My Personal Assessment (& A Piece of Advice) For Those Called To Ministry

I find myself in a quandary today. Ever since my husband, Mark, and I were called out of our lackluster relationship [and service] to the Lord in order to receive a God-ordained ministry, we have been blessed by His faithfulness [and the Holy Spirit's wisdom and counsel] to be connected to people who have ignited, activated, encouraged, and walked beside us to see His will done in lives on the earth. 

Our spiritual journey really began over 15 years ago, and to be honest, we were simply a couple living a normal, commonplace life who faithfully went to Church, loved our Sunday School group, and thought of ourselves as good Christians. But one day, we just looked at each other and said, "I need more; I'm not being fed, and I want more of who God is." Long story short, it all began with my husband receiving an unexpected [and rare] vision from God that let us know He was calling us to something bigger than ourselves. 

At the time, we were seen as rebels within the Church we attended. After all, we were no longer coloring inside the lines of traditional Religious practices. We were attending conferences and training workshops with people who professed to also have heard from the Lord that He wanted to work with His followers to help continue the work He started ... preaching the Good News of His Kingdom; proclaiming that they could have freedom from their bondage to Satan [through the ministry of Inner Healing]; and working with Jesus to free individuals from the oppression of demons, illnesses, and the traumas and tragedies of life. 

We literally spent three years in the Word; studying every morning for at least two hours, and examining our denominational theology to make sure it aligned with God's Holy Word. After that dedicated time we were rewarded with His sanctified calling on our lives to a ministry in which we partnered with Jesus to set the captives free. We did not advertise it, call ourselves by a fancy title or ministry name. We just took advantage of every opportunity God brought to us to speak to anyone whom He helped us discern needed to be set free in order to pursue their purpose on this earth. One by one, they found their way to us, as God ordained their steps. At the beginning, we were met with a lot of skepticism, doubt, and unbelief. And we understood. The Church had their own form of "normalcy bias" ... and the message we were sharing [that Jesus can still set captives free like He did in the Bible] did not fit the modern model. The results of our form of ministry testified to the truth we professed, and lives were rescued from the Enemy and gloriously changed.

As the years progressed, we were thrilled to see more and more people awakening to our testimonies and Jesus's command to Seek the Kingdom first and righteousness. And we counted it a blessing when a few, who were themselves set free, experienced the calling on their lives to set others free -- just as Jesus called His disciples to do. By this time, the number of people finding their way to Jesus's Healing Table in our home had grown exponentially. We hoped that because of the freedom they received, they would want to become disciples of Jesus, following His model of bringing inner healing to those who have experienced trauma and oppression, all by the devil's design to keep them from discovering their assignment for the Kingdom. We began receiving requests to convene small conferences to teach and train others what we had been taught.

We were excited that people seemed interested in continuing Jesus's practice of setting the captives free. We naively thought that once they had experienced their own freedom, they would glorify Him by unselfishly setting others free. Over the next year or two, we saw people embrace the ministry from many different perspectives. We saw those who began having dreams and clearly hearing their instruction to plant and grow a ministry for the Lord. They were ready to take the ball and run with it! But then I also began to discern those who loved the idea of emulating Jesus's ministry and became impassioned with the possibilities of what they could accomplish for God's Kingdom. And I also began discerning that some were approaching this ministry out of their soul, rather than hearing God's voice in their spirit. They seemed to be getting out ahead of God's plan and schedule, devising their own program of ministry, fueled by their own zeal and enthusiasm.

In truth, not every dream, or thought that comes into our minds is always from God. Sometimes they are our own thoughts, prompted by our desire to serve the Kingdom [or, even our need for validation]. They can seem like God is speaking directly to our spirits, when in reality it is our soul [our mind, emotions, and free will] generating the dreams and thoughts. And that is an important distinction because it is the difference between God HONORING or BLESSING our ministry. And we have to ask ourselves an honest question ... is the condition of our heart to grow our ministry, OR is to advance the Kingdom? Granted, you can advance the Kingdom if your ministry is growing, and God will certainly honor those efforts; He will recognize, appreciate, and value your ministry. And a byproduct may be that people will also recognize the validity of your ministry.

But I think we have to ask ourselves a very important question -- are we more driven to develop and grow our ministry; or are we more focused on representing God's Kingdom and taking back territory from the Enemy? Is the focus of our ministry centered on us and our reputation, or is it about declaring, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven?" If it is the latter, then the ministry God has called us to will be blessed; there will be bountiful fruit that is borne from it.

I'm going to be honest here ... the Lord has blessed the ministry that He called Mark and I to. It is so encouraging [and gratifying] to see people who have been set free through our obedience to Christ, then answer His call on their lives, and begin to work with Jesus to help set others free! I find it uncomfortable when someone makes an appointment and tells us that they have been hearing about us. No! I want them to be hearing about what Jesus is doing through us! For us, it's always been about Jesus; about being obedient to His teachings and commands, fulfilling the same assignments as the Twelve Disciples were given. I want it to be said of us as it was said of them ... And they went out and preached [the Gospel of the Kingdom] everywhere, while the Lord was working with them and confirming the Word by the signs that followed.

And what did Jesus say would be the signs of those who believe in Him and were baptized into salvation? In My Name they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them [these are cultural idioms for engaging with evil people and poisonous words]; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well. That is some fruit that cannot be ignored!

Sadly, it is has become my opinion over the last few years that the true motives for ministry have [for a growing number of Christians] become all about chasing the Gifts, Titles, and Positions. If we are going to see these ministries truly model the ministry of Jesus Christ, we need to be honest with ourselves and ask if we are not elevating ourselves and our ministries above what God is trying to do in getting people free. If we do not become poor in spirit [recognizing that we have no spiritual "assets"; we are truly poor and must be willing to beg God for His resources that are necessary to do ministry], we will never receive the rewards of the Kingdom of Heaven. If we are relying on our own abilities and resources, instead of God's will and instruction, then we will never receive as much from Him as we could have. And we are denying the person we're ministering to the full measure of what God wants for them, and it becomes all about us.

I do not want to condemn or judge, because I believe these ministers love the Lord and have a heart to help people, but I have become increasingly disappointed in some of them as I watch them chasing what I can only call "Performance Ministry", seeking validation from their actions and what is put on display for all to see. I read an article back in 2019 by Deliverance Minister, Kathy DeGraw in Charisma Magazine that has stuck with me. She asked this pointed question: Are we doing ministry for ourselves so we can release our anointing and preach, pray, and prophesy ... or are we genuinely in love with God, desiring to release the Spirit of God within us? That answer is important because one draws attention from others to us; the other focuses on the intentions of our heart towards the Father. One is an honor; the other a blessing which can result in changed lives for the Kingdom, which is synonymous with fruit. 

I don't want to paint a broad brush across all ministries, but I do want to share these cautionary words if you are being called to ministry ... let your heart be cleansed of all self-promotion and centered on the will of God, for there you will find blessings that far outweigh the praise of men. 

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

Who Does The Earth Belong To? God, Man, or Satan? And Why It Matters!

image ©craiyon.com

The questions I pose in this post's title may seem inconsequential to many, but I assure you they are at the heart of the spiritual battle in which we find ourselves. I don't think it's too hard to figure out that this earth is under extreme pressure. Organically speaking, the earth's elements are deteriorating and the Bible actually tells us that they are crying out for us to take back our dominion [and rule and maintain the earth as we were assigned]. Relationally speaking, man's mandate to love the Lord God with all our hearts, minds, souls, [and spirits], and to love each other as we love ourselves, has been a woeful failure. The state of our nation and the world is a testament to our shortcomings. 

And if I could point to one thing [among many] that has led to this demise of our original position on earth, it would be this .... I don't think we fully understand God's plan for mankind, or Satan's plan to foil it. It's as if we've been blinded to the actual events that began in Heaven and have played out on the earth since the account revealed to us in Genesis, chapters one through three. The universe, itself, has a consciousness of the origin of "the rebellion" and its consequences throughout the millenia, but man, himself, became more and more self-centered and therefore, has been unable to see the full agenda of God's Enemy, Satan, the author of Heaven's Rebellion. It's as if, once removed from the Garden, mankind lost his supernatural worldview and now his perception is skewed and limited to only what is available to the human mind.

