Reconciliation, Ambassadorship & Levels of Glory

     Sometimes I struggle to connect God's dots in the Bible. Too often, I read the Bible according to the chapter and verse breaks that have been instituted by human hands down through the ages the Bible has been translated. I forget that's not how God sees His manuscript. So, while I am slowly making my way through 2 Corinthians, I am beginning to see a panoramic view of a concept God wants me to understand about my role here on earth -- a view not restricted by Chapter limitations. So let me expound...
     In 2 Corinthians, Chapter 5, I came across the verses that tell us we are a new creation when we accept Christ as our Savior and join our lives with His. And it all centers around "reconciliation". That's a word that gets thrown around a lot in Christianity, so I wanted to make sure that I understood what it means, since a verse or two later, the Bible tells us we have been given a "ministry of reconciliation" to others. Don't you think it's important we know what that entails?
     According to the Greek, this "reconciliation" denotes an adjustment or change by man that brings him back into a restoration of favor with God. In other words, we sinners repent and put our trust in the substitutionary death of Christ. Notice that I said reconciliation denotes a change by man, instead of in man. God doesn't make the change happen in us, but we change and are reconciled, or made "at one", with God. Reconciliation stresses the process of being restored. Therefore, having been given a ministry of reconciliation to others, we are to go forth and share with other sinners that they are alienated from God [by their sin] and what it means to be restored to favor with Him, and all the benefits associated with this process.

     Then, the very next verses tell us that not only do we have a ministry [of reconciliation] given to us -- but we are ambassadors for Christ! We have a responsibility towards Him because of our reconciliation; we are to represent His Kingdom on earth, having been raised up and qualified to represent Him by the work of the Holy Spirit in us. As the Passion Translation reads, So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. If we are faithful and obedient to please God, our reconciliation will lead to an ambassadorship!
     But, I want you to step back with me, and get a wider picture of how God is working through us. Just a couple of chapters prior to this -- in 2 Corinthians 3, to be exact -- we read that we are being transformed from "glory to glory". How does that work? And what does that mean? It all has to do with the work of the Holy Spirit in us! As we make the decision to become reconciled with God through our confession and repentance, we receive the Holy Spirit who begins the process of our restoration, and with that comes a freedom from sin and death. It's as if a dirty veil has been removed from before our eyes; a veil that hid the face of God and His glory from us. Once that veil has been removed from our face, we behold God's glory, and the Holy Spirit begins to transform us into the image of Christ and does the work in us that makes us worthy to be His ambassador/representative.
     Scripture tells us that we will move from one level of glory to an even brighter level. Again, what does that look like? As we are transformed into the image of Christ, we begin representing the character and ways of God [just as Jesus did]. And it is the Holy Spirit that is working in us and through us to accomplish these levels of glory [just as He did in Jesus]. The New Living Translation expresses it best: And the Lord—who is the [Holy]Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image. 
     Finally, what should it look like as we engage in our ministry of reconciliation as ambassadors of Christ? Again, the Passion Translation does a good job of expressing how the aspects of our ministry to the world should appear. We should be spreading the Good News of the triumph of Christ and the Kingdom of God over every power of the Kingdom of Darkness. We should be carriers of the fragrant aroma of Christ everywhere we go. We should refuse to water down or compromise the Word of God. We should be living letters written by Christ, not with ink, but by the Spirit of the Living God; living words to be written on tender hearts. We should stress that our ministries are not based on our own clever abilities, but by God's empowering presence in us. We should be imparting Life to those we come in contact with -- sharing Living Water and the Bread of Life. Every ounce of our ministry should flow from the Holy Spirit, and not ourselves. We should impart righteousness to those we minister to. Our ministry should embody a greater glory than religious or man-made laws, resulting in the transformation of lives that reflect Christ in the world.
     It's all tied together; connected by dots ... reconciliation leads to an ambassadorship, which results in ever-increasing works that mirror the character and ways of God. It's a picture of being progressively transformed by the Holy Spirit to becoming a mirror image of Christ -- one glory level at a time.  In the end, we can stand before the Lord and share in the reaping of the harvest of souls. And because of that, I take my ambassadorship serioiusly! What a glorious day that will be! 

Philippians 1:6     [I pray with great faith for you], because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this glorious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you and will put his finishing touches to it until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ!  

Knowing Who All That "I AM" Is

     Exodus 3:14 reads, "God said to Moses, “I AM who I AM.” And He said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” We are all familiar with this passage and God's referral to Himself in this manner. But who is I AM? How are we to know the God we serve?
     It should come as no surprise to us that the magnificence and character of who God is, is revealed to us through Scripture by the names He chooses [for Himself] in order to reveal His true nature to us. By understanding His attributes and characteristics, it gives us the opportunity to know His promises and to learn to trust Him. The problem is, our English translations of the Bible don't necessarily make it easy for us to identify the fullness of God's nature. It takes an understanding of the Hebrew names of God to begin to see Him revealed in our Bibles.
     I can remember the excitement I felt the first time I saw one of His Names that had heretofore been hidden from my understanding... It was in Genesis 16:13, which reads, Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are God Who Sees”; for she said, “Have I not even here [in the wilderness] remained alive after seeing Him [who sees me with understanding and compassion]?”  In Hebrew, "the God Who Sees" is translated EL ROI. This is the character of God in which He never sleeps; He sees, He is aware; He is the great Omnipresent God.
    And there are so many other places in the Bible that a serious student can encounter more of the nature of our Mighty God. So, I'd like to share some of God's names with you, and invite you to study them further; to gain a more intimate knowledge of who our God is.  When he says I AM, these are just some of the names by which you can come to know Him. He truly is the One True God.  Come meet Him:

 

      YAHWEH:  Because it was considered blasphemous to utter the name of the Hebrew God, it was only written and never spoken.  The Hebrews represented their God with 4 letters (Yod Heh Vav Heh), which became transliterated by the Romans to YHWH.  This name is often interchangeable with Jehovah or Lord, in small capitals.  This is the God of Israel's most revered name.

     ELOHIM:  The Creator.  It was God, as Elohim, that created the heavens and the earth.  Here is an interesting fact:  The him ending of Elohim is a plural ending in the Hebrew language; meaning more than one.  It is actually this name for God (Elohim) that is used in Genesis 1:1:  In the beginning God(s) created the heavens and the earth. This indicates that it was the blessed Trinity --- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit --- who were involved in the creation.  They are one in being and character, yet three persons united as one Creator.

      ADONAI:  This name means Lord or Master.  This name represents God's lordship over me; his total possession of me, and my total submission to Him as Lord and Master.  Thou Art my Lord (Adonai); I have no good besides Thee."  Psalm 16:2.  We serve Him as willing slaves.

      EL SHADDAI:  The All-Sufficient One.   All of our needs are met in Him.  God is the source of everything we receive, and it is in His power --- not ours --- that His purposes will be fulfilled.  You get the meaning of this name through "God Almighty".  When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty (El Shaddai); walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Genesis 17:1.  Only through God, the All-Sufficient One, could Abram realize his role as Father of our Faith.

