I is also akin to apher (H666) which is using ashes as a covering (literally pouring them over oneself).  We should cover ourselves in submission and receive a cleansing form the Lord as all the negatives in our lives wash down, to and through the sackcloth with nothing sticking (stays) to us as it passes on.  Isaiah asks that if we fast in this way, is it acceptable to the Lord?  Total submission, total surrender.

Then Father asks “isn’t this the fast I have chosen” (v6)?  It will loose the bands of wickedness and unload our heavy burdens.  All who are oppressed shall be set free and yokes shall be broken.  So what does fasting do?  We are freed from the sin that has us bound! 

Should we feed the hungry?  Take into our homes the castaways?  Should we give clothing to the naked?  Hide ourselves from our own flesh (that is not yielding to fleshly desires)?  I think this is being honest with ourselves, who we are and not pretending we’re something that we are not.  And a desire to help others to be free of their bonds. To me, that means cleansing our sins as we fast being totally honest, totally open with the Lord.  Shedding the undesirable so the ‘new man’ can emerge and so, then, we might be able to help others. 

So then what happens?  The light will come on and we shall see as (just like) the rising sun brings light to the world, we will see the answer to that which we are fasting.  We will heal quicker and our righteousness (in Jesus) will walk before us.  Our reward?  The glory of the Lord (v8) will lead our way.

Once we’ve cleansed ourselves and are living as Father intended, THEN He will hear us and answer our call.  We cry, He will say “Here I Am”, when you have shed the yoke holding you down, quit pointing your finger (accusing others) and setting aside all prideful speaking (v9).

When our compassion urges us to feed the hungry and satisfy the needs of those afflicted, then the light will come out of nowhere and make the darkness of night like the noonday sun (V10).”  There is no greater love than for a man to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).  That is when we consider the welfare of others ahead of own. 

Isaiah continues with God’s promises that He will always guide us.  In times of drought He will satisfy our soul.  We will be fully prepared for what comes our way.  We shall be like a garden, fed by springs of water that do no fail (v11). 

We shall be called that (he/she) who repairs things broken and our offspring shall rebuild the wastelands.  We shall raise up a foundation for many generations and restore places where people can live safely (v12).

If you turn your foot which has strayed from the Sabbath, quit doing your ow pleasures on the Holy days and (now) call the Sabbath a delight, acknowledge that that which is holy of the Lord and that which honorable, as you honor Him, not seeking your own pleasures (what’s in it for me) nor seeking you own desires or speaking you own words (speaking your own mind, your words not considering their impact (v13).

Then delight yourself in the Lord and I will cause you to ride upon high places of the earth and feed you with the heritage of Jacob’s father ((Isaac)(v14).  What was Jacob’s heritage?  Canaan, the ‘promised land (Exod. 3:8).

Keep in mind that the Jews knew how to all the right things – even when their heart turned from the Lord. 

Today, are we any different?  Do we know what the bible says and impress people with our knowledge?  But where is our heart?  Are we content in delivering the Word of God or do we expect “Great preaching, brother!”, praises and compliments?  Do we truly love God above all else (Mark 12:29-31)?  Are friendly with those in our fellowship but ignore all others?  Are we truly concerned about our brothers and sisters in the Lord, much less our ‘neighbors’?  Paul tells us to ‘edify’ those around us (Rom. 14:19) and that means all with whom we come in contact.  Treating each of them with dignity and respect.   

When we confess Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, we are confessing that He has come in the flesh (1 John 4:2) and that He is exactly who He says He is.  Our Lord and Savior!  As we love God, we discover that He truly loves us and because He loves us, He hears us!  When one truly does not love, He has no part in God.  Why?  Because God is love!  We love because God first loved us (1 John 4:1-11).

We love because we are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27) and God is love!  Image is the Hebrew word tselem (H6754) and means a phantom, illusion or resemblance, ergo a representative or image.  God is Spirit (John 4:24) but we are flesh, made of the earth (Gen. 2:7).  So, how are we made in the image of God.  Back to 1^st John.  God is love and we love because we are the image of love so as we love others, we express our imagery of the Father.

