Christians: Know What You Believe and Live Your Life Like Jesus

 

In this Age of the Church, the Body of Christ is faced with so many issues that influence how effective we are in ministering to the lost world. Today we are confronted with lawlessness, evil, and chaos. "Cancel Culture" and "Wokeism" threaten to drown out our message. And the deterioration of the family, the confusion over sexual identity, and the usurping of parents rights all threaten the very fabric of Biblical Christianity. It is imperative that we take a united stand in our faith and become active in turning back the tide of disorder and mayhem in our lives.

Yet, it is sad to say, the Body of Christ can't even agree on precepts of the Christian doctrine! Get a roomful of Christians together and begin talking about topics such as the Mark of the Beast; the Baptism of the Holy Spirit; Once Saved, Always Saved; or the interpretation of Genesis 6:1-4, and watch how fast the sparks begin to fly. Watch how little time it takes before the word "heretical" is used. 

If you've ever found yourself on the receiving end of that word when in a supposedly "Christian" conversation, it can be disheartening. Ask me how I know! I remember being stunned in the infancy stage of my faith walk when I saw the atmosphere in a Sunday School class change from warm and welcoming to acrimonious and angry during a discussion on whether the doctrine of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture was correct or not. Fast forward to the hostile comments I have received on this blog from Christians who have disagreed with my opinions, and the truly hateful and dishonest review on my book, Through A Kingdom Lens: Rediscovering What The Church Lost. It's one thing to disagree on what I've written, and another to misrepresent and take my words out of context, while claiming to represent "the truth" of religion.

Now, there will be those who say we shouldn't worry about what others say, or that we shouldn't even worry about having an opinion on such topics -- that it is for the clergy, pastors, and leaders of the Church to define the deeper meanings of the Bible. But, I respectfully disagree. Proverbs 25:2 says, It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and the glory of kings to search it out. You see, I believe God is delighted when we search for the Holy Spirit's revelation of His Word. That is evidence that we want more of Him, and shows the world how we revere Him, honor Him, and acclaim Him. 

So, as we begin to seek more of God, we begin a personal journey of discovery. And depending on where we are in the growth of our faith, we are going to understand as God reveals what we are capable of comprehending. Therefore, an immature Christian is going to understand differently than a mature Christian. But, oh, how stimulating that conversation can be! I can testify that my knowledge and relationship with my Lord and Savior, with the Holy Spirit, and with my Father in Heaven is so different now than it was when I first started on this journey 36 years ago. And my Biblical perspective and worldview has changed along the way as a result of the Godly discussions I have had with my fellow seekers. 

Yet I have not been satisfied with just having the "head knowledge" of my faith. Mind you, that is important so that I can communicate and defend the truth about who He is to non-believers; to be able to contend and reason as to why they need Jesus, as their Savior. But I think that it is equally important to show them what it looks like to be the hands and feet of Jesus; to do the things that He did that changed the lives of the lost and down-trodden. 

Ultimately, to rightly know doctrine and the principles of Christianity is necessary in a world that is increasingly ruled by false hope and flawed ideologies. But it is also absolutely essential that the world sees Jesus in us; in our actions, our words, and lives that are inspired by Christ's model. We cannot afford infighting over religious, man-made doctrines, but must join together in simply doing what Jesus did ... healing the sick (physically, emotionally and spiritually); casting the demons out of people's lives; cleansing the lepers (bringing the socially unacceptable into relationship with Christ); raising the dead (yes, we have the same Spirit in us that raised Jesus, Himself, from the dead!); and spreading the Gospel to the world (both the Good News of Salvation in Christ, and the Good News that the Kingdom of God is available on earth!). 

And here is a thought that I'm pretty sure some of my Christian brethren will disagree with, but I hope all will take it to the Lord and get His opinion. We don't have much time left to make an impression on the ungodly of this world. Scripture says the Age of the Church will fade away as persecution rises to stamp out our influence. We don't have time for arguments over which denominational doctrine is correct, or whether there will be a world-wide revival before Jesus comes back. We have an Enemy who will be defeated in the end, and to that, I say Hallelujah! 

