How Do You Define The Power of the Gospel?

There are very few nationally known Pastors that I admire more than Bill Johnson. And, yes, I know he has become a lightning rod among the ultra-religious, Pharisaical branch of the Body of Christ -- those who are self-righteous and hypercritical when a ministry doesn't adhere to the strict man-made rules and traditions that they follow. Let me be clear ... I'm not advocating an "anything goes, in the Name of Jesus" model of ministering. But my spirit discerns that Bill Johnson seeks after the Father's heart and is able to make His will for us understandable and comprehensible as he shares the Truth and Spirit of God. 

So, I want to share something he said the other day that so eloquently expressed what I have been hearing in my spirit -- only he says it better than I could. Here are his wise words: "There seems to be a greater faith for the return of Christ than for the power of the Gospel ... in other words, the faith is in the return of Christ to come and fix things, instead of Him returning to something that's been fixed". Did you hear that, Body of Christ???

Ever since I came out of my fog of traditional and orthodox man-made teachings of the Bible and started seeking the revelation of God and Jesus in the Word [with the help of the Holy Spirit] I have been awakened to a clearer picture of God's redemptive plan for mankind, and how many of us Christians have been blinded to His truths. When I spent a year studying the Book of Matthew and, for the first time, I realized that the Kingdom of God was the focus of the parables in Chapter 13, and not simply a moral code I was supposed to follow. I began to see the Fall of mankind in Genesis in a different light and a much bigger picture. And I was able to connect it to the Book of Matthew and why Jesus said He came.

In Genesis 1, man is made in the image of God and given dominion over "all the earth", to govern it in the manner that God governs Heaven. Think of earth as being a colony of Heaven, and man has been created as the Governor of earth to oversee the implementation of God's Divine Laws of Heaven on earth. But observe how quickly man gives in to the temptation of Satan and relinquishes his authority, power, and dominion to God's Enemy. That dominion over the earth was transferred to Satan, and God's redemptive plan is put into play. He will spend the next 4,000 or so years trying to get man cleaned up to reclaim his authority over the earth. And because man is continually evil, the Father sends His own Son to rescue earth and reclaim the dominion for Himself.

Jesus comes the first time to wrest the government of earth away from the devil, stake His claim as the rightful ruler, and then give His authority and power [over the earth] back to mankind. He admonishes men to "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand"! In other words, "Mankind, you need to start thinking differently ... see your actions from God's perspective, and know that the Kingdom of God now occupies the earth. The kingdom of darkness is being replaced with the Kingdom of Light! Start taking back territory"!!

For the next three years, Jesus will teach people how to return to a lifestyle that not only pleases the Father, but regains dominion [rule] over the earth. He clearly states that His purpose for coming in Luke 4:43 ... “I must preach the good news [the Gospel] of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is how God's Kingdom in Heaven operates, and how it should be mirrored here on earth. But that will require that man [we] begin to step into that original purpose for which we were designed, which requires that we be made holy before the Father. Sadly, we cannot do that on our own, and so Jesus paid our debt to the Father by taking the sins of the world upon Himself and sacrificing His life as a substitute for ours. Once we make that decision to follow Christ, we are ready to be commissioned to begin taking back the territory which was originally given to man to rule on behalf of God.

But before He left this earth to return to His heavenly home, Jesus promised that He would return to defeat Evil and take the Righteous and Holy back home with Him. All who recognized and received Him as their Redeemer and Savior would have the right to be called Children of God and rule and reign with Him on the earth. But until that time comes, we must fulfill our commission and duty here on earth -- continue the work of Jesus to heal the sick [not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually, too], cast out demons, cleanse the lepers [those whom society rejects and marginalizes], raise the dead, and spread this Good News about what the Kingdom of God on earth is supposed to look like.

So, for 2000 years that has been mankind's assignment from the Son of God. But Satan has corrupted that message among the Body of Christ, and false doctrine has crept in to divert us from our purpose. The most damaging to take root was invented in 1803 by a man named John Darby, and called "The Pre-Tribulation Rapture". According to multiple websites, prior to 1830, no church taught it in their creed, catechism or statement of faith... with one exception: Morgan Edwards wrote a short essay as a college paper for Bristol Baptist College in Bristol, England in 1744, where he confused the Second Coming with the First Resurrection of Revelation 20 and described a "pre-tribulation" rapture. However, this idea of Edwards, which he admitted was brand new and never before taught, had no influence in the modern population. That title belongs to Darby.

Although the word "Rapture" does not appear anywhere in the Bible, we are told in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, that upon the Lord's return we, who are still alive, will be caught up in the clouds to meet Him in the air, and will be with Him forever in Heaven. Nowhere is there given a time in which this event will happen. The Bible tells us there will be tribulation upon the earth until Jesus' return and we are not appointed to His wrath, which will be poured out upon the earth against all who reject Jesus to join forces with Evil. There is no overt promise that we will avoid the tribulation that is coming, and which I believe is now manifesting. 

It's only natural that man, given a choice in doctrine, would choose being a part of "the Rapture" over having to experience "the Tribulation". And thanks to John Darby, the Church has had over 200 years to embrace [and propagate] this false teaching, while largely ignoring what Jesus taught in the Book of Matthew. Think again upon the words of Bill Johnson ... "the faith is in the return of Christ to come and fix things, instead of Him returning to something that's been fixed".  Too many Christians are counting on Christ to come back and fix the problems of the world; to be our Rescuer so we don't have to experience the wars, and violence, and child sacrifice, and all the evil that has permeated our society. They have forgotten John 14:12, in which Jesus says we, who profess belief in Him, will do the things He did and even greater, because He's going back to the Father [until His appointed time to return and wipe out all the Evil that still remains].