      EL ELYON:  The God Most High.  This name designates God as the sovereign ruler of all the Universe; everything is under His control and under His dominion. Neither man nor Satan can interfere with His authority.  I will cry to God Most High (El Elyon), to God who accomplishes all things for me.  Psalm 57:2.  

      JEHOVAH-JIREH:  The Lord Will Provide.  In the character of this name, our God sees, knows and provides all our needs.  If we worship Him in obedience, all our needs will be met.  The Lord will provide (Jehovah-Jireh) as it is said to this day, 'In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.' "  Genesis 22:14.  As Jehovah-Jireh, God has not only provided for our salvation through the death of His Son on the cross, but He is able to see and provide for "our daily bread"; those day-to-day needs. 

      JEHOVAH-NISSI:  The Lord My Banner.  A banner, in ancient times, was a standard that was carried into battle as a rallying symbol for those fighting.  And, make no mistake, we are all in a spiritual battle these days against the forces of Evil.  Therefore, we must remember that the Lord goes out before us; He is our banner in this fight.  We are to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6), and under His banner, our victory is certain.  Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Psalm 60:4

      JEHOVAH-MEKODDISHKEM: The Lord Who Sanctifies You.  As Believers in Jesus Christ, we are sanctified, or "set apart" for the righteousness that comes from faith.  We are set apart by following Christ, observing the Sabbath as a Holy day, and accepting the promise that comes through trusting the Word of God.  And you shall keep My statues and practice them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you (Jehovah-Mekoddishkem).  Leviticus 20:8.

      JEHOVAH-RAPHA:  The Lord Who Heals.  Our need for healing, whether as an individual or a nation, is the result of our sins.  Through His power as Jehovah-Rapha, God can cleanse us of our sins and renew our spirits.  He can heal us physically, spiritually and emotionally.  We must first examine ourselves, recognize that we deserve to be judged for our sins, and then ask God to forgive us and heal us.  Heal me, O Lord (Jehovah-Rapha), and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for Thou art my praise.  Jeremiah 17:14.

      JEHOVAH-SABAOTH:  The Lord of Hosts.  This was the name of God during an extreme time in the history of Israel.  They had been repeatedly disobedient and God was about to deliver them over to their enemies.  It is the name that prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah used for God.  It is the name for those who find their own resources inadequate in the midst of a struggle.  This is the name of God to run to when there is no other help.  It is the name that reminds God's people of exactly who He is --- not only the One who delivers, but also the One who judges.  This name of God meets our failures and offers deliverance.  The Lord of Hosts (Jehovah-Sabaoth) is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.  Psalm 46:7.

      JEHOVAH-SHALOM:  The Lord is Peace.  Jesus is our Prince of Peace, Jehovah-Shalom.  He is the One who reconciles us to God, and enables us to stand before Him face to face without fear.  He will keep us in perfect peace, if our mind is focused on Him.  This name of God is perfectly expressed in John 14:27:  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.  This is our Jehovah-Shalom speaking to us.

      JEHOVAH-RAAH: The Lord My Shepherd.  This is perhaps our most well-known name for God.  He designed us as we are so that we would see our need for Him; to see our absolute poverty of spirit without Him.  Like sheep, we are lost without His guidance and discipline; we stray from His path of righteousness and need Him to bring us safely into rest, provision and peace.  When I follow the Good Shepherd, surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Psalm 23-6.

 

     The descriptions I have provided for each of God's Names do not encompass the entirety that all those Holy Names mean. But they give you a baseline, so to speak, to begin your own discovery of His magnitude and immensity. And these are by no means all the names that God is known by. Since I first published this list in a 2012 post, I have come to know other names of my God: El HaNe'eman - The Faithful God: (Deuteronomy 7:9). El HaGadol - The Great God: (Deuteronomy 10:17). El HaKadosh - The Holy God: (Isaiah 5:16). El Yisrael - The God Of Israel: (Psalm 68:35). El HaShamayim - The God Of The Heavens: (Psalm 136:26). El De'ot - The God Of Knowledge: (1 Samuel 2:3). El Emet - The God Of Truth: (Psalm 31:6). El Yeshuati - The God Of My Salvation: (Isaiah 12:2). Immanu El - God Is With Us: (Isaiah 7:14). El Olam - The God Of Eternity (Genesis 21:33). El Echad - The One God: (Malachi 2:10). "ELAH" is another name for God, used about 70 times in the Old Testament. Again, when combined with other words, we see different attributes of God. Some examples: Elah Yerush'lem - God of Jerusalem: (Ezra 7:19). Elah Yisrael - God of Israel: (Ezra 5:1). Elah Sh'maya - God of Heaven: (Ezra 7:23). Elah Sh'maya V'Arah - God of Heaven and Earth: (Ezra 5:11). 

     I am so blessed that the Holy Spirit has revealed greater knowledge of who my God is; that I can begin to embrace bigger and bigger concepts of His inherent qualities. And the end result is not just more knowledge of Him, but the ability to love Him more; to possess a deeper love based on all of Who He is. I hope this knowledge leads you, as it has me, to a more intimate relationship of love and trust with our multi-faceted Creator.

Psalm 91:14     The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love Me. I will protect those who trust in My name".

"Be Strong In The Power Of His Might"