But between now and that glorious victory in Christ, this enemy will wreak havoc on the world and the only thing standing between men and either eternal life or eternal damnation is the Body of Christ -- each of us as individual representatives of King Jesus, and collectively as His mighty army on the earth, chosen to stand [at this time] against Evil and be willing to lose our life in the process. When that time comes, I don't think we're going to care about winning a religious argument. So, join me in determining what you believe about the character of the God we serve, who you are in His Kingdom, and what your purpose is in this coming battle for the world. Let's agree to disagree on the small stuff and stand together as living examples of Christ, following in His steps!

#Christianapologetics #Christianunity #Persecution #Christiandoctrine #Thegreatcommission

John 17:22-23     I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know [without any doubt] that You sent Me, and [that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me.

From 9/11 To Now: What My Spirit Has Learned

 

Yesterday, as I contemplated the anniversary of September 11, 2001 I realized that this year it feels different. It is still heart-breaking to hear those nearly 3000 names being read, and to remember what it felt like that day -- as if my innocence was lost and that I had awakened in a whole new version of my world. For perhaps the first time, I questioned my perception of my country, and if I'm being honest, I examined my understanding of my God.

It's been nineteen years since that fateful day, and I will tell you, that Jesus has done a lot of work in my spiritual life. You should know that I was about to enter into my own personal seven years "in the wilderness", as I call it. I had just resigned from my job [ending 25 years in the conventional workforce] to join my husband in his art business, becoming a 100% self-employed family. On top of that, we were in the process of renovating a 75-year-old farmhouse on 129 acres of leased land, exchanging a metropolitan city for the isolation of a country lifestyle. And on the morning we were in Lowe's buying kitchen cabinets, the planes hit the towers.

And two weeks later we were scheduled to exhibit Mark's artwork at a major gallery in Santa Fe. The nation was reeling and in mourning; I was struggling with a major lifestyle change; our government was trying to remain stable; and who was going to be interested in buying art? All of that and more was like a tidal wave of worry threatening to engulf me. But, instinctively, I knew that this was where the rubber met the road in terms of my faith. I had been a self-declared Christian for about 14 years, but now it was time to go beyond a profession of faith and actually demonstrate it. So, the Lord began opening my eyes and my heart to His presence. My faith became about seeking Him and building a real relationship. I began talking to Him and being honest about what I didn't know and about my fears.

And the biggest thing I had to learn was to trust Him. You see, the iniquity in my family line centers on the worry about money. I call those seven years on that leased land "my wilderness" because it was a time of deep and intense battle with the Enemy as I overcame the spirits of Doubt and Fear and learned to trust the Lord for my provision. It was during those seven years that Jesus revealed the origin of the fear of lack and poverty -- that it was an attack upon my family line and I needed to overcome it and defeat it. I had grown up seeing that same fear in my father and it was an inherited trait in my own life, and I hated it. All the factors had come together in my life to make it a stronghold and the devil was taking full advantage of the situation -- 9/11; being newly self-employed; the economy was slow to come back; and Mark was still in the process of building his reputation and business. Throw those fiery darts of Doubt and Fear into the mix and I was a mess.

But that's when the Lord brought a love of studying the Bible to Mark and I. In the midst of our lean financial times, we turned to relying on Jesus to strengthen us. I learned that our money was not ours, but a gift and blessing from God, and that He had plans for us and wanted to prosper us. We just needed to trust Him. In fact, I can remember starting to receive thoughts that I knew were not mine, and they were ideas of how to grow our business. And I remember hearing the Lord say to my spirit, "If you will be faithful and trust Me, I will be faithful to you". We formed a covenant that day, and those words are still something that I hear and believe in today. So, praise Jesus, I was able to break the bondage of that generational iniquity, and recognize the fiery darts when they come, and declare all the times that my Lord has been faithful to deliver us the provision we need when we need it.

But learning that valuable principle of faith in Jesus is not all that the Lord has taught me. At the end of that seven year lease, He delivered us to our current property and home and set us upon a higher calling of ministry in Inner Healing, and Teaching others about the Kingdom of God and sharing that important Gospel. In addition to these new assignments, He has let me see behind the curtain and discern the spiritual war that is going on in the dimensions. 