So why do we fast?  So we can be true exponents of God’s love.  We also discover as we pursue this image we are changed into a new beginning – each day!

Amen

8-12-2023 Dry Bones and Today

                                Dry Bones                                                Spiritual Explosion

Back in 2016 Father had me reviewing Jeremiah 1 and Ezekiel 37.  In Jeremiah, a caldron pot is tipping over and pouring out.  This represents Father’s wrath against Israel because of their disobedience. 

Look at today’s church.  How obedient is today’s church to God’s will and word?  I’m talking about keeping to God’s truth and not changing it to man’s ideas.  Especially look at how man’s concept of the bible has changed over the past century.  Too much of the Word has been ‘watered down’ or even changed. 

In Ezekiel, Father explains how He wants Israel rebuilt.  Now, Father wants to rebuild today’s church. 

When I was young I observed that too many Christian denominations believed that theirs was the only true church in Christ Jesus and everybody else was doomed to hell because ‘those people’ didn’t believe exactly as they did.  First, we ARE the body of Christ.   All who profess Jesus as Lord.  We cannot call Jesus Lord except by God’s Spirit (1 Corinth. 12:3, 1 John 4:1-3).  Paul explains a body has many parts, eyes, feet mouth, etc. (1 Corinth. 12:12-27, read the whole chapter), so as Christians, we each have a job to do.      

In the 1/2/2016 entry into this blog, we spoke of the dry bones from Ezekiel 37.

Before we get into Ezekiel let’s back up a bit.  The dry bones in the valley are significant to today’s church.  Jesus called the Jewish church of 2000 years ago a ‘whited sepulcher (Matt. 23:27) because, even though they look pretty good on the outside, there was no true faith in their heart.  If you will, they were the ‘walking dead’ (spiritually).  How many half or incomplete truths, or even lies are shared with today’s ‘churched’ people?  All of this adds up to ‘dry bones’! The true power of the Holy Ghost is seriously lacking.

Fear not.  God always has His faithful (Rom. 11:1-4).  There are those in the church who, when they confessed Jesus, truly believed in their heart that He is the Messiah, our Redeemer and that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9).  Thank God for these folks.  

But, alas, salvation is only the first step.  We also have a responsibility.  Jesus says that if you love Me, keep my commandments (John 14:15).  We now need to show love from within our heart.  When we don’t love, we have no part in God for God is love.  So when we love God, love will flow through us (1 John 4:6-11).  Loving is doing things because we desire to, not because we’re supposed to or ‘have’ to or because we are the only warm bodies available.  This means helping others as we are able, supporting God’s work here on earth and sharing our faith with others.  We have a genuine desire to use what God has given us to do God’s work, in whatever capacity.  Yes?

Love means we need a personal relationship with Father. We have to ‘get to know’ Him.  Father speaks to us through His written word (the bible) and other Christians (pastors, priests or brothers and sisters in Christ).  Oh, and because the Holy Ghost resides within our heart, He also desires to speak directly to each one of us, mano e mano, person to person.  We do have to learn to hear, listen and receive when and how He speaks with us.   

All too often, churches put people in ministry who are not yet actually ready.  I’m not challenging a true desire to serve, but this can bring novices and those with personal agendas into positions of authority in the church.  The scriptures do give some basic qualifications for those serving.  Good qualities are being filled with the Holy Ghost, being honest and using wisdom, (Acts 6:1-7).  Persons with these qualities should also be inclined to prayer (Eph. 6:18, 1 Thess. 5:17).  Yet, despite man’s shortcomings, God always has His number (1 Kings 19:13-18, Rom. 11:1-4) of those who are truly living for an in Him, with all their heart.

We are in a ‘new season’.  So, how has Father been preparing His church for this new season?

First was modern man’s decision to make the bible available to the common man.  In the 1300’s, John Wycliffe translated the Latin Vulgate into English and in the 1400’s Johannes Gutenberg created the printing press which could produce bibles (as well as other books) a whole lot faster than the handwritten copies.