Sadly, I'm afraid He is disappointed in how we've carried out our responsibilities. Instead of taking back territory from the kingdom of darkness, we have ceded more ground to Satan! Instead of setting the captives free from demonic oppression by healing the physically, emotionally and spiritually sick, and personifying Christ in our love for each other [which would fix nearly all the world's problems], we have abandoned our assignment in favor of hoping Jesus will do the work and bail us out. A poignant example is the fact that we have allowed the murder of over 60 million of His babies to become the law of the land, along with numerous other laws that are in direct violation of Heaven's Divine government. 

He showed us the way to take back the territory that Satan absconded from Adam and Eve, and even gave us His power and authority to do it. That's the Power of the Gospel and His message -- not the hope of a false doctrine that releases us from acting on our faith, as Jesus instructed us to do. It is far past the time that the Church rediscover the true Gospel that Jesus brought at His First Coming. Each human being since 33 AD will be held responsible when we stand before Him, and He asks us, "What did you do for my Kingdom after I left"? We have no excuses. We have the Word of God which has given us clear instructions. And we must ask ourselves, "Is my faith more rooted in what Jesus has told me in His Word ... or is my faith established by what man has devised to soothe our fears"? 

Jesus has had 2000 years to view how we have responded to His teachings and commands. He knows our successes and our failures. He sees how the seeds of Religion and legalism were sown and have sprouted. He sees the hypocrisy and pretences of our intentions, and how we have justified our actions and laws to cover our disobedience to the Divine Laws of God's Kingdom government. He sees how the attempts of the Early Church to follow the commission He left us has been corrupted and distorted. (That's one of the reasons I wrote my book, Through A Kingdom Lens: Rediscovering What The Church Lost). But Jesus is also looking for those who have responded to His Gospel of the Kingdom --- whose faith in that powerful message includes sharing the love of Christ and the Gospel of Salvation, which leads one into both the understanding and the entrance into the Kingdom of God (John 3:1-5). So, what doctrines and which message will you decide to follow? As for me, I will continue His work and devote every day to taking back territory from the Enemy in the lives of anyone who wants to truly know and follow Him.

#returnofchrist #powerofthegospel #falsedoctrineoftherapture #johndarbyfalsedoctrine #willjesusfindfaith

Luke 18:8    Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?

Man's Inhumanity to Man; God Will Require A Reckoning

 

 

 

I cannot believe that there is a man, woman, or child that is not deeply disturbed by the violent death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee. I don’t need to review the brutal images we have seen played out on our TV screens over the last few days. They tell a story that will be extremely difficult for me to ever forget. And frankly, I’m not sure I want to. It is time for us, as the human race, to confront this image of man’s inhumanity to man if we ever hope to escape God’s judgment of us.

 

That phrase … man’s inhumanity to man … has been used by many notable people seeking to change our societal culture from one of indifference towards our fellow man to a culture that honors our shared membership in the human race; all created in the image of our Creator God. [Martin Luther King comes to mind in his 1967 speech at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association in Washington, D.C.]. But I was intrigued to find that this phrase originated with Scottish poet Robert Burns in his 1784 poem, titled “Man Was Made To Mourn”. I’d like to share the particular verse in which it appears:

 

Many and sharp the num’rous ills

Inwoven with our frame!

More pointed still, we make ourselves

Regret, remorse and shame!

And man, whose heav’n-erected face

The smiles of love adorn –

Man’s inhumanity to man

Makes countless thousands mourn!

 

Nothing is truer today than this beautifully written prose. There are millions who are mourning what we have witnessed in the inhumanity heaped upon Tyre Nichols by his fellow man! And while others want to make this about race, all I see is a fellow human being who experienced insufferable and intolerable violence – nothing he could have done deserved that level of wickedness and evil. Instead, I revert to what God proclaims in His Word: God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth” [Acts 17:26]. Note that the word “race” does not appear in this passage. Every human being in the world is classified as Homo Sapien. Even scientists agree that we are all part of one biological family called the human race. We are all related to each other, no matter our skin color or gender; we are all descended from one man and one woman, created in the image of God, Himself.  

 

Pundits will tell us that it is time that we re-examine how we treat each other; but we have had that capability since the beginning of time, and the violence against our fellow human beings just seems to keep escalating. The soul-shattering violence against Tyre Nichols has not been lost on our righteous and holy God. How much longer will He hold back the Restrainer’s hand? I imagine that His cup of wrath [against those who commit such savagery and evil against His creation] is about to overflow. 

 

And yet, in the midst of such a visible atrocity, the mother of Tyre speaks peace from the depth of her grief. She called for calm and peaceful protests; destruction and more violence would not represent her son and the man he was. She asked for peace and prayer during the difficult days to come, and her composure and heart for God brought a degree of tranquility to a nation who grieved with her for the unconscionable death of her son. My spirit recognized where her strength came from, and I couldn’t help but think she reminded me of Mary, the mother of Jesus, on the eve of the vile and shocking death of her son on the Cross. May our Father in Heaven continue to strengthen her as she goes through the process of grieving her beloved son. And may He hold in check those that would seek to capitalize upon her grief for nefarious reasons.

