5-20-2023 Malachi 3:1-18  Malachi 3:1-18 – Transition, what we were and where God wants us to be

Passing from one reality to the next

May is a time for God’s grace and favor and now, over the next several years, we are also in times of transition –the Spiritual Explosion, a downpour of the latter rain.  Father is meeting us wherever we are and encouraging us to grow closer to Him.

Many of us are familiar with Mal. 3:8 (tithing), but how many of us have read the verses before or after?

Malachi continues Zechariah’s mentioning God’s curses because of their disobedience but also gives Israel hope for a bright and gorgeous future, if they are obedient.

Malachi begins the chapter with 1 “Behold, I send my messenger (John the Baptist) and he shall prepare the way before Me (Father), and the Lord (Jesus), whom you seek, shall suddenly come into His temple (Israel looked forward to the coming of the Messiah). 

2 But who may abide in the day of His coming?  Who shall stand when He appears, for He is like a refiner’s fire and a cleansing soap. 

3 And as a refiner, a purifier of silver, He shall purify the sons of Levi (and us), as one does with gold and silver, that they (we) may offer an offering of righteousness to the Lord.

(Though Malachi is speaking to Israel, this also speaks to us today.  Unlike the Jewish clergy who made sure that the outside of the vessel looked good (but ignoring the dead bones inside), Jesus is (has) coming to purify the whole vessel [all who believe] Matt. 23:27).  

4 Then shall the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem (and us) be pleasant to the Lord and those days shall be as the former years. 

(Israel will come to worship God as they did when Father was establishing them as a nation.  Again, for today, those who knew Jesus and have strayed (since Jesus’ ascension), all may be solidified in our faith.  That is, comeback and/or into a more solid relationship with Father through our Lord Jesus.)

5 I will come to you for judgment.  I will be a swift witness to the sorcerers, against the adulterers, the false swearers and those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow or the fatherless or even the strangers from what is right and who don’t fear me, says he Lord of Hosts.

(In Matthew, do the words of Jesus ring in our ears?  I shall say to them “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into everlasting fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you didn’t feed me.  I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink.  I was a stranger and you did not take me in.  I was naked and you gave me no clothes.  I was imprisoned and you didn’t visit me … because you have not done it to the least of these [in My kingdom] you have not done it to Me.”  {Matt. 25:41-45}  Of course, then, the opposite is also true (Matt. 25:34-40) – when we have done these things, the Lord is with us.  In short, when we don’t help our fellow man, we ‘dis’ God – and He’s is not very happy about that.  When we stray from God’s love and don’t repent and don’t come back, we will be in deep doodoo.)  But, when we do the things Jesus suggests, we solidify our place in eternity.  

6 I am the Lord, I don’t change, and therefore the sons of Levi are not consumed.  (as a whole, the tribe of Levi ‘hung in there’ with God)

(However)

7 Even from the day of your fathers, you (Israel [& us?]) have left My ordinances and have not kept them.  Return to Me and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.  And they asked God ‘How shall we return?’  You ask how have you robbed Me?  In tithes and offerings.”

God then asks the question “Will a man rob God?” (v8).  And they asked ‘How have we robbed You?’ and God’s response is ‘in tithes and offerings’.

Father goes on in, v9-12, on how He will bless them (us) when they (we) do right.  He will bless us, stand against our enemies for us and cause what we do to prosper.  Father gave Israel many blessings for doing good things.   Is it any wonder that, even today, the Jewish people believe that ‘doing good’ is all they need to do (They’ve kept the letter of the law)?  What did we just say about the vessels, earlier?  What did Jesus say about entering the kingdom of God?  Do ‘straight & narrow’ ring a bell (Matt. 7:13-14, John 14:6)?

Father reminds Israel (and us) how they have acted towards Him even to the point in saying that it is useless to serve Him because they have walked before Him and have gained nothing.  They called evil good and good evil (v13-15, Isa. 5:20).  That’s walking before the Lord?

Man has turned God’s words around to justify his own ends and yet, he expects God to honor his requests (prayers).  The only prayer God has to hear, of those who don’t know Him or who have turned away, is the prayer of repentance and salvation.  Father does hear the prayers of all who truly seek Him and love and obey Him (Prov. 15:29, 1 John 5:14). 

Then the just remembered God and God heard them and wrote their names in His book (v16).  What book?  In Revelation we see the books (of works) and then the book of life opened (Rev. 20:11-15).  Because of their (our) faithfulness, God says He will treat them (us) as the finest gems and spare them (us) as a man spares his own son who serves him (v17).  Abraham went to sacrifice his son Isaac’s life yet God stopped him and spared Isaac (Gen. 22:9-13).  A prophecy of what God was preparing to do for us!  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16)!  The jeweler is very meticiulous about his gems.  So is God who cares about us, making us the best that we can be (Psalm 23:6, Rom 8:28).

