The War in Iran, and the Competition to Feed AI's Energy Consumption -- PART TWO

 As I wrote in Part One of this two-part analysis of the current war in Iran, the growth of the "AI economy" plays a vital part in this clash of civilizations and the battle over Iran's valuable natural resources. These natural resources are a huge prize for the victor(s) of this warfare. As we move forward in history, new battle lines are being drawn in the global economy.

I would wager that to most citizens of the world, this war is measured in terms of the  following goals: 1) the hope for regime change in Iran (yet to be determined); 2) the termination of Iran's buildup of missile and nuclear weapons programs; and 3) destroying Iran's connections to their proxies in the region, i.e. Hamas and  Hezbollah; and the Shiites, their religious partners [within Iran] who carry out the coercive commands of their Shiite clerics. 

Those are certainly consequential arguments for the war, but there is another objective that is becoming increasingly important to the global economies... the exponential growth of artificial intelligence. The average, every-day user of the internet has no idea how much energy that data centers require. In fact, I doubt many can even define what a data center is. So, in order to comprehend why they are an important factor in the war with Iran, let's start with this fact ... A data center is a facility "composed of networked computers, storage systems and computing infrastructure that organizations and businesses use to assemble, process, store and disseminate large amounts of data." It is the heart of data storage.

As of early 2026, there are approximately 5,427 data centers in the US. Due to the immense demand of needed storage space by online companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta, these companies are rapidly building data centers to serve the AI escalation in the world. In addition, the tech competition between the United States and China is intensifying, and the need to secure reliable and abundant energy resources is just as important as securing our trade routes (think Strait of Hormuz) or maintaining our military partnerships.

This challenge becomes crystal clear when you take into account that North America data center capacity reached a record 8,155 megawatts in early 2025 -- an increase of more than 43% compared to the previous year. A standard AI-focused hyperscale data center can consume as much electricity annually as 100,000 households in America. The next generation of facilities that are under construction today are speculated to consume 20 times that amount! By 2030 that figure is projected to increase more than 130% -- that's less than 4 years from now! 

So how do those facts translate to this conflict in Iran, and how does it all affect the U.S. economy? We (in the U.S.) are already stretching the limits our existing electrical grids can sustain. With the forecast expansion of AI and its associated energy needs, we must answer the question of how and where we can support that technological boom. India is a possibility, but there seems to be some doubt about how quickly their infrastructure can accommodate the needs. So, that turns our attention to the Gulf States (Saudia Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Iran). They possess the critical energy resources (oil, water, the land, and natural gas) that are readily available to underpin the energy consumption in the next generation of global AI data centers.

And I said GLOBAL data centers, because as we all know, the competition between the U.S. and China for superiority in the global economy (including the data centers) is dependent on the ability to feed AI (and its massive energy needs). It should be obvious to everyone that the race is on to see which country can secure Iran's significant oil and natural gas reserves that could potentially support the needed energy for AI and data centers. So that's where the real reason (and consequence) of this conflict becomes clear. The last 9 presidents (from Joe Biden all the way back to Jimmy Carter) have chosen to avoid war with Iran by letting them continue with their secret and stealthy development of nuclear capacities -- until it has become clear that whoever wins the race to Iran's energy resources will be the first to "claim" AI and reign as #1 in the global economy. 

Now comes the biggest obstacle for the U.S. to claim that spot ... It's no secret that China backs Iran. Our hope to secure those resources will be determined by destroying the nuclear sites in Iran that can destroy the data infrastructure that is being built. These data centers are sensitive technological systems. A single strike by Iran can destroy delicate hardware, disrupt network architecture, and cause cascading failures across entire digital ecosystems. When an Amazon Web Services (AWS) facility in the United Arab Emirates was struck, it affected banking networks, payment systems, and an array of digital services across the globe. Nations increasingly share a common dependence on uninterrupted energy flows, stable shipping corridors, and reliable, universal supply chains. And now Iran stands as the biggest spoiler to the U.S. strategy to "own" the AI sector in the global economy. 

Yes, the security of Israel and the Middle East is also a factor in taking this wartime plan of action. But it's also about protecting and establishing a rapidly emerging technological system that produces both economic and national security for our nation. This battle is crucial and hugely consequential. I advise us all to seek the Lord for His will in this time of history. AI will eventually impact us all as it is integrated into every aspect of our digital lives. It is reshaping the world, and it is apparent that it is becoming a convenient tool to lead us down the tempting and deceptive path to the Beast System. Please pray for divine wisdom and discernment!  The Lord will hear your prayers! Trust Him in all His ways!

My knowledge of Artificial Intelligence, its infrastructure and energy needs is dependent on the knowledge of those in the field who have the ability to write informed and insightful articles. I am thankful to Vikrant Bahadur Singh and his article for the information that informed this post.

Psalm 33.    The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man; from where He sits enthroned He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.  

 

 

The War in Iran, History's Continued Clash of Civilizations, and the Competition to Feed AI's Energy Consumption -- PART ONE

In case you think I'm going to jumble a hodgepodge of topics into one disarrayed post, let me show you how this all goes hand-in-hand and contributes to a full understanding of what is going on behind the scenes of the latest war in the Middle East. Over last weekend, we saw the United States and Israel join together to ostensibly eliminate Iran's attempt to increase it's nuclear and missile capabilities. While the combined effort of "the Great Satan" (US) and the "Little Satan" (Israel) succeeded in striking 3 nuclear energy sites in Iran, it is still undetermined if the attacks permanently destroyed the Iranian nuclear program or its enrichment capabilities.

Although I have much to learn about all the factors involved in the reasons for this attack on Iran, I am discerning some important details that go beyond the nuclear capability component. Let me categorize these contributing aspects as: 1) The clash of historical civilizations and 2) The competition for resources to sustain the growth of AI in the global economy. So, I ask you to give me a chance to explain how history and technology have played a part in this latest conflict that threatens global peace.

I think I can make an argument that the God of the Universe divided humanity into different nations (Deuteronomy 32:8-9) after they defied His command to spread out, and they, instead, built a ziggurat to ascend into Heaven and attempt to overthrow God's Sovereignty. This was the moment in human history that supernaturally changed the positions of the nations and their peoples. Not only were the boundaries of the nations set according to God's will, but the peoples of those nations were assigned to various other divine beings (gods). God retained only one nation for Himself: Israel. The other nations and peoples came under the jurisdiction of gods like Buddha, Allah, Brahma, Vishnu, Thor, etc. These were not political boundaries. They were spiritual, and they resulted in different religions, cultures, civilizational identities. And throughout history they have spawned religious conflicts, historic injustices, and ethnic incompatibility that has caused violence across the globe.

All that plays into the current situation with Iran. And here is what we need to understand ... the battle lines throughout history have always been drawn around civilizational identity. And periodically [throughout history], those identities clash. Leaders drink from their inflated and empty cups of self-importance, identifying as either a nationalist or a globalist, promoting either "diversity" and "multiculturalism, OR "world domination" and "Totalitarian" philosophies vs Freedom-oriented societies.

But a curious thing happened in the latter part of the 20th Century into the 21st... we began seeing talk of globalism, ecumenicalism, universalism, and multiculturalism. These ideas translate into theories that we can transform our different cultural/civilizational identities into a "one-size fits all" identity. Here's the problem with that ... We cannot ignore the differences between historical civilizations; civilizations that were created when God divided the boundaries, languages, and identities of the nations in Deuteronomy 32. The reality is that the values of those nations mattered to the peoples. Their culture mattered [their customs, arts, social institutions, the achievements and social characteristics of their particular nation]. Their religion and history mattered. Their honor and pride mattered. And they still matter!  

