Lord Jesus ... Forgive Us Our Trespasses!

As mankind recovers from the overindulgence of the Christmas season, I wonder how many who profess faith in the true meaning of Christ's birth are honestly assessing if we are honoring Him and why He came to live among us. Maybe it's my advancing years that has me carefully looking at my life [and the world], but I find myself sensing the magnitude of how much we've failed Him.

I am not given to gloom and doom, or a sense of defeat. In fact, I am exceedingly mindful that He loves us and all that He's created; that He forgives us when we ask in repentance, expecting us to forgive others who've hurt us. And I praise His Name and work in my life. But, still, I often feel a heaviness that blankets my soul. And my spirit cries out, Forgive me, Jesus, for putting my needs and feelings before those of others! I haven't followed Your example of being a humble, sacrificing servant. I truly mean it when I ask You to cleanse me of everything that is not of You; I want to be worthy to invite you to sit on the throne of my heart!

The joy of the hope of Christmas is true and encouraging. So, the world has no excuse for the state it's in. God made His presence known to Abraham, Moses, and the prophets, telling them what He expected from mankind and bidding them to share His precepts, statutes, and guidelines for pleasing Him. Actually, ancient civilizations [such as the Sumerians] that predate the father of our faith, had creation and flood stories that mimic what we've been given in our Bible. Modern man is the recipient of a collection of texts considered to be the authoritative and inspired Word of God, determined in the 3rd-4th centuries by various councils [including Councils of Nicaea, Rome, and Carthage]. It wasn't until the Fifteenth Century [1455, to be exact,] that the masses had access to the printed Word, available in the Gutenberg Bible.

But my point is this: Since the creation of the world, God and Jesus have made themselves known. We've had thousands of years to get it right. Paul explicitly tells us in Romans 1:20, Since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. So, here I sit, the day after Christmas, a day we ostensibly profess that we are celebrating the birth of our God and declaring our faithfulness as His followers -- yet the world doesn't reflect what we proclaim. 

It is obvious we need a Savior. And, yes, He came as an innocent, helpless baby. But if that's the only Jesus that people relate to, then I guess I can understand [a little], why so many people aren't convicted of their sins or His divine authority. I can understand why they don't have the "fear of God' [the reverence and recognition of His full identity]. And that's where I often find my active faith wanting. The world is a reflection of how we reflect Him in our lives! We are pretty good at sharing His attributes of Love, Grace, and Mercy. But the full picture of our Savior includes His character as a warrior king, a righteous judge, and the commander of Heaven's armies -- waging war against the dark kingdom of Satan's forces; forces who have found a world too eager to give in to its temptations of power, wealth, and fame. That's a powerful motivation to skip studying God's revelation about Himself, and seek what pleases ourselves. 

So, most of the world is left with images of Jesus as a newborn baby, or a physical man whose message is defeated as he dies, nailed to a wooden cross. Sadly, even Christians don't take the time to seek the fullness of who He is from the inspired Scriptures. It's there, if you have the desire to know "the whole story".  Within that holy Book, you will see Him with eyes blazing; hair as white as snow; feet like fine brass [as if refined in a furnace]; with a sharp, two-edged sword coming forth from His mouth; His countenance like the sun shining in its strength; a Lamb having seven horns and seven eyes [the seven Spirits of God]; who will rule all nations with a rod of iron; clothed in a robe dipped in blood; riding a white horse, judging and waging war in righteousness... and all because of our sin.

It's easy to get caught up in the sentimentality and emotionalism of Christmas. And it does remind us that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. The love of God is most assuredly part of the Christmas spirit. But as we come out of the romanticism and nostalgia of the Christmas season, we are met with the truth of what the world really looks like. And that finds me repenting, asking my Lord for the forgiveness of my part in its failing Him. 

So join me in reviewing what Jesus has commanded us to do -- live both a compassionate, loving life and a moral, righteous one. Let us take a good look at ourselves and commit to repent; believe in Him with all our hearts, minds, and souls; and put others before ourselves, serving selflessly, just as He did. When we pursue an intimate relationship with Him; praise and worship Him; care for others less fortunate or in need; and turn from our sins of greed, materialism, and selfishness, He will respond and lead us on paths of His righteousness. And that will lead to us reflecting His moral justice system, such as defending the unborn; and fighting human trafficking, religious persecution and oppression.

So, today, I commend my spirit to renew my commitment to furthering the Kingdom of God. I ask Jesus to help me fulfill the Great Commission to which He has called me ... to share the Hope I have in Him and His promises, and to make Him known among all peoples. I have repented because I know His expectations are high, but I also know that the Holy Spirit resides in me and will empower me to reflect the Glory of my Savior as I take a stand for His Kingdom. This broken world will be conquered by the love of Christ, and I want to be a part of seeing that promise come to fruition. Bless you all as we move forward into 2026, the year of our Lord!

Philippians 1:27    Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit [and one purpose] with one mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel.    

  

    

 

 

What We Need To Know About "The Spirit of The Age" in These End Times

Ever since the Holy Spirit counseled my husband and myself to "Seek, first, the Kingdom of God", I have understood that we would be entering a Spiritual War with mankind's oldest Enemy. Throughout the Bible, and the history of the world, we can see how Satan and his followers [in both physical and spiritual form] have tempted man to disobey and defy God, in the hopes that he [Satan] could take possession of the earth and men's souls. This rebellion will continue to grow as Satan realizes his time is short to accomplish all his goals -- to hinder all the works of God, securing our willful obedience and worship, by exercising his power and control, and ultimately destroying us and God, securing his place as the god of this world. 