Then, in the1500 & 1600’s, Martin Luther inspired what we call the Protestant Reformation which produced men such teachers as William Tynsdale and John Calvin and later John Wesley.  Who, along with other reformist, started a multitude of Christian denominations.  Thinking started to change from traditional Roman Catholic thinking to the common man understanding what the bible was saying.  Unfortunately, it also created unnecessary schisms.  New found freedoms brought the need for greater understanding.

Then, there were the “awakenings” in both the 1700’s & 1800’s, which were an attempt to bring the church back into holiness.  Then there was the Pentecostal Movement of the late 1800’s & early 1900’s, the Charismatic Movement of the 1960’s-1970’s, each which were experiencing a re-connection of the full operation of the Holy Ghost in our lives. Since the 1990’s and early 2000’s, the prophetic movement has entered the picture, focusing more and more on to what the meaning of a  personal relationship is with our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ because the Holy Ghost is alive and well within our hearts.  Jesus tells us that His desire is that we are one, as He is one in the Father (John 17:1-26).  Ergo we all become one (at least in thinking and doing).

All this bring us to where we are today!

Through the prophet Ezekiel, Father promises a new, revived, relationship with Him (Ezek. 37:1-14). 

As we read the bible, we see where today’s church has experience many of the conditions prevalent in the Hebrew church of the Old Testament.  A vibrant relationship with God, then it cools down to where the church has all but forgotten who God is.  Then a renewed passion for our Lord, then a cooling down again and today, a resurgence of desiring a better relationship with our heavenly Father.  Jesus reminds us that in the latter days, there will be a falling away in the church, (2 Thess. 2:3).

Now, today, God is breathing life back into that package of dry bones (we call today’s church) by bringing His children back into a true relationship with Himself.  A relationship He (God) experienced with Adam and Eve (Gen. 2:8) and  which He has desired from the beginning.  His true desire is for us to acknowledge Him as the true, living God (Jeremiah 24:7) and that we not live for Him.   Not only has He given us the power to live this life, but to be witnesses for HIm (John 14:14:12, John 20:22-23, Acts 1:8) and to do the things Jesus called us to do.  This IS what Father is doing with the churches of the New Covenant today!

All of Father’s true churches, all of Father’s prophets are all talking about walking in a closer relationship with the one true God Who created all that is.  Things that I read, things that I hear, people with whom I talk are all in agreement about our striving towards the goal (1 Corinth. 9:24-27) and then God bringing us into a closer walk through Jesus Christ, our Lord because the Holy Ghost abides in us.

Father started sharing with me back in September 2014 (interestingly during Rosh Hoshana) three seven year periods were beginning.  ‘Officially’ January 2015, but Rosh Hoshana of 2014 could be the actual starting date.  Depends if one starts uses the Hebrew or Julian Calendar.  I’ve gone with the Julian, January 2015.  Rosh Hoshana is the Jewish new year (9/2014).  The first seven year period is a foundation period where Father is establishing many of His prophets to be ready for the second period.  The first seven year period ended 12/2021.   

The second seven year period Father starts sending the prophets, who are ready, out, but this is also a growth period as prophets continue to mature and as they are ready, then they are sent out.  As this season grows, what God is doing will become more and more prominent.  You’ve heard about the revival in Kentucky?  There was talk about activity moving into California but I haven’t seen or heard about much that yet.  However, I am hearing about small events taking place in various places around the U.S and how, over the past several years, God has been working in Africa.  The prophets and preachers I do hear have been talking about this revival for about two years now.  Take note: ‘they’ are calling it a revival.  God is calling it a Spiritual explosion.  Why?  Because the Holy Ghost WILL reveal Himself in the actions of today’s ‘prophets’ AND disciples just as He did 2000 years ago!  Jesus said as we follow Him, we will do the same works He did and greater (John 14:12).  Did you hear me?  I said disciples!  That’s not just the famous preachers we know and love.  A disciple is one who follows Jesus and this means you and me will be capable of doing what Jesus did!  It’s a matter of faith.  How close are we willing to walk in Jesus’ love and what are we willing to sacrifice to do so?

Those, who are already talking, are talking about restoration and restitution.  Are we willing to actually seek the Kingdom of God first (Matt. 6:33) and then abide in God’s love – true love – agape love?  God is our strength to run this race (Phil. 3:14).  All we have to do is be obedient to the leading of the Holy Ghost and then do it (John 14:14-17)! 

