Don't Let Your Guard Down! The Enemy Doesn't Give Up That Easy!

It's been interesting to watch the reactions of people, especially Christians, at the end of the long election process for the 47th President of the United States. Depending on which party you support, there were either demonstrations of ecstatic joy, or bouts of crying, depression, and rage. As one who clearly sees that this election was as much a spiritual battle as a political one, I couldn't help but see a bigger picture. 

You see, I've always realized that at a much deeper level, this election was about a war between the spiritual forces of Good and Evil, involving the rulers and authorities in the spiritual realms and their proxies here on earth. From the time the Fallen Angels rebelled in Heaven and came to Earth, Satan has been able to beguile men to become his surrogates; promising them wealth, power, fame, and status if they would carry out his mandates and agendas to usurp the dominion of man on this planet. 

If you have eyes to see, you can discern the battle through the ages, and clearly perceive it in our lifetime. We have seen the devil use men and women to achieve his goals of removing God's influence and commandments from our schools, our government, our homes, and our families. Our secular leaders, who many unbelievers worship as if they were gods [as do many professing Christians], have been successful in advancing an Anti-Christ spirit(s) across our land. The term Anti-Christ simply means "against Christ"; refusing to believe that Jesus was sent in the flesh from the Father and these spirits represent everything that is hostile against God. 

And, yes, I said "spirits", because just as Jesus experienced when He walked on the earth, there have been diverse spirits at work in the world. And the same holds true for today. These spirits sow confusion and deception about God's Truth, resulting in people entertaining countless views regarding what constitutes their truth. So, you can see how easy it is for men [who seek power and control and wealth via Satan's promises to them] to speak of what is good for the population in order to deceive the masses into following a satanic form of society. 

But I want to suggest that we proceed with caution. At the moment, it looks like freedom-loving supporters of a constitutional system of law and order have won the day, and stand victorious on the battlefield of self-determination and autonomy. But you can't forget who is at work behind the scenes in the spiritual realms. The humans who have made a decision to resist God, are [knowingly or unknowingly] following the orders of Satan, the one who personifies "resisting God". Remember, he is always on the lookout for those who will be receptive to his temptations of pride and self-reliance on their own "truths". They worship their own power and authority in this life, and whoever stands in their way becomes an enemy to all they seek for themselves. 

According to Satan, a nation who makes a choice to follow a leader who promises peace, prosperity, security, justice, and the freedom to become all you were meant to be according to God, is seen as a perpetual opponent and enemy to be defeated and conquered. While we are resistant to his temptations and seduction, he will continue to strategize to foment his innate spirit of rebellion into earthly men to see that his agendas are carried out. We must not forget that he is still the primary authority over all the rebels of the earth, and he aims to keep his power and influence.

That is why we must continue to overcome his strategies and persevere to the end! Right now Satan is on the defensive. He's mad and riled up. He is gathering his demonic troops for an assault against any spiritual door that he can open. He came so close to being able to demand that men bow down and worship him. He knows that Godly, righteous people are emboldened to fight to get our kids back; to restore Biblical values and identities in our children and our society; to remove all the evilness and wickedness that have denigrated men, corrupted families, and tried to redefine our schools, churches, and government institutions. He sees his power diminishing, and he will come out fighting. But he doesn't understand this one important thing ... 

We are not afraid! We are not cowering behind a political victory, hoping he will leave us alone to enjoy our temporary success. I pray and urge us all to fortify ourselves in the strength of our God; to trust in Him implicitly and with total commitment. We know that Jesus Christ, our Savior, Redeemer, and spiritual General has gone before us and we will be obedient and confident to follow Him to the end and He will bring us through the battle, whatever lies before us. As members of the Kingdom of God, we know our battle positions in the spirit, and we are disciplined and vigilant to stand guard over our territories in the natural world. We aggressively storm the gates of Hell while following our orders from Heaven on high. We serve the God of Peace who assures us of our eternal victory and we will glorify Him as we stand firm in our faith. God Bless you all and stay alert!

Psalm 37:12-13    The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He sees that his day is coming.

Can You See The Global Reset Now? (Part 2)

In Part 1 of this two-part post on the Global Reset, I revealed the strongholds that have taken root in our country and brought us to the precipice that we are facing today. I daresay that it has been in my lifetime that our nation has seen the greatest incursion of Satan's anti-Christ agenda. It was in 1971 that the dye was cast which influenced the current direction of our politics, our education system, and our social foundation. Saul Alinsky, a Communist activist and political theorist, wrote his dangerous book, Rules for Radicals, in which he wrote the following dedication: "Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgement to the very first radical ... the very first radical known to man who rebelled the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom -- Lucifer".

But Alinsky wasn't the only one who sought to intentionally alter and debase America's spirit and all she stood for. Billionaire George Soros has done his share as exemplified by the following comments ... "The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States, [This idea] happens to coincide with the prevailing opinion in the world" ... "American supremacy is the greatest threat in the world today" ... "The sovereignty of states must be subordinated to international law and international institutions".

Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum (WEF), had this to say in 2020: "the world must act swiftly and jointly to revamp all aspects of our societies and economies, from education to social contracts and working conditions. Every country, from China to the United States, must participate, and every industry, from oil and gas to tech, must be transformed. In sort, we need a 'Great Reset' of capitalism". In reality, the Great Reset was designed to be the means to an end. The WEF elites said they wanted a reset several years ago [beginning in 2014]. They role-played what would happen if a pandemic were to occur. I think we can see how that played into their plan. The ultimate goal is to transform society using science and technology as a means to control our every thought and move, and silencing those who are in disagreement. For that, they need the social media giants to fall into line. I think we also see how that has played out.

In fact, I think we have seen the strategies to "fundamentally transform" America happen with greater speed and intensity than anyone of us could have imagined or foreseen. For instance, our farmlands have been gobbled up by foreign business entities; we now serve meat "alternatives" in our fast food restaurants; the UN's threat that the pandemic would cause global famine of "biblical proportions" is coming closer to fruition; and an AI Chatbot has allegedly convinced a man to commit suicide according to this news story. We need to ask ourselves, who would benefit if the Biblical prophecies of famine, wars, plagues and persecutions become our reality? Can there truly be a diabolical plan to de-populate the world of us "lessers" who are consuming far too many of the earth's resources? Is that what eco-science is all about?

I think we can agree that there has been a secularization of government policies to advance an agenda that would seek to remove faith-based interests from federal policy. The more this happens, the closer we get to denying the existence of God in all our institutions. So what is happening in the spiritual realms to counter this anti-Christ movement? Luke 21:25-28 tells us that sometime in the future "there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and on the earth [there will be] distress and anguish among nations ... people fainting from fear and expectation of the [dreadful] things coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken".

Remember, in Ephesians 6, Paul tells us that "Powers" are warrior angels that wage war in the Second Heaven. There are "powers" who battle on the side of God against demonic "powers"; and there are Satan's "powers" that war against God's warrior angels. But Luke tells us that those [Satanic] powers will be shaken! Those powers will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with transcendent, overwhelming power [subduing the nations] and great glory! Our job is to stand tall, not in fear, but in confidence, proclaiming to all that we can endure, and our victory is near! And it is our witness during these distressing times that can initiate Revival! We have already seen a reawakening of spiritual revival on our college campuses. Could this be a harbinger of the countdown to the final battle over planet earth?

We are certainly seeing growing violence among the inhabitants of the earth and distinctly ungodly acts designed to destroy the fabric of families and society; to destroy the very image of God among men. I pray that humanity wakes up to identify Satan's culmination of his final agenda: the conglomeration of demonic programming, Satanic rituals, coven activities, AI, transhumanism, child trafficking, human sacrifice, mind control, robotics, the Military Industrial Complex, the international bankers, NWO, and the global elite -- all joining forces to achieve Satan's final victory.

BUT God's Kingdom on earth is the solution! Kingdom Believers and the Ekklesia, using their power and authority, are the only influence that will be able to stand and not falter. We need to gird ourselves for this spiritual fight! We need to condition our minds for what is to come. The Ekklesia is God's Kingdom government on earth. God and Yeshua will be warring cosmically. But we, Kingdom Believers, will have a job to do! We are here on the earth at this time for a specific purpose. We will be given supernatural gifts and strategies from Heaven to stand together and battle in the flesh and the spiritual realms to defeat the powers of God's ancient Enemy and his hordes. Do not fear! Do not give up! Do not surrender! We are sons and daughters of the King of the Universe, and victory is in our DNA. We will not suffer His justified wrath, when it is kindled and set aflame against His enemies. But rather, we should consider ourselves blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] because we are able to take refuge in Him! Glory to God in the Highest!

#thegreatreset #spiritualpowers #godskingdomonearth #ekklesia #victoryinjesus

Revelation 3:5   The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before His angels.

What Are You Afraid Of?

I guess the answer to that question depends on your worldview, doesn't it? And for those who aren't sure what constitutes a worldview, here is a great definition from Ravi Zacharias International Ministries: 1) It is the metaphysical (conceptual), or philosophical, or ideological reality of the world you and I live in; 2) It governs how we live, not where we live. It defines why we live, what we live for, what we appreciate, what we reject, what we are passionate about, and what we detest. So, it makes sense, that our worldview can define who we are, how we see ourselves, and what we define as valuable. 

If we define ourselves as Christians, let's see how that definition breaks down ... and let me speak for myself. My concept, philosophy and reality of the world I live in is that the human race lives in a fallen state, in which mankind surrendered his divinely-bestowed authority over the earth to the Enemy of the God that created this planet we inhabit. Therefore, history is a record of the battle between Good and Evil; between those who follow the Most High God, and those who pledge their allegiance to the Prince of Darkness. But the God who created us was not willing to give up on us and sacrificed a part of Himself to offer us a rescue plan; a way to defeat the consequences of Death and His wrath, and to restore this earth to its original design and ownership. 

