9-26-2020 The Love “Quotient

           God so loved me (the world)

1 John 4:1-8

Don’t believe everything you see or hear but try the spirits to see if they are of God.  Many false prophets have gone out into the world.  But every spirit that confesses that Jesus has come in the flesh is of God and if it doesn’t confess that Jesus has come in the flesh it is not of God.  And this spirit of denial (even in the apostle John’s time), the anti-christ, was already in the world.  We are of God so we have overcome these spirits because He who is in us is greater than that which is in the world. 

Those who are in the world do and say things of the world and the world hears them.

Hey!  We are of God and those who know God hear us but those who don’t know God won’t hear us either.  We are able to distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of error (thank you Holy Spirit). 

Beloved, let us love one another because love comes from God so when we love that means we are born of God and know Him.

Those who don’t love don’t know God for God is love! 

What’s love got to do with?  Everything!

Jesus berated the scribes and Pharisees for even though they did ‘right’ things, they did them for the wrong reasons.  The ‘church leadership’ did things ‘for’ the people for personal profit, personal gain or personal recognition.  They loved themselves more that the people for whom they were responsible.

When we truly love somebody, we put their needs ahead of our own desires.  We determine what is right and press in that direction. 

Now, I’m not saying we neglect ourselves for if we don’t love ourselves, how can we possibly love anyone else?  We first have to have Jesus in our heart (via the Holy Ghost), then we ’become’ the image of God as His love grows in us.  We were originally made in God’s image (Gen. 3:26).  God is love therefore His true image is love.

Consider the parent/child relationship.  When we are born, what can we do for ourselves?  As the song ‘War’ says “absolutely nuthin’!”  We can see, hear, touch and sense land wiggle.  We can’t talk but we can communicate via vocal emissions – we cry.  Mom & dad have to discern “Am I hungry?” “Need my diaper changed?” or do I just need a hug?  They take care of my total existence.  As I grow, I learn to roll over, crawl, walk and eventually run.  Through observation and encouragement I learn to communicate through words and not just sounds.  I learn to dress myself, feed myself and (if you’re like me) how to irritate people (lol).  Mom and dad teach me to do things for myself.  Loving myself is learning how to brush my teeth, comb my hair, take a bath (hey!  I took one last month!  Whatta ya mean I need another one already!)  I learn to respect myself so I learn to take care of myself.  I learn to love myself.  I am a human being created in the image of God!

As I grow, I learn that everyone has had to learn these things.  So I learn how to respect other people and their being.  I don’t like it when people try to hurt me so I decide not to hurt them.  I learn to help people when they need help and when I need help, it comes.  And so on.  I also discover that as I do good things to people, good things will come back to me!  Every time?  No.  I learn that not everyone has had a peachy creamy life and they don’t always respond the way I expect them.  Yet, I also find, there are others who are just plain evil.  So, I treat everyone as I expect to be treated, with respect.  Irregardless of who they are or how they treat me. 

I expect to become the best person I can be.  Maybe even become the person God expects me to be.  I Learn the things that I can do well and those things with which I probably need help – then receive it. 

I find that loving myself is an expression of love.  So if I want to learn more about love, I have to go to the source.  

God is love.     

So what greater source is there to learn about love?  He created everything.  He is love, therefore He passes His love on to us. 

His Holy Spirit shares four aspects of love:  first, God loves me, second, I have to love myself, third, I have to give love back to God and fourth I do (in part) by loving others.

If I can’t believe and accept that God loves me, the other three will never happen.  So, I learn how does God love me so how do I come by that knowledge?

First I see love in the beauty of the world in which we live.  Someone had to create all this beauty.  Of course, depending on where I live my concept of beauty may vary.  Yet I find that I can find beauty in the sky, the mountains, the forests, flowers, by the lakes, in the city, in a basement.  It’s there, we just have to look.  God wants us to appreciate His creation, even the things that we may not consider everything as lovely.

People may tell me about God’s love, but, then I have to believe what they say.

I can read the bible, but then I have to believe what the bible says.  Did you know that the bible is God’s love letter to man?  In it He describes the many expressions of His love and how we can, or should, interact with it.  For God so loved the world, He gave (came as) His only begotten Son …

And prayer.  My personal communication with the creator of all things.  Yes, Father tells us to gather together so we can praise and worship Him in community but He longs for that personal time with us.  The time we bare our souls to Him and seek His consolation, help and direction.    Where we tell Him how much we appreciate, respect and love Him – one on one, mano e mano, face to face (so to speak) just Him and me.    

As Father interacts with me through my seeking Him in prayer, reading the bible and other people, I find that He really loves me and He seeks a deeper relationship.  Consider the apostle John, who at the last supper, laid his head upon Jesus’ chest.  John implies that he and Jesus may have had a very close walk, together (John 20:2).   I learn to love the Lord more and more through my prayer, the bible and other people.  I have come to learn that indeed, God loves me.  God so loved me, He came into this world in Jesus Christ that with my acceptance of Him, I and anyone who receives Him, can be with Him throughout all eternity.

Once I  R-E-A-L-L-Y learn that God loves me, I realize that I have to learn to love myself.  It’s one thing to learn about God’s love – how things should be, it is difficult to return that love, or show it to others. 

“You have the face only a mother could love.”  A simple phrase.  One intending to bolster confidence.  Even if nobody else loves me, mom still does.  Unfortunately, that phrase has always stayed, at least, in the back of my mind.  For whatever reason, I rationalized that nobody else could really love me, only mom. 

Yes, in many areas I have been reasonably successful.  I lifted weights in competition (Olympic style) and was reasonably successful.  Never won any titles and never lifted the ‘big’ weights for my weight class even though I was a lot stronger than what I actually lifted. 

On the job, I did my job well enough that my co-workers and those with whom I interacted trusted me to always get the job done and help others to resolve issues.  I actually had a very good reputation on the job.  The big difference on the job is that I worked for the Lord and not just the FDA, who employed me.

The greatest gift I ever had was back in high school.  In my senior year a sophomore wrote in my yearbook “to a senior who always had time to talk with me”.  His name was John.  Let’s put this into perspective.  This comment was written nearly sixty years ago!  Even today, I appreciate his remark.

