Fire From Heaven

The Holy Spirit calls to me this morning.  When He calls, I wake up to a voice in the darkness of the early hours just before dawn.  His voice comes as a comfort over the doom that can flood a mind trying to process the events of our world in crisis.  

Today He tells me to remember Elijah on Mt Carmel and how he brought down fire from Heaven as proof to the depressed Children of Israel that Yahoveh is still their God. A drought and subsequent famine for 3 years was about to be cancelled by Yahoveh,  but first Elijah is called to expose and take Divine vengeance against the evil priests of Baal who led the people into idolatry in the first place. 

Polytheism was the challenge to Adonai's people in the promised land.  Over and over the Children of Israel capitulated to the pagan rituals and worship of the foreign gods of their neighbors. They did not stop worshipping Adonai, they just added other gods  I cannot help asking:  are we, Adonai's Beloved, any different today?  

Even the  King of Israel, Ahab, took as his wife a woman called Jezebel, the daughter of a pagan king and went and served Baal and worshipped him.  Then King Ahab erected an altar for Baal, in the house of Baal, causing the people to bow down and worship Baal too. 

In I Kings 17, we read that Elijah the prophet was a man called by Adonai, the God of Israel, to indict his people for their sin and proclaim a drought on the land for an unknown period of time.  Elijah was hidden and cared for by Adonai for the next 3 years while the king sent his men to search the land to find him.  Jezebel then orchestrated her power play and vicious agenda, murdering all of Adonai's prophets. 

The account continues in I Kings 18 where we are told that Adonai, after three years,  again sent Elijah the "word" to go and show himself to the people because Adonai was about to bring rain to the dry land.  We can debate just how that happened or what that might have sounded like to Elijah, but it's my belief that Adonai operates the same way with His people today.  A "Prophet" might  get a "word' of exhortation from Adonai to speak to His people.  Elijah was listening, Elijah heard....and Elijah obeyed.  Some parts of the story suggest that Elijah was able to use his own creative way to enhance the message and bring great glory to Adonai, like calling down fire from Heaven.

The Word of the Lord was to be given to King Ahab that Adonai was going to send rain to the land but the great contest and fire from Heaven seemed like it was Elijah's unique method and delivery of the message that brought a great demonstration of Adonai's undeniable and Sovereign power. 

Elijah called out Ahab for abandoning the Lord's commands and following the Baalim.  Elijah told the King to assemble all of Israel and the 450 prophets of Baal together for a contest and display of Divine authority.  This Baal they were worshipping was believed to be the god of rain and fertility.  Ironically the priests of the cult  directing the sacrifices and worship of this baal, god of rain, accused Elijah of causing the "trouble" and consequently the drought. This begs the question of the power of this Baal if a man could counter its power or authority.  Such are the issues of the false gods even in our day when they suggest or promise a resolution to a threat over which they have no power. 

The contest was called; the "gods" were challenged to produce a supernatural fire on the altar to receive the sacrificed animal and thereby prove their authority over the land and the people. The people were challenged to stop wavering between the two positions and follow Adonai or follow the Baals but not both.  

The prophets of Baal were told to call on the name of their god and Elijah would call on the name of Yahoveh  and "the God who answers with fire, let Him be God".  It is also interesting to note that Elijah called for the contest to be executed out in the open where these false prophets and priests could not hide their assistance by torching the altar humanly as they were said to have done in their temple.  The true power of God needs no human assistance and yet just like in Egypt, people will try to use magic arts or human power to duplicate the acts of the One true God Yahoveh. 

Fast forward to today.  There are many other "gods" to choose from in various forms of religion or ideology.  The sad part is that we tend to expect nothing from the "gods" who vie for our loyalty.  At least back in the day, these false gods were thought to be helpful if and when they were "pleased".  Many of the people did not understand they could not worship Baal and Adonai together.  Elijah called them to choose.  

Most of us know the end of this account when Yahoveh did answer with fire and that fire consumed the sacrifice and even "licked up the water poured over the sacrifice and the altar.  When the people saw it, "they fell on their faces and said, "Adonai is God, Adonai is God!"

