Seeing The World Through A Kingdom Lens

In 2023, I published a book, titled Through A Kingdom Lens: Discovering What The Church Lost. I was acutely aware that God's purpose for "the Church" was not being fulfilled.  First of all, Jesus did not come to earth to establish a Church, or buildings, in which His followers were to sit and be led by men according to their understanding  of who He was. He came to establish and extend His Kingdom of Heaven [and its government] to earth. 

The late Dr. Myles Munroe has been a huge influence on my journey with the Lord. Before discovering his writings, sermons, and videos, I was unfamiliar with the concept of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Bible would soon open up to me as I came into the knowledge of Dr. Munroe's definitive and authoritative definition of a kingdom: "It is the governing influence of a king over a territory, impacting it with the king's will, his purpose, and his intent; producing a citizenship of people who reflect the king's culture, nature, values, and morals."

It is a foundational tenet of our faith that we see Jesus as the King of both Heaven and earth. With that in mind, let's continue with Dr. Munroe's thesis. "Jesus came to manifest His wisdom and execute His will with His Nature (which is Glory), and to fill it with His sons. Furthermore, He created and ordained mankind as His governmental representatives on earth." [NOTE: In the Greek language, the term for this body of people is EKKLESIA]. "The people living under that rule or government are known as citizens of the kingdom. There is a ruling document, or constitution (called the Bible) and moral laws to follow; ideals and standards by which the citizens are expected to live. Jesus, as the King of God's kingdom, presently lives and rules from His home country, Heaven. But He has sent a Governor (the Holy Spirit) to transform us, teach us, train us, and change us into citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven and to establish a kingdom culture on earth." 

I hope by now, it is easier for you to understand that wherever God is, it is His domain. He created it. Heaven is where He dwells and where He has all power and authority. It is where His sphere of influence is declared and exercised. It is where His Kingdom is firmly established. But, we need to understand that Jesus expanded that kingdom and sphere of influence, giving the power and authority of God's kingdom citizenship to those here on earth who choose to follow and obey Him. 

With what I believe is a clear and accurate description of God and His authority that is given to us in the Bible, I became increasingly frustrated with my discernment that the modern Western Church has lost that identity. How can we look at abortion, child and adult pornography, child and adult sex trafficking, the international drug trade, the corruption and greed in our nation's government, and the myriad of other ways we've offended God, and not conclude that "the Church" has lost its way in fulfilling their mission? As the earthly arbiter and intercessor of God's Word here on earth, can we honestly say the Church has done a good job of reflecting God's culture, nature, values, and morals? Just look at the state of our country, and the answer is clearly NO!  

But let's expand our view even more, and take a look at the world. I think the modern view of Christianity is from a succinctly Western perspective. And most American Christians are focused on their faith from their own personal viewpoint. In other words, we need to understand that Jesus came to change the world, and to return it to His Father's standards in Heaven. But Jesus talked about the world and all that would happen in it, and to it, as Satan increased his will and influence on the hearts of mankind. And we can clearly see the ways his lies have corrupted this realm and inhibited the ways, morals, and government of God's Kingdom on this planet. The world is made up of men, and men have certainly lost their focus on establishing the Kingdom of God on earth.

The peoples of the world desperately need the government of the Prince of Peace to be established, bringing order out of the disorder, and His Light into the darkness that is surrounding us. Here's the sad truth: The earth does not look like Heaven. In fact, the "gates" (ruling power) of Satan are fighting back whenever and wherever the Ekklesia makes strides to transform any territory. Do you remember in the Bible, when Paul and Silas traveled to Thessalonica, and they were causing an uproar among the citizens with their message of the Kingdom of God? This is how the citizens described Paul and Silas's influence ... "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another King, Jesus."

We need to see and understand that Paul and his companion were turning the WORLD SYSTEM upside down! We need to be doing that in our day! We need to be dethroning human kings and calling out groups of believers to stand in opposition to the worldly systems of our day, and to act as representatives of our Heavenly King! We need to see ourselves as independent from kings and politicians and we need to agree to become ruled by God's system of government through the Holy Spirit. Instead of being in opposition to the world system and the leaders it has enticed to follow its dictates, our governing body of "the Church" has enslaved itself to the world system, becoming religious organizations (identified as "businesses.") Instead of operating in opposition to the world system, churches too often look just like [or promote[ the systems of the world. 

I want to conclude by stating that I have not lost hope in either the Church or the world. I intend to continue my mission and assignment to turn my little corner of the world upside down as an ambassador of my true home, the Kingdom of God. As I watch the world spiraling ever closer to destruction and war, I know it is crucial that I persevere in carrying forth our King's message of love, service, and sacrifice. But I am also aware that I will be hated, just as Jesus said I would. I am praying that the fire that was lit with the assassination of Charlie Kirk, (and all those that have come before him, and will come after), will continue to burn in the hearts of faithful men and women. 

Finally, there's a bigger picture I hope I can paint for you ... Every single person born on this earth was a pre-existent spirit being, created before the foundations of the world. We have all been sent to earth to live in this host body, with the plan that we will reconnect with our Creator, declare our allegiance to His Kingdom, receive His Spirit, and begin to carry out our assignment to advance the Kingdom of God, thereby defeating all the works and plans of Satan; defeating his dark kingdom as we deed those territories back to the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of God. We're in the spiritual battle of the ages. Be vigilant; be intentional; walk in your Kingdom identity, power, and authority. We have been called by God, and our King goes before us!

Matthew 6:9    Our Father who is in Heaven, uphold the holiness of Your Name. Bring in Your Kingdom so that Your will is done on earth as it's done in Heaven. (Common English Bible) 

"I Want To Be Remembered For the Courage Of My Faith".

The title of this post is the prophetic words of Christian martyr Charlie Kirk, who lost his life on September 10th to a cowardly assassin. And make no mistake, Charlie was a martyr. A martyr is someone who is killed because of their religious (or other) beliefs. There is no question that Charlie was a passionate believer in Jesus Christ, and he was a fearless witness to the Gospel of the Kingdom. And, in case you are unfamiliar with Charlie's work for the Kingdom, I will testify of his courage and boldness in proclaiming God's Biblical Truth. And if you want to hear him, in his own words, there are hundreds of videos on YouTube of his conversations with the public and people in the media.  

In addition, Charlie loved his country, and he felt called to speak out in response to the Marxist, Socialist, and anti-God rhetoric that has invaded the classrooms of our colleges across the land. As a teenager, he decided he wanted to make a difference and began engaging with other college students, giving them confidence to speak up when they disagreed with a professor -- even when threatened with poor grades or expulsion. That passion turned into the founding in 2012 of Turning Point USA, an American nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campuses. By the way, Charlie was only 19 years old at the time he founded his organization. 

Turning Point USA was not founded to be controversial or confrontational, violent, or threatening. It was established as an opportunity for young people to come together and share their differences of opinion through civil discourse. No rioting, no fire-bombing, no physical attacks on those who thought different than you. In fact, Charlie's goal was to help young people begin to think for themselves, re-teaching them how to think critically; a skill that has all but vanished from the halls of higher academia. Charlie's modus operandi was to challenge these students to seek out the truth of their belief systems so they could elucidate what they believed and why.

His most effective method was to set up a tent on campus, sit in a chair and invite students to come to the microphone and debate him; prove why he was wrong in his conservative beliefs, whether they be political, faith-based, or cultural. This was very much akin to the method Socrates used to debate his students on various philosophical issues. Charlie supported this kind of open debate displaying his Christian values of respect, honesty, optimism, and love in his heart. But make no mistake, Charlie was a passionate and accomplished debater. He knew what he believed about his faith and he could back it up with Scripture and logic. And for that, he was a threat to Satan and his demons. So they had him killed.