I was in a certain Pentacostal church I was in a couple of decades ago.  We were in a praise and worship and things had quieted down, waiting on the Lord.  Someone gave a prophetic word in his spiritual language and again there was silence, for a long time.  I heard some words in my heart, but I kept silent because I was fairly new at this church and quite frankly, I was a nobody.  What right did I have to speak out.  Finally someone else spoke some encouraging words.  Immediately I also heard “”That’s not what I said!”  Again, I still didn’t speak out, for the afore mentioned reason.  I never did tell anyone what I had heard and I felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit for some time after.  ‘nuff said.

Father is still working on me to speak what He gives me and not be concerned about what anybody else thinks.  Still, today, should I be in a room filled with pastors, bishops, prophets, etc. I’m still a little inclined to hold my peace, thinking the Lord would surely speak through them before me.  But I am learning.

I  am still growing.  God will stay with us and work with us so we can become ALL that He expects from us.

Even if I intellectually understand God’s love, if I don’t truly love myself, how can I give love back to God?  So how do I do it?

Prayer is the first aspect of returning love to God.  Prayer is communicating with our Lord. Prayer requires that I spend time with Him.  In today’s world we can communicate with others via phone, email, text, etc., but here’s a hint:  Father desires personal contact, not long distance, but face to face.  Obviously we can’t jump into heaven and say “Hi Dad!”, so Father wants us to sit down in a quiet place and focus on Him.  He wants us to share our heart, mind, our soul.  He desires us to be honest and open.  When we hurt, He will comfort us.  Should we be angry (even at Him) He will bring us peace – in our heart and our mind.  He also desires for us to acknowledge Him for who He is and what He has done.  We appreciate it when others appreciate us.  do we think God is any different?

Communication is a two-way street so we also have to listen.  Father talks with us through our prayers, reading the bible and talking with other brothers and sisters in the Lord.  At times, He even reveals things to us through the world around us – birds, animals, weather, situations.  We do have to look and listen.

The prophet Daniel prayed 3 times each day.  We do have to find time in our busy schedules.   We may start with just a few minutes but don’t be surprised that time will stretch out.  We allow His love to work, not only in us, but through us to those whom we encounter.  We will see our desire to be with Him growing and He will show us different ways to express our love –writing, singing, a musical instrument, drawing or even just ‘plain’ talking’.  We just ask the Holy Ghost to be with us and guide us in whatever we do so we can do it better and come to know that we are pleasing our heavenly Father. (amen?)

We also give back to God through our tithes and offerings.  In the Old Testament, God supported His church through tithes and offerings and that continues today.  Individual churches can’t survive without support.  Like you and me, the church also has bills as well as ministries.

In this world, another way to show our love for God is to love those around us.  Jesus tell us that whatever we do to the least in the kingdom (our brothers and sisters in the Lord), we do unto Him.  Jesus takes our outreach to others personal as well as what they do for us.  In the gospels, Jesus talks about caring for the widows and orphans.  Visiting the sick and those who are incarcerated.  Notice, He didn’t specify the reason for being in jail.  He talked about feeding the hungry and providing clothes for the needy and so much more.  Those of us who are found doing these things discover that we please God. 

Does this mean we do these things 24/7?  If we did, we would quickly burn out.  But as Father presents the situation before us, we do that with which is within our capabilities when Father asks.  Should I spend myself completely, what have I left to share?  God has given us ‘common sense.  Use it so all can be blessed. 

Remember, the early church brought their tithes and offerings into the apostles who then distributed it to those in need.  When we act as a team, people are better served.

So we find that love has four aspects: 1) love God, 2) love ourselves, 3) give back to God and 4) do for others as we are able.

We also discover that our support of the church we attend enables it to continue to bring the Word of God and minister to the congregation and those who need help.

All of this should be done willfully and from our hearts always asking the Holy Ghost for direction and help in whatever we do. 

What does love got to do with it?  EVERYTHING!

 

9-15-2020 Little Lost Lamb

Luke 15:1-7

1          When the publicans and sinners drew near to hear Him.

2          And the scribes and Pharisees murmured saying “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3          Then Jesus spoke this parable to them saying

4          “Which of you having a hundred sheep and losing one, doesn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go looking for the one which is lost, until he finds it?

5          And when he has found it, lays it on his shoulders and rejoices?

6          And when he gets back home, he calls his friends and neighbors and says rejoice with me for I have found my sheep which was lost.

7          I tell you, likewise, there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more so than over the ninety-nine persons who don’t need repentance.

Understand, the Old Testament was written to Israel so they could/would keep God’s standards.  The New Testament is written to the Christian church, for the same reason with a clearer understanding. 

So, today, I suggest that too many in the church have become like the little lost lamb.  Maybe even worse!  Perhaps more like the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ time! 

How many would be offended if I said “God hates religion”?  It is true.  Yet I suspect many would be offended.

Jesus berated the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy.  They sat in Moses’ seat because they directed the church in the ways it should go.  Jesus says “Do what they tell you, but don’t do what they do for they don’t do that which they say, themselves.” 

I worked with a man years ago who was very good at telling others to do, but he could not show us how, for He, himself couldn’t do it.  The scribes and Pharisees were a bit different.  They knew what and even how, they just plain didn’t want to do it.  They were more interested in how they looked before people.  They preferred the most honored seats and recognition at gatherings and they didn’t truly care about the people (Matt. 23:1-39), only how those people would see and receive them.

Have you seen those in the church who just have to be acknowledged or recognized for what they do?  Hey!  Look at what I am doing (or did).  Ain’t I great!  Give me a big pat on the back, puleeze!  Do you notice some people just seem to always hang around the pastor or other church leaders – not really doing much. Just hanging round (it’s who you know and not what you know, right)?  Do you know people who always seem to be busy “at” the church, but not necessarily “in”?  They ‘do things’ but there is real commitment.  Do you now people who “like” to show off their bible knowledge?  Do they know what the words mean?  Or just what they say?

Religion is practicing a particular set of rules, rites or rituals but does not require a personal commitment.  Just do what we say and you’ll be OK. Does ‘works’ ring a bell?

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not knockin’ being active in the church.  I realize the stages of our own spiritual growth.  We ARE to encourage our brothers and sisters in the church and as we all seek to draw closer to the Lord, we will find ourselves doing things for and working with others – for God’s glory!  I am challenging the reason some people have.  Do we do things to get that ‘pat on the back or do we ‘do’ to please our heavenly Father?  Jesus, Himself, recognized that, at times, people do the right things but for the wrong reasons.  Their heart is far from Him (Matt. 15:8).  Paul encountered the woman with a divining spirit who taunted him “These men are the servants of God who show the way of salvation!”  Her intent was to create doubt in the people’s minds so even though she spoke the truth, she did it  in a deriding way, as if to say “Yeah, right.” (Acts 16:17)

Religion is exercising rituals, etc. with no necessary commitment other than ‘to do’.  However faith is doing things because of our commitment to the Lord. It come from our heart as we make decisions to follow Him.