Since the beginning of time, different peoples, nations, cultures, and civilizations have fought and competed for religious dominance, natural resources, land, and economic power. All those aspects are present in this latest conflict with Iran, who was once known on the global stage as Persia. We are seeing the past playing out in the present. And what concludes in this present conflict will illuminate the future. How will this war influence the futures of Israel, the United States, China, the historic Middle Eastern/Biblical nations, Russia? You can be sure it's all part of God's Plan. 

And the root causes of this war are not limited to the international frenzy over Iran's potential nuclear capabilities, no matter what reasons and narrative the heads of state and the media might declare. I hinted at the beginning of this post that the growth of the "AI economy" plays a part in this conflict and the battle over Iran's valuable natural resources are a huge prize for the victor[s] of this warfare. History moves forward as new battle lines in this civilizational war are being drawn. Stay tuned for Part Two!  

Matthew 24:6       And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

 

 

Reflections On the Importance of the Holy Spirit in These Last Days

Have y0u taken the time to evaluate your relationship with the Holy Spirit? I ask because of what I see as a failure of the Church to recognize the important role He has been given by Christ to His sanctified followers. Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as our Counselor and Helper, who guides us to walk in His teachings and statutes. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins and leads us into all understanding of God's Truth. We also read in Scripture that the Holy Spirit comforts us, seals our inheritance, intercedes on our behalf, empowers us to testify of Jesus and God's love, produces spiritual fruit in us, sanctifies our lives and purpose, equips us with spiritual gifts, and dwells within us. Our relationship with Him is exceedingly personal. Yet, how many of us can say we truly know Him?

I must admit that for a large segment of my faith life, I knew of the Holy Spirit, but did not really know Him like I knew Jesus and the Father. And, to be honest, I was a bit jealous of other Christians who had grown up in denominations where the presence and knowledge of the Holy Spirit was vibrant and active, and a relationship with Him was customary and familiar. And I was surprised that as I sought to grow in my knowledge of Him and began to develop an intimacy with Him, I also began to see a distancing or separation from some of my fellow Christians. I was told that the kind of experiences I was looking for weren't possible for today's Believers; that the power and fire that rained down on the First Century Believers was only to jump-start the Church; that the closing of the Canon has left us with centuries of faith in the saving grace of Jesus, and that's all we need.

There's also the flip side of that coin ... the members of the Body of Christ who manipulate and falsely imitate the power of the Holy Spirit. They damage His reputation by impersonating a sanctified, Spirit-filled Believer, and open a spiritual door for the Anti-Christ to convince the Modern Church that His power no longer exists. That kind of thinking has shown me just how misunderstood the Person of the Holy Spirit is in the 21st Century Church. [NOTE: This is where I must declare that I distinguish "the Church" from the "Body of Christ".] For the sake of this discussion, to me, the Church represents those Believers who, like the Pharisees, are clinging tightly to the Doctrine of Cessationism [the gifts of the Holy Spirit were for the establishment of the Church and ceased with the deaths of the apostles]. If this is their belief system, then their interest in developing a relationship with the Holy Spirit will be minimal. And they will point to the recent Church debacle surrounding Shawn Bolz and Bethel as proof that the Holy Spirit is no longer actively present in the Body of Christ.

Yet, within this same Body of Christ there is a sizable [if not equal] number of Believers who walk in Jesus's ways as their model. There is a recognition [and reliance upon] the Holy Spirit to convey the thoughts and will of the Father as it pertains to our purpose in His Kingdom on earth. As for me, I firmly believe that just as God used the Holy Spirit to speak to His followers in the past, He continues to be the same today (as He's been in the past, and will be in the future). He never changes! So, I find myself talking to Holy Spirit as often as I do Jesus because I know that He is the conduit -- the instrument God uses to protect Jesus's transmission of His will for my life. And I can trust Him. In fact, there is so much deception, fraud, lies, and corruption in the world today, that trusting Him is more important than ever. 

There are many Anti-Christ spirits roaming the earth and sowing their animosity and malice among men who hate God. We can see them clearly if we trust that the Holy Spirit resides in us and we trust in His promptings. That's so important because the Bible tells us there will be much deception in the last days, led by the "Man of Lawlessness". When he is revealed, the world better know who they are in Christ, and able to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit to guide you through the false teachings and signs that will be manifesting on the earth. We are given clear instructions to neither "be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a [so-called prophetic revelation of a] spirit or a message of a letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] come.

Furthermore, the Bible says that day will not come until the rebellion and apostasy comes first -- the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians when the Man of Rebellion is unmasked. Mankind will have wandered so far from righteous living, as Jesus commands, that it will be easy to fall for the false promises of the Deceiver. But God will bring a strong spirit of Delusion over the world so that we must choose whom we will follow. We are currently experiencing economic pressures, fear of war, death, and disease; the pressures of distress and oppression. It's not difficult to see that the financial systems of the world are teetering, and the promise of a one-world monetary system to replace our failing ones is looking more inviting to a world that has lost millions in their buying power.  

But behind that false mask will be a system that will take control and authority over every financial decision and transaction made. So it will be with a one-world religion, as well. The world will, at first, worship the Beast figure because, again, it offers false promises. But the world will soon be manipulated and forced into bowing down to the Beast. As Believers, we must remain true to our Lord and stand firm in our faith, refusing to compromise, even when faced with the worst of trials and persecutions -- even unto our death. And that means our discernment radar must always be turned on loud and clear. And do you know what that radar sounds like? The voice of the Holy Spirit!

We must not fall victim to the distorted and corrupted doctrines of the false christs that lead only to the perverted and depraved systems of Satan's Beast. Let us cling to Jesus until He returns; remaining obedient and steadfast in His Truth. The future looks shrouded in darkness, but we must continue to hope in the Light of Heaven, our Savior, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He said we will suffer for His Name, but He will return for us and deliver us into everlasting Life with Him. There is no person or system on earth [or in the heavenly realms] that can promise us anything superior to that glorious future! So, yes, I fear that there is more bad news coming, but, I will trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Oh, the hope that we possess in our inheritance born of Faith! Listen for His Voice!

2 Timothy 1:14     Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious Truth that has been entrusted to you. 

When the World Gaslights Your Biblical Belief System

 

We're probably all familiar with the term "gaslighting" by now. If not, here is a quick and simple definition that I find explains this psychological manipulation in our modern culture. "Gaslighting" involves the subtle, yet intentional, scheme to convince one that their beliefs, points of view, and convictions on a given topic are questionable or in dispute, causing at the very least doubt and skepticism.

It has become a useful tool in the sphere of politics and corporate maneuvering. The power of social media makes it a willing accomplice among those who seek to control and divide the masses. But now Gaslighting has entered the realm of Faith. Satan has found it useful to introduce not only doubt among Christian believers in their Biblical foundations and worldview, but also uncertainty, questioning, and mistrust. If you are bold enough, in today's world, to declare your unwavering conviction and faith in the truth of God's Word in the Bible, then sooner or later, you will experience some form of spiritual gaslighting. 

Whether inside or outside of our churches, we must suit up with the Armor of God, and prepare to defend our Biblical worldview. That requires a very solid and thorough understanding of the hermeneutical and historical context of the Word, along with a deep-rooted personal relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. You see, many of Satan's partners in spiritual gaslighting know the Bible better than those in Christian circles. The goal of these diabolical partners is to challenge your belief system in the hopes they can inject a seed of doubt or uncertainty -- just enough to introduce a subtle difference that will cause you to start questioning what you've long perceived as Truth. 