You see, no topic was off-base with Charlie. You wanted to challenge him and his beliefs on abortion, the definition of a woman, transgenderism, racism ... or any of the other hot topics that are dividing us? Come to the microphone and let's have a mutually respectful discussion. But you better be able to effectively debate this very intelligent and educated young man. And, boy, was Charlie effective! He was so effective that he began to rally the youth of this nation to come out of their reticence to speak up about what they believed. There's nothing wrong with disagreement! In fact, it serves to help us think and define the foundational issues behind our differences and arguments; and oftentimes, we grow and fine tune those beliefs. 

I was telling my husband, that I awoke yesterday, in the early hours of the morning, hoping against all hope, that Charlie's assassination was a dream; that I'd find that he was alive and well and on the trail debating somewhere. But the coldness and emptiness of my soul told me otherwise. I was lying in the dark trying to make sense of it, and asking God questions that I knew had no immediate answers. And then He spoke to me ... "Come, let's reason together".  I will admit that in the fog of my sleepy brain, I did not recall the source of this comment, and wondered who in the media might have spoken this. And then it was revealed ... Isaiah 1:18-20: Come now, let us reason [dispute] together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Charlie wanted us to just reason together, and listen to each other. 

But please understand this ... Charlie knew there was a deeper and eternal aspect that accompanied his campus debates, and now gives meaning to his death. Yes, Charlie Kirk found himself at the center of our cultural divide, encouraging free thinkers and the importance of true faith in our lives. And it's easy to see that these ideals made him a very big threat to the evil people in power who want to control every aspect of our lives. BUT it's so important to discern that Charlie chose to be in the middle of the maelstrom for eternal reasons. 

He knew he was also at the center of a spiritual war between Good and Evil. Satan knows his time is short and Charlie wasn't backing down from proclaiming what our role as God's Ekklesia should be -- God's government on earth. So, we have a physical, corrupt, man-made government [in the natural], determined to silence God's spiritual government, made up of people of faith. Keep that in mind ... see this tragedy through spiritual eyes. Do not be deceived [or moved] by what the physical world wants us to see. Stay focused on Jesus and hear His voice. I believe that's what Charlie did.  

The Lord asked for a volunteer, in Isaiah 6, to go and deliver His warning and message of hope. "Whom shall I send?" Isaiah volunteered then, and many have answered that summons through the ages. At the age of 19, Charlie Kirk stood tall, raised his hand, and boldly said, "Send me!" Charlie was willing and obedient to fulfill the calling God had put on his life. And for that, I know he instantly entered Eternity with his Lord and Savior. We must not let his sacrifice be for nothing. We must each volunteer to carry on God's message of hope, and warn of the spiritual battle we are in. Tell others of the Saving Grace of God, and encourage them to enter a relationship with Jesus. He's calling them, too! 

So, in the aftermath of this senseless murder, I pray that the hate will stop; that the celebration of his murder will abate, and that all will take a moment to discover why millions of us are devastated and mourning the loss of this God-fearing man who deeply loved his family, his country, and most of all, His God. Understand this, if you are one of us who are emotional and distraught over Charlie's death, know that it is your spirit that is grieving; your spirit knows the battle between God and Satan. Charlie's spirit knew it. That's why he said he wanted to be remembered for the courage of his faith. I pray for that same courage and faith in my walk with my Lord. 

Let us all join together and pray for his wife and small children, his parents, and our country. Pray that this evil and lawlessness will meet the righteous justice of God, and that his legacy will be the miraculous repentance and salvation of those whose spirits have been touched by Charlie's testimony of faith. Charlie, I thank you for never giving up in this spiritual war we find ourselves in, and you are deserving of all the crowns that were awaiting you in Heaven. We will continue the battle in your honor, and I, for one, want you to know that you made a difference. Rest in Eternal Peace, Charlie Kirk! 

Matthew 5:10-12     Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.    

How Politics, History, and Technology Are Used by Power Elites to Control Us

 

Can you tell that our society is beginning to wake up from the long, protracted period of time in which we became so enmeshed in self-gratification that we lost sight of the authority God gave us to direct our own lives? Instead of embracing the self-sustaining attitudes of our forebears, we relinquished our independent mindsets to the Elite who convinced us they knew what was best for us in all areas of life. They slowly took over the decision-making, the governing rules, and the distribution of power until we were no longer cognizant that we had lost the ability to think and decide for ourselves. We became lulled into a state of "normalcy bias" and became like sheep led to the slaughter. 

While far from a complete transformation, there's a light dawning on a new understanding. And it's important that we become aware of the methods by which we were influenced, exploited, and manipulated, because with the advent of AI, those methods are increasingly disguised. Think of it this way: we must recognize that the Elite have amassed their power by cleverly developing a virtual pasture so green that few of us seldom, if ever, bother to look up from where we're grazing to notice that we're being led over a cliff. Systems have been developed [and instituted] to make us feel comfortable in their carefully constructed framework, whether it be in politics, the re-writing of history, or the fast-tracking of technology.

I can trace my consciousness of this exploitation back to 2012, shortly after hearing the Holy Spirit counsel me to begin writing this blog because the Lord wanted me to use the gift of writing [that He had created in me] to begin removing the dirty veil Satan had us looking through. He wanted me to reveal the reality of the spiritual battles we were in. It was time people became aware their virtual green pasture was just a mirage, and if we weren't careful the pasture would cease to exist at all.

I began to see that people, across the globe, rarely, if ever, thought for themselves when it came to politics and governance. They voted for whoever the Media Elite told them to, or for whoever hired the most talented publicists, or for whoever promised them the most "free stuff". There seemed to be little time spent researching the records of public officials -- or those behind them who were funding their campaigns, and to whom they were indebted. And as I saw more and more Christians get involved in trying to elect righteous representatives to office, the Lord showed me that Politics will never be the answer to our problems on this earth. The power that comes from being involved in Politics tends to only support man-made power structures. There is so much more fruit that comes when we use our power from Christ to do the things that He did, only greater! [John 14:12].

The Power-Elites in the world have done everything they can to make us reliant on them, instead of using our spiritual power and authority transferred from our Savior, Jesus Christ. When we walk in the revelation that we are a citizen of Heaven, living on earth, and have been sent as an Ambassador of the Kingdom of Heaven, then we know we are not subject to the strategies of the Elite to keep us locked down. We are the Ekklesia [the governing body of Christians whose assignment is to implement God's laws and government in our culture, across our nation, and throughout the world. I rejoice that the dirty veil of Politics is coming off and we can clearly see the ugliness of the Power Elites as they continue to try and manipulate man-made government. Our voices are on the rise, and we are no longer content to give them unlimited power over us. We see how they've unrighteously seized control, and their true identities are exposed. We will not go back to our blind grazing in pastures full of lies and corruption.

It has also become patently obvious that the re-writing of History can no longer be tolerated. When we alter history to fit false ideologies, then its nearly impossible to learn from the mistakes of our past.  I have to say that I'm ashamed how easily the Elites were able to convince us it was okay to tear down statues of our historical heroes and leaders, change the names of universities, and remove everything "Jesus" from our social conversation. I've always been proud of the history of my country and our ideals of freedom and self-government through constitutional and common law. But I've since come to the realization that man's laws and form of government will only get me so far. My true freedom lies in letting Jesus heal my spiritual wounds and learning to battle in the spiritual realms in order to transcend the tyranny and oppression of this world and walk in the footsteps of Jesus. 

The Power Elites in Academia have largely been responsible for reconstructing history as they continue to pursue socialistic and communistic models of government through re-education. President Reagan was absolutely correct when he said, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. It has to be fought for and defended by each generation". Unfortunately, we've let two generations pass since my childhood, and we've allowed the Elites to gain too much ground in changing the stories surrounding our history. 

Terms like "Fascist", "Racist", "Nazi", and "Gender" have all been corrupted from their original meanings and characterizations, and used by the Elites to influence and manipulate our education system. I am willing to agree that the history books I read in my elementary school may have not been truly transparent about our national history. But, overall, from first grade through high school I was taught to love our country and that it represented man's best plan of opportunity and success to the common man. College was another matter, and as early as the 1970s, the Academic Elite were already putting forth their agenda to condemn America and its history. So, we should not be surprised that, while we grazed in the green pastures of American prosperity over the last few decades, the Elite were left unhindered, gaining more power over the modification of history to suit their narrative as they joined forces with those in allegiance to the Dark Side. 