We have one master and teacher and that’s Jesus.  So we should do, as the early disciples did, share what Jesus gave them to edify others.  He has also passed that on to us. 

We should always remember that whatever we do (careers, chores, mixing with others) we should do as unto the Lord.  That is, as if we were doing it ‘for’ God.  Whatever we do, we do to glorify His name.  To please Him.  In pleasing Father, we automatically please those around us (bosses, coworkers, family, friends, etc.).  We learn how and then live our lives as Father expects us to live – in His love. 

There was a movement back in the 1990’s called WWJD (what would Jesus do).  Especially today, we may do well to think about that before we do anything or even open our mouths.  Of course, to follow the example, we have to learn what Jesus would have done.

When I worked at the Food and Drug Admin. (FDA), I started off in the Generic Drugs document room.  I was part of the staff processing drug applications for ‘professional’ (scientific) review.  We received original applications and then subsequent amendments until the drug was approved.  Even once approved, companies were required to submit reports of annual distribution of the drug as well as all changes to the drug itself, its manufacturing procedures, manufacturing facilities, etc. for FDA approval.   

The companies were required to have a ‘cover letter’ with any submission describing the purpose of the document.  This is where things became interesting for us clerks.  We had codes and definitions indicating how to code a document for proper routing to reviewers .  However, at times, the companies weren’t so clear on a document’s purpose.  There were a few companies that seemed to insist that all those cover letters had to say was “Please add this to our application.  Thank you.”  Needless to say, some documents were a snap to prepare and forward while others required considerable more effort to determine proper coding and routing.

I got to the point where I didn’t mind processing the easy documents, they were basically ‘in and out’, but the more involved documents?  Well,  . . . get the picture?

One day, sitting at my desk, I was grumbling, to myself, about the tough ones when I heard a voice within saying “Give Me the job!”  Huh?  I knew Who said it so I replied “OK, Lord, it’s Yours.”  I gave Him my job and that was the day I quit working for the FDA and started working for God.  Don’t misunderstand me, I was still at the FDA for about another twenty years, but it was with my decision, my attitude changed.  I had a job to do and I would do it to the best of my ability, period.  My good reputation grew and our job description was changed which gave us greater advancement possibilities.  Within a few years, I was offered a position (still at FDA) teaching and monitoring ‘contractors’ to do the job I had been doing and again, more opportunities for advancement arose.  Coincidence you say?  I don’t think so.

Giving Father my job, I set myself aside and performed my duties as He would expect me to.  No more grumbling but thanking Him for the opportunity or challenge. 

The government pay scale had 18 GS pay levels, 1-18.  The last five grades required college for either management or scientific skills.  At OGD, I started as a GS4 & retired a GS 12.  I say this to point out that when we do things for God, good things happen!  After all, go-o-d is just an extension of God, right?  I might add, in English, the opposite also works well – ‘evil comes from the devil’!

In the past, I was inclined to ‘fudge’ the truth pertaining to situations with which I didn’t want anyone else to realize my involvement.  Just a ‘little white’ lie.  Okay, there are no “little white” lies.  An untruth is a lie.  One day as I pondered why things didn’t always go the way I thought they should, the Holy Spirit convicted me of what I had been doing.  God is truth.  Jesus is God, therefore Jesus is truth.  As a Christian, I’m supposed to reflect the values Jesus taught, right?  Again, I had to change ‘my’ attitude. No hidden secrets.  Speak truly.

In the parable, the sheep are the church (OT).  The shepherd didn’t go out to see if he could find just any lamb out in the wilderness to add to his flock.  This lamb had strayed from his flock.  The ‘poor little’ lamb had strayed from the things it had been taught and, like the prodigal son, set out on his own – vulnerable to any predator out there.  Unfortunately, the farther we stray, not only do we become more and more vulnerable, but we also begin to lose sight of our foundation and the things that protect us.  Before, I thought the little sheep as a ‘lost’ soul who needed God.  Partially right.  But it was a soul which had been a part of the flock, then wandered from its foundation.

There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents and comes into the kingdom of God.  How much greater then is that joy when a member of the ‘flock’ strays, repents and comes back?

As with the prodigal son, the little lamb reconnects with Father’s love and once again abides in His safe haven.

The father of the prodigal son welcomed his son back home, with open arms, restoring him back into the family.  We don’t know why the little lamb strayed off but we do know that he, too was restored joyfully back into the flock.

Even though the little lost lamb can be applied to those who never knew God, it does more to show God’s love for those who may have strayed from Him and have been ‘found’ (brought back). 

Jesus tells us that, in the church, there are souls devoted to Father.  There are souls who are there simply because it’s a good place to be.  As a youth, my mom told me I needed church to be a well-rounded person.  And, yes, the enemy even sows tares into the church solely to cause disruption to hinder God’s kingdom. 

As I said, the Old Testament was to guide Israel (the church, Israel) while the New Testament is for those who have accepted Jesus into their heart.

When we accept Christ, we don’t become instant Christians, but it is the first step in our growing journey with the Lord.  Remember that should we stumble (sin), we confess, repent from our heart and renounce what we said or did, Father is faithful and true to forgive us (little lambs)  our trespass then forget it.  He puts it behind His back and restores us back into His fellowship (Isa. 38:17).  I speak from experience.

When we stray from God, we are the little lost lamb, but lost only until we decide to come back into HIs fold.

Amen

8-29-2020 Frankenstein

 

           Prometheus                                  Frankenstein                                 up out of our grave

Those who have been around a while or who are familiar with the “classics” may be familiar with Frankenstein.  Mary Shelly’s novel was published in 1818 and then released in 1931 as a film starring Boris Karloff as the infamous monster.  The monster, of course, had no name, but its creator was scientist Victor Frankenstein.

Prometheus was, in the Greek mythology, the god credited with giving humanity fire.  He was supposed to be pretty smart, a champion of humankind and giving man the arts and sciences.  He was supposed to have created clay dolls which he could bring to life.