The false prophets were exposed, the idolatry was defined, the hearts of Adonai's people were turned back to Him and the drought (a consequence of their apostacy) was ended.  

This account represents so much hope for us in our nation today.  As Adonai suffers with our ignorance and even betrayal, He will not leave us in a place of drought forever.  When our hearts are desperate and we realize that there are no other gods that can stop the drought, the famine, the plague, the earthquake or the storm; when we finally cry out for relief and rescue, I trust Adonai will yet again deliver and show us His great and Sovereign power over all the false gods out there, for He says of Himself,  "I AM the Lord, I do not change".  Mal 3:6

Are we living with the great expectation of His Divine manifestation in our world today?  I pray that we are and that soon something akin to fire from Heaven will fall as evidence to the world that Yahoveh is still our God. 

The Holy Spirit is calling.  Can you hear Him?    

 

  

      

        

     

Living for the Lord in the Land of Exile

The Holy One calls to me this morning.  A new lesson has begun in my training as a bond slave of Jesus.  While nothing changes the Sacred Romance, there are days when the depths of our love bond is being tested.

At one moment in my temporal marriage, when the  mountain seemed too high to climb, I was on the verge of giving up and walking away.  The voice of my Beloved spoke,  "I know your hurt, your pain, even your confusion, but I want you to go back in there and die for Me one last time". 

The death He was asking me to die wasn't anything more than pride, but it seemed so painful at the time.  Little did I know that it was the "one last time" when I would have the opportunity in my marriage to serve the Lord's good purpose in my earthly husband's life.  Within a few short weeks of that directive I became a widow.

Today there is much happening that can be twisted by an evil voice in the darkness to blame the God who created and loves us for the horrible tragedies we see and experience, or give up on the thought that goodness and mercy can prevail on a fallen earth, or that it might be a personal directive to serve our Lord in the heartbreaking realities of life in this darkened realm..

The temptation is to express words of despair or anger or unbelief, all worthless words that set a tone for more fear to dominate and impact others.

The Lord gently moves me on in my meditation.  "Those devastated on earth need to hear truth.  Truth can be hard but it does bring much comfort to the soul."

The Truth is that eternity looms large in front of all of us.  There is no guarantee in this life as to the length or duration of the temporal.  But if we live as if the temporal is all there is, the hardship or heartache brings on a despair so deep and dark, it chokes out the goodness that can be found as we pass through the land of the living.

The awe and wonder of our Creator is in His love and therein is where we find our hope.  I Corinth 2:9 says, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him".  I can't even imagine.......

During one of the election cycles of the past, I focused on the words spoken by one who wanted to change the U.S.A.  His words were superficially sweet but sent a chill up my spine for what it would mean for America to undergo such a change.  I entered into a time of mourning for what I perceived to be the death of the country I love.

The Lord heard my weeping and put truth in my heart and  mind.  The Holy One told me then, "This land is not your home.  It has never been anything more than the land of exile".  Those were shocking words to my heart and my political agenda.  I erroneously believed that somehow we could make America here like the Kingdom of Heaven in my heart.  Until Jesus returns to rule and reign as the Majestic King that He is, no government on earth will ever be perfect.

This season is a time to remember those who have fought and died for the principles of freedom that America's government is based upon.  We celebrate the ultimate sacrifice each has made.  With humble gratitude we honor the fallen and those on the front lines still fighting to protect the "Land of the Free".  We salute those who have returned home as heroes, having seen the horrors of war in other lands so others don't have to.  Today, we are facing great challenges here, to fight for the restoration of our great republic and One Nation Under God.

For the Christian whose heart is fixed on Eternity, this land is not our home.  No matter where we pitch our "tent" here on earth, we are just passing through.

Back in Jeremiah's day, when the Lord spoke through His Prophets, He gave a message to the Children of Israel on this very subject.  Jeremiah sent a letter from the Lord to the "exiles" who were living in Babylon. 

The Lord calls me to read it again and apply it's directive to life today.

