All posts by Tribal Ministries

Keeping Silent

Something to think about

Peaceful Place

“The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.”

Exodus 14:14

This is a very powerful promise from our Beloved LORD GOD that many will never experience. Not only will they not have the extraordinary privilege of having GOD ALMIGHTY fight on their behalf, without their assistance; they will never know the peace, the confidence, the strength that comes from relying completely on a faithful, all knowing, and all powerful GOD.

To fully explain the foregoing statement let’s first take a look at what it means to “keep silent”. To keep silent is not merely the absence of talking, it is a person’s entire demeanor (the way a person behaves). To keep silent means every part of you is:

  • still (quiet; calm; not moving) ‒‒ Psa 131:2
  • at rest (have peace of mind; is calm mentally and emotionally; tranquil) ‒‒ Psa 37:7
  • at peace (undisturbed state of mind; absence of mental conflict; serenity) ‒‒ Isa 26:3-4, 2 Thes 3:16
  • waiting (to stay in a place or remain in readiness; to delay movement or action until the arrival or occurrence of) ‒‒ Psa 40:1, Psa 130:6, Isa 64:4, Lam 3:26

To truly allow our Beloved LORD GOD to fight a battle on your behalf (Exd 15:3-13, Deu 1:29-30, Jos 23:3, Neh 4:20) while you remain silent (Psa 62:1-8), you must:

  • humble yourself (Rom 12:3, Rom 12:16)
  • surrender your need to handle it (Isa 30:15-17, Psa 33:16-20)
  • trust The LORD to do it (Psa 37:5, Jhn 14:14, Heb 11:6)

Did you know that wise or godly people, are people who do not sin with their mouth (Pro 11:12, Jam 3:2)? They understand the times to remain silent and the times to speak (Ecc 3:7, Amo 5:13, Mat 7:6); they keep their mouth in check or measure their words carefully (Pro 10:13, Pro 17:27); they are not only disciplined in what they say, they are disciplined in how they act (Jam 3:2).

Whereas fools (or ungodly, wicked people) cannot keep quiet (Isa 57:20); they continually talk (Pro 15:2, Ecc 5:3, Ecc 10:14), they have no interest in gaining understanding, they are only interested in making their mind (or opinion) known to others (Pro 18:2) and they have no peace (Isa 57:21).

Did you know that a tranquil and quiet life, in all godliness and dignity, is good and acceptable in the sight of our Beloved LORD GOD (1 Tim 2:2-3)? And that a gentle and quiet spirit is precious to HIM (1 Pet 3:4)?

Our Beloved LORD JESUS showed us what a gentle and quiet spirit looks like in Isaiah 42:2-4 (using the MESSAGE translation for clarity):

HE won’t call attention to what HE does

with loud speeches or gaudy parades

HE won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt

and HE won’t disregard the small and insignificant

but HE will steadily and firmly set things right

HE won’t tire out and quit

HE won’t be stopped

until HE’s finished HIS work — to set things right on earth.

Far-flung ocean islands, wait expectantly for HIS teaching.”

HE also shows us throughout several passages in the New Testament, how a godly person responds in the midst of adversity. We will take this moment to look at HIS behavior in John 8:2-11. JESUS was teaching the people in the temple (Jhn 8:2), when the scribes and the Pharisees interrupted HIM, bringing the woman caught in adultery into the very center of the temple court where HE was teaching (Jhn 8:3). In this passage of Scripture HE gives us a visual of James 1:19 (quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger):

  • JESUS heard the scribes and Pharisees condemning the adulterous woman as they misquoted (by only partially quoting) The WORD of GOD (Jhn 8:4-5, Lev 20:10, Deu 22:22).
  • HE listened but did not speak until the scribe and Pharisees persisted in their questioning HIM (Jhn 8:6-9), and even then, HE did not participate in the spectacle they had created. Instead, HE ended it by piercing the hearts of the condemners with one statement, “he who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
  • JESUS never got angry about their interruption, their testing HIM, their misquoting The WORD, their failure to bring both people caught in adultery, and their humiliation of the woman. HE simply convicted them (or made them aware of) their sin, while offering her mercy and a command to sin no more.

One final point before closing, silence is not weakness. It takes much more faith, strength and discipline to remain silent (Pro 29:11, Psa 4:4). When a fool remains silent, he is considered wise (Pro 12:16, Pro 17:28).