Nineteen years ago, I was not cognizant of Freemasonry and its roots in my country; of the New World Order; or Satan's agenda to use corrupted men's power to advance his kingdom of darkness. When I said earlier that 9/11 represents the loss of my innocence, it is true. But I see clearly now. Nineteen years ago, I believed in the righteousness of sending our military to avenge the deaths of our citizens. Today, I am aware that in the physical, a secret cabal of the world's elite plotted those horrific events in order to advance their agenda of endless wars and their own takeover of the world. And, today, I see what happened in the spiritual -- those evil men joined with Satan in performing a gigantic sacrifice of 2,977 lives. 

It has taken nineteen years of slow moral deterioration and depravity to seep into the spiritual framework of my beloved country. I still believe in the essential goodness and purpose of our founding, but I have taken off my rose-colored glasses and discern the weeds that the Enemy sowed into our fertile ground. I still believe that our nation can produce a good harvest for the Kingdom of God, and I am trusting that the Lord is going to send out His angels to uproot the evil sowed by Satan -- that those who align themselves with the devil's human agents in order to cause violence, to disrupt society, to avow Marxist/Anti-Christ ideals, and to further the plans and schemes of the wicked global elites, will find themselves gathered for divine judgment. 

The last nineteen years have led us from that seminal event on September 1, 2001 to what we are experiencing today. It has been one long campaign by the Prince of Darkness. So, what has my spirit ultimately learned? I have learned that I am seated in Heaven with Christ and that I have power and authority to act in His Name to defeat those forces who practice the evil of their diabolical god. My spirit has informed my soul of my true identity. I am no longer swayed by the schemes of the Enemy and I know that I do not war against flesh and blood. I know that, ultimately, this battle is the Lord's and He has already won. But I also know that there is a final battle to come; one in which the sons of the evil one will be judged and punished, and we who occupy until He comes will shine forth, reflecting His radiating Glory. 

I do not enjoy contemplating the slow decline of my nation. And I do not like to consider many aspects of what we've become. But my spirit knows the heart of my Father in Heaven, and I know He discerns the hearts of His faithful remnant. We will not be identified with those who seek power and riches for themselves, or who foment racial division and violence. We join our spirits and our voices to declare that we are the children of the Most High God and we are the Light in the midst of this current darkness. We will not surrender this nation to the Fallen One and his cohorts. We dedicate our lives and our flesh, soul, and spirits to revival and restoration of the glory of God in our land. We ask You, Father, to honor those who are trying to represent You in righteousness. We ask for Your divine protection and strategies, and we ask for continued strength and courage. We know what's coming and we are ready. Bless us, Father, and fight for us, Jesus and Holy Spirit! And we ask for all of this in Your Holy and Mighty Name! Amen!

Psalm 144:1-2       Blessed be the Lord, my Rock and my great strength, Who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle; My [steadfast] lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my rescuer, My shield and He in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.

 

 

 

"Share What You Have Learned" -- Part Two

 

I often find that when I write of something that offends either those comfortable in their "normalcy bias" or the "Establishment" that runs the world governments and systems, that my blog seems to be suddenly hidden from view. I don't expect any different treatment from the conclusion of this two-part series. But, as always, I remain obedient to what the Lord asks me to do, and He is telling me to continue sharing what He has revealed. So here goes...

It is important that we understand that God created us [mankind] to represent Him here on earth. We are to walk in His righteousness and His power and authority, to see to it that His will "be done [here] on earth, as it is in Heaven". We are supposed to regain the dominion that was given to us in Genesis, chapter one. 

And I honestly believe that the United States was intended to represent a country in covenant with God -- NOT to replace the Biblical Israel, who will one day resume their purpose to lead the nations of the world to YHWH --BUT to be planted as a grafting in the New World, from the root of Abraham's faith. But remember the Parable of the Wheat and Tares? Satan sows his seed in the midst of the good seed spread by God, and weeds begin to grow, unseen and undetected, until they have pervaded and permeated like leaven through dough. The chaos and drastic changes in our country in the last few months are the result of those weeds that are now threatening to overtake the plans and purpose of our nation.

I suppose secret societies have existed from the time that man discerned God's holiness, so that in the desire to keep his evil ways hidden from the wrath of God, these societies or organizations became characterized by their concealment of their intentions, their practices, and their information. Read Ephesians 5:3-12. This describes the sons of disobedience in secret societies: sexual immorality; idol worshipers; empty words [oaths and rituals]; unfruitful works of darkness. We are told to expose them, "for it is shameful even to speak of the things they do in secret". 

