Nothing is forever….but FOREVER

Think this one through:

Nothing, including no ONE, is forever……EXCEPT FOREVER, and those who receive His provision to enter into His forever life. (John 1:12 “But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—” AND John 3:16 “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (^[a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.”)

Before I dive off into these thoughts let me toss another fact found in scripture so we can circle back and tie them together and bring into our lives.  Here is something that sounds arrogant on the face of it, but since it comes from Scripture, it requires some serious consideration.

I Corinthians 12:12-16 “¹² Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God.  ¹³ And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit].  ¹⁴ But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.

¹⁵ But the spiritual man tries all things [he ^[g]examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him].

¹⁶ For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.”

It is almost universally understood that ‘everlasting life’, known also as ‘eternal life’, makes reference to ‘without ending’.  It is quantified in terms of LENGTH of life FROM a particular point in time – like now.  While that may be true in our perspective of ‘from now on’ it completely ignores the other direction.  In order for something to be ‘eternal’ or ‘everlasting’ or ‘forever’ we are driven to investigate the issue of ‘origin’.  Such is the ‘stuff’ of science but that discipline is limited to investigating ONLY those things they can verify in and by physical means.  Getting to the real point of beginning (origins) all seems to bog down at some point.  For instance, there is this ‘big bang’ idea that is taught as ‘theory’ to postulate something plausible.  So this huge explosion occurs and over time – you guessed it – ‘the earth cooled’.  From that theoretical hypothesis we attempt to bring things forward to our day.  Baloney.  Phooey.  Poppycock.  Bull……. well, you get the idea as to what I think of that theory.  Why?  It is simple.  I’m an old white Christian guy that believes the Bible that right out of the box debunks that theory – first, VERY first declaration made is “In the beginning God…”  Nowhere in Scripture do we find any explanation – not even a reference – of the beginning (origin) of God.

Here is a discovery from His Word that utterly amazes me.  ETERNAL life (existence) is the EXCLUSIVE domain of God alone.  Now, follow me here.  Mr. Eternal Life (sorry if that isn’t the pronoun you would use but it is consistent with Scripture) presents Himself as the lone point of origin for anything, everything, anyone, everyone and all that is necessary to sustain it all.  To put it another way: ALL things in, and on, earth have their (our) beginning from HIM WHO HAS NO beginning!  With me so far?

When God began man (made man), He made man in His own image – with the LIFE of God coursing through his (man’s) veins.  Adam and Eve were alive with the LIFE of God.  God ‘fashioned’ or ‘made a mold’ of Adam’s earthy frame and then infused him (them) with His own breath. I refer you to Genesis 2:7 but contrast that with Genesis 1:30. In the latter reference God refers to animals ‘in whom is the breath of life’.  Breath is God’s provision to sustain the life of the body.  God’s breath imparted to Adam was the literal infusion of His Spirit. Adam and Eve had a physical beginning but because they were made both spirit and physical, the life in their spirit was God – in them.

We need to know something about our ‘spirit’ man.  The spirit of man will exist ‘forever’.  The spirit of Adam and Eve was alive with the LIFE of God.  However, when they rebelled against their relationship with God and His life in them, they forfeited LIFE in their spirit – but did not forfeit ‘existence’.  Stay with me here – when Adam and Eve disregarded God’s Word to them that there was a fruit in the garden they should NOT eat because death was in that fruit, they IGNORED His warning.  In essence, they chose NOT to believe they would die.  Yet, the moment they ate of that fruit it broke their LIFE connection with God and their spirit man suffered a severance from God’s Spirit.  The life left to them was no longer eternal but finite.  Not only was THEIR spirit affected by this ‘disconnect’, so was EVERY human born thereafter because we ALL came from Adam and Eve.   The effect of this disconnect was manifest also in every thing within Adam’s dominion (responsibility).

Out of the Father’s love, Jesus is God’s GOOD NEWS for all the world to hear – and embrace – and share.  Those verses in John 1 leading up to verse 12 ties Jesus to the God of the beginning.  Again, it starts ‘In the beginning’ and John declares ‘in the beginning was the Word – the Word WAS WITH God – the Word WAS GOD – the Word became flesh (JESUS)’.  Jesus had a beginning – as a man.  Jesus had no beginning – as the Word Who became flesh and dwelt among us.  This is the same Jesus the Apostle Paul declares (under inspiration of Holy Spirit) as the SECOND MAN and the LAST ADAM.  It is this Jesus Whom we are to receive. And by receiving Him it moves us into God’s family of ‘children’.  Link this vital relationship with Jesus together with the fact that ‘God so loved the world He GAVE HIS only begotten Son’ to mitigate the fact our spirit is dead, and we have to conclude: God – through Jesus – is our path to being restored to our connection with the LIFE of God.  Once again, the result is we ‘exist’ in a finite physical body but in our human spirit we are connected to LIFE that is eternal.  God is the EXCLUSIVE LIFE source with no beginning.  The LIFE we received when we received Jesus is not just long lasting.  And it is NOT that we can now claim to have no beginning.  What we must conclude is the LIFE that has restored our spirit is LIFE without end – nor beginning.  It is a quality of life non-existent and unavailable ANYWHERE ELSE.

The ‘breath of LIFE’ given Adam was severed from his spirit through the disregard of that Word from God.  It was not until Jesus’ manifestation (the Word became flesh and DWELT among us) that the ‘breath of LIFE’ was restored to man.  The initial restoration is chronicled in the book of John (20:22) “²² And having said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit!”  After Jesus Ascension the disciples did as commanded, they ‘waited’ on an anticipated arrival of His Spirit to descend on them.  That phenomenon is preserved for us in the book of Acts, chapter 2.  Please read that account.  What is clear from that experience at Pentecost is that God has fully instituted a NEW covenant wherein and whereby He, personally, sets up residence in the spirit man of each believer.  I do not have the vocabulary to explain it where an uninitiated person can understand it.  Reminds me of a T-shirt I have which says, “I can explain it to you but I can’t understand it for you.”  But any person who has repented of ‘fixing’ their own life mistakes (sins) and turned to Jesus to change them can testify to this fact.  Immediately a change takes place and we discover that experience brought with it new perspectives of just about everything having to do with our life.  We, thereby, attest to this ‘breath of life’ residing and presiding in our lives.  That is not to say we choose to conduct our lives in submission to His Spirit.  It IS to say when we transgress Jesus’ Word(s) to us that something inside rises up within us.  What ‘rises up’ in us is this strong desire to be in compliance (right standing) with God’s Spirit in us.

Now we enter into arenas where we confront ideas, ideologies and hypothetical theorists who completely ignore the only true origin of life that exists.  Paul exposes these postulations as originating in the ‘non-spiritual mind’ and Paul claims for himself, AND for us as fellow recipients of God’s Holy Spirit. the high ground of having the advantage of being ALIVE.  The spiritual (LIFE connected) man understands the non-spiritual (LIFE DISconnected) man, but the non-spiritual man doesn’t have a clue what makes the spiritual man ‘tick’.

Is it really that important to understand the full ramifications of ‘eternal life’?  If we really value the true knowledge of our origins it matters.  If we connect our origins with how it affects our perception of our identity here and now it matters a great deal.  One thing it will clear up for us is that we are not in need of a savior to save us from our misbehavior.  We will recognize we behave from the reservoir of our ‘origin’.  And each of us originate from Adam and Eve.  Because of that we are, originally, lifeless where it really counts.  It is not our body that will exist forever.  It is not our soul that will exist forever.  It is our spirit that will exist forever.  Our spirit will exist forever either in a state of LIFE or a state of DEATH. 

Now, here is where the final benefit comes in the matter of understanding the quality of LIFE we possess as Christ followers: Our existence in/on earth in the context of this physical life is meant to be a spiritual existence where we SEE, and we EXPERIENCE LIFE.  This happens as we live out of the resources of His Holy Spirit in union with our spirit.  And the gospel of John, once again, reveals the grave importance of our relationship with ‘the Word Who became flesh‘.  Jesus is quoted in John 8:51 declaring this important truth: “ I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone observes My teaching [lives in accordance with My message, keeps My word], he will by no means ever see and experience death.”

My final assertion is that when we live out of the resources of this LIFE connection, our perspectives are dominated by His perspectives.  We see what He sees because we have His mind on all matters.  We experience the LIFE afforded us in this connection and we maintain our connection with ‘eternal LIFE’ through our hearing, our believing and our adhering to His Word(s).  One last quote from John 6:63 “It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life.”  LIFE comes from Holy Spirit, the giver (originator) of LIFE.  All other resources for life are temporal, physical life.  It is called ‘the flesh’.  ‘The flesh’ has its’ origins in Adam and Eve.  ‘The flesh’ is dead on arrival.  ‘The flesh’ does not respond to the environment of life, only death.  ‘The flesh’ does not produce life (righteousness) and is limited to producing only death.  ‘The flesh’ is a death existence.  You can “live” (exist) there if you so choose.  OR, there is a choice before us all to abandon ‘the flesh’ as a source for our existence and we can move over to entering a LIFE connection – living within the resources of His life that has no beginning nor ending.  It is HIS LIFE that originates a life for us that SEES what He sees and EXPERIENCES what He experiences.  If you find a better visual for ‘abundant life’ please let me know.

I leave  you with this last observation.  As His disciples – His LIFE ambassadors to a dead and dying humanity – we are ‘on mission’ to ‘be fruitful and multiply’ in this realm of spirit beings made alive by the ‘breath’ of God.  While much emphasis is placed on ‘preaching’ (proclaiming) His Word we miss something important.  Only a small number among us are ‘called’ and ‘anointed’ to preach His Word.  What makes His Church effective in ‘being fruitful and multiplying’ is when we allow His Spirit expression.  That requires a transparency in our lives.  Many of us hunger for something we call ‘revival’.  In living my 81 plus years on the planet I have personally observed what we term as ‘revival’ and this ‘transparency’ is what attracts.

I’m not going to take on the ominous task of defining what is and is not ‘revival’.  But I will share that every time I have been close to it there is one common thread.  People break any façade they have erected and allow Holy Spirit access to be them in front of everyone else.  It is this ‘transparency’ factor that is so compelling that draws attention like nothing else.  And when people come to see this ‘burning bush‘ phenomenon Holy Spirit gains access to their spirit as well.  VOILA!  There is FRUIT!  There is MULTIPLICATION!  The Kingdom is on display and is increased.  Maybe – perhaps probably – miracles and signs and wonders will initially get the attention of people that God is walking among us.  But the overwhelming desire to be part of it comes when someone I can identify with displays their new found disdain with living out of their own resources and the power of God shows up in them changing them from inside their spirit.  It is when ‘the breath of life‘ manifests.

In the book of Acts we see the beginning of a phenomenon known as ‘the Baptism of the Holy Spirit’ being imparted by ‘the laying on of hands’.  That is another subject for another day, but it brings up a fact we need to understand.  Only GOD (the Word become flesh) imparts LIFE by ‘breathing on them’.  It happens every time a person recognizes their need of a savior and that they must yield to HIM as THE Lord.  God supernaturally breathes Holy Spirit life on, and in, them.  When Jesus ‘breathed on them’ and they received the Spirit it was not the first time his breath was near enough to come on them.  This was a special, intentional ‘breath’ that bore the fruit He intended.  Your vulnerability, and mine, of being transparent in the way we live will, upon occasion, go directly to someone on whom He intends to ‘breathe‘.  Father, I LOVE living this LIFE with YOU!

 

In defense of ‘globalism’ aka The Great Reset

In Defense Of Globalism aka The Great Reset!

 

One of the most explosive phenomenal ideologies to float across 21st century academia is this blatant declaration.  It is postulated that our ‘creationist’ paradigm of God just showing up to speak into creating this planet and its population is in serious error OR that it is a serious failure.  The current ‘debate’ is the darling of academia, as previously stated, because it is so well suited to hard and difficult questions rising from sociological studies.  A close partner to those issues is attended to in psychological studies and both are supported by the theories and unanswered queries coming from scientific processes of observation.  Our universities, even our seminaries and religious institutions join with related expressions in the arts and humanities disciplines of what we seem to agree to be ‘higher education’.  Furthermore, it may (or may not) shock you to come to the realization this is less an organized seditious plot against God and religion as it is simply the natural expression of ‘fallen man’ exercising his intellect.  In order to come to some clarity about what is manifesting all around us it seems prudent to be better acquainted with what this globalism mindset opposes.  To be more precise, we need to be specific about the PERSON who is the object of their – uh – objection.  Does globalism hide behind an opposition to an ‘it’ in order to de-legitimize a ‘Who’?