If you are a person who desires to be silent and let The LORD GOD fight your battles, who desires to have a gentle and quiet spirit, and lead a tranquil and quiet life, pray; not just once but continually. Purpose in your heart to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to get angry. When you truly take the time to listen carefully to another, not with the intent to reply but with the intent to understand, you will find yourself much more prayerful about what you’re hearing and much slower to speak, or even get angry.

Ask, and it will be given to you

Seek, and you will find

Knock, and it will be opened to you

For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened

Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?

Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children

How much more will your FATHER WHO is in heaven give what is good to those who ask HIM!

Matthew 7:7-11

Steve’s Three Questions

Questions Asked

Questions Asked

In the first year of my marriage, my husband and I were remodeling our home and needed a qualified electrician. My co-worker suggested Steve, she said he didn’t talk very much, but he did excellent work, quickly, and he was certified. I hired him, but insisted on agreed upon prayer before he began his work. He, my husband and I would begin with prayer for him, his family and the work he was doing on our home. We did this every morning for three days.

During the afternoon of the third day, my husband came into my home office with Steve in tow. He told me that Steve had something he wanted to say to me. Steve looked at me and said “I am the father of one adopted boy, and I deeply love him. I’m here to take care of him and protect him from all harm. That brings me to the problem I have with your GOD, how could a loving GOD sacrifice HIS only SON? And furthermore, how could he let a father make a rash vow to sacrifice his only child? And then how could he actually accept that sacrifice??? Until you can give me a good answer to these three questions, I have a hard time believing in or even trusting a GOD like that. And I would prefer not to pray to HIM with you guys.” Steve then promptly turned and walked off.

I began to earnestly pray, “My Beloved ABBA FATHER, I know that it is not YOUR will for anyone to perish, and YOU have brought this man to our home who is rejecting YOU, because he does not know YOU and he does not understand YOUR WORD. Please give me the answers to his three questions, for his soul depends on them. I pray this in our Beloved JESUS CHRIST NAME, amen.”

These are the answers my Beloved LORD GOD gave me for Steve’s three questions:

How could a loving GOD sacrifice HIS only SON? My Beloved ABBA FATHER answered this question as follows:

  • The redemption of man’s soul is costly (Psa 49:7-8). Redemption is forgiveness of sins (Col 1:14) and/or deliverance from sin and its penalties‒death (Rom 6:23) and destruction (2 Thes 1:8-9). There was nothing in this world that could redeem man’s soul, not the strength of sinful man and not his riches (Job 36:19, 1 Pet 1:18).
  • Only a man who never sinned, a perfect man (2 Cor 5:21, 1 Pet 2:21-22, 1 Jhn 3:5) could redeem us from the curse of The LAW (Gal 3:13, 1 Pet 1:19). But since every man living on the earth are descendants of the first Adam who fell, none were perfect. So our merciful GOD created a second Adam, perfect, sinless, able to redeem mankind. HE created JESUS CHRIST (1 Cor 15:12-21).
  • GOD is not man, HIS thoughts are not man’s thoughts; neither are the ways of GOD the ways of man (Isa 55:8-9). If you don’t know HIM, you will not understand HIS WORD or know HIS WAYS (Exd 33:13, Psa 25:4-5). In JESUS own WORDS:

All things have been handed over to ME by MY FATHER, and no one knows WHO THE SON is except THE FATHER, and WHO THE FATHER is except THE SON, and anyone to whom The SON wills to reveal HIM.” Luke 10:22

  • Stop judging the ways of a GOD you do not know, and seek to know The SON WHO willing sacrificed HIS life for yours (Jhn 10:17-18). And until you accept the sacrifice of JESUS CHRIST, you will never know:

GOD became a Man (Mat 1:18-23, Jhn 1:1, Jhn 1:14, Jhn 8:58)

The SHEPHERD became The LAMB (Act 20:28, Jhn 1:29, 1 Pet 1:19)

The CREATOR became The Created (Luk 1:26-35, Col 1:15-20)

How could GOD accept Jephthah’s vow to sacrifice his daughter? To know the answer to this question, you would need to know four things. One, as previously mentioned, you would have to know GOD, to know HIS WAYS. Two, you would need some insight into Jephthah to understand his vow. Three, you would need to go to the original language to confirm translation. And four, you would need to notice what Jephthah’s daughter was mourning at the news of her Father’s vow.