Tyre Nichols was described by his friends and family as “a peaceful man”; a man who loved to walk the beaches in California and watch the sun set. He had also expressed interest in becoming a police officer to “help change the culture”. Our culture as a society [and the human race] certainly needs changing when such violence can be perpetrated without intervention by our fellow man. God will demand a reckoning regarding how we are treating each other! It’s the condition of our hearts that needs to be fixed. It cannot be legislated, and more police training is not the answer. We must recognize that each of us – all of us – are members of one human family, and it is only a positive response to an invitation from Jesus to change our hearts that will accomplish that transformation.

 

The only solace that my soul and spirit find in this tragic incident comes from what I have witnessed in the midst of our Inner Healing Ministry sessions. So many people, when seeking a spiritual encounter with Jesus to be set free from trauma and devastating events in their lives, find that He shows them He was there experiencing the pain and trauma with them. So, I think upon those lonely and agonizing 20 minutes Tyre spent until Emergency personnel appeared on the scene to transport him to the hospital. And because I've seen Him do it in others lives, I believe that Jesus was there with Tyre, cradling his spirit, encouraging him, and telling him that if our society will let Him, He will use Tyre's life for His greater glory to purge the darkness the Enemy has brought to the heart of mankind.

 

So, Lord, do not let Tyre's death be a sacrifice on Satan's altar of man's inhumanity to man. Intervene on our behalf, Lord Jesus, and cause a transformation in the family of man! Cleanse and purify our dark hearts so that the springs of Life flow from them! We desperately need it before we destroy each other even more!

 

#jesuswept #tyrenichols #godsjudgment #godsreckoning #godsjustice #mansinhumanitytoman

Psalm 11:5   The Lord tests the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.

NYC Golden Graven Image Occupies A "High Place"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#highplaces #worshipingidols #pagangoddesses #godsjudgment #worshipingabortion

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

Will The Next Generations Truly Know Christ In Truth and Spirit?

I ask this serious question, because I have been sincerely contemplating the state of our Christian faith in America, including my own journey. First, let me say, that I am not questioning the love that my fellow Christians have for Jesus Christ. I believe that this love is real and comes from hearts truly seeking Him. But my spirit is concerned that we do not know Him as we should. We live in a world that makes it difficult to take our focus off of it [the world]; to set it aside for a time in order to pursue the person of Jesus.

What does it mean to really know a person? Of course, it includes the "facts" of who they are -- what they look like; what they've done and what they're known for; and how they are perceived by others. But that's all pretty superficial ... and subjective; what you think about them versus the true nature of a person. But truly knowing Jesus comes from shared experiences with Him; recognizing how He uniquely expresses His love for you. And through those encounters with Him, knowing what disappoints Him, what He expects of you, and anticipating His will for you, and you alone. Truly knowing Jesus is feeling so confident in His love that you are vulnerable enough to let Him see your flaws and failures, because your relationship is so secure, you know who you are in Him, and He in you. 

And here's another way you can be confident that you know someone in the deepest sense -- you are comfortable in the silence. And with Jesus, that silence accompanied by solitude, is a blessed time to rest in Him, just listening for His voice, and in turn, praising Him for His friendship and presence in your life. And, for me, the beauty of knowing Jesus is the complexity of our relationship ... it's our intimacy, and feeling interconnected with Him at the very core of my heart and mind. It's what defines and drives my relationship with my own husband because I know how much Jesus, our Bridegroom, loves us both. Ultimately, truly knowing someone is loving them unconditionally, with all your being, until the two of you are virtually inseparable. 

But here's where my concern for future generations is being raised... Our Western world has increasingly isolated us. We are not only identified [and divided] by our race, gender, age, social status, and political persuasion, but we are limiting the possibility to know each other to 30-second sound bites, a social media image, or a few sentences and an emoji or two on our phones. We are tuned out from real face-to-face, flesh and blood interactions, and settling for distant, detached, and dispassionate associations. You will never know Christ following that agenda! And we will never experience what God has in mind for the "brotherhood of man". In fact, I don't know if you have perceived this truth or not, but our younger generations don't like to talk on their phones. They prefer only texting. So the desire to hear each other's voices is also being lost. Their time is spent constantly "plugged in" to technology and all its "noise". Where is there room for Jesus, or the ability to hear His voice in that world dynamic?

The truth is that at the heart of every human being is the desire to know others in intimate relationships and to be known themselves, for who they are. And Jesus wants to know us and to be known by us. We can all agree that it is our sinfulness that gets in the way of that intimacy. But now we've allowed technology to expand the gulf, not only between each other, but with our Creator. I am reminded of the story in the Bible of the woman at the well (John 4:6-30). The Bible teaches us that the object of this story is to let this woman know that Jesus knows everything about her sinful life, but still offers Himself as the Living Water that will quench her thirst to know all things about the Messiah. And He tells her that the Father is looking for those who will worship Him "in spirit and truth".

Can we even agree among ourselves what that means, let alone explain and encourage the younger generations how important it is? God is Spirit and we are made in His image, but I fear that too many are only interested in the image they project to the world through social media. And God wants us to worship and experience Him in Truth; those who like the woman at the well, are seeking Him honestly [and earnestly] without pretense or guile [cunning, fraudulent agendas, or deceptive goals]. Jesus isn't worried about His image or how many likes or comments He has. But He is interested in gaining followers who want to exchange this world for eternal life with Him. 