Then, these shall be able to discern between righteousness and wickedness and those who serve God and those who don’t.” (v18).   

Want discernment?  Want to know who truly are your brothers and sisters in Christ?  As we love and serve Father, the Holy Ghost will lead us into all truth and understanding (John 16:13, 2 Tim. 2:7).  Living in the Word of God enables us (even us) to separate the soul and the spirit, joints and marrow even the thoughts and intents of the heart of man (Heb. 4:12).  The Spirit helps us to recognize whatever it is that we are dealing with!  We just need to ask (John 14:13-17) and listen and obey.  God will open our eyes.

So, how doses Malachi reflect transition?  He helps us to understand that in transitioning from the old man to a new creature in Jesus Christ (2 Corinth. 5:17), we obtain new life and hope which Jesus has given us (John 14:2-4).  This also includes those who have known our Lord, strayed away and are now coming back into relationship with Him.  That is learning to walk in the Spirit of God as the Holy Ghost guides us and gives us the strength, that is power, to live this life (Acts:1:8).  In other words: as we yield ourselves over to Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord because the Holy Ghost is alive and well and functioning in our lives (not quenched 1 Thess. 5:18-19), we will be able and continue to transform into the person God desires us to be.

Father is our light and our life because we have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord (as well as Savior) and we yield to the Holy Ghost (who abides in us) and follow His direction.

Amen

Let it be so!

5-6-2023    Former and latter rain

    

Here are some passages referring to the ‘former’ and ‘latter’ rain.

Hosea 6:1-3 ESV   Early rain

Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”

Zechariah 10:1 ESV   early rain

Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.

Luke 24:49 ESV early rain

And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Acts 1:4-8    early rain

But wait for the promise which you have heard from me.  Truly, John baptized you with water but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days from now.  It’s not for you to know the times nor the seasons for Father has kept this power for Himself.  But, you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you …  

Acts 2:1-47 ESV   early rain

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ...

Deuteronomy 11:14 ESV   early & latter rain

He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil.

Jeremiah 5:24 ESV  early & latter rain        

They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’

James 5:1-20 ESV  early & latter rain          

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Haggai 2:9 ESV latter rain

The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’”

Isaiah 41:14-20 ? God will renew us

… I am your redeemer … I will make you a new threshing instrument …  I will h hear the needy and open rivers in the high places and fountains in the valleys and make a pool of water in the wilderness …  and they will know that that the hand of the Lord, the Holy One of Israel has done this and created it.

Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV ? God’s Word refreshes 

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.     

Ezekiel 37:1-28 ESV  current situation pre latter rain

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. ...

End Times

Joel 2:1-32 ESV             

Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations. Fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns. The land is like the garden of Eden before them, but behind them a desolate wilderness, and nothing escapes them. Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, and like war horses they run. As with the rumbling of chariots, they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, like a powerful army drawn up for battle. ...

1 Timothy 4:1 ESV  falling away towards latter rain

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 ESV  son of perdition first

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? ...

Ephesians 5:26-27 ESV / sanctify and cleansing

That He might sanctify and cleanse it with washing of water by the word

So that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Acts 2:33 ESV 

Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

So why do we even care about the early and later rains? 

The former and latter rains?  They are signs of the times.  The outpouring of the Holy Ghost.  Jesus promised us we would have a helpmate to guide us through life.  The first outpouring was when He gave the promise (John 14:16-18) with that reality being experienced by the disciples in  Acts 2. 

The latter rain started dribbling in in the late 1800’s – early 1900’s, the rise of the Pentecostal movement, gained some steam with the ‘Charismatic’ movement of the mid 1960’s and is now coming to a full blown reality of the Holy Ghost rising up in God’s children – big time.  Just as Jesus said in the gospel of John “Truly, I tell you, he who believes on Me shall do shall also do the works that I do and he shall do greater than these, because I go to the Father.”  Jesus had the fullness of the Holy Ghost in Him to accomplish His mission – the cross.  Now, He shares the Holy Ghost with all who will receive Him and allow Him operate in our lives.

Since the bible was made available to the common man (in ‘recent’ times), Father has been growing His children through the Protestant Reformation, at least 2 ‘awakening’s, Pentecostal Revival, Charismatic Revival and now a ‘Prophetic Awakening’.  All so the Holy Ghost can return to ‘active duty’ in each and all our lives!

Let’s go back and understand what the rains do.  The early rain prepares the ground for planting.  This, after the previous harvest and the earth has had a chance to settle down after the previous season.  For us, this would equate to spring, after the fall harvest and a ‘long winter’s nap’ for the earth.  In spring, the earth is softening up in preparation for the new-year’s planting season and the early rains enhance that softening by bringing moisture into the earth. 

The latter rain, again for us, comes just after the blossoming of the plants as they prepare to bring forth their fruit and, then, bring refreshing water to those seedlings so they can grow and mature, becoming ripe and ready for harvest.