Let’s just introduce the ‘elephant in the room’ and expose their opposition directed against established standards of God and God’s kingdom.  Let us begin our comparison by unveiling two entities waging war against the other.  In this corner wearing the blue trunks we have ‘The World System under the influence (training) of satan:  And in the far corner, in dazzling white trunks, we have the Kingdom of God (heaven) under the influence of the KING.   The KING is revealed to be none other than the only begotten Son of God empowered by God, the Holy Spirit and under direction of God, the Father.  Both ‘factions’ have a long history with both having some losses and some heavy wins.  Most notable is that ‘Cross experience’ of Jesus ending in the most asounding backlash ever after about the third day after the conclusion of that battle.  I hope you didn’t miss that – it was in all the RELEVANT papers.

It is at this precise point in this discussion, I make some clarifying statements so we may introduce transparency in my one-sided critique.  I want to be ‘clear’ regarding my personal biases and also be clear about my personal perceptions with regard to your biases.  While you, the reader, may be offended at and by my characterizations of opposing viewpoints, I would remind you of your prerogative to disagree, call me names, mis-label the foundation for my belief structures and even write a scientific, sociological, psychological and political rebuttal (a paper I may or may not choose to read).

CLARITY MARKERS:

Academic Credentials:           Graduated Highschool in 1959;

Attended Central State College 3 semesters earning a 0.75% grade                                                   average;

Married in 1962, had a child and in 1964 attended Eastern                                                             Oklahoma A & M Junior College 2 semesters and was on the                                                        Dean’s Honor roll;

1965 attended East Central State College 2 semesters and was on                                                            the Dean’s Honor roll;

Yes, THAT’S IT for academic credentials.  Yet that was neither the beginning nor the end of my ‘education’.  Here is ‘the rest of the story’:

About age nine I succumbed to the pressures of God’s Holy Spirit and put my trust in Jesus and His efforts to make this ‘sin’ thing right with God, the Father.  I put my trust in the fact Jesus died to pay my sin penalty and He rose from the dead in order to live in me and make me a new creature in Christ Jesus.  As difficult as it may be for you to understand this, you must also realize it was no less puzzling to me when it happened and as it began to unfold in my life.

I struggled from the initial changes of being ‘born-again’ (pardon me for bringing up terms that may or may not be outside your frame of reference), yet I walked in various stages of ‘perversion’.  No, it’s not what you think.  I simply walked in the perverted structure of what this world system, under the influence of satan, taught me about ‘life’.  I still had an active nature that was mine from the beginning.  We (me and my peeps) call it ‘the Old Nature’ or use terms like ‘the flesh’ and sometimes simply call it ‘self’.  And while I may have caught you up on our ‘terminology’ I (we) do not expect you to understand it.  Again, we realize that for those without a personal frame of reference it is a very difficult thing to comprehend – maybe even impossible.

Life proceeds progressively or regressively, sometimes both, at the same time.  I won’t bore you with specific details but the years 1961 and 1962 brought great changes in my life.  In late 1961 I met the love of my life, and we were married in early 1962.  In the process I also re-engaged my faith and sensed a call to preach.  Late 1962 we had our first child.  All these things combined to set me on a course of becoming intimately acquainted with God, the Holy Spirit.  That intimacy grew until God orchestrated our arrival in West Plains, MO and the First Baptist Church, West Plains.  This is where my ‘credentials’ show up.  I imagine you’re thinking ‘it’s about time’.

It was at West Plains, MO that I totally immersed myself in submission and surrender to the Lordship of Christ.  That also amounted to a full surrender to the role of the Holy Spirit who became my SOURCE for anything and everything true with regard to my life and influence.  The WORD of God lived in me in two forms: The WRITTEN WORD and the REVEALED WORD bringing to life my spirit by way of His Holy Spirit.  When my spirit became the home of His Holy Spirit I had access to knowledge on a spirit to Spirit level.  Knowledge, then, became a spiritual experience.  It manifested itself by His Spirit making my spirit aware of things He knew.  My spirit, then, would inform my mind.  Thus began the process of ‘the renewal of my mind’.  Now, I know what you must think—obviously this uneducated fellow is going to lay claim to knowledge springing from a superior source and he’s gonna pull that ‘Bible says this’ card to bear on the argument.  Let’s just say that I do that.  What credible sources will globalists use to establish and/or defend their position?  What are the ‘globalist’ apologetics supporting that position?  So, when we think about it that way, I DO think my ‘knowledge’ trumps their ‘knowledge’.

Let’s get straight to this issue of education, knowledge, information and its’ sources and check out the role of ‘higher education’ and see if it educates or indoctrinates.  A phrase used in an article I was asked to analyze started out with defining globalism and the role of advanced education in the process of ‘cultivating knowledge’.  If we are to engage the role of education to be that of ‘cultivating knowledge’ on any topic we need to be clear about the optics of cultivation.

The only reason for ‘cultivating’ a field is to eliminate what one does NOT want to harvest when harvest time arrives.  I know a little about growing and harvesting crops because I spent a career negotiating land rights where land owners were engaged in that very process.  When it came time to harvest wheat or corn or soybeans or whatever, the harvested grain would be taken to a local market.  Usually this would be a grain elevator which would pay either the market price established for that day by grain buyers OR would pay on the basis of a price earlier negotiated and under a signed contract.  But before the crop was paid for there would be a test.  The grain would be analyzed for purity.  If there was more than a prescribed percentage of foreign substance in the crop (weeds) there would be a ‘dock’ and that dock would not affect the price but the quantity being paid for.  Cultivating a field is an exercise in eliminating foreign elements from growing and maturing in the field.  Therefore, foreign elements are kept to a minimum.  Here’s my point: Cultivating knowledge is a process of isolating our fields of study and categorized as supportive information and oppositional information.  In promoting the case for globalism, the favorable information is presented and the unfavorable information is mentioned only to refute it or minimize it.  THEREFORE it is imperative we understand the varied agendas of all parties in order to arrive at the veracity (credibility) of conclusions arrived at from ‘cultivating knowledge’.  Here’s where I pull the Bible card on you.  Just being transparent.

In your spare time, review the account of the ‘creation’ (maybe a renewal of creation) that identifies ‘THE’ beginning.  Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 starts with this phrase: “In the beginning” but with one having a bit of a different twist than the other.  In the Genesis account ‘the beginning’ is an event produced by God.  He just shows up as ‘God’ in Genesis.  However, in John He shows up as THE WORD.  Combine the two and you see God, the Son being the speaker in that amazing ‘let there be’ monologue laid out for us in Genesis One.  Hopefully I’m not going too fast for you, but here we go with this fact: God, the Son, was the Word that was with God, the same being God and being one and the same as the Word who became flesh.  Also, the fact that He (the Word that was with – even WAS God) maintained a physical residence among the people living at the time that ‘became flesh’ thing occurred.  Now for some itty bitty but hugely important fact, God concludes this creation work week (day 6) by ‘making’ man.  He made ‘them’ Adam.  He made them as Adam, the male and Adam, the female.  Mr. (male) Adam gave Mrs. (female) Adam the name ‘Eve’.

Adam had full run of the garden of Eden, even being set in the garden as the steward of the garden and ALL God’s creation.  God used the term ‘dominion’ and established in Adam both the responsibility to steward the planet and its vast resources, as well as the creatures God placed thereon.  At the heart of Adam exercising the authority that accompanied this responsibility Adam depended on God to guide him in everything.  Thus, he (Adam)  enjoyed a daily routine of fellowship (including a great deal of consultation) with God.  It is apparent he also enjoyed instant access to The Word who was with God, even was God and who would eventually move in with all of us.  Anything that was made was made by ‘The Word’.  While the Biblical narrative does not expressly say so we can safely assume that anything Adam knew about came out of these daily episodes of communion.  Covered topics that must have been included, like agronomy, biology, maybe even some clues about fire (and, who knows, the wheel?) formed a knowledge base for Adam’s tenure of ‘dominion’.   Here’s my point.  Adam did everything he did based on his dependence on ‘the Word’ to tell him how, when and why to do it – whatever ‘it’ may have been.

One of the things God revealed to Adam was a primary food source. This is not an earth-shattering revelation but certainly essential.  The Adams resided in the midst an orchard.  There was an abundance of fruits and vegetables to start them off and Adam was being developed to produce enough food and energy to sustain a growth large enough to populate all the earth.  But it was all dependent on his listening to everything God would tell him.  It is recorded God told him that of all the good fruit in the orchard there was one tree that bore poisonous fruit.  God bluntly told him that eating that fruit would cause death – that day.  Now we all know what happened.  Along came this murderous fallen angel now known as ‘the devil’.  This devil was ONLY a spirit creature.  The five physical senses of Adam did not register the presence of a spirit being.  But God is Spirit and Adam had a spiritual sense of God’s presence.  But Adam was not equipped to communicate with this devil spirit.  Communication between this devil spirit and the human spirit that was Adam lacked an open channel.  To communicate with Adam it was necessary for him to find a physical body that would be the devil’s accomplice.  There is no record of how the serpent and the devil teamed up against Adam.  We do not know how they negotiated their alliance nor do we have record of what terms they agreed to in order to give satan this serpent’s ability to approach Eve and, subsequently Adam.  The record only informs us the serpent scored highest in the ability to be ‘crafty’.   A particular serpent’ was deemed most qualified and was chosen (recruited).  This serpent was willing and the campaign to overthrow man’s dominion and God’s plan got underway.  Mr. & Mrs.  Adam, suddenly, became the target of manipulation, deceit and flat out lies with the end desire to wrench from Adam and Eve their assignment from God with regard to their ‘dominion’.  This serpenct/satan team did, they manipulated, they lied, and Adam and Eve ate the poison.  Or, as we put it today after the infamous Jim Jones and that whole kool-aid incident, they drank the kool-aid.  But something happened that the news media won’t tell you – didn’t cover – doesn’t want you to know.  Let little ole genius, me, lay it out for you: The alternative was to move Mr. & Mrs. Adam from the issues of God’s kingdom and focus on the alternative offered in the presence of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

God communicated with Adam and was always rooted in the fact His LIFE was breathed into this human creature which made Adam ‘a living creature’.  If you miss the full impact of this the Christian LIFE will be an enigma until God reveals to you this truth.  Adam was presented to the planet as a physical being with spirit life.  Mr. & Mrs. Adam were God’s EXCLUSIVE creatures bearing in their physical bodies this spirit LIFE from God.  Mr. & Mrs. Adam were ALSO God’s EXCLUSIVE creatures bearing in their spiritual life’s makeup a physical body with the physical abilities to enjoy and appreciate SEEING the beauty and glory of God’s creative abilities.  They also enjoyed the ability to FEEL what God had created.  They could sense textures through touch.  They could stroke the fur of animals and distinguish how some were smooth and silky feeling, others more course.  Within their physical characteristics they could relate to their environment through their sense of smell and could distinguish and categorize different things through their sense of smell.  They also exercised their physical ability to taste the various fruits of the trees in the garden.  They could sense the approach of animals, weather, even the varied moods of expressing themselves through their sense of hearing.  The spirit world around them did not have those physical senses.  But Mr. & Mrs. Adam were equipped uniquely with physical and spiritual life in order to operate in their responsibilities of ‘dominion’.  And the foremost issue between them and God was that of His LIFE being their LIFE.  Thus, we see the prime issue of God regarding man is LIFE and DEATH.  Everything Mr. & Mrs. Adam did depended on that LIFE.

The tempting alternative of that particular tree was that the fruit represented knowledge that could be theirs INDEPENDENT of God.  One of the convincing ‘selling points’ promoted by team snake was being elevated to a position of equality with God.  When Mr. & Mrs. Adam bought into the idea of getting this WORLD set of encyclopedias as yet another source of information, they were convinced there was no downside.  They suffered an acute case of ‘buyer’s remorse’ the moment they took delivery.

God spoke His WORD to them about how this would play out, but He was not specific in the details.  But now, this side of error, we have the details.  The very first thing we now know is that the very moment they ate of this fruit, a ‘knowing’ happened.  This business of knowledge originated as a spirit function.  What was true then is still true today.  Any ‘knowledge’ from a source that does not originate from His Holy Spirit is ‘alternative’ knowledge.  That knowledge is acquired solely through our observations, experiences, and teachings.  When we get knowledge from and through the Holy Spirit it is given to our cognitive mind by our spirit that received it from His Spirit.