In the movie Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein collected various body parts from cadavers to create a man which he brought to life by exposing it to strong electrical current (lightening bolt).   The bible tells that God made man from the dust of the earth, ergo the connection.

Father has peaked my interest in the “valley of dry bones” (Ezek. 37:1-4) for six years now, showing multiple applications for today’s church.  Or should I rather say multiple ways to approach the situation.  Around two AM (two days ago), Father started connecting the movie (story, Frankenstein) with today’s church.  What?  How can we connect a classic horror story with today’s church?  Do you see the connection already mentioned?

There’s more.  Read on.

In bible, God takes Ezekiel to a large valley filled with dried bones, bleached by the sun-white bones which are scattered all over the place.  He has Ezekiel walk through the bone yard so Ezekiel can get a ‘right’ perspective.  These bones have been laying there a long time. 

Then God asks Ezekiel a simple question “Can these bones live?”  Ezekiel is no dummy so he replies “Only You know, Lord.”  God can do anything!  After all, He created all that is just by speaking it into existence.  He had to speak it into being for there was nothing there (just a void) until He started creating. 

But then, God does something unusual.  He has three prayers but He wants Ezekiel to proclaim to ‘dem ole dry bones’.

First prayer/commandment.  Bones come together bone and bone.  Ezekiel heard a clatter as the bones started coming together in proper alignment, that is  the foot bone connected to the ankle bone, the ankle bone connected to the shin bone, the shin bone connected to the knee bone , then all the way up to the head  , including the arms and hands.  Then sinews start connecting all those bones.  

Next, muscle starts to cover the bones and finally a skin, thke final touch covering it all.

The bones are the basis of the body.  The sinews and ligaments keep the bones from falling apart and being scattered, all over again.  The muscles help the bones to be able to move. To do things.  Finally the skin covering so we can look as we are supposed to – the image of God!  What is the image of God?  love.  we are supposed to reflect God’s love to the rest of the world.

But there’s a problem.  The bones have come together forming a body, many bodies are formed but they have no life.  They just lay there – doing not much of anything.

This prompts the second prayer/commandment.  God tells Ezekiel to speak to the bodies “Breath, come from the four winds and bring breath upon these slain that they might live.”  And breath comes and a mighty army stands up.  A huge army ready to ‘go’, right?  Ah.  Alas.  There’s still a problem.  Everybody cries out “Our bones are dry, we are lost, we are cut off for our parts.”  Say what?  They are walking around like a bunch of old men.  Maybe they should have taken their Geritol or yoga classes?  They are lost.  They don’t seem to know which way to go.  The bodies may still be intact, but the army has been separated (divided in doctrine).  They don’t seem to be very mobile, they still seem to be lost and they are not all on the same page in the playbook (the bible). 

Think about the Protestant Reformation.  It did bring us to an individual awareness of Father.  It was supposed to do that as it drew us closer to Father.  He cares not just about a bunch of people in a building, but He cares about ME (you & me)!  Yet, the body is divided into many segments.  (sigh)     

A little side item.  In the late fourteenth century, God put it on man’s heart to have a bible for the common man.  This carried over into the Protestant Reformation.  A good thing for Father was starting to wake His church up after a long slumber.  Two basic periods of enlightenment were to follow, one in the 1700’s and the other in the 1800’s.  In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s Father started stirring up the Holy Ghost again.  

Remember, the idea of being baptized in the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues started back in Acts chapter two, or prior to 100 AD.  Somewhere along the line, for whatever reason, it was decided that this gift, and other operations of the Spirit, were no longer needed.  The decision was made that when the “Perfect was come” these gifts were no longer needed.  According to the thinking, the Perfect had already come.  I’m not going to discuss what they considered the perfect to be, save the second coming of Christ.  The church has been falling away ever since. The Protestant Reformation and the following ‘enlightenments’ were Father starting to bring His church back to is former (earlier) glory.

Now, despite the Charismatic movement of the 1960’s & 1970’s Satan has continually taken efforts to take, not only prayer, but other references to God out of the public awareness.  Over the years since then, the enemy has been very successful in removing man away from any knowledge of the Creator of all things.  But Father always has His remnant and the spark is being kindled, now.

Today, Father is not only renewing our knowledge of Him, but also, in how He operates.  He desires us to fulfill the words of Jesus “you shall do that I have done and even greater.”  Father has been renewing our relationship with Him. So we can truly live in His love.

This brings forth the third prayer/commandment.  Ezekiel is commanded to tell the people “Listen up, my people.  I will open up your graves and cause you to come up out of those graves.  And I will bring you into the land of Israel (Spiritual).  I shall put My Spirit in you and you shall live and I shall place you in your own land.  Then you will know that I, the Lord, said it and did it.  Thus says the Lord”

Today’s church still has a foot, maybe even up to the knee, or perhaps, up to our necks still in the grave.  We just can’t seem to let go of all the old ways.  We still haven’t yielded all that we need to, to the Lord.  But He will help us to get our acts together so we can serve Him to the fullest.  We can be doing the things Jesus did – and greater. 

Our own land?  We will come to realize the reality of “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!”  At least, where God’s people are prevalent and relevant.  Jesus asked Father, not to take us out of this world, but to keep us (from harm) while we are still here.  We can live in this world.  We just don’t partake of its activities.  We live like the children of God.  A light in a dark place.

Have you caught the connection between Frankenstein and the church?  Victor Frankenstein is compared to the Greek god Prometheus.  Prometheus played with clay dolls and purportedly gave them life.  Victor created his monster (from dead body parts) and gave it life.  God gave us life by breathing breath into our nostrils, then coming Himself in the personage of Jesus (Emmanuel).  Frankenstein used lightening to bring life to his creation.  Interestingly, the monster never really came to his full potential but died.  Maybe because he wasn’t the sweetest looking guy in town but his life did come to an end.  Our enemy desires us to meet the same fate as the monster.  Father says “I don’t think so.”  He is bringing one more shot for His church (us) to get our act together.  Our life is in Jesus.  Not only here on planet earth, but throughout all eternity! 

We are getting ready to enter into the final year of a seven year season of growth and equipping.  Father is preparing to send out His army to minister to the world as the world has never seen, evangelism like none before.  A Spiritual Explosion!  Father is focusing on “living in His love.  Jesus berated the scribes and he Pharisees for ‘doing’ the right things but for the wrong reasons.  Their hearts were far from God.  This trip, hearts will be in the right place – grounded in God’s love as true servants so we can serve with all our heart.

