The Passover and the Plague

Passover and the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus the Christ is soon to be here.  This isolation and home bound quarantine feels almost eerily like the day of the original Passover, when the death angel passed though Egypt and only those with the Blood of the Lamb on their doorposts were spared the loss of their first born son.  It was a dark foreboding night when the sounds of death and mourning could be heard throughout the land.

The connection and symbolism that Jesus IS our Passover Lamb is the cause for celebration by the Church.

The baseline of the Christian message and the Gospel "Good News" is all about forgiveness.  The forgiveness that God has given and that we all have (potentially) received did cost Jesus a cruel and barbaric death.

For sin to be forgiven, according to the mandates of Holiness, innocent blood must be shed. Innocent blood is what it takes to atone for sin, with death as the ultimate penalty. Jesus is the only human who could claim "Holy blood" and that due to his Divine lineage as the Only begotten Son of God. 

When we get to the point where we desire a relationship with God and desire to live eternally with Him, we are brought to the place of Godly sorrow (conviction) and repentance.  That desire leads us to the Cross and the One God sent to save us: His only begotten Son, Jesus.  

Forgiveness is the bedrock of Christianity and the basis of our freedom from condemnation and judgement executed by our Creator God for acts that offend and violate Holiness. Thus the Passover and the crucifixion of Jesus.  We have the opportunity to receive forgiveness for all that lies within our "sin nature"; a nature that compels us to deviate from God's Holy nature until that sin nature has been transformed. 

Forgiveness being made available doesn't mean that it is automatically received.  The forgiver can forgive without the forgive-ee being directly affected.  God's forgiveness stands but only due to the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.  Many will refuse to accept it and unfortunately live to regret that free will decision.

The exchange between forgiver and forgive-ee is best understood in the act of repentance.  Repentance is not just the feeling of being sorry for something offensive.  True repentance combines the regret with a determined change of course away from the regrettable offensive action.  Faith is a reverse of course from unbelief.

In the life of a Christian, with our flesh being what it is; corruptible and depraved by the lust for worldly things, the need for repentance should be something we recognize as quite necessary when we walk the "Highway of Holiness" with our Lord. 

Sin within causes a breech in our relationship with our Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ.  Even as our old "sin nature" has been exchanged and replaced by the Lord's "Holy" nature (arrival of the Holy Spirit within) at the moment of our salvation, our flesh can and does still influence our choices and decisions to violate our new Holy nature. 

The Holy Spirit who resides within the heart of all true believers, convicts and brings us to repentance, not just to forgive our offenses but to restore us to our place of fellowship with our Heavenly Father and Lord. 

When Divine discipline comes (and it will) for those old habits and ways that need to be corrected, conviction, repentance, forgiveness and restoration of relationship happen in the transformation process whereby we gradually become more like Jesus. Before Jesus came into the world, the Old Testament is filled with accounts of how God dealt with the nation of Israel and their sinful violations of His Holiness.  Violations brought disasters.  Disasters brought conviction.  Conviction brought repentance and repentance brought restoration and ultimately relief from the disaster 

When circumstances are changing and becoming harder to understand may our prayer be like that of the Psalmist who cried out to the Lord, "Search me, Oh God, and know my heart, try me and know my anxieties and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting".  Psalm 139:23-24

As we make this the cry of our hearts, the Lord will answer.  If repentance is required, conviction will come, and with a change of course, forgiveness will flood over us and restoration will bring about our deliverance.  

When trying to gain understanding of the cause or source of what we are experiencing in the trials that touch our life and world, I have found it best to begin with personal assessment and accountability.  Knowing we stand before our God personally accountable and personally forgiven,  we can move onto corporate accountability. Discernment is critical in the place of intercession when addressing possible Corporate offenses and seeking forgiveness for the Body of Christ at large.  But our Heavenly Father is faithful and will reveal things if we petition.

Lastly and not to be overlooked in our search for truth and "discernment of spirits", we may be given the wisdom that we, the Body of Christ, are under a full on attack by demonic forces.