The last area I want to consider is the exploitation of Technology to gain power over mankind. Just take a look at the attempt to forge man's singularity with computers [which is defined by Apple's Dictionary app as "the moment in time when artificial intelligence and other technologies have become so advanced that humanity undergoes a dramatic and irreversible change"]. You want to read a scary thought... Apple goes further and uses the word "singularity" in a sentence: Maybe the singularity just happened, and we didn't notice. 

The really scary thought is that this concept is as old as history itself.  It actually compares to Lucifer's goal and what Nimrod was trying to accomplish at the Tower of Babel; namely to usurp God's power and authority. And let's not forget Satan and his fallen angels who figured out how to corrupt God's creation, resulting in hybrids of humans and evil angels, as well as human-animal hybrids. For several years now, it has become open and acceptable knowledge among the "scientific" crowd that immortality is accessible to everyone, outside of any Biblical worldview. We don't have to physically die -- we can upload our brains to the Cloud [maintaining all our memories and "sense of self", simply replacing body parts that deteriorate, and continue to live forever. Who needs God, the Creator of the Universe?!?

Here's my very serious and solemn declaration: Entities in the spiritual realms are being openly "channeled", dispensing forbidden knowledge from the Tree of Good and Evil. Through the centuries man has been deceived into receiving this knowledge willingly, and we have harvested the science of technology which allows us to get our "fix" of pedophilia and child pornography quicker, our news faster, our "medicine and healing" through nanobots undetected, and our next virus unleashed on an unsuspecting populace. We better start understanding who we're dealing with.

There are secret power-hungry Elite who are so covetous of world domination [like their mentor Satan] that they will explore greater technological advantages to overpower and destroy populations. They will stop at nothing to maintain their wealth and control, and we can not turn a blind eye to all kinds of emerging technologies that we haven't even heard of yet. I'm concerned that they will soon be unleashed on millions of unsuspecting humans. Stay alert and stay educated!

In conclusion, what I have presented here is nothing new in regards to the manipulation of mankind by the Enemy of God. The Anti-Christ spirit is active in the world, and he is preparing the way for the Beast to make his appearance on the earth. Politics, History, and Technology are just a few of the tools that will be used to strip us of our freedoms -- both in this world and in Christ. So, I can't stress enough how important it is to seek Inner Healing [physically, emotionally, and spiritually]. Once we gain that freedom, we need to use that energy, authority, and life force that is "God in us" to continue the purpose that Jesus came for -- to re-establish this earth and its inhabitants under the governmental authority of the Kingdom of God.

If nothing else, the Covid pandemic should have shown us that Power Elite have no hesitancy to join forces with the Enemy to bring about an apocalypse and initiate the mass extermination of millions of people. They're like sharks in the water, and they taste blood. So, I want to empower you to fight the fear that these Elites would love you to embrace, and put on your spiritual armor. We are literally in a battle for the earth; it's the kingdom of darkness against the Kingdom of Light. Not only is the destiny of this current world at stake, but the eternal destiny of every single person is at risk. It is to be won or lost depending on the decisions and actions you take today. Do not let this time of awakening be wasted! Do not fall back asleep and return to the beckoning green pastures of comfort and normalcy bias. Lift your eyes towards the heavens and watch for your redemption ... but don't turn your back on the Evil that is coming hard and fast against us. The Power Elites see their control beginning to crumble, and they will easily concede. But we know that our Savior alone is the answer to defeat them. Come Lord Jesus!

Colossians 2:15     He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him.

What Happened Between the Death of Jesus and His Resurrection? Why You Need to Know!

In our Christian faith and traditions, we honor Jesus's sacrifice on the Cross for us, and we celebrate His Resurrection. But how many of us know [or even have any interest in knowing] what happened during that interval that Jesus was in the tomb? Unfortunately, through the centuries, since that providential interval, the Church and various denominations have often stopped short of examining the importance of what Scripture tells us was going on.

Before we begin this discussion, we must understand that not only do we not study or teach about this subject from a Scriptural standpoint, but that lack of examination has led to confusion and an inadequate interpretation of what Scripture actually says. It's important that we realize that when it comes to the language in our modern Bibles, that we have inherited a conglomeration of various translations that have come to us through the ages. The Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek (the Septuagint), which was then translated into Latin by Jerome (with the assistance of other scribes); and then translated into English by such men as John Wycliffe and William Tyndale. And of course, we've had many recent translations in English since then.

Let me be clear .... this is not an attempt to disqualify our Bible as incomplete or in error. In fact, I believe that the Bible we have today can be interpreted through our relationship with the Holy Spirit and we can receive everything God intended us to know about His redemptive plan for mankind. The problem arises [regarding this topic of where Jesus was between His death and His resurrection] because too many in our modern age take their understandings of Science and Technology and try to force them into ancient texts. 

Can you perceive that the Bible gives us a "story arc" by which to understand the history, plan and purpose in God's relationship with man and His gift of redemption? It's not every single detail of what's happened since Genesis 1:1, but shows us the development of that relationship; the conflicts, the resolutions, and God's intentions and will. I'm sure you can grasp the concept that everything about the history of God's interactions with mankind cannot be contained in 1500 pages. So we must study history and cultural precepts, as well as learn to "connect the dots" that God and the Holy Spirit reveal in the Word. 

So, when it comes to this question I've presented in the title today, let's proceed with the acceptance that the Bible is not trying to answer our questions from today's scientific mindset, but simply trying to communicate to us the significant story arc of His gift of Redemption. We can begin by understanding that God, the Father, wants a family and relationship with us. Our free will choice to participate in Sin has destroyed that relationship, and Jesus is the answer and the instrument of our familial restoration. 

This brings us to the question I ask in the title of this post, and the passage in the Bible that has led to controversy among modern-day Christians ... When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He bestowed gifts to men. In saying, "He ascended", what does it mean except that He also had previously descended [from the heights of Heaven] into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the very same who also ascended far above all the heavens, that His presence might fill all things [the whole universe] -- Ephesians 4:8-10. So, do you believe that after His Resurrection, Jesus "descended to hell" (as the Apostles Creed states)?

This passage is telling us that after dying and being buried in the tomb, Jesus spent the time until His Resurrection in a triumphant descent into Sheol, preaching and bestowing salvation on the righteous dead held captive by Death since the beginning of the world. He then led this host of captives to Heaven, giving them the gift of Eternal Life. He then rose from the grave to His Resurrection, and for 40 days, teaching His Disciples God's plan to provide Eternal Life for all Believers from then on.  

To help our understanding of what happened between Jesus's Death and His Resurrection [and the language the Bible uses to describe what occurred during that intermission, so to speak], we must grasp the three-tiered belief system of the After Life in the Old Testament. It can be very confusing, since some of these translated words appear to be interchangeable between languages. So let me try to give you the simplest definitions I can, hoping to reduce any misinterpretation or confusion.

SHEOL: This is a Hebrew term in the Old Testament that simply means "the place of the dead"; the shadowy realm where departed souls went. In Old Testament times, both the righteous and the unrighteous went to Sheol after death -- the righteous dead to a compartment (so to speak) known as Abraham's Bosom  -- and the unrighteous dead to the section called Hades. The Bible also seems to indicate that Sheol seems to be a temporary place where souls are kept until the final resurrection. 

HADES: This is the Greek word, most associated with our English word Hell, but in Old Testament language they are actually quite different (I'll explain more in a moment). As mentioned in the previous paragraph, Hades is the temporary holding place of the unrighteous dead in Sheol. The New Testament continues the teaching that Hades is a temporary holding place for departed souls. But after Jesus's Resurrection, Hades takes on a new meaning: new believers have the promise of going immediately into God's presence. "And He said to him (the thief on the Cross), Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise". 

HELL (TARTARUS, GEHENNA): This is where it can get confusing. Hell is the English word for Tartarus (in Greek mythology it is the deep abyss below Sheol), and corresponds to the Hebrew word Gehenna (connoting the Valley [of the sons] of Hinnom, where the ancient Israelites sacrificed their children to the false god, Molech). In the Old Testament, it was a cursed place and carried implications of fire, filth, and horror. In the New Testament, Jesus carries over this graphic picture ... "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment... liable to the hell of fire" (Matthew 5:22). This image of fiery judgment is also presented in Mark 9:43-48, where hell is likened to "the unquenchable fire". This is where the Genesis 6 Fallen angels are imprisoned, along with all who are wicked and enemies of God; a place of final judgment; an eternal place of fire, darkness, and separation from God.  

 As you can see, it is no wonder that it is difficult for Christians to come to a consensus regarding what happened between Jesus's death and His Resurrection. At this point it is to your benefit to do some comprehensive research and deep-dive studies in the Bible to develop your own Biblical worldview. What I'm sharing is where I'm currently at in my understanding, always willing to be corrected by the Holy Spirit. 

But here is where I think we can all agree and clear up some of the controversy and confusion ... In the Old Testament, if you were a righteous person and died, you went to Sheol (specifically Abraham's Bosom), where judgment was based on your adherence to the Law of the Old Testament. And Jesus, who was still under the Old Testament covenant and its Law when He died, would have gone to Sheol. He didn't take any short cuts, if you will! 

Remember the New Testament covenant doesn't begin until His Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven. During the three days His body lies in the Tomb, Jesus goes down to Sheol to where the righteous dead have been held, awaiting the long-promised Messiah. There He identifies Himself and proclaims the Gospel, effectively tearing down the gates of Hades and declaring His victory! Notice I said "the gates of Hades", not the gates of  "Hell". At this point, we need to do a little deeper dive.

This is where the words that have been in translated in our English Bibles can cause some confusion. In 1 Peter 3: 18-19, the Bible speaks about Christ after His death; that "He was made alive in the spirit" and "He went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison" which were those who "disobeyed in the days of Noah".  He descended to the place of the dead (Sheol)-- not to the place of the eternally condemned (Hell and the final destination of the devil, his fallen angels, and all who refused to submit to Jesus Christ and whose names are not found in the Book of Life after the final judgment). 

NOTE: It is my opinion [and it is very important] that we make clear that Jesus did not descend into hell, but He did descend into Sheol and Hades. And this is purely speculative, but I believe it's possible that these wicked, who are imprisoned in Hell, were able to hear Jesus preaching the Gospel in Sheol and heard His victory shout! 

Again, in the case of our English translation, we find Jesus blessing Peter in Matthew 16:18 ... And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I think the original meaning is best preserved in the Greek ... I tell you, you are Peter (petros, a detached but large fragment of rock), and upon this massive rock (petra, Christ) I will build My ekklesia and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Can you see that He is referring to Hades and not Hell?

Now look again at what I wrote just a couple of paragraphs above ... Jesus (still under the Old Testament covenant), goes to Sheol, identifies Himself as the Messiah, proclaims the Gospel (God's redemptive plan for mankind), effectively tearing down the gates of Hades -- the apparatus that kept the unrighteous dead imprisoned, with no hope of redemption or victory over Death and their Sin. He takes the righteous dead to Heaven and returns to earth to His Resurrection. Now there is a new covenant offered by God to all men ... "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loos on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19).

We now have the ability [through our free will] to choose to use the keys of the Kingdom to unlock those prison doors where we've been bound to our sin, and be set free [through faith in Jesus Christ]. So, can you now see why it is important that the Church make these distinctions and teach the truth of Scripture? In these times of waning faith and lukewarm believers, it is more important than ever that we discern the Truth of Scripture and not fall for the lies and misconceptions of both the secular and the Church cultures.

Don't believe that "a loving God would never send people to hell". Yes, God is love. But He's also holy and just. He doesn't abandon His justice for the sake of His love. In fact, He has given us the solution to keep us out of hell -- Jesus's sacrifice on the Cross. But if someone chooses to reject His offer of a solution, a loving and just God will not force them into heaven. Don't buy the lie that hell is just a myth or simply allegorical. Jesus, Himself, said, And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. But never forget this: the same Bible that tells us about hell, also tells us Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved  -- SAVED: rescued, delivered, safe. 

It's important to know what happened during those three days between the grave and the Resurrection. Understanding the fullness of what took place has eternal meaning for you and for me. Through the centuries, so much has been lost of the context between our Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English translations. Without full and true comprehension, it is too easy to fall for the misconceptions and miss what God is trying to reveal to us. In my opinion, we must have discerning spirits -- seeking knowledge from history and the ancient writings, but always vetting them against the Word and the counsel of the Holy Spirit. Satan's workers of iniquity are too happy to lead us astray through false teachers. Be mindful, and on your guard -- seek the Lord on questions you have about any teaching, including this blog. It is the desire of God's heart that you seek His Truth. I urge you to do that in these momentous times. God bless you!

2 Timothy 2:15     Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.        

Politics or Jesus? Man's Government or God's?

The other day I listened to a short 3-minute soundbite from a sermon delivered by Pastor Loran Livingston, of Charlotte, NC. Although I'm not a fan of the "hellfire and brimstone" manner of speech of some Southern preachers, I was definitely in agreement with his message. He lamented that the Church is lacking in their practice of praying and reading the Bible, which can "directly affect a believer's mindset and interaction with the world". I agree wholeheartedly! And I would like to dive into this discussion, with the understanding that I do so with a heart that has nothing but love and respect for my fellow Christians, even though we might disagree on some aspects of this conversation.

To begin, Pastor Livingston's main focus was how much faith and reliance believer's seem to be putting in politics as the answer to our country's woes. I found it interesting that he said, "Some of you bring politics into the church. You think politics is spiritual stuff. Don't be talking to me about my spiritual responsibility to vote! I don't have a spiritual responsibility to vote. I have a civic privilege"! 

What he is describing is a tension fomenting within the Body of Christ, between those believers with a particular attitude or philosophy that gives credence to the idea that if we just elect good Christian men, they will pass laws that provide for the welfare of the American citizens; and those believers who feel that politics will never be the answer to our problems precisely because it relies on men making laws to change our world.

The part of the church that believes the right men in office can turn things around also thinks that if more good Christian men and women got involved in getting these righteous people elected [by voting], then we could count on our representatives in government to stand up for our rights and do the moral and ethical thing ... i.e., stop abortion, stop human trafficking, protect parents' rights, rid our school libraries of pornographic reading material for middle schoolers, ban drag queen story time, decide how to reduce our taxes, and which wars are the justifiable and/or moral ones. Those would certainly be issues God would approve of! But have they fulfilled their oaths of office and promises to us? 

In other words, some of our fellow brethren believe that getting engaged in elections and voting is our civic duty [obligation or responsibility] -- if we call ourselves a Christian and a representative of the Kingdom of God. Perhaps they hold that position, believing that there is hope for change in the culture of a nation that has lost its way. That by electing Godly men as officials of the government, they will defend and promote Biblical truth and Christian principles and values. That would be wonderful if it was true! But sadly, I do not believe that any man or woman who goes to Washington D.C. sees themselves as the savior of the Biblical worldview and a moral culture warrior!

I believe elected officials know how the process works ... they know they will be part of the activities, actions, and policies [that men and women] use to gain and hold power in order to influence the decisions of the government/governing bodies. That in itself is not a bad thing. That is the purpose of a government in the world! But what's the first thing you see these newly elected officials do? They jockey for those coveted seats on the prestigious Committees in Congress. They know they are entering into a power struggle among men to assert rival interests. That is called "politics". And it is of this world! Yet, somehow, Christians have come to believe that by voting or getting involved in the voting process -- or championing one person running for office versus another -- we can bring God's Kingdom into that activity. Oh, how I wish that were so!

But, let me present a couple of questions. Doesn't the mere fact that these elected officials are called "representatives of the people" point to whom they serve? This governmental body openly declares that its job is to serve people. They don't say they are elected to serve God! That indicates [to me, at least] that they are laboring for things of this world. Yes, we are called to do the work of the Kingdom wherever we find ourselves in order to transform this world into Kingdom territory. But that is the job of the Church, not elected officials! 

Don't get me wrong -- I desperately want Godly men and women to serve in our government bodies. But the work they do there is work in the world. They write and pass man-made laws; they are to see to the welfare of their states and constituents; they answer to their political party; and too often, their allegiance is to themselves and the power the worldly government has given them.  The idea of Heaven's government is a totally different construct.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 16 that the form of government He brings from Heaven is called the Ekklesia, NOT the Church [which is a common mistranslation in our modern Bibles]. And listen to what He says ... On this rock [foundation and cornerstone] I will build My Ekklesia; and the gates of Hades (death) will not overpower it. I will give you the keys (authority) of the Kingdom of Heaven; and whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth will have (already) been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth will have (already) been loosed in Heaven. 

So, let's do a quick dissection of this passage ... The word EKKLESIA is translated from Greek to mean a "called out assembly"; a group separated from others, whose purpose is determined by the context in which Jesus uses it. Here, He contrasts it to GATES. The first mention of a gate in Scripture is found in Genesis 19:1. The gate was central to community action; where courts were convened; important civic business was conducted, and the governing of men decided. KEYS is used in Scripture as a symbol of authority and power; signifying the intrusting to someone with an important charge. And the charge of the Ekklesia is to "bind and loose" what has already been established in Heaven -- in other words to bind [to restrict, constrain] what is UNLAWFUL [according to Heaven's government] in the earth, and loose [release, deliver] what is LAWFUL in Heaven into the earth. If the men and women we elect would see themselves as, and act as, the representatives of Heaven, rather than of men on earth, perhaps we would have better choices to vote for.      

I pray that those with spiritual eyes to see, and ears to hear, might understand that Jesus intends us to discern that He is pointing to the affairs of men in this world, and it is "the Most High who is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes". It is God who determines our leaders. YES, we have a voice in the election of our leaders, and we can [and some argue should] exercise that right by voting for those whom we think best demonstrate our Christian values. But is Jesus calling the Church [as the entire Body of Christ] to do this, or is this the commandment to the Ekklesia -- those called with this particular mission of governing?  

NOW, think on this for a moment ... Do you see anywhere in the Bible that Jesus or His disciples spend time teaching new believers how to reform the pagan world of their evil, corrupt governments? Do you see them call for what is known as "civil disobedience" towards the Roman Empire's immoral and violent rule? Certainly, there were valid reasons to do so! Instead, we read about Jesus commanding us [as He taught His disciples ] to proclaim the gospel to everyone, and to live our lives so that they are testimonies of the transforming power of God in the earth. That is the primary purpose of the entire Body of Christ [the church]!

Please hear me when I say I honor the hearts of my God-fearing Christian friends who seek to return God to our halls of government. I see the time and energy they put into this mission. The Good Lord knows we need that! And I do not question the hearts of Christian men and women in our governmental bodies who are serving the people out of hearts that love God. But ultimately, don't we have to ask the questions, Where is the fruit of that service? Have we seen government take back territory from the kingdom of darkness? Is the culture of our nation more moral than it's ever been? 

PERSONAL NOTE: As much as I hate to say it, I have seen Christians rally around elected officials who openly and dramatically espouse their faith and their intention to put that at the forefront of their time in Congress. The recent newly elected Speaker of the House is a good example. And then when the time comes to stand on that testimony for the betterment of the people they say they came to serve, they cave to the pressures of this world. I am beginning to understand why the Remnant in the body of Christ are no longer willing to put their faith in men and our current process of governing. Jesus is our only answer! 

So, I think that, as Christians, we have to offer grace to each other as to how we choose [or not] to devote our time and energy  -- whether to social reform and activism in local and national government; or to do the work that Jesus did: heal the [physically, emotionally and spiritually] sick; cast out demons; cleanse the lepers [social outcasts]; raise the dead; and spread the Good News that the Kingdom of God is reclaiming the earth! Whether you're called to one or the other [or praise God, both!] is your decision, and I honor your heart to serve others. 

For me, the bottom line is this ... We have to ask ourselves, what is God's purpose for us, as the body of believers in Jesus Christ? How do we incorporate our civic privileges and responsibilities in the world with our Heavenly mandate to bring Heaven's redemption to mankind? Our situation in this country, in this century, is no different than the history of countless nations that have come and gone since God established nations in Deuteronomy. Ungodly governments and faithless cultures have always existed among us. Yet history shows that faithful people in the One True God not only survived them, but flourished under them. And sometimes evil governments were part of God's plan to refine and cleanse a nation of its evil ways. Just a thought ... Remember how it turned out when the people of Israel decided on their own leader, rather than waiting on God to anoint him? They got Saul instead of David! 

Regardless of who we get as the next leader of our nation, we are taught by the Bible to honor, respect, obey and pray for all leaders because they are there at the discretion of God's will. It is also our instruction that they are not the source of our provision or our preservation from judgment or destruction. Only Jesus is our Deliverer!

I would like to leave you with this quote from a Christian website, called Got Questions. It is not a judgment against anyone, but a statement on which I believe the Body of Christ can find common ground ... "Political entities are not the savior of the world. The salvation for all mankind has been manifested in Jesus Christ. God knew that our world needed saving long before any national government was ever founded. He demonstrated to the world that redemption could not be accomplished through the power of man, economic strength, military might, or politics. Peace of mind, contentment, hope and joy -- and the salvation of mankind -- are provided only through Jesus's death and resurrection". 

And I would like to add to that my own postscript ... and because Jesus came to reclaim the earth for His Father's Kingdom, He not only died for my sins, but gave me the power and authority to speak into the world to change hearts; and thus, truly change the culture of our nation. Whether I choose to cast a vote or not in this world, it will not change my heavenly mandate as a citizen of Heaven to be the light of Jesus and show my true Source of hope. I am trusting in God; that His will be done on earth [in everything] as it is in Heaven! Let there be fruit in my life for Your Kingdom, Lord! 

Daniel 4:17     "This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers and the decision is a command of the holy ones, so that the living may know [without any doubt] that the Most High [God] rules over the kingdom of mankind and He bestows it on whomever He desires and sets over it the humblest and the lowliest of men".      

 

 

Why The Answer to the Chaos in Society is JESUS!

Everywhere we look, we see evidence of the evil one -- crime on the rise; corruption in government and business; sexual perversion and exploitation; confusion and deception in all spheres of our society, even leading our children to abandon their gender identities. It may all look hopeless and beyond reclamation. But the story of Jesus healing the madmen in the region of Gerasenes gives us hope that even our lost nation can be redeemed.

It's such an appropriate story in the Bible because their story has been repeated in so many lives throughout history. And God inspired the writers of the Bible to give multiple accounts of this same narrative. Matthew, Mark and Luke all write about the chaos that Satan caused in these men's lives and in their communities. Matthew writes that these two men were extremely fierce and violent; everyone did what they could to avoid them. Mark and Luke apparently focus on the most disturbed of the two, choosing to concentrate on the behavior of just one of the men. Mark writes that he was always shrieking and screaming, and beating, bruising, and cutting himself with stones. Luke 's account calls him "possessed by demons". 

All three of the portrayals speak of his separation from the society of the region, and being bound in chains and fetters to protect himself and the citizens. But the demons were so strong in him that he could not be held, wrenching his chains apart and breaking them in pieces. The local citizens were terribly frightened of him, for the demons drove him to live in the tombs with the dead.

How many of our own citizens in this, the 21st Century, are living in the same chaos - homeless; disassociated from structured society; lost in immorality; deceived by ungodly influence in order to cause destruction, violence, wickedness, and death? We can no longer turn and look away. And sheltering inside our church buildings in an attempt to ignore the spiritual upheaval all around us is no way to advance the Kingdom of God against the dark kingdom of the Enemy. We, as the Ekklesia and citizens of the Kingdom on earth, must join in our spiritual power and authority to fight against the chaos and invite Jesus into a personal encounter with these lost souls.

Again, I will say that the chronicle of the Madman of Gerasenes is the perfect image of what it means to say that Jesus is the answer. This man entered into agreement with Satan about who he was, resulting in a life of torment and separation from the One who created him. And his community and fellow countrymen didn't know how to help him. Instead they shunned him and left him in his misery and isolation. Truth be known, I doubt they could've helped him, even if they wanted to. They had no knowledge of the healing power of Heaven, which is what it was going to take to free this man from the demonic prison that bound his soul and spirit.

But when the madman saw Jesus, a terrible cry escaped him, and he fell at Jesus's feet; the demons that possessed him instantly recognizing who He was. They presented a challenge to Jesus: What business do you have with us? What do we have in common? Please, don't torment us! The demons wanted to be left alone to continue their torment of the madman. But because they discerned the power of Jesus to destroy them, they asked to be allowed to leave the man and go into the herd of swine. Jesus set the man free with one word to the demons: Go! Nothing in the world could accomplish what Jesus did with that one command. And now -- just as then -- the tormented man was bound in a spiritual prison. Our society wants to solve the chaos in men's lives by building more prisons, or signing them up for rehab, or building homeless camps. But none of that has seemed to work. Prayer alone has not accomplished ridding out society of the chaos. The only answer is a real encounter with Jesus!

But what is sad to me is that our institutionalized church, in the form of "religion", is not united in believing that the marginalized in our society are capable of having -- or even want --  such an encounter. Or when they hear the testimonies of those who have, they either doubt it, belittle the experience, define it as deception, or fear it because it happens in the supernatural. Their minds cannot reconcile the radical transformation of a person from Lost to Redeemed by the power and grace of Christ. It's understandable from the secular segments of our society; but from the Church? Do they not believe the accounts in the Bible of exactly those kinds of transformation? What about Saul being radically transformed to Paul? Mary Magdalene, from a promiscuous lifestyle, to an obedient follower of Christ? Moses, from a privileged son of Egypt, to a bold leader of God's chosen people? There are so many stories in the Bible of people whose lives were radically changed, and their minds renewed, to the possibilities of God's power and grace in their life.

So, it is up to us [the true Believers who have experienced God's ability to redeem us] to do what Jesus instructed the radically transformed madman to do so long ago ... "Go home to your own family and relatives and friends, and bring back word to them of all that the Lord has done for you, and how He has had sympathy and mercy for you". So we must leave our place of comfort and go and proclaim to all of Society what Jesus has done for us. Our transformation may not be as radical as the madman from Gerasenes, but we cannot deny that we are changed, all to varying degrees. 

I can testify to the truth of how an encounter with Christ, the Messiah, can bring both His Power and Peace to a life lived in chaos. I have witnessed it through the encounters with Christ that I have seen in our ministry ... lives changed from promiscuity and bestiality to Redeemed; from addictions to drugs, alcohol and porn to Redeemed; from failed marriages to walking in unity with Christ; from defeated identities to knowing their purpose for the Kingdom. And the answer for each of these lives [in bondage to Satan] was the same ... discovering their true identity in Christ and submitting to His plan for them. 

If we, the Kingdom citizens on earth, continue to remain silent, then Society, our Culture, and our Nation will limp along until the deterioration becomes complete. Satan is playing his game; we must play our strategy as well. We can no longer afford to retreat or take shelter from the chaos. The eternal lives of so many lost souls depend on our testimonies and our spiritual power and authority -- partnering with Jesus -- to effect radical transformations and take back territory from Satan's kingdom of darkness. Yes, the chaos and lawlessness is at a crisis point, but we know the answer! Let us stand in our identity. Tell Chaos, "Go"! And then Go and share what Jesus has done for you and can do for everyone!

#societalchaos #jesusistheanswer #jesusradicallytransformslives #madmanofGerasenes #Matthew8 #Mark5 #Luke8 #fromlosttoredeemed #kingdomcitizensonearth #kingdomofGod #thegraceandpowerofJesus

Ephesians 3:20-21       Now to Him (who is able to carry out His purpose) and to do superabundantly more than we dare ask or think (infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams), according to His power at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.

What Can We, the Sons and Daughters of God, Do to Take Back the World For His Kingdom?

As I described in the last post, the world is quickly spiraling into moral chaos as the Body of Christ has failed to influence the culture. Plain and simple ... we are not manifesting the Kingdom lifestyle that Jesus taught and modeled. Jesus's instructions from Father God were simple: invade earth's domain, taking Heaven's righteous government and moral laws with Him to overthrow and replace the rule of Satan's kingdom in people's lives. Not an easy thing to do after millennia of evil had darkened men's hearts. 

But from the moment our Lord declared that the Kingdom of Heaven [and God] had arrived, the battle was on. And He beat Satan at every turn, showing men that the power and authority of Heaven could defeat illness and disease; could vanquish the demons whom Satan used to torment and oppress men in their sin; and could even triumph over Death by offering Eternal Life to those who would believe who Jesus said He was, and follow Him in all His ways. That was the devil's trump card and when he lost that, he knew he was ultimately defeated. 

But men had a choice to make. Who would they choose to follow? God, in His wisdom, didn't want to force men to choose Him, but rather, gave us Free Will to make our own choice without force, coercion or fear. Jesus came to show us the benefits of choosing the Father's will instead of giving in to the temptation of Satan's desires. When a person chooses Satan, they become his puppet and pawn; controlled to carry out Satan's evil purposes. When a man or woman chooses God, they become free to partner with God to carry out His will and His design and plans for their lives -- to prosper them and not harm them; to give them hope and a future with Him in Heaven (Jeremiah 29:11).  

When Jesus chose [of His own free will as a man] to take the punishment of death for our sins, He left this world in the care of His Disciples -- to carry forth His work in transforming the earth back to its original design and purpose: to represent God's Heavenly government and re-establish the Kingdom of God on earth. That was [and is] to be our responsibility if we call ourselves Followers of Christ. Sadly, the world doesn't look like Heaven to me. And we cannot say we have done our job just because we are a member of a "Church family". We are called to live the life that Christ lived ... sacrificing comfort, material things and wealth, [even] family, and our lives, if necessary, to see that the Kingdom and the glory of God are the highest priority of our life. I don't think there are many who have done that.

So what do we do to rectify the mess we find ourselves in? How do we turn this immoral and wicked ship around? I think it begins with each of us, individually -- in our personal commitment to restore our bodies, hearts, souls, and spirits to glorify God. Am I walking the same path Jesus did to honor and glorify my Father in Heaven? Could I stand before Jesus today and have any evidence of fruit for His Kingdom? Did I make a difference in people's lives and show them the benefits of following Jesus? Does the world look like a better place than 10, 20, 50 years ago? Did I put God and His Kingdom first in my life, and can I honestly say that I have sacrificed my life unto Him?

I believe that taking back the world for the Kingdom of God starts with me... and with you. It's making up our minds that we are going to let go of everything in this world that doesn't honor God and glorify His Name and the Name of His Son. It's a really simple concept to understand -- Jesus is our King in His Father's Kingdom, and He has given us the moral laws of Heaven to follow; shown us our power and authority, as well as our responsibilities in representing His Kingdom here on earth. He has also shared the promises of God for our provision and rewards in this life and the next. And He gave the assignment to men to write it all down in an instruction manual for us to read and understand and do. It's called the Bible, and although men have tried to corrupt it for centuries, He has also sent the Holy Spirit to reveal its Holy Truth to all who seek God's divine and supernatural revelation of man's redemption and reconciliation with our Creator. 

Once, we, as individuals have developed that sincere relationship with God, King Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, we are ready for our assignments to come together to express the nature and principles of Heaven to the citizens of the world. We need to understand that it is the Father who created us for service as ambassadors to His Kingdom here on earth. That's why we're here! We are created for a purpose, and Jesus delegates His authority to each of us in order that we fulfill our specific purpose, and the Holy Spirit activates our assignments, and guides us as to what to say and do to carry out those assignments. We are not alone in accomplishing our duty and responsibilities in [and to] the Kingdom. 

An added benefit is that God created us as a "family". We have brothers and sisters in this Kingdom of God on earth. And we can come together as a delegation called the Ekklesia to carry out the moral laws and government of our King. But it involves "getting up and going", which means we must stand as opposition to the assignments the world has received from their god and master, Satan. Sadly, we have fallen behind in our responsibilities, and we have ceded Kingdom ground to God's enemies. In order to take back ground, we must throw off our fear of man, stand for God's absolute moral Truth, and deconstruct the false system of Satan's lies to expose how he has led our culture and the world into a distorted lifestyle of moral decay. The guideposts of our society are becoming defined by Secular Humanism [a belief that man is capable of developing his own moral code and self-fulfillment without belief in God] and Moral Relativism [the belief that there is no universal or absolute set of moral principles --it is "to each their own", according to what their individual "truth" is].

It is time the True Church and Ekklesia stand in their assignments as Guardians of God's Truth and Government! We must act not only as administrators and ambassadors of God's Kingdom on earth, but as overseers and stewards of His Truth. The Bible teaches us that truth comes from God; He is Truth ... "Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]. Your Word is truth" (John 17:17). All truth flows from God and we are guardians of how God's truth is expressed in the world. It is time to take absolute and moral truth back from the trash bin of our culture. We have been set apart to testify to the REAL TRUTH. It is time we quit apologizing for believing in God's truth and become bold in our very embodiment of it! Until we do that, together and as righteous individuals, the culture and the world are going to continue to worship and follow the one who will lead them to their destruction and hell. We need to show them there is an alternative and it is King Jesus!

#kingdomofgod #kingdomlifestyle #recapturinggroundforGod #takingbackourculture #kingdomresponsbilities #kingjesus #satansfalsetruth #whatisabsolutemoraltruth #weareambassadorsofheaven #Godswillformankind #influencingthecultureforGod #kingdomterritory  

2 Timothy 2:15    Study and do your best to present yourself approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the Word of Truth.

The Word of God Is Worth Dying For!

I know ... that's a pretty extreme statement, but let me give you the context in which I am making it. As I have stated numerous times, how we interpret the Bible is important to receiving the true revelation of God. Jesus tells us in Matthew 4:4 that we are to live by every word that comes from the mouth of God, and we know that Jesus only said [and did] what the Father told Him. So, it must be inferred that the words Jesus used had great significance and were spoken with purpose. 

And that's why I have continually persisted in making an issue of words like "Ekklesia" and "Kingdom", and have challenged the modern Church's understandings and teachings. Please indulge me a moment as I reiterate just how important our understanding is, and the value of it. 

That word ... ekklesia ... had tremendous import when Jesus used it in Matthew 16:18. Most Bible translations tell us that He said, "on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it". Only He didn't say "Church", He said "Ekklesia". It is important that you know that this word has been used over 100 times in the New Testament and has always meant an assembly of God’s People. That is how it is understood in the Greek language; it is a Greek word. It means that men assembled at the main gate of the city, where government business was discussed and decisions were made on how to run the affairs of the people. It is a word describing government -- not to be used in regards to religion. 

The word "Church" comes from the Greek word kyriake, or kyriakon, meaning "gathering place, assembly dedicated to the Lord" -- in other words, a building; a place. Jesus was very deliberate in using the word Ekklesia, because He knew what its specific meaning was: ek, meaning "out of", and klesis, meaning "a calling". Therefore, I think we can establish that Jesus came to build a government of His Father's Kingdom on earth, not a religion.   

But I don't want to belabor the differences between the two words; I have covered that ground multiple times. Instead, I ask you to think about this: If the word was deliberately told to Jesus by the Father, and Jesus specifically used it during His ministry, shouldn't we hold to their precise use of the word that describes how we are to conduct the affairs of the Kingdom of God on the earth? And shouldn't it be so important to us that we guard its use fervently and with prejudice?

I deliberately used the title for this blog because I want you to perceive how lax we have become in interpreting the Word of God. Jeremiah 2:11-13 comes to mind ... My people have exchanged their Glory (the true God) for that [man-made idol] which does not benefit [them]. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; Be shocked and shudder with horror [at the behavior of the people],” says the Lord. For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned (rejected) Me, the Fountain of Living Water, and they have carved out their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. 

This begs the question ... If we do not see that Jesus never intended to build a Church, but rather an Ekklesia -- have we established church buildings as religious idols that are broken and unable to hold the weight and substance of God's Truth? Unless we receive a revelation and re-establish exactly what Jesus intended to build in Matthew 16, we are in danger of building upon the wrong foundation; one that will not withstand what is prophesied to come in the Word. It will not only fail to hold water, but it will crumble at the first onslaught of the kingdom of darkness. 

Does the modern Church even know the history of how the Word came to the common man? Do we understand that for centuries, the people were not even allowed access to the Word? That it was only for the powerful controlling State? Are you aware of a man named William Tyndale and that he published the first New Testament in the English language, making it available to the common man? If you don't know his name, you should, because he was willing to die to protect the Word. 

In 2017, I wrote a blog post titled, My Passion For the Bible, and related the history of the various versions and interpretations of the Bible that have come down through the centuries. I'm going to share a portion of William Tyndale's story, but if you're interested in a more comprehensive history of the English Bible's timeline, I refer you to this link. But it is Tyndale's testimony that is most relevant to today's post. 

William Tyndale was the first man to ever print the New Testament in the English language. He translated it from the original Greek into English in 1526. Tyndale had been forced to flee England because of the wide-spread rumor that his English New Testament project was underway, causing inquisitors and bounty hunters to be constantly on his trail to arrest him and prevent him from completing his project. Both of the "state" churches -- the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church -- were angry with Tyndale for lots of reasons, but mainly because he translated the Greek word "ekklesia" as an assembly [a governing body of God's Word], which would show the people that they were God's assembly and under His direction, not the State's. 

While the Tyndale Bibles were burned as soon as the Bishop could confiscate them, copies trickled through to the public, and actually ended up in the bedroom of King Henry VIII. The more the King and Bishop resisted its distribution, the more fascinated the public at large became. The church declared it contained thousands of errors as they torched hundreds of New Testaments confiscated by the clergy, while in fact, they burned them because they could find no errors at all. One risked death by burning if caught in mere possession of Tyndale's forbidden books.  

In fact, Tyndale was eventually arrested and imprisoned because he refused to change the translation of ekklesia to anything but a governing assembly. That's how dedicated he was to maintaining the truth and authenticity of God's Word. Today, there are only two known copies left of Tyndale’s 1525-26 First Edition. Any copies printed prior to 1570 are extremely valuable. Tyndale's flight was an inspiration to freedom-loving Englishmen who drew courage from the 11 years that he was hunted. In the end, Tyndale was caught: betrayed by an Englishman that he had befriended. Tyndale was incarcerated for 500 days before he was strangled and burned at the stake in 1536. Tyndale’s last words were, "Oh Lord, open the King of England’s eyes". 

So, you can see why Tyndale's translation, using the word ekklesia in its Greek meaning, would be such a threat to the rulers who controlled the State religions? Jesus claimed He was a King, bringing a government from Heaven that called people to obedience to that system of laws and commandments; encouraging an assembly of Believers to carry out their specific instructions and duties to Heaven. Now, in the 21st Century, as Believers, shouldn't we be asking ourselves if we are still honoring the responsibilities of an ekklesia? Does it even matter to you whether you identify as part of the Ekklesia or the Church? 

Sadly, I am discerning that the word Ekklesia has become one of the latest fashionable icons of Church-y language. But I don't see any change in the actions of the leaders of modern Christianity. The Church still looks like the Church. It is still walking in compromise with the world and the State. It may be using a lot of words to express opposition, but it is not doing anything to oppose the world's approval of abortion; transgender manipulation of children; sex trafficking; crime; corruption; and all the other wicked displays of Satan's presence in our culture. Do you see any William Tyndale's who are willing to give up their lives for the sake of defending the truth or authenticity of the Word?

I believe that we modern Christians sometimes get so caught up in our denominational doctrine that we quote Scripture without really understanding its true meaning, or how it reveals God's heart, or His purpose and plan for us as His representatives. But the Word of God as revealed to man has remained unchanged from generation to generation, no matter how hard the Enemy has tried to corrupt it.  

History shows us that God has always used men who were willing to die to see that His Word stayed verifiable and authentic. He has preserved His Word as a means to know Him and to worship Him. And just as He inspired the original writers to represent Him accurately, He can inspire us, who are sincerely seeking Him, to receive His true revelation.  No matter what translation of the Bible you are reading, I recommend that you compare and contrast versions in your never-ending journey to know the God we serve. The journey His Word has taken to get to us in the 21st Century is nothing less than miraculous. It has survived for over 3400 years, and neither man nor devil has been able to destroy it.  May it forever be a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path!

#bibletranslations #biblicalmeaningofekklesia #ekklesiaversuschurch #godsauthenticrevelation #williamtyndale #wordofgodisworthdyingfor #onthisrockIwillbuildmychurch #onthisrockIwillbuildmyekklesia #churchandstate

Isaiah 40:8   "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever."

  

Can There Be Victory Without War?

As a Christian, I know the messages of Matthew and the Book of Revelations ... there will be wars between the advocates of Evil and God's servants of Good. The Lord tells us so. But His revelations to the Apostle John also promise us Victory -- not only because of what He has done for us, but because we have served Him well through the tribulations and sorrows that come with warfare. And we know there will be a final war in which Evil will be defeated for a thousand years, before Satan is once again released to wage the final battle with Jesus. 

So, how are we, in this generation, to view the state of the world today? You have to be totally blind not to see that the world sits on the precipice of WW3. Once again, Israel is at the center of worldwide conflict which is being waged over possession of the land, as well as the prodigious oil fields, which the world powers covet. No matter how much you hear that other energy sources will eventually surpass our appetite for oil, don't you believe it -- the world operates on the production of oil. But lest we forget, or misunderstand, God is the ruler of the world; all its resources in both sea and earth are His. He owns the heavens and all their galaxies, and He will provide the benefits of those resources to whomever partners with Him in His Kingdom ministry.

So, what are we to make of the war in Israel today, and what does it signify for our future? There is a Latin phrase, by Roman author, Publius Flavius Vegetius Rentaus, which says #Si Pacem, para bellum, which translates "If you want peace, prepare for war". That was during the 4th or 5th century. In more recent decades, our own political leaders have voiced the #peace through strength motto; most notably proposed by Ronald Reagan in a 1980 campaign speech against Jimmy Carter. In that speech, Reagan said, "We know that peace is the condition under which mankind was meant to flourish. Yet peace does not exist of its own will. It depends on us, on our courage to build it and guard it and pass it on to future generations. George Washington's words may seem hard and cold today, but history has proven him right again and again. "To be prepared for war," he said, "is one of the most effective means of preserving peace." Well, to those who think strength provokes conflict, #Will Rogers had his own answer. He said of the world heavyweight champion of his day: "I've never seen anyone insult #Jack Dempsey". Since that campaign, the phrase and ideology has become a mainstay in the Republican Party platform.

But taking politics out of the argument, does this idea of peace through strength apply to our faith and the Church? Surely, we have seen that the Church has been much more comfortable operating in compromise and concessions, rather than consistently and purposely fighting for God's principles. I dare say that is why we have abortion, lawlessness, skewed ideas of marriage and gender, and so many other legal and social issues. It's simple ... We cannot say we are "for" good, if we are not "against" evil. That axiom applies to cultural standards, military codes of operation, and spiritual precepts. 

Unfortunately, we have gone through more than two generations since we, collectively, as a nation, agreed on "no compromise" when it comes to our standards. Here is a Biblical reference [made by #Pastor Asher Intrater, a Messianic Believer in Israel] of why we need to take a good hard look at our Belief System in these chaotic days. He asks the question, "Why did the Israelites spend 40 years wandering in the desert? The old “exodus” generation had to die out, and a new generation take over. What was their problem? The “Ex” generation was not willing to fight in the war against evil". 

Exodus 13:17 tells us the story ... So it happened, when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearer; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war [that is, that there will be war], and return to Egypt.” As Asher Intrater explains it, "They could have gone directly from Egypt into victory in Canaan-land. But they weren’t ready to fight. So, they were redirected into the wilderness to wander for a full generation, until the next generation could be raised up. There were three stages: salvation from slavery; then wandering in the wilderness; then fighting for victory".

I found it interesting that [in his writing] he also insinuated that Israeli society was struggling with this concept of war vs compromise. I believe our own nation, and especially the Church, must come to terms with it themselves. That leads me to asking you this question ... do you believe that God wants us to live in victory and His fulfilled promises? But if there is a battle between Good and Evil, doesn't war eventually become necessary for victory? Is it not true, that we can't enter into victory if we're not willing to fight? We can't compromise or concede our way to a complete and fulfilled victory! As much as we don't want to admit it, learning warfare is a necessary step to gaining faithfulness and moral character.

And there is a statement that the good Pastor made that will shake many Christians to the core; those who only see Jesus as #the Prince of Peace, and not in His full identity which includes a #Warrior King and #Commander of Heaven's armies ... "God wants you to know war. That is hard for some to grasp. Fighting in moral, spiritual, and military warfare is part of walking in faith. To fear God is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13). If we haven’t been through war, we miss some basic aspects of faith: Fighting a war demands obedience, discipline, holiness, faithfulness, courage, sacrifice, a victorious spirit, punishment of evil, justice, and salvation. Messiah Yeshua is not only the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6): He is also the Commander of the Armies (Joshua 5:13, Revelation 19:11)".

This statement comes from a Believing and Confessing Jewish Pastor, whom I believe is part of the remnant of Israel that God is calling upon to restore His Name in His Holy Land. And I believe it is a statement that all Christians need to embrace as well! the Bible tells us there is a war that has been waging from the beginning of time between God and the devil; between Good and Evil. And the climax of this war is coming soon! It is time to regain the knowledge of what it means to have a fighting spirit. It's time to be victorious once again as God's army on earth. Let us leave this vapid and feeble wilderness, and raise up a generation that knows how to fight for the Lord! 

God had to send a generation of Israelites to wander in the desert because they didn't have a fighting spirit. Their years in captivity and slavery had robbed them of their true identity and their desire to war. But God had a mission for them to do, and it could not be done through compromise or concession. We have a decision to make -- are we ready to change our paradigm from #lukewarm Church to #warring Ekklesia? Do we recognize that there is a time for war and a time for peace, and for the sake of the lost, it is our time to fight? Are we ready to leave the wilderness behind and cross over to the victory that awaits us? Remember: it is Jesus Christ, the royal King and Warrior who leads us against our mutual foe, and we will be treading where the saints before us have gone. It's time to leave the wilderness!

NOTE: I ask that as you go to the links provided in this post, that you seek the wisdom of the Lord as you read these various opinions. I do not present myself as in agreement with them all, nor propose that you agree with them, but rather take them to the Lord and listen for His voice to direct you to His Truth. As always, I suggest that you "eat the meat and spit out the bones", trusting in the Lord and your own discernment. They are meant as a starting point for your own research. 

#peacethroughstrength; #AsherIntrater; #PrinceofPeace; #WarriorKing; #HeavensArmies; # LukewarmChurch; # Ekklesia; #WanderingintheWilderness; #Warvscompromise #EndTimestheology; #WarsandRumorsofWar; #EndTimesProphecy

Revelation 19:11.   And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who was riding it is called Faithful and True (trustworthy, loyal, incorruptible, steady), and in righteousness He judges and wages war [on the rebellious nations].