Jeremiah 29: 4-7:  " This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel says to all of those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon,   Build houses, and settle down.  Plant gardens and eat what they produce.  Marry and have sons and daughters.  Find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so they too may have sons and daughters.  Increase in numbers there and do not decrease.  Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city (land) to which I have carried you into exile.  Pray to the Lord for it because if it prospers so will you."

Tucked into this message is a picture of God's world view and His purpose in the world:  His people, carried by Him into a land not their own with a commission and a command to live and prosper there.  A quick read of the text brings a revelation of God's Will for us in this temporal life experience.

God moves His people into foreign places (whether neighborhood, communities or really foreign lands) to represent Him to the world around us.  We lose His  perspective when we wall ourselves off and isolate to live out all our "doomsday-prepper" scenarios.  We may not be as "radicalized"as some but the walls between us are as fixed as the barbed wire around the compound.

What gets defeated in the practice of judgement and isolation is the Heavenly war for souls;  those precious to the One who gave all men the breath of life, and the One who died that all may live in the Eternal Presence of Holiness.

There is great news for us as believers within the "Great News" for the world at large.  The "Great News" for the world is that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, JESUS, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM (as the Son of God,  what He did for us through His death and what He made available for us through His resurrection) WILL NOT PERISH, but WILL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

Within that great news of eternal life is the promise of His presence in the temporal world as well.  God can and will make a distinction in the lives of His people.  But never lose sight of His reason:  That the world will see Him in us, and desire to join the family and community of believers in the one true God and His Son Jesus.

This is not about a bank account or all the "fixins" of a gilded life.  The Gospel must be as true here as it is in 3rd world countries, just relative to our surroundings. 

I pray for  peace so that in each trial that will come, others will come to know His peace through my life and example. I pray for prosperity so that as I am taken care of, others will come to know the security of His provisions through my life and example.

Opportunities abound in the land of exile to represent Christ to the world around us just like in the final days of my marriage.  The question to each one of us who "know" the Lord is: "Will we take them?"

The Holy Spirit is calling.  Can you hear Him?

 

 

Enduring the Cross

The Holy One calls to me this morning. I wake up to the
sound of His voice gently pulling me into His presence.

Sleep is a sweet escape from all the concerns of this
earth life. But when there is a battle to be fought and a
war to be won, a sleep escape after the body is rested can
neutralize the warrior.

I am thankful that the Holy One is insistent on our
early morning conferences because there are overwhelming
things to discuss about life these days.

The Lord knows my frame and makes stops along
the journey that allow me to rearrange the weights I am
compelled to carry. He always tells me “His yoke is easy
and his burden is light,” but I insist on bearing burdens not
placed on me by Him.

Quite often my burdens become burdens due to my
perspective. Sandbags around the legs of the eagle are
placed there to strengthen his wings, not to cripple his
ability to soar. A burden or a tool may look the same unless
the purpose for it is defined.

 
The Lord knows I need an attitude adjustment before
I can properly handle the weight, and He speaks directly
about the heaviest burden I bear and opens up a conversation
about the cross.

I find that there is nothing random in God’s economy.
I believe there is eternal, if not, temporal purpose in each
detail of my life. While I cannot see where all the pieces
will ultimately fit, I trust that the Sovereign One knows
and will someday make all things clear to me.

I long to know my Beloved better. I am addicted to His
love and delight in the sacred romance whereby He is not
reluctant to reveal more and more of Himself each and
every day.

Jesus, my Savior, died on a cross for me, so when the
Holy One opens up the subject of the cross, I know He is
going for my heart.

The Holy Spirit begins by speaking His Word. Hebrews
12:2 (NIV), Jesus, who “for the joy set before Him endured
the cross, scorning its shame” but goes on to say to me, “I
know the cross you are bearing for Me.”

The burden instantly becomes less heavy when I see it in
light of our relationship. The enemy of our souls is a liar and
a thief. His primary objective in all our lives is to separate
us from the love of God.