In respects to the Holy Ghost, the early rain was when the apostles and disciples received the outpouring or baptism (if you will) in the upper room.  Note that in Acts 2, there were the 12 apostles plus 108 disciples (120 in all).  So, the Holy Ghost and the power that comes with Him is for all believers, not just a select few.  We just have to receive Him and allow Him to operate in us and through us. 

Don’t quench the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19)!  In other words, we need to yield control of our lives over to the guidance of the Holy Ghost.  We do that by asking His direction in all that we do.  Then do it! “Father, what should I do or say in this situation?”

Father has prepared and has been growing hearts since that early rain. 

Okay, the latter rain has also been happening – even today.  Not full blown yet, as we ae not yet experiencing the downpour into the latter house making it greater than the former.  But now, it is time to ripen or mature and truly live our lives in and for our Lord. 

Does not the Holy Ghost enter our lives when we ask Jesus to come into our hearts (save us)?  But, do we then allow the Holy Ghost full operation in and through us?  Too many Christians receive Jesus then put the Holy Ghost on a shelf or somewhere in a back room.  Maybe we put Him in a box and close the lid.  Hidden.  He can’t get out.  God, (the Holy Ghost) is a gentleman.  He won’t force His way into our lives.  He awaits our invitation (Josh. 24:15, Heb. 11:6, Rev. 22:17).  We need to ask.  We ‘quench’ the HG by not letting Him do His job in us and through us.

Father is ripening (maturing) His children so we can do His work in this world today.  We ARE in a time of Spiritual Explosion.  As Father’s children mature, the operations of the Holy Ghost will become more and more evident.  In other words, we will be doing the same things Jesus did and greater (John 14:12)!  How can this be?  We will be allowing the Holy Ghost more freedom to operate in our lives.  We will give the Holy Ghost more license to do work in us, as Father originally intended.  God’s love will become more and more evident, in our lives and to the world.  Because we will be yielding more of our life over to Him, following His lead, following the example Jesus has given us when He walked upon this earth, 2000 year ago.  

Paul give us direction in the church so the operation of the Holy Ghost has an assemblage of order so that the church doesn’t fall into disruption (1 Corinth. 14:26-33).  Yet Paul also speaks of the Holy Ghost building us up as individuals (1 Corinth. 14:5). “Tongues”, or God-given Spiritual language, is for communication between God and man and builds the individual.  There is nothing wrong exercising our personal prayer language.  It does give us a personal experience with God otherwise missed.   However, the idea is that when we are in the church, the goal is to have a God-given order so as to edify the whole church.

I know that some say the ‘tongues’ is not for today for when that which is Perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away (1 Corinth. 13:10).  A child perceives things as a child and a man should perceive things as a man.  We look through a glass darkly, seeing only in part, but when the Perfect is come, for then, I shall know as I am known (1 Corinth. 13:11-12).  Paul speaks of five gifts which are for the perfecting of the saints, for all the work of the ministry and to edify the body of Christ.  So the Holy Ghost should be in full operation Until all are united in faith and the knowledge of the Son of God.  We become the perfect men by measuring up to the example set by Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:12-13). 

So today, how do we measure up to the standards Jesus established, His example for living?  Point being, how many Christians are truly mature, operating fully in the will of God?  Allowing the full operation of the Holy Ghost to function in our lives?  Or do we still see only in part as we try to look through that tinted glass?  Of a surety, this question shall be answered when we are actually with Jesus – in eternity!

Read Paul’s letters to the churches and see how immature Christians act.  How do we stack up?  And some people still contend that the gifts are no longer necessary – fort he edification of the church.  Really?

We are now in the latter rains which will enable us to mature and be true reflections of God’s love.  We grow in God’s love by allowing the Holy Ghost to fully operate in our lives and we do that as we, piece by piece, yield all those negative actions, feelings and thoughts, to the Holy Ghost by allowing the Him more and more control over our lives.  That is listening to that small, still voice echoing God’s love in our ears and hearts and being obedient as we strive to live for Father as we follow the example of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

The apostles looked for Jesus to return 2000 years ago.  Are we any closer today?  Understand the conditions of the world –today.  What is happening around the world?  Has the church fallen away? 

The early rains have already come.  The latter rains have already started falling.  Lord Jesus, bring the downpour of the latter rain upon us.

Amen

4-22-2023 New Life

Spring is now in full bloom (and budding).  The earth is waking up after a long winter’s nap.  Okay, winter may have been pretty mild this year (where I live – Md, anyway) but still cold enough that nothing has really bloomed until now.