Father showed me three numbers which are pertinent to what is currently going on and that which is yet to come.

Several years ago, Father had me check out the biblical meanings of numbers.  I looked at seven or eight lists and they all pretty much agreed with the two lists I mention here:

Biblenumbersforlife.com

http://www.gods-kingdom-ministries.net/teachings/books/secrets-of-time/appendix-e-the-biblical-meanings-of-numbers/

My definitions are taken from these two lists.

We are now in the second year of second seven year season. 

2    =    union, division, witnessing

The church is two, coming into the place where God intends for us to be, that is one in Spirit.

The division represents the various talents and callings He has placed on each of our lives.  That is our capabilities or our God-given ‘gift’.

Witnessing, again we are being prepared to witness for Jesus Christ as never before, not just in word, but in deeds as well.  To be true, living representatives of His Word.

The blessing, restitution and restoration is to develop us into those true witness for Jesus and which has already been taking place.  That is Father has already been establishing souls and growing them spiritually and this continues throughout this season. 

This season is bringing a great evangelical outbreak, an outreach explosion, a soul harvest.  Not just getting ‘saved’, but now, learning to live for and in Jesus Christ!

The total of both seasons equals fourteen years

14  =    Deliverance, salvation, spiritual perfection.  Also take note the end year of the second period is28 which represents ‘eternal life’.

By the end of the second season, fourteen years in all, Father will have accomplished most of the soul harvest.  Again, it will be happening throughout season two, but by that season’s end, Father will have grounded His church so they are living for Him through Jesus Christ, no doubts, ready for the harvest.  Souls will be delivered from all sorts of oppressive demonic influences and they will know they now belong to Jesus Christ, lock, stock and barrel.  There will be no doubt about our salvation (1 John 5:13-15) and how to show love towards Father through Jesus as well as our neighbor.  Our hearts will be knitted with God. Through the operation of the Holy Ghost in and through our lives, souls will be rocketing towards spiritual perfection.  We won’t reach this perfection until we are literally with Jesus, but souls will be walking as close as possible until the day Jesus does call us home, whether through natural death or rapture.

Twelve years have almost passed since the onset of these two seasons

12 =     governmental perfection, God’s power and authority

The perfect government resides under King Jesus, the perfect King and Christians will experience His power an authority.  God is perfecting His Spiritual government!

Unless your eyes are closed and you have earplugs in your ears, you should already be seeing and hearing a shift.  Yes, the world seems to be getting worse and worse, but underlying that turmoil people are getting hungrier and soon they shall realize that Jesus is the only answer -left. 

Don’t be surprised at the world’s condition.  Whenever God moves, Satan does his best to counter attack so people stay embittered and disillusioned and refuse to come to the Lord.  As children of God, He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5).   Remember the footprints in the sand.  It is  He carries us.   We are bound with Jesus through His yoke (Matt. 29-30).  He is helping us to overcome (Luke 10:18-19).  Jesus gave disciples authority over sickness and to cast out devils (Luke 10:1-20).  Resist the devil, he will flee (James 4:7).  ().  And remember God always has the final say (Rom. 13.1).

So what is the third seven year period about?  Could it be the beginning of tribulation leading to Armageddon?  Don’t know.  Father refuses to clue me in on that third period is about.  But it doesn’t matter because Father is always in control.  I just know He’ll do things according to His timing and be assured that Father is bringing all of His children into a deeper relationship with Himself that we can be all that we can be in Christ Jesus, doing all that we can do for His glory, serving and ministering to the needs of the people whom we encounter.  Loving others is the least that we can do.  He is preparing His children to truly live for and abide in Him.  AND there is a magnificent evangelical explosion, no, a Holy Ghost explosion,  coming to grow the body of Jesus Christ into its fullest. And this generation can and will be, wholly or in part, involved in this explosion. 