As Mark and I have been led by the Lord to study the effects of Freemasonry, the Illuminati, and those in the upper echelon of the New World Order, we have discovered that they are not simply wealthy and powerful men who are the recipients of various conspiracy theories. They all share in one aspect ... they are opposed to the influence of God [on the earth] in society or governments. They are ruled by an anti-Christ spirit, and as Christians, we know that every spirit that does not confess or acknowledge Jesus is not from God. They are able to leverage their wealth and power to influence world affairs and move the great plan of this anti-Christ spirit towards the ruler they serve, Lucifer.

This spirit is what is behind the abominable oaths and rituals that make a mockery of God's laws and commandments. This spirit is what instructs evil men to abolish the worship of the Most High God in order to control people. This spirit is what influences men to instigate wars for their own profit. This spirit is what tempts men to abuse children in wicked rituals of sex and blood at gatherings such as Bohemian Grove. Think about it ... the white-washed definition of the word Bohemian is "a person with unconventional social habits". (Read Ephesians 5:3-12 again for a more explicit understanding). And of course, we all know that "groves" were the locations of idol worship to pagan sexual gods. The fact that the powerful men of international government and commerce gather together in secret at an event called "Bohemian Grove" should at least set off warning bells.

HERE IS SUCH A WARNING: What I'm about to share with you is shocking! J. Michael Thomas Hays, author of Rise of the New World Order, wrote this: "The most effective way to channel dark forces is by combining Sodomy with Pedophilia and human blood-drinking sacrifices. The reason for this is to supremely blaspheme the Most High Creator God in the absolute most extreme and worst way possible. By doing this, the malevolent "Demons" grant them favors because it pleases them to provoke God". This is the epitome of the anti-Christ spirit! Immediately, what comes to mind is Jesus saying this: "whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." This makes it a little more difficult to dismiss and ignore all the news stories about Jeffrey Epstein, Pizza-gate, "spirit cooking", etc. as fanciful conspiracy theories, doesn't it?

We have to be willing to "look behind the curtain" and see that organizations like Freemasonry, the Illuminati, and the New World Order have joined forces with social ideologies such as Marxism and Communism, both part of Satan's anti-Christ agenda! These socioeconomic philosophies seek to dethrone God as they subject the masses to their totalitarian and authoritarian rule. Classes of people disappear, just as does the political and economic system of capitalism, in which our country's trade and and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than dictated and dominated by an oligarchy.

Take a step back and look at how successful the anti-Christ spirit has been in gradually and almost imperceptibly spreading the tares of Satan into our society and government. I say "almost" because there are those who have rightly discerned that removing God from our classrooms and the town square; the restructuring of the definition of "family" and "gender"; and the infiltration of radical marxist and communists into our colleges and government, [which has led to the demonization of private ownership and the right to defend oneself], have all eroded the foundation of our nation. Those "weeds" have been allowed to take root in God's "land of opportunity", growing at an inexorably steady pace. It is time to pull those weeds up by the roots so that we might once again become a sanctified field of harvest for the Lord!

In summary, we have never been a perfect country. Satan sowed his tares from the very beginning. But, as Jesus promised in His parable, there will be a harvest, and at that time, the weeds will be gathered first, bundled and burned, and the wheat will be gathered into His barn. So, we must not lose heart or faith. We must take up the challenge of Martin Luther King, Jr. who, in 1962, spoke these prophetic words: "We are challenged to dedicate and devote our lives to the cause of Christ as the communists do to communism. We cannot accept their creed, but we must admire their dream and their readiness to sacrifice themselves to the very utmost and even to lay down their lives for a cause they believe in, a cause that they believe will make the world a better place. One watches that zeal, and one has to say, 'Why is that Christians don't have this zeal? Why is it that we don't have this zeal for Christ? Why is it that we don't have this sense of purpose, this sense of dedication to Christ's Kingdom?' " 

My friends, now is the time to reap our passion for the cause of Christ and His Kingdom! The United States has become the battleground between the forces of good and evil. It is ripe for harvest. If the Lord came today, would He find that the weeds have choked out the yield of His good seed? Personally, I believe that the seeds of the Kingdom have been planted deep in the hearts of His faithful followers, and although we have allowed them to lie dormant for too long, we can rely on the Living Water from Heaven to revive the crop. There has been a drought of zeal in the land as we Christians have rested in our contentment and false security. But we now ask the Lord to fortify us as we drink from His cup of restoration. We confess that we have been asleep, but now we are fully awake and we yearn to establish Your Kingdom, Lord Jesus, with a righteous fire in our bellies and spirits! And so, I leave you with the words of Jesus in John 4:35... Do you not say, "There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest?" Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. So, let us follow the Lord and do the will of the Father who sent Him that we might accomplish His work. 