As this article on logos.com reminds us, we still have the basic concept of who Satan is and what he's all about ... The Bible tells us that because of his prideful nature he challenged God's Supremacy and Authority, hoping to usurp God's Heavenly throne and rule Heaven and all Creation for himself. As my previous post reveals, the Garden of Eden was the gate [portal] that gave man access to the presence of God and his relationship with Him. But the success of Satan's offered temptation to Adam and Eve cost them [and him] that access point, and the gate to Eden was closed. Satan's judgment was "to be expelled from Eden to a new domain: earth and the underworld". And ever since, there has been a battle between man and Satan for ownership of earth.

So, if asked "where does Satan live?", I would say he doesn't have a set, permanent residence. In fact, when God asks him in Job 1:7, "Where have you come from?", Satan answers, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it". It is important that we, as God's representatives on earth, understand that only He can be present everywhere at the same time [omnipresent]. Satan can only be in one place at a time. That's why he is best seen as a wanderer, prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

So, although we need to be alert to his ways and the territories he may inhabit, it is of utmost importance that we comprehend that Satan wants full and absolute dominion over the earth. He wants it for his permanent home and he resents that even when man sinned against Him, God still allowed man to retain his dominion over the earth, by sending His Son, Jesus, as the way to forgiveness and the re-establishment of our dominion. Therefore, Satan has been determined to come up with a plan that will [for all time] destroy man's authority and jurisdiction over the earth. Satan knew that if God's plan to send mankind a Redeemer is allowed to play out [as foretold in Genesis 3:15], his deed to the earth would become null and void.

And just so I make it clear as to who the Earth belongs to, let's consider a couple of verses that are essential to a true Biblical worldview. Deuteronomy 10:14 says, Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Makes it pretty clear, doesn't it? God is the rightful Owner of everything -- first, second, and third heaven, along with the planet earth and everything in it. But wait! What about Psalm 115:16, which says, The heavens are the LORD's heavens, but the earth He has given to the children of man. Doesn't that sound contradictory? Does the earth belong to God, or does it belong to man? As Genesis 1:26-28 tells us, God created the earth and then created man in His likeness, giving us authority to steward the planet on His behalf. In other words, we were given the responsibility to look after the earth, to manage it and take care of it for God, and to keep God's order in the land.  

This is why you will see recurring posts on my blog that point to warnings about recognizing the attack plans of the Evil One to rob us of our authority and rulership of this domain called Earth. Satan is jealous that we are allowed to call Earth our [temporary] home -- even though our ancestors also rebelled against Him -- and he hates us, knowing that God has set His redemptive plan in place to return us to our original abode [from which he has been permanently expelled]. And that is why Satan has become our Enemy, and through his cunning and crafty ways, has always been committed to tempting men to rebel against God. And sadly, to some, he is [as Jesus refers to him, "the ruler of this world". Just like Adam and Eve, men throughout the ages have let their willful disobedience blind them to Satan's schemes to alter our identity, which is made in the image of God. If Satan can successfully pull off his game plan, then we will no longer share our hereditary traits that identify us as part of God's family, and the highest Fallen Angel can finally claim Earth as belonging to him.

Because let's face it, the people in Jared and Noah's day didn't understand the Seed War that Satan designed [through the Fallen Angels] to corrupt the bloodline so that the Redeemer could not be born. And neither do enough of us see Satan's modern attack plan through his GRIN network (Genome manipulation; Robotics, Intelligence (Artificial), and Nanotechnology). Nothing has really changed! Satan will continue to seek ways to tempt, deceive, exploit, and corrupt man's relationship with God in the hopes that he can, at last, remove us from God's protective hand. We know that God will never relinquish us if we remain a true and steadfast believer. But we must pay attention to Satan's schemes so that we are not tempted to remove ourselves by no longer remaining in God's image.

That's what Satan's latest warfare strategy is all about ... transhumanism. By its own definition, transhumanism is "a philosophical and intellectual movement that advocates the enhancement of the human condition by developing and making widely available new and future technologies that can greatly enhance longevity, cognition, and well-being". [Emphasis is my own]. In other words, if we are willing, we can improve on God's design of what it means to be a human. The ultimate goal behind this movement is to convince mankind that we don't need God to live eternally, gain wisdom, or enjoy good health, feel secure, or prosper. Satan's agents in this world want us to believe that technology is our new Savior; technology has become the new tree of life and the new tree of knowledge -- don't worry about whether it is knowledge of good and evil; it is just "the way" to our future; a future where God is unnecessary.

So, can you see why it matters who we think the earth belongs to? If you think God has lost ownership and authority, and his plans for this planet and the future of mankind are archaic and obsolete, and mankind would be better served by joining forces with the Usurper, then you have the free will to make that choice. As for me, I pray that men will come to the knowledge of Christ and recognize that we are in the predicament we're in because we have fallen short of our mandate to steward the earth as the God of all Creation has commanded us. Because of our fallen nature, the earth has been under God's curse (Genesis 3:17). And nothing the Enemy of God can offer us will ever replace God's righteous rule. All of the technology that is supposed to enhance and advance our condition on earth is no match for God's promise that Heaven and earth will pass away (Matthew 24:35), but we will live eternally with Him, where we will live in the new Heaven and earth, and we will rule and reign with Christ in His Kingdom (Revelation 22:1-5). 

The time is now to see and understand what has been, what is now, and what will be on the earth! Do you know who you are, and whose you are? Do you understand the part you are to play? Do not ask, "Why does God allow Satan to rule on the earth?" God doesn't allow Satan's authority over men! Men choose [through their free will] to follow Satan's false rule in their lives! The true King of the Universe is coming soon! The earth and everything in it is coming under His judgment and we, who have faith in Him as the Creator and our Savior/Redeemer, await Him as the Righteous One who brings renewal and restoration. Hallelujah!

Psalm 23:6     Surely [only] goodness and mercy [steadfast love] shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall [return to] dwell in the House of the Lord forever. AMP

 

 

Jesus Is The Way ... Understanding the Ancient Belief System That Led To This Truth.

I am always blown away by how much the Bible opens up to me when I make the effort to study the origins of man and the ancient civilizations that have influenced us. That information is essential to understanding our Biblical ancestors and our comprehension of Scripture, as it was written. Unfortunately, we 21st Century Believers can get so caught up in our own self-importance [and condescending attitudes] that we can invalidate, [or even remove all traces of], what ancient cultures believed about a Creator and man's access to him. What's more, we can even develop a contempt for that belief system; beliefs that might actually benefit us with a more truthful interpretation of what the Creator intended. Just because we think man has advanced in intelligence, expertise, and achievements doesn't mean our theological belief system is any closer to our God's objective and desire.

Of course, we must take into account all the efforts of the Rebellious One [and his followers] to sow deception, misdirection and untruths into our historical relationship with the One who created us for His purpose. But I think we need to be careful not to carelessly dismiss what the cultures of our forefathers-in-faith understood. Although their belief system might seem antiquated or simplistic to us -- and maybe even heretical to some Christians -- it just might provide some incredible insight to a deeper view of the Gospel. 

I'm going to say, right off the bat, that what I'm going to try to explain is better suited to an academic paper, and indeed, could be expanded to a book on its own merit -- but I'm going to try to condense it to a reasonable length in this post that will, hopefully, incite enough interest that you will take it to the Lord and ask for more information. So, let's take for instance, the Biblical story of the Garden of Eden, and how I see that it is a representative allegory of our way to the Father. That might seem contrary to our understanding of Genesis, but keep reading ...

I would say that most Christians today conceive of the Garden as an actual physical place that once existed on the earth. After all, the Bible gives us a limited description of Eden in Genesis 2:8-14 ... a garden ["a hedge of protection and defense", according to the Hebrew meaning], was established in the east, and called Eden [which means "delight"]. In the midst of this garden God planted the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Bible tells us that a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers, of which only the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are still known. 