When Mr. & Mrs. Adam ate the deadly fruit they did, then and there, die to their connection with God.  Death also set up in their bodies and we now refer to them as our ‘mortal bodies’.  Now they KNOW good and evil, and they find there is as much death in the good, as there is in the evil.  In this condition they experienced a paradigm shift from the prime issues of LIFE vs. DEATH, to what is considered GOOD vs. EVIL.  That day the world system under the influence of satan began.  From this incident forward we will see a distinction between ‘the earth’ and ‘the world’.  Later it was stated that Adam ‘knew’ his wife and she bare him a son.  One might look at that statement and say ‘Oh, is that what they called it back then’?  The reason I bring that to our focus is that when they ate the alternative source for knowledge it carried with it the same intimacy with that knowledge as sexual intercourse meant by them becoming ‘one flesh’.

Since that time the issues of what is GOOD, what is EVIL, what causes BLESSING or CALAMITY has been front and center of the quest of man and his policies.  The original issues of the kingdom of God have never changed.  LIFE and DEATH will guide any need we have to understand the good and evil issues of our day.  To be blunt about this, the kingdom of God is not about good vs. evil.  The issues surrounding good vs. evil are divisive and always debated.  It is divisive because it is now the issue typified by the attitude “I (and my ‘party’) are right, and YOU (and your party) are wrong”.  When the kingdom of God steps into these controversies, the approach is that LIFE is still in God and we must connect to LIFE.  In the process we both receive forgiveness, and we give forgiveness.  We will step away from the debate but we will hearken to the inner voice of the Holy Spirit and trust Him to convict and convince you of HIS LIFE IN YOU.

It is without question that all of society today revolves around the issues of the world system under the influence of satan.  It has built on the foundation of ‘good vs. evil, blessing vs. calamity’ but the material used to build upon that paradigm is ‘right vs. wrong’ – specifically lusting to be perceived by all as right, and all opposition to be perceived as wrong.  This has brought to bear on our planet a system that irreversibly wrought disorder on the earth.

The resulting disorder gives rise to a demant to restore order.  It is most logical to conclude the very real necessity of a ‘new world order’.  It is all but universally agreed that a central brain trust must be established to bring order out of this disorder.  It amounts to a primal cry to return to a centralized system of ‘dominion’.  The current move toward this global order is presented to us by a collection of highly educated and intellectual elites offering the ultimate solution through artificial intelligence.  A genuinely serious track has been laid to reign in the planet’s problem with over population by controlling several factors.  The LGBTQ+ community (anyone really know what all that means?) is championed by this World Economic Forum (WEF) for good reason.  While it is not anywhere stated by them as a very real side benefit, were the whole world to embrace and adopt their lifestyle it would have a profound effect on the global birth rate.  Depopulation is also seen as a very real benefit of championing women’s reproductive rights (code word for abortion).  The rising star of perversion at this time is pedophilia.  Every day we are discovering how closely we’ve rubbed elbows with the practitioners of this sickening perversion for most of our lives.  The most common place to find pedophiles is – you guessed it – anywhere that attracts children.  But tell me, why has the media not seen the arrests of pedophile rings involving Disney theme parks an issue important enough to target?  And what about those participant lists of high level men involved with the Epstein Island escapades that are still unknown?  I need to settle my rage over the push for gender re-assignment – especially of minors and the perverts promoting a child’s right to choose these procedures WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE NOR THE CONSENT OF THEIR PARENTS!!!   Sorry to yell at you like that.

Yes, it is imperative we develop this New World Order.  But the one being presented to us is a counterfeit.  God is already ahead of the game.  The time is coming, and rapidly, when the King of kings and Lord of lords draws things to a close.  After giving the Anti-Christ seven years to bring order out of disorder it will be apparent this wonderful new world leader will be exposed for the devil (anti-Christ) that he is.  The genuine article will then appear and defeat that devil and his attendants (demons), imprison him and his troops for a thousand years. the King will take His throne and the real culprit will be dealt with.  Sin will disappear until the end of the thousand years.  Then satan will be out on probation, will violate the terms of his probation and he, his death, hell and sin, and the grave will be rolled up in a puke bag and tossed into the lake of fire.  THAT, my studied friend, will be the REAL GREAT RESET.

If you are not already on the Kingdom of God team hastily prepare your exit from the kingdom of the world system under the influence of satan and acquaint yourself with the life, the death, the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus.  You ain’t seen excitement like you’ll experience by being on the team that kicks devil butt daily.  Tell ya what: if you think you’re ready for that change call me.  I know a guy – we can get you in.  I guarantee it!!!

The donkey and the jackass riding her

Who’s the Jackass here?

Numbers 22 “The Israelites journeyed and encamped in the plains of Moab, on the east side of the Jordan [River] at Jericho.  ² And Balak [the king of Moab] son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.  ³ And Moab was terrified at the people and full of dread, because they were many. Moab was distressed and overcome with fear because of the Israelites.  ⁴ And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. So Balak son of Zippor, the king of the Moabites at that time, ⁵ Sent messengers to Balaam [a foreteller of events] son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the [Euphrates] River, even to the land of the children of his people, to say to him, There is a people come out from Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the earth and they have settled down and dwell opposite me.”

 

Notation:  See this 21st century parallel.  Our earth, including our nation, is inhabited by people of two basic and opposing viewpoints – paradigms – perspectives.  To our left we have the people whose views accommodate the perspectives of this world system as it is heavily influenced by satan to exclude God from public influence.  To the right of that position are people who, to some degree, honor God, honor God’s Word and honor God’s values.  It is their position their world views would – and should – come from their values and perspectives.  As it stands today, so it stood in the days of Israel on their journey from Egypt to Canaan.

Israel came out of Egypt by the strong and judicial hand of God on them.  Word of the fate of those who would stand in their way spread throughout the region.  Then, as now, the powers on the left did not want to allow the influences of those on the right to displace whatever power, prestige and control they (on the left) had carved out for themselves.  And, yes, I’m aware of the characterization of those in Canaan as ‘the left’ and the people of God on ‘the right’.

Today we see a great fear with our ‘leftists’ who perceive a power shift toward those of the right side of ‘value and perspective’.  They, the left, have presented a position that a threat to their ‘reign’ of governance is a threat to democracy.  Since the United States of America is a Democratic REPUBLIC our governing officials are ELECTED officials.  Each side (left or right) campaigns to get elected and to either maintain or change the perspectives of governance.  Now, let’s be brutally honest about one point.  Should the ‘right’ be the dominant party being threatened by the left taking the reigns of government, the message would be similar – that such a change will add one more nail to the coffin wherein lay democracy.

That said, Balak, king of the Moabites, hatches a plan to engage a hired mystic to put a curse on this multitude of people who have encamped next to Moab.  It must also be understood these Israelites were being led by God out of Egypt INTO CANAAN.  Balak drew his conclusions without any consultation with Israel or the leader of Israel.  Their characterizations with regard to Israel’s intentions did not give God any consideration at all.

The CHRISTIAN right is misunderstood because of the simple fallacy that our intentions are the same as the intentions of the left, which is to serve its (our) own interests rather than govern to the benefit of the governed.  Sadly, that is too true of both of Americas’ dominant political parties, the Democrats (leftists to one degree or another) and Republicans on the right – at least to the right of the Democrats.  To be clear, ‘right’ equates to ‘conservative’ and we seem to put both tendencies in degrees.  We have the right and far right (could be called extremists) and the left and the far left (could be call radical left).  But one ‘side’ favors giving God and His Word due influence, whereas the other thinks God should butt out of America’s public affairs and recite the ‘separation of Church and State’ mantra.  Now, having made my comparisons, we return to Balak, Balaam and the Moabite ‘crisis’.

^“6 Now come, I beg of you, curse this people for me, for they are too powerful for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.

⁷ And the elders of Moab and of Midian departed with the rewards of foretelling in their hands; and they came to Balaam and told him the words of Balak.  ⁸ And he said to them, Lodge here tonight and I will bring you word as the Lord may speak to me. And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam [that night].  ⁹ And God came to Balaam, and said, What men are these with you?

¹⁰ And Balaam said to God, Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, ¹¹ Behold, the people who came out of Egypt cover the face of the earth; come now, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.  ¹² And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.

¹³ And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Go back to your own land, for the Lord refuses to permit me to go with you.  ¹⁴ So the princes of Moab rose up and went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.  ¹⁵ Then Balak again sent princes, more of them and more honorable than the first ones.  ¹⁶ And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak son of Zippor, I beg of you, let nothing hinder you from coming to me.  ¹⁷ For I will promote you to very great honor and I will do whatever you tell me; so come, I beg of you, curse this people for me.

¹⁸ And Balaam answered the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.  ¹⁹ Now therefore, I pray you, tarry here again tonight that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.  ²⁰ And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men come to call you, rise up and go with them, but still only what I tell you may you do.

²¹ And Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.  (My note here – there is no mention of ‘the men’ coming to beckon Balaam.  It appears Balaam rose and made himself ready and went to them.)

²² And God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the ^[a]Angel of the Lord stood in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

²³ And the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way and His sword drawn in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey to turn her into the way.  ²⁴ But the Angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall on this side and a wall on that side.  ²⁵ And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she thrust herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against it, and he struck her again.  ²⁶ And the Angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right hand or to the left.  ²⁷ And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam, and Balaam’s anger was kindled and he struck the donkey with his staff.  ²⁸ And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you should strike me these three times?  ²⁹ And Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have ridiculed and provoked me! I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!  ³⁰ And the donkey said to Balaam, Am not I your donkey, upon which you have ridden all your life long until this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so to you? And he said, No.

³¹ Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His sword drawn in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell on his face.

³² And the Angel of the Lord said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times? See, I came out to stand against and resist you, for your behavior is willfully obstinate and contrary before Me.  ³³ And the ass saw Me and turned from Me these three times. If she had not turned from Me, surely I would have slain you and saved her alive.  ³⁴ Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. But now, if my going displeases You, I will return.

³⁵ The Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with the men, but you shall speak only what I tell you. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.  ³⁶ When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab on the border formed by the Arnon [River], at the farthest end of the boundary.  ³⁷ Balak said to Balaam, Did I not [earnestly] send to you to ask you [to come] to me? Why did you not come? Am not I able to promote you to honor?  ³⁸ And Balaam said to Balak, Indeed I have come to you, but do I now have any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.  ³⁹ And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.  ⁴⁰ And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent [portions] to Balaam and to the princes who were with him.

⁴¹ And on the following day Balak took Balaam and brought him up into the high places of Bamoth-baal; from there he saw the nearest of the Israelites.”

 

NOW, is that not an interesting story?  There is more, but we will stop and ponder this question I put to you.  But first know the donkey is the symbol, in our time, of the Democratic party.  Today’s problems coming out of that party is not with the party itself, nor the rank-and-file members.  It is the (pardon this analogy) the jackass riding the donkey that is the problem.  So, here is the big question in my mind:  WHEN on earth is the donkey gonna tell this jackass he’s headed straight for destruction by pursuing his course?  When will God give voice to the donkey – the party?

 

The result was simply God would not allow a curse to be placed on Israel from this outside source.  HOWEVER, Balaam later counseled Balak on a plan whereby Moabites would intermarry with the Israelites and secularize their culture.  And they did that.  And that worked.  My my: I’m STILL seeing parallels here.  So now, who in our present dilemma is the culprit?  BOTH the right and the left capitulate to pressures to drive our culture in a perverse ‘woke’ direction.  Now, that’s my story.  Now, I’m stickin’ to it.  I can’t find anyone here I trust to right the ship of state except God.  Neither party really likes that solution, but only one party will give me and mine a voice.  And the voice I’m given is NOT crying over the ‘woe is me’ cry of the victim.  Rather, this voice given me is declaring the existence of corruption(s), perversions, disregard for God and His plans together with the declaration that God’s WORD is being performed before us.  This voice declares and decrees victory is God’s.

 

We find ourselves at the very beginning of year 2023.  As always society is geared to putting away the old year and embracing the new year.  I’ve seen 81 ‘new’ years and it is my experience the end of one year and the beginning of a new year is strictly a calendar event.  The years progress and the actual circumstances of December of one year and January of the next year are not noticeable.  Yet I can, with assurance, predict / foresee / visualize with accuracy events of 2023 based on where we are and the trajectory (God’s trajectory) of 2022.  Ready to indulge me some prognostications?