Now, I know that sounds really religious, and although that is the knowledge that underlies my worldview, I also know that I have to live in this world, make a living to support myself, and that I don't live alone segregated from the rest of humankind. There is a way to treat people that is moral and right. This view of the world governs how I live as well as my purpose for living.

I have made a choice to align myself with my Creator and His character and nature. That means I exist because I have a job to do while I'm on this earth. I have been afforded a great gift -- forgiveness of the life I used to live, when I thought only of myself in unbridled self-absorption. And I know I've been given the opportunity to share what my faith has done in changing who I am. I know that the number of my days on this earth are short and I was created to point the way to the One True God. That means that I'm aware of how people operate in the world -- from the people I call friends to those in the highest levels of world government. I know that there is judgment coming upon the earth for how we've treated others, and I know that it is my desire to please the God who saved me from falling for the lies of the world. I am passionate about living a life that has eternal meaning, not just existing for the material comforts this world can offer. I rejoice that I know my Savior, and He knows me! And I detest anything that comes against that and my purpose for being alive. I am not afraid of dying because I know what comes after this and it is glorious!

Yet, as Christians, we still find ourselves battling those feelings of anxiety and apprehension in these days. I am seeing and hearing from many people who I know love Jesus, but are still firmly tied to this world. Fear of losing jobs, homes, health, family members, and freedom has shaken our foundation. And for some, even the foundation of their faith is now unbalanced. Sadly, those who have benefited from the extraordinary opportunities to amass wealth in this country (both Christian and non-believers alike) are now focused on trying to protect their storehouses of treasure. I see people still looking for political leaders to be resurrected and lead us out of this nightmare. I see many of the faithful denying what Scripture says about what happens when God's cup of wrath is full, and wanting to lean on only the hope-filled verses that make us feel good. 

I was fortunate in stumbling upon these couple of sentences by Pastor Bob Deffinbaugh of Richardson, Texas, and I think they sum up what I'm trying to say ... "God is judging men for their sin today and few even know it is happening. Unbelievers are unaware of God’s judgment, because they do not know God, nor are they alert to His presence and power in the world today. This is to be expected. But many Christians are equally ignorant of God’s present judgment of sin. They think of God’s judgment only in terms of the future." So, we ask why the world is deteriorating, and keep expecting that it is going to "return to normal", or at least get better. Or we preach that a return to godliness is just around the corner, "because we have victory in Christ"! What are we really afraid we're going to see, if we face our fears?

Could it be that our Christian worldview has become tarnished or tepid? Have we become self-indulgent even in believing what our Bible tells us? If we are afraid of losing everything [all our possessions or all that we've worked for and dreamed of ] ... or we are afraid of losing relationships and even our own life ... then we are afraid that eternal life might cost us something, and we aren't willing or prepared to give all of it to Jesus. 

I understand that this time is unprecedented in the history of our nation. When considered from the lens of all of history, we have seen our country fall from grace and favor in what seems like the blink of an eye. But if we have a solid Christian worldview, then we should be seeing the battlefield and the forces lining up in their strategic positions. But we should not cower in fear! There is no need to panic! The Lord battles with us and for us! We know the ultimate plan and who wins! Our God is the Everlasting God and He sits on His throne and will never be ousted. It will be in His timing and His administration that we will be victorious in more than what we've accumulated in this life, and in this world. We may lose everything that the present world defines as precious -- but we have everything to gain! 

So, if you find yourself obsessed about what is at risk in the treacherous days ahead, please stop and reassess what you are afraid of losing. If the focus is all on your material possessions or status, then maybe you don't believe the Bible is truth; or maybe you're afraid Jesus won't really come through for you. You might even doubt the reality of an afterlife or eternal life. But I'm here to tell you that now is the time to establish who you are and what is the foundation of your worldview. It is my prayer that you will build a spiritual house, with Jesus as your Cornerstone; and where you can weather all the slings and arrows thrown at you by the Enemy; where you rest in confidence that the One who is Faithful and True can and will establish you as an heir of the Kingdom. You will suffer no fear or anxiety, as you bask in the Source of Life everlasting. There is no fear for what tomorrow may bring, because there will soon be a day that dawns bright in the Kingdom of God! That day is worth more than all we can accumulate in this life! Let that worldview be yours today!

Psalm 56:11     What harm could man do to me? With God on my side, I will not be afraid of what comes. My heart overflows with praise to God and for His promises. I will always trust in Him.

 

Here Is Satan's Game Plan ... Get Prepared. Then Rest In Jesus's Victory!

When looking at the actions of the Anti-Christ in the world today, it's hard to find any good news. I don't see the men who have been put in charge of supporting and protecting mankind being effective against our Enemy's agenda. Now, those of us who put our faith in Jesus and the power of the Cross know that we have been given His power and authority to stand against this spirit of lawlessness. But that doesn't mean we are going to escape some hard times. Jesus never promises that. He promises He will be with us through it, and that we will triumph in ultimate victory.