Since God is love and evil cannot separate us from
the love at God’s end, we humans become his target, and
he works relentlessly to manipulate our perspective and
destroy the love relationship with our Creator from our
end. His agenda is to keep the unsaved in darkness and the
saved in doubt about the love of our Creator God.
The death of Jesus on the cross at Calvary represents
the greatest humiliation a human could possibly endure.

 

 Beyond the physical pain of a body tortured beyond
recognition, the emotional toll of being stripped naked for
all eyes to see puts a whole other meaning to the shame
that Jesus suffered. The shame our Savior bore was the
shame that was found in the garden that drove the original
pair to cover themselves with leaves. He bore the shame of
their sin nakedness and ours.

But what was the “joy” spoken of that was set before Him
that enabled my Lord to endure the cross and its shame?

On a human level, we pay great respect to our fallen
heroes; those men and women who give their lives for a
cause. Our government hands out medals to those who
exhibit such courage unto the death. I doubt that, on the
battlefield, our fallen heroes are motivated by that reward.

I would imagine that in the trenches, it’s their heart of love
for the ones they are fighting for that keeps them going.

While the enemy tries to get me to focus on survival,
the Lord speaks to me about His purpose in the war. These
early morning conference calls serve as what might be
considered time in the trenches to evaluate the battle, listen
for the strategy of my commander in chief that will provide
the victory His way, and remember the love that put me
here in the first place.

The Holy One reminds me of my first love. He takes
me back to the One who suffered excruciating agony to
make our relationship with God possible here on earth and
beyond into eternity.

It was His heart of unconditional and ultimate love that
put Him on the cross. But what about the joy that enabled
Him to endure?
 

Was it the sweet anticipation of reunion with the Father
and a return to His throne of glory that brought the joy? 

Was it the sense of the mission about to be accomplished
that brought the joy? Was it knowing that the object of His 

love (us) would be forever in his company that brought
the joy?

My money is on the upcoming joy of His unity with
you and me made possible in no other way than through
the cross. I believe that from the very foundation of the
earth, His motive was to restore paradise lost and reclaim
the intended love relationship with His beloved creation,
man. The love thoughts of you and me able to be with Him
forever brought the joy, and that joy brought the endurance.

“Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for
the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning
its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God. Consider him who endured such
opposition from sinful men so that you do not lose
heart.” (Heb 12:2–3, NIV)

Today I am encouraged, and I find more strength to
endure the cross I am bearing. The cross of His suffering
ended in complete victory, as will mine. I realize that
persecution is actually bearable as it unifies me with my
beloved. The joy I find in our sacred romance enables me to
endure the humiliation and pain it might cost.

The Holy Spirit is calling. Can you hear him? 

 

 

 

 

Bad Luck Or Holy Scolding?

The Holy One calls to me this morning.  Certain hard things we face are due to persecution and are part of our life as a follower of Jesus.  Matt 10:22, “And you will be hated by all for my Name’s sake.  But He who endures to the end will be saved”.

 

But there are other hard things; things that are consequences for poor decisions and “bad form” that are in place to get us to course “correct” when we leave the highway of Holiness.

 

The Holy Spirit speaks an important truth for me today, “The consequences for rebellion of My commands were set when the commands were given.  There is a difference between My forgiveness of the sin and abatement of consequences”.

 

That is a very important key in the understanding of the truth: sin bears a consequence in our temporal lives even after salvation.  For the believer in Jesus, ultimate forgiveness is not at issue, but the consequences for bad actions and disobedience of the Lord’s commands will come to bear. 

 

The Word of God is a living entity, meaning it speaks to us as a current source of wisdom every bit as it did to the ancients in their day and time in history.  The issue of obedience to the Lord is as old as time itself.

 

In the beginning one rule was in place to test the will and obedience of the original pair; Adam and his wife Eve. The violation and consequence of their rebellion has impacted humanity ever since but was merely symbolic of what all of us do with our free will.  

 

After the one rule was violated, then came the Ten Commandments and then the myriad of Levitical Laws which only underscored the fact that human nature is rebellious and not capable of perfect obedience to Holiness.