Ezekiel 37:3-5     And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.  Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.

 

Satan's Same Old Playbook

      

     If you have followed me for any length of time, then you will know that I am not your conventional Christian. I'm not satisfied with blindly accepting the customary position of the Church when it comes to doctrine or ideology. I do not consider myself a conformist or traditionalist, IF it's for the sake of standing approved by men. I want to see beyond man's interpretation, which has been amended so many times that I often wonder if it represents God's perspective at all. 

     I want to understand God's heart and His truth in His inspired Word, both historically and spiritually. So, sometimes what I write about may appear far-reaching and radical; and maybe even heretical to some. But please know that when presenting it, I have spent an exceptional amount of time studying my Bible, praying, and asking for discernment. This may be one of those posts. But I hope you will read it with a heart open to new revelation and a mind eager to do your own searching. So, hear we go....

     Since I am a student of the entire Bible and not just the New Testament, I understand that Jesus is on every page of the Good Book; and that from Genesis to Revelation, we have been given God's plan for His creation, relationship, and redemption of mankind. And I will tell you that you can't just read the Bible once and see "the big picture". I have read it multiple times, and I think that's how God wants it, because if He tried to download every part of His plan to me in one sitting, my mind and spirit would be overloaded and explode. So each time I have read it, I receive a new principle of His magnificence and my "picture" expands a little more. 

     And in these multiple journeys through the Bible, I am able to see not only God's plans emerge, but how the Enemy has tried to counter God at every turn. I begin to see patterns in the devil's strategy. And the one thing I know for sure is that he is not on par with our Sovereign God when it comes to creativeness. He runs the same playbook over and over. And I'd like to compare what I'm seeing in the present with some of his earliest schemes.

     Sex and power have always been two of the devil's greatest seductive tools. From the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, we see his strategy of approaching Eve, offering her the idea that she and Adam could be "like God", knowing everything of both Good and Evil. And then in Genesis 6:1-4, we see Satan sending his Fallen Angels to have sex with earthly women, in the hopes of defeating God's plan to send the Messiah through a pure line of men. If Satan could corrupt the gene pool of mankind, then Jesus would never be born. But God brings the Flood and starts over with Noah, a man who was blameless in his evil generation and walked faithfully with Him. But once again, the devil is able to work his plan through the great-grandson of Noah. 

     The Bible refers to this descendant of Noah as Nimrod, which may not have been the actual name of this man. "Nimrod" means "The Rebel", and the name might have just epitomized someone who was rebellious against the Creator and the One True God. And sadly, we know that rebellion began soon after the Flood as civilizations emerged and expanded. This Nimrod soon established a kingdom of his own. And read what the ancient Jewish priest, scholar and historian Flavius Josephus wrote about him: "Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. He was the [great] grandson of Ham, the son of Noah -- a bold man, and of great strength of hand. He persuaded them not to ascribe it to God, as if it was through His means they were happy, but to believe that it was their own courage which procured that happiness. He also gradually changed the government into tyranny -- seeing no other way of turning men from their fear of God, but to bring them into constant dependence upon his own power. He also said he would be avenged on God, if He should have a mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to be able to reach! And that he would avenge on God for destroying their forefathers!" (Ant. 1:iv:2) 

     Simply put, this Nimrod character was committed to violent rebellion against God, and bringing tyranny against mankind. And he was able to influence the Kings of the Earth to stand with him, and convince the rulers to counsel together against YHWH and His Anointed One. This is plainly stated in Psalm 2 ... "Let us break apart their [divine] bands of restraint, and cast away their cords [of control] from us." 