 

Let’s start with the world economy in general and America’s economy in particular.  Seeds have been sown in 2022 that parallel a family maximizing their available credit and suffering great losses in the value of their largest investments.  For families and individuals this indicates a spiral headed for bankruptcy.  But some of the world’s richest families prospered most – at least here in America – during the time (era) of the great depression.  If God is involved in world economics (and trust me when I declare He IS involved) He will grace His own with the wisdom necessary to know how to prosper in terrible economic environments.  In the year 2023 I see God showing up bringing victory in the midst of apparent financial defeat for many individuals – even communities, states and regions who follow after God’s direction(s).

 

From there let’s look at cultural morality.  The trajectory of this world system under the influence of satan is drawing the USA and the world closer to demanding individual citizens to legitimize, accept and agree with a total departure of Biblical – even traditional – values.  Another effect of social debauchery is the division that results.  Even the least traditional among us are quickly tiring of all the woke posturings and demands coming from government, from corporate America and, perhaps more than any other, Public Education structures.  It has become easier than ever to finally awaken to the fact the culture of the left is hell-bent on indoctrinating all school age children.  We even see where parental interference with the woke agenda being a curriculum in our public schools as criminal behavior.  In short a preponderance of our society is quickly becoming satiated with these perversions and its’ indoctrinations.  Suddenly we see an agenda driven by a putrid form of pedophilia.  God has systematically drawn back the curtain on how radical leftists view our (OUR) children.  My view of 2023 is these actions of God, heretofore, will complete the processes of exposure to bring about justice for our children.  I see that continuing for many years to come, all the while being opposed by ‘the system’.

 

POLITICS – is God going to ‘interfere’ with politicians, political parties, political structures and policies?  YES – He will CONTINUE what He has already started bringing it to completion.  Will political corruption be forever destroyed?  I don’t see that.  I DO see the conflict and the division intensifying with many more victories manifest in God’s favor than that of the enemy.  Will the Republican party dominate and crush theDemocrat party?  I don’t think so.  If God gives voice to the ‘donkey’ and opens the eyes of those riding the donkey it is probable that party will dominate.  The Republican party is the party feigning allegiance with God and to the degree they hold to that they will, eventually, be dominant.  Here is something you can be sure about.  ANYONE claiming allegiance to God – the Republican party, the Church, ‘Christian’ colleges or companies all have this in common.  ALL will be held to a standard that requires ‘pruning’, ‘refining’ and ‘purifying’.

I have been praying since 2015 that God would expose the truth of what is behind governing ideologues.  As it turns out I am only one of a multitude driven to that line of praying.  But God will not expose the corruption of secularists without illuminating the hypocrisies and corruption of His own.  You and I should do these two things:

1)         Submit and surrender to God, His agenda, His leadership and His values immediately.  I know these come through God processing the realities of our lives to us but I encourage you to join me in the exercise of submission and surrender in advance to anything God reveals to us; and

2)         Learn the fun of prayer.  Get that symbolic bucket of popcorn, get a comfortable place to observe what God is about to display before us and respond.  Is that an image of how you pray – or how you were taught to pray?  Whatever I see as a need or whatever may be wrong or unjust is something God has shown me and is something He is eager to address.  If I don’t bring the matter up to Him I won’t see what His activity in processing the matter to His glory.  I have come to the place that prayer is more a matter of me tuning in than broadcasting.  Then, when I do broadcast my petitions to Him, I pray FROM a place of victory rather than praying FOR victory.

Bottom line, I think we’ll enjoy2023.

How’d SHE get here (first lady of earth)?

How’d she get here?

(First Lady of earth)

 

Origins, originals and how they have developed throughout history helps our understanding of the things, the circumstances, the effects of the circumstances we live with.  The origin of words helps our understanding of literature, legal documents, even the nuance of modern slang as used by the young around us.  Knowing how things began helps in ‘decoding’ what people are saying around us.  I recall making a sales call with my employer, Eddie Lofton, on a jewelry store owner.  We were selling his line of jewelry repair and maintenance items as well as buying their scrap gold, silver and platinum.  We were in a store in Chicago owned by a Hispanic family.  Their daughter was working in the store during her spring break from college.  She wished to speak to her mother, in Spanish, about negotiating with us. During their conversation her mother broke in, chuckling tell her daughter that ‘the man understands Spanish’.  While laughable, Eddie’s ability to ‘decode’ her conversation could have been quite helpful in negotiating their business.

Currently we are being bombarded with nonsensical theories of science concluding an existence of multiple – even dozens – of genders.  Here we grew up limited to responding, corresponding and relating only to male and female genders.  Whatever else might materialize, i.e., a baby born with both male and female genitalia, was considered abnormal and requiring specialized recognition and relatability.  Now I’m about to pull ‘scripture’ on you and if you have limited respect for biblical knowledge and less trust in God and what I purport to be His Word, then you are on notice what follows is not ‘your cup of tea’.  Should you want to read on to extend your personal critique then you are welcome to continue and you are welcome to your opinion.  I will not, however, debate these issues with you or anyone.  My script is declarative only.  There are any number of apologists taking up the mantle of research necessary to uncover evidentiary proofs of Biblical writ – claims – declarations.

Biblically it is declared that God created man – male and female created He them.  This man God created FIRST He called Adam.  Adam was created physically mature.  He, Adam, was created with the genitalia and capability of procreating – but with one glaring omission discovered by Adam ‘at work’.  Adam’s initial assignment was to catalogue and categorize (meaning it was up to Adam to NAME) the animals God had created).  That would include anything living, developing and growing on the earth and was, to some extent, ambulatory.  This ‘chore’ underscored to Adam what was missing.  Apparently, God created his animal kingdom in pairs.  The buck deer had a doe.  The canine had a bitch.  The stallion horse had a mare horse.  The bull was companioned with a cow.  Are we getting the Biblical picture here?  So Adam must have had a sense of relief – as well as understanding – when God made the declaration that ‘It is not good that man be alone.’

What happened next is the account of God’s creation of ‘woman’.  It could easily have been the answer by Ketanji Brown Jackson when asked to ‘define’ a woman in her confirmation hearings for the supreme court to simply refer to God’s declaration that He created man, male and female created He them.  To cite that reference would have drawn such vitriol from ‘the left’ that it would pale in comparison to the mockery over a Supreme Court nominee who doesn’t know what a woman is.  Her answer, shocking to many, was that she could not and declared she did not carry the credentials of a ‘biologist’.  In many ways I defend her answer and mock her critics.  When a question is posed to a nominee for appointment as a justice on the Supreme Court of the USA it is generally asking for a legal opinion – or, in this case, a legal definition.  The reason I defend her response is the Senator asking that question could not – in all probability – present a satisfactory ‘definition’ either.  But we all know man is divided by gender as male or female.  Plumbing divides its’ fittings into male and female fittings.  Hopefully you see the significance of the plumbing terms.  In plumbing fittings have to come in one or the other ‘gender’ (category).

One thing we need to know about ‘gender’ is it is specifically related to procreation – actual or potential.  What biology teaches us is the male of any species produces the seed (sperm) and the female of any species develops an infertile egg.  Procreation is triggered when a male sperm penetrates and fertilizes the female egg.  Now, enough biology.  We’re talking about Adam and earth’s first lady (woman), Eve.

The term ‘human’ combines the term ‘humus’ (not hummus) and man.  The visual is we originated as man made from dirt – earth – soil.  We are on solid ground here (okay, pun intended) both Biblically and scientifically.   Eve is the female of the human species, yet Eve was NOT extracted or formed in soil.  Eve was extracted from ‘soil man’, Adam.  One might say Eve was the first person ‘born’ by Cesarean Section.  The only details we have of the account of Eve’s creation is God ‘took’ a rib from Adam and formed/fashioned this woman Adam named ‘Eve’.  We’re told this was accomplished while Adam was asleep and, at first glance, appeared to be earth’s first surgical procedure done under anesthetic.  Now, let’s walk through some things here and see if we might have alternate or accompanying conclusions:

1)         All creation came to be by God speaking a declarative manifestation of what was contained within Him – including Adam and Eve.

2)         With respect to Adam there was a process God took in his (Adam’s) creation He deemed it necessary to reveal to Moses so Moses could include it in the Genesis account of creation(s).

3)         Fast forward to the virgin birth of Jesus, the Word (from the beginning) made flesh and living among us – His (God the Father’s) ONLY begotten son – born of a ‘virgin’.  Don’t make me explain ‘virgin’ to you.

4)         Concluding from all the above I believe it safe to say God’s removal of Adam’s rib to create Eve was not a surgical procedure at all but another miraculous WORD from Him that removed something close to the heart of Adam to create his forever ‘mate’ in order for ‘man’ to be complete.

(We’re not through ‘concluding’):

5)         Adam, Eve and Jesus are the only humans recorded on the earth whose beginning was in complete, total and unmistakable ‘innocence’.

6)         Eve and Adam ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil WITHOUT REGARD for the WORD from God about the fatal consequences of doing so.

Let’s see something basic, fundamental, true and absolutely essential from all these facts:  ALL of humanity, from Adam to this day, is the result of the male reproductive organ introducing male sperm through the female vaginal canal to the ovum to fertilize her egg and approximately 39 weeks of gestation results in the birth of a baby.  However else one comes up with a way to alter the sexual experience it will NOT result in the birth of a baby.  There is ample precedence in scripture that when this male to female sexual experience occurs that male and that female are intertwined and, thereby, considered mated for life.  It is this basic concept from which we derive our concept of marriage.

The virgin Mary is exceptional.  When she became impregnated with the ‘seed’ from God it was a supernatural phenomenon brought about by the WORD from God through the angel who appeared before her and was the miraculous work of God, the Holy Spirit.  Catholicism correctly describes the incident as ‘immaculate conception’.  Here is the eternal truth and the most powerful act of God the Father, God the Holy Spirit and God the Son ever declared by God and man.  Mary and her firstborn – whose father is God, the Father – presents to all humanity past and present a DO OVER of the failure of Eve and Adam (respectively) in the garden of Eden.  What happened there is commonly – and scripturally – referred to as ‘the sin of Adam’ for good reason.  Although Eve allowed herself to be deceived, it was given to Adam the responsibility to keep evil out of the garden.  Adam was responsible FOR Eve.  That entire exchange between his wife, Eve, and that slick-tongued serpent given over to satan was witnessed by Adam.  At any time, Adam could have stepped between them and declared their conversation over.  He did not do that, and the curse of ‘sin’ has been on man, and all that over which man was given dominion, since that day.  This submission of the virgin, Mary, and the birth, the life, the ministry, the crucifixion (death and burial) of Jesus and, subsequently, His resurrection and Ascension nullified Adam’s failure and subsequent curse.

The most important facts of these origins are that Jesus succeeded where Adam failed.  Jesus brings an abrupt end to the curses of Adam’s and Eve’s disregard for God’s Word.  This truth is expressed in some detail in Paul’s letter to the Church at Corinth: I Corinthians 15:42-49 “⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: ⁴³ it is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: ⁴⁴ it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.  There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. ⁴⁶ Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. ⁴⁸ As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. ⁴⁹ And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”

In this passage God presents Adam place alongside Jesus as FIRST MAN (Adam) and SECOND MAN (Jesus) and as FIRST ADAM and Jesus as LAST ADAM.  There were NO men in the sinless and innocent state between Adam before his fall and Jesus at His birth forward.  NOT ONE man.  Now, this is most powerful.  Adam is, physically, the father of all men, living and dead.  Jesus, though, is presented to us as THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN!  This is in complete harmony with what we were shown by John in his gospel account, first chapter, twelfth verse: That AS MANY who received Him (Jesus) TO THEM He, the Father, authorized, energized and through grace enabled them to BECOME the children of God.  Adam and Eve are our origins – both of physical life and spiritual death and depravity.  Jesus is our EXCLUSIVE origin of restored position as a SON of God the Father.  As many would encourage those in proximity to the profound: LET THAT SINK IN!

WE’RE AT WAR!

WE

 

WE’RE AT WAR!

2 Corinthians 10:4-6

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,

⁵ [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

⁶ Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission and obedience [as a church] are fully secured and complete.

FIGHT:           A)        The real enemy;

1. B) On the real battlefield’
2. C) Using real weapons; and
3. D) Inflict real punishment!

 

If you think PUBLIC EDUCATION is a safe place for the children in your life HAVE ANOTHER THOUGHT!  We are told again and again that “knowledge is power!”  Scripture agrees by telling us a lack of knowledge will cause a society (people) to perish.  So, knowledge is good, power to survive and even triumph is good, so what they say must be true.  But allow me to make this one little point found in that passage aforementioned: WE are to go into WAR against a brand of knowledge that presents itself aloof from such absolutes as ‘knowledge’ revealed to us in God’s Word (the true knowledge of God).