In fact, they use just enough truth from the Bible or Church doctrine so that their argument sounds plausible, especially when sprinkled with a false, yet reasonable, view of Christ. They will point out Jesus's heart for sinners -- the Samaritan woman at the well; the woman caught in adultery; the Gerasene demoniac; the Prodigal son. The Gaslighters will pronounce the loving heart of Jesus towards these people who were living in ways the Bible condemns, yet Jesus did not spurn them. He loved them and forgave their sins. And then comes the masterful way in which Satan throws confusion into our Biblical understanding. Why aren't you, Christian, showing the same love for these wayward people?

As a Christian, you should point out that, yes, Jesus loved and forgave these sinners, but their forgiveness was based on following His instruction to "Go, and sin no more". Jesus never condones or permits sin. Jesus also makes it clear that only the one who is without sin can cast the first stone, implying that He knows who sins and who doesn't, and judgment is part of His righteous and holy character. We are also told that we are not to judge another's actions, because first of all, we don't know the condition of their heart, but Jesus does. And the judgment we pronounce will be how we are judged. BUT, the Bible tells us we can identify people by the fruit [or lack thereof] that they produce in their lives. 

The gaslighters just want to challenge the steadfastness of your faith, bringing into question the Christian's spiritual depth of character. They are not concerned with the truth of their challenge, only their ability to cause doubt or suspicion of your Biblical worldview in order to bolster their false claims that Jesus loved all sinners. They will use Jesus's admonition to "love your neighbor as yourself " against you in order to prove that you are not loving like Jesus, at all. Again, it is an opening to label you [and the Christian faith] as unloving, religious bigots, hypocrites, haters, and any other label that goes against their unBiblical lifestyles. By convincing the gullible public that Jesus was, in reality, a social justice warrior on behalf of all misunderstood and maligned people, rather than the righteous and holy Son of God, they can gain acceptance for their agenda to promote a Global Beast System that is tragically and despicably Anti-Christ in nature and substance.

As the number of Christians who are willing to stand up for Jesus's True teachings declines, we see the spirit of Compromise overtaking and decimating the strength of God's Word in the world. We Christians of the 21st Century are the inheritors of centuries of the power of God's Word to transform a single life [and the world]. Just because some of Jesus's commands sound too harsh for today and don't align with the Gaslighter's compromised version of God's mercy and grace, doesn't mean we abandon them or soften them. As 19th Century Anglican Bishop J. C. Ryle once wrote, "A man who is born again does not use the world's opinion as his standard of right and wrong".  

Yet, in today's world of social and moral relevance, it appears that's just what we've done. The Bible's warning that a Day of Judgment is coming  -- a Day in which all people will stand before God to account for our actions, whether good or evil -- has been exchanged for a lukewarm opinion that "being a good person" is enough to get us through the pearly gates. Sadly, there seems to be no recognition that there's a huge difference between God granting eternal life and condemning one to an eternal fire. 

It is imperative for today's Christian that we do not water down the Righteousness of God as revealed in the Bible. It is equally crucial that we denounce the unrighteousness of people that is increasingly expressed in our daily lives. It is our duty as obedient followers of Christ to show sinners how to avoid the fires of judgment through faith in Christ and genuine repentance. It is our duty, as representatives of Jesus Christ on earth, to forego our own comfort, in favor of snatching the lost out of this world by testifying of our hope in the next. But we must also be cognizant that we will be hated by the Gaslighters and their programmers. Our reputations will suffer and our character will be dishonored. We will experience persecution, but will also receive great joy and blessings as we lead the unredeemed to the knowledge and acceptance of their Savior! 

So, if you haven't been Gaslighted for your Biblical beliefs, yet ... you will. The defiance and rebellion against the fullness of the Word is escalating as we speak. We must guard our hearts and minds, and plant the Truth of the Word in rich and restorative ground. Don't take the bait when the false accusers use Scripture to try and manipulate you into doubting that God's Word is real and life-giving. We can rely on it to provide strength in trying and troublesome times. The lies that come from the mouths of Satan's provocateurs are no match for the truth that comes from the mouth of the Lord and the Spirit. When you are tempted by Gaslighters to alter or compromise your Belief system, trust in the authority of the Word, and obey it always. Jesus is our standard-bearer, and we will not be tempted.

I invite you to read an articulate and well-written article by C. R. Carmichael, entitled The Gaslighting of the Biblical Christian. It analyzes this topic in a deeper context.

Proverbs 30:5     Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.

Psalm 119:11    Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. 

   

  

 

When the Pressure Comes, Will You Bear the Weight?

This past week or so, in the midst of the Church scandals, I have found myself scrutinizing my own life. Have I, too willingly, accepted God's Grace and Favor, while measuring my obedience to Him according to man's acceptable standards? We have seen, over the last week, how easy it is to convince ourselves that human acceptability is enough to satisfy God's heart. But here's the thing ... God is very precise, intentional, and deliberate about the work He is doing in us. And there is no room for compromise in the value of His Nature, nor the quality of our character. He judges the thoughts and intentions of our hearts to see if He recognizes His own in the way we carry His Name.

There have been good public discussions among the Body of Christ about the failures of Leaders in the Church to abide in their callings as Shepherds and Protectors of the Flock. It has been called to our attention, their efforts to protect themselves and their platforms and reputations. Sadly, some whom we assumed ministered in Divine Gifts, now appear to have been wolves in sheep's clothing. Others that had authentic hearts for God, chose Mercy over Justice, and added more trauma to members of the flock who were left feeling betrayed.

But in the end, Sin is sin. I don't believe God gives us a pass if our sin seems less harmful than another's. What matters is our response to our sin. God is ready to forgive us and begin our restoration, if we declare and show true repentance. No one exemplifies this better than King David. I alluded to this point in my last post ... David was an adulterer; a perpetrator and accomplice to murder; and a man who failed to become all God purposed him to be. His family was a mess, and his desire to build a House of God was denied him by God, Himself. 

But David was still called by God as "a man after His own heart". God acknowledged David's sin, but also recognized that David sought to align his heart with God's; he chased after God's will in his own life, and committed himself to being obedient while demonstrating honest and real repentance. You see, God was deliberate in the work He was going to do in David when He appointed him the ruler over the nation of Israel and its people. And that's one big difference between David and some of the Leaders in our Church today. It was God who appointed David! Too often, our Church Leaders today are either self-appointed, or man-appointed, due to their ability to entertain, or speak in compelling and powerful ways. It must be pointed out that the Spirit of the Lord was evident in David's life as He fulfilled His purpose to lead David in writing the Psalms, and bringing attention to Jesus, David's Savior and ours.

Yes, David had flaws, like all of us. He sinned like all of us. But because he genuinely repented and sought to align his heart with God's, God was not through with him. He could continue His work in David and see the fruit produced by David's obedient faith. It is yet to be seen if the fallen Pastors will rise to the level of repentance and obedience of King David. Their sins cannot be mixed in with their reputations [and diminished], nor can they be glossed over. They must be dealt with according to God's standards before He can continue His work in them. It must be determined if their faith is legitimate; if their obedience is steadfast, and if they have the humility to withstand the pressure God has assigned while He works in them to restore them to His service. 

The simple truth is this: If we call ourselves a child of God, there will be consequences when we sin. David shows us that even great men of faith fall in sin. And that sin damages our relationships; with those we love in this life, and with our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. But our confession of sin, in honesty and humility, will bring our restoration when accompanied by true repentance. It is then that we can see the fullness of God's forgiveness --  His Mercy, Compassion and Justice. When our sins and trespasses have caused harm to another person or Believer, we must expect that God will dispense all three attributes of His Nature if it is necessary to return us to wholeness.