     I'm sure most of you reading this blog are familiar with Ephesians 6 and your spiritual armor. You are spiritually aware that we do not fight "flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places". And since readers of this blog come from across this country and from around the world, I wanted to bring us all together in a mutual understanding of the purpose of our spiritual armor -- as Scripture says in Ephesians 6:10, "to be strong in the power of His Might." What does that look like?
     To begin with, I love the Passion Translation of this verse which reads, Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you. That sure gives me the confidence to stand my ground in these times of evil! For the rebellion from the dark side is evident all around us. But this passage tells us we are infused with supernatural strength and the explosive power of Christ! So, again, I ask, "How do we walk that out?"
     First and foremost, we must come to a position of obedience. We must agree that waging spiritual war is part of our assignment as ambassadors of the Kingdom of God. Jesus came to defeat the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). It is our assignment and charge to continue that work and overcome the schemes of the Enemy to separate us from our relationship and assignments in Christ.
     We see in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 another reminder that "we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide." So, let's look at those spheres in which we've been given power and authority to tread.
     1) Strongholds.  Those are the "defenses" that Satan has erected in a person's life that the Aramaic translates as "rebellious castles". ChristianArmor.net has an excellent definition of "stronghold":
A stronghold is an area of darkness within our mind or personality that causes ongoing spiritual, emotional and\or behavioral problems. We can be genuinely born-again, and sincere in our faith, but have an ongoing struggle with thoughts, emotions, and habits that wage war against our relationship with Christ." It is an inward lie, suggested by the devil, that interferes with -- and eventually becomes a barrier to -- the Light of Jesus in our life. 
     But as children of God, we are empowered with His grace and the gospel message of victory to dismantle these strongholds. And here is what we need to understand ... in the Old Testament the word for "grace" meant "give favor". But in the New Testament, the word for grace is different and it implies God's Mercy (the free gift of forgiveness of sins) and compassion that recognizes the misery that our sin brings us.  It is God's tender sense of our misery that displays itself in His efforts [Grace] to lessen and entirely remove our misery.  God's Grace is applied; it is bestowed; it is His power to equip us for ministry. Strongholds are dismantled [pulled down; demolished] when we understand the power behind the gospel and God's grace, and that this power is in us to do what we cannot do in our human efforts.
     2) Philosophies. Another sphere in which we wage spiritual war is the demolishing of arguments, opinions, theories, and philosophies. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says "We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God." 
     Let me give you a good example of such a philosophy that has been borne out of defiance of the true knowledge of God. It is called LaVeyan Satanism and was founded in 1966 by the American occultist and author Anton Szandor LaVey.  
     LaVey established LaVeyan Satanism in the U.S. state of California through the founding of his Church of Satan on Walpurgisnacht (May Day) of 1966, which he proclaimed to be "the Year One", Anno Satanas—the first year of the "Age of Satan". His ideas were heavily influenced by the ideas and writings of Friedrich Nietzsche and Ayn Rand. This religion is materialist, rejecting the existence of supernatural beings, body-soul dualism, and life after death. Practitioners do not believe that Satan literally exists and do not worship him. Instead, Satan is viewed as a positive archetype representing pride, carnality, and enlightenment.
     Does this sound like a "deceptive fantasy that opposes God" or an "arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God"? You bet it does! And this is an area of spiritual warfare that is becoming more prominent in our modern age. Man's pride has invented religions and philosophies and theories that try to prove his supremacy over God; that the "Most High God" is subordinate to man.
     I could elaborate on the deception Satan has brought to the followers of this false religion, but I think you get the idea .. We must demolish these fantasies and philosophies and promote the Truth that is our God.
     3) Rebellious Thoughts.  Thoughts borne out of Satan's lying whispers result in rebellion and disobedience. The Bible tells us that we are to "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." But it is important for us to understand that this constitutes a battle. 
     Those thoughts, if they are impure or unrighteousness, are not coming from God. They are introduced by the Enemy to cause a disruption or outright rebellion to the purpose(s) of God on your life. And I think it is important that we train ourselves to recognize the attack on our thoughts the moment that fiery dart is launched. That's when we know it is time to go into battle mode!
    I've had a lot of people ask, "How do I take a thought captive?" I tell them that Jesus is our model. I believe He spent a lot of time praying and meditating on the Word, because that was His defense mechanism whenever the devil tempted Him -- whether during His 40 days in the desert, or when He was standing before a tribunal of the Sanhedrin. Scripture was always His weapon of choice! Take a look at the Bible and see how many times He said, "As it is written..." and then quoted from God's Word.
     I have personally modeled my battle plan after His. The moment I recognize that I am under attack with an unholy, deceptive, or lying thought, I stop and do what He did. I proclaim [out loud], "I renounce [or deny] the lie that (for instance) I am not smart enough to qualify for a promotion at my company, and I declare the truth of the Word which says that I am being transformed by the renewal of my mind that I may discern what is the good, and perfect, and acceptable will of God [for my life]". I will then go on and declare my identity in Christ ... I am a child of God; I am a co-heir with Christ; I am God's Temple and His Spirit lives in me.
     Can you see that those thoughts are spiritually taken captive as prisoners of a spiritual war in which they are judged as ungodly patterns of thought that defy God's authority and our identity. The declaration of the Word [in response to the lie in my mind] is a most effective weapon of war against such corrupted and rebellious thoughts!
     Finally, 4) The arena of war, itself. This is the sphere in which we stand ready and willing to wage spiritual war to defeat the Enemy -- no matter what he throws at us.  I see so many Christians that are rising up in their identities; who recognize who they belong to and what their role is in this Age. And it fills me with such hope!
     They are recognizing that they have been believing the lies of the Enemy. They are seeing where the devil has manipulated events in their lives to sow such seeds of corruption as fear and anger and unforgiveness, and they see how that has damaged their relationship with Jesus. And they are willing to be delivered and set free! Once free, they are willing to get in the fight to help someone else know the One who set them free. And then the Enemy strikes back.... and they are not sure if this fight is really for them.

     I will tell you that books are being written to warn Believers to stay away from spiritual warfare; that there are casualties in every war and they don't want to put themselves in a position to become re-victimized. But what does Paul, who teaches us about putting on armor for spiritual warfare, say? In 2 Timothy 3:12, he tells us, "Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." And what does our Lord Jesus tell us in Matthew 5:10? "How enriched you are when you bear the wounds of being persecuted for doing what is right! For that is when you experience the realm of heaven’s kingdom [on earth]."
     To those who are experiencing trials and tribulations because you've stepped into the arena of spiritual war, let me encourage you... it means you are valuable to the Kingdom of God, and the Enemy recognizes your worth. It means you are taking back territory from the dark side, and that is greatly pleasing to Father God! Yes, it means your life will never be the same -- the days of easy comfort and flying under the devil's radar are gone, but it also means that as you become battle-tested and victorious, the Enemy will learn you are undefeatable and will respect the power and authority you walk in. So hang in there; you are a soldier in God's Army. The Battle is His and He will lead you to victory. Remember, His power is in you ... Be Strong In The Power of His Might! 

James 1:2-4    "My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking".
     

The Witching Hour

     If, as a Christian, you are aware of our responsibility to steward the Kingdom of God until Jesus returns, and that we will be accountable for what we did or didn't do; or what we knew or didn't know, then you are probably well-informed about the increase in demonic activity in the world. In fact, if you are paying close attention, Satan is actually tipping his hand. You just have to be tuned in and you will see it.
     For several years now, attuned Christians have seen the devil's forecasting in the entertainment industry. From our movies to our music to our TV shows, the Enemy is becoming more blatant and confident in showing his hand. After all, the Church hasn't sounded the alarm, and he is capturing so many unsuspecting souls in his net of horror and terror ... why should he be concerned that we're going to shut him down?

