Don't Get Discouraged! The Authority of the Lord Has Not Changed!

In reference to this blog title, I have to admit that there are signs within the mainstream Christian Church that are discouraging! And because of this, you will find me covering a wide range of topics today; things that my spirit just wants to get out in the open as we approach this Holy weekend.

As we get ready to celebrate our Lord and Savior's Resurrection from Death into Eternal Life, I was flabbergasted to read on the End Times Headlines website, that Elevation Church (a megachurch in North Carolina, led by popular evangelical pastor Steven Furtick) has decided to avoid mentioning the words Calvary, Resurrection, and "Blood of Jesus" to promote their Easter Sunday services. WHAT?!?!? 

According to the digital content creator for Elevation Church, she is not "going to say any of these words that makes someone feel like an outsider" ... instead wanting them to feel "super chill" about attending. And I have no proof, but I would be willing to bet they have no problem promoting Easter egg hunts, the Easter bunny, or the festive meals that accompany the traditions of Easter. In fact, their invitation to attend reads like this: "Hey, do you have plans for Easter Sunday? I'm heading to Easter at Elevation. Would you like to join? The music and the message are always incredible. It's honestly one of my favorite ways to celebrate the holiday. I'd love to have you as my guest this year"!

With no mention of the crucifixion of Jesus; or His Blood shed for us [that we might escape the wrath of God that is due us for our sins]; or His glorious Resurrection that is our hope, it just becomes another holiday to soothe our senses, right? And that is what so many who declare themselves a Christian desire. Not only is that offensive to God, but there's nothing that will make you more of a true outsider in Heaven, than to ignore what God's Son has done for us. 

Don't get me wrong, on Easter Sunday there will be millions of Believers who acknowledge the price it cost Jesus to deliver us from God's wrath and the fire of Hell; and who will praise Him and the Father for their plan to redeem us. But there will be millions more who don't see that the Church is teetering on the precipice of Heresy, Apostasy and Idolatry, and who willingly participate in them. Just so we're clear, I want to make sure you understand my definitions ... Biblical heresy is the rejection of one or more Christian doctrines by someone who [otherwise] maintains an overall adherence to Jesus. Apostasy comes into play when a professed Christian publicly rejects the foundational beliefs of Christianity. Idolatry is their heart's affection above their loyalty to God.  

But I promise you that churches like Elevation think they are doing God's work ... making Him more palatable and acceptable to mainstream Americans. After all, they have to fill those seats in their megachurch and afford all the stage lighting to provide an entertaining show to keep people in those seats. Instead of worshiping God, many fall prey to the temptation to worship what a particular church offers them, instead of worshiping the One who died to save them. That is called idolatry, because it robs God of the glory that He deserves. The Bible tells us that God alone is worthy of worship.   

The prophet Isaiah continually called Israel to account for their idolatry. In his time, idolatry looked like bowing down to a stone or wood statue or carving, as if it were God. Today, it looks like putting more value on something [or someone] than we put on God. Today's secular world is full of idols that men worship above God: their own identity; money; entertainment; sex; comfortable lifestyles; and, of course, our phones. And, sadly, social media, which encompasses all these, has become the biggest idol of all. And in the world of religion, a big idol today is Revival. Believers put more faith [and time and effort] into praying for Revival than they do in praying for the Body of Christ to come to repentance. The truth is they don't really understand what they're asking for when they pray for Revival. let me explain ...

In the American Church we tend to think of Revival as prosperity; as a time of great numbers coming to the Lord because of our evangelical efforts; and as a time of returning to our first love of Christ. We build an image of comfort and joy in worshiping the Lord as the rest of the world spirals towards The End. But what does Jesus say? In Matthew 24:14, He shares the good news that the gospel of the Kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end of the [Church] age will come. I'll agree that that sounds a lot like Revival ... the gospel will be preached to all the nations. But what does He say right before that?