First, if you knew our GOD you would know:

  • HE forbade child sacrifice (Lev 18:21)
  • HE commanded that any Israelite who did it, would be put to death (Lev 20:1-5)
  • Child sacrifice never entered HIS Mind (Jer 19:4-6, Jer 32:33-35)
  • Those who engaged in this despicable practice, were sacrificing their children to demons rather than GOD (Psa 106:37-38)
HE had very specific regulations concerning burnt offerings (Lev 1:1-17, Lev 6:8-13):
  • Only animals from the herd (Lev 1:3), the flock (Lev 1:10), or birds (Lev 1:14) were acceptable burnt offerings
  • Burnt offerings could only be offered in places chosen by The LORD HIMSELF (Deu 12:13)
Second, our Beloved LORD GOD give us insight into Jephthah:
  • He did not make rash statements, he knew the seriousness of making a vow, or giving his word to The LORD GOD (Jud 11:11, Jud 11:35-36)
  • He knew GOD’s WORD as demonstrated, during his conversation with the King of Ammon (Jud 11:12-27)
  • He was mentioned by Samuel as a deliverer to Israel (1 Sam 12:11)
  • He is listed among the faithful in the hall of fame of Faith (Heb 11:32)

Third, according to Hebrew scholars, Jephthah’s vow is as follows:wªhaayaah la-YAHWEH, wªhaʻªliytihuw ʻowlaah The most accurate translation of this vow from Hebrew to English, is this:

“I will consecrate it to The LORD, or I will offer it for a burnt-offering”“If it be a thing fit for a burnt-offering, it shall be made one;

that is

if fit for the service of GOD, it shall be consecrated to HIM.”

In 1862, Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) BIBLE was published. It is an extremely literal translation that attempted to preserve the tense and word usage as found in the original Hebrew and Greek writings when translating The BIBLE into English. YLT translated Judges 11:31 as follows, confirming the position of the Hebrew scholars for this passage:

then it hath been, that which at all cometh out from the doors of my house to meet me in my turning back in peace from the Bene-Ammon — it hath been to Jehovah, or I have offered up for it — a burnt-offering.’

Fourth, Jephthah’s daughter did not request permission to go and mourn for her life, she requested to mourn for her virginity (Jud 11:37-39). She would never intimately know a man (Jud 11:39), and therefore she would never marry and have children. She knew that her life being wholly consecrated to The LORD GOD, would be a life with no distraction of her devotion. She would not struggle with trying to please both The LORD GOD and a husband (1 Cor 7:32-33). She knew that as an unmarried virgin, she would be holy in both body and spirit, concerned solely about the things of The LORD (1 Cor 7:34-35).

How could GOD even let Jephthah give such a ridiculous vow? We will answer this question in two parts:

  1. Without any knowledge of Jephthah or the text of that verse in its original language, it would appear rash or ridiculous. But as demonstrated in question 2, his vow was neither rash nor ridiculous.
  2. Our Beloved LORD GOD has given man free will (the freedom of the will to choose a course of action without external coercion), but with that free will comes responsibility and consequence. We are held responsible for the words we speak (Mat 12:36-37). So our Beloved LORD GOD warns us about how we speak (Psa 19:14, Ecc 5:1-7, Mat 5:33-37, Jam 3:2-12), how much we speak (Prv 10:19, Prv 17:27, Jam 1:19) and the manner in which we speak (Eph 4:29-30, Eph 5:4, Col 3:8, Col 4:6). A vow is a promise either made directly to or in the presence of our Beloved LORD GOD. Sinners make false vows, promises they don’t keep (Prv 15:2, Ecc 10:14), but the Righteous keep their vows even if it means harm to themselves (Psa 15:1-5, Psa 24:3-5).

I shared these answers with Steve, and though he didn’t make a commitment to Salvation, he did let us continue to pray with him on the project until completion.

Do not be Deceived: There is No Secret Sin

In HIS WORDS

privacy-hiding-face black and white

“For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps. “There is no darkness or deep shadow
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
Job 34:21-22
You have placed our iniquities before You,
Our secret sins in the light of Your presence.
Psalm 90:8
 For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord,
And He watches all his paths.
Proverbs 5:21
 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
Proverbs 15:3
 “Can a man hide himself in hiding places
So I do not see him?” declares the Lord.
“Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:24
Then He brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall. He said to me, “Son of man, now dig through the wall.” So I dug through the wall, and behold, an entrance. And He said to me, “Go in and see the wicked abominations that they are committing here.” So I entered and looked, and behold, every form of creeping things and beasts and detestable things, with all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around. Standing in front of them were seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them, each man with his censer in his hand and the fragrance of the cloud of incense rising. Then He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.'” And He said to me, “Yet you will see still greater abominations which they are committing.”
Ezekiel 8:7-13
Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. “Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.
Luke 12:1-3
Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.
1 Corinthians 4:5
 And there is no creature hidden from His sight,
but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Hebrews 4:13
 The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment;
for others, their sins follow after.
Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.
1 Timothy 5:24-25
 Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the Lord,
And whose deeds are done in a dark place,
And they say, “Who sees us?” or “Who knows us?”
Isaiah 29:15