Knowing that we stand forgiven by our Heavenly Father both personally and corporately,  with a discernment that says that what we are facing is an attack by "principalities in high places", we can move into our position on the battlefield full of courage and strength to effectively fight the good fight of faith.

As we move through this life altering crisis resembling a plague, may we use it to grow closer to our Lord and to a greater understanding of His ways and adherence to the principles we find in His Word. 

I hope this blog has been an encouragement to remember the Passover and The resurrection of our Lord.  I hope it is an encouragement to fold our hands and not wring them; to seek our loving Heavenly Father for His perspective on our situation, to follow His lead through the dark catacombs of untoward circumstances and to find His Light that is always there at the end of our tunnel.   

Peace be unto you brothers and sisters. For our God reigns....

The Spirit is calling.  Can you Hear Him? 

 

 

  

What IS Salvation Anyway?

These are the days that try men's souls.  The world has come to a screeching halt and most of us have been given a pause in busy-ness and unexpected relief from the "treadmill" of normal life.  Of course this time is a matter of perspective that can swing from fear to faith and back again like the pendulum of time itself.  

I have been encouraged to think about some issues that have been on the back burner of my "mentals" for quite some time.  For me to share what crosses my mind and path is a task that seems to have an assignment attached and a call from My Lord that I must answer to and for. 

The most important message of our lives as Believers is the Gospel Good News of God's unconditional love for humanity and conveying that in our own way to others who make up our world is top priority lest any should miss it.  

That said, I am so thankful for all who share in this season with our feet on planet earth to make this Journey with Jesus and each other.  I am thankful for all the amazing brothers and sisters in Christ across the street and around the world who lend their faith to others whose faith might be faltering in this crisis and to the unsaved that they might seek to find the Peace we have in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World.

We recognize that this world is NOT our (Eternal) home.  We are truly just passing through.  Our Eternal Home is with God, who is our Heavenly Father.  While in this temporal place our soul is housed in a physical body subject to the elements of the atmosphere here.  At the moment of our predetermined expiration date, we all will be evacuated and transported into another realm very much alive.  Followers of Jesus call this "Salvation" and for us it will be an alive and "well" living happily ever after in a delightful place and never ending story.

For those who choose to reject Jesus, eternal life brings horrific judgment and agonizing separation from our Creator God Who is the source of all that is "Good".
  
As a follower of Christ Jesus, faith is a supernatural experience for it is written, "Faith is the substance of thing hoped for and the evidence of things unseen."  Faith is action and faith moves through conviction and belief.  Faith treats things hoped for as reality and things unseen as real. Far from a "pollyana" mentality that "everything is beautiful",  faith grabs onto the Word of God and His written promises, convicted and convinced all will come to be. 

Jesus is the One God sent into the world to save us. But to save us from what you might ask?  The simple answer is judgement; Divine judgement which is the penalty for sin that unfortunately all humanity has been born with.  It's called a fallen or "sin nature" embedded in our flesh. 

Consider that the Cross with all its brutality was the place and God's only Son the subject upon whom all God's Holy righteous wrath against sin was poured out.  And the worst of the penalty for sin was suffered as Jesus said, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?"  Separation from His Father God was the worst and deepest agony since it was the first time in eternity such a separation in the Trinity existed. He alone knows of the pain of such a separation because He alone knows the fullness of the love of God.  

To accept Jesus is to acknowledge that we are helpless sinners who deserve the wrath of Holiness, but with overwhelming gratitude for God's gracious provision  where Jesus took our place and our penalty; that's what makes Him our Savior, and then in surrender to His Holy Spirit; that's what makes Him our Lord.

There is no escape from the fallen sin nature other than death,  Our Creator God unwilling that any should perish, provided that a substitute, blood shedding, Holy sacrifice be made available to all and any who would willing accept His gracious gift.

Jesus, the "Savior" Son of God is that "Gift". 

We are all born as the immortal image bearers of the One True God. God's original design gave humanity the mandate to tend to all He created in this world.  It was an assignment to co-labor WITH Him, not to be independently living life here without Him.  