If you have any spiritual discernment at all, you can see how he has commissioned his demons to carry out their assignments, resulting in men embracing "the Spirit of the Age". The Bible is very clear to describe what this spirit will look like in the End Times, right before Jesus returns. First, let's understand the Biblical concept behind the word "age", or aión, as it is known in Greek, or eon, in English. It primarily denotes an age or a long period of time. It can refer to the present age, the age to come, or eternity. Strong's Lexicon defines "age" in the New Testament as being used to describe the temporal, fallen world in contrast to the eternal, perfect kingdom of God. It can also imply the spiritual or moral state of the world during a particular age.

We see this precept expressed most urgently in two different passages attributed to the apostle Paul. In Ephesians 2:1-3, he writes, And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience -- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 

It is important that we understand that "the course of this world" refers to the spirit of the times. And that spirit is not always exactly the same. Satan can assign different spirits for different ages in history. For instance, the spirits in the United States in the 1920s and the 1950s were different from each other, and are quite different from the rebellious spirit that began to emerge in the 60s and the markedly bold and evil spirits of today. I think we can agree that we are seeing a spirit of increasing hostility towards God and the destruction of God's ways and people. 

Now, let's consider what Paul has to say in 1 Timothy 4:1-5 ... Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons... I believe that Paul recognized the spirits that would mark the End Times [or later/latter times as he says]... namely the spirits of apostasy (some will depart); the spirits of deception (deceitful spirits); and the spirits of false teaching (teachings/doctrines of demons). I think we can all see that these are definitely spirits of our age. 

And I believe that Paul saw the immense importance of faith during these End Times. If we lose that, nothing else matters! And now, hear me! I'm not talking about losing the ability or desire to believe, but losing the Truth of what Christians should believe, according to the Word! Just ask yourselves as you take a good, honest look at the churches in our country ... have they abandoned the essential teachings of Christianity in favor of teachings and doctrines of demonic spirits who are seeking to deceive men and women and entice them away from God's Truth? 

It all began in the Garden, when Satan taught Eve that her eyes could be opened and she could be like God. From that day forward, every demonic spirit operated from the root of that lie and deception ... the idea that we can become our own god, and live our lives free of God's guidance, influence, and control. How has that turned out down through the ages? Today it looks like abortion, unnatural relations, greed, corruption, perversion against children, humanism, altering our DNA, and creating a way through technology to live eternally without the need of God's gift of salvation. And this spirit has invaded our churches, as evidenced by the number of members who are willing to embrace and agree with these spirits.

It seems to me that our society and culture reflect the inability of the Church to demolish the power of the lies of Satan's sons of disobedience. This is resulting in the "falling away" of once sincere Believers, whose consciences have "been seared", as with a hot brand, and allowing people to progress to viler and viler acts, with no remorse. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled (Titus 1:15). 

Can you see the direction [the course] the world is headed? Can you see how many of the "faithful" are being tempted to follow the direction of the prince of the power of the air (Satan), who has convinced them to follow a different Jesus than the Jesus of the Bible? How many pastors seek to entertain and enthrall their audiences with rationalized and commercialized versions of Scripture in order to maintain their popularity? Is this what Paul meant when he warned his listeners to have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths (1 Timothy 4:7)? And how many pastors dilute the word in order to soothe the itching ears of their members and to keep them coming back each Sunday to fill the coffers of the church? Again, in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Paul warns, For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Some of the ways our churches have embraced the Spirit of this Age is by bringing a false representation of Jesus and His promises. Their preaching can take on various forms. You can see it almost like a marketing campaign ... one form of Christianity markets America as a Christian nation, having received God's favor to control or influence American society and government [Dominionism]. We can also see the "falling away" [or apostasy] in the preaching of the Prosperity Gospel, and the rise of the Emergent Church, which preaches social justice, activism, and the metaphorical essence of the Word over Biblical Truth. And we can't ignore the promotion of interfaith dialogue, which equates Jesus with all the other "gods" of different faiths, automatically denying that we serve "the Most High God".  

So, how do we conduct spiritual warfare against this "Spirit of the Age" that is leading us to the final battle of the final age of this world? The first thing is to recognize what is happening in the spiritual realms and how to defend the real and authentic faith of Jesus Christ! Repentance and Holiness are not just words in our Christian lexicon -- they are meant to be manifested in our daily lives, as we embrace -- not this world -- but the world to come! We must contend for the True Faith, which looks like this: being bold enough to call out false doctrine and false teachers; gently correcting those who have lost their way; and being prepared to stand in the midst of the persecution that will certainly come against us. 

In summary, it is my sincere hope that the remnant in the Body of Christ will remain committed to our calling ... to share the love of Christ in our lives with others; to warn of the consequences of denying who Jesus is, and what He has done to provide for our Salvation, as well as point to the reasons for our faith: to glorify Him for the fulfillment of His promises, chief among them, eternal life. I cannot stress enough that we come to the knowledge that there is a very real demonic Spirit of this Age, with a very real demonic agenda to deny every human the joy, and the strength, and the power of a relationship with our Creator, Jesus Christ. I feel the pure Evil that this Spirit is bringing against humanity, and I encourage each of us to put on our spiritual armor and fight for the Kingdom of God and the victory that is ours; the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith!

Jude 18-23     ... In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions. It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the [Holy] Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.