 

Then came Jesus the Savior who fulfilled the Law and re-established the purpose and simplicity of the original one rule:  To love the Lord God with all our hearts, with all our souls and with all our strength. (Deut. 6:5).  Love for the rule Giver is the motivation for obedience to any rule established by any beloved in our lives:  To love is to obey the desire, if not the “rule” of the beloved.

 

When asked a question by a “lawyer” of His day, Jesus gave the Pharisees (and us) the great commandment of the “Law”.  Matt. 10:27, “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; this is the first and greatest commandment”.

 

As a believer in Christ and one who has inherited His eternal legacy, I am expected to operate under a different law called the “law of love”.  The Holy Spirit who dwells within me sets the commands that I am to follow on a day-to-day, sometimes minute-to-minute basis.  If I love Him, I will follow and  obey His commands.  “Go here” and “avoid there”.  “Do this” or “let go of that”, all make for lessons in holiness that require loving obedience and show the world my love for my Lord.

 

Compromise interrupts obedience and for that, there is this thing called “consequences”.  Consequences will follow the breaking of God’s laws or disregarding the commands that were set up to keep us in peace and alignment with His love and will.

 

The world is spiraling out of control and unfortunately our love, our faith and our obedience to the Lord is being tested for compromise. 

 

True confession that in my own life and during times of personal rebellion, I can say that the consequences for my dis-obedience have been progressive.  No big hammer falls out of the sky to knock sense into my head or heart but slowly the heat (consequences) of the sin makes denial and justification impossible.

 

I was raised in legalism and thought that the moment I did something unacceptable to God I would grow a green wart on the end of my nose for all to see and I would be ashamed.  At my first real biff (in my own opinion) the green wart did not appear so I assumed that my violation was not that big of a deal.

 

However, to the contrary of that assumption, I was just being given all the rope I need to hang my rebellious self and the noose kept getting tighter and tighter until I was so choked up by my suffocating sin that I could barely function.

 

God’s mercy in the consequences is not that I can skate past them but rather that once I get convicted and repent the Lord walks with me through them. Sanctification is a process that exposes the sin but doesn’t permit us to remain in it. 

 

It seems that in the major issues of my life, rebellion has finally and mostly been over ruled, but the opportunity to compromise Holiness can come in the small seemingly non-earthshaking choices I make every day that violate the law of love:

 

Judgments beyond my “Pay grade” as to another person’s heart or salvation status.

 

Unforgiveness that hardens my heart unless the other guy asks for it.

 

Limited grace in a long trial that fosters anger.

 

Deep fears that over-rule the promises I have been given by the Sovereign Promise Maker and Keeper.

 

The list goes on but the point of the Holy One today is well taken: Consequences for rebellion and disrespectful disobedience to the Holy mandates of my Lord were set when the commandments and the laws were given. 

 

Personally and as the corporate Body of Christ, God does not and will not “wink” at rebellion.  Consequences will come and not be abated.  Repentance provides that our relationship with Holiness is restored and the Lord will walk with us through to the end of what our rebellion began.

 

In God’s economy and Divine order there is no such thing as bad luck.  But if we, as His people are walking in rebellion, there is sure to come a Holy scolding.

 

The Holy Spirit is calling.  Can you hear Him?  

   

Revelation of the Tribulation

 The Holy Spirit calls to me on this beautiful spring morning.  Sunday of the week, and the day we gather to celebrate and remember the resurrection of our Savior.  We celebrate because His glorious recorded resurrection will be ours someday.  

Jesus remained here on earth for many days after His bodily resurrection to assure us that He is alive and well and that after a time, He will return to rule and reign as scripture foretold and we must always look forward to that day. We got a glimpse of His glorified body as a delightful preview of our own future one.

My Holy Counselor knows my thoughts and the way my analytical mind works.  These deep thought cause me to wonder, with some apprehension  "How long until we see you again Lord?"  Then, He speaks comfort into my wrestles for understanding:

"I know you are looking for answers to deep questions about the time of the tribulation and the signs you see all around you.  You cannot know the date and time but I will say, that you must look to the past to understand the future."