Our modern, and simplified, version of the Garden of Eden is symbolized by the notion of innocence, temptation, and of "Paradise Lost". The desire to return to the Creator's gift of Paradise - where we resided in intimate relationship with God -- is an embedded part of our divinely created DNA; it cannot be destroyed or removed.  Would it surprise you to know that all the religions of the historical cultures of the world all share a theme of a divine connection between gardens and their gods? Furthermore, they share narratives of the gods/angels descending from Heaven to earth on the summit of a mountain, in the midst of a lush garden. 

NOTE: At this time, I want to address the arguments that our Faith is founded on the mythological stories of these other religions because they were in existence long before the Bible was written [therefore making our faith just a replica of these primitive belief systems]. But what if these other cultures/civilizations were shown the Creator's truth but did not experience His Presence [as we have], and therefore represented His Truth in different ways? What if the fallen Angel, Lucifer, was able to tempt these early civilizations to worship him and his fallen angels as false gods and creators, teaching them that they could have access to the heavenly realms through other garden-like access points? The fact that there are similarities between the ancient belief systems does not negate that the Word of God reveals the True Creator's Truth for all men through Time! It just means that humanity from the antediluvian period of history [pre-Flood] did not understand what God began to reveal to our forefathers in the faith, and therefore, has revealed to us.

Now, back to the narratives of the gods/angels descending from Heaven to earth to land on the summit of a high mountain, and in the midst of a lush garden ... Nebuchadnezzar's famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon were his attempt at building a ziggurat (a step pyramid with a series of platform levels that ascends to form a temple or shrine] as a means of establishing an artificial mountain where the gods could come down and hold court on its summit. The Word, in Ezekiel 28, tells a very accurate depiction of this concept of a divine mountain theory that explains the defection of Lucifer and the Fallen Angels ... You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God ... You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God... 

There is so much more about the corruption of Lucifer [and the subsequent end of Satan] in that chapter, but I must remain focused on the point of this post; connecting the Garden of Eden to our Way to the Father, through Jesus. So I hope you can begin to see that throughout the history of man [from the ancient and first civilizations in Sumer and Akkad up to today] there have been belief systems that accepted the thought that the gods [or in our case, God and His Son and the angels] dwell in heaven, but they can also dwell on the earth, and there have been specific points of contact that provide access to the heavenly realms where the Divine reside. 

In the context of our faith, Mount Hermon has great significance, and has certainly been a "point of contact" for several important events in our Biblical history. Mount Hermon is a very real place and the root of its name, charam, signifies that it has been devoted for the purpose of both destruction and a sacred use. Our ancient ancestors believed that the gods dwelt in heaven, and that certain locations were somehow supernaturally joined to earth at these specific places. In other words, from the dawn of various civilizations, man has been aware of "gates" or "portals" that provide access from the earthly realm to the heavenly realms. Again, it has simply made sense to seek the highest points of elevation in this realm to try and find those "access points"; sacred places that serve as the connection point, linking heaven and earth, and allowing passage from one realm to the other. 

Biblically, Mount Hermon serves as both a place dedicated to destruction and a sacred site. According to an article about Mount Hermon, there were over 20 temples on the slopes of this Mount, which corroborated biblical accounts that the mountain was considered sacred to the worshipers of the Canaanite god Baal. And Chapter 6 in the apocryphal book of Enoch tells us, "And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. And the angels, the children of heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: 'Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children' [which aligns with Genesis 6:1-4] ... Then they swore all together and bound themselves by mutual imprecations [spoken curses] upon it. And they were in all two hundred; who descended [in the days] of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon because they had sworn and bound themselves by mutual imprecations [spoken curses] upon it". Here, we can see that "Hermon" means a dedication to the destruction of Jesus's pure birth by the contamination of our bloodline.

NOTE: For those who will question my use of Enoch as a reference, I will simply say this: The Lord uses specific passages of this apocryphal book in the Bible as well, which, to me, affirms that [although not inspired], the Book of Enoch holds clues that God has concealed, hoping that we will search them out [see Proverbs 25:2].  

We see this idea of specific sites on earth serving as "gates" that lie between the earthly realm and the heavenly realms when we consider Matthew 16:13-19. Caesarea Philippi was known as a "gate to Hades" [the realm of the dead; the underworld]. Jesus takes His Disciples there to challenge them to see that it was not only an access point/gate for all the people who went there to worship the gods of the underworld, but to recognize that He was the Son of the Living God who was also a gate to the Kingdom of God, and He had the keys to defeat the gates of God's Enemies.

And again, Mount Hermon may have been a gate that was meant to give Satan and his rebellious angels an access point that would lead to the destruction of the redemptive plan of God through the birth of His Perfect Son, but it was also a sacred gate that Jesus shared with Peter, John and James when they witnessed His transfiguration. On the summit of Mount Hermon, which is the highest mountain in ancient Israel, the three Disciples witnessed a meeting between Jesus and Moses and Elijah, which is a clear picture that this sacred gate was an access point that existed between Heaven and Earth. For Biblical support of this premise, read Matthew 17:1-8 and 2 Peter 1:16-18.  

NOTE: I would be remiss if I did not mention that the Bible clearly [and often] makes note of the "high places" in the Old Testament. These were places of worship (usually mountaintops) where the people would offer sacrifices to their gods, in the hopes of calling these gods to intercede for them. These high places were earthly access points or gates into the heavenly realm. It is important to realize that there were generations of Israelites who spent years of building pagan high places when they would fall into the temptation of worshiping and sacrificing to the false gods of other nations. When they returned to following the Most High God [YHWH] they would dedicate themselves to destroying these high places. The verse of 2 Kings 23:5 speaks to this truth: He [King Josiah] did away with the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah and in the surrounding area of Jerusalem, also those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and to the moon and to the constellations and to all the host of heaven.

So, hopefully, we can begin to see the universal principle shared by the peoples of the world throughout history: there are connection points, or "gates", that conjoin all realms with "paradise", the place where Earth and Heaven intersect. And that place of intersection -- that access point -- is perfectly [and allegorically] represented by the Garden of Eden. Rather than an actual physical garden, Eden is representative of that spiritual gate where earthly man once had physical access to the God of Heaven.

And here is my final premise that I hope you will consider ... From the days of the peoples of ancient Mesopotamia to modern-day Christians and Jews, mankind has preserved the memory of our access to paradise; that place where we can commune with God. The "gates" on earth are the access points; "the way" to our reunion with our Creator. The Garden of Eden in the Bible is not meant to give us the address to a specific location on the map of Earth. Rather, it is to show us the representation of a point of access, a gate, a way to be in relationship with Him -- and after the fall of man, a way to be reconciled to that spiritual relationship.

I hope you will read this passage in John 14 with renewed spiritual insight ... "In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. Where I am going you know, and the way you know. Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, " I am the  way [to God], and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me." 

So, in summary, I know I have presented a lot of information and, in all humility, I hope I have been able to show you that the ancient belief systems that speak of Gardens like Eden serve to lead us to the Truth that Jesus is our gate; our way to that Paradise that was lost to us. I believe that our longing to return to that Paradise is truly written on our DNA and our spirits yearn to return to that idyllic place. The Biblical Garden of Eden was intended to show us a picture of the access point between man and God, where Adam could receive divine instruction on how best to steward his realm on earth; a picture of how the perfection of Heaven could be replicated on Earth. Adam's directive to "subdue" the earth was not just a commandment to bring Earth under God's design, but to expand God's rule and reality of Paradise throughout his [Adam's] domain. 

It speaks of the Grace of God that He gave men free will and the choice whether to follow His standard of Eden or give in to the temptation of God's Enemy. Because of Adam and Eve's failure to be faithful to their Creator, the gate to Eden has been closed. But because of God's everlasting faithfulness to His creation, the Cross has provided a "gate" and a "way" [through our faith in Jesus] that will culminate in the gate being opened again when we receive our resurrected bodies and once again enter into Paradise, our original Heavenly Home. Until then, we rejoice in the hope and the belief that Jesus is the way, and that the gate will be opened. And as we receive our instructions through our access point of Jesus, we persist in our spiritual war to expand the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven. 

Genesis 3:24     So God drove the man out; and at the east of the Garden of Eden He [permanently] stationed the cherubim [ministering angels who avenge assaults on God's holiness] and the sword with the flashing blade which turned round and round [in every direction] to protect and guard the way [entrance, access] to the tree of life.

 

Wonder Why the Earth Is Under Attack? It's Waiting For Us To Be Holy!

 I can't begin to explain what is being revealed to my spirit, or what my soul is experiencing. My mind is reeling as I see a clearer picture of the state of the world, and my emotions are reflecting the truth I'm seeing. The devastation from Hurricane Helene seems beyond comprehension, and the toll of human suffering seems unlimited. And I know we aren't even seeing the whole picture, nor the truth of what is contributing to the misery and trauma.

All we're seeing is what the enemies of God wish us to see; the images and the words and the reasons that will keep us in ignorance and in bondage to the corrupted systems of willful disobedience to the Creator. And before you stop reading and dismiss my post as the rant of a religious fanatic, please allow me to pull back the veil and show you how simple it is to understand what is really going on.

First of all, if you decide to trust the scientists, you believe that the destruction in the mountains of North Carolina is a result of global warming, or "Climate change", as they are now choosing to call it. They want us to believe that Helene's rapid intensification and massive destructive force are all human-caused. What's funny is that they are correct, in a spiritual manner of speaking. But, it is not as they would have us believe, the result of humans who love their gas-driven cars or farmers who raise farting cows. There's a much more ancient and damaging spiritual dynamic going on.

If we, as Christians, could only understand that what happens in the natural [and visible] realm is the fruit of what happens in the spiritual realm, we might be able to see how we [mankind] have contributed to the deterioration of the earth, and grasp our part in the resulting destruction. The prophets of old shared [first with Israel], and then with all men who came to faith in YHWH, what the Lord told them to reveal, in order that we could avoid such devastation and chaos. 

They spoke it, as He instructed them, and then it was written down so that it might educate those of us destined to be on the earth in the future. It's all right there in our Bible! Written for our edification and enlightenment; instruction from our God on how to live in harmony with Him and the earth over which we've been given dominion! But do we read it and take heed? The condition of the physical planet would seem to tell us the answer is No! So, let me share the clear warnings that God Almighty has given us:

Hosea 4:1-3 ... Hear the Word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the LORD has a [legal] case with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness [no steadfast love, no dependability] or loyalty or kindness or knowledge of God [from personal experience with Him] in the land. 

There is [false] swearing of oaths, deception [broken faith], murder, stealing and adultery; they employ violence, so that one [act of] bloodshed follows closely on another.

Therefore the land [continually] mourns, and everyone who lives in it languishes [in tragic suffering], together with the animals of the open country and the birds of the heavens; even the fish of the sea disappear.  

Isaiah 24:3-6 ... The earth shall be utterly empty and utterly plundered; for the Lord has spoken this word. The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and withers; the highest people of the earth languish. The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, and few men are left.

We need to see the big picture! The earth and all that we need to sustain us was created by the Lord, and God saw that it was good! Then God followed through with His pre-ordained plan to create man in His image and establish us as guardians or regents of His domain called Earth. We were designed specifically to administer His government over this planet in His stead. Unfortunately, man was tempted by God's Enemy to willfully abdicate his authority and he handed over the government of Earth to Satan and his rebellious followers. Man not only surrendered his own blessings from the Lord, but subjected the created earth to the bondage of wickedness and evil.

We need to understand that our authority on Earth is authorized by the King of Heaven. All authority in heaven and on the earth was given to Jesus, and He transferred it to those who believe in Him in order to protect and righteously rule this domain we've been given charge over. We have authority over all the power of the enemy in this realm. But does the earth look like we've taken our responsibility seriously? Does the earth reflect its original properties and the glory of the Master's hand?

What's been declared to my spirit is that God's original mandate for earth -- that we have dominion over it -- has not changed. The devil has no ordained authority in this realm except what we give to him or we perceive by the actions of evil men! The devil has no worldly power on the earth; but he can tempt those who do have the power to become his willing partners. That betrayal and treasonous decision by evil men also affects other men and the nature of the creation. 

That's why Paul's message in Romans 8:19-21 is so important for us to understand: For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.   

It was not only mankind that God subjected to His righteous judgment when Adam and Eve gave up the blessing of our authority and dominion of the earth. Everything created on the earth has felt the pain and loss of our forefather's sin against God. And it is time that we recognize that the reality of mankind's current existence, the environment and elements of the earth, and the atmosphere, itself, around this planet -- everything -- is the result of evil men who used their free will choices to willingly walk in rebellion and disobedience to God. They chose to follow Satan for the prizes offered: power and wealth. And they are willing to sacrifice all of God's creation for their own selfish purposes and worldly enrichment.

And, yes, the consequences are evident in the physical earth. But they have also resulted because of the spiritual war over this earth and its inhabitants. It has become so abundantly clear to me that we Christians don't really know who we are. We aren't trained up to know our power and authority or how to destroy the works of the enemy of God. Too many of us know and use the Name of Jesus as a magical mantra, praying and hoping Jesus will do the hard lifting in this battle because we are either afraid or don't truly believe the Word about our dominion. Talking and singing and praying about Jesus isn't enough! We must actively stand in the confident knowledge that we are truly a new creation! 

That's what it means when the Word says "creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God". The earth is waiting for us to step into our identity as a new creation who walks in the power and authority of our holiness and righteousness; a new creation that truly knows the Lord and His will and follows His commands. The land knows our purpose and knows that when we step into that identity, that they will be restored and our spiritual renewal will result in a renewal of the earth! That's why it is groaning and mourning! 

It is time for the true sons of God to stop participating and compromising with the sinful world and come out of hiding inside the Church walls! The earth groans and mourns, waiting for us to rescue it from the darkness that has been manifested by the evil deeds of men -- the darkness and bondage that comes in the form of violent hurricanes, floods, mudslides, fires, drought, earthquakes, tornadoes, and other devastating attacks upon the land. 

God has shown us that man's evil ways bring His judgment upon the land. But He has also given us His promises of renewal, restoration and reconciliation. It breaks my heart that the good people of North Carolina are the latest victims of man's failure to maintain the goodness of God's blessings that were ours in the Garden of Eden. Lord, give us the wisdom, and the courage, and the hunger to make things right again. Give us a chance to repent and renew the land as we meet the expectations of the creation. And let us stand up to Evil and all its accomplices as we free Your creation from its bondage and bring the earth into its rightful place in Your Kingdom. Amen!  

Hebrews 6:7-8    For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

The Return of Jesus: Awaken To The Call of The Shofar!

Just a couple of days ago, I spoke to a friend who asked me the age-old question, "Do you think we'll see Jesus coming back in our lifetime"? He quickly followed up that inquiry with, "I know that no man knows the day or hour, but just what is your opinion [based on what you're seeing in the world]? I mean, I know Israel is back in their homeland, but what else are you looking for"? 

I understand there are lots of Christians who are asking those questions out of their concerns and fears [as they sense the instability in the world]. But I also think it is as much a result of the lack of depth in their understanding of the Bible and of God, Himself. I don't mean to offend anyone in particular, but over the 12 years of writing this blog, I have discovered that the desire to seek God's Truth through knowing Him in a real relationship, or through study of His Word, is lacking in a large portion of "the modern Church".

I used to say that we all have a worldview, or a particular philosophy of life or conception of the world. But I find that there is a separation in belief systems that leaves so many without any solid ground to stand on. Maybe you are still mired in a normalcy bias, choosing to not look at what is going on in the world; or your senses are highly alert to the drums of war that are sounding across the globe and you instinctively discern that we are on the edge of a dramatic course of events; or whether, like me, you have a Biblical worldview, which is my framework of ideas and beliefs through which I interpret the world and how I choose to interact with it.

So, rather than give my friend a direct Yes or No as to whether I expect to see Jesus in my lifetime, I explained that throughout history people have lived during destructive times that looked like what Jesus told us it would when He returned. And, yes, I recognize that Israel is back in the Holy Land, given to them by YHWH. But there is more that I wanted him to understand. It's not hard to see that the current situation in Israel is affecting the entire world, so yes, it would be easy to say "God's Zion" is under attack and on the verge of destruction, so surely Jesus will soon be coming back! 

So, before I am called a "Zionist Christian" or ridiculed for my "pro-Feast, Jewish tendencies", I want to make this simple statement ... I see the nation of Israel as that land promised to God's Chosen People in the Bible. And I recognize that there is a distinction between the future prophetic restoration of that land, and the existence of the current state of Israel. My Biblical worldview tells me that Jesus will not return again until God turns the focus of His saving mercies on Israel again, and Israel responds to God through Jesus Christ, their Messiah. That hasn't yet happened in a national sense.

Yet, the circumstances there right now should be waking a lot of Israelites up! The spiritual and temporal attacks against them should be driving them to search what their ancient prophets have revealed regarding their salvation, deliverance, preservation and redemption! As I explained to my friend, the question is not really about whether Jesus will come back during my lifetime, but how God sees the state of the world and how He measures Israel's continued rebellion against Him. 

In Biblical language, Zion refers to God's spiritual kingdom. But, in this modern century, the word Zion and Zionist have taken on negative connotations because the love of Zion [from its establishment as a Jewish state in 1948] has become a nationalistic and political movement, rather than a religious/spiritual or cultural identity. Zionism, today, continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the nation of Israel and address the threats to its continued existence and security. It has little to do with God's spiritual view of Zion. 

Let me be clear in explaining my sensitive position, and please read this paragraph in its entirety before you pass judgment ... the state of Israel, as it exists today in the Middle East, does not represent the Israel that will say, "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord."  They are largely a secular and political state, with no religious connection to Yeshua, their Messiah at all.They are true political Zionists. However, the population also includes a sizable number of religious Orthodox Jews who remain blinded to their future, and most probably view themselves as Zionists from a historical, Old Testament perspective. But I also want to point out that there is a growing population of Messianic Jews, who know and believe in Yeshua as the Biblical Messiah, and are evangelizing "in the Name of the Lord." And I praise God for this remnant that is returning to its true identity in the land.  

BUT, as I continued to share with my friend, it is not only Israel that God has His eye on. The Bible tells us that Jesus will return when all the nations have drunk from the cup of wine of God's wrath [Jeremiah 25:15-17]. "They will drink and stagger and go mad because of the sword [Jesus, the Word] that I will send among them." I have no doubt that our own nation has drunk from this cup, and God abhors our rebellion against Him as much as He does Israel's. We have squandered His favor and goodness towards us -- being responsible for killing 60+ million innocent babies; supporting, promoting, and exporting child trafficking and pornography; for turning our humility into endless greed; and if that's not enough, we have sought to remove His influence in every sector of our society, while much of "the Church" maintained their self-promoting identity in the shelter of their extravagant buildings. 

My friend had to acknowledge that we deserve God's judgment and have surely drunk the cup of wine of His wrath. If God did not spare the fallen angels, the ancient and wicked civilizations in Noah's day, or Sodom and Gomorrah, how much more will He bring certain judgment upon those of us who have knowledge of the Good News of His Salvation and Kingdom?!? As I explained further, Jesus has told us the times will get worse until He returns, and I do not believe we are destined to be raptured out of this wicked earth. God does not want to lose even one soul, and we need to be present to speak into the unsaved, the skeptical, and the wicked themselves who have yet to sear their minds against God's love for them. So, we will have work to do right up to the moment that we hear the trumpets sounding the Lord's return!

And let us not forget that we are entering the season and rehearsal of the Lord's Fall Feasts... As you read this blog post, the Feast of Trumpets is upon us, which has us looking heavenward, anticipating the blowing of the shofars announcing His return as we repent and celebrate renewal in the Lord. If He doesn't come this year, what would I advise my friend and all Christians? Let us live in patience and with purpose! Let us trust in God's timetable as we live out our New Covenant responsibilities. Let us proclaim that all the promises of God in the Bible are possible because of the work of Jesus and the outpouring of the Spirit. Let us not bemoan the delay of His return, but rather seize each day as new, transformed people who bear witness to Jesus, continuing His work to heal the sick, cast out demons, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and spread the Good News that God's Heavenly Kingdom has broken into our world! And let us never tire of fighting back the power of evil and wickedness, thereby bringing new disciples into His kingdom on earth. I don't know if my Lord and Savior will return in my lifetime ... I'd love to see that! But I will devote however many years I have left to hasten His coming! May the shofars sound soon!

Habakkuk 2:3   For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end -- it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.         

Is the Church Equipped to Carry Out Its Great Commission?

First things first ... what is the Biblical definition of a commission? Strong's expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, tells us "this word denotes a turning over (to another); a referring of a thing to another, and so a committal of full powers." Let's take a look at what Jesus tells His Disciples [in Matthew 28:19-20]: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in [or into] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."   

Next question ... What constitutes the "all"? Obviously, making disciples of all nations and baptism of new believers was part of the commission. But there's more! Matthew 10 begins by telling us that Jesus called His twelve disciples together and gave them authority [turning over His authority, in full power -- the definition of a commission] over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and affliction. Furthermore, in verses 5-8, He tells them, Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel [the Gentiles did not receive the gospel of the Kingdom until the Jews refused it]. Proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons." These are the things Jesus taught them and commanded them to do. We see the disciples carrying out that important commission in Scripture. 

Now, the important question for our generation ... How does the Church define its commission? I think we can all agree that the Church [which are the people of God] has been given tasks by God for us to accomplish in the world. I would venture to say that the modern Church has largely defined its role in terms of the Matthew 28 description of the Great Commission: i.e., making disciples [through preaching the doctrine of salvation], and baptizing believers. Nothing wrong with that!  Jesus absolutely commanded that. And the missionary work of the Church has certainly taken the Word of God to the world.

But somewhere along the way in history, the Matthew 10 part of  "the all" He commanded became discounted through doctrines like "Cessationism" [the belief that Jesus gave His power to work miracles to the disciples to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons only until the Church was established]. But Jesus didn't come to establish a Religion to be practiced only in a building. Scripture does not record that as part of His commission. He clearly says "AS YOU GO"! So, as we go about our day, we are to proclaim "the kingdom of heaven is at hand" -- it's available; readily accessible when needed. That means the power that Jesus received from the Father to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers and cast out demons, is available to us, too, because He turned over the full powers of Heaven to us!

Because "the Church", for too long, did not recognize that part of its commission, the Enemy of God has had a field day with Christians. Please note ... I am not questioning the salvation of those who are truly committed to a faith in Jesus, nor am I discounting all the good things the institution of Religion has done in the world. But let's be honest with ourselves. Has the Church walked in the power of Jesus that He turned over to us? If so, why has cancer grown in its power? Why did so many die from the latest pandemic? Why has evil and violence gained so much ground in our culture? We cannot deny that our church buildings are full of wonderfully saved people. But why are so many on medications to deal with their anxiety and depression? Why are marriages failing as we see the Biblical concept of family disintegrating before our eyes? 

And don't tell me that demons aren't real! If you call yourself a Bible-believing Christian, then tell me this ... do you believe the Bible when it says Jesus cast out demons? Do you think when He was crucified, resurrected, and ascended into Heaven, that the demons decided that they were vacating the earth, too? And finally, do you think Jesus left us here at the mercy of the demons, with no way to war against them, as He had? No! It's HIS POWER [that He gave to us] to continue His work to show believers that the power of the Kingdom of Heaven is available to us, too ["at hand"]! That's why He says in Matthew, Teach them to observe [participate in] all that I have commanded you; and I will be with you always, until the end of the age. He intended for His work to continue through us until the end of the age .  That's what John 14:12 means ... "Whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father."  

Rest in the part of that Scripture that says He will be with us always! Yes, we have His power in us, but we don't have to try to figure out how to use it by ourselves. He is now seated in Heaven, giving us instructions on how to advance the Kingdom of heaven here on earth, just as the Father guided Him when He walked the earth as a human. He showed us the way, and we are now to carry on that work, "as we go". And I want to summarize why I presented the question in the title of this blog. It is so important that we, as the Body of Christ, inside and out of the building, be equipped to do ALL the work of Jesus's Great Commission. I cannot imagine that there is a single spirit-filled Christian on this earth that doesn't see the darkness that is coming on the world. And more and more, we are going to see people [those who are believers and those who are not] begin to despair and walk in fear. 

Jesus tells us over and over and over, "Do not fear; don't be afraid -- just believe." Fear and belief [faith] cannot co-exist. You must decide which you will be ... fearful or faithful. Because I will tell you, [through my recent personal experiences] that you will encounter people "as you go" throughout your days who will need to be healed of illnesses, freed from demonic spirits of oppression, cleansed of societal rejection, and yes, even brought back to life when the devil tries to steal their life before God has ordained it. And you need to be prepared to work with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, right then and in the moment, to free them from the attack of the Enemy. The darkness is coming fast and it is going to try men's souls. We MUST fulfill our commission and use the full power of Jesus [that He has transferred to us], or we will have failed to carry on His work as He intended us to do. And we must be equipped and prepared to do it anywhere, at any time -- our mission field is the world, not only inside the Church building.

Yes, Jesus preached the Word inside the synagogues. But He didn't limit His work to the building. He displayed the Mighty Power of Heaven as He went; and wherever He went. I believe our world is going to look a lot different in a very short time. I pray that those with ears to hear and eyes to see will rediscover Jesus's commandments to His followers. I am so thankful that God always has a Remnant to work with and I am believing He will empower us with all the spiritual weapons that Heaven has to offer. Prepare your heart for what's coming. Then ask to walk in faith, trusting that Jesus will be with you, as He promised --  and you will receive! 

Matthew 10:26-27     So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.     

   

 

The Posthuman Revolution & Our Spiritual Battle For the Dominion of Earth!

I would say that it's been 15 years since God invited my spirit to embark on what would become an extraordinary adventure with Him; a greater understanding of Him and my purpose here on the earth. It wasn't an earth-shattering event like Paul experienced on the road to Damascus, but rather a process that began with a hunger for His Word that led to a gradual trust between the two of us. I began to receive affirmations and convictions that what was being revealed in the Bible was true and genuine for me, too; and God received verification that He could have confidence that my faith was certain and reliable, and that I could be trusted to carry out my assignments and follow His commands. I began to hear and see Him, just as Jesus did.

It has been a wild ride ever since, to say the least. I have been shown glimpses of the magnitude and immensity of God and His plan, as well as the significance and consequences of the part we play in it all. I say "glimpses" because, by no means, am I vain enough to think that I am anyone special or remarkable. I have not been given unparalleled access to the Father's mind nor a blueprint to His heavenly agenda for His creation. But what I have been given is a heart over-flowing with gratitude, a spirit eager for answers to my questions, and a passionate willingness to be in service to His Kingdom.

In return, what He has shown me through the Holy Spirit and my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ, is a history of our world engulfed in a spiritual battle for dominion. And I'll take it a step further, and say that I believe our planet has not been the only one involved in the battle to usurp God's power and authority. I know that probably puts me in the "crazy camp" of traditional Christians, but I'm just not willing to confine God's sovereign government to Earth alone. But that's a discussion for another day. Since I find myself situated on this rocky sphere orbiting the sun, it is the subject of my thesis in today's post.

I stated that God has shown me the history of the spiritual battle for the dominion of Earth. Now, I don't mean that I've seen the battle plans laid out in a complete and comprehensive format. But as I've been obedient to go where the Holy Spirit has guided me, and been willing to explore the merits of new revelations I've received [and vetted according to the Spirit], these are the aforementioned "glimpses" that have allowed me to grow in my understanding and to see the spiritual picture become wider in scope. 

From the first chapter in Genesis, the Bible [which is our manual for knowing the fullness of God] has unveiled the conflict between Jehovah, the Most High God, and His enemies, who seek to dethrone Him and take possession of the territories belonging to His sovereign government [i.e., His dominion]. That includes the stars, planets, universe, and men's hearts, minds, souls and spirits. We all grew up knowing the Scripture that tells us God said, "Let us make man in our image", and then He goes on to tell man to rule over the earth and subdue it. The Most High God created us and then transferred His dominion to rule earth to us [His sovereignty, control, supremacy, power and authority]. And we all know what happened in the Garden... God's cunning Enemy (and ours) convinced humans that we didn't have to be content with being "like" God, but could actually "become" a god ourselves. Ever since that fateful decision to believe him, Satan has used mankind to try and achieve his own nefarious plans to take possession of all of God's dominion [everything God created, including man].

Before I present the heart of my hypothesis for this post, I want to briefly touch on two points that the Holy Spirit has made very clear. The first is about something I have frequently written about: the purpose[s] Jesus was sent to this earth; namely to begin the arduous assignment to take back God's dominion on the earth that our forefather Adam relinquished. As Jesus declared in John 12:31-32, Satan is "the ruler of this world". Paul actually stated that Satan is "the god of this world" in 2 Corinthians 4:4. In the John passage, Jesus also alludes to the truth that He will also bring salvation to those who believe in Him, saying "I will draw all people (Jews and Gentiles) to Myself". BUT He makes His purpose for coming to Earth very clear in Luke 4:43: "I must preach the good news [Gospel] of the kingdom of God [God's dominion] to the other cities also; because I was sent for this purpose". Yes, Jesus made a way for us to be reconciled back to the Father, therefore making Salvation a very important facet of His purpose, but His primary mission was to re-establish God's dominion on the earth, which was a strategic strike in the spiritual battle for the dominion over all God has created. 

The second point centers around one of Satan's strategies in this spiritual battle for dominion, namely "the Seed War". When Satan is cast out of Heaven for his rebellion against the Most High God, he convinces 1/3 of Heaven's angels to accompany him and become his army of "darkness". Having served in the Throne Room of God, he is aware that God has made man in His own image and intends for man to rule the earth. Because of his pride and envy, Satan devises a plan to illegally seize man's dominion and set up his own kingdom on earth. So, in Genesis 3, we see that Satan is in the Garden of Eden, deceiving Eve [who convinces Adam to join her in disobedience] and Satan lawfully became the rightful owner of the world due to their free will choice. But God already had His redemptive plan in place. Upon announcing their punishment, our Good Father also promised them a Savior, when He told Satan: "I will put enmity [open hostility] between you and the woman, and between your seed [offspring] and her Seed; He shall [fatally] bruise your head, and you shall [only] bruise His heel."    

So, Satan's counter punch in this strategic war was to send his evil angels to have sex with earthly women, producing a hybrid race called the Nephilim in Genesis 6.  You see, Satan knew the war would be between his offspring [seed] and God's offspring [His Seed and Son, Jesus Christ]. Satan believed that if he could corrupt the seed line of God's offspring on the earth [man, made in God's image], then Jesus [who was the perfect image of God] could not be born and it would seal Satan's rulership and dominion of the earth. 

And here's the heart of the premise of today's blog: When that evil plan was shattered and Death's hold on mankind was destroyed, Satan did not give up on his plan to retain his dominion on earth. For the last 2000 plus years, he has continued to wage a spiritual war to defile man and eradicate any of the image of God that remains in us. And it is very important for us to recognize that this war has escalated in our lifetime. In the recent past, men, like Josef Mengele, were influenced by Satan's evil desires and conducted genetic experiments on innocent victims as a way to unlock the secrets of God's creation of man -- all with the purpose of corrupting God's design and creating another race of hybrids. Mankind did not yet have the technology or means to gain access to God's genetic code. 

But that hasn't stopped Satan in his plan to destroy God's image in man. The technology to create a new form of man-and-machine hybrid is on the horizon. The rise of Artificial Intelligence has given us cause to be concerned. It has taken on the appearance of a new kind of "god worship". Consider this article on theconversation.com, which states that "Generative AI can create or produce new content with several characteristics that are often associated with divine beings, like deities or prophets, such as: a level of intelligence that appears limitless; it is capable of great feats of creativity; it is removed from normal human sensations like physical pain, hunger, or sexual desire; it can offer guidance in daily lives; and probably the most seductive, it is immortal. How many people do you think will gladly sign up to receive a chip that repeats the promise made in the Garden of Eden: you, too, can become like God?

Also, we must not dismiss that by merging with AI, we could become a form of artificial life with a hybrid consciousness that would be in competition with the Holy Spirit. It should not be difficult to comprehend that we would no longer be human in the sense that we would no longer be in the image of God, nor belong to Him as sons and daughters. Can you see that this is all part of Satan's plan to keep his dominion of the earth? If he can change our DNA and genetic makeup, thereby destroying our connection to God, who will be left to fight for the Kingdom of God on earth? Not to mention, who will have access to eternal life in Heaven? Of course, Satan's emissaries are already trying to convince the godless that they can have eternal life and immortality through AI. 

There is so much more I could say about this subject, but I just want to submit to you that we must not fail to take proper notice of the wicked and iniquitous plans being arranged by our scientists, technology titans, medical experts, politicians and world leaders to lead us down a road from which there is no return. In summary, I would like to share a couple of quotes that I pray will garner your attention. The first comes from author Timothy Alberino, in his book, Birthright:  "Over the last several decades, the development of emerging technologies has been advancing at breakneck speed along the upsurge of an exponential growth curve... Among these technologies, there are four whose imminent convergence is predicted to catalyze what analysts are calling the "posthuman revolution." Styled with the acronym GRIN [a fitting appellation, as we will see], the intercourse of genetics, robotics, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology will facilitate enhancements to the full spectrum of human biology, body, mind, and soul and give birth to a posthuman being -- humanity 2.0."

The second quote comes from Dr. Leon Kass, the former chairman of President George W. Bush's Council on Bioethics... "For anyone who cares about preserving our humanity, the time has come for paying attention. Human nature itself lies on the operating table, ready for alteration, for eugenic and psychic "enhancement", for wholesale redesign. In leading laboratories, academic and industrial, new creators are confidently amassing their powers and quietly honing their skills, while on the street their evangelists are zealously prophesying a posthuman future."

So, my question to you is this: we know they are exercising their powers from Satan to recreate humans and seal their creator's eternal dominion over the earth. Are we physically and spiritually prepared to battle for our original design by the Most High God? And do we recognize that the battle between Jesus and Satan, between Good and Evil, for this planet and the world happens right here on earth? Are we capable of standing our ground and using our power and authority to defeat this abomination? Are you hearing any of these warnings coming from your pulpit? Do you think Christians in our country are ready for this spiritual war -- or are they abiding in a place of comfort called "Religion", unaware of what is being fomented all around them? It is time for a great awakening, alright! It is time to put on our spiritual armor and be ready for what is so clearly coming, and I'm afraid too many of the faithful are going to be blindsided. Lord, shine Your Light on this diabolical and satanic agenda and make ready Your Remnant! Our future lies in eternity with You in Heaven. Do not let humankind be deceived again!

2 Corinthians 2:14    But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us spreads and makes evident everywhere the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

 

               

 

Are Aliens and Extra-Terrestrials Biblical?

I'm sure all of you are aware of the interest in UFOs and aliens. Our nation [and the world] have long been fascinated with this subject. In our popular culture, most would probably point to the Roswell incident in 1947 as the first time the possibility of extra-terrestrial and alien visitation to our planet seemed a real possibility. Of course, it was all explained away as "just a weather balloon", but it didn't take long for the rumors to surface and spread that it was actually a "government cover-up." 

But would it surprise you to know that in 1639, John Winthrop, governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, wrote in his journal that "James Everell, a sober, discreet man" and two others had been rowing a boat in the Muddy River, which emptied into the Charles River [located in eastern Massachusetts] when they saw what we would term some kind of alien apparition?

An article on history.com reveals that "When it stood still, it flamed up, and was about three yards square, and when it ran, it was contracted into the figure of a swine. The mysterious light ran as swift as an arrow, darting back and forth between them and the village of Charlestown, a distance of approximately two miles. When the strange apparition finally faded away, the three Puritans in the boat were stunned to find themselves one mile upstream [which would have only been possible if they were rowing against the tide]  -- it was as if the light had transported them there. Furthermore, they had no memory of how they got there. Researchers and historians have speculated that they witnessed an extra-terrestrial spacecraft and experienced a possible alien abduction". 

Now to answer the question I posed in the title to this post ... Before we can determine whether these kinds of phenomenon are Biblical, we must first understand the meaning of terms like extra-terrestrial and alien. Once again, I am indebted to the remarkable book Birthright, by Timothy Alberino. Simply put, he defines an Extra-terrestrial as "a being whose provenance [where they come from] is not Planet Earth". An Alien is "a foreign being from an extra-terrestrial world". In that sense, we can consider that angels, whom the Bible tells us are messengers and envoys from Heaven, were in reality, both extra-terrestrials and aliens. Remember, angels came from a place that was not Planet Earth [i.e., Heaven], and they were a foreign being from that extra-terrestrial world. Just think of the visitations by these beings to the inhabitants of earth. Jacob, Abraham, Daniel, Mary and Joseph, the prophets and the Disciples all had encounters with these beings, who we could classify as "Aliens from an extra-terrestrial world". And I guess, you could say Jesus meets that definition, too.

Let's go a little deeper ... From what I could determine through my own research, the term alien appeared around 1300, from the Latin word, alienus, meaning "of or belonging to another, not one's own, foreign, strange"; and around 1400, it came to identify "a foreigner, citizen of a foreign land". It was authors like H.G. Wells, who wrote the science fiction novel War of the Worlds, around 1895, that fed the fantasy of beings beyond our planet. Subsequently, in the 1920s, there arose a public interest in outer space, which reached its height with the popularity of the 1950s/60s science fiction movies like Forbidden Planet, The Thing from Another World, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. And in terms of entertainment, nothing has quite grabbed the imaginations of modern-day audiences like the History Channel's Ancient Aliens. 

According to the show's own bio, if you will, "Ancient Aliens explores the controversial theory that extraterrestrials have visited Earth for millions of years. From the age of the dinosaurs to ancient Egypt, from early cave drawings to continued mass sightings in the US, each episode in this hit HISTORY series gives historic depth to the questions, speculations, provocative controversies, first-hand accounts and grounded theories surrounding the age old debate. Did intelligent beings from outer space visit Earth thousands of years ago"?  

NOTE: the capitalization of "History" is a nod to the show's appearance on the History Channel, but also a contrived effort to persuade watchers that their content is actually historical fact. In reality, it is a cleverly disguised manipulation of facts that pits Science against Religion/Faith. And it's just another attempt by Satan to deceive people into believing a compromised version of the creation, the universe, and God. Notice how the creators of the show begin Season 1 ... the episode is entitled Chariots, Gods and Beyond. They introduce the concept of the show by saying, "According to ancient alien theorists, extra-terrestrials with superior knowledge of science and engineering landed on earth thousands of years ago, sharing their expertise with early civilizations and forever changing the course of human history". They rely heavily on Swiss author Erich von Daniken's book Chariots of the Gods, which hypothesized that thousands of years ago, space travelers from other planets visited Earth, where they taught humans about technology and influenced ancient religions. Of course, in this age of advanced technology, that will make sense to those who are unfamiliar with the Bible.

So, can you see that all these theories and explanations could apply to the Fallen Angels? They came from a place that was not Planet Earth [Heaven]; and they were a foreign being belonging to another [Satan], originally from the extra-terrestrial realm of Heaven. Secondly, can you see how cleverly the creators of the show Ancient Aliens could present fake "experts and archeologists" to begin persuading the naive and uninformed audience that the Bible really supports their false hypotheses and speculations, rather than the other way around? The actual definition of speculation is "the forming of a theory or conjecture without firm evidence".