So, as I wrap up my time of discerning what God desires to do in the midst of this latest crisis in the Church, I am left with these final thoughts ... we should work [with and through the Lord] to leave a legacy in this life; a spiritual impact that affects eternity. We are all imperfect people, but when we sin, we can let God work in our lives to encourage others that they, too, can bear the weight of their sin, as they deliberately return to God and trust Him in all their ways. We can be like David -- chasing after God's heart; praising Him in the midst of our troubles and sin; seeking His Presence; living in fearless faith; and trusting God to deliver us out of our darkness into His Light. 

And perhaps most importantly, let us forgive others their sins, trespasses, and iniquities, as God forgives ours when we approach Him with a humble and repentant heart. Let us hold ourselves accountable as we expect the Church and its Leaders to do the same. Remember, we may experience the pressure of God's cleansing and restoring work in us, but we will gain our freedom from sin by growth and endurance [in our faith]. Jesus will not leave us to bear the weight by ourselves. He will bear it along with us. Amen!  

1 Corinthians 10:13     No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.   

   

When Church Leaders Sin

 I want to begin by stating that this post is my opinion (only), and I am not asking anyone to agree with me, nor am I asking anyone to endorse or recommend my thoughts. I am listening to the Lord and Holy Spirit and asking God to lead me to the fullness of His Truth in this matter. Therefore, as more information becomes available, I may find Holy Spirit giving me new revelations, at which time I will be open to new understandings of this situation.

I have spent the last several days contemplating the devastating and disturbing news surrounding Shawn Bolz and his association with Bethel Church and its Senior Leadership. Over the last 20 years or so, the advent of social media has been a vehicle for the promotion of various popular ministries in the Church, especially the employment of the Spiritual Gifts among the Charismatic segment of Christianity. To be clear, Spiritual Gifts are special abilities, talents or capacities given to Christians by the Holy Spirit, with the goal of serving God and the members of the Church. We find those gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12, and among them are the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits [discernment], speaking in different kinds of tongues, and also the interpretation of those tongues.   

Interest in the Spiritual Gifts has been like a magnet, drawing the young and un-churched to those in the ministry who could offer something new and exciting for the edification and growth of the Church. In truth and honesty, I am a believer that those Spiritual Gifts are still available to Believers today. But because of the sinful nature of man, Social Media has been a path to gaining millions of followers, money, and celebrity-like status among some of these ministers. And this coincides with what the Bible tells us (in 2 Timothy 3:1-9) will be the condition of the Church "in the last days" ... the Church will find itself in times of difficulty ... people will be (among many things), lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient, ungrateful, unholy, lacking self-control, reckless, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions; men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. Sadly, these traits have led unrighteous men to immense influence in the Modern Church.

From the recent disclosures about his behaviors and how he operated his ministries, Shawn Bolz has been a classic picture of 2 Timothy 3:1-9. He began his ministry in the early 2000s and quickly became a darling of the Charismatic Church, garnering huge followings for his prophetic "words of knowledge". I will admit that I have always been skeptical of these "performance style" ministers whose prognostications have seemed too often, vague and general in nature. In addition, my spirit has been troubled by what has appeared to be "swarms" of people within the Church [beyond the Charismatic community], eager to gain the same kind of reputation and stature within their Christian denominations. I am quite aware that the Bible warns that in the last days, "many false prophets will arise and deceive many people" (Matthew 24:11).

And then along comes Mike Winger's exposé of Bolz's alleged misconduct. Mike Winger is an evangelical theologian and Christian apologist; a YouTube personality who is well-known for exposing spiritual abuse and sexual misconduct in Christian circles, along with critiquing Christian ministries that he doesn't agree with. So, could there be bias in his reporting of Bolz's alleged sins? Of course! While he chose to reveal his accusations against Bill Johnson, Senior Pastor of Bethel Church in Redding California, along with Senior Leaders in that Church, he neglected to bare the alleged negligence of Greg Laurie, founder of Harvest Christian Fellowship, to supervise a former pastor, Paul Havsgaard, who allegedly sexually abused children at a shelter in Romania. Like, the leadership of Bethel, Laurie and church leaders ignored the reports of abuse, and did not take appropriate action, allowing Havsgaard to continue to have contact with the children. Why expose one sin, and not the other?  

Here is a simplified summary of Winger's accusations against Shawn Bolz and Bethel Church: rather than receiving divine revelation when prophesying words of knowledge over individuals, Shawn Bolz was leading a ministry of fraud and deception. Specifically, it is alleged that he data-mined social media sites, such as Facebook, for relevant information that he could manipulate to appear as if he heard from the Holy Spirit. Not only was this fraudulent and deceitful, but there are alleged instances where his "word of knowledge" led to physical and spiritual abuse of those seeking God's truth. In addition, there are many victims of alleged sexual abuse by Bolz himself against his own staff. Men have come forth with explicit reports of alleged deviant behavior towards themselves; behavior, that if true, is without question, unholy and obscene. 

While I am unaware of legal investigations [at this time] into these claims, they have now been elevated due to the involvement of one of the best-known movements within contemporary Charismatic Christianity, Bethel Church. Bill Johnson is its Senior Pastor, and is a man who is simultaneously one of the most well-respected, as well as vilified, pastors in the American Church. He often finds himself pitted against the rigid, legalistic and religious segment of the Church, who do not believe in the supernatural acts of God [or the Spiritual Gifts] in today's world. In full disclosure, I have perceived Bill Johnson as an excellent teacher on the Kingdom of God; a man of God who actually does Kingdom work for the Lord. He is a fair, loving and compassionate man. But he admittedly does not like conflict and tends to err on the side of mercy, rather than correction, when it comes to the failures of people under his purview. And that has landed him in this tumultuous, ugly, and very public indictment of him and his Church.

I will also be honest in stating that I don't discern much about Shawn Bolz's actions that can be dismissed. And he continues to deny all allegations. In the case of Bill Johnson, Bill has reached out with a public message, acknowledging that his greatest strength, in this case, became his greatest weakness. "I believe in people when they don't deserve it. In this situation, it became unsanctified mercy. In my commitment to wanting to see Shawn in a place of health, I didn't see what I needed to. I didn't want to believe the accusations against Shawn were true, and it blinded me to reality in my loyalty to a friend, neglecting that there was a real issue that needed to be addressed. I could've chosen to see through the eyes of my team [who were willing to bring correction] and access their discernment, but chose not to. As a result of my inaction, which slowed this process down, more people were affected, and additional injuries in the prophetic, and trauma in Shawn's own team, took place." 

So, how will this all shake out? At the moment, it is very destructive and harmful to the Church. Church Leadership failed their flock. Fraudulent prophets were allowed to continue their deception and perverse activities. Even when Bill Johnson was convinced of Shawn Bolz's injurious sins, he chose to appear on a national broadcast program endorsing Bolz's latest book. You can imagine what that did to the soul and spirit of one of Shawn's victims who had come to Johnson in hopes that he could be trusted to end the victimization. Again, Johnson put his friendship ahead of righteous judgment and action.

While Bill Johnson and his senior team have announced their intentions to recommit themselves to "responsibility, truth, accountability, and transformation in Christ", great damage has been done to their reputations, character, and spiritual identities. Can they ever be trusted again? In the end, Bill Johnson has besmirched the name of Bethel Church, choosing to keep quiet, even when they finally came to agreement of the alleged sins of Shawn Bolz. They left their Church family, other ministries, and other associates of Shawn Bolz susceptible to his perversion and spiritual manipulation. I have no doubt they will humbly repent and change their ways of operation, but the question now becomes how do we, as the Body of Christ and the Church, move forward and recover from this betrayal?