     So, if you're like my husband and myself, you are adept at picking up the subtle clues in a song or movie plot that shows how the devil is targeting the world and luring them into accepting the occult and demonic without a fight. But imagine our surprise as we re-watched a 2009 TV episode of "Terminator:The Sarah Connor Chronicles", and the main character spoke these chilling words: "Midnight is the witching hour… if you believe that kind of thing. And most people won’t admit it if they do. Midnight is the time when the door opens from our world into the next, and we are visited by dark spirits in the shadow lands… the incubus, the succubus, the Old Hag. Visitors are known by many names, but each story bears the same marks. The demons come after midnight in the first three hours of the new day when we are alone and at our most vulnerable; in our deepest sleep and helpless. We cannot move. They lay on us, press on us, suffocate us, take from us what is most precious -- our lives, our love, our sanity, our sleep… If you believe in that kind of thing".
     I will tell you that I definitely believe in that kind of thing. I have heard too many similar testimonies in our Deliverance Ministry to dismiss these assertions. But I will also tell you that we weren't watching this show expecting to get this kind of "in your face" revelation. The whole Terminator movie franchise has always fascinated us because of its predictions of a future dominated by artificial intelligence. But this particular episode of the TV spinoff caught us off-guard, and at just the right season of the year. You see, each year at Halloween, I am astonished at how much this holiday preoccupies our culture.  It is becoming as big as Thanksgiving and Christmas in our national psyche, and I am astonished at how much our adult population has adopted it.

     But I am here, once again, to warn everyone [Christians included] that Halloween is not the innocent celebration of costumes and candy it is made out to be. Whether a devout Christian or a non-religious secularist, most people believe that Halloween is a night of innocent fun and autumn celebrations/festivals that ALL people can share. But what is it to the Satanists and witches? I think it is important to repeat some of the information that I have presented throughout the years for those who are new to this site.
     Known as "Samhain" to this latter group, Halloween is a transitional time, and an initial stage of a process in which the veil between life and death grows thin.  I found a Christian website (Logos Resource Pages) that featured an article by Pastor David Phillips that seemed to offer some straightforward information on the holiday.  Consider what the following self-declared witches had to say about the holiday... "Halloween is one of the four Great Sabbats of the witches that everyone has heard about. To witches, Halloween is a serious occasion, however merrily celebrated. It is the old Celtic Eve of Samhain. With the coming of Christianity, the Church tried to Christianize the old festival by naming November 1st as All Saints Day, or All Hallows as the old term was. Thus Samhain Eve became All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. But attempts to discourage the pagan celebrations were so unavailing that the festival was eventually banned from the Church calendar. It was not until 1928 that the Church of England formally restored All Hallows to its calendar, on the assumption that the old pagan associations of Halloween were at last really dead and forgotten; a supposition that was certainly premature." 
     Here's another witch's testimony: "All the Great Festivals of Paganism, wherever they may be found, correspond in common with the Solstices, Equinoxes, and other natural annual cycles of life. Most of these remain with us today, in more or less disguised form, as the so-called Christian holidays of Christmas (Yule), Easter (Ostara), May Day (Beltane), Thanksgiving (Harvest Home), Halloween (Samhain) and even Groundhogs Day (Oimelc)." 
     Here is what we ALL need to understand ... Witches and Satanists love Halloween. They get a lot of media coverage around this time of year. It's good P.R. for them because the coverage, as a rule, portrays them in a favorable light.  In addition, Halloween generates interest in "the craft" [as in "witchcraft"] and is good for recruitment purposes. As Craig Hawkins, Founder and President of Apologetics Information Ministries, put it: "With increasing vigor, witchcraft is coming out of the broom closet. Many witches are actively seeking public understanding and acceptance."
    What should be especially concerning is the fact that the practice of witchcraft and satanism is becoming mainstreamed -- from lawsuits to allow rituals to be performed in our prison system, to Wicca becoming the fastest growing religion in our military. And I can tell you that from the Beloveds that my husband and I have ministered to, these associations and the rituals attached to them open spiritual doors that, unless closed and covered by the blood of Jesus, will render torment and oppression in a Believer's life. Furthermore, if you think Halloween doesn't measure up to being included in satanic rituals ... think again.

     If you think I am exaggerating this or my warnings about Halloween, just listen to what a former Satanist has to say on the subject. John Ramirez is a born-again Christian; a pastor who was once, in his own words, "a general to the kingdom of darkness in witchcraft". Ramirez warns Halloween isn't just about costumes and candy – there's a much darker reality.  "It is the most diabolical demonic holiday. Sometimes people say, 'I celebrated Halloween 10 years ago, [or] I did this 15 years ago, I did this 20 years ago.' But the door's still open. You just cursed your family from three to four generations," Ramirez told CBN News. [The "this" he's talking about is the rituals and sacrificial offerings that are made to the Dark Prince on this evil night].

    And that's what 21st Century people have a hard time understanding. Even though the attempt in the 6th Century to "Christianize" the holiday by calling it "All Soul's Day" in commemoration of the "faithfully departed", the original conception of the holiday [in which the souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes and that ghosts, witches, goblins, black cats, fairies, and demons roamed the earth], has never been excised from its celebration. And calling it a "fall harvest festival" doesn't erase its spiritually dark undertones. As John Ramirez says, "The only harvest we should be celebrating is the harvest of souls [for the Kingdom of God]".
     And then there's Texe Marrs. Although a controversial New Age researcher, he nevertheless offers advice that is hard to ignore:  "Our own research confirms that on this unholy night [Halloween], witches' covens meet, drink, dance, spit out curses and spells, conjure up spirits, engage in sexual orgies, induct new members, and offer up animal and human sacrifices. (Witches have become expert at covering up these sacrifices by use of cremation ovens and the use of privately owned land preserves for disposal of bodies in deeply dug graves.)"
     And lest you dismiss this notion as pure conjecture, let me share the words from a high priestess of the Church of Satan:  "As a child drawn to darker passions from birth, I always delighted in the fear and fantasies of Halloween. It gives even the most mundane people the opportunity to taste wickedness for one night. They have a chance to dance with the Devil, either stumbling, tittering and nervous in the arms of the Black Prince, or boldly, ravenously sharing in the sensual excesses and fright of others on this magical, unholy night. Now, birth and death have, for me, become inextricably interwoven into this day."  
     You see, it doesn't really matter what we Christians say to try to convince ourselves that the warnings about Halloween have been blown out of proportion. We need to listen to those who openly declare that they worship the dark side during this unholy holiday. They have made it the devil's holiday! And when we participate -- even in the most innocent way -- we are telling the spirit world that we are in agreement with its celebration. And in case you have any last doubts, I'm going to leave you with these chilling words from Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan, who said, "I'm glad that Christian parents let their children worship the devil at least one night out of the year."

1 Corinthians 10:21     "You can’t drink from the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can’t feast at the table of the Lord and feast [participate] at the table of demons".
     
     

Jesus Is Truly Our Hope

     I don't know of any better way to express the hope that Jesus represents for mankind than to share testimonies from the Ministry to which He has called me. To begin, I was pretty amazed at how quickly the calls started coming in when we returned from our vacation. It's so easy, when you're distracted with traveling and out of your routine, to become casual about the spiritual battle that is waging in people's lives. And it certainly seemed as if God has broadened our territory while we were gone!
     But these are a couple of stories that remind me that no matter whether you are dealing with people you know, or strangers you've never met, Satan repeats the same lying messages, just using different methods. Let me expand on that premise...
     I will call this man Benny; a middle-aged man who has been lost in the depths of hopelessness that comes with years of drug abuse -- methamphetamines, to be exact. In case you didn't know it, meth use has become an epidemic in this country, destroying the lives of countless individuals and families. It doesn't care what ethnicity you are; if you're rich or poor; young or old. Highly addictive, meth burns up the body’s resources, creating a devastating dependence that can only be relieved by taking more of the drug, leading to serious health conditions, including memory loss, aggression, psychotic behavior and potential heart and brain damage.