Keeping that in mind, in 2015, I wrote a blog post that, in part, stated this: the Bible tells us there will be a time for revealing wickedness in preparation for the coming of the Lord Jesus as He ushers in His Millennium reign.  This 1,000 year reign will find Christ restoring the earth.  All wars and sorrows will cease, and it will be a time of rest for the earth as it returns to the state that God originally created in the Garden of Eden. Hallelujah!

But first, the inhabitants of the earth must endure the schemes of Satan to keep that restoration and reign from happening.  Jesus told His apostles (and us) that there would be significant signs that those birth pangs, or sorrows, were beginning.  We are to watch for them, so that we will know His return is imminent and we can earnestly be about our business to help the Holy Spirit save as many souls as possible.

The first thing Jesus tells them (us) is, "Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]."  I don't know about you, but I feel as though we are seeing Deception on Steroids! There is cultural deception in sexual identity issues; economic deception in the manipulation of markets, etc.; political deception on all levels by both parties; and spiritual deception in the growth of cult religions and demonic possessions --- not to mention the scientific and technological advances that make a clone of Jesus possible, so that even the elect, if it were possible, will be deceived! [See my previous post on the very real possibility of this deception]. 

I also want to point you to "The Six Points of Satanic Synchronization", or the ways in which Satan is setting the stage for the appearance of the Anti-Christ. This is a theory put forth by Russ Dizdar, a licensed and ordained minister, who has a unique perspective on this subject because he came out of a satanic cult, and now wages spiritual war on behalf of Christ. He makes the case that the following "Points" are Satan's plan to take over the world...

Point One - Destablization of the World.  Chaos seems to happen no matter how hard we humans try to stop it; it just keeps coming.  Race relations in this country keep being pushed and prodded. Situations keep arising, as if bidden from some controlling dark force, and our society continues to fall apart, no matter how much we throw at it.  We see it happening in the situation on our Southern border; the gas pipeline being shut off in the Northeast; Russia and China chomping at the bit to bring us down; the Hamas/Israeli conflict; and of course, the Covid virus literally destabilized the entire world.

Point Two - Instigation.  This is an extension of Point One.  The purpose is to create chaos, disharmony, friction, division, and war.  We've seen that in the BLM/Antifa movements; Asian Americans being attacked; the disharmony over vaccinations and associated deaths. If it is not happening in the natural world, then spiritual forces will initiate and launch an attack on behalf of the Enemy.

Point Three - Dismantle.  The goal is to dismantle current systems -- militarily, politically and economically, and religiously; to tear them apart; to tear them down; and to replace them with satanically-influenced substitutes. We're seeing that in our military, our monetary system, our healthcare system, our education system, our churches, and the food supply chain. They are all being stripped down and demolished. 

Point Four - Crisis upon Crisis.  This tactic is like chopping down a tree... continually striking until the world system comes down; defeating it blow by blow until Point Five occurs. We see that in continually attacking our Constitution, our law enforcement, and our churches and religious institutions. 

Point Five - Weaken.  After the world suffers continual destabilization, instigation, dismantling, crisis upon crisis, it will become weakened.  All institutions will become corrupted and powerless. The will and resolve of the peoples of the world will be devastated and they will turn to drugs, alcohol, and any other method to numb the pain.  Hopelessness is the ultimate goal. We are definitely seeing the hopelessness and despair in our schools, as our kids are being dumbed down and seeing their futures disappearing. The morale among our law enforcement officers, including the Border Patrol, is the lowest it's been in decades. The dollar is weakened and on the verge of collapse. The Covid-19 pandemic saw thousands of animals slaughtered, and food destroyed because processing facilities were closed and distribution lines were down. Every facet of our everyday life has been weakened.

Point Six - The Final Result is Diminished Capacity.  With the destabilization, instigation, dismantling, crisis upon crisis, and weakening of the foundations of society, mankind will be unable to resist the onslaught of the Anti-Christ and his forces. We must come to the conclusion that we cannot, [under our own power], think or build our way out of this mess. The Savior and The Cross are the only way out. 

At this stage in world history, we are primed for the deception of the Anti-Christ. It is true, that we have witnessed human beings coming into agreement with the devil to accomplish his goals of division, chaos, and destruction on the earth. We have seen the Enemy build spiritual structures that entrap wealthy and powerful people in his false systems of ideas, philosophies, and movements in order to gain more of his promised power, money, fame, and change. He does this by sending his spirits to infiltrate educational institutions, governments, social movements, churches, and the media. These structures become strongholds that the devil owns and through which he can manipulate the masses for the purposes of his kingdom of darkness.  Unfortunately, among the culture of the United States and Western mindset, Satan has been able to build a stronghold that convinces people (whether Believers or not) that the supernatural does not exist in this Age. 

But we who are endued with the Holy Spirit know all too well that our God operates in the supernatural, and HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS ... These power structures collapse when we live our lives connected to God; when we obey Him and walk in our spiritual power and authority! We are here on this earth [at this exact time] to get in the fight and invade and conquer Satan's territory to take it back in the individual's life, in the life of communities, and in the life of our nation -- and we are to occupy that territory until He returns! 