Being grounded in God’s love means we are a reflection of Him (His love), in what we say and what we do.  We should love God with all our heart and our heart is expressed through what we say and what we do.  Do we honor Father with our words?  Do we honor Father with our actions (what we do)?  Those things do reflect where our heart is.  Living like the world indicates at least one foot is still in the grave.  We cannot serve God and mammon at the same time.  So, are we are continually realigning ourselves with Father (when we mess up – confess & repent)?  Or do we still show too much of the world in our own lifestyle?

The passage in Ezekiel ends with God getting ready to pull us up out of our graves.  This is the season we’re getting ready to enter – Father pulling us fully out of our graves.  That is knowing how to yield all of ourselves to Him and doing it.  Then going out helping others to do the same.  

This IS the Spiritual explosion that it coming.

So, are we like Frankenstein’s monster, still stumbling around in the dark because of our ignorance?  Or are we drawing closer to God, living in His love, that light which pours out from His heart?   I’m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine .

The choice is ours

8-15-2020 There’s a New Virus Coming to Town

There’s a new virus coming to town!  It will be very infectious.  It will change the way we live!  It will make all other viruses seem meek and tame.  Once we get it, it will never leave us.  Isn’t that wonderful?

What’s even crazier is that we will want this virus.  We will desire it and we will want to pass it on to others.

Why would we want something that we can never get rid of and be so easily transmitted to others?

What will it do?

It will affect our minds.  It will affect our bodies.  It will even help us to understand things.  YIPES!  It will affect my brain?

It will produce peace within me.  I won’t even care once I’m infected.  What’s worse, I won’t even want them to find a cure!

It will bring strength to my body.  Whoa!  Whoa! I don’t do steroids.  Besides, ‘roids’ have some negative side effects – bad breath, caveman eyebrows, brittle bones, heart problems, etc.. 

Hey!  Hey!  Hey!  This infection carries no ill side effects.

It does have side effects, though.  I may find myself not hating others – no matter what they may do.  I may find myself ‘wanting’ to help others – even though they may not have treated me right.  And even though it may seem that I may be stationary at times, I may even enjoy seeing others get ahead.  Wow! 

As I let this virus infect my whole body, I may discover I can handle my finances better.  My financial situation may even GET better.

This infection may even help me to realize things that are out of this world!  (I can always use some more ‘smarts)

And, every so often, I may find myself ‘zoned out’!  No, not on drugs but in a state of mind where I find myself not even caring about the rest of the world.  The only bummer is that I’ll have to come out of that condition and still deal with the world around me.  That means this condition will come and go, but I have control!  And, guess what!  I find that I’m becoming better equipped to deal things.

This virus is on its way and all I have to do to get it is ask.  Ask?  Ask to get ‘sick’?(!)  Are you crazy?(!)

Think about it.  this virus brings  no sniffles, no coughing, no fever, no aches or pains.  At times, I may feel like I’m walking on a cloud.  I may even do a ‘Tony the Tiger’ imitation saying “I feel GRRRRREEAAAT!

So what is this virus?

We know that when we ask Jesus into our heart, the Holy Ghost takes up residence there, but consider a few things.  Very few can sit down at a piano and play something that makes sense.  How many people can pick up a trumpet or a guitar and produce sounds of sweet music - the first time out?  

Don’t we first have to understand how the instrument functions?  Do we not have to learn the basics of playing that instrument?  Without some basic knowledge, all we can do is ‘make noise’ and that’s only if we pick it up (use it).  Or the instrument may just sit there – doing nothing. 

To ‘activate’ any instrument, we need to start pushing keys or blow into a mouthpiece and push the valves, start plucking the strings, even with drums, we needs to pick up the ‘sticks and start tapping the ‘skins’ (drums) in order to make a noise.  The more we understand, the more our noise will sound like sweet music.

When we first receive the Holy Ghost, He is there, available to help us, but we need to activate Him, or should I say give Him permission to operate in our lives.  We give Him permission by yielding ourselves over to Him.  Asking The Spirit to help us, guide us and/or direct us.

So, how do we know what to ask Him?  Musicians have music books to help them to learn how to play an instrument or sing a song.  We have the bible through which Father tells us how, why and when the Holy Ghost desires to help us.  As we learn more of God’s will for us, we open up more and more knowledge as to how the Holy Spirit desires to help us.  Then we activate the Holy Spirit by asking Him.  Help me with …  Then we apply the action He shares.

Application is important.  John and Peter met the lame man on the way to the Beautiful Gate.  Peter gave the man what he had – healing.  After telling the man to receive what had just been given, Peter reached down and took the man’s hand and helped him to his feet.  The man not only stood up, he walked around leaping for joy.

We can read, discover and ask all we want, but if we don’t apply (put into action) what we are told, we become like the instrument which makes no noise because we haven’t picked it up to strum or push keys, etc..  If we don’t do ‘something’ with that instrument, it remains silent.  So is it with the Holy Ghost!  We can know we have Him, know what He can do but unless we put Him to the test, He is like the instrument which just lays there.  The Holy Spirit likes working through us so if we don’t budge, He won’t budge.  He’s a gentleman.  After all He is part of the Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Ghost), so He won’t ‘force’ himself upon us.  We ask, but then we expect God to do it for us whereas the Holy Ghost says ask and I’ll do it through you.  Remember, faith without works is dead.  We believe, but where is our faith?   WE have to take an action, then the Holy Ghost gives us the strength to accomplish what we start. 

Jesus says I am always with you.  I will never leave you nor forsake you. 

Jesus ascended back into heaven 2000 years ago to be with the Father, but He gives us the Holy Ghost, who is in us, so we can do things in His name.  Jesus gives us strength through the Holy Ghost working in us and through us.  If you will, the Holy Ghost is the engine and we are the vehicle.  He provides the gas (prayer), all we have to do is push the pedal and go (open our mouths and pray and do).

Jesus says that He desires us to be one with Him as He is one with the Father and this is accomplished through our ‘salvation’ experience.  Then, by the ‘infilling’ of the Holy Ghost, we can ‘activate’ Him by our faith in and through our obedience to God. 

Our faith is believing Father can and will do all things for us.  He desires His best for us.  Our obedience is following and living in His will – living in and for him in all that we say and do.  We yield our lives over to Him – no matter how long it takes.  We take the first step after we believe and He empowers us to continue along the path.  Then we continue along the ‘narrow’ path.