     It creates a false sense of happiness and well-being; creating counterfeit confidence in a life that has been decimated. Such was the case with Benny. He had mistreated his body for so many years, and nearly lost his family. When we were called to his older brother's home to assist in Benny's deliverance, we met his wife, who is an intelligent woman, very faithful, but firm in her stand that he could not come back into their home [with their two young daughters] until he dealt with his drug problems. Of course, Mark and I knew that at the root of this self-destruction was a spiritual issue from which Benny needed to receive divine healing.
      From the moment we met him, we could see his gentleness and his loving heart. He knew Jesus and believed in Him. But we could also sense the deep torment that was keeping him in bondage to the drugs. He gave us a short recap of what had brought him to this point... Nights of being tormented by a demon who was in his room, sitting on his chest, and then harassing him with taunts and accusations, inches from his face. When he decided to accept his brother's invitation for deliverance, he got in his truck to drive to his brother's residence. On the way, the demon tried to pull his hands off the steering wheel, started beating him about his head, and pulling his hair. By the time we arrived, he was nursing a bloody nose from the beating. His brother and wife were at the table and we let him talk for a few minutes to see if we could determine if he was really ready to let Jesus work in his life to set him free.
     It was obvious that he was suffering and did not want to continue this lifestyle, but the Enemy had such a strong hold on him through this drug. We had to discover what was at the root of it all. So we asked him when his life began spiraling out of control? What was the heaviest thing in his spiritual backpack that he'd been carrying around his whole life? Not surprisingly, he was at first reluctant to share anything that the devil had wrapped up in layers of guilt and shame, and after some prompting, he broke down and admitted he had been sexually molested as a teenager. How Jesus hates this sin! And it is so prevalent in our culture! I'm beginning to think that it is committed against our boys at a greater rate than our girls, and I strongly believe that this horrendous sin is what Jesus is referring to when he says, "If anyone causes one of these little ones [who believe in Me] to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea".
    This sexual molestation was the impetus for Benny's false belief system about himself; that he was worthless, dirty, no good, unworthy of love, condemned. It set the course of his life that led to bad decisions encouraged by the lies of the devil. But when we were able to help Benny forgive his molester and others who had harmed him; to break the ungodly soul and spirit ties with these individuals and the drug dealers who had helped him disguise the pain, then he was ready to hear how precious he was to Jesus. He experienced Jesus coming into that molestation event, walking him out of that memory, and disintegrating where it took place.
     We spoke life into a man who learned that he was so deeply loved by His Heavenly Father that he was worth the sacrifice of His own Son. Benny felt the power of the Holy Spirit when we laid hands on him and prayed. He heard the life-giving words that God had a purpose for his life and that his testimony could help set others free!
     Benny hung his head and wept, repeating "Thank you, Jesus!" several times. He now understood that Jesus died to give him victory over the drugs, and it is time to walk in that freedom and change his life. His wife reiterated that the victory was his and up to him to develop that relationship with Jesus and walk forward in freedom. It has been a week since we ministered to him, but we have received a report that Benny is calling family and friends and telling them, "Jesus set me free!!!" Hallelujah!
     The other story I want to share is of a woman I will call Karen. Karen was referred to us by a good friend; she was despondent and beaten down by her life circumstances. When I initially talked to her, I told her that we were not life counselors, and that we worked with Jesus to help people heal their inner wounds so that they could move forward in fulfilling the purposes of their lives. She was clearly unsaved and stated she wasn't against Jesus, but just wanted to try and get some "clarity about her life".

     I will be honest, I wasn't too sure we were the right people for the stage Karen was at in her life, but I always know that Jesus is the answer for everything, so we were willing to meet with her. We listened to her explain the deterioration of her life, her utter feelings of desolation, loneliness, and abandonment. Then we explained that Jesus wanted to set her free from all that "baggage" she was carrying around, but she had to desire a relationship with Him.
     Karen said she was interested in knowing more about Jesus but the idea of "church" was not inviting because the Christians she had met did not invoke the sense of "community" she was seeking. Mark and I were encouraged when she told us that she had once had a dream when Jesus came to her. She couldn't remember what He said to her, but she remembered the deep feeling of peace! I told her that's the Jesus we serve.  What's more, her story is not unique. Her circumstances describe nearly everyone we see... there are always incidents in people's lives that Satan uses to keep them in bondage to his lies.  Therefore, the advice we offered her is fitting for everyone to follow.
    We explained that our ministry is centered on a relationship with Jesus and He is the answer. We listened to her questions about the validity of other religions and explained that those gods are very real, but are lesser and inferior gods to the Most High God of the Bible; the One True [big "G"] God. We also explained that the spirit realm is very real, and there are real spirits of depression and abandonment that are trying to keep her separated from the love of Jesus [and that peace she felt in the dream]; they want to keep her from seeking the life He offers. We asked if she wanted to begin a relationship with Jesus and she said yes, so we led her in a prayer in which she asked Jesus to forgive her of her sin and to come into her heart to become her Savior. We explained the importance of Forgiveness and we recited the Lord's Prayer together. Karen then forgave those who have hurt and abandoned her, releasing them to Jesus. We prayed over her and she wept, repeating, "Help me, Jesus". I prayed that He would visit her again in a dream and give her new words to remember; that she would be in His Presence and know He is real. I told her this was the first step in her relationship with Him and it is a journey for the rest of her life. When she left our home she said she felt lighter, and that it felt like she had "come home". Nothing represents the calling of Jesus on one's life any better than that!
     I know that both Benny and Karen will be visiting us again. They both have made dramatic changes in their spiritual lives and the Enemy will try to lure them back in to bondage. I explained to both of them that they are a prize in a spiritual battle, and they can expect to encounter some of the same tactics of the devil. But they know Jesus is with them; they know the lies the devil uses and that they must fight to stay free. But, as always, it is a tremendous blessing to begin a session without hope, and then see the Beloved go home full of joy, with a new sense of their worth as a child of God. It is extremely humbling, and an honor and privilege to be considered worthy of being Jesus's ambassador. It is His power and authority, on loan to us, that allows us to hear the Holy Spirit's words of counsel as we guide people, one by one, into the Kingdom of God on earth. Thank you, Jesus! There is no greater work on this earth for me to do. I pray that mine and Mark's obedience and service continues to be pleasing in Your sight!

2 Corinthians 5:20    "We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips. So we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Turn back to God and be reconciled to Him".