In conclusion, I know that there is an undercurrent of beautiful, powerful, and Godly faith rising up in the next generation. God always has His remnant and I am encouraged by the boldness of those I see resisting the temptation of the Enemy to invest in the false image he offers so many of their peers. It is the commission of our older generations, in the time we have left, to be bold as well. To swim against the current of society, and raise up our children and grandchildren in the way they should go. God has not yet lifted the Restrainer's Hand, and He can expand the time we have to sow into them [for after all, He created time]. Let us join together and see personal revival come to individual lives who want to truly know Jesus! Lord, let us see those numbers grow until the Spirit of Revival, Restoration, and Rejuvenation return to this land. We rededicate our lives and our relationships with You to see that happen before we leave this earth!

#thenextgenerationforgod #millennialgenerationforgod 

Psalm 145:18-19    The Lord is near to all who call on Him,
To all who call on Him in truth (without guile). He will fulfill the desire of those who fear and worship Him [with awe-inspired reverence and obedience]; He also will hear their cry and will save them.

 

Twelve Truths About Who God Is

I am so grateful for the Godly people that my Father in Heaven has put in my path to lead me to more knowledge of Him. Each step along my journey, He has introduced me to men and women who have grown my understanding of exactly who God is, and therefore expanded my faith. This has allowed me to let God out of the box that religion has managed to keep Him in. 

And I would say that is the major issue we encounter in our Inner Healing Ministry ... people don't really know who God is, or know His Nature and Characteristics. I am always amazed at how people [who are struggling from Satan's oppression and torment] actually view God. He is often a remote disciplinarian; a cold, detached and indifferent deity; or an unloving and unknowable figurehead to be feared. When asked to describe any of God's attributes, there is a lack of intimacy and familiarity with His Person.

That's why I am so happy to have benefited from the teachings of Asher Intrater, a Messianic Jewish Apostolic Leader in Jerusalem, whose ministries have a vision for revival and restoration from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth and back again. His Biblical teachings are on target, and he is able to give the basic scriptural "Judeo-Christian" view of the nature of God, which so many Christians need. 

I'd like to share with you one of his teachings that is foundational to understanding the Most High God. It may sound simple, but it answers one of man's biggest questions throughout the ages .... Is God real? Does He exist? Asher Intrater provides 12 Scripturally Confirmed Truths about God; each building upon the previous Truth. Profoundly straightforward, they provide a clear picture for both the religious and secular world.

1. God exists.  Because every action has a cause, the world didn't just "come into existence" without a super-intelligent Designer or Creator. There is such a complexity in the beauty and harmony of natural creation, that it demands there be a Source ... "In the beginning God created ...".

2. God is good. We know that not all who create things are benevolent, well-meaning or kind. In fact, many pagan religions have gods that are evil and selfish. But Scripture tells us that God's will is "good, perfect, and acceptable". He has good intentions for all. "O give thanks to the Lord for He is good, and His mercy endures forever".

3. God is all-powerful. God has all authority and all power. All the powers in the world originated with Him. He is the One God, and therefore the single, only Sovereign. He is "Almighty God".

4. God is Spirit that created the material world. Spiritual things are not the product of a material world, but the opposite. The awesome spiritual energy of "Let there be light" initiated our universe. Scientific evidence has forced physicists to concede that there must have been a beginning to the physical universe -- an "initial singularity [uniqueness]", which they call "the big bang". The energy that created the universe is spiritual. "God is Spirit".

5. God is a person. God is not a human being. Human beings were created in God's image, both male and female. So, God is personal in nature. We are "persons" because He was first. [Note: In Hebrew, the language for God is in masculine gender, while the language for Spirit is in feminine gender]. As a person, He is "Our Father in Heaven"...

6. God is loving. The deepest quality in the human heart is love. That quality comes from God. He is love (1 John 4:8). All His commands to us are summarized in the command to love God and love one another. "Love comes from God".

7. God desires a personal relationship with you. Since God is love, His primary desire for us is to receive His love. and to love Him in return. He wants to love us. Having a personal intimate relationship with God as our Heavenly Father is the most precious and beautiful of all things. It is the purpose of our existence. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart".

8. God is neither secular nor religious. We can see that different philosophies and religions try to define God to the best of their abilities. But God is bigger than any  particular person understands. He is bigger than any group of peoples. He loves all people. He is above religion and racism. He is not an "ism"; He IS! "I am that which I am".

9. God has a plan for a perfect world. We can all agree that there are so many problems in the world today. Those problems are the result of human disobedience and rebellion against God. But God is patiently working on the hearts of people. In the end, those who submit to His plan will be part of eternal paradise. "The Garden of Eden"...

10. God has a perfect plan for your life. Not only does God have a plan for a perfect world, He has a perfect plan for every individual. Not only will paradise be restored, but each person who submits to Him will be restored and made whole. "And God will wipe away every tear".

11. God is moral. God has not only good intentions, He also has clearly defined moral values. He is not corrupt, lustful, or evil. Our moral values came from Him. The Ten Commandments give a basic framework for His morals, in contrast with pagan mythologies describing gods who sin and act selfishly, and the sinful, corrupt hearts of men who reject Him. Those gods and men are not The God. "His judgments are righteous".

12. God is holy. God is more than good; more than moral. He is Holy. Holy means perfectly good combined with absolutely powerful. This level of purity is above anything human and anything found in creation. It is the transcendent glory of a perfect God. "Holy is the Lord".