In case you may be a little dense (like me) and haven’t figured this one out yet, the ‘new virus’ isn’t a virus at all, but the Holy Ghost abiding in us. 

With our reception of Jesus into our heart through the act of our salvation experience, He comes into our tank.  Then we have to fill that tank up!  As we learn what Father has for us, no matter how long it takes, we yield our lives over to Him.  This is filling our tank. Then, as we ‘activate’ the Holy Ghost (in our lives) by stepping out in faith and allowing Him to inhabit our actions, we keep refilling that tank (reading the bible, praying) so that it never runs dry.

Father wants us to have all that He has, but it requires obedience - faith and action on our part.

The coming ‘virus’ is a fresh outpouring, a new infilling, of the Holy Ghost which will enable us to do all that Jesus did and greater!  Read the book of Acts, this will be just the tip of the iceberg.  Our manual (the bible) brings us into a functional relationship with our Father through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  At first, we fill our tank with ‘regular’ gas, but, as we grow we discover, our octane rating is growing from 86 to 93 to 100 and beyond.  We see what the bible says, but then we come to realize what it means!

Keep in mind, Satan knows what the bible says.  He just refuses to apply it to himself.

Listen, Many have heard and have already been talking about this fresh explosion (outpouring) of the Holy Ghost.  I see it on line and on TV (TBN, 700 Club, etc.)  Father has told many of His pastors and preachers this explosion will far exceed what man has experienced in the past – from the disciples reception 2000 years ago to today. 

Even as Jesus ministered to the Gentiles during His ministry, His primary target was Israel – the church.  And so it will be this time.  Though the unsaved are not forgotten, today’s Christian church (or those who claim to be a part thereof) are the primary target.

Father wants His children ready and prepared to come home.  Ten virgins were waiting for the bridegroom to come to receive them, but only five were prepared.  Only those five went with the bridegroom when He did come.  Think about it!   

So, there’s a new virus coming to town.  I can “live” with this virus.  Can you?  (or should I say ‘will’ you).

Amen

You may have noticed I that I haven’t cited a lot of scriptures (in fact ‘0’).  Okay, I mentioned the Book of Acts and I will give you two: John 20:22 and Acts 1:8.  Look them up.  There are clues (in this text) to other passages which support what is said here.  Can you find them?  May the Lord guide your searches.

7-18-2020 God is For Humanity

This morning (7-9-2020) has been strange.  Normally, I spend time with my blog, then 8-9 AM I’ll have breakfast, then start my morning session with Father. 

Interesting how this works out.  Father put a couple into my life just about the time Covid-19 hit in March.  They had been living just a few doors up the street with another person but the house they were in was condemned and they were about to become homeless so you can guess where they’ve been for the past few months.  Not only homeless but he had been jobless for some time, as well.  However, since the beginning of Covid-19, Father has blessed him with a job from a company that manufactures building supplies and which pays decently (PTL).  Public transportation has not been convenient for the hours he works so I’ve been somewhat of a taxi.  My time has not always been my own as my schedule has been frequently rearranged.  This AM, Father rearranged my rearranged schedule.

I’m going to share my heart about three things Father showed me this particular morning.  It’s interesting because they all came within an hour.  I’m sharing my spirit with you so I may not refer to a lot of scripture (as the Lord leads).  So, sit back, buckle up and hang on.

I usually check my e-mail in the AM, what’s up with family, friends or other posts of interest. Two things caught my attention. 

I tried, not long ago, to gather biblical info from a sight called “Quora Digest”.  It had a byline which peaked my interest.  I didn’t join, but (I guess) because I looked, now they send me updates via e-mail.  This particular AM, in Quora, the question was asked “Why do some say that the God of the Bible is actually a derivation of an earlier Semitic god?”

Part of the argument is that Abraham, who is considered the father of the Israeli nation, emerged from what we would call a ‘pagan’ environment.  Note that Israel did not have its own territory until after Moses brought them out of Egypt and Joshua brought them into the ‘promised land’, which had been promised to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-8), @500 years or so after Abraham.  Moses died and the God took 

Israel, led by Joshua, into the Promised Land (Josh. 1:1-9). 

Quora states that in Abraham’s time, people worshipped many gods and history bears this out.  History reveals that the Sumerians (who are credited with creating written language) and the people of the Indus Valley (in India) had been around @2000 years before Abraham and they apparently worshipped many gods. 

However, what Quora doesn’t account for is how man, after a period of time, though beginning with God, deviates from God’s words as they get farther separated from the original source.  This has been true throughout Israel’s history.  God would bring Israel back into alignment, then they would stray.

Now, Adam and Eve were given the run of the Garden in Eden.  They could do anything or partake of anything they desired except to eat the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 1:26-31, 2:7-9, 2:15-17).  Once Adam and Eve were ‘booted’ from the Garden and started having children and grandchildren, man started forming his own ideas as to who God was.  Read the rest of Genesis, Exod., Lev., Num. & Deut., Judges, Kings and Chronicles.  Read the prophets!  When they messed up, Israel would repent and come back into God’s fold, but after a generation (or even maybe just a few years) man was continually forming his own opinions about God and started heading off in his own direction.  We even see the same trend in the New Testament.  Paul had to write letters to the fledgling churches because they had quickly strayed and were sidetracked from what he taught them about God (1 Corinth. 4:1-17).  Not even a generation.  Depending with whom we agree, a generation is either 30 or 40 years.  After the death and resurrection of Jesus, Paul’s ministry lasted about thirty years (@35 AD - @ 65 AD).   It doesn’t take man long to stray from original teachings.

All those people (before Jesus) had the same root.  Originally Adam, then the flood came leaving only Noah, his three sons and their wives as the only human life on earth, that’s eight people.  It wasn’t until the tower of Babel that God started spreading man out across the earth (Gen. 11:1-9).  As man spread out, he got farther away from his roots.  And the farther he got from his roots, the farther he got from the truth.  Man tries to explain things in terms he can understand o which suit him the best.  So, of course, today, he uses his ‘wisdom’ to explain not who God is, rather to explain God away so that there is no obligation to follow His rules.  I wanna do it my way!