Satan's Focus: The Family

     There are days when the tactics of Satan to absolutely destroy God's divine design for the family are hard to ignore. The other day I clearly saw it on Facebook. Now, I don't spend a lot of time on social media because I don't want to become addicted or obsessed with it, but I do enjoy the spiritual encouragement that many of my friends display on the site, so I will periodically check to see what they are saying. But on this particular day, I came across a post by someone who was lamenting their status as an only child.

     This person was making a statement that "the older they got, the weirder they felt about not having siblings". What complicates this person's social position is that they are in their mid-30's, an only child who is contemplating growing older, with aging parents, and living as a transgender individual. I felt his sadness and yes, a sense of questioning, in his statement. What would his life had been like if he had had brothers or sisters? Our parents inevitably pass away and we are left without their guidance and support. Would siblings have understood his decision to become transgender, and would they have continued supporting him, or is he destined to traverse the remainder of his life alone in uncertain and controversial circumstances?
     First of all, I admit that I cannot comprehend the lies that a person hears from the devil to convince them that they should go through painful and complicated surgeries to change the sex they were born to. I keep going back to the Scripture that says, Should the thing that was created say to the One who created it, "Why have you made me like this? (Romans 9:20). Yet I know that Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy, and that can happen within the womb. I will tell you that, in our Inner Healing Ministry, we have heard more than one testimony of a Beloved who felt rejected in the womb. Although the conception of a child is a miracle from God, is Satan able to influence the self-identity of a fetus through deception and lies stemming from rejection and unwantedness? We know that whatever the Enemy means for evil, God can use for good. If we know our identity as a child of God, there is no confusion. But we also know that our human pride, arrogance, and rebellion will fight against God's perfect will for our lives and cause doubt, uncertainty, and most undoubtedly, confusion. So, it was with immense sadness that I sensed some regret and actual fear as this person faced a future that might find him without any family.
     But my feelings didn't stop there. I was actually shocked at the responses that his post inspired. The overwhelming consensus was that no one felt they were blessed by having siblings! The comments ranged from "It's not really that special [having siblings]" to "I feel bad for my spawn as they lose each other to age. That sounds worse than being an 'only'. Less sadness behind me". Still others commented, "No siblings are better than lousy ones. My sister is bi-polar and my brother is a Republican. I'm not sure which is worse", and "The only thing I have in common with my siblings is our parents. I know we wouldn't be friends or like each other if we weren't family". Finally, one of the biggest concerns among all of the respondents was the fear that they would be left to take care of an aging parent or a disabled sibling when the parents died. The lack of compassion and mercy was regrettable and shameful. At the same time, I understood that most of these remarks were coming from a community of people who identified with his gender confusion and had no relationship with their Creator.

     What has happened to the familial bonds that God established? It is with profound heartache that I read these comments from people who will obviously never know the benefits of family -- the loyalty, the dependability, the devotion of people who share your heritage, memories, and if you are lucky enough to have faithful parents, the spiritual instruction to last a lifetime.
     It further saddens me that so many families have been limited by abortion; a definite satanic stronghold in our culture. But I find hope and optimism as I witness the Christian families around me who have multiple children and are raising them as a picture of the divine family of God. They exemplify the joining together of humans to honor and worship the Lord; ministering to each others' needs and encouraging each other to be all they can be for Christ.
     Satan has successfully corrupted our culture and society, and I'm afraid the loneliness portrayed on Facebook will only increase if we do not humble ourselves, confess our sins, repent and turn back to fulfilling God's purposes for us here on the earth. He established marriage, and the family unit helps to secure the marriage relationship, the Godly covenant that Satan hopes to destroy. As the oldest of five siblings, I can see that we are all different; our interests, politics and levels of faith are all different. We live hundreds of miles from each other, but we are making an effort to stay connected now that our parents are gone. I may not agree with them about everything, but I love them. We are supporting each other in our aging years and there is just something about being connected to someone who shares your memories and experiences. It is a bond that we are carefully nurturing and will not abandon.
     But is family limited to those who share your DNA? The answer for me is an unequivocal, "No". Mark and I are blessed with varied "families" with whom we are united in life experiences, and those with whom we share a sure and proven faith. These relationships are honored, reliable, unfailing and founded in mutual love and trust. Our "families" -- both genetic and chosen -- are valued and respected. They are gifts from God and not to be destroyed by Satan's lies, deception, or corruption. May we become culturally sensitive to the fading family unit. May we become spiritually convicted to re-establish what God intended among the peoples of the earth. And may we recognize the loneliness of those who don't know their Father God; praying that they will be drawn to Him and His desire to receive them into His divine family; knowing He is the Source of their existence.

Ephesians 3:14-15    "So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth".
 

What The World Needs From Us

     I am officially back from my vacation and I have to tell you that being removed from my normal environment has given me a new perspective on the role of us Christians in the world. You see, Mark and I were in the company of a group of nearly 20 people, most of them years younger than us, and only one woman who was a fellow Christian. We had some good, long talks with her about our faith experiences, and it was interesting to find that she was pretty well versed on spiritual warfare, baptism of the Holy Spirit, and walking in spiritual gifts. The concept of Inner Healing and Deliverance, however, was unfamiliar territory, but she was not adverse to seeing their significance in spiritual healing.
     But other than this one encounter, everyone else wasn't too keen on revealing what they felt about a relationship with Jesus; shying away from any religious discussion. But, as always, when your goal is to share the Good News of the Kingdom of God, Jesus will give you the opportunity to sow a seed or two. And there was a particular conversation that Mark took part in that captured the interest of several thirty-something's one night at dinner. Let me share the gist of it ...
     First of all, you need to understand that my husband has a keen interest in understanding the historic religions of the world and how they relate to Christianity. It is important to have a knowledge of what came before Christ so that one can intelligently [and accurately] represent how our God is superior to the gods of other religions. In doing his research, he has become quite well-informed about these lesser gods, knowing their names and becoming aware of their existence and influence upon the people of today. Therefore, he has no hesitancy in engaging in a discussion with the Millennial generation, who proudly display these gods upon their bodies in the form of tattoos. In fact, it never surprises me when he asks these younger people about their tattoos, because he has a genuine interest in knowing if they are aware of the spiritual doors they are opening.