Amen

 

7-29-2023 Deliverance or Destruction

                Destruction                        or                Deliverance        
Isaiah 42:1-25

I’m becoming more and more amazed as to how the Old Testament reflects the conditions of the world today and how much Father has been longsuffering with us.  I’m reminded of Jesus’ words “Woe unto you, Chorazin and Bethsaida, for had they seen the works done in you and Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes (Matt. 11:21).  Where does this put us today?  How do we compare with the Israel of 2000 years ago?  Now, I’m anxious to read the next twenty-four chapters because Father keeps showing how much Jesus is also spoken of in Isaiah.

In Isaiah chapter forty-two, verses one through seven, it sure looks like to me that Isaiah is describing the ministry placed upon Jesus:  Father speaks of one in whom His Spirit resides, He will bring a new covenant to the people and a light to the Gentiles, as well as heal the sick and free the captives (from sin), etc. 

Compare this passage with Jesus’ statement that his blood is the new covenant which is shed for many (Mark 14:24).  Jesus quotes from Isaiah when He says that Father his put His spirit into Him and He shall show judgment to the Gentiles in Mathew 12:18.  In his opening comments, Paul in his letter to the Colossians cites that since he heard of their faith in Christ Jesus he has prayed for them (Col. 3: 3 & 9) because they had been delivered from the power of darkness (prison of sin) through the blood of Jesus (Col. 1:1-14).  What about us?

In our passage from Isaiah, Father then makes a statement “I will not give my glory to another nor my praise to a graven image (v8)”!  God is a jealous God (Exod. 20:4-6).  

How can we praise God/Jesus as Lord and Savior and then turn around and pray to some idol made with man’s hands which has eyes that don’t see and ears that don’t hear (Matt. 13:14).  Jesus declares that the people of His time have become just like those idols (Matt. 13:15).  But the eyes and ears of those who were following Jesus were opened (Matt. 13:16).  Isn’t it a good thing that the world has learned from those early followers of Jesus?  Or has it?  Father always has our best interests at heart (Prov. 3:11) so whatever He tells is for our edification and we should do as He directs (1 Thess. 5:13-23, read the whole passage).

Note, in our chapter, verse nine “Behold, the former things shall pass away and I declare new things.  And, I’m telling you about them before they come to pass.  Father tells us that there are no other gods besides Him (Isa. 44:6, Rom. 12:1-2)  He accents this by telling us that He directed even the paths of Cyrus (a pagan), the king of Persia by opening doors for Cyrus’ conquests and in so doing Father declares (again) that there are no others gods other than Himself (Isa 45:1-7). So why would Father then accept us giving our devotion to anything but Himself?

 

 

We are to sing a new song and sing His praises all over the earth (v10-12).  Even as the angels and those in heaven do in God’s presence (Rev. 7:9-12).

The Lord shall go forth and stir up jealousy like a man of war, He will cry and roar and prevail against His enemies (v13).  Father reminds us that vengeance is His (Rom. 12:19) and His wrath can be expressed here in this world (Gen. 19:23-28) or assuredly in eternity for those cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 13-15, 20:10).

Father says that He has held back for a long time, but He also says that He will cry out as a woman giving birth (a very loud shriek) and suddenly come upon His enemies (v13-14 -  in a time in the future).  Don’t be in error, God did destroy some of His enemies as He did in the Old Testament, but in the end, all His enemies will be ‘finalized’ in the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15).

I will lay waste to the mountains and dry up the herbs, I will turn rivers into dry land and dry up the pools of water.  I will lead the blind by means which they have not known and I will make the darkness become a light before them.  I will do all this and not forsake them (v 15-16).  Look at the miracles Father cites!

Those who have trusted in graven images and called those statues gods shall turn back (v17 – turn away from false gods and come back to God).

You who are deaf, listen to what I am saying and you who are blind look and see (v18).  Who is blind, but my servant and who is deaf as my messengers whom I sent (v19)?  They see things but they really don’t observe what they see and they listen, but they don’t really hear (v20).  Sounds, to me, like the scribes and Pharisees whom Jesus called whited sepulchers because they showed themselves to be religious when they were full of hypocrisy (Matt. 23:27-28).  Sound a bit like anything you have seen or heard?

The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake and He will magnify the law, making it honorable (v21).  God will honor that (those) who abide in Him (abide in His love, John 15:9-12).