Free will is a God ordained component of Divine design.  For free will to be free there must come to us a choice and with it the freedom to experience the consequences whether good or bad that go with our free will decisions. 

The most far reaching free will decision and consequence that our Sovereign Creator God has established is our eternal destination point, whether with Him in Paradise or without Him in Hell.

Life on this planet for very one of us ever born, boils down to this one eternally consequential free will decision:  Where will we spend eternity and with Whom? 

Time is of the essence to make a decision and make no mistake, a "no" decision is a decision in God's gracious economy.  Either we choose and accept Jesus, as the One God sent to rescue us or not.  The "not" choice is a choice, much as choosing "not" to eat dessert is a choice at the end of a meal.

God's Word is our instruction manual for life here and beyond. Choosing to read it helps us to choose wisely in all other matters of our free will decisions, including where we will spend eternity. 

The choice is ours and one way or another it will be made and then God will honor our choice.

I implore you in love, please seek the One True God and His Son Jesus while He may be found.  

The Holy Spirit is calling.  Can you hear Him?     

            





    

     

Supernatural Immunity: The Power of the Blood of Jesus

Connie D'Alessandro‎ to The Spirit is Calling

Today I am sharing something I believe is extremely important and with regard to the virus and Revelation 6:8.

I have been asking the Lord for wisdom in processing the current crisis and how to pray with perspective from the Throne. Today I got a post from a friend that I copied and pasted below.

Then I was taken to God’s Word in Rev 6:8 where it talks about the 4th of the 7 seals of the apocalypse. According to this reading this 4th seal releases the “pale horse” and it brings widespread death from sword and hunger but interestingly some is from the beasts of the earth (the animal kingdom).

That being said, to those who think this virus is like other human flu/sickness we might want to re-think that assumption. The post below relates a knowledgeable assessment of the real threat to humanity and I find that it related to the verses in Revelation 6.

Since this pestilence is animal in origin and we have no natural immunity to it we must then rely on an immunity of a supernatural sort. Our supernatural immunity comes from the Blood of Jesus shed on the Cross. Believers have the ability to call upon the immunity that the Holy Blood gives us in this earth realm where threats can overwhelm our “natural” immunity.

Please read this and call out to our Lord for His provision in the midst of this crisis. And by all means share the information and our faith✝️☝️✅


A friend on Facebook posted this and it explains a lot:

It has been so very hard to be quiet even though my phone is blowing up with questions that I can’t answer... for some of you who don’t know my daughter is a contractor for the CDC in Atlanta, she is a microbiologist.

My sister shared this and I hope those of you who think our government is overreacting read this and also don’t just watch the local news... pay attention globally.

This should help explain why we have to quarantine and not just those with compromised immune systems.... but everyone until this contained.... read it until the end.

Feeling confused as to why Coronavirus is a bigger deal than Seasonal flu? Here it is in a nutshell. I hope this helps. Feel free to share this to others who don’t understand..
.
It has to do with RNA sequencing.... I.e. genetics.

Seasonal flu is an “all human virus”. The DNA/RNA chains that make up the virus are recognized by the human immune system.

This means that your body has some immunity to it before it comes around each year... you get immunity two ways...through exposure to a virus, or by getting a flu shot.

Novel viruses, come from animals.... the WHO tracks novel viruses in animals, (sometimes for years watching for mutations).

Usually these viruses only transfer from animal to animal (pigs in the case of H1N1) (birds in the case of the Spanish flu).

But once, one of these animal viruses mutates, and starts to transfer from animals to humans... then it’s a problem.

Why? Because we have no natural or acquired immunity.. the RNA sequencing of the genes inside the virus isn’t human, and the human immune system doesn’t recognize it so, we can’t fight it off.
Now.... sometimes, the mutation only allows transfer from animal to human, for years it’s only transmission is from an infected animal to a human before it finally mutates so that it can now transfer human to human...

Once that happens..we have a new contagion phase.

And depending on the fashion of this new mutation, thats what decides how contagious, or how deadly it’s gonna be..

H1N1 was deadly....but it did not mutate in a way that was as deadly as the Spanish flu.
It’s RNA was slower to mutate and it attacked its host differently, too.