     One such discussion took place with Mike, a videographer that was quite an interesting young man. In his mid-thirties, he had come out of the snow-boarding culture, and had developed a successful business in film and video. That night at dinner, Mark noticed that he had quite a prominent tattoo on his left forearm, and asked Mike about it. "Why do you have Ahura Mazda on your arm?" Mike was amazed that someone would actually know who this entity was, and in case you are unfamiliar with this god, let me give you some insight.
     Ahura Mazda, whose name means "wise lord," was the most important god in ancient Persian mythology. When the religion known as Zoroastrianism became widespread in Persia around 600 B.C., Ahura Mazda became its supreme deity. This religion was founded by the religious leader, Zoroaster, who taught that Ahura Mazda was an omniscient god and creator of the universe. Zoroaster also taught the existence of angels, demons and saviors, ideas that can also be found in Christianity, Judaism and Islam -- all religions that came later.
     But back to Mike, and how this ancient god came to be permanently etched on his arm. Mike admitted to doing psychedelic mushrooms in his younger days and said that he did them for about a year, without any unusual affects... until the night that an entity appeared to him, attacked him, and frightened him nearly to death! That began Mike's search into the spiritual realm, various religions and gods. Instinctively, he knew there was a supreme being, but could get no answers from Christian pastors about the entity that attacked him or what god it might be serving.
     So he began an investigation into the oldest god there was, which led him to the Sumerian texts. Sumer was the southernmost region of ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq and Kuwait) which is generally considered the cradle of civilization. The name comes from Akkadian, the language of the north of Mesopotamia, and means “land of the civilized kings”. The Sumerians invented one of the first writing systems, developing Sumerian cuneiform writing (impressed on clay tablets) by about the 30th century BC. The earliest literary texts appear from about the 27th century BC. 
     As far as their religious belief system, the Sumerians believed there were four creator deities, and under them were the seven gods who "decree the fates." These were An, Enlil, Enki, Ninhursag, Nanna, Utu, and Inanna. These were followed by the 50 "great gods" or Annunaki, the children of An. Sumerians believed that their role in the universe was to serve these gods. 
     So, in his search for answers about a god to serve, Mike ended up tattooing Ahura Mazda and Enki on his arm, determining that if they were among the first gods to be worshipped, they had supremacy. And when my husband could intelligently discuss these gods with him, without condemning him, Mike was willing to listen to what Mark had to say about the "Most High God".  Mike's question was, "Where do I go to find out about him"? And when Mark's answer was, "He's the God of the Bible", Mike shared his distrust of what Christians had presented to him in the past, because it was always dictatorial, rigid, and repressive -- and they were always unwilling to accept that there were other gods.

The Most High God amid His Divine Counsel

     When Mark was able to point him to Psalm 82, which places the Most High God in His Divine Council, in the midst of the [little "g"] gods, where He proclaims, "You are gods, sons of the Most High", and then takes him to Deuteronomy 32:8, where the Bible tells us that the Most High God divided mankind, fixed the territories [nations] according to these "sons of God", appointing them over the nations while He took Israel as His people, then Mike became interested in knowing more about this Most High God. He was no longer the tyrannical God that religious Christians had demanded he must accept. Mike's sense of curiosity and very real desire to understand the origins of mankind and the spirit world made it easier for Mark to introduce the character and sovereignty of the God we Christians serve.
     It was a small, first step in getting Mike to reconsider the Bible as a credible source of information about God. There was no need to press him for more; it was not yet the time to explore fallen angels, satan, or Jesus as his personal savior. That could come after he was able to receive and accept Jehovah, Father God. But he no longer viewed the Bible as a negative, restrictive book, nor the God of the Bible as a tyrant. And he had certainly never met a Christian like Mark. 
     And in this exchange, it suddenly became clearer to me why Jesus chose to teach in parables. He was trying to overcome the religious rules and legalism of the Pharisees, who were so restrictive in their interpretation, and appeal to human instincts and spirits as He introduced the Kingdom of God. Mike had made it clear that "Church people" weren't accepting of him or his questions, and Mark laughingly told him they weren't always receptive of his ideas either. But he made it clear that the god on Mike's arm was no match for the God we serve. And when Mike heard that our God helped deliver people, just like him, who were being attacked by these entities from the spiritual realm, he was even more interested. And so were the five or six other Millennials at the table, some of whom had experienced similar attacks.
     You see, this generation has been raised on the internet where anything that can be imagined is possible. So, they are bombarded with fantasy worlds, demons, artificial intelligence, and all the spiritual doors those avenues have opened. When, we as Christians, try to present God as we've made Him within our Church walls, they can't identify. We must speak to them in their own terms and from their areas of interest. Just like Jesus's parables, we have to show them a God that relates to their experiences. The unbelieving world doesn't need our sermons and certainly doesn't want to hear "The Word says". They first have to know who "the Word" is before what He says can mean anything to them. We must relate to them at where they are, instead of demanding that they relate to us in all our religious ways. We must engage with them, looking for ways to introduce them to a God that is interested in them. From there, Jesus will give us the opportunities to take the next step, and the next... always bringing heavenly purpose into their earthly circumstances. 
     It's my prayer that Mark can keep in touch with Mike and answer the questions that will inevitably come. It's a long distance between Texas and Utah, but we serve a God that arranged that divine appointment in Montana. Let's see what what He orchestrates next.

1 Timothy 2:3-4   This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
          
    

Matthew 16:19

I will give you the keys of heaven’s kingdom realm to forbid on earth that which is forbidden in heaven, and to release on earth that which is released in heaven.

 

     This is part of the passage that includes Peter's confession of Christ as the Messiah and the Son of the Living God. Think how happy Jesus must have been, knowing that His crucifixion was coming near, but that He had successfully set His Disciples on a firm path to carry on His work. They recognize Him for who He truthfully is, and He can now begin to prepare them for when He must leave them. He can begin to reveal the Father's plan and the part they will play in it.

     He praises Peter for his steadfastness and his faith, and then announces that He, Himself, will be the bedrock or cornerstone of His Church.  This is what I picture happening ... Jesus with His hand on Peter's shoulder, saying "Yes, you are a rock".  Then, pointing to Himself, saying, "And it is on this rock that I will build My church".  Perhaps he laid his hand on his breast, as he did in John 2:19: Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” 

     Then He announces today's passage and their purpose in "the plan"... they will receive the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven! What must they have thought?!? The concept of someone having the keys to anything meant they had the power to open and shut the door to it. But Jesus is telling them they have that power and authority when it comes to the Kingdom of Heaven!

    I believe Jesus is telling Peter that he, Peter, will open the door to faith, just as he would do to the Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2) and to the Gentiles in the person of Cornelius and his household (Acts 10). Those keys would unlock the blessings and the power of Heaven itself for all those who come to faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God of Heaven! That faith is a key that unlocks a Divine relationship between Heaven and Earth -- one that cannot be hindered.

     But those keys were not reserved for Peter alone!  Just two chapters later, in Matthew 18, Jesus repeats the same benefits of binding and loosing, once one unlocks the key to the Kingdom. This time it is directed to the other disciples.  But it also pertains to us!  When we are obedient to the commands of our Lord, Jesus (in heaven) looses the authority of His Word as it goes forth on earth for the fulfillment of its purpose. 