Yet His people have robbed and spoiled and they are all trapped in what they have done.  They all are trapped in holes and in prisons.  They are prey which no one shall deliver and they are spoiled and no one shall say ‘restore’ (v22).

Listen to what Isaiah says to the people of His time about what they do.  They have stolen from some and set traps for others and in so doing they don’t even realize that they are imprisoned by the evil which prompts them to do so!  They dig a pit and fall into it themselves (Psalm 7:15). Sound familiar to anyone? 

Who of you will hear this?  And who will understand, for the time is yet to come (v23).

Isaiah has been speaking of things (attitudes) yet to happen down the road – even until today!  Look around and see for yourselves!

Who let Jacob become a spoil and Israel to be robbed?  Wasn’t it the Lord, against whom these people have sinned?  Why?  Because they would not walk in His ways nor obey His law (v24).

Who “let” Jacob become a spoil?  The earth is the Lord’s and all that’s in it.  The world is His and all that lives in it.  He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the floods.  Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord.  Who shall stand in His Holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart.  He who has not lifted his soul up to vanity nor sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation (Psalm 24:1-5).

  Satan could not come against Job without God’s permission (Job 1:6-12, Job 2:1-6).  And those who are in the Lord’s sheepfold (saved) enjoy the same protection, yet we know that Father does chastise those whom He loves (Heb. 12:6-8) and, as long as we abide in God’s love, whatever comes upon us is to shape us and mold us into a better person.  We are the clay and the Lord is the potter (Isa. 45:9-11, Jer. 18:1-4).              

Therefore God has poured out upon them (who defy Him) the fury of His anger and the strength of battle and set a fire all around.  Yet he did not recognize what was happening and did not set all this into his heart (v25).

So, when man turns away from God is when God releases His fury.  Read the Old Testament.  Every time Israel turned from God, they were conquered by a foreign power and removed from the promised land.  Then, like the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), each time they repented and came back to God, God blessed them again as many returned to Jerusalem.  Lesson, even when we ‘mess up’  and we truly repent that of which we have been guilty, Father will forgive us and set those sins behind His back (Isa. 38:17), so they can slide into the sea of forgetfulness (Micah 7:19).

In this one chapter from the book of Isaiah, we see why Father wreaks havoc upon His people.  A little more reading of the bible helps us t understand that, as children of the living God, He will take the necessary measures to get  His people back on the right track and start loving Him again.  He loves us.  God is love (1 John 4:16)!  Jesus desires that we abide in His love as He abides in the Father (John 15:9) so Father, Son and we (us) might all be one (John17:20-23).

As a whole, the bible shows us how God deals with us – reprimand or blessing.  We stray, God calls us ) with whatever it takes to get our attention).  We return and Father blesses us.  In the end, which do we choose?  Destruction?  Or deliverance?

Amen 

7-15-2023 Cleaning up the Mess

Think.  In God's house, we the people are the kids!

Isaiah 29:1-24

Isaiah refers to Ariel which is Jerusalem (Strong’s H740) and he speaks against Jerusalem and the armies that come against it.  

Sorrow will come upon the city as their enemies fortify around it and besiege it.  He says that Jerusalem will lift up their prayers in vain like shallow, hollow echoes.  Their enemies will come upon them in great numbers, like a sandstorm.  And God shall visit Jerusalem as a thunderstorm, a great tempest, a devouring flame of fie. 

Speaking of the past, Father, over many years, has sent many nations to reprimand Israel.  But, in prophesying, Isaiah says that those nations who came against Israel shall suffer.  They’ll be like a hungry man who dreams that he is eating but actually takes in no nourishment so when he wakes up his soul shall still be empty. He shall dream of drinking water and when he wakes, because he actually has taken in no water, his soul shall be thirsty and he will still be faint.  In other words, victory over Israel will not satisfy their enemies.  Because they had no respect for the fact that Israel has been God’s chosen (Deut. 7:6-11), they will eventually face God’s wrath – not that they conquered Israel but because they hand only contempt for God’s people. 

But Israel will cry.  They will act as drunk though not with wine and they shall stagger but not because of strong drink.