This is the place in the Bible where He talks about wars and rumors of wars; nation against nation, famines, earthquakes, persecution; tribulation; and false prophets. He says that because of the lawlessness and wickedness, the love of most people will grow cold. The only words of hope come when He says, "But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved". So, it appears to me that the Western Church is a little confused as to the timeline of any possible worldwide Revival! Read Matthew 24:4-14 yourself! Before there is any chance of the whole world coming to Jesus by the spread of the Gospel, there will be tremendous pain, suffering and persecution!! IS THE CHURCH READY FOR THAT?!? 

Somehow, the Western Church skips over those verses and pretends they don't apply to us, and just wants to embrace the message of a Revival because it makes the End Times more appealing. And if you need further convincing that an End Times Revival for the whole world is not in the Bible, the Apostle Paul seems to agree with Jesus. In the Timothy epistles, he writes, "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron". He also wrote, "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days". Rather than repenting in a worldwide revival, "people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money... without self-control, brutal, treacherous...". You know the rest. 

Unlike the Church in other parts of the world, who understand that Revival is preceded by persecution, the American Church doesn't know what it's asking for. Revival can happen... but it's going to come with a great price, and if you aren't ready or prepared to pay that price, you might want to reconsider praying for Revival. Remember, Jesus also asked, "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth"? So, that sure doesn't seem like He's coming into the midst of a worldwide Revival, does it? To me, it seems like He comes when the world is torn apart by evil and a crisis of faith. 

So, I've spent a lot of time in this post talking about the things to be discouraged about. So, I want to end this discourse with the truth that the Authority of the Lord over all the wickedness, chaos, and confusion is still established. He has not changed! I would love nothing more than to see a great worldwide revival of all people and nations, but I just don't see it in the Bible, or hear it in Jesus's words. That won't stop me for praying for it, but I'm a realist.  The Bible tells me the End Times will be a distressing and troubled time in the world. But I cling to the promise of the Lord that He has overcome this world. I will keep my eyes and heart focused on Him, and share of His Glory, Mercy, Justice and Love to all who will receive. There is a Millennial Kingdom in our future; one in which "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea". Now that's a Revival I can believe in! Until then, I will pray for the strength and endurance to proclaim His Name until I enter that glorious Kingdom. Come, Lord Jesus!

Jeremiah 31:34.    And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, "Know the LORD", for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.           

NYC Golden Graven Image Occupies A "High Place"

There are days I think that "Today is the day" that God will have had enough with our rebelliousness. Surely His cup of wrath will be filled to overflowing with this abominable act in our nation! And each time it seems our arrogance grows stronger as we parade our sin before His eyes. So, what have we done this time? Well, we have not only broken God's First Commandment (You shall have no other gods before Me), but coupled it with breaking the Second Commandment (You shall not make unto yourself any graven images, nor worship nor serve them...). I say, "we" because God makes it clear that He judges peoples and nations. 

What exactly is our sin this time? According to Lifenews.com, a new, 8-foot golden statue was recently installed on top of the Courthouse of the Appellate Division, First Department of the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the city. Its purpose? It pays homage to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg [including her signature lace collar] "and her fight for abortion". The naked golden woman features braids formed into goat-like horns that come out of her head, as she emerges from a pink lotus ... supposedly to represent "feminity", but these images are often used by The Satanic Temple to represent satan and his influence.And if you're wondering why this piece of "modern art" might be offensive to me or other Christians, it's because "Hail Satan" is sometimes yelled during pro-abortion protests and because The Satanic Temple has also filed numerous lawsuits that challenge laws protecting unborn babies’ lives on religious grounds. The group claims abortion is a religious ritual! [Source: Lifenews.com].

The artist who created the idol as a nod to the pro-abortion movement, explains that she named the statue "NOW" because women’s ability to have abortions is at risk right “now.” She also elaborated: "The female body has a face with its hair braided into spiraling ‘horns.’ The horns mimic the movement of the arms and are there as a symbol of the figure’s sovereignty, and its autonomy. Women in my work are always complex, proactive, confident, intelligent and in their playful stances connected to the past in imaginative ways without being tied to a heteronormative lineage or conventional representations of diaspora and nation...". Hmmm, "connected to the past" like Jezebel, Lilith, Shiva, and Freya, for instance?