As man has become ‘smarter’, he has created ‘rationale’ as to why things are (or perhaps are not).  Man becomes very comfortable in developing rules that he can break or change when the mood strikes.  God gave Adam freedom with two rules – take care of My garden and don’t eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  Then God gave Moses (to give to Israel) the Ten Commandments which contained five “dos’ and five restrictions (Exod. 20:1-17).  How long did it take Israel to get amendments to those original ten requirements?  Israel quickly, to justify themselves, asked “what if?”  God replied “because of the hardness of their hearts (Matt. 19:8), He would allow adjustments.  Man has been saying “what if” ever since. 

God created the angels, one third who fell with Lucifer/Satan and the two thirds who stayed with the Creator of all things (Rev. 12:4-9).  Angels are servants, whether Satan or Yaweh (Jehova, God the Father) and they do serve one or the other.  No one can serve (obey) two masters (Matt. 6:24).  Father has charged His angels to serve those who inherit eternal life (Heb. 1:13-14, Psalm 34:7-8), the true children God (obedient to His Word).

Demons can pose as ‘other gods’ because even Satan, himself, was an angel of light (2 Corinth.  Angels are powerful beings 11:10-14), more powerful than man.  So, it shouldn’t be surprising that they can seem to be something which they actually are not.  Satan demands ‘no loyalty to the Creator of heaven and earth’.  In turning man from the Father, he leaves man with only one alternative.  And the end of that is not pleasant (Rev. 20:10-14).

It is no surprise that Quora argues as they did, for this argument takes away responsibility to the living God who loves us (whether we believe it or not).  No responsibility removes (in man’s sight) the need or requirement to abide by God’s rules.  In actuality, this puts man into anarchy – do what I want, when I want or how I want, everything is OK as long as I’m good with it.  Even though taught right (in the beginning), man quickly strays from he had originally learned.              

On a Facebook post, I saw a post about Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemming.

Growing up and in school, I was aware of only two black personalities, George Washington Carver and Frederick Douglas.  Carver developed a concept of crop rotation to regenerate soil depleted by the continual planting of cotton and developed many uses for the peanut (d. 1943). Frederick Douglass escaped slavery in Maryland to become a renowned social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer and statesman and (in my knowledge) being noteworthy for standing his ground for his beliefs (d. 1895).  He rose from being a uneducated slave to promoting equal rights for all humans.  People can rise up out of not so good beginnings!

I feel that no matter what I say here, somebody will be upset but I asked the Lord go give me the words especially here.  Sally Hemming was a slave owned by Thomas Jefferson and by whom she mothered at least six children.  Jefferson is one of our nation’s founding fathers.  This item, of course was posted on Facebook in respects to “Black Lives Matter”.  Now, what I’m about to say is not condoning, but rather a statement of what was.  Egypt was ruled by both black and light-skinned pharaohs.  All who enjoyed mighty kingdoms built on the backs of slaves.  Question – because their empires were built upon the backs of slaves, should Egypt discount centuries of their history?   

I am Caucasian (white - OK, off-pink) and I consider the good things that have happened to me.  I thank God for blessings and favor.  As I was faithful to my Lord, on an 18 grade scale on the US government pay scale, He raised me from a GS4 to a GS12, without a college education!  GS13 and above were either supervisory or professional positions (college degree).   About half of my tenure with FDA, my supervisor was a younger black woman (also with no college degree).  Though our paths separated, we both experienced a degree of success with minimal ‘documentation’.

That was in the ‘secular’ world.  In the churches, until Father put me in the current church I attend and except for the Baptist preacher, whom Father used to lead me to Christ, I wasn’t as fortunate.  In that Baptist church, Pastor Hartsfield must have seen something as He offered me the opportunity to help others AND grow myself.  My wife and I had the task of teaching children who were bussed in and missed too much of their Sunday School sessions.  My wife and I taught these kids during church regular services.  Alas, Father moved me out of that church because they were not equipped to carry me to where Father was taking me (I’ve learned later).  On a regular basis, I’ve attended, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist (sporadically) and a large variety of Pentecostal churches (including the United Pentecostal – ‘Jesus only’).  For me, personally, I had limited opportunities for growth and even fewer for service – unless, of course, I was in the ‘inner circle’ (which I wasn’t).  Remember, I’m just saying what happened to me.  I’ve learned over the years that Father was putting me where He wanted me, when He wanted me, even for time where I felt there was not a church I could really fit into.  I do feel I have (somewhat) of an insight to rejection (from the church) but Father has brought me beyond that.  Understand that no matter where I was (or wasn’t) Father was teaching me.  All my experiences weren’t idle or unnecessary but He was showing me that there are indeed wheat and tares in the church.  And over the years, a thing or three about His love.

Now, though people may get angry with me and though I’ve not been in the exact same situation, I do feel I have some experience with being put down and not being permitted to better myself. At least being stifled by those whom I thought would support me.  Was I hurt?  My ego surely was.  Did I seek revenge?  Definitely not.  I did set those things behind me and continued to look for what Father had for me.  Some may say “That’s easy for you to say!” and they may be right, but what I am saying is don’t get mad and give up, but keep trying the doors.  Opportunity is there.  Find it!   And, yes, I’ve forgiven those whom I felt were against me.

Now, I’m not black, but my enemy has used people of all color to ‘keep me down’ (in the world’s eyes),  BUT God has used people of all color to build me up as well.

And as I was eating my breakfast, a third item caught my attention.  I watched the show “Touched by an Angel” (TBA).  When it originally aired, my wife & I watched TBA because their stories were always moving, having a strong ‘faith’ content.  The episode “God Bless this Child” was no different as Monica (an angel of the Lord) was encouraging a young black girl to hang on to her dream of singing while giving up her path into drugs.  Monica shared with ‘Charnelle’ the story of Billie 

Holiday.

The young black girl was angry with whites, mankind and (in general), even God for dealing her such a rotten hand in life. Having lost father, mother and even her brother, she was living with grandma.  Monica took Charnelle to the museum where they met with grandma.   The girl’s grandma shared with her how she had learned to forgive and to love through letting Jesus into her heart.  Talking about the various pictures in the ‘black history section’, grandma explained that in the one picture, it was her brother hanging from the poplar tree and two of the white people watching were a playmate and the playmate’s father.  Black history was personal for grandma and no longer being just an abstract image, history became personal for Charnelle.  Listening to her grandma, by the end of the show, Charnelle decided not to pursue the drugs, but to hang on to grandma, with whom she was living, and her dream.  And she figured that maybe God wasn’t so bad after all.  One has to see the episode to feel the power of love overcoming anger and hatred.    