Unfortunately, how God will respond is probably remarkably more holy and righteous than we humans will treat this debacle. The Bible says God desires these traits in the one who sins: humility, profession of sin, accountability, true repentance, transformation, and a purified heart. For those of us in the flock and Christian community, we are to offer prayer, grace, reconciliation, restoration, forgiveness, encouragement, and hope. Of course, each one of these traits must be approached in sincerity and trustworthiness. We must all understand that it is God who is the Author and Lord of Truth and Restoration. We must be willing to overcome our own judgmental natures and biases against opposing denominational differences, and move forward in the Spirit of Renewal and Restoration of the Church. At the same time, we must not compromise, ignore, or look away from those who have sinned. And it must all be done in humility and fear of the Lord. 

Yes, men have gravely sinned; men who were trusted and admired. But I would like to offer you this bit of what I consider great wisdom from an article, by an author who calls himself, The Biblical Man. He writes, "The Church has taught us to perform. Not Jesus. The Church. Jesus sat with tax collectors. Ate with prostitutes. Touched lepers. Called [to service] fishermen who stank like the sea. He never once asked for a résumé. He asked for honesty.... That's all He wanted. That's all He ever wants." 

"David committed adultery. Then murdered to cover it. Then kept the throne. Not because God approved. Because God wasn't finished. Nathan came with a story about a lamb and David broke wide open. I have sinned against the LORD. Six words. No excuse. No explanation. No spin. God called him a man after His own heart. Not a perfect man. A broken one who stopped pretending. Your pastor didn't tell you that part. He told you to be like David the warrior. David the worshiper. David the king. He skipped David the adulterer. David the murderer. David the man so broken he wrote psalms face down in the dirt. Because broken doesn't fill pews. Performance fills pews."

So, I fear the Modern Church has become all about performance... Who is more popular on Social Media ... Who can garner more attention and sell the most books ... Whose ministry is greater and whose reputation is broader ... Who has more to protect from scrutiny? All of which leads to those sins the Bible warns us about in these last days: the love of self, the love of money, pride, arrogance, abusiveness, unholiness, lacking self-control, being led by various unrighteous passions, and being corrupted in mind and soul, thereby being disqualified regarding the [protection of] the faith.

My prayer is that all involved -- from Shawn Bolz [the rebellious one] to Bill Johnson [who chose mercy over protecting his flock] to Mike Winger [who appears to pick and choose who he will publicly condemn] will break wide open and confess, I have sinned against my LORD! May we all remain humble, repent, and seek the Lord's Face for the times we have sinned against Him, and ask for His gracious forgiveness. I don't believe God is finished with Bill Johnson or Bethel Church, and I pray Shawn Bolz humbles himself and drops to his knees in repentance. Because, there for the Grace of God, go you or I.

Psalm 51:17    My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise. 

 

False Prophets in the Church! Sharpen Your Discernment! Do Not Be Deceived!

Many in American Christian circles are reeling from the revelations concerning false prophets in our midst; men who are well-known and respected, and the pain their silence [in the midst of deception] is causing the Body of Christ. This concerns the accusations against Shawn Bolz and the Leadership of Bethel Church. I plan on writing in-depth on this situation in my next post. But I want to take a few days to do my own due diligence and to listen to what the Lord has to say on the matter before I comment. It is important, in the Spirit of Truth, to be righteous about what I express.

But first, I want to approach the subject of receiving our anointing and any prophecies we might be given. It is very important to be discerning at this point in our lives. Far too many of us Christians are not being mindful that false prophets actually exist. We are too easily influenced by our souls -- that part of us that is connected to our own thoughts and desires, our emotions, and our own free wills, rather than what the Lord is imparting to us. As the Bible warns us, these false prophets come disguised as men [and women] who have "a word" for us from God. The Bible says these people can be used by Satan, appearing as a "roaring lion, looking for someone to devour", and "come dressed as sheep, but inwardly, are ravenous wolves". 

How are we to protect ourselves from them? We must learn to use our discernment, and test the spirits so that we might recognize them by their actions and teachings. Matthew 7:16 tells us we will "recognize them by their fruit, which is their contrived [artificial, made-up, phony] doctrine and self-focus" (Amplified version of the Bible). But what is discernment?  The problem is that far too many Christians don't read their Bible, and therefore have no idea what the word means, how God defines it, or how we are to employ it. According to the Hebrew and Greek definitions of discernment, it means (to be able) to understand; to know for certain by experience, and by observing and reflecting; to recognize and be acquainted with.

What stands out to me is the notion that to "be discerning" requires the ability to distinguish between good and evil, truth and lies. And how are we to gain that knowledge? Through a personal relationship with God/Jesus and to perceive and understand His will through our relationship with the Holy Spirit! But if you never study His Word or seek to hear the Holy Spirit's wisdom, counsel, or understanding, how will you ever know what God's will is? Or experience that personal relationship so that you can recognize their voices and God's Truth?

Do you remember Matthew 24:11, in which Jesus warns His disciples about the rise of false prophets as a sign of the End Times? "They will deceive many" is the message given by our Lord. They will be cunning and convincing, leading many astray. They will pretend to speak for God, but instead, uttering their own manufactured truth. That is what we are seeing in today's Church culture, because the Body of Christ has been lacking in discernment -- no knowledge, no experience, no relationship with the One who leads us to all truth ... the Holy Spirit.

And this brings me to the Biblical precepts that I want to discuss before I bring you my next post on this current issue facing the Church. I believe that 1 Corinthians, Chapters 12 and 14 are at the center of this controversy. These are the chapters that have become very difficult and contentious for the family of God. They have caused quite a lot of division and questions among various Christian denominations as Churches all compete for dominance in proclaiming their theological positions. 

These chapters concern the Spiritual Gifts; whether they are for today, and to whom they are meant for. I have spent the last 8 years pursuing God's Truth in the matter, turning off the indoctrination being offered by various teachers and denominational doctrines in order to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, as He teaches my spirit through the depths of God's Word. It is actually a very simple message given in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, which gives us a complete picture of how God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus work together (with us) to expand the Kingdom of God on earth. Here is what those verses say: 

It is the same Holy Spirit who continues to distribute many different varieties of gifts (Verse 4). The Lord Yahweh is one, and He is the one who apportions to believers different varieties of ministries (Verse 5). The same God distributes different kinds of miracles that accomplish different results through each believer's gift and ministry as He energizes and activates them (Verse 6). 

First, it is very important to recognize that these verses establish that the Holy Spirit, plus Jesus (referred to as Lord Yahweh), plus God are One. They are three distinct "personalities" if you will, of the One True God. [NOTE: John 10:30 and John 14:16-20 establishes this as well. They are all One and they will make their home in us and will live inside us.] So, now let's look again at 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (see above paragraph) and see how simply God lays out His plan to work through us to expand His Kingdom. Verse 4 says that God, as the Holy Spirit, distributes the many different varieties of spiritual gifts  (which are the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, the gifts of faith, healing, power to work miracles, prophecy, discernment , speaking different kinds of tongues (languages), and the interpretation of tongues.   

Then verse 5 says that Jesus, as Lord Yahweh (God) allocates certain ministries to certain people [by His grace] and those ministries are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Then verse 6 says that this same God (the same as Holy Spirit and Jesus) distributes different kinds of miracles (or empowerment) that accomplish different results (the results He wants) through our gifts and ministries, as He energizes and activates them. And how does He do that? By the same Holy Spirit that Jesus says lives in us and is in Him! It is a picture of both a symbiotic and beautiful relationship. They interact in a mutually beneficial relationship that both benefits Them and us.