Easter Sunday we celebrated the promise of eternal fellowship with the Father through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord.  PTL!  Jesus gave Himself for us over 2000 years ago by allowing the Romans to hang Him on the cross.  But, praise God, Jesus rose from the grave on the third day, the promise for us – eternal life.  A new life in Jesus Christ!  Yet, what does Father ask of me?   This promise of new life also brings a responsibility.  We have to ask ourselves “How can I show my thanks to Jesus for what He did?”

The answer is easy.  We show our appreciation by abiding in His love.  Again you say “But how?”  Glad you asked.

Jesus says that if you love Me “Keep My commandments” (John 14:15).  Oh.  And that includes all those “Thou shalt not’s”, right?  Okay, but what about the ‘Thou shalts’?

The Ten Commandments are a basic list of what God expects from us and are ten ways in which we can express our love for Him.  Let each one of us take a look at God’s list and ask what do those items really mean to “me”.

Most of us ‘get’ the “Thou shalt nots”.  or do we?

But first, I’d like to mention two of those ten which actually are not a “Thou shalt not”. 

Exod. 20:8-11  The 4th commandment says “Remember the Sabbath Day”. 

When God provided the manna for Israel (as they wandered around the desert) He told them that they had six days “to do their business, but the seventh day would be the Sabbath, which is holy unto the Lord.  Each day, each man would gather what he needed, then on the sixth day, there would be double the manna for there was no manna on the 7^th day, that is the Sabbath (Exod. 16:1-36).  God explains that no one should work on the Sabbath for God created the world in six days (Gen. 1:1-31) and rested on the seventh from all His works (Gen. 2:1-3).  God knows that we also need rest from our works, so the seventh day was intended to give us that day of rest.  This ‘spare time’ also gives us time to reflect on our relationship with the Lord.  Now, I’m not going to argue which is the ‘true’ Sabbath.  The Jewish tradition sets it on the day which we refer to as ‘Saturday’, the day after the crucifixion.  Yet most of the Christian community celebrates the Sabbath on the day our Lord rose from the grave – Sunday.  Arguing over this is a moot point because God tells us to meditate on the ‘law (His Word) day and night (Psalm 1:2) and Paul tells the Philippians (and us) to think on these things: what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely good report, has virtue or is worthy of praise (Phil. 4:8).  Then Paul reminds the Thessalonians (and us) to rejoice (have a joyful spirit), pray without ceasing and be thankful for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus (1 Thess. 5:16-18).  Daniel prayed to God three times each day – AM, PM and lunch time too (lol, Dan. 6:10).  Paul tells the Ephesians (and us) to pray with all our supplications in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18).  In short, we should be talking with our Lord on a daily basis, glad what God does for us, giving Him thanks.  Or should I say we should  always ‘touch bases’ with Him in all that we do – no matter how many times a week or a day.  A prayerful attitude might be “Lord, what should I do or say in this situation?”  I mean actually ask Him.  No we don’t have to get down on our knees every time but we can speak it in our heart or ‘under our breath (aloud, softly).  What Father is saying is give Him some time and seek His direction.  Not just on the Sabbath but, again, every day!   

Exodus 20:12   The 5th commandment says “Honor your father and your mother”.

Honor mom and dad?  This commandment actually gives us a definitive return for our obedience – long life in this world.  So why do we honor dad and mom?  As their children, God has put dad, then mom, in authority over us to guide and direct us in the paths we should follow.  Or, at least, this is God’s intent.  And dad’s and mom’s authority should be Jesus Christ, whose authority is God, the Father.  When everything lines up from God (the Father) to us (the children), then the family lines up and thrives.  So we show respect to dad and mom by being obedient to them because of their obedience to God. 

NOW, the ‘shalt nots’!

Exodus 20: 3    The 1st commandment “You shall have no other Gods before Me”.

Do we say “Duh!” here?  God created all that is (Gen. 1:1-31), even us (man).  As Creator, all things are then subject to God who knows all things (Matt. 24:35-36).  And as Creator, He deserves all respect and obedience for what He has done and how He’s done it.  Right?

Exodus 20:4-6  The 2^nd commandment  “You shall not make any graven images or likeness of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath nor that which is in the water or under the earth”.

Also, pretty much self-explanatory.  We don’t bow ourselves down to any man-made image or serve them.  For the Lord, your God, is a jealous God and visits the iniquities of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Him.  When we worship (adore) something else, we are saying we don’t respect you, God or maybe even we hate Him.  Yet, He has mercy on those who love Him and keep His commandments.  Until the book of Revelation (13:14-15), idols can neither see nor, hear, walk nor talk (Psalm 115:4-7).  What good can they really do for us?  They just sit or stand with a blank stare in their eyes, not even seeing what is right in front of them?

Exodus 20:7     The 3^rd commandment  “Don’t take the name the Lord, your God, in vain”.