Now, all this to say this - with Black Lives Matter, COVID 19, all the social unrest of today – Father has had me take a step (or two) back to look at the ‘big’ picture.  Yes, ALL of these things matter, but Father has taken me out of the physical realm and had me look with spiritual eyes.  Whether we realize it or not, we don’t wrestle with flesh and blood.  Unfortunately, that IS where we all wrestle (all too often) and that’s where we stand and fight.  And as long as we stay in the natural, it’s a losing battle.  We’re fighting more powerful forces than mere humans.  We fight against spiritual forces.  Wait a minute!  Wait a minute!  God will never leave us nor forsake us (Deut. 31:6, Heb. 13:5-6)!  Correct, but we also have to stay in God’s will and trust Him (Mark 11:24).  We have to continually seek Father’s guidance in all things.  When we don’t, we’re out there in our own strength.  Satan and his cohorts are stronger than us.  They are angelic beings (though ‘fallen’ as it is) which makes them stronger than us in the ‘natural’.  However, we have Jesus living within our hearts (Matt. 28:20) in the form of the Holy Ghost.  Through Jesus (who strengthens us – Phil. 4:13), through our faith, we have the ability to stand firm and overcome anything the devil may throw at us.  But we Have to trust the Lord (Prov. 3:5-6)!

How much do we really trust God?  Paul and ‘Silas were in stocks in jail.  As they demonstrated their faith by singing to God.  Father freed them (Acts 16:23-40).   Likewise, Peter was in prison when the angel came and brought him out of chains so he could return to the other disciples (Acts 12:1-17).  

The apostle Paul was willing to die for Jesus, if necessary (Acts 21:13).

As I said, we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood and that’s where Satan would like to keep us – fighting in the flesh.  BUT we fight against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness in this world and spiritual wickedness in high places` (Eph. 6:12).  In short, our true battle is with spiritual entities.  An angel, bringing an answer to prayer to Daniel was delayed as he fought a spiritual battle (aided by Michael – Dan 10:10-14).  Peter told Jesus that they (the disciples) would not let anything happen to Him.  Jesus then rebuked, not Peter, but Satan, who prompted the words (Matt. 16:20-23).  The root of our problems is spiritual and they must be addressed in the spirit or they will never be resolved. 

Satan is laying the foundation for the anti-Christ.  Satan is separating humans!  Keeping us apart and driving various wedges of separation deeper and wider. 

The Book of Revelation tells us that when the anti-Christ rises up he will cause people to take a mark (“666” – Rev. 13:11-18) on the hand or forehead and we won’t be able to buy nor sell without that mark.  A false sense of unity.  But in reality, we technically won’t exist without that mark.  Look at and think about what’s going on in the world today!  Credit and bank cards are convenient but cards are a part of the system and the system can be controlled by the push of a button or the flip of a switch.  Who sells on E-bay and Amazon?  Who buys from them or even from other stores on line? 

Hatred compounds the wars and rumors of war cited for the end times (Matt. 24:4:1-31 –v6).  The bible tells us they will be here until the end.  Think about the ‘mark’!  We’re quick to use our credit cards.  Like sheep, we’re quick to follow the crowd.  COVID 19 has us practicing ‘social distancing’.    No, we don’t want to spread sickness, but a little common sense should also be exercised.  Satan is using the situation as an attempt to isolate people.  He’s trying to isolate neighbors.  He would isolate families if he could.  There are already too many single parent homes and Satan wants to divide that even more.  Those who make the decisions are promoting home schooling via electronic interaction instead of the social, in person interaction which help us to communicate with others better as opposed to being our ‘own island’ – alone.  Not in unity (unless we take the mark)

In my lifetime, I’ve seen the struggles for integration and racial equality and now I see the ugly head of segregation rise up trying to drive a wedge into that progress.

I keep seeing how Satan keeps trying to take God, Creator of all things, out of the conscious mind of men.  “God’s dead”!  I don’t want my child exposed to religion (God) in the schools!  Keep the church and state separated!  We are a nation founded on God’s principles.  Now let’s ‘just’ cast God out?

Everything just happened – by chance.  Poof!  All these molecules just (by chance) happened to come together in the right sequences to create the various forms of life!  There’s no such thing as ‘intelligent design’!  God is a figment of ‘weak’ people’s imagination!  Even science tells us that the atoms and molecules coming together, as we see them today, has ‘bucked’ phenomenal odds – by the admission of even those same scientists. 

And yet we continue to fight in the ‘natural’ wondering why God let’s these things happen!  When things go wrong ‘how could God do this?  When things don’t go as we think they should, we wonder why God doesn’t fix it.  God has given us free will and through that we mess things up but, then expect God to fix it.  We want all the benefits without any of the responsibility! 

We say ‘God is dead’ yet we expect God to ‘not let things happen’.  God gives us freewill to make decisions.  We do reap what we sow!  When we make a bad decision we should repent. We need to make things right.  The Thomas Jefferson and Charnelle situations are examples of man making bad decisions, but also doing good things.  Yes, Jefferson owned slaves but he also helped found one of the most powerful nations on earth.  Yes, Charnelle was choosing (in her hurt) to do drugs, but in the end the made the right choice.  These examples emphasize the struggle we have with things in the ‘natural, but unless hearts change those conditions won’t.  And only God can truly change a heart.  

God is love and He will fill us with His love – if we let Him.  When this happens, then we will start seeing social issues change.  No matter who we once were, God’s love can make us who we are now.

Whether one agrees or not, God has made us all.  Satan knows this.  He also knows that there is strength in numbers and when we stand in unity (in Christ Jesus) it is his (Satan’s) kingdom that will fall.  We are more likely so succumb to the wiles of the devil when we stand alone.  We need to unite in ‘true’ love in Christ Jesus (our example).

Satan desires that no human join God in eternity.  But it is God who has opened the door to life.  That ole devil is still pissed that he couldn’t overthrow God so many (however man) millennia ago.  Father has given the devil certain leeway to prove men’s heart (read the book of Job), but it is the Father who has the final say – in the end.  We need to stand in unity with Jesus. 

I know a lot more could be said, but I pray this will get some to thinking about with whom we truly fight.

Yes, when we invite the Creator of all things into our heart, through His love, God is with us.   We discover that ‘yes’,  God is for humanity!     

Amen