It's really very simple ... It's the Holy Spirit that gives us the spiritual gifts; Jesus assigns the ministries; and then God, the Father, equips those gifts and ministries with His power [miracles] to accomplish His will. That's not my interpretation -- it's the actual Word of God! Instead, men [who, in their own pride and willfulness] decide they are the arbiters of who and how God wants to anoint, assign, and equip His people to serve Him. But have these "prophets" actually heard from the Holy Spirit? Do they have the experience of maturing in their relationship with the Spirit in order to recognize His voice? Or are they hearing the whispered lies of the Enemy that they can gain a following that benefits themselves while pretending they are working for the Kingdom?

And what about the Body of Christ that is willing to listen to them? Are they using God-given discernment produced from their own maturing relationship with God and the Holy Spirit? Are they observing if there is "fruit" from this "prophet"? And are they familiar enough with the Bible to accurately vet the prophecies and test to see if they might be receiving deceiving and lying spirits. Can they even recognize the warning signals the Holy Spirit might be giving them?

I believe we are living in those End Times that Jesus warned would be filled with many false prophets. The culture of the Church has been an invitation for those lying spirits to tempt the people of God; both the Leaders as well as the flock. But I strongly believe that it is the responsibility of the followers of Christ to seek to understand what His Word tells us  ... But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:14). A lot of hurt and disillusionment from the Church could be avoided if we walked in this commandment, and if we actually took time to read and study the Word. But it is the responsibility of Church leadership to seek and hear from the Holy Spirit on how to equip, nurture, and encourage the Body of Christ to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal their particular calling/ministry, and how to discern that they are hearing correctly. That includes accountability to each other and their flocks.

So, I will have more to say in my next post about how I'm discerning the latest scandal in the Church. But this I know for sure... our God is bigger than any attempt by Satan to disparage YHWH's Word or purpose for His followers. Let us pray that repentance is forthcoming from all involved, so the Church can be restored and renewed with a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit, throwing off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles us. We serve a Merciful but Righteous God. His will be done in this situation as we keep the eyes of our hearts and spirits on Jesus!

1 Thessalonians 5:20-21     Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.    

 

   

             

Shunned For The Sake of Christ!

This is going to be a sensitive subject among the Body of Christ. But it needs to be talked about, and I can speak from experience how the Holy Spirit's guidance can lead to conflict with Church leadership. In fact, I'm pretty sure that what I am going to share will offend some among my fellow Christians. That is not my intent. But I think this topic is important to understand, and I hope it can be received in a spirit of love and truth.

Of course, I am not representing myself as an authority on Church doctrine and "religious rules", but I believe what I have experienced and seen happens more often than the Faith community is aware of, or wants to admit. So, let's just dive in... first of all, what is the definition of shunning? What does it look like, and perhaps even more importantly, what does it feel like and how does it affect your walk with the Lord? 

According to the dictionary, "to shun" is to persistently avoid, ignore, or reject someone through antipathy [a deep-seated feeling of dislike; hostility] or caution. In a simpler explanation, it means "to avoid or keep away from; isolate". Within the institutional Church, it is my opinion that too often, we find that people are being shunned for what they believe. Now, let me be clear ... if your belief system or theology does not align with God's Truth in Scripture, then it is incumbent upon us to avoid agreement with it and attempt to correct it, or at the very least, have an open and loving conversation about our differences, always pointing back to Scripture. But, when the sole purpose of that conversation is to discredit someone [or exclude, ostracize,or make them outcasts] because their understanding of Scripture is different than an established [by men] ritual or doctrine of a particular denomination, then I think we sully the reputation of the Church and cause harm to the Body of Christ.

Could we, for a moment, consider that perhaps God is working through some of these people to bring new understanding to His Word? Or to reveal more of Himself in their experiences? Let's take a quick look at several instances in the Bible where religious ideals were challenged by people who were shunned... yet these outcasts became an integral part of  God revealing His redemptive plan. Think of the Samaritan Woman at the Well and the Woman with the Issue of Blood -- both isolated, spurned, and marginalized because they didn't fit the narrative of what a good Jew looked like. They didn't qualify for the accepted definition of "chosen by God". Yet their stories reflect that no one is disqualified from Jesus's compassion and healing, shattering the social barriers that had kept them isolated. Furthermore, their testimony of Christ's love and acceptance touched lives with His Truth.

The Bible provides more examples of people who are rejected and considered outcasts: the story of the only one of the ten lepers who returns to tell Jesus of his gratitude at his physical healing and the grace of the Lord to accept him, resulting in faith that made him well. Then there is Hagar, through whom God shows us that the world's acceptance of worth does not resemble His; all are cherished in the eyes of God. There are more examples of Biblical characters whom society or the religious communities shunned because they didn't resemble the accepted standards or fit the mold established by "leaders of the faith" ... this describes Leah, Zacchaeus, and the Prodigal Son.

But perhaps there are none more familiar than the Disciples who were shunned and judged by the religious Pharisees because they brought new teachings that came from Christ, Himself. Of course, we know that the religious leaders did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, and therefore His revelations were seen as heresy and contrary to orthodox doctrine. Yet those teachings were God's Truth that He wanted revealed to the world. Can you possibly accept that God still works the same through people today? Let me briefly share my experience...

I was exposed to the Church and the Bible at a young age, but was not "raised in the Church", so I did not grow up in a strict religious environment of doctrinal teachings. But in my early thirties, Jesus pursued me and got my attention through a car accident in which He saved my life. I spent the next nearly 30 years, seeking more knowledge of my Lord and Savior, joining a church, and then seeking new churches as my husband and I moved to new locations. As my knowledge of the Bible grew, due to increased personal time studying it with my husband, my spirit became restless, sensing that there was more of God [and Jesus] that He wanted to reveal to me, but I wasn't receiving it from the Church, no matter how hard I tried to find Him there. 

That's when I began to actively pursue my relationship with the Holy Spirit, and responding to His promptings. He made Himself known to me through my intense Bible studying. The result was that the fullness of God (and all the ways He wanted to minister to me and His followers) began to be revealed. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and the glory of kings to search it out [Proverbs 25:2]. That was a Biblical Truth that became a stepping stone for my husband and myself, as the Holy Spirit began leading us into more and more of God's Truth and His purpose for our lives. We learned about the power and authority Jesus gave us to do what He commanded: heal the sick, cast out demons, cleanse the lepers (socially ostracized), raise the dead -- we haven't accomplished that yet, though we have seen Jesus extend the life of individuals [whom Death was trying to claim] when we prayed and laid hands on them; and most importantly we have shared the Good News of salvation through Christ and the inauguration of His Kingdom on earth. We are extremely grateful that God trusts us to be His ambassadors for this time.

BUT, it has also been our experience that organized and institutional religion isn't too fond of those of us who hear differently from God than what has been written in their religious doctrine and Church rules. As the Holy Spirit began to illuminate God's Truth beyond the orthodox teachings of the Church, we began to find ourselves being uncomfortable with the "status quo". We wanted to shout, "People! There is more to God than what we've been taught! He's bigger than the box we have stuffed Him in!" And the experience of becoming shunned was our new reality within the confines of "the building". Whenever we tried to share what the Holy Spirit highlighted in Scripture, our fellow church members looked at us like we had three eyes, and horns were growing out of our head. And it all came to a head one day while I was sitting in a Ladies Bible Study.