I NEVER KNEW YOU

Apostasy

Depart from Me 2“Not everyone who says to ME, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven

But he who does the will of MY FATHER WHO is in heaven will enter

“Many will say to ME on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in YOUR NAME

And in YOUR NAME cast out demons

And in YOUR NAME perform many miracles

And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you

DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

Matthew 7:21-23

As a servant of JESUS CHRIST and a teacher of my Beloved LORD GOD’s WORD, I grieve over “professing christians”, how they live, and their reaction to a phenomena (any extremely unusual or extraordinary thing or occurrence). I have personally witnessed three well-known phenomena. When the U.S. entered the Iraqi War in the Middle East, when middle-eastern terrorists attacked America on September 11, 2001, and the 2012 end of the world hysteria. After the first two times, and before the third time, Church attendance increased sharply, but within four to six weeks those numbers returned to pre-phenomena levels.

We will discuss the why later, but let’s first look at who are those “professing christians” per Biblical descriptions:

But as for you, son of man

Your fellow citizens who talk about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses, speak to one another, each to his brother, saying, ‘Come now and hear what the message is which comes forth from The LORD

They come to you as people come, and sit before you as MY people and hear your words

But they do not do them

For they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain

Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument

For they hear your words but they do not practice them.

Ezekiel 33:30-33

This group are those who attend Church services, Bible studies, small group studies, seminars and retreats. They come and listen to the message, make notes, highlight in their Bible, get excited, get convicted, and yet do not put into practice what they learned. They are the disobedient (Rom 2:8, 2 Thess 1:7-8, 1 Pet 4:17).

JESUS replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of GOD?

For instance, GOD says, ‘Honor your father and mother

And ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death

But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you.

For I have vowed to give to GOD what I would have given to you.

In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents.

And so you cancel The WORD of GOD for the sake of your own tradition.

You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,

These people honor me with their lips,

But their hearts are far from me.

Their worship is a farce,

For they teach man-made ideas as commands from GOD.'”

(New Living Translation)

Matthew 15:3-9

This group are those who teach false doctrine and oversee by their own authority (Jer 5:30-31), they tickle ears (2 Tim 4:3-4), and teach not for the love of our Beloved LORD GOD, but for the love of recognition (Matt 23:1-12) and money (Tit 1:10-11, 2 Pet 2:1-3). These are those who do not practice what they teach (Rom 2:17-24).

They profess to know GOD

But by their deeds they deny HIM

Being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed

Titus 1:16

This group talks about knowing and loving GOD, they know christianese (the language spoken by Christians, it makes no sense to anyone unfamiliar with Biblical texts), they periodically go to Church, and yet when observing their speech (1 Sam 24:13, Matt 12:33-37, Eph 4:29, Jam 3:2-12) and behavior (Matt 7:15-20, 1 Jhn 2:3-6) it is no different than the ungodly.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life

It is these that testify about ME

And you are unwilling to come to ME so that you may have life.

John 5:39-40

This group trusts in their works rather than trusting in GOD (Prov 28:26, Prov 16:25, Mica 3:11-12, Philp 3:7-9). They do not understand that what one does for GOD is not the same as knowing GOD (1 Jhn 4:8, 1 Cor 13:1-3, Jhn 16:1-3).

A Christian is one who believes in, relies on and completely trusts JESUS CHRIST and HIS WORD. This is the one who studies HIS WORD, then follows, or practices, or daily lives out the teachings contained in HIS WORD. You will know this true follower of CHRIST by observing their behavior. Their actions and reactions will demonstrate the presence of The HOLY SPIRIT within them. Whether they know you are observing them or not, you will consistently notice the visible expression of HIS invisible presence. In other words, despite the circumstances surrounding them, you will consistently see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control emanating from them (Gal 5:22-25).