Yesterday I was reading in Revelation.  Today the Holy One refers me to the OT and the account of the flood.  The flood of Noah's time was a cataclysmic Divine judgement over lands, people, and creatures large and small. Revelation tells us the final judgement is coming. 

To understand the future, I am to look to the past.  Our Sovereign Creator works in cycles of lessons designed to help us know Him and His ways. He operates according to precedents established in the OT.  All the miracles Jesus performed were things God had established and worked through His servants in the OT.  When Jesus left planet earth, He told us we could do the same. That is subject matter for another day so back to Genesis and the flood. 

What triggered the flood?  What did our Creator see and say before a complete water purging of His created world, while yet providing one man and his family to re-populate and tend to whatever survived it?  

Genesis 6:5-8,

Adonai saw that the people on earth were very wicked, that all the imaginations of their hearts were always of evil only. Adonai regretted  that He had made humankind on earth and it grieved His heart.....  

We read that a man named Noah found favor BUT.... then came the flood.

Thereafter, when people re-populated the earth and were again doing wickedly and united in their independence from Adonai, the Tower of Babel was brought low and Adonai confused their speech. At this time, there were many people who carried the legacy of Noah and the One True God of all creation, so wide-scale destruction was not employed by Adonai.

However, targeted destruction was utilized by Adonai as we read about in the account of Sodom and Gomorrah. In Genesis 18:23,  The God of Abraham, Adonai, said to Abraham, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so serious I will now go down and see whether their deeds warrant the outcry that has reached Me; if not I will know,"   Most know the end of the Biblical account; the sin of the citizens and the meteoric blast reigning down fire and brimstone, that turned the place into ashes. 

Thousands of years later, and after Adonai sent His Son to save humanity from the good justice of Holiness, mankind still chooses to do evil.  Despite the many warning shots across the bow of our independent corporate ship, that speak of pending judgement on wickedness, we can still see the evil all around us today, Revelation 9 says this about the "future" to John who got the vision, but now as I read, it seems like the culture we live in today:

Revelation 9:20-21, "The rest of mankind who were not killed by the plagues (fire smoke and sulfur) EVEN THEN did not turn from what they had made with their own hands---they DID NOT STOP worshiping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood which cannot see or hear or walk.  NOR DID THEY TURN from their murdering, their involvement with the occult and with drugs (pharmacia), their sexual immorality or their stealing."

Looking around, there can be no doubt that we are in a world of God-defined evil people, doing great harm to themselves and others.  We cannot know for sure if this is a cycle of warnings as has happened over history OR if this is the cycle that will end with the return of our King? Regardless, wisdom dictates that we pay attention to our lives and not grow weary in waiting.  

For those who may not realize that one definition of "Tribulation" translates as "pressure" and can be understood as the pressure (on believers) to conform to a godless world.  Pressure, tribulation in our lives as believers is happening as we speak so it is vital that we stand firm.

Revelation 11:18.

"The nations raged

But now Your rage has come,

the time for the dead to be judged,

the time for rewarding your servants the prophets

and your Holy people,

those who stand in awe of your name,

both small and great.

It is also the time for destroying 

those who destroy the earth."

For those who choose to continue to do evil, there is a day on the calendar when Adonai the One true God will act according to His word and His precedents.  LOVE WARNS!

And, for those who desire to escape the judgement to come, know this about our merciful Sovereign Creator:  He expects failure as He knows our frame, and that is why He sent His Son to pay the price we could not pay and live to tell abut it.  Sin (evil) lies within all humanity, and evil brings a penalty. That penalty is the shedding of innocent blood or death as we know it.  

The penalty has no redemption unless the blood shed is innocent.  If we pay our own debt we die forever because our blood is tainted.  Only Holy Blood can resurrect, and redeem us from the debt according to God's plan. That said, the Blood of Jesus has already been shed for us and His Blood is Holy, innocent, pure.  But in our God-ordained free will, it is required that we choose the sacrifice in our own behalf.  