I take scripture quite seriously.  There is a passage in Isaiah, Ch 11, Vs 2, describing seven characteristics of the one and only GOD the Holy Spirit:          The efforts of elite educators of our day have indoctrinated a generation to go beyond true origins and originals so that their agenda can evolve into a new order for the world.  Another way to state that is this growing idea the entire world needs to make welcome and accommodate ideas and ideals that pervert any order established by God.  Isaiah 11:2 (AMPC) “² And the ₍₁₎Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him—the ₍₂₎Spirit of wisdom and ₍₃₎understanding, the ₍₄₎Spirit of counsel and ₍₅₎might, the Spirit of ₍₆₎knowledge and of ₍₇₎the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord—”.

1. Spirit of the Lord;
2. Spirit of wisdom;
3. Spirit of understanding;
4. Spirit of counsel;
5. Spirit of might;
6. Spirit of knowledge; and
7. Spirit of the fear of the Lord.

I want our focus to be on characteristic #6 – the Spirit of KNOWLEDGE.  Knowing is common to every person regardless of age – even before birth.  A developing fetus KNOWS the sound(s) of the people who are often around them.  The fetus will react to auditory stimulus in varied ways and when a baby is, for whatever reason, removed from those voices at birth they have to adjust from the deprivation of what had become familiar.  Ergo, KNOWING is one of the common experiences shared by humans.

There are many people alarmed at the thought of people around them claiming to ‘hear God’ and claiming to have a personal relationship with God of some sort or another.  Personally, I find their alarm humorous.  It took only a short time, and my dog recognized my voice.  He doesn’t speak English but when anyone says the word ‘Leroy’ his ears perk up because he ‘knows’ his name.              If we shut ourselves away from God’s confirming voice about what we know then we have adopted knowledge from sources that may or may not be accurate.  Basic mathematics is a handy example.  In the Genesis account of creation, we start with the first day.  Then we proceed to a second day (day 2).  If we progress two more days, we arrive at day 4 – 2 days, then another 2 days and it equals 4 days.  But we find nowhere in scripture where it says that in every case “TWO plus TWO equaleth FOUR”.  Rather, we simply pick up on God’s patterns.  Further, notice can be given specific numbers like 5 which is commonly associated with ‘grace’ and 7 associated with ‘rest’, ‘sabbath’ and ‘completion’.  Other numbers are also common hints of underlying meaning like 12 suggesting the government of God, 40, a number often seen in judgments and testings.  The numbers 49 and 50 are particularly significant to mark the end of 7 sabbaths of years and the 50th being a year of Jubilee with all the significance and legalities that accompanies ‘Jubilee’.

What is this ‘heavenly math’ all have in common?  Everything associated with these numbers, scripturally, allude to matters spiritual.  You and I are as much spirit as we are physical, therefore it is all profoundly significant to you and me.  But in the very early 1960s an erroneous thought crept into societal and government thinking that concepts from God should be fenced in, and gates locked in a ‘religious pen (corral)’.  Some folk picked up the thought and applied that thought to government run and funded public schools of education.  Thus, the long-standing doctrine that government is disallowed from interfering with religion was upended and became a doctrine where ‘religion’ and ‘religious thought’ should be disallowed in government funded education in particular and governing thought in general.  In doing so we see two grave errors.  The first is the direct assault on God demanding His exit from publicly funded life.  The other is the conclusions of education should be – and would be – superior to ‘religious’ (meaning Biblical) ideals, convictions, teachings whether originating in scripture or religious dogma.

Granted, there is much confusion among ‘religionists’ as to truth, both in concept and application.  However, God has never abandoned His role in the revelation of what is true and what is false.  Now, we need to understand the competing issues of these competing structures – or ‘kingdoms’:

The common issue addressed by secularists (the world system under the influence of satan) is a struggle for dominance within the context of ‘I’m right and you’re wrong’.  This comes directly from Adam and Eve when they suffered death from ingesting the fruit of the tree of the KNOWLEDGE of good and evil, blessing and calamity.  Prior to that the primary issue of God’s structure (kingdom) of governance was LIFE – which was God’s purpose for man­ – in direct opposition to DEATH which would be the result of the rebellion of them gaining ‘independent’ knowledge.  Remember:

FIGHT:           A)        The real enemy;

1. B) On the real battlefield’ (proper jurisdiction)
2. C) Using real weapons; and
3. D) Inflict real punishment!

Neither government, government run public education, nor the indoctrination of/from government run education systems are the enemy/enemies of God and the God fearing.  However, many people involved in governments and other systems, stand allied with THE enemy of God, God’s kingdom and God’s people.  But if there is a brotherhood of commonality in all humanity it is at this very point.  Consider:

Romans 5:8-10 (KJV) “ ⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  ⁹ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  ¹⁰ For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

We MUST take our fight to the real – the actual –  enemy, satan.  It is his plan for humanity to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) and the focus of his agenda is God and man (any man) to enjoy a right relationship with each other.  The devil gives no consideration whatsoever if a person is a patriot or a traitor, pale or red or yellow or very dark skinned (even green).  He is not at all interested about our politics, be it conservative, liberal, progressive or whatever.  It is his evil intent to take over our differences and divide us.  The most basic element of our division is rooted in the worldly issues of good and evil, blessing and calamity.  I don’t care who we are we are most tempted to divide over these issues.  BOTH sides of the issues of brotherhood, of economy, of national security all believe the same thing: WE ARE RIGHT and YOU  ARE WRONG!!!

When we approach relationships (relating to others in our little chunk of this world) around what is good or evil, what brings blessings as opposed to calamities we DIVIDE BY DEFAULT.  There is no option but division.  Under that system we each become enemy to the other.  As shown previously God does not approach His enemies in the confrontational approach of being ‘right’ (good) and His opponents – or enemies – as ‘wrong’ (evil).  God approaches us in the midst of our opposition to Him by extending to us HIS provision for our reconciliation to Him.  He provides us a glimpse of the issues of His kingdom which is LIFE and directing us away from death.  Within the context of LIFE we will discover the knowledge of good, evil, blessing and calamity is ONLY resolved in THE LIFE offered us through Jesus, the Christ of God, the only begotten Son of God, the King of kings and the Lord of all lords.

We must be aware we have an enemy who is also one and the same enemy of God.  We must know that being a Christ follower makes us the target of the enemy and we ARE IN THAT WAR.  We must learn the weapons of our warfare are mighty but NOT mighty making us ‘right’ and making them ‘wrong’.  Our weapons are designed to be effective in this war against the true enemy of this war.

Be assured, those people who form governments, who oppose God and faith in God and all those people possessed by the agenda of the spirit of anti-Christ that is in the world are ALL CAPTIVES in need of rescue.  Jesus made it clear that our attitude toward the PEOPLE who oppose Him and His followers must be to actively promote their deliverance.  Our warfare is not to bless ‘the enemy’ with strength to overwhelm us.  Our warfare is to pluck from the enemy those who are his captives.

At this current time those who count themselves to be conservatives drift toward the Republican party.  Conservatives are more prone to invite God to lead in the affairs of government and public policy.  The party leading the effort to oppose child sacrifice (abortion on demand) is found only in the Republican party.  To be ‘pro-life’ (anti-abortion) is forbidden by the leadership of the Democratic party.  Victory will not come just when abortion on demand is crushed but when the abortion party aligns themselves with LIFE.  If there is one position that brings instant division, it is this one.  But the issue goes away as soon as we move away from which side of the issue is right or wrong and move to adopt God’s issue of LIFE.  What the Christ follower has to understand is we ARE at war, and we must FIGHT against the right enemy AND on the right battlefield (jurisdiction).

Have you noticed in competitive sports this matter of ‘home field advantage’?  Knowing God and His people are going to do battle with him, satan wants the advantage of luring us over onto his field to do our battle.  We are opposed, confronted and attacked on that battlefield of good & evil (right & wrong) and what causes blessings or causes calamity.  I’m going to make a declaration that will shake us to the roots.  If we are to re-direct the battlefield to where we have the ‘home field advantage’ we must forgive the offenses hurled at us by our enemies.  We are never to forgive satan.  We are never to excuse the excesses and offenses of those following his ‘right vs. wrong’ issues.  Forgiveness is never a matter of excusing offensive behavior – it is a matter of refusing to receive and internalize offense.  When we forgive men of their offensiveness we remove right/wrong issues that exist between us.  With me out of the way my oppressors are fighting God directly.  God has the resources necessary to rescue those captured by satan.  We move from fighting motivated by hate and we wage our warfare and battles motivated by love.

FINALLY, in our warfare / battles we do not fight for the sake of resistance, although resistance is one of the effects of our going to war.  Our primary purpose is punishment.  We punish the enemy in these ways:

Pulling down his (their) influence by casting down their strongholds;

Plundering their assets – namely those who were created in God’s image he captured;

Expanding His kingdom by walking in it and bringing others along (Matt 6:33 living);

PROTECTING ourselves and all within our arena of ‘jurisdition’.

This clarifying word regarding the ‘believers’ jurisdiction.  Scripture has strong implications with regard to our dominion authority.  The first instance God makes this recurring application is the event of Him calling Adam to account in the matter of eating the fruit of death that God warned him about.  Adam was responsible for stewarding the dominion given him, including his responsibilityfor the protection of his wife, Eve.  We know that because God did not come into the garden asking Adam AND Eve where THEY were.  Scripture records God keeping their daily rendezvous and calling out “Adam, where are you?”  Adam responded and the conversation that followed was between God and Adam.  Why?  Because, Adam was given responsibility.  Responsibility, then, established ‘territory’ or ‘jurisdiction’.  Within that jurisdiction Adam had authority to govern AND the mandate to govern.  When we fight our enemy we, then, need to do so within the scope of our responsibility.

EXAMPLE:  If your kid is misbehaving in your yard I will be out of line, save in the case of emergencies, to step in with correction and discipline.  When we abandon our authority to challenge KNOWLEDGE that seeks to supplant the SPIRITUAL authority of God’s revelation knowledge it is as though we give the object of our responsibility to the challenger.  That means if your child reveals he/she (DEFINITELY NOT they/them) are being taught blatant error some curriculum and those persons demanding it be taught in our public schools has crossed a line and seeks to take charge over the child whom God has placed in my custody.  This is not a matter of parental rights.  It is every bit the matter of parental responsibility and does NOT belong to an educational system out of control, does not belong to the National Educators Association or the National School Board Association.  We (parents/grandparents) are responsible FOR our children.  The public system of education is responsible TO the parents/grandparents of those students and must now violate OUR trust.  Sorry for the rant – now on to our regular programming!

 

No one gets an exemption from ‘the war’.  Because humans are ‘created’ in the image of God, humans are assaulted by God’s enemy, satan.  The only choices we have in the matter is our allegiance to either God or His enemy, satan.  If we choose to ally with God, we then have two other choices to make.  We choose either to suffer as a casualty of war or we choose to serve as a soldier in the army of God.  Being His soldier and under His command is the ONLY choice that removes us from bondage – being a captive of this enemy.

This warfare takes on a wide variety of battlefronts, but we must stay on our home field and battle from the position of LIFE and not the death that inevitably comes from doing battle on the ‘I’m right and you’re wrong’ battlefield.  Oh, but we are concerned over what is good or evil, what results in blessing or calamity but we trust God to furnish our guidance and provision for good triumphing over evil and enjoying blessings rather than calamity that is wrapped in the loving GIFT WRAP of LIFE in Christ Jesus, our Lord, the Christ of God, the King of kings and the Lord of lords who provides us ACCESS to His Father who becomes OUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.  We are barred from becoming spiritual bullies picking fights that are not our business or in our territory.  HOWEVER, we are NOT to be bullied by these assaults coming our way.

Ready?  Something deep inside you will go off as an alarm when you hear the battle trumpet sound and, however slight, you and I will sense something in us donning the whole army of God to stand and resist the assault of our enemy.  We shall discover, to our great delight, God has already fought THE DECISIVE BATTLE and He won.  In fact, HE NEVER LOSES.

Not long-ago Joe Biden, acting president of the USA, characterized all resistance to his policies as extremists.  He lumped ‘Maga Republicans’ and patriots (including much of the Christian community)) as dangerous extremists.  Also he alluded to the futility of this extremism citing the US Government had the fighter jets, the tanks and military hardware making it impossible to ‘mount an effective resistance’ by force.  These statements were made in complete ignorance that the weapons in our arsenal are not physical weapons aimed at physical targets to win a physical ‘insurrection’.  He is totally ignorant of the might, the power and the ability of the ‘hosts of heaven’ but will be greeted by their might and power should he persist in his ignorance.  In the meantime, we shall forgive him, refuse to take offense and leave him to God to deal with.