     All we have to do is look around us to see that Satan has once again influenced mankind to partner with him in his evil work. We see a repetition of how he was able to seduce man in the Garden; today men give in to his seductive whisper that they don't need to obey God in order to have the desires of their heart. They use the knowledge of evil to try to overcome good and overthrow God's government here on earth. We see it in the machinations of the Illuminati and the New World Order as they manipulate protest groups like BLM and Antifa. These groups march to the orders of powerful men who think they can "become like God".

     We see a repetition of sex [as in Genesis 6] as a tool to manipulate and control mankind through the evil practice of sex trafficking. The State Department speculates that nearly 25 million people are enslaved in human trafficking worldwide [per the 2020 Trafficking In Persons Report]. We can no longer hide from the facts or turn a blind eye to this wickedness. It is being played out on the nightly news around the world, and there are many speculations as to the powerful men and women that are involved.

     Which brings me to the repetition of Satan's use of the spirit of Nimrod. That Anti-Christ spirit has convinced men that they can rebel against the rule of God; that they can displace Him, dethrone Him, and seize His power ... that they can control the world through their own power and they can become their own gods. For example, we see that in the efforts to destroy man, who is made in the image of God, and replace him with computer brains and bionic body parts, all while manipulating our divine DNA so we become a hybrid species (think Genesis 6:1-4 again). Nimrod was a "mighty hunter of men", and do not be deceived because his spirit is still at work in the world.

     So, can you see the same old playbook being played? Rebellion/Disobedience, Sex, and Power are all the tools that Satan needs to tempt vulnerable men and women. It's all laid out for us in the first 10 or 11 chapters of the Bible and then repeated over and over throughout the remaining 65 Books. But I didn't show you this to discourage you -- I am writing to reveal the first layer of the "big picture" that God has shown me. And I am writing to motivate you to stand with me and fight against those who would pervert our Almighty God's plan for us. Know that those of us who worship and serve Him with an awe-inspired fear and submissive wonder will be blessed; we will be fortunate, prosperous and favored by God as we take refuge in Him. The Bible tells us so in Psalm 2! We just need to open our spiritual eyes and see what is being revealed to those who fervently press into Him. Take heart! Facing the monster is a whole lot less scary than avoiding the truth in fear. Our God fights with us!

 Psalm 2:4, 9    "He who sits enthroned in the heavens, laughs at their rebellion; The Sovereign Lord scoffs at them, and in supreme contempt He mocks them ... You [the Lord] shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall shatter them in pieces like earthenware."

    

Faith In The Midst Of The Corona Virus

    