To choose the Righteous, God given sacrifice, we must acknowledge that we are not it. We confess our hopeless sin status, acknowledge Jesus as our chosen Savior with gratitude and move on in trust to live in a personal relationship under His ruling authority.  Our sin is atoned for and we are able to enjoy all the blessings of eternity in a paradise designed by the One who created us for fellowship with Himself. 

In the meantime, here on earth, as we await our transport into His Presence, we can enjoy the most incredible love relationship with the One who holds us and our future in His trustworthy hands. I cherish the gift of His word and the peace that comes from understanding His ways.   The Revelation of the Tribulation is the Grand finale of the plan of God that will be brought to completion, the Good News, as He proclaimed it to His servants the prophets.

Even in the uncertainty of our times and the mystery of His Ways, the celebration of our Lord's resurrection brings such a comfort.  With that ever before us, we can look into the Revelation of the tribulation without fear as we stand in awe of His Holy Name.

The Holy Spirit is calling. Can you hear Him?  

 

  

           

 

 

 

 

 

Ancient Words, Modern Application

 The Holy Spirit calls to me as I ponder a very strategic verse out of the Old Testament that He has used in my instruction and subsequent application for a long time. In certain seasons we are given wisdom that is in advance of the season to which it applies.  Such is the wisdom for Isaiah 26:20-21 through 27:1-5.

 Day by day the Holy Spirit draws me to His counsel as I seek to understand the Mystery of Yehoveh God and His ways. 

 Yehoveh is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (now know as Israel)

Yehoveh is the Father of Jesus/Yeshua who is.....

The Messiah/Savor of Humanity. 

Names matter, titles matter when we have a wide range of "gods" competing for our worship, so I purpose to be specific as I share my thoughts and Yehoveh God's Word.

Each day as I ponder and meditate on these verses, I see more and more relevance to our circumstances and how they very much apply to our current events.

While the world seems to be spiraling out of control, Adonai's (translated Lord/Master) words are an anchor point for those of us who trust in Him.

Isaiah 26:20-21 says, "Come my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you.  Hide yourselves for a little while..."

A national lock down unlike anything most of us have ever seen has been executed whereby we all have a reason to isolate and we can wonder if the Lord is facilitating an excuse to follow His directive.

Isolation of this sort also requires us to "wait upon the Lord" and "be still and know that He is God".  Directives we find elsewhere in His Word. 

"Until His wrath is past".  This speaks of Adonai's protection as He is prepared to execute a penalty much like the day of the Pass Over in Egypt when the death angel struck the land and the Hebrews were kept safe in their houses with the Blood of the Lamb on their doorposts.

"For see!  Adonai emerges from His place to punish those on earth for their sin".  

Adonai's punishment may be executed publicly or  personally.  It doesn't take the courts of men or human laws for Adonai to hold the wicked accountable and therefore become the objects of His wrath.  The Spirit of Holiness can send a wasting disease or even a meteor to execute His justice.  "For see!" indicates we will see His designated punishment on the wicked.

"Then the earth will reveal the blood shed on it and no longer conceal it's slain".

As we "see" the punishment fall upon the wicked among humanity, we will also see the blood shed they are guilty of as more of what lies hidden gets exposed. 

We are now being made aware of horrific stories of abuse enacted against children and all who have been victimized in the trafficking of humans for money and power.

Much evidence is mounting that the issues regarding the 2020 election are more than merely a difference in politics and point to a sinister subculture of depravity and such evil beyond the average citizen's comprehension, thus the activation of Yehoveh's Divine intervention.

Isaiah 27:1-5,  "On that day, Adonai with His great strong, relentless sword will punish Leviathan, the fleeing serpent, the twisting serpent Leviathan.  He will slay the sea monster."

The spirit of leviathan is a truth twisting spirit like a crocodile that grabs hold of its prey and twists it until it (truth) dies. The reality of our times is that deception, lies, half-truth and fake news, has filled the airwaves.  This verse reminds me that Adonai is the punish-er of such a dominant evil as it is such a powerful force that we, the people, have little defense or discernment with which to judge and reject the lies. 