The same can be said for those demanding full acceptance of the LGBTQ and others agenda.  Again, you shall be forgiven, you shall be turned over to make your demands directly to God and you should pray His response would be to release you from your bondage and you become His children.  We shall stand.  We shall recruit.  We shall, then, stand together!

‘FORGIVENESS: THE ESSENTIAL POINT OF BEGINNING’

            The most common component in the lives of all humanity is this thing we call sin. It is also one of the most misunderstood aspects of our collective and individual lives. For just a brief background on sin and how God remedies it for us we must go back to the first few chapters of the book of Genesis:

Sin is a matter of distrust in what we know of what God has said to us.

 

             What is commonly referred to as ‘the forbidden fruit’ was the object of the sin Adam and Eve had already committed. Granted, between the time they made their choice to believe what was told them through the serpent and actually committing the deed (ingesting the fruit) they had opportunity to alter their course, but they did not do that. You see, God explicitly told them they were at liberty to eat of any tree in the garden, but this one tree bore fruit that would have deadly consequences. Later this snake creature appears and being embodied by satan, the deceiver, they were told God was actually using that tree to ‘keep them down on the plantation’. He, satan through the aid of the snake, called God a liar and charged God with keeping them from the very fruit that would put them on equal footing with God. At the end of the exchange, they were convinced to believe this lie about God. In fact, their choice meant they thought it possible God was telling them a lie. Now every person on the planet has that same tendency to believe what sounds comfier to them than what they know of what God has said to them, and over them.

While this event was disappointing, it was not unexpected. Neither was it a real ‘game-changer’, for God had already preset a process to remedy man’s consequences of his own making. Fast forward to our time and we have the benefit of a full account of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice on His cross explaining how we get out of the weeds on this sin problem we all have. And the first part of the process is the matter of atonement—which is begun by the PROCESS of forgiveness. (More on ‘PROCESS’ can be seen at the following link:

https://turn2life.com/process-our-growth-depends-on-it/

            Forgiveness is the expression of a dominant character trait that is inviolable with God. This truth was driven home to me when I read a single verse found in Isaiah 43:25 (kjv) “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” God’s forgiveness, according to what Isaiah heard the Holy Spirit tell him to pen, is ‘for His sake’ while at the same time (implied, not expressed) for our benefit. And when we apply 1 John 1:9 we do not confess our sin(s) to obtain forgiveness but BECAUSE His forgiveness has been given. Another way to put it is to say we do not confess our sins for forgiveness and cleansing to appear, but because it has already appeared before us and this is how we reach out to apply it.

            Another important point we need to understand is the teaching that if we do not forgive, our prior forgiveness is annulled by God. In Matthew 18:21-35 we find a parable dealing with forgiveness. I’ll just outline the highlights but the whole passage is well worthy of your time to read.

            A king was reminded of a great debt owed him by one of his subjects. He determined to call him in to settle accounts. The man’s reaction was an emotional appeal for ‘time’ to pay the enormous debt. The plea was “have patience and I will pay it all”. I’m reading a little into the story, but I can imagine this king assessing the fact this individual was broke – without resources. He was being asked to agree to several lifetimes of patience. The king had two options before him that made any sense. Put the man in prison, enslave his family and write off the loss OR simply write off the loss and ‘forgive’ the debt. Now, here is what happened and what we need to understand about the matter of forgiveness: 1) We cannot give what we have not received. 2) If we received the forgiveness, we are compelled by gratitude to extend forgiveness. 3) IF we feign receipt of forgiveness but do NOT forgive others, we expose what we really chose. If we cannot come to the place of forgiving others, we actually took OUR deal – ‘be patient and I’ll reform’ – and our demeanor toward others will express legalism instead of grace. When we find ourselves at this place, we need to return to God to fully receive His forgiveness and we will find ourselves willing and able to do the really hard work of forgiving another. Until we do, we shall be forced to endure the slavery and servitude of the legalistic system under which we chose to live.

            Recognize what happens when we are offended by another. Immediately the flesh, the world and satan (demons) impact our emotions. We internalize the hurtful actions of the other, whether real or imagined. The devil cares not the offence is real or imaginary. It is his desire we RECEIVE the offense. Just look around at our current society. There is actually a curriculum found in much of public education – even at the elementary level – convincing kids that based on their skin pigmentation they are EITHER a victim or a victimizer. Between education and societal pressures, I get the impression their message is “If you ain’t offended you ain’t cool”.

            If we buy into the idea that we need to internalize offenses, our emotions will immediately and ferociously caution us to retreat into our victimhood. Our first impulse is a counter move by sharing our offenses with others, thereby drawing them to our ‘side’. The next step of satan is to make judgments about the offending party and to take careful note of events or behaviors that led up to the offensive incident. At that point it is most likely these judgments and observations will lead us to make vows. We set up a defense perimeter to shield us from similar people, events, behaviors, and circumstances. At this point we have become our own ‘home-grown security detail’. Step by step we cement in these iron bars of containment until we are a true victim, but not of the offense. We become the victim (captive) of bitterness. When we realize our only ‘key’ to our own cell is that of forgiveness, that process is so uncomfortable we feel safer, less vulnerable, and much more comfortable in our bondage to bitterness that we turn our back on the Holy Spirit. We, then, become ‘religious’ (usually legalists) instead of ‘believers’ (see John 6:28-29).

            Hopefully you copied that link I gave you earlier and you read up on the matter of ‘process’. Having ministered in this area of forgiveness for decades, there is a common response when the subject is engaged over past hurts – that still hurt. When bringing up the subject of forgiveness, it is almost invariable that I get the reply “BUT, I’ve already forgiven them.’ My reply is to ask them to go through the prayer of forgiveness with me so we can check it out and see if they went through the whole ‘process’ of forgiveness. We’ll get to that shortly.

            There are valid reasons we resist forgiveness, but they are all rooted in our emotions – not rooted in the Word of God.

            They haven’t been punished enough. This one is the most irrational when we consider what is going on. When we are ‘punishing’ people through unforgiveness it is, as someone said, as if they are living rent free in our minds. The torment (punishment) works against the unforgiving. Wise up and abandon that position.

            If I forgive them, they’ll be free to do it again. While we see the fallacy of this statement, it is deeply rooted in our emotional response(s). Never forget the most common source of lies we are told come from our own emotions.

            They don’t deserve my forgiveness. This third reason is, perhaps, the most compelling. It is also an easy conclusion to reach because we know ‘worthiness’ is beyond all of us. This is also exposing the option we chose between our own forgiveness from God or operating in the self-righteous system of self-improvement. It also is a subtle way of saying ‘they need to confess what they have done’. After all, that’s the way God does it, right? Wrong. If the parable taught in Matthew 18 teaches us anything, it is the need to abandon operating to create our own righteousness. Instead, we need to expect God to be faithful in His promise (taking the responsibility) to cleanse us. OUR responsibility is to submit to it, to receive it and, once received, to GIVE it.

            My observation is we do not ‘feel’ compelled to deal with past, or present, offenses unless, and until, they present a problem for us. It is at this point we have arrived at the end of the PROCESS described as follows:

            “Anything suppressed and not addressed will eventually be expressed.” Multitudes of people, many we know—or possibly we are one of them—have lived a lifetime suppressing unpleasantness. Taking (receiving, installing) an offense sets up influences in our lives that reach out to take control when incidents trigger certain responses. Why do certain things bother us on a deep level? Why are my reactions so predictable when certain ‘buttons’ are pushed – emotional buttons? Those reactions are the normal result of something suppressed and something not addressed. Let me give you a for instance or two:

            In a relatively small, yet powerful, Church in Michigan, an older woman was attending a series of meetings taught by my mentor in the ministry, Jeff Floyd. In dealing with these suppression issues, he would commonly have those attending his sessions pray a prayer to ask God to reveal any ‘cracks’ in their life’s foundation. It is universal that all who honestly ask God to shine a light on these things will realize something they have yet to ‘deal’ with. This older woman, in her early 70s, prayed this prayer not really expecting an answer. Yep – God showed her something she experienced as a young girl in elementary school. She loved playing dress up. Her father loved getting cleaned up and relaxing in his easy chair with a newspaper waiting on supper. He was a factory worker – no air conditioning, not the cleanest environment and this time was his time to wind down. This little girl, though, was amusing herself in her mother’s closet and came out in one of mom’s dresses and dress shoes. Proud of herself she came into the living room and struck a pose and asked her daddy “What do you think?” His response was not meant to be abusive but was, nonetheless, thoughtless. He gruffly replied “YOU LOOK RIDICULOUS. Go get out of those things and get ready for supper.” Realizing she had been hurt from her father, realizing she had never ‘dealt’ with the issue, she allowed God to show her how she felt, how she was hurt, and she decided to apply the printed prayer to that particular episode in her life. At their next meeting her testimony was this: “From that time forward, for the rest of my life, I always wondered what my father would think of how I looked when I got dressed for the day.” She went on to say, “For the first time I can remember, I got dressed today and his approval, or disapproval, did not come to mind.”

            Then there was this incident from my own experience in helping teach the ‘Lay Aside Every Weight’ seminar in Shelby, NC. The mentor for many of us was scheduled to teach on the subject of freedom found in forgiveness but instead gave an appearance at his local hospital. He quickly relayed his regrets in not being able to keep the commitment and offered to either re-schedule the event or assemble a team of teachers to proceed as planned. The pastor of the host Church chose to proceed with the ‘B team’ leading the event. I was one of the team chosen to ‘sub’ for Jeff Floyd who wrote the ‘Lay Aside Every Weight’ seminar. Much of his teaching is incorporated in this article.

            I was scheduled to teach on my portion of the seminar on the second day. I must state my presentation of the topic assigned to me was the weakest of all – and that is not false humility coming from me. However, I was supposed to be there. Here’s why I say that:

            Well after my weak presentation, we came to a point where the outlined program called for a break. I was making my way against the stream to speak to one of the team who was at the front of the auditorium. One man in particular was coming my way, our eyes locked, and I saluted him with the customary ‘Good Morning’. His response was a bit jarring. His eyes were sad. In desperation he replied, “If this doesn’t work for me, I don’t know what I’m going to do!” I don’t know, just something about what he said, the way he looked, and the way he said it made me wonder if something might be awry in his life.

            In a few short sentences this man related a story so shocking I was having difficulty in my ability to lead him to do what I knew he must do so that he could chart his course to freedom.
This is his experience he shared with me:

            It was a recent event framed around those close moments when a husband and wife are drifting off to sleep and enjoying their closeness. I’m sure you know the experience of drifting off to sleep when you begin a dream, but you’re not fully asleep. Just at that time, his wife began hitting him, screaming at him and acting as though defending herself. In just a few minutes he was able to bring her out of her dream and they began to talk about something she had never shared with him. She was not dreaming as much as she was experiencing a flashback of an extremely dark and scarring incident in her life as a girl – I would guess from what he said, while she was a pre-teen. Her grandmother was a bona-fide, certifiable witch. She was a leader in a coven made up of men and women worshipping satan and offering to him sacrifices. The particular night she had flashed back to, was the night she was lured into their meeting. Much to her horror, she discovered the evening sacrifice was her virginity. I don’t know if every male violated her, or only a select number, but it was repeated over and over. The night of her flashback she was back there, but in her mind, her husband was one of the pedophiles approaching her. This husband almost shook when he told me that since that night, all he wanted to do was kill that grandmother. At that point something inside me wanted to load him up in my rental car, go to a pawn shop and I would pay for the gun. I am convinced God allowed that emotion to present itself only long enough to understand the emotional state of this man.

            Now you can understand how I wish our mentor, Jeff, could have been there and could have shared how God victoriously delivered this man from his misery – but Jeff was NOT there but the time he spent mentoring me WAS there – more importantly, God’s Holy Spirit was there, and He (Holy Spirit) took over. Here’s how this man’s trek to freedom played out.

            I knew it would take time for God to bring this man to a place where he could override his emotions and to wrench free from this gut punch. I asked if he would be available after the seminar closed, which would be in about 4 hours. He affirmed he would. I was acutely aware there were many issues that piled in atop this one, and my one session with him would not suffice, yet we needed to begin. I asked him if he was a member of the host Church, and he said no. I then asked if his pastor was present, and he said yes. At this point I was the desperate one. It was imperative someone take up this battle and hoped, prayed, and counted on his pastor meeting with us. He said he would ask his pastor to meet with us and it was confirmed at the next break that the pastor agreed.