     My heart and my spirit are burdened today with a task from the Lord. I'm not burdened in the sense of anything negative or too heavy to carry; but rather with a serious responsibility to deliver a specific message to a specific group. And I don't want to fail my assignment.
      But I first need you to understand that I don't write this blog to gain notoriety or applause. In fact, I have come to realize that this website is inconsequential in a world where internet popularity is the goal. A couple of years ago, the numbers of people checking in to read the various posts plummeted drastically. I guess Google isn't interested in promoting the Gospel of the Kingdom. And at one point I asked God if it was time to quit; if my usefulness to Him had reached its conclusion. But I clearly heard, "If one person seeks Me through the words you are inspired to write, then there is still work to be done". Okay, God, I'll keep writing if You will keep telling me what You want Your people to hear.
     And that brings me to my task for today. I usually don't bother checking numbers of readers or the their countries of origin. But every once in awhile, I like to see if my message has gotten beyond the internet censors and what topics might be speaking the loudest. The last week or so I have been stunned to see the numbers rise steeply, with the predominate number coming from Hong Kong, which has outdistanced American readers by far! The only factor I could discern that would cause this effect would be the Corona virus.
     The purpose of this blog post is not to discuss the various theories or conspiracies regarding the virus. I personally believe that it is a far more serious threat to the population of the world than we are being told. Mind you, I pay little attention to the mainstream media or the information they provide. And I am aware of all the speculation and questions regarding the virus being weaponized, or manipulated to make millions off of a vaccine, or unleashed on the United States to take down our economy. [NOTE: if you are interested in considering the technicalities/theory of how this virus attacks our bodies, listen to this video from QuantumCommand.net].
     Could any [or all] of these premises be true? I think so, and I also believe the ultimate purpose of this Corona virus could be to become a potential demonic device of Biblical proportions. BUT, I also know that what the devil means for evil, our God means for His good (Genesis 50:20). 
     That is not simply a trite hyperbole intended to gloss over this serious situation. These are the words spoken by Joseph, the son of Jacob, to his brothers who had sold him into slavery in Egypt. They fear retribution from their brother, who has found favor in the midst of his captivity, but what does Joseph say instead? "Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you?  You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people [my emphasis]". And regardless of the origin and/or intent of this deadly virus, that is the message I want to convey.
     You see, the word "Corona" is derived from the Ancient Greek word koroné, meaning "garland or wreath", and it means "crown" in Latin. Can you perceive that whatever the circumstances of the Corona virus's origin, that Satan seeks to corrupt God's purpose in all things? That he seeks to usurp Jesus's crown of Sonship and King, and use anything at his disposal to steal, kill, or destroy the spread of Faith in Jesus Christ across the globe? 
     And that brings me back to readers in Hong Kong. I am fully aware of what the prophets in the Church of America are saying ... that the Corona virus is Satan's answer to the global revival that is about to come upon the earth; and that no matter how Satan tries to engineer this virus for destruction, that God will have an antidote of His own, so to speak, that will drastically reduce the strength or effectiveness of the virus. And I do not discount either of these prophecies. Their accuracy remains to be seen.
     But what I do see, right now, within the community of Christians in China, is incredible faith in the midst of a rising death toll, and it is these followers of Jesus that I wish to encourage. It is well-known that the Christian faith is under extreme persecution in Communist China. In effect, the Church has been forced to go "underground", and the Home Church movement has exploded as Christianity has become the fastest growing religion in China. The Los Angeles Times reports that "Fenggang Yang, founding director of the Center on Religion and Chinese Society at Purdue University, predicts that by 2030 China will have more Christians than any other country." Is it any wonder that Satan might target this nation of nearly 1.4 billion people?
      However, as the Corona virus continues to spread across mainland China, it is the Christians who are continuing to do the work of Jesus. As donations from across the world have poured into China, it is the Christian ministries -- not the government -- who have brought hope to the epidemic-ravaged city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the disease, and at great risk to themselves. Although street preaching and public evangelism have ceased, the leaders in the Christian community are coordinating online sermons to combat the fear, frustration, stress, and trauma of the disease. They have also implemented a system of communication for those needing assistance and supplies.
     So, I want to encourage everyone reading this post to stop and take a moment to pray in the Spirit; to go before the throne of God and ask Him for compassion and mercy upon the people of China. Pray for Divine Hope to overcome despair; for the healing power of Jehovah Rapha to sweep over every city, village, and home. Let us come together in voices a million strong to demand that this virus be conquered in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ! Above all else, let us fast and pray that the deadly purpose of this virus be consumed by the increase of Faith, Love, and Hope exhibited by Christians around the world -- that not only will the Good News of Salvation in Jesus Christ come to millions, but the message will be expanded to declare the Gospel of the Kingdom.
     Jesus says in Matthew 24:14 that "this gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come". This is an opportunity for the Church in China to become the spearhead for the Kingdom message. Just as Joseph was brought to his position of Vizier, the second most powerful man in Egypt next to Pharaoh, so can the Christians of China be placed by God to take the lead in expanding His Kingdom gospel across the globe. 
     To that end, I bless the underground Churches in China, the Home Churches, and the individual Believers across Asia with Hope. And I remind you that theologian C.S. Lewis called Hope one of the virtues of a faithful Christian. And Dan Duval of Bride Ministries notes that the characteristics of "virtue" include strength and power that come from the Lord. So, I praise the Faith of all Chinese Christians as they bear witness of their Trust in the Lord to see them through this time of suffering, and I charge you with the desire to grow your message of Salvation to include the coming Kingdom of God upon the earth. 
     I am not a prophet. I cannot see what Satan plans to do with this virus. But I know my God. And He will not waver from His plan to see His Kingdom dominate and defeat the kingdom of darkness. God will see His plan for mankind fulfilled. He will see His Kingdom established upon the earth. And the ultimate goal of His plan is to see Himself glorified. So by His Mighty Presence in the hearts of Believers, may Hope reign in China and the Glory of the Lord shine bright for all to see!

Deuteronomy 31:6    So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. 
    