I think we were discussing how to deal with feelings of hurt and trauma in our lives, and the Holy Spirit began whispering to me to share a recent, what I would call a "divine revelation", that Jesus had accomplished through a text I had received from a reader of this blog. The short version is that she had suffered sexual trauma in her teens and had been to her pastor, leaders in her women's Bible Study, and other Christian resources to help her with the residual effects of this trauma (depression, suicidal thoughts, and wondering where Jesus was in all of it). But she got no answers to relieve her physical, emotional, or spiritual pain. She said she was telling me her story because I was the last hope for someone to help her, and could I call her? 

At first, I was overwhelmed. We were separated by several states and how could I help her with a phone call? My wise husband asked me, "Do you think Jesus can do that, using you as His instrument of Healing"? I didn't waste a minute and called her. The result was that the Holy Spirit guided me, revealing what Jesus wanted her to hear, and how He wanted to heal her. She had told me [in her text] that she felt like there was a glass wall between her and Jesus. She could see Him, but couldn't hear Him or get to Him. After our session, she told me that she saw that glass wall shatter and she walked into His loving arms and felt His love coursing through her! She wanted the world to know that He was real, and He was alive, and He can heal us! 

Well, that experience had me in tears and thanking Him that He had trusted me to do His bidding. And as I sat there in that Women's Bible Study, listening to women pour out their hearts over the hurts they were struggling to conquer, I wanted them to know He could heal them like He had healed that reader. The Holy Spirit kept whispering, "Tell them". But I fought back out of fear ... "They won't hear me. They won't receive it". Again, the Holy Spirit whispered, "Tell them. The truth will set them free". I finally obeyed and revealed my experience with Jesus and my new friend who now was celebrating her freedom. I was almost immediately discounted and looked at as a heretic, spreading unBiblical deception. One woman went to the Pastor, who renounced my experience and the shunning began.

But my faith had been transformed. I knew the Truth of what the Bible had written about our commission from Jesus. I had followed His commandments (Matthew 10:8) and I had witnessed and experienced His power that comes to disciples willing to trust Him and be guided by the Holy Spirit. My husband and I would refuse to be silenced about the work Jesus still desires to do in the world. We would receive the work of the Holy Spirit to lead us and teach us in our moments of prayer, through the inspiring and revealing words of Scripture, and through all the trials in our lives; helping others to overcome their own trauma and trials. We would commit ourselves to living out our faith with the Holy Spirit's wisdom, counsel, understanding, might, knowledge, and the fear (awesome reverence) of the Lord that He provides.

So, to anyone who feels they have experienced shunning from The Church or Society, do not let that deter you from doing what the Holy Spirit has shown you is bringing glory to God. Learn to hear what the Lord says to you and about you, rather than man's interpretation. ALWAYS ask the Holy Spirit for discernment, and ask permission to reveal what the Lord and Holy Spirit have revealed to you. Perhaps you are being used by God to challenge others to seek more of God's Truth and Wisdom. 

Shunning is not pleasant, and you will need the strength Jesus can provide to endure it. But once you've been convicted that you are receiving the Truth, you can overcome any doubts the Enemy is whispering. Suddenly, what you've read in the Bible makes perfect sense and comes alive! You see just how big our God is, and you are able to proclaim the Gospel message with humility, faith, and clarity. As your walk with the Lord becomes stronger and closer, you will find yourself equipped for service to Him and His Kingdom. Nothing -- and I do mean Nothing -- is more important in this life. Trust in His calling on your life and be bold in walking it out. Be Blessed!     

 1 Corinthians 2:9-10      But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him" -- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of. God.

  

 

 

Why Won't The Church Receive the Fullness of Biblical Prophecy?

Have you ever felt like you identified with the prophets the Lord sent to His people? If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time since I started it in 2011, you will recall that I have often said that my husband, Mark, joins me in feeling the frustration that the prophet Jeremiah must have incurred. Hear me ... I am not claiming that we have any kind of anointing from God as prophets! But, I do know that He has called us to be watchmen on the wall. That means God has given us an assignment to listen and observe; seeing [in the spirit] impending danger, and then warning people of their personal sins [as well as the sins of our nation] and the consequences of ignoring God's warnings for being disobedient.

The Bible is full of examples of God-appointed watchmen. You are most likely familiar with Ezekiel 33, in which the Lord announces He will hold the watchman [who receives the warnings from God] accountable for warning the people of their sins and any forthcoming peril. A watchman who was blind or carelessly negligent in carrying out his/her duties, left the people he was to warn open to danger, hardship, and tribulation [suffering]. Consider the Word in Isaiah 56:19 ... His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. 

Some of the prominent watchmen in the Old Testament are very familiar to us, and we recognize their role in carrying the warnings of God to the ancient Israelites: Moses, warning of the consequences of being delivered into the hands of their enemies if they did not keep the Sabbaths of the Lord; Micah, who proclaimed the capture of Israel by Babylon; Jeremiah, who suffered mightily at the hands of his own people for warning of their coming captivity in Babylon if Israel did not return to their God. He was beaten, put in stocks, thrown down a well, put in jail, and brutally ostracized. Yet, he prevailed in obeying the Lord. And, of course, there was Isaiah, who warned that King Hezekiah's conciliatory relationship with messengers from Babylon would be the downfall of Israel and lead to their captivity. But Isaiah's warnings included the prophecies of Daniel's capture and captivity; the release of the Jews by Cyrus the Persian [100 years before Cyrus was even born!]; and the eventual fall of Babylon.

But I often see that the modern Church treats these messengers from God as part of ancient history, with no correlation to modern watchmen. But, who are these modern watchmen? It's not hard to understand that today God calls church leaders, in the form of pastors, ministers, and directors, to be His spiritual watchmen, to keep watch on the souls of the believers. But, we must be cognizant that God calls not just these leaders, but all Christians to be watchmen! Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning ... It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when He comes ... You must also be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him" (Luke 12:35-40).  

The Word makes it very clear, through the writings inspired by God, that the prophecies given by the prophets are in alignment with the Signs alluded to, by Jesus, of His imminent return. I believe He gave us those signs so that we would be aware of His return and be prepared to stand and endure through the Tribulation period that He declares will usher in His return to Earth. He wants us to Wake Up! Be alert! Get Prepared! (Read Romans 13:11, Revelation 3:2, Habakkuk 2:19). 

And that brings me to the central point of my frustration with the Modern Church. I am finding that many of the faithful, obedient Christian men and women whose paths cross mine -- whether it be during our Home Church meetings, our Inner Healing Sessions, or various retreats and Christian events Mark and I have attended -- are uncomfortable when we give them information [in the form of warnings] that the Lord has instructed us to share. Some of these warnings are attached to the increasing intrusion of Artificial Intelligence into our lives and the consequences of its spiritual injury. Other warnings concern corruption of our DNA through ungodly genetic tampering in the health industries. [Think, "as it was in the days of Noah"]. Then there are the warnings from the Lord regarding the impending Beast System that is hinted at through the monetary, religious, and social controls of our lives.

God warns of all these dangers throughout the Old Testament and into the New. And they are warnings given to help us be prepared and to encourage our fellow believers, and to bring new insight to those who have yet to meet Jesus. But I am often dumfounded and frustrated by Christians who say they know their Bible, but do not see these warnings! Even more so, I am saddened at realizing the institutional Church has not educated them. That's part of their calling! Instead, Mark and I find ourselves confronted by [oftentimes] angry Christians who only want us to speak of the Goodness of God. We make a point of stating that this characteristic of God is a given! We are all gathered together precisely because we know of His Goodness, Love, and Mercy! But we cannot remain blind to His Righteousness, Justice, and Judgment! I'm afraid that too many of our Churches only feed their flocks the part of God that "feels good". The messages of tribulations, suffering, and spiritual warfare remain unspoken.