In vain?  Lie about His name, use His name and not giving Him the respect due and realizing that when we invoke (call upon) His name, His intent is to accomplish what is said.  He created all things by speaking it into existence so His word does not come back void (Isa. 55:11, Heb. 4:12).  We should not use His name in vain, or should I say ‘flippantly’, that is  just an expression.  When we ask God’s damnation over something, what do we really mean?  At best one ‘hell of a time’  here on this earth or at worst eternal damnation in the lake of fire (Rev. 29:12-15).  Is that what we truly want for anyone or anything?  Do I need to go into detail?

Exodus 20:13   6^th commandment “Thou Shalt not kill”.

Don’t kill?  Slay. Cause to cease to exist (that is live), make deader ‘n’ a doornail!  Yet Jesus carries this one step farther.  He who hates his brother is a murderer and no murderer has life abiding him (1 John 3:15).  When we truly hate someone, we withhold the life-saving gospel of Jesus Christ from them, thereby potentially condemning that soul to eternal death.  Jesus says to ‘love’ our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:39) and that means to provide what is best for them and to help them draw closer to God.  Amen?

Exodus 20:14   7^th commandment “Thou shalt not commit adultery”.

In the natural, adultery is having a physical relationship with someone other than one’s spouse.  In the spiritual, adultery is worshipping any other thing or god than the One who created all things – Yaweh, Jehova, our heavenly Father.  This falls back to commandment ‘no other gods before Me’.  But, worshipping other things or gods is doing just that.  We bow down before an idol (or maybe even a person) and recite words.  Here, Father is talking about seeking after and trying to develop a relationship with that false deity.  A relationship where we put all our energies, our trust, our heart, into pursuing that false god, while attempting to maintain a relationship (of some sort) with our heavenly Father.  A man can’t serve two gods at the same time.  He’ll hold on to one but despise the other (Mat. 6:24).  His heart cannot be with both at the same time.  

Exodus 20:15   8^th commandment “Thou shalt not steal”.

Needless to say that stealing is taking that which belongs to someone else without proper compensation.  Satan attempts to steal our affections from Jesus.  He comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10a) and encourages us to do the same.  We keep our ‘paws’ off that which we don’t own.  It just be might someone else’s livelihood.

Exod. 20:16     9^th commandment “Thou shalt not bear false witness”.  We should not say something that is not true about another.  Bluntly, we should never lie about another person.  That is saying something untrue to get that other person into trouble, to make them look bad or just ‘gossiping’ untruths about another.  In a court of law, this is called perjury.

Exodus 20:17   10^th commandment “Thou shalt not covet”,  your neighbor’s house, spouse or anything that is his.  It is one thing to desire something like what another person has, but to desire what that person actually has, owns or possesses is a nono.  Making it a little plainer, if a neighbor owns an expensive car.  You like the car, his car and you desire to have his car, you are coveting his car.  If you desire a car like the one he has – no problem.

Jesus says that if we love Him, we should keep His commandments (John 14:15).  Israel was more concerned about ‘doing’ while neglecting the motivation behind the action.  Their faith was predicated on what they did, not what they thought.  Yet, as we read through the bible, we see where God was always been looking at our heart – even in the Old Testament (1 Sam 16:7, Luke 16:15).  Enoch so pleased God that He took Him (Gen 5:21-24, Heb. 11:5-6). King Saul lost the kingdom because his heart was not with God (1 Sam. 13:14).  God, then gave the kingdom to David because David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).  David said I delight myself in your commandments, which I have loved (Psalm 119:47). 

When we love God, we do our best to love Him and that means doing as He has told us.  That is doing what He has said, but doing from our heart.  What is the greatest commandment?  Love the Lord God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength (Mark 12:30).  That is we love our Lord with every ounce of who and what we are.  Sold out to Father, through Jesus Christ, lock, stock and barrel.  We endeavor to please Him in all that we say and do.  To be a living example of His love in this world.  Do I dare say that our lives should be a living testimony (witness) to God’s love?

As we give our hearts to the Lord, we discover that He will continually renew (Rom. 12:2) us so we can love Him even more! 

Translated that means is that as we abide in His love, Father is continually growing us in that love.  He is giving us new life!

Amen

4-8-2023    Glory to God

  
                                                                                            Celebrate Jesus, Celebrate

April 9, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus from the tomb.  For approximately thirty-three years, He lived with us and as we do in this world, exposed to the same things which we are exposed.  On ‘Easter Sunday’ we celebrate His victory over the grave, that is, sin and death.  That is His transition from His earthly existence into His eternal existence.  We see His promise to us that, in Him, our lives may be resurrected from this worldly existence into eternal life in Him, through Him in this life and with Him, forever.