A “professing christian” admits they know and follow JESUS CHRIST, if you observe their behavior, you will find that instead of following JESUS they will follow after their own lusts and desires (Jude 1:16-19). More often than not, you will see them driven by self-interest, self-preservation, self-preferences and self-desires (Gal 5:19-21). They reflect the spirit living within them, they lie (Jhn 8:44, 1 Jhn 2:4, 1 Jhn 4:20), they deceive (2 Cor 11:3, 2 Cor 11:13-15, Rev 12:9) and hate or commit murder (1 Jhn 3:15).

Why do Churches temporarily swell when bad times or bad news come? Because those who only come briefly, come out of fear and anxiety, promising change but continue to live the same disobedient lives once the crisis has passed, as demonstrated by Pharaoh (Exd chapters 8-10). These are people who do not intimately know The GOD of Peace (1 Thess 5:23-24) nor do they know The LORD of Peace WHO continually grants us a peace different from the world’s peace in every circumstance (Jhn 14:27, 2 Thess 3:16). Their peace is based on what they see or feel, our peace is based on WHO we trust (2 Kin 6:14-18, Matt 14:28-31, Psa 112:7, Prov 1:33).

Those who come briefly during crisis are those who think they know GOD because they know about HIM. They believe that Lord is merely a title, not understanding it is a relationship built on reverence, obedience, love, trust and readiness.

 “Why do you call ME, ‘LORD, LORD,’ and do not do what I say?

Luke 6:46

Nevertheless, the firm foundation of GOD stands, having this seal, “The LORD knows those who are HIS,” and, “Everyone who names The NAME of The LORD is to abstain from wickedness.”

2 Timothy 2:19

Convicted

Something to think about

The Holy SPIRIT jobWith the news of Bruce Jenner’s tragic decision and the recent passage of yet another U.S. law that defies our Beloved GOD’s WORD, I have heard many professing christians citing this quote from Billy Graham as their position for supporting those who live ungodly lives.

This is a perfect example of our Beloved LORD GOD’s commandment in Proverbs 4:7:

 The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;

And with all your acquiring, get understanding.

It is not enough to quote The WORD of GOD, you must understand The WORD of GOD. To understand The WORD of GOD you must know what HE means by completely grasping or perceiving clearly what HE has said. This comes by four ways occurring in conjunction:

  1. Being filled with or having HIS Holy SPIRIT dwell within your inner man (Jhn 14:23, Rom 8:9, 1 Cor 3:16, 2 Cor 6:16)
  2. Knowing HIS WORD by daily study (Deut 17:18-20, Prov 8:34, 2 Tim 2:15) and help from HIS Holy SPIRIT WHOM dwells within you (Jhn 14:26, 1 Jhn 2:27).
  3. Being taught by a teacher who loves The LORD, studies HIS WORD, practices HIS WORD and only teaches from HIS WORD (Ezra 7:10, Neh 8:1-8).
  4. Personally confirming the public message by examining the Scriptures cited for truth, context and relevance (Acts 17:11).

Truly we have been called to love our GOD (Deu 6:5, Matt 22:37-39), HIS WORD (Psa 119:47-48, Psa 119:97, 127, 159, 165, 167), our brethren (1 Pet 1:22, 1 Jhn 4:19-21) and our enemies (Luk 6:27-36). But we must also hate evil (Psa 97:10, Prov 16:6, Rom 12:9, 1 Thess 5:21-22, 3 Jhn 1:11) and do not call what is evil good (Isa 5:20-21, Prov 17:15, Amos 5:6-7).

We have indeed been called to judge. Before you close down and refuse to listen to anymore, let us define what it means to judge. We will not look at the definition of one who holds office as a judge, but we will look at the behavior inherent in judging. To judge is to:

  • condemn, criticize or censure
  • form an opinion or estimation after careful consideration

We are not called to condemn, criticize or censure, but we are called to form an opinion or estimation after careful consideration. Our Beloved LORD GOD has called us to judge with righteous judgment (Jhn 7:24). How do we do that? By not trusting ourselves but trusting our GOD and HIS WORD (Prov 3:5-8, Prov 28:25-26). Our Beloved LORD GOD shows us how to form a right opinion through observation in Matt 7:15-20 especially when tied to Gal 5:16-25, 1 Jhn 2:29 and 1 Jhn 3:4-10.

So is it the Holy SPIRIT’s job to convict? Indeed, but you should understand that The Holy SPIRIT of GOD which dwells in us will also bring conviction through us. This conviction occurs in two ways:

  1. Our CHRIST filled lives gives off a fragrance; to those who are being saved we are a sweet smell of life leading to more life; to those who are headed to destruction we are the stench of death leading only to more death (2 Cor 2:14-16). For those who love our Beloved LORD GOD and those who are seeking HIM, a SPIRIT filled Christian’s life attracts them to that Christian much like a hungry man is attracted to the smells of fresh bread being baked in a bakery. But to the ungodly and disobedient a SPIRIT filled Christian’s life repels them and convicts their own conscience. One who chooses to obey GOD, living righteously, brings the ungodly and disobedient to a realization of their guilt. For example, in Romans 12:17-21 our Beloved LORD GOD speaks to us about never repaying evil with evil. In fact HE tells us to overcome evil with good, and gives us an example where feeding and providing drink to an enemy brings burning pangs of guilt and shame to that enemy. Notice it is not in what was said, but what was done. Our holy behavior (which can come only through living a SPIRIT filled life) convicts and even changes those who do not know HIM (1 Pet 1:14-16, 1 Pet 2:11-12, 1 Pet 3:1-2, 14-16).
  2. Through HIS WORD which HE sends us to speak in HIS presence (2 Cor 2:17). Our Beloved LORD GOD’s WORD is living and active. HIS WORD is not only grain which provides food and gives life (Jer 23:28, Jhn 6:31-35), but HIS WORD also convicts as fire shining light into a soul darkened by sin, as a hammer shattering a heart of stone, and a double edged sword piercing or cutting through everything, exposing the innermost thoughts and desires of the listener (Jer 23:29, Heb 4:12). If the message you deliver does not bring change in the listener, is your message really from our Beloved LORD GOD WHOSE WORD does not come back to HIM without accomplishing what HE desired (Isa 55:10-11)?

When the prophet Isaiah came into the presence of our HOLY and Beloved LORD GOD, he was convicted and confessed his sinfulness (Isa 6:1-8), when the apostle Peter saw what was accomplished in 14 words from our much loved LORD JESUS CHIRST that couldn’t be done by him and his fellow fisherman all night long, he too was convicted and confessed his sinfulness (Luk 5:1-11). When both men came into the presence of our Wonderful GOD and SAVIOR, they were changed, leaving their former lives behind. If a sinner can continually come into your presence or listen to your message and not be convicted or repelled, examine both yourself and your teachings (Psa 26:2, Psa 119:59, Psa 139:23-24, Lam 3:40, 2 Cor 13:5).

If you have been examined and found to be faithful, live a life above reproach, teach messages concerning righteousness and the consequences of sin, yet the people you have been sent to, continue to remain in a hardened state; be encouraged and remain faithful. Our much loved LORD GOD has not forgotten you, the work, and love you have shown toward HIS NAME (Heb 6:10-12). Remember our Beloved GOD is merciful, and it is not HIS desire that one should perish. You are part of the mercy our GOD is extending on their behalves. HE has sent you like many others with HIS message of obedience (Jer 7:21-28). Though HE knows they will refuse salvation, HIS mercy still sends us to them. You are in the company of Noah, Ezekiel, Isaiah and many others.

Noah a preacher of righteousness, in obedience built an ark of salvation that only his family would seek safety in (2 Pet 2:5, Gen 6:13-22, Heb 11:7). Ezekiel ministered to people who came and heard the message but ignored it and continued in their sin (Eze 33:30-33). And Isaiah was sent to, a people who would continue in their hardened state despite his 62 years of continual ministry (Isa 6:9-10).

When Isaiah asked “how long” he would minister to a people who would ignore the message, our Beloved LORD GOD told him “until the devastation and desolation was complete” (Isa 6:11-12). And indeed many years later, both Judah and it’s capital Jerusalem, were left desolate and the people were taken into captivity by Babylon as witnessed by the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 11:9-14, Lam chapters 1-4).

Those who sow in tears

Shall reap with joyful shouting

He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,

Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him

Psalm 126:5-6

Sighing and Groaning over Detestable Sins

Uncategorized

Mourning 3Then HE cried out in my hearing with a loud voice saying

“Draw near, O executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.”

Behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate which faces north,

Each with his shattering weapon in his hand

And among them was a certain man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his loins

And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar

Then the glory of The GOD of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been,

To the threshold of the temple

And HE called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case

The LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city

Even through the midst of Jerusalem

And put a mark on the foreheads of the men

Who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.”

But to the others HE said in my hearing

“Go through the city after him and strike

Do not let your eye have pity and do not spare

“Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women

But do not touch any man on whom is the mark

And you shall start from MY sanctuary.”

Ezekiel 9:1-6

This passage of Scripture from Ezekiel is a wake-up call to GOD’s people today. It is not enough to proclaim you are a follower of JESUS CHRIST if your heart is not HIS heart. A loving, compassionate, merciful heart that loves righteousness and hates all iniquity. A heart that rejoices in The LORD and The WORDS of HIS mouth, while grieving over sin and all those who are held captive by it. A heart that listens to the counsel of HIS Holy SPIRIT and is willing to follow HIM all the days of your life, no matter the cost. A person with this heart, would have been spared in the vision our Beloved LORD GOD gave to the prophet Ezekiel in the aforementioned passages.

Since the ruling of the United States Supreme Court on Friday, June 26, 2015, my heart has been grieved most by the response of many in the Christian community. Instead of standing as Peter and John when commanded by the Council to stop speaking and teaching in The NAME of JESUS (Acts 4:1-20), I have seen many professing Christians turn their Facebook pages into rainbows in support of those who practice sexual immorality on several different levels. I have heard many talk about loving and not judging in the wake of the passage of a law that openly defies our Beloved LORD GOD’s definition of marriage.

We have been called to be the light of the world (Mat 5:14), shining in the midst of the darkness not becoming part of the darkness. What fellowship does light have with darkness? Our Beloved ABBA FATHER has commanded us not to team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between CHRIST and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between GOD’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living GOD. (2 Cor 6:14-18).

Our love for our Beloved LORD GOD must be greater than any other love in our lives. That love for HIM must be so great, that compared to our love for others or even ourselves it would appear to be hate (Luk 14:25-27). If others accuse you of hating them because of your love for HIM, praise The LORD! If you suffer for being a true follower of JESUS CHRIST, glory to GOD! Our Beloved LORD GOD told us from the beginning “if we desire to live godly in CHRIST JESUS we will be persecuted.” (2 Tim 3:12). HE also told us if they persecuted HIM, they will persecute us (Jhn 15:20), they hated our Beloved LORD before they hated us (Jhn 15:18-25, 1 Jhn 3:13).

One final warning from our Beloved LORD GOD to those who believe they can be HIS friends and friends with the world:

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward GOD?

Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of GOD.

James 4:4

Loving GOD means Loving HIS WORD

Something to think about

prayer-bibleJESUS answered and said to him, “If anyone loves ME, he will keep MY WORD; and MY FATHER will love him, and WE will come to him and make OUR abode with him.” He who does not love ME does not keep MY WORDS; and THE WORD which you hear is not MINE, but the FATHER’s who sent ME. John 14:23-24

As I reflect on the aforementioned passage, I am reminded of two types of “believers” who sadly walk in spiritual deceit:

  1. Professing Christians who talk about their love of GOD and HIS SON, yet they spend very little time studying HIS WORD
  2. Professing GOD worshippers who profess their love and devotion to GOD yet deny HIS SON, JESUS.

What my LORD has shown me is there is no difference between the two, though they wear different labels.

The Christian who professes to love GOD and HIS SON JESUS yet spends very little time studying HIS WORD by their own actions prove they are not walking in truth. Scripture rightly speaks of the things we see in human nature (Luke 12:34). Human nature confirming our Beloved GOD’s WORD, by demonstrating over and over what one treasures and loves most is where their heart is. It is also there, a great deal of time is spent. On the other hand, what one treasures and loves least is where very little time is spent. The one who truly loves GOD and HIS SON JESUS delights in and loves both HIM and HIS WORD.

Psalm 119 is an example of a faithful follower who seeks GOD with all his heart by seeking to know HIS ways through HIS WORD. Let’s take a quick look at this faithful follower. He truly delights in GOD’s WORD (Psalm 119:16, Psalm 119:24, Psalm 119:35, Psalm 119:47, Psalm 119:174) no matter the circumstances he faces (Psalm 119:92, Psalm 119:143). He loves GOD’s WORD (Psalm 119:47-48, Psalm 119:97, Psalm 119:127) which brings him great peace and keeps him from stumbling (Psalm 119:165).

The one who professes to love GOD and yet denies HE has a SON, is deceived. They cannot know The ONE, True and Living GOD when they deny HIS only begotten SON (Psalm 2:7-12, John 15:21, John 16:1-3). One does not have a personal relationship with The FATHER when they deny HIS SON (1 John 2:23). One cannot truly love someone they do not know (John 8:19). GOD is not a FATHER to those who do not love HIS SON (John 8:42).

The one who loves GOD, loves both HIS written WORD and HIS SON WHO is The WORD!

Let us be careful to pray for all those who walk in spiritual deceit that the light of our Beloved LORD JESUS would shine upon the hearts of those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death.

Turning GOD’s Grace into Liscentiousness

Apostasy

Evil eye (2)Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.

 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.  Jude 1:3-4

My heart aches for the many professing Christians who are being deceived as they follow after false teachers. Like the Israelites of old, not only do they not know GOD’s WORD (Isa 1:3-4, 1 Jhn 2:3-4), they prefer to be deceived rather than know GOD or HIS WORD (Job 21:14-15, Jer 9:3-6, 2 Tim 4:3-4).

Our Beloved LORD GOD has called us to contend earnestly for the faith or to hold fast to HIM and to HIS WORD (Deu 13:4, Prov 4:4-5, 1 Ths 5:21-22, Heb 10:23, 2 Jhn 1:6, Rev 3:11).

Twenty years ago, I first began to hear professing Christians state that JESUS did away with the law when HE came so we do not need to study the Old Testament. When I asked them to then explain Mat 5:17-20 and Rom 15:4 to me, they could not. In the last ten years, I have witnessed false teachers twisting GOD’s WORDS in Rom 16:14. They emphatically tell a crowd of captivated congregants “we are under grace we are no longer under the law!” leaving these people to believe they no longer have to deal with their sin. When I asked those holding to this “radical grace doctrine” to explain Rom 6:15, 1 Jhn 1:9 and 1 Jhn 3:4-10, they tell me I am legalistic.

Our Beloved LORD GOD’s grace means forgiveness and the power to overcome sin, it does not give license/permission to live ungodly, immoral lives. In fact our LORD warns us in Hebrews 6:4-8, Hebrews 10:26-31 and 2 Peter 2:20-22 that those who have once been set free from the defilements of the world and have experienced the salvation of our precious JESUS CHRIST, partook of HIS Holy SPIRIT, tasted HIS good WORD and then fallen away by becoming once again entangled in willful sin, their last state is worse than their first. And they will suffer the same fate as those who never knew GOD, eternal destruction (Rom 2:8, 2 Ths 1:7-8).

In conclusion when one professes to know GOD, and be a follower of JESUS CHRIST yet live unholy lives, by their deeds they deny HIM (Titus 1:16, Jude 1:4), and cause unbelievers to blaspheme HIS Holy NAME (Rom 2:17-24).

For whoever is Ashamed of ME and MY WORDS

Apostasy
  • If you are ashamed of MEEverywhere we turn these days we are bombarded with messages and images that call evil good and good evil. And just as our Beloved LORD GOD told us in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, we are living in difficult times because of the state of ungodly men; men who are lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of GOD, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power. And truly as our LORD JESUS spoke in Matthew 24:12 “because sin (lawlessness) is increased most people’s love has grown cold. The failure to obey The BIBLE (hereafter known as The WORD) is the evidence of a love that has grown cold (John 14:23-24). Disobedience to The WORD comes in many forms; they reject The WORD on certain issues; they question the timeliness and accuracy of The WORD; they are more concerned with what the world thinks of them if they obey The WORD. In fact this particular blog is about that last group. They are ashamed of JESUS and HIS WORDS. Many will quickly say “I am not ashamed, I let people know I am a Christian.” But it’s not just in what you are saying, it is how you are living:  Do you live like those who do not know JESUS? Do you hold and follow the beliefs in The BIBLE? Are you willing to lose everything for those beliefs? Before you say no, yes and yes, ask our LORD to examine your heart and make it known to you as HE did with Peter. Peter declared he would not fall away because of our LORD, he insisted if he had to die with our Precious LORD JESUS, he would not deny HIM (Matthew 26:33-35). Yet Peter denied him 3 times, just as our LORD said he would (Luke 22:54-62).

“For whoever is ashamed of ME and MY WORDS in this adulterous and sinful generation

the SON of MAN will also be ashamed of him

when HE comes in the glory of HIS FATHER with the holy angels.”

Mark 8:38