It is neither fun nor easy to be the deliverer of God's messages of warning. People seem to only want to concentrate on the Glory of Jesus's return on the clouds to escort us Home. They don't want us to caution them of the dangers of ignoring what is happening here on Earth to cause Him to return and what happens then -- when Jesus removes the Restrainer's hand and deals with the Evil and corruption. But it is exactly those dark events that will precede His return and usher in our final deliverance. We need to be watching and alert to see them coming, so we can endure, persevere, and stand! 

Let me be declare ... the watchman's warnings do not supersede or override God's blessings and goodness to those He loves. In reality, it is because we are recipients of the experience and knowledge of His goodness that we should be able to hear the WHOLE WORD and receive the FULLNESS  of His message to us in His warnings and prophecies. Being a watchman does not mean I am a Doomsday Prophet. Being a watchman means I take my assignment from God seriously, and am willing to take the slings and arrows of Christians who just might be living in fear that Jesus has provided us with an early warning system to get ready and be prepared for these End Times and the Day of the Lord. 

It is time for the Church and the Body of Christ to wake up to their responsibility of giving Believers what they desperately need in this world that is full of deadly perils -- and it's not more Church programs and Church growth. That's why the true Watchmen are trying to incorporate the full message God wants His people to hear today ... Hang on to your hope that I am coming soon!  Cling to your joyous expectation of meeting Me and returning to Heaven in your immortal bodies. But be aware that there is tribulation approaching and be spiritually prepared for the ways that the Enemy will try to deceive you! But you will not be fooled! You will stand before the Lord, celebrating your victory and reveling in His Glory! Amen!

Luke 21:34-36    But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.

     

 

  

Is Our Nation's Covenant with God in Jeopardy?

If you are a Christian, you should comprehend that a covenant made with Jehovah, God of the Universe, is meant to be taken seriously. A covenant is an important and  consequential agreement made between God and His people. Furthermore, when we are in covenant with God, that relationship is sacred and should be kept in the spirit of commitment and trustworthiness. It reflects our integrity, character and faithfulness. And when we break covenant with God, our relationship is affected, and there are oftentimes ruinous consequences that result, leading us away from God's promises and blessings. That's true for us, as individuals, as well as nations.

I guess my first question to you is this: Are you aware that our nation began with a covenant with God? It was called The Mayflower Compact, and was established in 1620 when 102 brave colonists landed in the New World, near Cape Cod, in Massachusetts. The leaders of the group created the Mayflower Compact, knowing that a settlement without laws could prove catastrophic. A functioning and definable social structure was necessary to ensure the success of the colony. The company of citizens was made up of religious separatists [the Pilgrims] seeking freedom from the Church of England, merchants, craftsmen, indentured servants, orphaned children, and other common folk.

In order to quell the rising dissension among the new colonists, Pilgrim leaders sought to create a temporary set of laws for ruling themselves per the majority agreement. That agreement became known as The Mayflower Compact, and this is what it said ... In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread [awesome and revered] Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc: Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith, and the honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia; do by these present, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another; covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience...

This document was revolutionary ... laying the foundation for the first experiment in self-government, whereby settlers developed orderly governance, declaring themselves accountable to each other and to God. In fact, reverence for God and the importance of Faith, both became the founding principles for governance in the beginning of our country and would influence the framework of the Constitution of the United States nearly 167 years later. That determination to live in faith and unity has withstood our nation for 250 years and established the cornerstone of social contract and our covenant with God. An important aspect that should never be ignored is the taking of an oath in discharging governmental duties. God and Jesus are not exactly fans of our oath-taking, preferring that we rely on their grace to help us accomplish our duties, rather than stating that we "will faithfully execute the duties of the office".   

Now, let me [finally] get to the crux of what I'm trying to articulate in this post. I hope that I've been able to communicate that in the course of fulfilling a citizen's commitment to governance, we have a history of declaring our allegiance to faithfully discharge the duties of the office, impartially and to the best of our abilities, and to uphold the Constitution of the United States, usually ending with "So help me, God" [with a hand on the Bible, to indicate the covenant made with God in this important commitment].

So, how are we to think about Zohran Mamdani taking his oath of office on the Quran? First of all, I'm still trying to wrap my head around Mr. Mamdani taking the oath in a decommissioned subway space underground, beneath New York City Hall at midnight. Why take the oath in a private ceremony, devoid of constituents, political colleagues, or the press? Why the secrecy? Is his loyalty and allegiance to the Constitution and the laws of the United States divided? The problem with the way he chose to take his oath of office is that we cannot know what he pledged. 

Let me be clear .... I am not judging or criticizing his Muslim faith. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the free exercise thereof without government interference. Likewise, government officials are not to impose their religion [or its rules] upon individual citizens. But a little bit of research indicates that Muslims, when taking the oaths of office, typically emphasize an acknowledgement of Allah as the supreme being, and they "swear by Allah that I will faithfully execute the duties of my office". 

Here is what I am asking the Holy Spirit to show us: In Deuteronomy 32, God gave the nations their inheritance and allotments of land, separating the peoples and setting their boundaries; each people choosing which god they would worship. As Psalm 82 shows us, God stands in the divine assembly; He judges among the gods (divine beings) -- calling them to account for judging unjustly and showing partiality to the wicked. Whether it is Allah, Vishnu, Buddha, Brahma, or any number of deities worshiped in the world, it matters to the Most High God, Jehovah, how the weak and fatherless, the afflicted and destitute, and the weak and needy are treated on the earth. 

So, now that we have a very outspoken and dedicated politician running New York City, I think it's important we know how his faith and his god will shape his political decisions. I applaud his desire to improve the lives of working-class New Yorkers, and understand a position that welcomes inclusivity and diversity, but his hesitancy to renounce Sharia Law, which does not coincide with the fundamental rights and freedoms that represent American Law, is a concern. According to this article in thenewscasters.com, The Quran repeatedly asserts the supremacy of divine law over human legislation. "And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed -- then it is those who are the disbelievers." (Quran 5:44); "So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their desires." (Quran 5:48). Will the desires of the citizens of New York be considered in how he legislates?

And that brings me back to the conclusion of my thoughts in this post, and the question I ask in the title: Is Our Nation's Covenant with God in Jeopardy?  Does the oath of office, made in the name of another god, break our covenant with the Most High God of our land? Does it matter? What does Jehovah God think? I've already stated that covenants are solemn agreements between God and His people [or between individuals] that carry significant spiritual and moral weight. The Bible Hub website says that the consequences of breaking these covenants are profound and multifaceted, often resulting in divine judgment, loss of blessings, and relational discord. When we, as individuals, or as a nation, break our relational bonds with God and despise the oaths we took to follow in His ways, statutes, and commandments, God makes it clear that we can expect grief, separation from Him, and lost/missed blessings in our lives. 

We made a covenant with Him through the Mayflower Compact and our nation was blessed. But we've broken covenant with Him in my generation alone by agreeing with abortion, trafficking children, being in agreement with "gender-affirming care", pursuing artificial intelligence that seeks to supersede God's authority, and too many moral transgressions to name. He will not tolerate our rebellion and wickedness much longer. His judgment is coming soon if we do not repent and restore this divine and blessed covenant! When we invite the influence of foreign gods into the fabric of the laws of our land, we are tempting God. I fear we have taken one more step towards His divine and righteous judgment. Lord, send a wind of renewal and restoration throughout this land, bringing us back into covenant with You. In Jesus's Name, I pray. Amen.

Ezekiel 16:59.    For thus says the Lord God: I will deal with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath by breaking the covenant.