            At this point I had no idea what this pastor was getting from the seminar – was it help for himself alone or was he wanting to know how he could help his members be free. As it turns out, it was both. My next concern was in knowing some deliverance from demonic control was necessary and I had no knowledge of who this pastor was or what he thought about the matter of deliverance, but I trusted God to do in him, and with him, all that was necessary.

            The seminar having concluded, we headed for an appointed room, and for the first time I met his pastor. By this time, I had prayed hard for this man. You know, the desperate kind of praying when you know it is imperative God show up and be God. He (God) did and showed Himself mighty. At the conclusion of this article I will share with you the components of the prayer I led this man to repeat after me – cautioning him this was an agreement made with God, and not to be repeated lightly.

            That prayer starts out by declaring a choice made to unconditionally forgive the offender. I know his prayer was real and genuine because I saw him struggle – and win – against all his emotional responses. He made the declaration through clenched teeth as though he was forcing each word out of his mouth despite his emotional opposition. To make a long story short, he saw face to face what it meant to confront God’s grace head-on. He saw what was necessary for him to do but lacked any ability to perform it. He had to steel his determination that what God required of him, God would enable. After that, it was not a hard task to lead him through the prayer of deliverance over several demonic attachments and as a result, he had a level of freedom that exceeded his experience before this horrific incident.

            My final counsel to him was his need to share this experience with his wife, but to do so cautiously. She may be offended by even the thought of forgiving her grandmother. As it turns out, this advice was unnecessary. I would give you the name of the pastor but have not asked permission. Just know he has become one of the most articulate voices teaching this seminar. Fortunately for me, and the gentleman we ministered to, this pastor was in attendance because of his hunger to do a deep dive into something so profoundly effective that he has impacted the course of many people.

            We parted company and I was confident God had set up the whole thing… for which I was greatly relieved. I left the building headed for my rental car to catch my plane back home and noted Norma Floyd about to leave. Since the seminar had ended about an hour or more previous, I was surprised to see her. She explained there was a woman there needing ministry and they had just finished. To our great surprise and delight, we discovered we were separately ministering over this couple! Someday maybe I’ll get to hear what happened when they got together after their mutual encounter with God’s grace.

            I could spend pages and pages relating stories of many different impactful offenses with the same glorious victory ending, but I think you get the picture. What I wish to share with you next is the components of forgiveness in the form of a prayer we use – a prayer which has affected freedom in a multitude of lives. Before I do, I would relate one more story.

            I subsequently spent some years as an associate pastor at Norhill Baptist Church, Houston, Texas. Jeff Floyd was pastor, and on several occasions, he taught this same seminar. I met a public school teacher at a meeting – I believe a Sunday night service – where the subject of forgiveness was shared. I believe it was leading up to a full conference. However, it occurred I had opportunity to speak with this teacher going through a very difficult time. He blew the whistle on teachers altering test scores for various students so their school(s) could achieve an overall higher academic standard than was deserved. When he did, it resulted in his contract not being renewed and him being unable to get a teaching position in any school in his district. He finally found acceptance in a Dallas school district. With retirement not that far off, he opted to rent an apartment in the Dallas area and would commute, weekly, to Dallas. He was bitter over being ostracized for doing the right thing.

            Neither he nor I had time to go through a ministry session, so I handed him a ‘prayer card’ and suggested he pray that prayer for every incident that painfully presented itself in his memory. I didn’t see him again for over a month, but he searched me out after Church to tell me the freedom he received from God. He told me he prayed that prayer so often he did not need to read it off the card. In fact, he said he spent several trips to and from Dallas praying forgiveness for a large number of individuals piling on to cause him harm.

            PRAYER PREP: When we embark on this journey to be free, we often are unaware of why we have recurring problems or reactions to people or circumstances. When we sense something needs to be confronted, our first thought is to confess anything and everything we’re doing that might be sin.  And that may be the appropriate step to take, but in my experience, there is often something in my background that interferes with my reactions. More often than not, I need to pray this prayer: “Father, reveal to me what it is You are bringing to the surface of my emotions You have me ready to confront.” I don’t usually get an immediate answer, but I almost always get the answer. When I do, it is usually in the nature of having been offended – hurt by someone. Often what He brings up is surprising to me. No matter how surprising or trivial it may seem, I have learned to take time to let the experience return to memory with the pain intact. And it only brings back the pain just long enough to get rid of it. Then I bring out this prayer and go through it thoroughly and thoughtfully.

            Now, here is that prayer of forgiveness that destroys the root of bitterness:

            Heavenly Father, I make this choice right now to forgive (the name of your offender) for the offense I perceived against me (briefly name the offense but take time for the memory of it to return – even being open to experience again the pain it caused).

First step in this forgiveness ‘transaction’ –

            I forgive (the person or persons) unconditionally for those things done which brought hurt in my life. *1

            I drop every charge I have expressed verbally or emotionally against (insert the name) arising out of this offense. *2

            I cancel every judgment I have made against (insert name). *3

            Father, I cancel every vow I have made resulting from this painful experience. *4

            I recognize, Father, (insert name) is responsible for their behavior and in this case responsible for being offensive. I relinquish all attempts to remedy what happened except to acknowledge (insert name)’s behavior is between You and them. I pray Your redemption, Your restoration and Your grace and mercy cover them.

            I do, however, assume responsibility for my response to their behavior – my attitudes, my actions and my previous choice to take on this offense. *5

            Therefore, I RELEASE (insert offender’s name) in the power and authority of the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, from any and all responsibility for the hurt caused by this offense and without regard for how deeply I may have been hurt or injured. *5, *6

            Now, precious Heavenly Father, emotionally or overtly I have held You responsible for allowing this offense to occur. Realizing that I drop any and every such charge I may have made against You and I ask Your forgiveness. Further, forgive me for accepting offense and pain, forgive me of my bitterness, my anger and holding onto unforgiveness.

            I receive Your forgiveness and repent of any judgments and/or vows I have against myself that would tend to take on the responsibility for the development of my inner man. I submit totally to You for correction, for discipline and the processes creating in me the likeness of Christ. *7

*1 We are beginning a process of expressing the nature of God in this choice. When we receive forgiveness God does not take us through a series of self-improvement courses. When we repent of our sinful nature, God applies the reality of dying to ‘self’ and takes the responsibility to raise up life within us, creating a completely new and different nature. When we disperse forgiveness, we also despair of repairing the brokenness of the offending person. Instead, we take away all our conditions for their forgiveness and their future development. Their becoming Christ-like is no longer our responsibility. As long as our forgiveness is ‘conditional’ we are taking on a responsibility that is not ours. In fact, we are being counterproductive.

*2 Being in a painful situation is only a surface issue when we are offended. The reality is that within our own emotional response we have concluded this person intended to hurt us OR should have been aware of the pain caused.  Thus, we conclude this person is RESPONSIBLE for all that resulted. Spiritually it is the very equivalent of appearing before a court of authority and filing charges of misconduct against them and petitioning for justice. Forgiveness does not exist when those charges remain intact OR remain as an option to reinstate in the future.

*3 Judgments resulting from a pattern of behavior characterize a person’s life. We come to that place when we decide ‘that’s just the way they are‘ or ‘that’s all you can expect from them’. It is like the branding of Scrooge. Scrooge is perceived as a greedy, miserable, heartless tyrant of a boss. But according to the account given in the story, Scrooge becomes kind, generous and thoughtful. Judging someone based on their patterns of behavior excludes the possibilities of redemption and restoration. We must remove that.

*4 In response to various painful circumstances we ‘vow’ to alter our behavior OR to avoid exposure to things we sense may be harmful to us. The problem is a matter of focus. A vow usually puts a demand on our personal performance – summoning the strength of our own resources. We tend to gravitate toward our focus. The result is we are drawn to the thing we vow to avoid. The rule of faith is that it is growing trust in those objects of our focus. When the finished work of Christ is our focus, then biblical faith is our sure reality.

*5 In the ‘Lay Aside Every Weight’ seminar an important point is made: “No one can hurt you without your permission.” In our ‘old’ nature we are hard wired for self (the flesh) being always connected to the world system under the influence of satan, as well as being tempted by satan’s personal influences. I must understand my responsibility to be vigilant that my responses are subject to the observation of all the ‘commandments’ of Christ.  I (we) must learn to monitor our emotional responses and reject those designed as barriers to our trust in Christ.  Being vigilant to monitor our emotions will prevent us from permitting offenses to be internalized.

*6 Forgiveness presupposes there is no more ‘debt’. When an obligation is memorialized in a written document, those terms and conditions can be enforceable by law. When a release of that obligation is paid, a release precludes the possibility of enforcement. All our obligations were satisfied at the CROSS of Christ. When we have received our release, we can extend the same to our offenders.

*7 Lastly, we need to settle in our minds the various responsibilities involved in my pain. I am not responsible for the choices and behavior of others whether that affects me, my life or those I love.

              I am responsible to submit to God… working both in me, and in those around me. I am to realize it is God who takes the responsibility for my development, but it is MY responsibility to surrender to Him and submit to His processes.

      When we pray through this prayer, we need to take just a moment upon completion and look back on the offense. Ask yourself if you see it differently. Ask yourself if pain is still attached to the memory. If you do not see the situation through a new perspective OR if the memory still hurts, start over and do it again until these two issues are resolved. It may be necessary for you to ask a trusted friend to help by leading you through the prayer while you focus only on the transactions being made.

Coming shortly in the blog pages of rurn2life.com you will see this article appear:

I WAS SURPRISED GOD LED ME TO FORGIVE THESE PEOPLE!!!  Watch for the title:
“Forgive WHO?!?!”

You’re Free To GO!

You’re FREE to go!

Have you ever been in a situation where a meeting was concluded with an authority figure declaring to you your             FREEDEOM to go?  I’ve never been in a situation where that meant anything other than my dismissal.  It is a meaningless phrase to utter unless and until being a person of some authority.  It carries the strong implication I am in a place, at a time, before a person of authority that is under their control.  I am, in those situations, within the realm of another’s ‘domain’.

Now, if it has been declared I have my freedom restored to exit the situation there is the further implication my freedom to return is limited to having permission to return.  In a court of law witnesses are called to testify, under oath, relating their personal knowledge regarding the questions asked of them.  When their testimony is finished and cross-examination is finished the witness remains in place until the ‘judge’ permits their exit.  They are ‘free’ to exit the witness chair and, most probably, the courtroom.  It is very clear upon their dismissal they are NOT free to return unless and until they are CALLED AGAIN for more testimony.

God has allowed every human ever born on the face of the earth to account for their sins.  This word ‘sin’ carries with it a diagnosed condition going well beyond our misdeeds.  Jesus declared two very basic facts regarding our accountability to His Father we must understand.  One is His description of our primary work assignment within our relationship between creature (all of us as humans) and creator (The Lord God Almighty – only).  Someone asked Jesus the specific question what they must do to ‘work the works of God’ and his answer was astonishing.  He told them explicitly the nature of their assignment: ‘Believe on the One (Himself) whom He (the Father) has sent.  (John 6:28 & 29)  That fact was re-iterated by Jesus when He began explicitly preparing His disciples for His exit from earth (His ascension).  Jesus prepared them for an even greater relationship by promising He would ‘send’ a comforter in the form of ‘the Holy Spirit’.  He went on to explain to them the agenda of the Holy Spirit.  ‘When He comes He will convict men of sin, of righteousness and judgment.’  He further explained the terms and conditions of each phase of the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  Now, keep in mind, a conviction is not necessarily a condemnation.  It simply means the facts of my sinfulness, the fact of my righteousness and the fact of my judgment are so convincing as to be irrefutable.  Meet the Holy Spirit.  He is the one ‘convincing’ you of how you (we) relate to God within the context of those three arenas – sin, righteousness and judgment.

Jesus continues with the subject of the Holy Spirit and His assigned agenda one issue at a time:

SIN:    This will surprise you.  Holy Spirit convinces men of sin – that God has an ongoing issue with their sinful condition – on the singular basis of whether or not they have entered into agreement that God has provided their forgiveness and cleansing of sin by the sacrifice of the only perfect and sinless human specimen to ever live on the earth – Jesus.  This carries the greater implication His death, His burial and His resurrection was all done as me – on my behalf – and the effectiveness of Jesus’ work is effective in me the moment I come into agreement with it and step into the ensuing transformation that always occurs when we enter into that agreement.