These 12 Truths about God's identity and nature are just the beginning of discovering who He is to each one of us. They begin with establishing that God is real, and He does exist, and teach us that He is powerful, He loves us, He wants a personal relationship with us, and He is moral and holy. I'm not sure how many Christians could elucidate those qualities in a manner that painted an accurate picture of His Nature. But once we grasp the enormity of these tenets, there is so much more!

Once we've established that He wants a relationship with us, and wants to make Himself known to us, we are left with even more questions ... How would He reveal Himself? Would it be internally [only]? Or would He reveal Himself in nature, also? What about through other people? Or a specific, special person? Has He revealed Himself through history? Through prophecies? Do we know Him through dreams and visions? Or through writings? And if we are able to begin to get a concept of the greater revelations of who He is, what are His expectations of us? Each new level of the knowledge of God begets more questions, and if we are truly seeking to know more of Him, then it is crucial and essential that we search out the answers. He is worthy of the effort, and our time here on earth will be more fruitful as we receive the promises of our existence. 

Thank you to Asher Intrater for his insightful manner in which he presents the uncomplicated truth of God, always encouraging us to reach for more. I believe that we will not fully understand God until we are face-to-face with Him in eternity. But this life is so much sweeter in the pursuit of that knowledge. 

Psalm 14:2    The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there are any who understand (act wisely), Who [truly] seek after God, [longing for His wisdom and guidance].

 

Calling Out Those Who Violate God's Divine Law

It is my opinion that we have reached a state in our national conscience where we can no longer ignore those who violate God's Divine Law. This statement comes with a lot of components. Let me see if I can unpack my heart on the subject in a coherent manner... first of all, I want to determine what "Divine Law" is. It's not a term we hear very often in our secular or religious vernacular. But here is the definition that my spirit discerns is the most accurate: Divine Law is laws of Scripture given to us through God's self-revelation; the early Hebrews and Greeks believed that the Word of God created societal and individual order, which a government could then use to take care of its citizens. I certainly believe that is God's intention for His Divine Laws, and the Bible supports God's goodwill for all people. But I think you will agree with me that our society and government have fallen short in that objective.

Case in point: the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. What exactly is this Bill all about? Factcheck.org states that, as written, the legislation addresses the situation of a child born alive after an attempted abortion. It would require that a “health care practitioner present at the time the child is born alive” to “exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care practitioner would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age.” It also would require that the child be “immediately transported and admitted to a hospital” following that professional “skill, care, and diligence.” Violators could be fined and/or jailed for up to five years. 

The Bill passed the House of Representatives in the 118th Congress, but, shockingly all but two Democrats voted against it; only one voted for it, the other voted "Present". What does this say about our nation and its rulers? Is this a picture of a government interested in taking care of its most vulnerable citizens? And it pains me that I see very little outcry from the media, church leaders, or the average American about the failure of our government to protect the fundamental right to life. This is not a proposed amendment to our laws that seeks to curb abortion [as much as pro-abortion advocates want to convince you of that]. It is a proposed law that would protect the life a born-alive child from a failed abortion, just as any child born alive from any other circumstance would be rendered medical aid. It is about the sanctity and sacredness of Life!

But I see hope on the horizon! I want to share two testimonies of two men that I admire and respect; men who have chosen to speak out loud and clear on this subject. Victor Marx and Morgan Luttrell are both retired Navy Seals -- men who have seen war and death and have experienced the human condition up close and personal. Victor Marx suffered traumatic torture and sexual abuse as a child, which eventually led to a lifestyle filled with drugs, fighting and theft. It was the discipline of military life, and the faith and love of God that transformed him into the compassionate man he is today. A highly effective segment of our Inner Healing Ministry is fashioned after a teaching he received from a fellow Deliverance Minister. We were able to thank him after receiving a phone call from his staff thanking us for supporting his ministry, All Things Possible. Victor is heavily involved in rescuing children and women from the sex trafficking trade, and is known as a high risk humanitarian with successful missions to Iraq, Syria, North Africa and Southeast Asia – many times in non-permissive and high threat environments, helping orphans and widows. 

Morgan Luttrell is a retired United States Navy Seal and recently elected U.S. Representative for Texas's 8th Congressional District. His website describes him as "A 5th generation Texan raised on a horse ranch. At an early age Morgan learned the importance of hard work, discipline, and personal responsibility. He turned his strong values, deep love for America, and passion for helping others into a career of distinguished service. Like his twin brother, Marcus, [of Lone Survivor fame], Morgan served honorably as a Navy Seal. He was commissioned as a special warfare officer, and served for 14 years before being medically discharged for a severe traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury he experienced in a helicopter crash -- but not before rehabbing, recovering, and returning to the frontline. After retirement, he then created an innovative health and wellness platform to help veterans heal from their physical and psychological injuries. Now he is taking his strong values, deep love for America, and passion for standing up for American ideals to the floor of Congress.

It has been my experience in coming into contact with just a few of our military's special operators, that they like to stay in the background; keeping their opinions to themselves. But I was glad to see these two amazing men speak up publicly about their perspective on the failure of our government to protect the born-alive babies who are products of failed abortions. Keep in mind that these are usually silent men of war, familiar with death, but are now moved to become outspoken on protecting life! And in Morgan's case, he has chosen to sacrifice his well-earned personal life to enter the public arena of politics. And in declaring their thoughts on the vote count for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, both men are now on the battlefield for the spiritual heart of America. Here are their word-for-word testimonies...