We constantly hear talk of "a global reset". I believe God is doing His own "reset" by identifying those who have spiritual eyes to see the battle strategy of the Enemy; placing His obedient remnant in positions of spiritual power; and strengthening the prayer muscles of His intercessors. He is delegating His authority in this critical time in our history. Jesus showed us that we can speak for God and we have His permission to take the spiritually legal steps to make Earth look like Heaven. Even if the wicked of the world are able to pull off the cloning of Jesus from the divine blood of the Shroud of Turin, [as I wrote about earlier], the remnant will have such powerful discernment to see through the deception and will warn the world! 

We must walk in this Truth: We are here at this moment in history because we have been sent by God and commissioned to represent Him! We are to be the carnal representation of the One who sent us! Jesus has commissioned us, authorized us to act on His behalf, and empowered us with His Holy Spirit to accomplish our assignment. Yes, Jesus has already won the battle, but He has commissioned us to enforce the victory! Until we realize that we have an active role to play in establishing the Kingdom of God here on earth, then we will continue to lose territory to Satan in our souls, our cities, our states, our nation, and ultimately, the world. The battle is raging now -- we see it all around us. Are you ready to walk in Heavenly realms and transfer the power of Heaven to Earth? We have unlimited potential to tear down Satan's strongholds, and we must not falter! We will not be deceived and we will not be fearful! Let us join together to take Jesus's victory to the Enemy!

 2 Corinthians 2:14-15    God always makes His grace visible in Christ, who includes us as partners of His endless triumph. Through our yielded lives He spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere we go. We have become the unmistakable aroma of the victory of the Anointed One to God—a perfume of life to those being saved and the odor of death to those who are perishing.

God Is Exposing Evil To His Light; Not To Scare Us, But To Empower Us!

Ever since we have entered 2021, my spirit has been on hyper-alert --- I'm sure many of you can identify with me. I have written that God has seemed to be silent, yet I am, at the same time, seeing things more clearly. So, I know He is present and still imparting words of knowledge and visions about what He wants us to know in this season of Time. 

While it may seem as if Evil is growing more apparent and powerful [and with no constraints], I assure you that our God is preparing us for what He is soon going to be doing in the earth. And yes, I do believe the Lord is close to returning to deal with all the evil and injustice in the world. Here is the Scripture that keeps resonating in my heart ... “So do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed [at the judgment], or kept secret that will not be made known [at the judgment]. What I say to you in the dark (privately), tell in the light (publicly); and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops [to many people]" (Matthew 10:26-27).

 

Have you noticed that the lies, corruption, and chaos sowed by the Anti-Christ and his beast system is being rapidly exposed? Take just a moment and look at all that has happened in just the last year. The world [and our nation] have undergone some of the most radical changes in recent memory. And if you step back a century, you can look at how from World War I until today, we have committed all the things which are abominations to God: haughty eyes [an attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others]; a lying tongue; hands that shed innocent blood; a heart that creates wicked plans; feet that are swift to running to mischief; a false witness who breathes out lies [even half-truths]; and one who spreads strife among brothers.

 

From the outset of World War I through the current wars in the Middle East and Africa, a cabal of international bankers have plotted to make money off wars that have killed over 187 million military personnel, all for profit and self-wealth. And we can just go down the list ... to the countless lies that have been fed to us by corrupt politicians. leaders, and media to advance Satan's kingdom; to the 40-50 million abortions in the world every year; to the wicked hearts that plot with Satan to defeat God's Goodness and promote evil agendas in the world [funding riots and murder, spreading false witness,  manufacturing hostility, conflict and hatred among the brotherhood of man; and corrupting God's divine design of man] ... it all adds up to a conglomeration of iniquity that will bring judgment by our righteous and holy God.

 

It is in Matthew 10 that Jesus not only shares the incredible insight that evil will be exposed and subsequently judged, but He also gives His disciples power and authority to serve His Kingdom [on earth] while they are in the midst of Satan's dark kingdom. And then He tells them to Listen carefully. He warns them they have a hard road before them because Satan will use evil men to impede their journey, as well as their service to Him and their fellow man. And then He gets serious ... He tells them  that persecution is inevitable and they will be hated by those who hate, despise, and rebel against God. But then comes the passage, Do not be afraid of them....

 

These are among the reasons that I believe Christ is close to coming. Evil is not diminishing and is accelerating at a rapid pace. BUT, God is also exposing the evil and the result is that Evil will be its own instrument of defeat. It is important that the Body of Christ understands that hard times will precede our victory in Christ. We must prepare in our flesh, souls and spirits to endure the evil that will come against us from men who deny and reject Jesus. And we must understand that Jesus is coming back to judge with a sword before He delivers the world from evil. That does not mean we escape the trials and persecution that is already being fomented against Christians in this country as national security threats. Remember, Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:34, Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and unbelief]; and in Matthew 10:38, he who does not take [up] his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me. 