After watching an occasional episode, it has frustrated me, to no end, to see how they are duping this generation into doubting the existence of the Christian God, His divinely appointed angels, and His redemptive plan for mankind through His Son, Jesus Christ. The fake "experts" will make statements like, "Throughout ancient cultures there are stories of god-like beings providing instruction to early humans, helping our ancestors to establish the first civilizations and teaching them in various disciplines. Could it be true"? They will throw in a Bible verse or two from Genesis, and then continue with their real motive of deception by say, "And do mysterious figures who appear throughout history provide evidence that these otherworldly teachers have been with us all along"? Instead of taking the opportunity to discuss the Bible and how it promotes their line of reasoning, they use the series to overshadow the Bible's truths with their own false teachings.

It may surprise you to know that I think the connections that "the scientists" of Ancient Aliens make between the Biblical narrative and the conspiracy theories of their own making are about 98% correct -- for as far as they go. But they never validate the Bible as their source, nor complete their allegations to the full extent of truth and fact. For instance, they will present their suppositions that humans were once bred with alien "seed", producing a hybrid being. That is true. We know that the Bible tells us in Genesis 6:4 that "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them...". But rather than explaining the truth that these "sons of God" were actually rebellious angels who followed Satan in his plan to usurp the Throne of God, who developed his own plan to impregnate human women with the alien seed of his followers to create a foreign race of beings that would be enemies of the Most High God, they present their false theory of ancient aliens from outer space and other planets to override the Biblical narrative. 

And again, they don't present the Bible or Jehovah God as their authority, but rather their team of false "experts" to validate their combination of New Age and spiritualism as the truth behind "aliens and extra-terrestrials". Why don't they refer to the Bible and the Book of Jude which says, "For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ"? 

Or what about this verse: "And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day ---"? Why don't they use the Bible as evidence of real Truth? Because their goal is to make the Bible nothing more than mythology. Satan has once again convinced man to believe his [Satan's] corrupt presentation of God's truth, just as he did in the Garden, when he asked Eve, "Did God actually say..."?

Sadly, the state of the human race is such that far too many have fallen for Satan's cunning ability to disguise and misconstrue the truth from God in the Bible that, yes, by their actual and authentic definitions, aliens and extra-terrestrials have interacted with humans on earth. But just as happened in the Garden of Eden, man's willingness to fall for the ruse of God's enemy has resulted in their spiritual blindness and a spiritual war between three classifications of beings: God's angels and offspring, Satan's angels and offspring, and the race of human beings who must decide whose side they will fight on. 

And I would caution you with this ... just as Satan has initiated an incursion of definable aliens into God's plan for His godly creation, we would be foolish to think he won't try again. Christians must stay connected to God and the Holy Spirit. We must be discerning, and as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Technology has made it easier for the ungodly to present false testimony and evidence to encourage the ill-informed to follow Satan's hoaxes and deceptions. Be forwarned! Stay alert!

I have barely scratched the surface of this interesting topic, but one thing is clear. It is up to each of us to know the truth of our existence and our purpose. We must decide to do our own research to discover who our Creator is; that we have a very real Enemy who desires to lead us astray; and that we must decide we want to know the truth -- not some fantastical story that tickles our ears and our imaginations, but the real Truth of the One who created us and why we're here. If humankind does not make that essential effort, then we will find that through our negligence and ignorance, there will be a huge price to pay. Yes, our ultimate victory is sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ, but man's hunger to feed his appetite for the forbidden fruit will undoubtedly cost him much sorrow and pain. 

   Jude 8:  Nevertheless in the same way, these dreamers [who are dreaming that God will not punish them] also defile the body, and reject [legitimate]authority, and revile and mock angelic majesties.         

 

       

  

Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven? Is There a Difference?

I often get comments or texts from people who are trying to figure out their Biblical worldview, or who might have a question that the Church just hasn't been able to answer for them. And I love it when I receive these queries because it tells me that Proverbs 25:2 is still alive and well in the 21st Century ... It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. I love a "seeker's heart"! 

And it is important for us Christians to be prepared to give an answer to people who are trying to find and understand God in the world and cosmos. It's an opportunity to encourage someone to continue in their exploration of the efficacy of God. My husband became one of the most voracious seekers of answers when he was confronted by a friend with this common question: "If you want me to believe that God exists, can you tell me where the dinosaurs are in the Bible?" Now, my husband had no doubt that God created the dinosaurs or that their existence was somewhere noted [or hidden]in the Bible, but he couldn't give a clear or convincing answer to his friend. 

That lost opportunity to share the truth and glory of God resulted in the friend abandoning his search for answers that proved God's existence. This, in turn, caused Mark and myself to determine that we would never leave another seeker without an answer that would lead them to the Word and God. Therefore, in the next couple posts, I want to tackle some questions that I have received.

Is there a difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven? I realize that there is a huge controversy over these terms [and others], but I strongly feel that it is a distraction to keep us from seeing the deeper and more important issues that face us in the coming spiritual battles between man and the entities that are coming from the heavenly realms. So, my short answer is this: I see no difference. God's Kingdom is wherever He resides; any place He lives. 

And if you are one of those Christians who lives by Proverbs 25:2 and love to "search out a matter", then you will know that Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 that there are three heavens. So are they all the Kingdom of God? In this same passage, we discover that this Third Heaven is where God's throne is; it is the dwelling place of God, called Paradise, where Paul heard inexpressible words which man is not permitted to speak; words too sacred to tell. Psalms 33:13-14 confirms this. This is where the King resides, and Heaven [or Paradise] is His Kingdom and territory.

But He also occupies territory in the Second Heaven, which is deep space and the universe; the realm that is between the realm of Heaven, and the realm of earth. Psalm 8:3 tells us, When I see and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have established ... we know that this is the realm between Heaven and earth; the constellations and outer space [see Isaiah 13:10]. The Bible doesn't call it "Second Heaven", but it is described as a territory where Satan is "The ruler of the kingdom of the air" (Ephesians 2:2), and where there are "Spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12). We know there are no spiritual forces of evil in the Third Heaven, so it seems logical to surmise that this is the realm of the Second Heaven. 

And I believe it is safe to assume that spiritual battle between Satan's forces and the Lord's angelic army takes place in this realm of Second Heaven. Daniel 10:13-21 reveals that the angel Gabriel battled the prince of Persia [the demonic spirit that controlled the nation of Persia] in this realm for 21 days, until the Archangel Michael came to help him. So this is contested territory, but the presence of God is still manifested in this heavenly realm.

Then there's the First Heaven, which is God's territory here on earth, including our atmosphere. Deuteronomy 11:11 says, But the land that you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven. Psalm 104:12 records, Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. God created it all, and His Spirit resides in everything He creates. And remember, Jesus announced "the Kingdom of Heaven is here [at hand]" when He began His ministry. In other words, God was present and residing in the First Heaven in the form of His Son, making this territory both the Kingdom of God, and by extension the Kingdom of Heaven. 

In order to form our Biblical theology and worldview, it is important that we understand that there are multiple heavens, and that anywhere God resides is His Kingdom and His territory. So, whether He is in the Third Heaven, sitting upon His Throne; or in the Spirit with His angels as they contend with Satan's demonic forces in the Second Heaven; or in our hearts and homes and nations here in the First Heaven, it is all part of His Kingdom. Yes, it requires us to connect the dots that the Holy Spirit reveals as we "search out a matter", but it makes no difference whether you refer to His territory as the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven -- as long as you recognize that He is the King and the realms that He occupies are His Kingdom. Let's not let ourselves become sidetracked by trivial verbiage. Jesus has commissioned us to continue His work, and our attention is much needed to carry out our responsibilities in the power and authority He has given us.

Another question in the next post: Are aliens and extraterrestrials Biblical?

Psalm 103:19     The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His Kingdom rules over all.