Fast forward.

Now, here comes this Coronavirus... it existed in animals only, for nobody knows how long...but one day, at an animal market, in Wuhan China, in December 2019, it mutated and made the jump from animal to people.

At first, only animals could give it to a person... But here is the scary part.... in just TWO WEEKS it mutated again and gained the ability to jump from human to human.
Scientists call this quick ability, “slippery”

This Coronavirus, not being in any form a “human” virus (whereas we would all have some natural or acquired immunity). That propelled off like a rocket.

And this was because, Humans have no known immunity...doctors have no known medicines for it.
And it just so happens that this particular mutated animal virus, changed itself in such a way the way that it causes great damage to human lungs..

That’s why Coronavirus is different from seasonal flu, or H1N1 or any other type of influenza.... this one is slippery AF.

And it’s a lung eater... And, it’s already mutated AGAIN, so that we now have two strains to deal with, strain S, and strain L....which makes it twice as hard to develop a vaccine.
We really have no tools in our shed, with this.

History has shown that fast and immediate closings of public places has helped in the past pandemics.
Philadelphia and Baltimore were reluctant to close events in 1918 and they were the hardest hit in the US during the Spanish Flu.

Factoid: Henry VIII stayed in his room and allowed no one near him, till the Black Plague passed...(honestly...I understand him so much better now).

Just like us, he had no tools in his shed, except social isolation...

And let me end by saying....right now it’s hitting older folks harder...

But this genome is so slippery...if it mutates again (and it will). Who is to say, what it will do next.
Be smart folks... acting like you’re unafraid is so not sexy right now.

#flattenthecurve. Stay home folks... and share this to those that just are not catching on...
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For Such a Time as This

In honor of Purim, it's interesting to re-read and re-visit the story of Esther in the Biblical book that bears her name.

This is an amazing and encouraging book and historical account of the over-arching protection by God for His people.  I can see some interesting parallels with what was happening to them back in the days of Esther and the King of Persia, and where God's people find themselves today. 

The account tells of a time when the Jews were living in exile in the land of Persia.  Life was reasonably peaceful but a person with antisemitic hatred had the ear of the King.  

The Body of Christ is like a nation within a nation much like the children of Israel were over the course of their history.  We are a group of Christ followers living in exile away from our Heavenly Home.  We have our "Hamans"; those people in power who lie about us and the "threat" we are to the nation and the world. Their persecution takes various forms from hateful derogatory speech to acts of violence and threats of bodily harm.

The story of Esther is a story of courage and standing firm in the face of incredible odds for her people's right to exist. It is an encouraging story given the social, political and spiritual environment we find ourselves in today. 

Esther was a beautiful Jewess who had captured the heart of the King in the land of exile and he made her his Queen. Unwittingly, the King of Persia had been deceived by one of his advisors, a man  by the name of Haman, about a contrived threat the Jews (and a man named Mordecai) were to his kingdom and was manipulated into signing a decree calling for their annihilation.

Haman did not know of Queen Esther's genealogy nor the favor she had with the King.  Queen Esther was the one person of Jewish descent with standing who could approach the king for favor and she did so with humble grace and great courage.

Since the decree, once sealed could not be revoked, the King out of love for his Queen and her people, permitted anther decree to be sealed whereby it was granted the Jews the ability to fight and defend their lives against any who would come against them. When the devious plot was brought to light,  Haman was hanged on the very gallows he erected to dispose of Mordecai.

As I read this historic account, God's Sovereign providence is clear despite the fact that His name is not mentioned in this book reflecting some of the struggles the Jews have had in their lands of exile.

It is clear to me that while the "battle belongs" to the Lord, we must be prepared to do battle as He grants us the right to fight and defeat the enemy who brings charges against us.  While I see the battle in spiritual terms, the message is clear that we must fight against the attempted annihilation of the faithful here at home and around the world.

Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the dark rulers in the heavenly realm who manipulate people and fan the flames of hatred toward all who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The weapons of our warfare, we are told, are not carnal but have Divine power unto the bringing down of strongholds (power grips) that exist to challenge and if possible destroy our lives, our faith,  and our calling in God's great purpose and will. 

The story of Esther reminds me of all that our Lord God controls and provides for our victories in the trials we face in our temporal land of exile. 

It is important to note that the "Haman" hatred toward people of faith is the hatred inspired by Satan himself and is not reserved only for the people of faith but rather a hatred of all humanity in general.  No one is exempt from being a target of this demonic hatred.  The evil one hates all mankind and seeks to destroy even his loyal followers.  It's only a matter of time until they too are marked for annihilation.

It's now so important that all who are followers of Christ pray for the lost; even and especially those who self-identify as enemies of our Lord.  It's been said that the best way to get rid of an enemy (human and so far as we are able) is to make him a friend.

Who knows and perhaps you were born for such a time as this.

The Spirit is Calling.  Can you hear Him?            

Exercising Our Restored Dominion

The Holy One calls to me this morning.  His message is clear:

"Your dominion has been restored.  Do not permit the evil one to steal it again".

Today as I settle into our early morning on-going conversation, I am aware of the voice that speaks lies and so thankful that the voice of the Holy One is more clear than that of the oppressor.

Life on earth in these seemingly dark days offers up many challenges.  We have been told that nation will rise against nation, there will be earthquakes and other forms of natural disasters, sickness and disease will attack our bodies, we will find division even in our most trusted human relationships, and the faith of some will grow cold. 

God's Word promises that victories are possible even in these dark days if we will grab hold of them.  

One such promise is conveyed in in Matthew Mark 11:23.  As Jesus was walking with His Disciples on His way to Jerusalem, He spotted a fig tree and looked for edible fruit.  Finding nothing but leaves, He cursed the fig tree (Mark 11:14).  

He continued on His journey and then on His return trip passed by the same fig tree and the Disciples noted and said to Him, "Rabbi, look!  The fig tree that you cursed has withered away".   

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.  For assuredly I say to you,  whoever says to this mountain, 'be removed and cast into the sea', and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done.  He will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you, whatever you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them."

I heard the testimony of a man defeating cancer and what he said was profound: "When I stopped telling God about my sickness and started telling my sickness about my God, things changed."  In his case, he went into remission and was delivered from the grip of that devastating disease.

As I read the foundational promise for moving mountains in my life found in Mark 11:23, I ask myself, what is the  "fig tree" at the moment that might need to wither?  What mountain am I facing that needs to be remove in order to continue on in my journey?  What obstacles lay in the way of my mission?  This promise given by our Lord has many practical applications and gracious victories to award those who will say and believe.  

The enemy is a thief and comes not but to rob, kill and destroy.  Creating "doubt" is the enemy's most effective strategy.  Re-taking our turf and exercising our dominion as God's Beloved regents is clearly His will as the life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus empowers us to do.  As regards to this truth we must never enter into or engage with "doubt."  But it takes wisdom, discernment and applied knowledge of the devil's schemes to keep from being deceived by that serial liar and thief, Satan. 

I am reminded that while this life is a battle against a dark enemy of our soul and not just a whimsical passing hope for good things, we are never alone.  God's promises will always be challenged by evil so we can and should count on a white knuckle battle for truth in the trenches.  It's sometimes even under the threat of death that we come to truly know we can speak to the mountain and it will move. 

Exercising our restored dominion is glorifying to the One who made it possible.  Thank you Jesus. To you be all glory, honor and praise and worship.  

The Spirit is calling.  Can you hear Him?    

   
     




 

Simple Evangelism

Many of us who are followers of Jesus live on a subtle guilt trip provided by the enemy of our soul for not going to far away lands to "make disciples of all nations".

While refusing the Lord's  assignment given to us personally is not a wise move, understanding our part or role in the Great Commission might look different than we think.

Luke 8:26-40 is the account of a man with a mental health issue to put it mildly.  In describing the man, it was said that he "had demons".  This man was naked, and homeless when he met up with Jesus.  He suffered with seizures and was considered dangerous.  He had escaped from the chains, shackles, and bonds used to constraint him and from those whose job it was to guard him. 