God has dulled Israel’s senses.  He has given them a spirit of sleep so they don’t see so well.  He has closed the eyes of their prophets, rulers and seers whose words would be like trying to read from a closed book. (Gotta open the book to read it!  lol)  and it would be like asking someone to read a book though he cannot read.  For God says that though the people speak of me and honor me with their lips their hearts and respect for Me are far from me and they lean on their own understanding, not Mine.   

Israel has strayed from God for many ‘silly’ reasons and the result is a religion, not a faith. Therefore God says the wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the wisdom of their intelligent men will be hid.  The people will think that they are safe and that the evil works they do are hidden and no one (or God) will never see or know. (God knows our heart - Prov. 21:2, Mark 2:8, Rev. 2:23, as well as what we do).

It’s like the potter’s clay.  Does it make it true when the vessel the potter has made denies that it was the potter who made it!  Or yet, if we imagine something in our minds, will what we imagined tell us we don’t know what we were doing?  Therefore we couldn’t have imagined it???

The people of Israel has leaned on their own understanding and then think God won’t notice it.  We haven’t done that – have we?

Then Isaiah compares Israel with Lebanon.  Not the country, but a mountain range in Palestine (H3844, H382 the heart).  He also refers to when later, Israel will change their heart, and once again become fruitful and its fruit-laden fields will be compared to a large forest.  In that day the blind eyes shall be opened to clearly see through the darkness.  The meek shall increase their joy in the Lord and the poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

All the terrible things will come to nothing and those who work iniquity will be cut off.  Israel will (eventually) see the light! (Israel’s ‘homecoming’?)

Therefore the Lord who redeemed Abraham, said that the house of Jacob shall not be ashamed and the color will return to their pale faces.  Isaiah prophecies Israel coming back into God’s grace.

But when Israel sees the works the Lord has done in their midst, they will sanctify, the Holy One of Jacob (Jesus) and shall once again fear (respect) the Lord.  Those who have erred will come to into understanding and those who have murmured will learn sound doctrine.  That is, after all is said and done, God’s people will return to Him and be satisfied and once again live in obedience in His Word! 

Has any of this sounded familiar to anyone?

Of course, no part of today’s church has strayed from God’ Word.  Right?  None of today’s church has decided God hasn’t known what He’s talking about, right?  Maybe, Jesus didn’t really say “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15)?  Oh, He was just talking about keeping only the ones we agree with, right?  Did Jesus really say that we should love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31).  We’ve been told that if someone offends us to get revenge – quickly, right?  Or should we remember something about turning the other cheek (Matt. 5:38-45)?  Forgiving (Matt. 6:14-15)?  And, as God has reconciled us to Himself, making us a new creature in Jesus Christ, we should also reconcile relationships with those around us ((2 Corinth. 5:17-21).

Isaiah has reminded Israel that God has ‘abandoned’ them because they have rejected Him and set His wisdom and guidance aside so they could do their own thing.   Yet God still gives them hope and promise that things will turn around.  Turning from old ways an determining not to do them again is far better than ‘just’ saying “I’m sorry” (1 Sam. 15:22, Rom 12:1-2).

Again, what does the prophet say?  Eyes will be opened to see clearly and peace and joy will come back into the people’s heart.  Proper knowledge and understanding will crop back in and we can live in the true joy of the Lord.  Now, I’m talking about us, today, and not just Israel!

Look at the world today.  Look at the church today.  How much of what Isaiah says would apply to today’s thinking?  None?  Some?  Or we still waiting for eyes to be opened and, as with Paul, waiting for the scales to fall from our eyes (Acts 9:8-18)?  How obedient is the church to God’s Word and Will, much less the world.  The church is supposed to ‘know’ while the world has yet to learn!

Jesus says ask, in His name, and He will do it (John 14:14).  The Holy Ghost will lead us into all truth (John 16:13-15) and God will give us understanding (2 Tim. 2:7).  So who do we listen to?  Man or God? 

God’s appeal to church is to get back on the right track and live in His commandment to “Love” both God and our fellow man (Matt. 22:36-40).  And in so doing, we might even be amazed that even the world might turn around.

Amen