 

Those are sobering words to those of us who profess faith in Christ. We must not cower in fear over what is coming [nor deny it!]; but we are to endure, knowing that no matter what happens here on earth, if we conform to His example, we shall share eternal life with Him in victory! We are His disciples! We must not be counted among those men and women whose hearts fail them for fear. Instead we are to nurture and spiritually develop hearts that are rooted in the power of Heaven in us. We must believe that our prayers are powerful and that they are heard! We must be willing to let YHWH display His Power and Might in us [and through us] as He did Moses in his battle with Pharaoh; as did the Maccabees in their war with the Anti-Christ spirit in Antiochus Epiphanes; as did the Disciples and the First Century Church in the face of violent persecution from the Roman Empire. 

 

Yes, we keep the eyes of our heart focused on Christ and our victory in Him! But we are not to be blindsided by the very things Jesus warns us must come before He judges Evil and delivers us into that victory! We must be obedient to the whole counsel of God, not just to the portion that makes us feel good. We must become unified, courageous, and committed followers of our Lord and Savior, willing to carry out our orders from the Lord of the Heavenly Host. Let us be willing to wait in the silence, while being alert to see what He wants to show us. Hear what He says about the darkness that is coming, pray earnestly for wisdom, and then declare and renounce it in the midst of His Light! We can defeat the power of Evil by shining God's Heavenly Light on it. And let us always have our spiritual armor on, being willing to fight alongside Jehovah Nissi in the spiritual realms, being mindful that He goes before us and never forsakes us, no matter how dark it may get. Let us join together and ask the God of the Universe to keep revealing the Evil so we know how to pray against it. Expose it, Father, and we declare that we will not falter nor lose faith. Here we are! Use us for Your Kingdom!

 

Luke 21:25-28    And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,  people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. 

Never Be Afraid To Trust An Unknown Future To A Known God

 

You will understand the image for this post as you read further into it, but first, I want to explain the title.  It is a quote from Corrie Ten Boom, the celebrated Dutch Holocaust survivor whose story is one of courage and steadfast faith in the midst of hell on earth, which was the concentration camps of Nazi Germany. She, along with Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the martyred German pastor during Hitler's reign of terror, are my heroes of faith, and both proved the strength of their unfaltering faith less than ten years before I was born. I think we tend to relegate such abhorrent evil to the distant past, but if we looked with spiritual eyes, we would see that evil never really retreats. It simply hides for awhile and reinvents itself in a new way.

After the instability in our nation over the last few years, I understand the trepidation and tension that the populace is feeling. And I especially sense the anxiousness among Christians. Would it astound you to know that the advocacy group, Open Doors, reported this past week that "there was a 60% increase over the previous year in the number of Christians killed [worldwide] for their faith." Most of this persecution is happening in Africa and North Korea, but who is naive enough to think that Jesus's prophecy that we will be hated by all on account of His Name does not pertain to us in the US as well?

I am blessed to be in the company of strong women of faith, and it has been interesting to discover that, at this present time, some of us are experiencing God's silence. Don't get me wrong, I know He's present with me, but I find myself in a "waiting mode"; waiting for revelation about what the future holds. There is no fear, mind you, and actually I have experienced a sense of peace, but also this unfamiliar silence had me on the edge of my spiritual seat [and praying], impatient for a word or thought to give me direction. And then I had this incredible dream that I believe answered my prayer....

I am leisurely walking along a path, with a guide, and enjoying walking in the woods. We come to a juncture where there is a road on my right that descends at a gradual slope, and the woods on my left that continue upwards at a moderate climb. Obviously, the road on the right is the easiest method of travel, and I remark to my guide that we could arrive at our destination by taking either route, so why not go to the right? But he persuades me that the option on our left is the preferred course of action. As we begin the gentle climb, I have a sense of apprehension [but not fear] and question him if taking this route won't result in possibly meeting bears. He answers that it is definitely a possibility, but there's no need to be afraid.

At that moment, I look farther up this sloping hill and see a huge bear that then catches our scent. He starts ambling towards us, and though not acting aggressive, I have a healthy respect for his power and size and do not want to engage with him. My guide, in a calm voice, instructs me to get on the back side of a huge oak tree and as the bear circles the tree, I just keep moving around the tree, staying out of its grasp. Eventually, he gets bored and moves on. As I come out from behind the tree, I again look at the top of the hill, and see a gigantic lion, who upon seeing me, roars and charges. I don't have time to be afraid, and soon find myself knocked to the ground.

The lion is clearly intent on killing me, and I am kicking as hard as I can as he tries to bite my feet and render me helpless. All of a sudden I remember that I have a pistol for protection on my right hip. I pull it and fire four shots into his brain and the attack is stopped. This entire time, I am aware that the guide is still there with me, but seems to be watching and assessing how I am handling this attack, ready to jump in if I need him. And then I woke up.

It was one of those dreams when you know it is more than the result of eating a bowl of ice cream before you went to bed. I knew it was spiritual and I knew it was for my benefit. God wasn't silent anymore, and I needed to figure out what He was telling me. I knew right away that the "guide" in my dream was the Holy Spirit, sent to "guide my steps and guide me into all Truth". I knew the bear was a threat, and a natural enemy, but I was able to stay hidden and outmaneuver him. The lion, on the other hand, was aggressive and quite intent on killing me, or at least rendering my walk with God more difficult. I knew the dream was revealing something about the here and now, and my place in the present as a representative of God and His Kingdom. But how to unravel the mystery of it?