Victor Marx: "Many of you know about the bill that was just passed by the Republicans to protect children who survived an abortion. The thing that has us rattled beyond belief is that all the Democrats, but one, voted against it, meaning they're willing for children to die, laying on a cold table, without rendering aid. In my world, in what we do, protecting and saving kids -- that would be considered an evil person". He then showed a horrendous photo of a dead baby covered in flies [about one or two-years old]. "ISIS had killed the parents and then left this little baby by a garbage dump, and it died. I think that this is how people need to see and understand that even what is being done in America is as evil, if not worse. Listen, if you're a pastor, [and] you've been ignorant of this [legislation], you've got to [educate yourself]. But if you know about it and do nothing, then you're a spineless coward. As for the rest of you Democrats, this is wickedness. Pure wickedness".

Morgan Luttrell [seen walking on the Congressional grounds]: "Alright, this is just a quick vote update. Yesterday Republicans passed a Bill out of the House, unanimously, on a pro-life Bill. And the Bill states if a baby survives an abortion, it must be given medical care. Only one Democrat voted for it. And it will go to the Senate and probably won't come out of the Senate for whatever reason. And I understand that Democrats and Republicans are [different from each other] on this topic, but this is what I don't understand... When my teammates and I, and my brothers and sisters in the military, were overseas fighting Al Queda, the Taliban, ISIS ... at any given time -- any given time! -- if an enemy combatant who was actively engaging us, trying to kill us, laid down their weapon and surrendered, we were to treat them humanely. If they were injured; if they were shot; we were to render medical care by law -- By law! [The law] states that any enemy combatant who surrendered was to be given humane medical care and treatment. We did that. Period! Because our country demanded that of us. So you're telling me all but one House Democrat ... they think [in my mind] that those people who would actively go out and kill Christians, women, children, and people of all sexual orientations, they (House Democrats) care more about [our enemy's] health and well-being than an innocent child laying their dying. Somebody please explain that to me! 1320 Longworth (his congressional office). I'll be standing there waiting". 

Now, I will tell you that both men delivered these comments with much more passion than these words that appear on a computer screen. And I am so thankful for Christian men like them who have given so much for the survival of our American ideals. They've both given more than most, and deserve to rest and enjoy the remainder of their lives in peace and solitude. But they have decided they cannot abandon the battlefield yet. They are righteous men who understand that now is the time to stand for Divine Law. They may not put it into words like that, but they are men whose spirits understand that God has revealed to them the way to go to secure His order in caring for His people. And they understand that now is the time to voice our support for God and His Law for the sake of our physical and spiritual survival. Even now, God is working behind the scenes, preparing to bring judgment on both men and nations that defy Him and transgress against His moral and Divine Law. 

For, can a nation whose laws run counter to God's laws expect God to continue to bless that nation [and its people]? Our Lord said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.". Are we in league with "the thief"?!? Who are we, as men, to deny that abundant life to an innocent child? And that word abundantly [in the Greek] means "superior in quantity and quality; what is above and more; superadded". My soul and spirit cry out in repentance for our nation!

Lord, raise up more men like Victor and Morgan! Let them be Your voice, crying in the wilderness to call us back to You! We repent for our errant and evil ways, and ask you to forgive us. Help us to walk according to Your Spirit, not our flesh. Do not abandon us as we find ourselves on the precipice of destruction, but recognize the righteous hearts among us who fight for your Kingdom and Your Divine Law! Bless us, Lord, and give us Grace. Amen!

#bornaliveabortionsurvivlorprotectionact #victormarx #morganluttrell #godslaw #divinelaw #righteousmeninthefaceofevil

Isaiah 33:15-17    He who walks righteously and speaks with integrity, who rejects gain from fraud and from oppression, who shakes his hand free from the taking of bribes, who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed and shuts his eyes to avoid looking upon evil; He will dwell on the heights, his place of defense will be the fortress of rocks, his bread will be given him; his water will be permanent. Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; they will see a far-distant land.

The Importance Of Your Testimony of Jesus!

 

Have you ever thought about the power of your testimony? Or perhaps you think it is of no importance or value. But I believe it is just as important today as it was when Jesus confronted the Jewish religious skeptics and doubters after the healing of the invalid at the pool called Bethesda, in Jerusalem. You see, once again, He had done His Father's will on the Sabbath, and the Jews were harassing the healed man for picking up his palette [and walking] on the Sabbath [because it was seen as breaking the law of doing no work]. I don't know about you, but I'm thinking, "Wait! You're worried about this man picking up his mat, when you can see he is walking for the first time in 38 years"!!! Such is the blindness of people who live by religious rules [only].

When confronted with this offense to the Law, the healed man attempts to deflect blame on to Jesus -- "He told me to do it"! Under Jewish tradition regarding the Sabbath, the man could have been stoned to death for this act. Since he was unable to identify who Jesus was, we must accept that the matter was not pursued in that moment because the Bible does not reveal anymore information. But the Word does tell us that Jesus found the man in the Temple and congratulated him. “See, you are well! Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” So, whatever reason, the healed man goes and tells the Jews who healed him [perhaps to divert attention away from himself for working on the Sabbath]. That makes sense, because the Word tells us For this reason the Jews began to persecute Jesus continually because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. [The complex Jewish restrictions regarding work on the Sabbath were man-made rules and most were not supported by OT Scripture]. But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now [He has never ceased working], and I too am working.”