Breitbart.com quotes someone named Andrew Beck on Twitter [who is apparently a Brand Consultant for building institutions]. He tweeted this: "A new statue atop a New York City courthouse. The artist says it’s part of an “urgent and necessary cultural reckoning underway as New York reconsiders traditional representations of power in public spaces and recasts civic structures to better reflect 21st-century social mores.” But apparently there doesn't seem to have been any public input to the installment of this golden idol on top of this New York Supreme Courthouse, which is a symbol of governmental and legal authority. Is this an overt attempt to declare that this false goddess now reigns supreme over God's laws? And if this statue represents 21st century morals and substantial support for abortion, then I think we're coming ever so close to representing the Daughter of Babylon in Revelation, Chapter 18!  

 According to DailyCaller.com, CEO and Founder of Elevate Beauty, Amanda Ensing, tweeted, "NYC Courthouse has put up a gold-horned “goddess” statue to symbolize resistance & abortion rights. It literally looks like a demon. America loves celebrating death". And I refer, again, to Revelation 18 which tells us, After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, possessing great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his splendor and radiance. And he shouted with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen [certainly to be destroyed] is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a dungeon haunted by every unclean spirit, and a prison for every unclean and loathsome bird. For all the nations have drunk from the wine of the passion of her [sexual] immorality, and the kings and political leaders of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth and economic power of her sensuous luxury. [A dwelling place for demons; haunted by unclean spirits; kings and political leaders have committed immorality with her; and merchants of the world have grown rich through her wealth and economic power -- (think Wall Street). Sure sounds like New York City, to me].

And in keeping with Biblical prophecy and principles, New York City seems to be becoming the 21st Century representation of the land of Canaan and its pagan worship. The Canaanites were exceedingly wicked; and the essence of their wickedness was their worship of idols. Their abominable idol worship (including the sacrifice of infant children in ovens to a god named Molech) was carried out at what they called "high places". The core purpose of a high place was to be a location for worshiping deities, or idols, other than Jehovah God. God had clearly told the Israelites that they were to 1) worship only Him, and 2) He was establishing the manner in which He wanted to be worshiped, as well as the specific place (Jerusalem).  Idolatry is associated throughout the Old Testament and the history of the nation of Israel with "high places", where idolatrous worship was carried out "on the high mountains and the hills and under every green tree." The top of a Courthouse in New York City, representing the "Lawgivers" surely qualifies as a "high place". 

Even King David's own son, Solomon, who we are told loved the Lord and followed in the statutes of his father, was tempted to sacrifice and burn incense at the high places (1 Kings 3:3). Although the Bible tells us there were righteous kings, such as Asa, who attempted to make reforms and establish Jerusalem as the center of worship, he could not bring himself to destroy the high places. Sadly our elected Presidents and legislators have not fared any better. And we should learn from history ... both the Northern and Southern kingdoms of Israel were taken away in captivity. The leadership of both those kingdoms were a mixture of good and bad kings; those who worshiped the true God and destroyed the high places, and those who ignored them or worshiped at them, themselves. The result: history records a divided nation with a mixture of truth and lies. The lesson is clear: When you begin to depart a little from God's path, you will get farther and farther away from His ways the longer you go in that direction.  

Just like the ancient nation of Israel, the United States is in need of serious reformation.We have grown accustomed to seeing these "high places" erected in our nation, and no one demands that they be taken down and destroyed. So their spiritual influence infects the hearts and minds of those who are easily convinced that they are honoring the "high ground" of tolerance, equity, and enlightened social values. Personal gratification has become an idol, in itself, and any attempt to restrict our fleshly desires is denigrated and maligned. But that road will only lead to our destruction. We must repent and return to worshiping Almighty God only! When we, as a nation and individuals, repent of worshiping "high places" of our own choosing, we will remove barriers that have been holding us back from fulfilling our calling as God's people in the world. But if we continue to glory, and revel, and gloat in idols of our own making, then we can surely expect Revelation 18's prophecy: we will be "completely consumed, for strong and powerful is the Lord God who will judge us".

#highplaces #worshipingidols #pagangoddesses #godsjudgment #worshipingabortion

Isaiah 42:8   I am the Lord, that is My Name! My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved idols.