 

RIGHTEOUSNESS:  Again, we have a surprise here.  It is the agenda of the Holy Spirit to convince men of the righteousness that is their own because ‘I go to the Father’.and ‘you will see me no longer’.  The surprising element of this explanation is that it brings up the question of how Him appearing before The Father and how being outside of our physical sight has anything to do with our righteousness.  The first thing we must understand that there is and can be no right standing (righteousness) between any man and God except between Jesus, the only begotten son of God, the Christ of God, the King of kings and the Lord of lords and His Father.  Scripture establishes as fact an agreement (decision) within the trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) that the Son would ‘become flesh’ dwell among men and be THE fit sacrifice atoning for the sins of all men of all time.  Jesus return to the Father post His virgin birth, His flawless life, His miraculous ministry, His death, His burial, His resurrection and His ascension means everything to you and to me.  It was ‘mission accomplished’ day and decree and celebration.  Sin, and death, and satan were confronted by God – God (Jesus) won, case closed.

 

JUDGMENT:  This one is explained succinctly, forthrightly and completely in the declaration that condemnation has been declared and demonstrated on satan, the kingdom of satan, the followers of satan and the entire environment satan seeks to establish on earth.  It is not our judgment.  We are convinced and convicted of the judgment GOD has made.  When we are convinced to enter into agreement with Jesus life and work on earth on our behalf – as you and me – we have entered into this victory over and against judgment.  When we continue on with God and we walk in, rejoice in and LIVE in the rest He provides by having done all the work – mission accomplished – we have access to the paths and ways and the reality of the kingdom of God on earth where His will is done HERE the same way it is done THERE – in heaven.

 

See it all in your own Bible: John 16:7-11.  Now, if you have a King James Version you will not see in verse 8 the words ‘convince and convict’.  Rather, you will see the word ‘reprove’.  While both carry the same meaning the word ‘reprove’ allows us to recognize the Holy Spirit is confronting our fallacious assessments of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.  To be ‘reproved’ is to insist we acknowledge our ‘differences’.  Going further, when we are convinced beyond rational doubt we are then compelled to abandon error and embrace truth.

 

There will be a companion piece later regarding being ‘free to go’ that will highlight where we left and where we go.  In the meantime – check in with Holy Spirit.

PROCESS – our GROWTH depends on it.

PROCESS:

The dictionary definition is : “Noun form: a systematic series of actions directed to some end: to devise a process for homogenizing milk.  A continuous action, operation, or series of changes taking place in a definite manner: the process of decay.

Law.

1. the summons, mandate, or writ by which a defendant or thing is brought before court for litigation.
2. the whole course of the proceedings in an action at law.

 

verb (used with object): to treat or prepare by some particular series of actions, as in manufacturing.  To handle (papers, records, etc.) by systematically organizing them, recording or making notations on them, following up with appropriate action, or the like: to process mail.”

My working definition, when used as a noun, names a THING we recognize as a progressive event that involves regular intervals of change until the progress is halted at a place where no more changes are forthcoming.

In searching the word ‘process’ on Biblegateway.com website (KJV) it only provided 5 references and each reference used the word in this phrase: “in the process of time” and lays the strong groundwork to conclude time is a factor in progress requiring process.  We are quite familiar with the processes of time.  We get sick, we take medicine, a certain process is introduced whereby the medicine begins a series of chemical changes in our bodies fighting the disease or symptoms experienced.  We may look for quick and effective relief from a pill, an inoculation, an infusion or physical adjustment.  We are assumed to have enough sense about us to know that is but the beginning of ‘process’.

            Process requires time, that requires a thing we hate called waiting and waiting often (if not always) requires patience.  As believers and students of the Word of God we hesitate to ever pray for patience.  At least if we have ever read this: “Romans 5:2-4 King James Version: ² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  ³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope:” Yep, there is PROCESS to our acquiring patience, and it is a process that disturbs our ‘comfort’.  Let me share with you God’s little secret: YOU NEED NOT PRAY FOR PATIENCE!  The troubling aspect of tribulation is something we must endure if we are to exist, physically, in this fallen world.  The very nature of man born of the seed of their predecessor males is sinful.  We have no escape for that.  Jesus and Adam were the ONLY males coming into existence with no nature to sin.  Adam acquired his sin nature as the direct result of falling away and out of faith with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  That act of re-directing his trust from a Word from God to the lying, deceitful and manipulative word coming through that crafty serpent had an immediate result. This set up a process of decay, physically, perfectly consistent with the Word God gave Adam with regard to that deadly fruit.  If Adam had not fallen from trusting God’s Word to him – but why speculate since Adam’s ‘fall’ was foreseen by God.  Further, the result and the processes set up by Adam’s ‘fall’ did not defeat God’s plans, purposes and designs for Adam.  God provided for that which He saw beforehand.  GRACE, as spelled out in the prophecies and typology found in the Old Covenant (Testament) were brought to manifestation and in explicit detail in the New Covenant (Testament) was the provision God designed BEFORE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE EARTH.

            Now that we have grace we have the end of the matter – right?  RIGHT!  But not without ‘process’.  We rejoice in His provision of grace which enables our faith, but we also rejoice in ‘that tribulation that works patience’.  Like it or not, patience is a desired outcome, a necessity of ‘process’ and vastly exceeds mere ‘virtue’.  Patience is an essential to faith, essential to our warfare which is fought with weapons that are so spiritually effective they pull down strongholds.  Battles, warfare, conflict and standing against any enemy are always lost by the impatient.

            Often, we pray motivated by our strong desire for immediate resolution.  Health issues are extremely critical as matters of prayer, matters of warfare and matters demanding a stand.  The battle is waged when we recognize and acknowledge what God has already provided for healing and health as it is opposed by circumstances and afflictions not easily and readily removed from us or a loved one.  I happen to be a proponent of a belief system labeled ‘Word of Faith’ by those who preach it.  But I find, in my own journey, there are divided approaches to how to operate in ‘faith’ regarding stubborn illnesses and/or afflictions.

            Since about 2008 my wife began to show signs of memory issues which progressed into slight cognitive impairments.  After progressing to more severe displays of both we went to a neurologist to see if there was medication that would stop or slow the progression.  He diagnosed her with Alzheimer’s.  He prescribed some medication that has been successful in slowing the progression of this disease. During this time, we were members of a Church that was not as demonstrative in many areas of worship as we wanted.  We did not have liberty to leave this Church but found another Church with a Saturday evening service which gave us opportunity for the expression(s) we hungered for.  At the conclusion of one of those services at this large ‘Word of Faith’ type Church, we went to a room where they were praying for healing.  I described why we were there and the counselor/minister prayed over us both.  After a couple of months, we returned to the room for more prayer.  We were greeted by the same gentleman who prayed over us previously.  He indicated that to pray again we would be engaging in unbelief that the previous prayer had no effect.  In other words, we got one shot at it and shouldn’t bring it up again.  I did not totally disagree with his statement, but I also knew he was missing the element of continuing in prayer for a matter DURING PROCESS toward manifest victory.

            Our individual AND our corporate spiritual growth and advancement are prime examples of this matter of process.  A particular scripture comes to mind involving our growing up in Christ – our maturation process.  I John 1:9 declares: “If we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Like referring to a trillion dollars, if you say it fast enough much of the impact is lost.  Same is true of this verse.  This is easy and quick to quote but if we understand it correctly it is saying this: “If we confess our sins (come into complete agreement with the sinful way we live as revealed to us by His Holy Spirit then HE will faithfully and justifiably trigger in us the forgiveness already established by Jesus on the cross and to wash us completely clean in the PROCESS.  And this exercise of confessing our sinfulness is only possible when the Holy Spirit has convicted us of SIN AND of RIGHTEOUSNESS AND of JUDGMENT.  But I maintain there is always an immediate peace that comes from being clean before God but is only the beginning of a process to complete what is started.

            Consider this: Many of us grew up in our spiritual walk being familiar with ‘revival’ services over the protracted period of one or two weeks.  Inevitably these services would bring many to faith in Christ and bring the faithful to repent of sins.  The former we termed were ‘saved’.  The latter experience we often called a ‘rededication’.  Either way there would occur expectations in the newly redeemed or freshly rededicated a brief period of time when life would smooth out and there would be fewer and less severe manifestations of sinful behavior.  But suddenly we would be some mean old incident occur and we would respond by yelling at people or using language we knew we shouldn’t and might even result in our kicking the dog.  Coming right about the time we gave our lives over to God to process His nature in us we would assess that outbreak and we would be flooded with doubt of our ability to keep our commitment to God.  RIGHT THERE – THAT IS THE ISSUE!  We don’t grow by our ability to keep a vow.  We grow through the processes whereby God reveals to us what is deeply embedded in our soul and yield ourselves to Him to complete His cleansing process by showing us what it is and showing us what He has done to cure us from it (cleansing us).

            That is enough to chew on for now but look for an upcoming blog article entitled ‘FORGIVENESS: THE ESSENTIAL POINT OF BEGINNING’.  Look forward to your visit then.

KEEP ON HEARING for faith to KEEP COMING

FAITH:

Romans 10:17 tells us ‘Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God’.  Whenever, however, wherever and by whatever means, when God speaks, we have opportunity to trust THAT Word and for THAT Word to contain LIFE and to produce LIFE in us.

 

Hebrews 11:6 tells us ‘Without faith it is impossible to please God……’

 

Something we do not often hear, though, is that when we settle for ONLY what we have heard, and we stop continuing to listen, faith falls dead at our feet.

 

Proverbs 30:5 states ‘Every word of God is tried and purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.’  Solomon and the Holy Spirit are both warning us, and promising us, that EVERY Word we hear coming from God is going to be challenged.  As the snake asked Eve “Yea, has God said…”

 

My chief responsibility on earth is to sort out His Words of LIFE amidst the words of death coming from His enemy – my enemy and yours, the devil himself.  The challenges of satan may be blatant or they may be subtle, but ‘source sorting’ is the first step to LIFE.  As I know the source of what I am hearing I then am assured my response should be trust or mistrust.  Faith CONTINUES to come with my CONTINUED attention to anything and everything I hear from God.

 

Finally, I take great comfort in this:  John 10:27 quotes Jesus as saying “The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.”

I have settled the question as to whether or not I am ‘His sheep’ – I pray you have as well.

Elitism VS God

Elitism: How does it differ from populism?

 

Definition of ‘Elitist’:  one who is an adherent of elitism : one whose attitudes and beliefs are biased in favor of a socially elite class of people On many issues, they seem to be populists rather than elitists—believers that people can make decisions for themselves better than elites can.

 

Defining a ‘Populist’: a believer in the rights, wisdom, or virtues of the common people.

 

On the surface the elitist and the populist are alike.  Both have the notion they know more about what is best for their fellow citizens that should be reflected in public policy whether those policies find expression through laws and/or regulations.  Both are ideologically driven.  The primary difference is in the direction(s) taken to becoming the prevailing voice in the struggle engaged in decision making.

 

Elitists tend to consolidate the power of their agenda in the context of force.  The elitist will not hesitate to eliminate any contrary point of view.  The populist, on the other hand, will promote their agenda through the force of reasoning, debate, due diligence and honest consideration.  Does that mean all elitists seek to rule by force?  Of course not.  Nor does it mean every populist is going to play well with others – i.e., by the rules.  However, populism tends to call out their own for deviant infractions where elitists only call out the hypocrisy of their opposition.

 

Having said all that, there is a spark of elitism in all of us in that we, almost to a man (or woman) believes we have both the right and obligation to guide ‘the public’ in paths trending toward ‘the greater good’.  When we think about it much of the evil in this world is foisted on it (us) under the guise of ‘the greater good’.

 

I’m going to exercise my rights of persuasion to expose my position on one arena involved in an eternal debate over what is best for humankind: JESUS CHRIST, as Lord of all lords, as King of all kings and redeemer of all mankind.  I contend for the following positions taken by Him and the entire biblical narrative:

1. Man has a problem resulting from their (our) nature to believe the lies of God’s enemy, satan. This sin principle – this sin nature carries with it the universal and inescapable consequence (wage?) of death.
2. God has the exclusive solution to the problem(s) resulting from our universal sin nature and that being the atoning, redeeming sacrifice of Jesus at His experience on His cross and His ultimate victory over death in His resurrection.

 

God condemns any and all methods of force to herd mankind into their redemption because it is a matter of the heart, a matter of the spirit of men to willingly submit to God’s provision.  But the attempt of the elitist to silence this message results in a direct assault against God and His persuasiveness will overcome heavy-handed elitists at every turn.  We should never fear those who oppose God but take courage in the fear displayed by them as they double down on their intimidating tactics.