Jesus makes His stance regarding working on the Sabbath quite clear. Furthermore, He establishes that YHWH is His Father! And that makes Him the Son of YHWH, and the Messiah! In addition, He is announcing He is doing work, just as His Father does! You can imagine that this rendered them speechless and extremely angry! That's what we call apoplexy! The Jews misinterpret that to mean Jesus is making Himself equal to God, the Father. But Jesus explains that everything He is doing is by the will of God -- He does nothing on His own. I can do nothing on my own initiative or authority. Just as I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just (fair, righteous, unbiased), because I do not seek My own will, but only the will of Him who sent Me.

Then Jesus makes a very astute statement. If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid. [It would not be admissible in a court of law]. There is another [My Father] who testifies about Me, and I know [without any doubt] that His testimony on My behalf is true and valid. No Jew would question that God's testimony was admissible -- He is the Supreme Judge of all men. Now, this claim that God testifies to Jesus's identity is a bold statement. Jesus can't simply make it without being able to back it up. And so He proceeds to provide FOUR testimonies as to who He is. Since the Law of Moses states, "Out of the mouths of two or three witnesses let every word be established," (Deuteronomy 19:15), there should be no question about accepting Jesus's claim. Let's take a look at those testimonies...

The Testimony of John. John the Baptist testified as an eyewitness to the truth of Jesus's identity. Jesus states that men were willing, for a time, to receive John's testimony, but the Father's testimony outweighs that of a mere man. There is purpose to God's testimony about Jesus, i.e., their salvation.

The Testimony of Works. Jesus tells the Jews that the testimony He has is even greater than the testimony from John, because it attests to the works that the Father has sent Him to do. Remember, He never claims that He is doing any works other than what the Father has told Him to do, and that it is the power of the Father in Him, that is at work. And those works of miracles are proof of His Deity.

The Testimony of the Father. Again Jesus declares that His Father has testified who He is by performing His own works through His Son. And then Jesus accuses them of not having the Scriptures living in their hearts and minds, otherwise they would believe in the One whom God has sent.

The Testimony of the Scripture. Then comes the final indictment against the unbelieving Jews. They have worshiped the Scriptures, thinking that their eternal life lies in believing and following the Law as written in the Scriptures. And they missed the truth that these very Scriptures testify of Him! He doesn't seek the glory and approval of men. In fact, He tells them, I have come in My Father’s name and with His power, and you do not receive Me [because your minds are closed]; but if another comes in his own name and with no authority or power except his own, you will receive him and give your approval to an imposter. And if that's not enough, Jesus tells them that Moses, the very one who wrote the Scriptures accuses them ... he wrote about me personally; But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?

But, here's what I'm thinking ... Has anything really changed? There are still Jews who do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, or the Messiah. And we, Christians are also guilty of seeking the testimony of other men about whether it is true that Jesus has transferred His power to us. Many do not believe the Scriptures where He says we have been given His power and authority over the Enemy. They do not believe the testimonies that we do not do anything that Jesus has not instructed us to do; that we do not testify of ourselves, but rather His power and authority [in us] to do great works through us. It is the same dynamic as Jesus experienced when He walked the earth.   

And how many of our fellow Christians will follow a man who "comes in his own name and with no authority or power except his own", and receive him and give their approval to an imposter? It is very important to Jesus whose testimony we receive and believe. Does the testimony align with Scripture? Does your spirit recognize it as truth delivered in humility for the glory of the Father and Son -- or is it given by men who seek to glorify themselves in the pursuit of power and influence? We must be earnest in identifying the veracity of testimonies about Jesus in the world. We have been given the Holy Spirit to corroborate the testimonies we hear. There are great and compelling testimonies from men and women who have experienced being used by Jesus to exhibit His power in the earth; just as there are people who have been the recipients of His overwhelming power to change their lives. Jesus said that those who believe and follow Him, will do the [miraculous] works that He has done, and even greater! Just as Jesus said nearly 2000 years ago, the Father has never ceased working, and neither has He! May He be glorified throughout all the earth by our experiential testimonies of how He has worked in our lives! Don't keep them to yourselves -- the world needs to hear them!  

#testimonyofjesus #jesusislord #powerandauthority #glorifygod

Psalm 71:18   And even when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not abandon me, until I declare Your [mighty] strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come. 

 

Lessons From The Chosen: Glorify God With A "Sacrifice of Praise"

Before I even begin this blog post, I am aware that there will be differences of opinion on what I'm about to say. My topic today centers around a particular scene in Episode 2, Season 3 of the popular historical/drama series The Chosen. What I have to say is deeply personal; it is how my spirit reacted to the Biblical principle presented in the scene. NOTE: I am not saying that the scene is a word-for-word reenactment of Scripture. Nowhere in the Bible, will you find this scene between Jesus and the Disciple known as James, son of Alpheus, or James the Less [to be distinguished from James the Greater, son of Zebedee, and brother to the Disciple John].

I am also aware that there will be those who discount what I have to say because they have labeled the show and the filmmaker as partners with heresy, blasphemy, apostasy, irreverence, and sacrilegious intentions. So, let me make my statement about where I'm coming from, and then I will move on to my premise. For me, this show is intended to show the heart of Jesus; to represent His love and compassion for the Jews, God's chosen people. Although the filmmaker has made it clear that he is not claiming the interactions between Jesus and the Disciples is factual according to Scripture, he has been faithful to the Bible's truths of salvation; Jesus's identity as the Messiah; His purpose for coming; His incarnation; God's requirements of repentance, forgiveness, faith and love; etc. 