Jesus met the man when He stepped out of the boat that brought Him to the country of the Gadarenes.  Jesus was well recognized by the demons in possession of the man and in a manner befitting a confrontation with the Son of God, the demons pleaded that He not torment them nor send them out into the abyss.  The legion of demons requested from Jesus His permission to enter a herd of swine instead.  

The account states that great fear came upon the multitude who heard of the incident and the man's deliverance. They asked Jesus to leave them.  The man who was delivered from the demons naturally wanted more of the One who healed and restored his mind.  

Luke 8:39-40 says, "But Jesus sent him away saying, " Return to your own house and tell them what great things God has done for you".  And He went away and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for Him. 

So it was that when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him for they were all waiting for Him". 

This account is a wonderful explanation and example of simple evangelism: Telling others what great things Jesus has done for us. 

Our testimonies may not be as dramatic as this demon possessed man, but when the love of God through Jesus Christ, His Son, touches our lives things change and miracles happen. The very fact that Jesus died in our place changes our eternal destination and that is something amazing to tell others about.  Even our trials are engineered to provide wonderful testimony when they come to resolution and our "Red Sea" parts. 

As we go about our daily lives sharing with others what great things Jesus has done and is doing for us, others will want meet Jesus themselves. 

The Spirit is calling.  Can you hear Him? 
 
 

The Far Side of Tomorrow

The clock tics off the minutes so slowly during the dark watches of the night. When will the joy of the morning that is promised after the long night of tears finally arrive?
  
There is no short cut through the emotional grief that cuts the heart when death comes to take one of our own.

When that "one" happens to be  child regardless of how many  years of earth time has been given to the parent-child relationship, the devastation of loss is acute.

In God's economy we were never meant to die and therefore death runs against everything that is eternal about our being. In and of ourselves we have no emotional tools to handle the separation that happens when death divides us from our loved ones. The hope of a reunited relationship is all that holds us together.  And Jesus is the only One who promises that hope.

For me, memories haunt the dark places where he once filled our lives with bright joyful days, exciting times and loyal love for his family.  Looking back only accentuates the sorrow.

When facing what feels like an emotional scorched earth scenario is there anything to be gleaned from the tragedy?  When there can be no replacement; when the intense love has no place to be poured out; when death stands alone as the villain and there can be no counter-punch to throw.  How does life go on when our personal world stops turning?

For a life-long believer in the One True God and His son Jesus Christ, this hard, hard emotional trial produces what is called a "faith crisis".   Something that represents such a challenge to all our fine sounding arguments that we make before our personal world comes crashing down.   Grief does that and as I have found no words can off-set the pain. 

How can the "love of God" be so cruel is a question the enemy of my soul wants me to dwell upon?  I have five other children and their spouses and 16 grandchildren who are every bit as deeply loved.  Why him and why now comes echoing back from the dark and empty abyss.  Questions without answers all lead back to something my Lord spoke to me years ago:  "I know you trust My will but do you trust My ways?"

To what some might label a PTSD experience, the "what-if" question goes to the "what's next" one and tends to drive the acute anxiety train right down the center of my once peaceful home town. 

Emotional, physical and mental fatigue all play their part in the attempted coup of my Spirit-life and relationship with the One I have trusted since I first found Jesus or better said til He first introduced Himself to me. 

In the recent past, I have walked my husband of 31 years and my mom through the valley of the shadow of death and somehow been able to return to the land of the living.  What then, makes this death such a hard mountain to climb?   

Was it the suddenness of  the loss without warning?  Was there a preparatory warning I missed?  Or something much deeper regarding the mystery of Holiness yet to be revealed?

Questions abound but the one thing I  do know is that there is only one place I can go for answers, if there are any to be found on this side of the veil.  Until then I wonder what I will find on the far side of tomorrow where many of God's promises are kept for delightful discovery at that future moment in my life?  What will be that incredible Joy of the Lord once I get through the dark storm of today? 

The Spirit is calling.  Can you hear Him?