What did the bear represent? How about the lion? He was obviously not the Lion of the tribe of Judah because he was trying to kill me! Then I discerned 1Peter 5:8, which says our adversary, the devil, is "like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour". That certainly fit the scenario in my dream. And then I wondered if there was a connection to Babylon's King Belshazzar and his vision of the four beasts, with the bear and lion being two of them. Did that have any significance? Both represented empires, with the bear often interpreted as Russia. So, in my dream, the bear is a threat, but at this point, not aggressive. The lion in Belshazzar's dream was the empire of Babylon; ruthless and strong. The ancient Babylon certainly fits that description, but so does the daughter of Babylon in the End Times, as depicted in Revelation 18. It's hard not to read that chapter and recognize our own empire, and especially the city of New York. But there was more for me to see as I meditated on this powerful dream...

The next thing that struck me was that I was conscious of the guide being the Holy Spirit, but I was surprised that I didn't call out for Jesus to help me. After careful thought and waiting to hear from the Lord, I discerned that I was able to act out of my own power and authority, given to me by Christ in Luke 10:19 ... I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.  Of course, I was not on my own; the Holy Spirit was my guide in defeating the schemes of the bear and lion. 

But there was even more to be revealed from a friend, who the morning after I had a conversation with her about this dream, opened her Bible to study and just happened to be in 1 Samuel 17, and here is what verses 34-37 say: But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,  I went out after it and attacked it and rescued the lamb from its mouth; and when it rose up against me, I seized it by its whiskers and struck and killed it.  Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted and defied the armies of the living God.”  David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”  This was no accident, but what did the future King David's exploits have to do with me and my dream?

Both my friend and I were amazed at how the Lord shows us things we are not expecting! She said she knew it wasn't a coincidence that she was reading that particular passage after just hearing about my dream. She asked the Lord what He was showing her. This is what she said the Lord explained to her ... That my assignment is to protect God's flock by speaking, teaching, and writing the Truth, with the help of the Holy Spirit, who leads me into all truth. Furthermore, the dream reveals that I am fighting against the pagan gods and power structures in this age, with the sins of our nation representing the resurgence of the spiritual Babylon. And the last sentence in the Daniel passage held special meaning; "Go, and may the Lord be with you". I am not to sit idle, waiting for Jesus to come rescue me, but as I go, I know He is with me. I have no need to cry out in fear for His help, because His power and authority already reside in me and I have to learn to trust my abilities in fulfilling my assignments here on earth.

And that is what I pray for each of you reading this post today. We live in a time that requires supernatural spiritual discernment. We cannot look to the world for our survival or our identity. We must gird ourselves with the spirit and truth of Almighty God. My friend blessed me and my husband by praying that we receive an increased anointing upon us for the assignments that God has given us, and an increased ability to see beyond the veil of earth into the heavenly sanctuary where we meet face-to-face with God. I invite you to receive this blessing, too. She prayed for us to experience an increased sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. We are all going to need that to navigate whatever changes are coming upon the world. And I will tell you that He can be trusted; He is reliable and a great comfort in times such as this. He joins with Jesus in interceding for us before the Father, and He is our advocate in all things. 

I do not have all the answers, but my Holy Guide does as He leads me in the ways of my Savior and King, Yeshua HaMashiach. I will not be afraid as I traverse this unknown and uncertain future, because my King and my God are known to me! It is my prayer [and my assignment] that I will boldly speak of Him and share that He is the Light in this dark world. Let all the earth know of His power and His Kingdom and His glory that is soon to come. Let our Hope in Him never wane, for He is he Prince of Peace and our Stronghold! Praise Him, for He is worthy to be praised, and we will be saved from our enemies!

Isaiah 30:21    And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

 

 

From Fruitless Faith to Miraculous Manifestations

During 2020, I've done a lot of thinking and praying about the future of our nation. For many people, it has been difficult to be a witness to the division and the disparity among our fellow Americans. And it has been troublesome to see the loss of hope and peace in the lives of so many. It has been a battle for Christians to stay focused on fighting in the spirit when they see so much defeat in the physical world. Our younger generation is fearful that the "American Dream" is going to be gone before they have a chance to experience it, while our older generation mourns the loss of their "golden years". We tell ourselves that this can't be happening; that this is not what America is all about; and surely the Lord will deliver us from this assault upon our Christian nation.

The truth is that we are not the first prosperous nation in the history of the world [who has built an empire for itself] to then find itself sliding into decline and destruction. I discovered a 2010 article, titled The Decline and Fall of the American Empire, written by Alfred W. McCoy, an American historian and educator who specializes in the history of the Philippines, foreign policy of the United States, European colonization of Southeast Asia, illegal drug trade, and Central Intelligence Agency covert operations. 