For myself, these are essential tenets that must be portrayed. And because I have spent much time in the Bible, and grown in my spiritual and intimate relationship with my Savior, I am not bothered by what some might call the "sentimental portrayal" of Jesus in His human form. In fact, because we are provided very little details of the human personality of the Lord, I find that this show portrays Jesus, the man, as my spirit perceives He must have been. I find nothing that distracts from the inerrant Word of God, and I believe that this portrayal of Him is a great way to begin a conversation with a nonbeliever or new Christian who have trouble relating to Him in a personal way. You may not agree, and that is okay. That is your opinion. But I would like you to allow me to present my original purpose for this post ... to share why this particular scene in Season 3 so touched my heart.

So, let me set the context of the scene. Jesus is sending the Disciples out in pairs to heal and evangelize to the Jews. The filmmaker imagines how that might have gone as Jesus assigns partners for this mission; we see the different personalities of the Disciples [which we know existed from a few clues in the Bible, such as John 21:20-22 and Mark 10:35-45]. And this is where The Chosen is able to present the important principle of faith in the midst of trials. The filmmaker has James the Less, [or as he is known in the show, Little James, due to a physical affliction that leaves him with a limp and the use of a cane] approach Jesus in private. Little James expresses his concern about his ability to either evangelize or heal. With obvious pain and hesitancy, he says, "I find it difficult to imagine with my condition... which you haven't healed". 

By the look on Jesus's face, He recognizes Little James's feelings of both inadequacy and confusion. He responds, "In the Father's will, I could heal you right now and you'd have a good story to tell, yes? Miracles are a good story. There are already dozens who have that story, and hundreds who can tell that story of [My Father's healing and miracles], with thousands more to come. But think of the story you will have (in this journey to come) if you DON'T get healed"! Jesus then went on to tell Little James that He and the Father had specifically chosen him to show the people one of the most important tenets of our faith... "You will know how to proclaim that you still praise God in spite of your affliction; to know how to focus on all that matters in your faith; [and it's] so much more than the [physical] body... When you find yourself fighting [through strength] because of your weakness, [and you will do great things in My Name in spite of this], the impact will last for generations". Then Jesus stops and smiles warmly at Little James and says, "A man like you healing ... Oh, what a sight!" He turns to walk off and then stops and returns to come close to face Little James. With His own face full of tenderness and love, He says, "You will be healed ... it's just a matter of time". Jesus then walks off, leaving Little James looking heavenward with renewed hope and identity. 

Think of the conversations you have had with Believers who have questioned why they or their loved one has not been healed, and how it has affected their faith. Then think of the conversations you could have now, after seeing this scene where Jesus shows a purpose [in the Father's will] for not being healed. When that can be shown on film, and through genuine human emotion, it can persuade hearts of the truth of God's Scripture: “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.”

So, now if you are a Believer and watching this oftentimes controversial show, you have a decision to make .... do you renounce the principle behind this scene because we have no proof that this exact exchange occurred between James the Less, or that he even had such an affliction? Or do we embrace the way that the filmmaker was able to express what the Bible clearly shows us is Jesus's compassion towards us during our trials; His power in us to work through our weakness to help us do what we cannot accomplish on our own [i.e., His Grace]; and the admonition of the Bible to praise God in all circumstances -- even when our flesh and soul don't feel like it. To me, this scene exemplifies Hebrews 13:15, Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. 

Another benefit of this scene [for me] is that it shows the audience that we can have the same kind of intimacy with Jesus that Little James experienced. We have permission to come to Him and question without fear of retribution; we can express our thoughts and feelings [and yes, even doubts and confusion], yet still trust in Him and maintain our faith. And the scene invited me to contemplate something I hadn't thought of before it was presented in this context of "a sacrifice of praise" ... it allowed me to see the comparison between Jesus not being "rescued" from his physical torture and pain so that we might live eternally with Him and the Father, with Little James being able to offer that same opportunity to others in spite of not being delivered from his own cross to bear. Just as Jesus cried out from the Cross, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?, Little James is, in essence, asking the same question of the Messiah ... why was I forsaken in Your healing miracles?

In the end, everyone must make up their own minds [and I would hope you engage with your spirit, too] to decide whether The Chosen is heretical and blasphemous. And if you choose to be strict in your dissection of just "how Biblical" this show is, I would like to suggest that every Easter Pageant, Christmas play, pastor's sermon, and theologian's commentary are based on someone's interpretation and genuine desire to portray the heart of the Bible's message. If we will recall, the Pharisees once accused Jesus of heresy and blasphemy because He did not follow their rigid interpretations of God's will. From my own personal experience, this show has showed a real, compassionate, and sincere Jesus that my unbelieving friends and family are curious to know. And it has opened up opportunities for me to have discussions that point them to the greater glory of God in the Scriptures. And in these End Times, those opportunities must be embraced to reach the lost in this world. May the Holy Spirit move in these dark days and use The Chosen to reach the hungry, blind, and poor in spirit. Amen!

#thechosen #principlesofthebible #lessonsfromthechosen #thepowerofjesus

John 20:21    Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives].”