Jesus has the authority (exousia G1849) from God the Father as well as the power (dunamis G 1411) to do what He did.  Why because the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are one.  In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1).  Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father.  Jesus’ response “…he who has seen Me has seen the Father …” (John 14:8-11).  The angel tells Joseph not to be concerned about taking Mary as his wife for in her womb, she carries our Savior, Jesus.  Then the angel cited Isaiah, the prophet that he should call the child’s name ‘Emmanuel’, that is ‘God is with us’ (Mat. 1:28, Isa. 7:14).  We know that God is Spirit and that we should worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24).  We know that the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God which, in the Greek, is pneuma, ‘the breath of God’ (G 4151).  In the beginning God created all things.  As He spoke, His breath carried His Words into action (Gen. 1:1-26).  In chapter one “he said”, nine times.  Nine time that the Spirit went into specific action.  And we know that God can share His Spirit with us.  Just before He ascended back into heaven, Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem a few days for then the Holy Ghost would come upon them (Acts 1:4-9).  He would be in them [us] (John 14:17).  And He did (and has for us) (Acts 2:1-16, Joel 2:28).  Ergo, Jesus is the ultimate authority to live this life and do the things to which He has called us (John 14:12-13).  Jesus sent the apostles (Matt. 10:7-8) then the 70 disciples (Luke 10:1-17) giving them power (authority) to heal sickness and disease and to cast out devils.  And with the Holy Ghost in us, we also have the same power (authority) Jesus had.  So we see that it is God working in us through the Holy Ghost (who dwells within our heart) in Jesus’ name because we keep His commandments of love (John 14:10-15) allowing Him to work in us and through us.  Glory to God!

And just what are Jesus’ commandments?  To love!  The scribes came to test Jesus by asking “What is the greatest commandment?”  Jesus responded “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength.  Then, love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Mark 12:28-31, Matt. 22:37-40).  Why? Because God is love (1 John 4:8).  And everyone who knows God, loves (1 John 4:16-21).  For the Law and everything the prophets said stems from God’s law of love (Matt. 22:40).  Jesus also tested the Hebrew religious by asking them the same question and they responded correctly (Luke 10:25-28).  By the way, if you haven’t figured it out yet, the whole bible is God explaining the capacity of His love towards us.  Amen?

Jesus is our authority and ability to love – God and our fellow man.

So, how do we express our gratitude for the wonderful gift God has bestowed upon us?

Of course, living for and in Jesus is foremost.  We start by acknowledging what Jesus has done for us.  That is confessing our sin before Him then declare Him as our Lord and Savior as we give Him thanksgiving for His blood which was shed on the cross, cleansing us.  He has given us access into His kingdom - forever. 

He is the one who gives us an existence with the Father throughout all eternity. 

We then commit to serve God and only God, with all that we are.  We acknowledge that God is the ultimate authority in all things and that the Father and Son are, indeed, one.  Then, through Jesus, we become one in Them.

We start living for Him by learning the depth and breadth of His love so we may also live (this life) in Him.  We strive to allow God to become so much of our life that people might say about us what Jesus said about His relationship with Father (John 17:21).  That is because the love of God is so evident in our lives others will have seen the essence (love) of God in us. 

This doesn’t happen overnight and to realize the full impact in our lives, will take a lifetime.  The question to us is “How quickly can we truly yield our life over to the Lord?”  Some are quick learners and doers while others (like me) take a bit longer (lol).  What I’m saying is that chronological age really isn’t a factor.  Why?  Some give their life to the Lord early in life (chronologically) and give Him full access as they continue to grow in Him.  While others ask Him into their life later in life.  And we all grow at different paces.  The quicker we learn God’s love and yield to His direction, the quicker we grow spiritually.  The key is to always stay the course and run a good race (Heb. 12:1).  Know that we have done all that we can do in this life (2 Tim. 4:7).  Remember that as we seek God, He will gives us the strength of an eagle in flight to finish our race (Isa. 40:31).  The eagle has very keen eyesight and doesn’t lose sight of its goal.  And that crown of life is the goal that awaits each and every one of us (James 1:12). 

In doing all this we need to always give Father thanksgiving and praise, the glory for all that He has, is and will do in our lives (1 Chron. 16:28-29, Psalm 11:1-10, Heb. 13:15).  Even in those things which don’t seem so good.  God, for our benefit, corrects us whom He loves (Heb. 12:6) so we stay the course.

Sing praises to our Lord.  I’m not saying ‘just’ listen to songs that uplift God and our relationship with Him, but find the lyrics and actually sing along with those songs.  It is soothing to listen and it brings peace into our heart, but singing along with songs of praise will uplift our spirit!  Don’t be afraid to get excited about our God.  Praise God.  Praise Him in His sanctuary.  Praise Him where ever His power is.  Praise Him for all that He has, is and will do.  He is above all!  Praise him with our ‘wind’ instruments.  Praise Him with our stringed instruments.  Praise Him with our percussion instruments.  Praise Him with any instrument we have access to use.  So with our voice, let’s praise our Lord with even our very breath (Psalm 150:1-6).  Get the picture?

Let’s raise all that we have and are up to the Lord as we celebrate His resurrection day!  We have the promise of our resurrection through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  So it is also our day of resurrection.  Our resurrection means a new beginning in our lives. God asks Israel to remember the glory they experienced when He first brought them out of Egypt and established His temple.  Then compare that to where they were at in Haggai’s day (Haggai 2:1-23) and us today.   God promised Israel that the state of their latter house would be greater than their first (Haggai 2:9).  He promises us that in the incoming Spiritual explosion, the house of the Lord will burst forth in new power and glory! 

Welcome to a new day.  Welcome to the first day in our new beginnings.  Glory be to the one and only true, living God.  hallelujah!

Amen

3-25-2023 Micah & the 2-edged sword

Listen to the words of the prophet Micah: 

1          Listen up you heads of Jacob, princes of Israel, is it not for you to know judgment? 

Let’s exchange any reference of Israel and Jerusalem to reference today’s church.  Aren’t we supposed to know the ways of God?

2          They have come to hate good and love evil.  They strip the skin from the people, even the flesh from their bones. 

3          They scrape their skin off, eat their flesh and even break their bones.  They chop them up as to boil them in a caldron.

Hasn’t too much of today’s church set God aside to accommodate the world’s views?  We can’t offend anybody!  They might not come to church (and feed our offering trays)!  Indeed, we have minimized and scraped away too much of God’s truth just to bring more people into the church.  After all, everyone knows that the bigger a church, the more successful it is!  Right?  We have mutilated God’s teaching.  We have cut it down to our size to fit our needs. 

4          Then they cry to the Lord, but He won’t hear them.  At that time He will hide His face from them because of their ill doings.

But when things start to go wrong doesn’t the church call out to God?  Yet, when that time comes, because of the church’s waywardness, God will not hear it.

5          He says this to the prophets who make His people err.  They bite with their teeth and cry peace but God does not tell them what to say.  They even prepare war against Him.

Listen!  Today, too many prophets are prophesying nothing but good and there is no longer a balance.  Once saved, you’ve got it made God wants to bless you!  Yes, God wants to and will bless us, but are we being told that we have a responsibility to insure those blessings?  In seeking God’s kingdom we should be seeking to have His will done in our lives and through our lives and in so doing, we become obedient in His will.

6          All things will become as night and they won’t have a vision, it shall be dark.  They shall not divine and the sun shall go down over the prophets and it shall be dark over them.

7          Their seers shall be ashamed and their diviners confused, indeed, they shall cover their lips for there is no answer from God.

Truly, darkness will fill the church when we refuse to obey God’s will. The prophets will preach feel-good lies without the balance of how we should be living our lives.  As with Israel, those prophets who were out only for their own gain will be speaking their ‘own thing’ because God has not spoken to them.  And won’t until they come back into His will.  Experience tells us that, yes, there are those false teacher who know exactly what they are doing and are trying to get as rich as they can off of our sacrifices.  And yet, I am persuaded that there are others who are only doing what they have been taught and because so and so said it, it must be true.  Unfortunately, they never check it out for themselves!  We have to know God’s word so we can see the ‘real deal’ when we see it and discern that which is not.

8          But I am truly filled with power by the Spirit of the Lord.  I declare judgment and might unto Jacob for his transgression and unto Israel their sin.

9          Hear this, I pray, you heads of the house of Jacob and you princes of the house of Israel, who hate judgment and pervert equity.

Micah says that he does hear from God and as Micah’s plea went to the church, today’s plea now goes out to church leaders to examine themselves – is God’s Word really being preached, in accordance with His will, in His love?  is it designed to edify and grow the people and not just tickle their ears so they can ‘feel good’?

10        They who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity.

11        The heads judge for reward, the priests teach for payment and the prophets prophecy to be paid.  Yet they will say “Isn’t the Lord among us?  No evil can come upon us.”

In Micah’s day, the church leaders told the people what they wanted to hear and got paid to do so.  Do today’s prophets, priests and ministers do so just to increase their income?  Yes, there are expenses that come along with ministry, so money is necessary.  Judas Iscariot was the disciples’ treasurer, he kept the money.  Read the gospels they used that money for their own living expenses and to help the needy.  The disciples carried on this tradition for the same reasons and today’s churches need to gather money for the same reasons.  Or should I say this is why they should be gathering money?  Do any of today’s preachers say “I preach the ‘word(s)’ and think “I’m secure because God is with me”?  Or are they any like those of 2000+ years ago and do everything to pad their own pockets knowing that God is far from them? 

12        Therefore, for your sake, Zion shall be plowed as a field and Jerusalem shall become a heap.  The mountain of the house shall become like he high places of the forest.*

God tells Israel that because of their waywardness, they shall become nothing.  Mounds of dirt that have been plowed for field but not planted with seed – or, at least, good seed.  The high places of the forest become overrun because of lack of use.  How many churches today have become useless weeds by the wayside?