Mr. McCoy knows whereof he writes, and this particular article was so prophetic in nature, I wanted to share its premise with you. Here is some of what Mr. McCoy wrote: "Despite the aura of omnipotence most empires project, a look at their history should remind us that they are fragile organisms. So delicate is their ecology of power that, when things start to go truly bad, empires regularly unravel with unholy speed: just a year for Portugal, two years for the Soviet Union, eight years for France, 11 years for the Ottomans, 17 years for Great Britain, and, in all likelihood, 22 years for the United States, counting from the crucial year 2003. Future historians are likely to identify the Bush administration’s rash invasion of Iraq in that year as the start of America’s downfall. However, instead of the bloodshed that marked the end of so many past empires, with cities burning and civilians slaughtered, this twenty-first century imperial collapse could come relatively quietly through the invisible tendrils of economic collapse or cyberwarfare."

I won't go any further into Mr. McCoy's prognostications for the future of America, because to be frank, it's predictions are dismal and disheartening. He saw it coming 10 years ago, and it appears to be unraveling before our eyes. Instead, I would rather address what Jesus has to say about how our faith could be the key to avoiding our inevitable decline. You will find His advice in Matthew 21:18-22. In this passage, Jesus happens upon a fig tree by the wayside. Scripture says He went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And He said to it, May no fruit ever come from you again! And the fig tree withered at once. 

It was common knowledge in Jesus's time that if you saw leaves on a fig tree, you could expect fruit, unless the tree was barren. The evidence of leaves tells us that the fig tree should have been bearing fruit. As the Creator of the fig tree, Jesus expected it to be producing fruit. And as its Creator, He was justified in condemning it and cursing it to never bear fruit again. This was not only a declaration against the fig tree, but also against the Jews, who had become spiritually barren before the Lord. Just as the tree should have been bearing fruit, so should the people be bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God. The tree had the form of a fig tree, but not the reality -- it bore no figs! So it was with the Jews. They had the form of religion, but not the reality of faith. They knew the right words to say, but their hearts were far from God and they bore no fruit for Him.

The disciples are astounded! How could the tree wither so quickly and at once? But instead of answering that question, Jesus points them to the matter of their faith. He tells them if they have faith, and do not doubt, they will not only be able to do what He did to the fig tree, but they could tell a mountain to be moved and thrown into the sea, and it would happen. You see, they did not remember that God had once given man dominion over the earth and everything on it, in it, and under it, and that Adam and Eve had surrendered it to Satan. But now Jesus was there to reclaim it and restore it to His creation called man. They were to rule His creation according to His governing principles and to rule in His absence. In essence, He was telling them that if they had true faith, they could pray and receive the mind and thoughts of God [to do to the fig tree what Jesus did, as well as tell the mountain to move, and it would]. That means they were to have no doubt that by praying and submitting to God's will, they would hear His desires and receive the means [and the power] to achieve it. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.

So, I ask you ... do you have that kind of faith? Or do you doubt? Do you believe that when Jesus came to earth He took back the dominion of the earth from Satan and handed it over to us? Because it's going to take that kind of faith to overcome the predicament we find ourselves in today! I believe that like the fig tree, for a long time we Americans -- and that includes Christians -- have practiced a fruitless faith. We have portrayed the form of a righteous nation and a religious people, but we have not borne the fruit of true faith. We have not believed in our power and authority to represent God's Kingdom government in our nation. So, we have stood by and watched as fig trees full of leaves grew among us, and did not demand that they bear fruit or be cut down. We did not have the faith to believe that we could have the mind of God and do anything about it. Even when we discerned our Enemy's plan to destroy us, I'm not sure we even believed our faith could guarantee us a victory.

But true faith knows how to win because it is borne in the mind of God and transferred to us when we pray. True faith has never lost a battle, because we discern God's strategy to defeat the devil and we follow that plan in obedience. Moses and the nation of Israel faced the Red Sea with the Egyptian army at their back. David, on the run, defeated Saul's plan to defeat him and take his life. Daniel faced a pride of lions in their den and didn't back down. And they were all able to be victorious in their battles because they walked in true faith and believed that their prayers could manifest the divine purpose of God. 

It now appears to the world that our precious nation is on the precipice of defeat. Many of you may feel it looks hopeless. But don't listen to the lies of the devil that tell us we can't overcome these obstacles. Our faith is more than just a formula to get what we want. It must become active in believing that we are who Jesus says we are ... citizens of Heaven placed here in this place and this time to manifest God's divine purpose for this nation. Our God is the same God that divided the Red Sea; the same God that delivered David from the long arm of Saul; and the same God that rescued Daniel from the jaws of the lions. He is the same God who won our infant nation's victory against the British Empire and who is returning the Jews to the Holy Land. And in all these examples, victory was won through persistent prayers of faith -- faith in God alone to see His sovereign will be done. That kind of faith is not limited to history. It is real and it is possible for us today. That kind of faith will fight for you because it is in divine relationship with God. Let us overcome our faith-killing doubt and pray sincerely, fervently, and persistently as we await the miraculous manifestations of deliverance that I truly believe is God's will for our nation!

1 John 5:14-15     This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us. And if we know [for a fact, as indeed we do] that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him.