Interesting to me is that it is referred to as a "fleeing serpent".  This is after Adonai executes judgement on wicked humanity.  "On that day", He then goes for the spirit whose lies have covered up the evil.

 After having executed His punishment on the depraved, and the evil dark spirit behind them, the verses turn toward: 

"A pleasant vineyard

sing about it.  I, Adonai guard it

Moment by moment I water it

so that no harm will come to it 

I guard it night and day."

I see this as a picture of our Nation.  America the beautiful. The nation Adonai has blessed above all others, even though wicked people have infiltrated and compromised our land with an anti-American, anti-God agenda, Adonai still upholds us.

I have no anger in Me.

If it gives me briars and thorns

As in war I will trample it down 

And burn it up at once.  

UNLESS it takes hold of my strength 

In order to make peace with Me

Yes, to make peace with Me."

It is clear that, as Adonai delivers America from the corrupt and depraved people and their despotic anti-god agenda, we must then choose to restore our land by taking hold of Adonai's strength in order to return to our delightful destiny as One Nation Under God.

As we live and begin to experience our rescue in these dark days of our nation, there is much work to be done and it's up to God's people to share the truth about THE One True God who saves us from the enemy of our soul and is delivering us from the evil that has almost destroyed our God-ordained republic. Are we as God's people ready to take up that challenge?

The Holy Spirit is calling   Can you hear Him? 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Day of the Judges

 Life in these days can be quite confusing and it's hard to know which voices to listen to and which to dismiss. The best choice is to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and see what He is communicating. 

 He is our indwelling connection to Yehoveh and Yehoveh's wisdom is greater than any human wisdom we might try to rely on.  The Holy Spirit will always take us back to the Word of God and today He leads me to consider the day of the judges.  

Back in the day of the judges, Israel refused to evict the Canaanites out of the promised land and instead decided to make peace with their enemies. Their peace making efforts led to accepting and then participating in Canaanite pagan rituals and worship of their Baals.  This was not a complete rejection of Yehoveh but rather a duel worship of Him ALONG WITH the worship of foreign gods.  Of course this was evil in the sight of God and carried a penalty with it.  

Oppression by these other nations was a consequence of Israel's attempts at appeasement. When the oppression of untoward circumstances caused them to cry out for Yehoveh to deliver them, He sent human rescuers and these are the ones called "judges".  Their role was not just to judge cases of conflict but more to exhort the people to align with Yehoveh and His ways.  They were raised up as valiant courageous men and women as human rescuers, who would lead Israel to throw off the yoke of their oppressors and turn back to their God and His ways (the Torah). 

In Judges 2:22, I find that Yehoveh put His people to the test (to confirm the loyalty of their hearts) by leaving the Canaanite nations inside the promised land for Israel to deal with rather than evict them through Joshua's military campaigns. 

I wonder:  Are we, Yeshua followers (the church), being tested in this hour through a foreign nation and foreign god (s)  controlling things to see if/where we will stand or fall?

One example we all are facing on a personal level is the subject of vaccines.  If forced vaccines and other violations of our freedom are implemented are they like unto "the mark of the beast", will we accept it?  Is there a Divine consequence if we do? 

For me, since the vaccines are developed and produced using aborted baby (fetal) tissue, a jab would for me be participating (however indirectly) in the abomination of the shedding innocent blood.  Furthermore, for me, it would be a sure (direct) desecration of the temple of my body to inject these precious soul cells acquired by murder even for the "good" of myself or others and I must not allow that to happen.

There are many compromises we can point to today challenging us as we live in our faith, that if we do live in our faith will cause some heartburn or worse.  Society endorses many things that Yehoveh finds unacceptable. We are penalized if and when we disagree. Are we then moved to participate? Will we open our eyes to see the compromises that grieve the heart of Yehoveh?  Things that clearly violate His Word to us?  Will we then repent if we have caved, stand firmer if we have not, and cry out for His deliverance so we can return or faithfully continue in His ways?  

I believe it is critically important to rightly assess where we are today.  We must think about where all this is leading us and then choose this day whom we will serve.

The Holy Spirit is calling.  Can you hear Him?