     It is important to understand that the expressions “bind” and “loose” were common to Jewish legal phraseology.  Whenever a Jew came up against the Law of Moses, that Jewish person was either "bound" or "loosed" in regard to that law. To loose was to permit; to bind was to prohibit. To loose was to free from the law, to bind was to put under the law. Their regular sense, which any Jew would recognize was to allow and to forbid. To bind something was to declare it forbidden; to loose was to declare it allowed. These were the regular phrases for making decisions in regard to the law.

     But Jesus has come to fulfill the Law, so Heaven is now the authority to which we appeal -- not the Rabbinic Law.  Therefore, whatever we bind (because it goes against the commands of Jesus) has already been declared forbidden; and whatever we loose (that aligns with Jesus and benefits the Kingdom) has already been declared allowable -- and the authority of Heaven stands behind us! It goes without saying that this refers to Kingdom work done in Jesus's Name and in obedience to His Word on earth.

     The authority that comes with the keys is still promised to the Body of Christ today. In the powerful words of theologian Charles Spurgeon, "The Lord continues to back up the teaching and acts of His servants, and as long as we abide rightly in Him, we have His sanction to make them valid. The words of His servants, spoken in His Name, shall be confirmed by the Lord, and shall not be, either as to promise or threatening, a mere piece of rhetoric." Hallelujah, that we possess the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven!

Current Note: In March of 2017, when I first wrote this, I had the intention of pointing out that the "Keys" are symbols of authority and ruling power -- power that Jesus intended for the Church to walk out [as it is in Heaven]. The Church is to be the ruling authority of Heaven, just as Jesus showed us in all the parables of the Kingdom. That authority has already been established in Heaven and we are to be the ambassadors that carry it out, releasing what is permissible in Heaven, and shutting down what is prohibited in Heaven. Look around at our culture, and the latest ugliness in the Supreme Court hearings. How do you think we're doing? 

On a good note:  I have had some readers ask about Karla, whom I asked you to pray for a couple of weeks ago. Here's the glorious update ... the doctors were able to remove the blood clot from Karla's brain and some tissue, that when biopsied, was non-cancerous! She is managing her pain well, is at home, and in  her own words, "My life will never be the same again! God has walked me through that week in ways I never could have comprehended! I will never doubt my rock, my shield, my deliverer, my fortress, my defense, and now I know Him as my healer. It is only through His strength and power that I am here today. I have so much to share and it will take me some time to piece it all together. But I wanted to thank all those who prayed for me and tell you how much I appreciated and depended on your intercession on my behalf. And I believe that your warfare changed the course of events. I know it did! I was out walking with Jesus there for awhile and He sent me back! 

     God beat the attack on my brain and He beat the cancer, too! The doctors are all amazed! Nothing was as they thought it would be. We serve the mightiest of God's! Praise His Name!" 

Mark 11:13-14

He noticed a leafy fig tree in the distance, so He walked over to see if there was any fruit on it, but there was none—only leaves (for it wasn’t yet the season for bearing figs). Jesus spoke to the fig tree, saying, 
“No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” 

And the disciples overheard Him.

 

     There are two accounts of Jesus "cursing" the fig tree in the Bible, although I would point out that Scripture says Jesus "spoke" to it, not cursed it. Somehow, I think our Church tradition has interpreted that what He spoke was a curse. So let's take a look at both accounts, and see if we can discern what is really going on.

     The account in Matthew has a different context than this one in Mark.  Just as in Mark, the Matthew 21:18-22 version has Jesus declaring that the fig tree will not be productive for eating fruit ever again, and then it withers before Him.  But when asked by His disciples how the fig tree could wither so quickly, Jesus gives them a lesson on faith; that faith is an act of one's will with persistence and perseverance ... "If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen".  He is showing them that faith is being steadfast (or unwavering) in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

     But here in Mark, the story of the fig tree has a different meaning.  Here Jesus sees a fig tree in the distance, and being hungry, He goes to see if He can find anything on it. But when He arrives at the tree, all He finds are leaves -- no fruit.  The Bible tells us it's because it is not the season for figs. And then Jesus speaks to the fig tree with a declaration that no one would ever eat fruit from it again.

     So what's up with this fig tree?  And why did it's absence of fruit result in such condemnation from Jesus?  First of all, we need to take a look at the significance of figs and fig trees in the Bible.  Remember, God doesn't do anything without a purpose.  Figs are actually throughout Scripture, beginning in the Garden of Eden, where fig leaves covered the shame of Adam and Eve when they discovered they were naked.  Throughout the Bible, the plant becomes a symbol of prosperity, well-being, and security. Along with the vine, to sit under the plentiful shade of your own fig tree is the epitome of safety, peace and good fortune in many Biblical passages. Specifically, Micah 4:4 says, Each of them will sit under his vine, and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

     These plants don’t grow overnight, and it takes time to culture and nurture them – their maturity indicates that the gardener has been continuously and steadfastly there, tending to their growth over the years. And since Jesus states in John 15:1 that He is the True Vine, and my Father is the Vinedresser (Gardener), the point of these verses in Mark comes into focus.  Actually, I believe there is a dual significance to Jesus's word to the fig tree.  

     First of all, the fig tree points to the nation of Israel, which had been planted by God and nurtured for so long as His chosen people.  He had remained steadfastly beside them, tending to their growth down through the centuries.  The fact that this fig tree did not have any fruit on it at all, despite the fact that it wasn't the season for figs, showed Jesus's [and the Father's] disappointment and frustration.  After all the tender-loving care the Father had put into the nation of Israel, there should have been some evidence of fruit remaining on the tree.  Since Jesus only said or did what He heard from the Father, we can surmise that God was nearing the time when Israel would be blinded and ineffective in spreading the Gospel.

     But there is a second aspect in view ... If we look at these verses from the context that the fig tree represents Believers, Jesus has the right to demand and expect fruit from us at all times -- both in and out of season.  And when we recall that there is actually a Fig Tree Generation spoken of in Revelation 6:13 -- that generation that is alive when the Sixth Seal is torn open and terror reigns on the earth -- it is important that we be bearing fruit in this season, regardless of whether it is time to harvest or not. We should be doing the miraculous works of Jesus at all times, not just when it is practical and in season. 

     To be honest, the meaning behind the "cursing" of the fig tree can only be surmised, and must be looked at through a supernatural lens. But there is much symbolism attached to the fig tree throughout Scripture, and anytime Jesus is looking at the fruit being produced, we know it has significance for us.  May we all seek to be fruitful and prosperous for the Kingdom, so that when our Lord measures what we have yielded for Him, we will not be found lacking, and be the cause of His disappointment. 

Current Note: Much and too little has changed since I posted this in May, 2017. I am so pleased that I am seeing fellow Christians come alongside me and Mark to produce fruit for the Kingdom of God. At the same time, there are other Believers who cannot overcome their hesitancy to partake in the richness of the Kingdom, no matter how much we share our joy. And honestly, we are not responsible for their actions; we are only accountable for sharing the Good News of the works that Jesus did and to which He has called us. We've done our part and pray that their hearts will be made alive with the desire to please the Lord.