I’m not saying the whole church is off track. God forbid that I point a finger.  But I am saying that too much of the church has strayed.  We shall know them by their fruit (Matt. 7:16-20).  We can identify those committed to Jesus Christ.  Of course, then, we need some sort of personal knowledge of the fruit and the bible is that basic source of knowledge.  How else do we know God’s love?  Yes?

We’re looking at a two-edged sword today.  Part to f the church needs continued building and being encouraged, but too much of the church has gotten off track and needs a swift kick to the keester (backside).  God has been trying and will continue His attempts to get our attention.

Thank God for what happened in Asbury, Ky.  Thank God for the planned revival I am hearing about coming to California and the west coast in April.  But thank God that once these souls have given their heart to Jesus Christ or have come back to Him from their wayward steps, they are given a solid foundation for living in Christ Jesus.  WE have to know God’s nature (LOVE) in order to be with Him when He calls us home!  Yet, how many will be like those who said “But Lord, didn’t we do all these wonderful things in your name (Matt. 7:20-23)?

Read the book of Acts.  Paul spent weeks, months and even years establishing a church assuring that the leadership, he left behind was able to lead the church, was grounded in Christ’s doctrines of love.  Why? So they could raise up ‘true’ believers founded in the love of God and then that they could continue sharing that love – in its totality.  Too many souls have felt that once we accept Jesus, the battle is won. True, but the war is just beginning.  There is a life to live!

Read the parable of the sower (Matt. 13:3-9).  The seed by the wayside never received salvation, came into the church.  The seed among the thorns and on rocky soil professed a faith and joined the church but didn’t stay and left for their own reasons.  Only the seed sown on good ground took root and held on to God’s love and remained faithful.  Read the whole chapter for Jesus’ explanation.

Have we been learning how to live in Christ Jesus?  Does our love grow stronger each day?  Do we commune with our Lord each day?  I don’t mean just saying the “Our Father”, then “see ya later!  Got things to do.”  God is our friend.  We should share our heart with Him – even more so than we might with our closest friend!  Do we experience the joy of His fellowship?  I enjoy singing songs about God, who He is and what He does.  His Spirit literally fills my heart with joy and peace.  I can’t just stand up and walk away.  I have to sit and bask in His presence until my body can, once again, move.

Yes, we need to draw souls into the kingdom of God, but we also need to do what we can to help them get grounded in their faith.  Salvation is not just confessing Jesus then getting ‘dunked’.  We have made a commitment.  Our relationship becomes a living faith!

So, where are we at today?

Amen

 

3-11-2023 The Asbury, Ky. Revival

 

Not a regular post, but Father said to post this on the blog, anyway.

A good thing happened in Asbury, Ky. In February.  People came together at church to receive something from God.  I have no doubt that many did receive what they went for.  I have no doubt that the presence of the Holy Spirit was present but was His power also there – full blown? 

The ‘miracle in Kentucky’ may go down as the spark that ignited the Spiritual explosion God IS bringing into the world.  Yet, many ‘little campfires’ have already started in various parts of this globe.  India?  Africa?  Asia?  And many may yet go to where they can receive something from God.  Yes, Father desires to bless His children and as He gives to us, does He expect anything in return?

Yes.  Our hearts.  Jesus identifies the greatest Commandment as “Love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength” (Mark 12:30).  This is not doing something thinking that God will give us something good in return.  This is expressing our gratitude for what He has already done for us.  We can’t give Him precious jewels or metals or things that we own.  God created the world, the universe, existence, just by saying ‘let it be so’!  The only things left for us to give Him is our devotion, our love, our commitment to honor Him above all else (He created all else!). 

Father says that there is a Spiritual explosion forming.  This explosion won’t come because of our tithes and offerings.  This explosion won’t come because of all the ‘good works’ we do.  It will come because we have committed to live for Father through our relationship with Jesus Christ because the Holy Ghost is alive and well within our heart!  The giving and the good works will come as we grow in our love for our Lord and Savior.  As our commitment grows, within our heart, to live for. with and in Him.

God knows that fires have already been kindled for the Spiritual Explosion, but in retrospect, with the publicity it has received, Asbury may get credit for igniting it.  That’s OK for God will, ultimately, get the credit and souls will grow in Christ Jesus and ‘men’ WILL start doing everything Jesus did – and greater (John 14:12)! 

This Spiritual explosion isn’t just an evangelical, come to Christ and be saved, work.  It will become a work where the power of the living and eternal God can and will be experienced by ‘average’ people!

To a degree we can truly say “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10)! 

Yet, though God desires that none perish but that all come to salvation (2 Peter 3:9), He knows that not all will receive His free gift of eternal life (Matt. 7:21).

Thank God, our Father, for what is already happening, but praise His holy name for that which is to come!