      

Reconciliation, Ambassadorship & Levels of Glory

     Sometimes I struggle to connect God's dots in the Bible. Too often, I read the Bible according to the chapter and verse breaks that have been instituted by human hands down through the ages the Bible has been translated. I forget that's not how God sees His manuscript. So, while I am slowly making my way through 2 Corinthians, I am beginning to see a panoramic view of a concept God wants me to understand about my role here on earth -- a view not restricted by Chapter limitations. So let me expound...
     In 2 Corinthians, Chapter 5, I came across the verses that tell us we are a new creation when we accept Christ as our Savior and join our lives with His. And it all centers around "reconciliation". That's a word that gets thrown around a lot in Christianity, so I wanted to make sure that I understood what it means, since a verse or two later, the Bible tells us we have been given a "ministry of reconciliation" to others. Don't you think it's important we know what that entails?
     According to the Greek, this "reconciliation" denotes an adjustment or change by man that brings him back into a restoration of favor with God. In other words, we sinners repent and put our trust in the substitutionary death of Christ. Notice that I said reconciliation denotes a change by man, instead of in man. God doesn't make the change happen in us, but we change and are reconciled, or made "at one", with God. Reconciliation stresses the process of being restored. Therefore, having been given a ministry of reconciliation to others, we are to go forth and share with other sinners that they are alienated from God [by their sin] and what it means to be restored to favor with Him, and all the benefits associated with this process.

     Then, the very next verses tell us that not only do we have a ministry [of reconciliation] given to us -- but we are ambassadors for Christ! We have a responsibility towards Him because of our reconciliation; we are to represent His Kingdom on earth, having been raised up and qualified to represent Him by the work of the Holy Spirit in us. As the Passion Translation reads, So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. If we are faithful and obedient to please God, our reconciliation will lead to an ambassadorship!
     But, I want you to step back with me, and get a wider picture of how God is working through us. Just a couple of chapters prior to this -- in 2 Corinthians 3, to be exact -- we read that we are being transformed from "glory to glory". How does that work? And what does that mean? It all has to do with the work of the Holy Spirit in us! As we make the decision to become reconciled with God through our confession and repentance, we receive the Holy Spirit who begins the process of our restoration, and with that comes a freedom from sin and death. It's as if a dirty veil has been removed from before our eyes; a veil that hid the face of God and His glory from us. Once that veil has been removed from our face, we behold God's glory, and the Holy Spirit begins to transform us into the image of Christ and does the work in us that makes us worthy to be His ambassador/representative.
     Scripture tells us that we will move from one level of glory to an even brighter level. Again, what does that look like? As we are transformed into the image of Christ, we begin representing the character and ways of God [just as Jesus did]. And it is the Holy Spirit that is working in us and through us to accomplish these levels of glory [just as He did in Jesus]. The New Living Translation expresses it best: And the Lord—who is the [Holy]Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image. 
     Finally, what should it look like as we engage in our ministry of reconciliation as ambassadors of Christ? Again, the Passion Translation does a good job of expressing how the aspects of our ministry to the world should appear. We should be spreading the Good News of the triumph of Christ and the Kingdom of God over every power of the Kingdom of Darkness. We should be carriers of the fragrant aroma of Christ everywhere we go. We should refuse to water down or compromise the Word of God. We should be living letters written by Christ, not with ink, but by the Spirit of the Living God; living words to be written on tender hearts. We should stress that our ministries are not based on our own clever abilities, but by God's empowering presence in us. We should be imparting Life to those we come in contact with -- sharing Living Water and the Bread of Life. Every ounce of our ministry should flow from the Holy Spirit, and not ourselves. We should impart righteousness to those we minister to. Our ministry should embody a greater glory than religious or man-made laws, resulting in the transformation of lives that reflect Christ in the world.
     It's all tied together; connected by dots ... reconciliation leads to an ambassadorship, which results in ever-increasing works that mirror the character and ways of God. It's a picture of being progressively transformed by the Holy Spirit to becoming a mirror image of Christ -- one glory level at a time.  In the end, we can stand before the Lord and share in the reaping of the harvest of souls. And because of that, I take my ambassadorship serioiusly! What a glorious day that will be! 

Philippians 1:6     [I pray with great faith for you], because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this glorious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you and will put his finishing touches to it until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ!