ONE MORE NIGHT WITH THE FROGS

 

CHURCH WAKE UP

In March, when this virus began, I saw quickly this was for the church, to bring us back to Jesus as our first love, it is the Refiner's Fire spoken of in Malachi. A fire to consume what is not of God and purify what is of God. A time of judgment has come to God's house:

1 Peter 4:7 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

What we have been witnessing for the last 10 months is two things

1. A purging of the church to prepare us for the rapture

2. The sitting of the stage in the world to usher in the Antichrist.

This writing is about the church not the world.

I love how this is written in the NLT version:

Deuteronomy 28:58-59 If you refuse to obey all the words of instruction that are written in this book, and if you do not fear the glorious and awesome name of the LORD your God, then the LORD will overwhelm you  and your children with indescribable plagues. These plagues will be intense and without relief, making you miserable and unbearably sick.

Many say we are under grace not the law, yet want to declare all the blessings that come in the first part of this chapter, yet with the blessings come also a curse. This is an Everlasting Covenant between God and those who follow Him. Jesus Christ fulfilled all the requirements of the law, because of our sin nature we couldn't. Yet, God has written His law, His word, in our hearts and we in Christ are to be obedient to the whole word of God, set before us as it is written from Genesis through Revelation, not to receive salvation but out of our love and devotion to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

How far has the church of 2020 fallen away from the teachings of God's word, only to mix in the pleasures of this world and think God is pleased with how we are living and accepting our worship, when our hearts are far from Him. We align ourselves with activities, beliefs and people who God has said "Be ye Holy for I am Holy". And we embrace the unholiness of the world and justify by saying "We are under grace", we delight in our sins,  our personal high places we refuse to tear down, the word is clear, that anything and anyone that we place before God is IDOLATRY!

This was revealed on March 25,2020 I now have a resolve in my heart to both please and seek Jesus:

During this time I have examined my heart and asked God show me my sins. Oh and He has exposed my nakedness before Him. This is only one, when I asked:

1. Where is my sins? This was what God showed me He gave me an image of a live beating heart, and said "See that little spot, that is your sin of allowing your feelings and emotions to take control of your thinking and your actions" I wept at what I saw, and yes he gave me a very specific word that is personal. 

 

Revealed March 25,2020:

Next I asked "Show me what is to come?" I heard "I have given time to repent" over and over again. Then like flashes I saw buildings small, large, government buildings and heard these words repeatedly non stop "Ichabod, Ichabod, Ichabod, louder and louder closer and closer" what did it mean "the day is coming when God will remove His glory from many areas of the USA."

Including many churches and the churches will be unaware Jesus had left the house

Right here we have to abandon entertainment and truly worship. Worship out of our love for Jesus our King, I remembered years ago I asked God what would revival sound like? At that time God said, "the music will stop, the pastors will not preach because everyone will be laying before me, Weeping in repentance turning to rejoicing as they rise up, so some will be weeping and some praising like in the days of Ezra".

Now this revelation began December 18,2020:

I have one more thing God has shown me about this time we are in. I have been hearing this title from an old sermon one of my pastors gave many years ago, "One More Night With The Frogs"! And I asked God "How many more nights is Your church willing to spend with this virus from the pit of Hell, before we take the authority that Christ gave us!" God is clear "As long as the church lays as a harlot of the world, embracing the sins of this world without regard of Me, until they awaken from their complacency as they lie in their sins". His church, every blood bought born again believer is to live a consecrated life, set apart, different from the world, to wholly follow Christ as Caleb did in the Old Testament. Yet when we individually and corporately look and sound like the unbeliever, how can our lives draw others to Him? When the little foxes in our lives tear down the vineyard, the Vinedresser is God the Father, Christ is the Vine we are the branches, we are to bear the fruit of Christ in our lives that will glorify our Father, but the little foxes of sin can destroy the fruit that glorifies our Father. In Exodus when God sent the plaques upon Egypt, one was an invasion of frogs upon the land , in the homes everywhere. Moses addressed Pharaoh and said "you set a time when do you want me to pray for you and get rid of the frogs? Pharaoh replied "Tommorow"! Given up the sins we have accumulated over the years, church, we aren't ready to give up. If we were we would be in a great revival.

John 14:12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

We have the power of the Holy Spirit within us, and the authority bought for us by the blood of Christ. Yet, are we doing even the works He did much less greater works? That is a question we each must ask ourselves.

Let me say do not believe God sent this plague on us, yet we have all prayed and we all wept, yet it is as if the heavens have shut up. I recalled many scriptures that talk about how God hides and shelters His people under the shadow of His wing, that it says in Psalm 91 that no plague will come near our home, in Exodus during the plagues, the children of Israel were not affected by the plagues except the last one, and the death of the firstborn, their protection was the placement of the lamb's blood on the door posts, and the obedience of obeying the word by eating the passover meal.

Flash forward to 2020, the church has the true Passover Lamb's (Jesus Christ) blood covering us and cleansing us, He lives in us. He is more than a Savior He is our Protector and Defender. Yet, look around you, churches having members upon members getting sick and many dying from this. Christians being greatly affected in their homes and families. So I ask again:

How many more nights is the church willing to spend with the frogs (Virus)? God is shouting Wake Up, but we keep peeping just a bit at what is happening, and then once more sleep takes our eyes and we once more fall asleep and cannot see what is directly in front of us. God is saying: Church humble yourselves, turn from your wicked ways, seek My face and pray, then I will heal your land. Yet, we seek and pray and refuse to humble ourselves and turn from our wicked ways.

What has God been speaking to you since March? Oh He has shown me more little foxes in my life than the one I shared and I pray our God is revealing to each of you. I desire revival and I continue to pray for this virus to be eradicated from the earth. 

THERE IS A MONSTER LURKING ABOUT

 

PLEAD THE BLOOD

Today is November 16, today I learned I had been exposed to COVID. Now I must self quarantine.

I ask myself how I feel? Well not a happy camper for sure. But I have prayed and have placed my faith in Christ Jesus, my Healer. I have plead the blood over myself and my home. I am prepared to stay in and away from others, to protect them. I have food, cat has food, so I will spend a lot of time in prayer and in the word. I have reminded myself, that I haven't been sick since 2013, because God has kept me, I know my lungs are better today than they have been in 7 years. God told me in 2015 I would not have a premature death and I believe Him. In 2018 He told me each day when I was doubting "Keep on living". So I kept on living and today changes none of that. He is faithful to me, He is with me, He will not allow a virus from Hell bring me harm. I have placed all my faith in Him and Him alone. 9:27pm of day one.

An uneventful day, I feel just fine and I am trusting that I will continue to feel good. Didn't do much today, prayed, ate, read the word, watched a cute movie, oh did I mention I took a two hour nap 😃. 

Nothing new happening today. Tommorow I will shower, might not look much better but definitely need one ☺️. Well it is 10:22 pm day two has come to a close. Oh I forgot, I have always had a cough but for over a year it has much improved, only appears to attack me at night, and early morning, my thinking probably sinus drainage. Except last night and early this morning I had no cough!!!! I believe God was telling me "I have you Linda you have nothing to fear". I may not write everyday and maybe I will. Goodnight

I am writing earlier tonight than usual. Today I made the decision to have a COVID test, I wasn't going to because I have no symptoms and planned to just self quarantine, but I was prompted to go, I thought I was using wisdom and really didn't want to miss church Sunday. I know I sound silly, but that's my family and I love gathering to worship our Lord together. But enough of being sentimental 😁. I went and when I saw their doctor she listened to my lungs. I asked "what did you hear", she said "nothing your lungs are perfectly clear, completely clear of anything"! This is important, because since 2013 the crackling of the scarring from the fibrosis growing was heard loud and clear, until February 2020, and I was told by my primary care doctor the crackling sound was faint and my lungs sounded better than good. I have been living and walking and believing in my healing, and today because of a COVID test (cause I wouldn't go to my doctor and wear a mask) God showed me I am HEALED. I told the doctor my story, and how God has healed me and I added "He has brought me this far, no virus from Hell is going to stop me now". Oh and I had no fever etc. Won't get the results until Thursday or Friday. Signing off 5:07 pm

Today is Friday, November 20. I have very little patience, so I have been really wanting to hear the results of my test, now I believed it would be negative but wanting affirmation of it. And sure enough at about 4:00 I learned it was negative! WELL PRAISE GOD!

Now let's talk about this Monster lurking and attacking people around the world. This virus is both vicious and to many deadly. My daughters have had it, I have friends that have had it, I have a family member right now on a ventilator! So yes it is very real! It spread throughout the world by a lab in China, and I truly believe that the one behind this plague is the old dragon, himself Satan. Ironic that the symbol for China is a dragon and Satan is known as the dragon. Now let me be clear, the citizens of China are not responsible for any of this, they are victims of a Communist regime, as much a victim as any of us. I and others have prayed against this virus from its beginning. But while talking with my nephew about praying, he spoke a word that caught my attention "eradicate". Not for God to push back, restrain but to eradicate it from all existence. I call this "The virus from Hell", I believe it is the work of the devil to kill, steal and destroy. How does it steal you ask? By stealing our peace, joy and faith, to bring in worry, sadness and fear. This is not about what I think politically this is about stopping this virus from the pit of Hell. Too many have been sick, too many have died. Time to war up and pray up.

Father, we come to You, who is the only answer for this plague upon us. Jesus we pray that in Your name and by Your blood You our Lord and Savior will eradicate this disease from off of this earth, Father restore America as we fight in the trenches of a spiritual battle. That You Father God will receive all the glory, that no longer will any be able to mock Your name or those who follow after You. I pray for healing to those who are right now sick, I pray that this disease will not be to their death but You will raise them up with a testimony of Your goodness. In Jesus name Amen

The bible refers to the eagle often, and as the dragon is the symbol for China the eagle is the symbol for America.

  Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 103:5, Exodus 19:4, Jeremiah 48:40, Deuteronomy 32:11, Proverbs 30:19, Job 39:27-30

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

 

HEAR US O GOD

God's word says "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

We often use that scripture as part of our pro life stand and rightly so. Now that word sanctified means to set apart, in other words God set Jeremiah apart from before his birth to be a called Prophet to the nations.

Many God has set apart for His ministry and many have rejected that calling on their lives. Though not everyone is called to be a prophet, a teacher, an apostle, an evangelist, a pastor in the Ministry. We have all been called to be His ambassadors, His soldiers, we are all to plant seed, to water the seed someone else has sown (as mentors), to be intercessors, prayer warriors and to live our lives in such a way that the light of Christ in us will draw others to Him.

A few months back, as I was praying and refecting, I remembered the reoccurring dream I had from the time I was 9 until I was saved at 27. A dream that had events unfolding that no unchurched 9 year old would have any knowledge of. I  have written of this dream often, so I will not go into details, merely to say; it was the events that reflected Judgment Day was coming and even at 9 years old I knew I could not run from or hide from that day. Then the summer of 1973 God used my unsaved husband to tell me to go read the bible, and where did I begin? Of course Revelation from beginning to end though my natural man could not understand, I knew this "Something bad was coming and God wins"! That coupled with my continual dream, on February 22, 1974 I surrendered my life to Christ. Through years of up's and downs, by the time I am in my fifties, I began to pray "Father, make me a prayer warrior". Had I understood it's meaning perhaps I would not have prayed. I was 64 years old before I began to see the fruit of that prayer. As I had been praying and reflecting I heard God speak in my spirit "I have planted in you the events of the latter days, so you will know how to pray"! 

I have felt this burden for our nation and for His church for years. I write about, I pray about it and inwardly I weep and ache about it. I never expected this post to take this direction, I had other plans, but God changed that direction.

I will hopefully give some scripture references at the end. But know your calling! God before you were born set His calling for you down in you. Oh He gave me talents at my birth, and at my salvation He gave me spiritual gifts both of these we are to use within the local church and within the community around us to fulfill His purpose. We are all called to pray, to be warriors, to be intercessors, but then there are those who were specifically called for such a time as this. To see the deception both in and outside the church, to view events taking place within our nation and by the power of the Holy Spirit within us, we pray some days quietly, and other days we battle fiercely, we take on our adversary with violence and with great force. But each time we pray it is by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I encourage you know what your calling is at this time and fulfill your purpose in Christ. For as His word says "He is coming again"!

Matthew 11:12, Joshua 5:13-15, 

2 Timothy 2:3-4, Esther 4:11-16

Father, hear my prayer for Your bride. We need You, You are the breath in our lungs, You are our King, our Lord, our all sufficient God. Awaken us to You, we have allowed life and the world to take us from Your house of worship. We have begun to look like the world; seeking self pleasures, looking to our possessions, being filled with self-righteousness. Oh God where are we? Where am I? Evil is all around us, Christians are falling into deception. The spirit of depression is shrouding the minds of Your people. Help us Lord as we call out to You, from a place filled with much darkness, You are the Light, You are our beacon we must follow. Fill Your church houses today, fill them with people seeking You, crying out to You, hungry for worship, hungry for healing, hungry for hope, thirsty for Your living water. Pour out Your rain of revival let it move within every body of believers gathered for worship. Let the music stop, and let worship flow into Your throne room and onto Your feet. Let us pray for one another, for You have called us Your House of Prayer. Father let Your anionting flow throughout the room, let Your Holy Spirit minister to each person in the room, let the atmosphere radiate with You, loosen the tongues from our mouths that we might give You praise, give us a greater revelation of who You are. Let us lay on the altar and cry out to You consume what is not of You and purify all that is of You, let Your fire fall. Let us listen for Your voice, let every distraction the enemy will send to keep us from hearing Your voice be silent. We need an upper room encounter in these days we are living in. An encounter that will send Your church out  to the highways and byways and be witnesses for Your goodness, let the fire, the burning passion, the anionting flow through Your people that  we will be strong and courageous. Bind the spirit of discord and loosen from heaven unity of the brethren. Father let not wickedness prevail in America, bind on earth as it is in heaven the spirit of the antichrist who desires to trap through deception through lies to lead the people into the pit of Hell, he hates You, Your people and he hates America because You have blessed and You founded America in Your name, loosen from heaven to earth Your light, Your truth, Your mercy on our nation In Jesus name and by the power of His blood Amen

WHAT IS GOD DOING?

 

My pastor said Sunday inwardly we are yearning for Jesus, yearning to go home. Are you yearning (longing for)?

HELLO GOD! ARE YOU THERE?

Since March, God has repeatedly taken me back to Hebrews 12:26-28. I knew that when this Chinese virus hit and we had to "Shelter In Place", that God was up to something. What I wasn't certain, but I prayed, and I watched and I read these verses in Hebrews. And here is what I saw.

God was shaking everything we had taken for granted, things we were so accustomed to that in some cases would even be little idols in our lives. Suddenly we found we couldn't have sports, we couldn't have entertainment, we couldn't go out to eat, businesses were closed, people were losing much needed income, grocery shopping was not stocked as before, we couldn't visit loved ones in Assisted Living, or Nursing Homes, kids couldn't go to school, couldn't go to playgrounds, and told we couldn't go to church!  What is God doing?

I saw that God was shaking everything around us, shaking us as we have never been shaken before. I knew that in this time God was calling out His church to search their hearts to bring us to prayer, bring us to His word, bring us to revival as we are locked away from living as we once did. God wanted us to see just how far we had fallen from Him, how we had allowed the luxury of the world and all we took for granted to become our focus. 

The church was being tested, we were in the Refiner's Fire, what would we look like when all was opened back up. Would our time in our homes change us, bring us back to our first love, or would we just pick up where we left off?

But then came the masks, promoted by the media as day after day numbers were reported of new virus cases, increases expected, deaths would continue. We go out to limited places but not without a mask, children if they went physically to school had to wear a mask, stay a safe distance, not engage in childhood activities with their friends. No longer could we have friendly chit chat while at the store, your spit and nose particles may spray someone! ( Let me say I know the virus is real, many have died and many of my friends have it even now. God did not send the virus but He knew it was coming) Many conformed well others didn't. What is God doing?

More hurricanes making landfall, fires out of control, soaking rain. What in the world is God doing?

We thought most of the fuss would settle down after November 3! Well surprise surprise nothing like I expected. What is God doing?

Those who know me knows my political stand, I vote my core values that is as close to God's biblical standard that means I will never vote Democrat! So I have prayed and I have prayed over this election, and I am still praying because we knew the Democrats would do everything they could to steal this election. Also knowing that the kingdom of darkness was operating in the world, and particularly over America I prayed and I believed! I knew that certain things had to take place in order for the prophecy of God's word to be completely fulfilled. We saw a stage being set, that would usher in a New World Government, a One World Currency, a One world Religion. The Democrats call it "A Reset", but in reality it is what God calls it One World Government. Chaos has to come, our economy has to fail, churches must be persecuted, because those things will take place to usher in the rapture of the church, and the arrival of the Antichrist! I knew if we lost this election, we were smack  in the middle of God's prophetic timeline. But Now God, Now?

I do not know the final outcome of this election, in all probability it will go to the Supreme Court. So I still pray. Having said that God took me back to 

Hebrews 12:26-28 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." Now this "Yet once more", indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably we reverence and godly fear.

The principalities, and powers, demonic activity rules in the air, they come upon nations, governments, people, media and wherever they can bring in their deception, lies, because the only goal of Satan and his minions is to Steal, Kill and Destroy. But we the believers and followers of Christ have been given the key of authority over them through prayer and we have been given armor to wear to fight these battles and it is written that God is our rear guard.  I said that because when God shook the heavens before was when He sent His Son Jesus Christ to be our substitute for sin. When will God shake the heavens again? Now I am not a Prophet, not a Theologian but we are experiencing a shaken in the spiritual realm. 

I knew what may happen if the election turned, but to be very honest I never expected it to. I believed and still trusting that God will push back the darkness that America will have another opportunity to reach the lost, to be the nation He desired for us to be and we failed to stand up for what was righteous and allowed evil to be called good.

What is my point? Just as God has been shaken us since March as I wrote above. God is even now shaking our political system. We, church, must not allow ourselves to look at anything that would take our eyes off of Jesus and His kingdom. Though I am thankful we live in a nation that we have the privilege to vote, we can no longer take even that for granted. We assumed because we voted as God would have us to vote we would have victory. But the enemy is claiming his territory and everything we have held dear is being shaken! God is turning up His Refiner's Fire heat. Because in these latter days we must be able to remain faithful, to endure to the end.

This election is not over until God says it is over, and we do not stop praying until God says STOP!

It's being shaken, so we will run to Him, to humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, seek His face and pray. This is for the church not the unbeliever, but when we get our hearts right God will send revival, and the lost will seek God through us. We are His vessel He will use.

Stay faithful, God isn't finished!

ALIENS AMONG US

WHO ARE THESE ALIENS LIVING AMONG US?

Well the world tells us aliens are creatures from outer space, or people from other countries coming in illegally. The last part would be one definition, the first part would be a Syfy episode of the Twilight Zone, and seeing 2020, could very well be. 😂 In fact it has long been believed that the government will attempt to explain away the rapture/the catching away of the church as an alien abduction! I can remember in the summer of 1973 standing on our back deck with my husband, looking for UFOS, I know silly isn't it! But I was unsaved, and the media was spreading their propaganda even back then. But, that was the night my husband said, "If we are watching for UFOS there must be something wrong with us, you go in and start reading the bible!" And I did I drug out our Bible and began reading in Revelation and the rest is history. God used UFOS & an unsaved husband to lead me to Him!

But, back to aliens, who are the aliens talked about in the word of God? The first person I thought of and scripture reference was:

Hebrews 11:9-10 By faith he (Abraham) dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he (Abraham) waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker are God.

So lets go a little further:

1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

As Jesus prayed for His disciples and for us, in John chapter 17 He spoke several times about not being of this world, "John 17:16 They are not of the world just as I am not of the world."

So here we are living in this world, working, playing, living life, so how can we not be of this world? We are told that there is a ruler of this world, that has nothing in Christ Jesus, found in John 14:30.

We are also told that because we are disciples/followers of Jesus the world would hate us, found in John 15:18-20.

But we live here, how do we fit in? What does Jesus want from us here in the world? 

Lets look first at what He doesn't want:

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world, if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all the world---the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life---is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

But doesn't it say in "John 3:16 That God so loved the world?"

God loves His creation, including people and so should we. But the ruler of this world is Lucifer, he has set up dominions in this world, where he and his demonic forces dictate a "World value system that is contrary to God's biblical standard". That is why we see such hate and mocking of our Christian values, because Satan/Lucifer hates God, hates Jesus the Son of God, and hates all born again believers who follow Christ Jesus, and hates Israel, God's people. Jesus said we are to be both salt and light in the world. Salt represents our speech, what do we find ourselves talking about? Does our words lift up or tear down? We are to be light that is reflecting the light of Christ who lives in us. We are told we are to be Ambassadors for Christ, Ambassador is a name given to one who travels to a foreign land, in America, our Ambassadors around the world represents America and should conduct themselves in an upright manner. For Christians, since our home is in heaven, we are here in this world to represent Christ Jesus and heaven. The best way to do that is by being salt and light.

Yet, Jesus said He came to give us an abundant life, not a pitiful life, a good life, a mediocre life, but an abundant life. Abundance is not about wealth, it is that He has given us His Holy Spirit in us, He has baptized us in the anionting power to walk fully satisfied in Him in a world filled with sin. In other words we are both equipped and anionted to fulfill His purpose in our lives. And His word tells us where we are to both focus our thoughts and what not to focus our thoughts on.

Colossians 3:1-2 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and still; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Now there is nothing wrong with enjoying our lives and our stuff. The warning is "Not to allow our stuff and our getting more stuff be controlling our lives, or loving our stuff so much that we must keep getting more and purchasing better"!

So are we little green men and women roaming around this world, living but not belonging? Well don't think we are little green alien people, and I wouldn't call it roaming. More like a pilgrims journey through life, just leaning on and following the direction of the Holy Spirit! This world is passing away, these meager homes we enjoy here, are only temporary, our struggles will one day cease, sickness will be destroyed, like Abraham I am looking for that city whose builder is God. Amen

Philippians 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that is may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able to subdue all things to Himself.

We are beautiful aliens living in a fallen world, yet, belonging to the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen

ARE YOU SURE??

 

ARE YOU COMMITTED???

This blog is not to cast judgment, I will share my testimony, that shouts "Who are you to judge anyone!" But in reality it is to get us to thinking, about our lives, our commitment, our faithfulness, are we prepared for Jesus' call "Come up here"? Are we prepared to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ? Will we hear one day "Depart from Me I never knew you", or "Well done good and faithful servant"? 

I can witness the condition of this world around me, I can see that everything is lining up to bring the Antichrist onto the world scene. Knowing that what will come during the time the church has been caught away, reading of the Hell on Earth that will come! There is within me an urgency that our time here is short and have I really been about my Father's business, or just living life, surviving and not thriving? Now to me thriving is not fame or fortune. But it is: did I do what God has equipped me to do, what did I do with Jesus while living my everyday life. And for who did I do it for? Myself to make me feel better about me or did I do it out of obedience to God, in order to lift up Jesus and glorify the Father? That is something we all must ask ourselves. Another question we must ask ourselves is: Have I changed since I walked down the aisle to receive the gift of salvation? Was it real, or just an emotional moment? Emotional moments will never change us, the real deal will bring into our lives a newness, no longer who we were, but we walk in newness of life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have past away, behold all things have become new.

And Romans 6:11-14 ( please if you are seeking the truth read these verses)

Can the real deal Christian run from God straight into the arms of the world? YES! I DID FOR 12 YEARS! But when I came to my senses I ran full force back to Jesus, never to leave again. Do I sin? Unfortunately I do, I fall into temptation, I get in the flesh. But LISTEN CLOSELY, the Holy Spirit will ALWAYS bring us under conviction, He will chastise us, and we will know our sinful condition and our need to repent. But if it is not the real deal there is no Holy Spirit to bring conviction, and we just go on accepting sinfulness as okay, because after all we are under God's grace. Sounds good but not biblical, you see in Christ we have been set free from the bondage of sin, enabled by the Holy Spirit to say no to sin, that's grace, not being set free to sin and do whatever we want and still say we are following Jesus. Sorry but walking with Jesus doesn't work that way.

In Philippians 2:12 we find these words "work out your own salvation", this is not saying we can earn our salvation by living a good life, No it is saying we must answer to our Father for how we have lived our lives. That's why we examine our hearts. Many, many times I have heard over the years "You don't know my heart"! Actually I am not God and cannot see your heart INTENT, but the reality is, we expose the truth of what is in our hearts by what we say and how we behave. What did Jesus say about our hearts:

Matthew 15:18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts , murders, adulteries, fornications (sex outside of marriage, sexual perversions) thefts, false witness (liars), blasphemies.

So yes, by observing ones words, and actions a person reveals the truth in their heart.

But what about those who by all appearances are Christians? The ones at church, give their tithes, serve the Lord, do all the things and know the talk. Can they be lost? Reports say about 20% in a congregation are not the real deal. You see salvation is not based on our parents experience, or our presence, it is based on do we have a personal encounter with Jesus.

A Christian should desire to spend time with the Father, in prayer, in His word, should desire to spend time with fellow Christians, desire to be committed, to be active; not just to run into church, never speak to anyone, then run out hoping no one will speak to them (how is this any different from sitting at home). The corporate body meets to corporately worship our Lord and Savior in one accord, to minister in love and prayer with one another, to laugh together, cry together, to grow together, to strengthen one another. There is a dynamic power from the Holy Spirit that comes within the church family who meet together.  No excuses, if Jesus didn't expect the church to actually meet corporately then why did He establish the church, why is He called the Chief Cornerstone? Why is it written in Hebrews 10 not to forsake the assembling together? Now we are the body of Christ, as individuals, and He is our Chief Cornerstone for our lives, but I am specifically talking about the corporate church.

The rapture is drawing nearer and nearer, but are we ready? Have we truly examined our hearts, have we fallen in true repentance, desiring only Jesus, seeking God, listening to the Holy Spirit. Are we truly living a surrendered life or we just going through the motions. Are we praying for our families, our church, our nation. Are we sharing the good news wherever God opens a door? Examine our hearts, is it void, discouraged, dead, burned out?  If it is there is hope, if God is speaking to you right now, then say "Here I am Lord speak". And surrender your life to Jesus Christ right now.

Romans 13:11-14 Put on Christ

Colossians 3:1-11 Put off the old man

Colossians 3:12-17 Check your character

Many of the real deal have allowed this life to wear them out. They have given into what is easy, rather than press forward in Christ. Many have allowed the fire within them to dim to barely a spark because they have neglected to fan the flame. With technology as it is, it has become easy to sit home on Sundays, in pajamas and a cup of coffee, watching church service on line or television. You can get an anionted word this way, but the power of meeting, strengthening, ministering with one another, praying together, fellowshipping with one another, can not be found by staying home and watching an on line or television service.

FOOTNOTE: I think online services and television services are good for reaching out to far away places, to bring the gospel into their homes, for the elderly and disabled who can't get out. And personally I have enjoyed the times I could go back and listen again to a service I attended. My point was Do not become lazy and let staying at home be a crutch to keep you from being actively involved with your church.

It is time to decide: Am I truly a born again Christian? Am I a disciple of Jesus Christ, by picking up my cross daily and following Him, this is daily surrender? Am I committed to Christ and to His church? Have I allowed my fire to dim, because I have neglected the care of the fire of God in me? Jesus Christ the Son of God will come again, all the signs of His coming say SOON, will He find you faithful?

Decision time is here!

DREAMS & VISIONS PART B

 

SEE THAT BLUE HOUSE SHOE, WHEN YOU READ THE DREAM THAT IS IT! RIGHT THERE EXACTLY! THE SHOES GOD USED TO CHANGE MY ENTIRE LIFE!

GOD SPEAKING THROUGH DREAMS

This my personal testimony of a few dreams God has given me throughout the years. I remind you, before you go any farther, please go and read DREAMS AND VISIONS PART A, without first reading that this will not be very clear about God given dreams and visions.

Remember most of our dreams are not on a national level but on a personal level.  So let me begin, with my first God given dream at the age of 9 years old in 1956 (that year is important) it would reoccur exactly the same throughout my life time until I was 27 years old and born again in February 1974 (again the date is important). The story behind the dream was, I was not raised in church, went occasionally between 8 & 9 years of age. I had zero knowledge of things that would take place in this dream. When I was 9 years old my daddy died, in my fear of death and God, I came home from the grave and announced "I will never go back to church again" and so be it. But from that statement God began to speak to me in a dream. And over the years I got older, but in my dream I was always the 9 year old child.

It was very dark, I was afraid, hiding in a store doorway, on Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. I was all alone, but a lot of activity was going on, I looked up and saw the moon as red as blood, on the street were lots of people walking to one place, both the dead and the living. (I knew this because I saw my daddy who was dead and my mother and sisters who were alive), I did not want to get in this line of people, I was terrified, yet I found myself in the line as I walked I began to go up a hill, by now I am crying and crawling, I knew that at the top of the hill was Jesus. When I reached the feet of Jesus I saw through my tears that He was wearing these bright blue fuzzy house shoes. And immediately I would wake up and think just a dream Jesus wouldn't wear fuzzy blue house shoes.

Over and over this would happen the dream never changed not one time. In the summer of 1973 God had stepped up His drawing me to Him. I started reading the bible (now that's another story), going to church but not saved searching for something to fill this void in my life. Christmas of 1973 I received a gift from my husband it was "Bright blue fuzzy house shoes" exactly what I had seen on the feet of Jesus since 1956. Suddenly I realized a dream that I thought was just a weird child's dream, became a reality. In February 1974 I surrendered my life to Jesus and never had that dream again. So what did the dream mean? In December 1973 when I saw the blue house shoes I knew this reality: "Judgment day was coming, for all people." I would never have known that as a child, but God was wooing me to Him. The blue house shoes I thought was weird, God placed them in my dream for that very day in 1973 I would open that gift and know the dream was real. Now not too long ago I searched to see when those house shoes were made to sale, 1972. I could shout right here! God placed in my dream something that was non-existent at that time, that would shock me and wake me up 18 years later.

Over the years I would periodically have dreams this one is not about a church but about the whole body of Christ. The people of God not the building itself. At this time in my life I was an AWANA commander at my church. Again this is not about my church or my church family. I will tell what it was about at the end.

In my dream I was at an AWANA meeting in our gym, for some reason I got up went through the doors to the other room. There I found chaos, children being dragged off to hell and no one was stopping them, I grabbed one child and said "You can't have her", I turned looking for help and saw a man opening chairs and closing chairs like he was sitting up a room, I called out "why are you not helping"? He answered "This is all I know to do" and he continued to do that one thing. I woke up!

The dream did not return but I sought God the only way I knew how at that time, I acting on what I thought He was telling me (a personal word for me), but over time I began to understand it wasn't a dream about me remaining in AWANA, like I thought at first. But it actually was the moment God placed on me a burden for His bride. To pray for the equipping of the saints, that they would know how to use their God given talents, spiritual gifts and fulfill the calling God had placed on their lives. You might say God had given me a Kairos moment, now that I understood, will I align my prayer life with the meaning of the dream and walk in what God just gave me, or refuse. You see when God speaks we have a choice to listen and obey or walk away. 

FOOTNOTE: The children and AWANA meeting were not the focus of the dream, I made it my focus, but God used this because it was relatable to me. The real focus was the man just opening and closing chairs and his words "This is all I know to do"!

Another more recent dream along these lines, was probably the most ugliest thing my eyes had witnessed. In the last two dreams I was involved in them, in this one I was on the sidelines seeing it all playing out in front of me and unable to move to stop anything. In this I found myself screaming "God get me out of here". This dream was three fold God in this gave me a personal scripture in answer to a prayer I had "Again God what is my purpose now?" Which is now hanging on my bedroom door. The rest as horrific as it is He immediately gave me understanding and scripture.

In my dream I was watching I couldn't move and they couldn't see me. I saw a long table with people sitting around eating this big feast but what they were eating was body parts of different people, a leg, a arm etc. Now they didn't kill the person just maimed them, they only took one body part from one person. I was sick at what I was seeing and praying to wake up but the dream continued, I saw in the background a young girl running, I saw a man trying to find her and help her, I knew he was not a threat to her but she kept on running. Then I heard this old woman scream out, "Get me some young fresh eye balls to eat", in horror I saw two men grab the young girl, strap her into a chair and take out her eyes and sew her lids together. Now I am crying and screaming "Get me out of here"! I saw the man trying to help the young girl who had been running from him reach her and comfort her. Immediately I heard these words "Eye have not seen"! 

 I sat straight up in bed knowing that was a scripture for me. I searched and found 1Corinthians 2:9 "Eye have not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him". Now I said Lord You went through all that just to tell me You still have a plan and purpose for my life. Needless to say God was saying more than that. I couldn't go back to sleep as I pondered on the dream, I remembered (the Holy Spirit brought to my memory) a scripture you will find it in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. What God was showing me was because there is a lack of unity in His body, the enemy has been damaging the body as a whole by stopping God's people from using their God given talents and gifts. Our gifts are irrevocable, but we can sit and soak, murmur and complain, be offended and find ourselves not being who God desires us to be within the local church body or as we minister other places. Like the young girl running from the man trying to protect her, she found herself hurt by the very church that should have been her safe haven. If you haven't figured it out it was Jesus she was running from. In this God showed me once more to continue to pray for His church, as there are a lot of religious people out there who will quickly devour any gift or talent that would be in opposition to what they think. Here I gave you the first dream of a burden and one I had a couple of years ago. There had been others in between, that God would use to reaffirm this prayer burden He has given me. Knowing this I pray as He shows me specifics and will continue until He releases me. Did you see the specific way I am to pray in this.

Two more the last most recent dream I had and a very old one I had.

Recently, it seemed I had not had any God dreams in awhile. Then one night I had these dream, not really involved in the dream itself, but trying to get involved. I saw my 18 year old granddaughter leaving work, a man was after her, he grabbed her held her down, and attacking her, I couldn't get to her, she couldn't hear me or see me. I would then wake up.

 I would pray "Lord don't let me have this nightmare again", but I would again and again dream wake up, dream wake up I finally said to myself I think God is saying she is in danger something is coming, so I prayed and felt that was settled. When I got up, looked on Facebook I saw a news article about the children being rescued from a trafficking ring. Immediately the eyes of my understanding were opened up and I knew God had just laid a burden on me to pray for the children stolen away and used as sex slaves, pornography, work slaves. You see God used someone I loved very much to pull my heart toward all the children I did not know. But I am to pray for them. So to align myself to the dream I pay attention to what is happening, and I continue to pray for the children to be rescued. I continue to pray for for God to reveal and expose all that are part of child trafficking. And God is doing just that.

This next dream happended years ago. Some parts of this dream I truly had no clue what God was actually trying to say or do. So I took them as a satanic dream to upset me. And it did. It involved my daughter who I thought was saved, yet she wasn't.

In the dream my daughter would be in a room with these demonic creatures hanging off the walls and trying to get to my daughter. I came in pushed her out of the room, shut the door and I began to rebuke the devil, quote scripture, speak the name of Jesus. Then I would wake up. 

Now somewhere I have this written down, but this is pretty much how I remembered it. I had that same dream more than once, my daughter says 3 times. I never mentioned this dream at the time because I thought it was so demonic it could not be of God. Then my daughter was saved, one day she began to talk about this horrible demonic dream she would have about these demon creatures coming after her and how I would come in and put her out of the room and start quoting scripture. Seeing we were having the same dream, as we talked about it. We both realized that in these moments God gave me the exact dream satan was giving her, so in the dream I could fight in the spirit realm where she, at that time, was unable to do. Never has that happened like that again for me. How God did it I can not say. But I know God was using me in that moment to protect my daughter. And I praise God for it.

This is really her testimony of what she was going through at that time in her life.

I have had many more dreams, but not every night or every week or even every month. I have had very few that I felt were specifically for my church, and shared only to who I believed needed to hear it. But even in those few dreams, God was really directing me on how I should be praying. So you see I have never had a dream that impacted the world, but they each one have impacted my life and my family. Too many place too much emphasis on foretelling some hugh, national event. That we tend to forget God cares for each of us, and He desires to spend time with us, as we gather with Him to pray, praise and read His word. And when we are still and calm He will place a dream in us, to help us in the direction He wants to take us.

I hope you have been blessed and encouraged in both these blog posts. Search the word, allow the Holy Spirit in you to teach you about how God today still gives dreams and visions to His children.

P.S. remember you should read Part A first. 

DREAMS AND VISIONS PART A

 

PART A, PART B WILL BE SOME ACTUAL DREAMS!

HAVE YOU HAD A GOD DREAM OR VISION LATELY?

I am going to post some scripture references at the end, that you can look at. Throughout both the Old and New Testament, we see evidence that God will give dreams and visions to whomever He desires to. Yes, we see in the book of Daniel and in Genesis, and I am certain other places where God placed a dream on kings, of pagan lands. Some like Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar needed someone to interpret their dreams. And God had already placed those there for such a time as this. Remember it is God who gives the dream and the interpretation of the dream.

God speaks to us through His written word, a rhema (a personal) word, through people, in our sleep time, and through dreams and visions.

Let me first explain what I mean about speaking to us in our sleep time, frequently as I sleep, I am not dreaming, but a I hear scripture and explanation of what I need to say. Honestly a lot of time I wake up and immediately post exactly what I heard with scriptures on my Facebook. Why do I do that? Because I ask Jesus to guide what I post to lift Him up and bring God the Father glory. And you wouldn't believe how much I delete that I thought was good stuff, and God said I didn't tell you to do that. Yes I sometimes just post stuff, I am speaking of any inspirational posting I do.

Dreams come during our sleep, like watching a movie being played out in front of you, sometimes I am involved in it and sometimes I am looking on watching and no control over what I am seeing. Most of the time, my God given dreams are about me, my family, or a prayer burden I am carrying or even a burden God is about to give me. I have never needed an interpreter because God tells me exactly what He is showing me and why, but not always immediately, the dream will keep occurring until the dream given has reached its completion. God given dreams stay with you, but it is good to write them down, since as the years go by we might forget. Some I have forgotten and some I will never forget. In these dreams I will find myself very uncomfortable, crying out in prayer and calling out get me out of here. God dreams will never go against His word and because of my gifting and anionting in my life, I ask for confirmation of the dream being from Him: "Lord give me a scripture", and He is always faithful to do so.

 Not every dream is of God, some can even be a satanic dream placed in our thoughts, remember satan can not know our thoughts but he can place thoughts there, it is easier to attack our minds during our sleep time as we are unaware of what is happening. Also the times when there is the most demonic activity is between midnight and 3 am. I have had enough of those kind of dreams in the past, then some is nothing more than reaction to what we ate or something we watched before we went to bed.

My daughter just sent me this below and I can assure you from my personal experience this is Spot On: 

1. FOCUS: who is the focus in the dream?

2. FEELING: what's the emotion? Usually literal but often exaggerated

3. FRAMEWORK: where/context prominent surroundings. These are symbolic most of the time

4. FILLER: key details people are normally symbolic of what they mean to you.

5. MAIN ACTIONS: what's the action in the dream? Multiple actions (changing scenes) could be progression

When interpreting: Ask God for understanding. Ponder it in your heart, examine the details.

A few classic errors some people make about their dreams:

1. Making it mean what you want it to.

2. Assuming it confirms your fears

3. Getting caught up in the details and missing the message (there are normally a lot of details in a dream, but the message isn't in the detail)

4. Believing all dreams are foretelling. For me most of my dreams are to instruct me on who and how to pray

5. Trying to make a garbage dream mean something.

6. Thinking it is a warning for someone else leaving you out of the equation, (if God gives a warning we must act on the warning when He has given us His understanding)

7. Believing the dream is not connected to your life. (If God gave you the dream then it involves you)

Now I know there are many who God gives dreams of foreknowledge of things that will come to pass in our nation. These are prophetic dreams and visions of a national level, God has never given me that kind of dream, I know that certain animals in a dream have symbolic meaning and certain events example a tsunami coming has certain meanings. Yet, for most of us our God dreams effect us and those around us. We must use wisdom to know when or even if we are to release them. I heard a pastor that I trust say recently: "A forewarning dream, means that can change by our actions, while a prophetic dream cannot be changed". These kind of dreams for the most part deal with national events.

Here are just a few things us normal folk need to follow when we have been given a true God dream or vision:

1. Ask God, please don't go searching online for some meaning to what you just dreamed. God gave it to you, God will give you understanding of it.

2. Acknowledge your dream, let God know you heard ask Him to reveal to you what He is telling you. Be like young Samuel and say "Here am I, speak Lord".

3. Align with them, in other words don't just lay it aside, but truly look at what God is asking you to do

4. Act on them, this action only takes place after God has given you His complete instructions.

In order to look at a few life meaning dreams I have had as I would like to, there will be a part B, that I will post after I post this one. But before that let me speak quickly about visions:

A vision unlike a dream comes complete, seeing both the beginning and the end almost simultaneously.

Example; very recently I posted a blog about Truth Bearers and Torch Bearers. I had abruptly woke up with this only Truth Bearers! God gave scripture and immediately I heard Torch Bearers and at the same time I saw flash before me a person carrying a torch running like one at the Olympics. I knew it was a vision and went to see the meaning of a Torch Bearer and found, to simply put, one who carries the truth. From those two things came that blog post. God speaks to me a lot of times through pictures. I will see a picture and at times immediately see a scripture or something that speaks of God Almighty or His people. Then at times I see a picture and I know it has a meaning, but can't put my finger on what. So I save to my phone until God reveals what He wants to put with it. My phone is so full of pictures. 🥰

So many scripture references I could give throughout the Old and New Testament, but perhaps you need to search that on your own. Here are just a few:

Amos 3:7, Acts 2:17, Acts 16:9, 

Acts 18:9. I will add some more in Part B and also hopefully show you through just few of my own God given dreams how they aligned with the words I listed previously.

I truly believe that God has not changed, and He will still speak to His people through dreams and visions. Have I had some earth shaking dreams, not for the world but for my life and my walk with Jesus absolutely. 

This is part A. Part B will actually be some of my dreams and meanings of the dreams. By the way don't read B before you read A it would be Spoilers.

Be blessed.

TRUTH BEARERS

 

CARRYING THE TORCH OF TRUTH

As I woke up on 9/4/20 I heard a word "Truth Bearers", I immediately thought are You speaking or are You reminding me of something I heard. The word stuck, so I asked "God, what is this? Show me scripture". In my thoughts I remembered "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me"! John 14:6. Then I remembered a scripture in Timothy, but as I went to look my eyes caught this instead, and I said yes that's it:

1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine that accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

The smokescreen of a false teacher, is to tell just enough truth, yet will sneak in lies to the truth of the gospel of Christ. Deceivers yes, but we can discern the error as we learn the truth. The best teacher we can have is not our pastors, teachers, authors and dynamic speakers, NO it is the Holy Spirit who brings revelation as we dig into God's word and allow Him to lead us to all truth. 

I had a vision of a Torch Bearer, going along with Truth Bearer and was thinking why, and what so I looked up the meaning of torch bearer:

1. One that carries a torch 2. One who imparts knowledge, truth or inspiration to others.

I could so take off with this (but I won't), we have over and over heard of the "Mantle", passing the mantle to the next generation. Much like one running a race will pass a baton to the next runner.

God is raising up Truth Bearers who will carry the Torch of Truth, into our communities, and through our towns and cities. These will be people who hold the truth of God's word as sacred, not to be dissected, spit on, corrupted, compromised, trampled under foot. Instead they will lift the truth of God's word as a banner, that will draw others to the truth. Because they do not back down on God's truth many will become offended, and those who carry the Torch of Truth will be considered intolerant. They cannot be bought with money, position, fame, or fear; because they have been bought by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

As we see the evil and great wickedness within the world, the lies, the deception taking place. We know that as our pastors are preparing their flock to meet Jesus, the world is preparing for the arrival of the Antichrist.

We must hold fast to the gospel of Christ, we must remain on the path of sound doctrine and we must keep ourselves on the right path by sound teaching.

God desires for all His people to be Truth Bearers; yet, only a remnant will pick up the Torch of Truth, during these troubled times. 

Will you be one of them?

Do I have a full understanding of all this, no I don't. But I understand that the word is the same today as it was when it was written, just as God the Father and Jesus the Christ and The Holy Spirit are the same yesterday and today, since they do not change neither can their word. Two things my pastor pointed out recently:

We will know the Antichrist is ready to come on the scene by:

1. The terrible moral condition of the world.

2. The corruption of doctrine

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see this is what is happening.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast our confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

It is time to hear God's call, Go and be a Truth Bearer, a Torch Bearer. Too many expect this is only for pastors and teachers.

Yet we are called in 1 Peter 2:9 a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him, who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Psalm 96:13 For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.

With His first coming sin was judged on the cross, Jesus is the truth and He alone is righteous. It is in this truth, that we are sinners and our righteousness is as filthy rags, that we come before the cross in faith and repentance. It was for our salvation Jesus came, and died and rose again. With His second coming, the world will be judged for their unrighteous acts. For the world rejected the Truth! That Jesus the Christ, the Anionted One, the Messiah, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, endured the cross because He found you and I worth dying for. When He rose from the dead, He alone conquered death, hell and the grave. As a believer we have been forgiven, when God our Father sees us, He sees the blood of Jesus covering us, He sees us righteous in Christ, forgiven. The same resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead, lives in us. His Holy Spirit, guides us, convicts us of sin, teaches us and leads us to all truth. 

Social media is a tool that is used for many things, to sale products, share family and pet photos, talk about politics, ask for prayer. But what if we all just decided to post a scripture for the day, each day one to encourage and lift up. 

Even reprove and correct, to teach, these are mentioned in the word as what reading the scripture does, and it says that faith comes from hearing the word.

Just a scripture that blessed you that morning. Let us remember, though a scripture or a word can be given on Social Media, Social Media is not our bible. We can be blessed by what we read but never should we abandon the Word of God and the study of His word.

Be blessed!

JUST HOLD ON

 

There are so many times in our lives, when it seems we are walking through Hell. When one thing after another comes flying against us. Then comes the year 2020, and the fires are raging; fires of fear, of what else can go wrong, will we make it. Guestions: how long will this last, what should I do to prepare for the coming days, crying out to God how much longer before we are set free from this wickedness, the evil of this world?

So what do we do? We turn to His word, we remember His promises, we see the world around us and we remember, His faithfulness, His goodness, He promised He would not leave us nor forsake us, He said the enemy will not prevail against His church. Jesus has redeemed us from the wrath to come, Jesus has provided His armor as we face the enemy and God has said "I will be your rear guard". That right there is why our armor does not cover our back side, because God, Himself covers our backside. He has said we are overcomers, because He (Jesus) overcame so can we. He said we are more than conquerors, He said we can do all things in Christ who strengthens us. He said greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world, He said we are in the world; yet, not of the world. He said we are seated in heavenly places with Him, He said He came to give us life an abundant life. He said count it all joy when you fall into various trials. He said I Am your Strong Tower, I Am your Shield and your Buckler, I Am your Defender, I Am you Deliverer, I Am your Provider, I Am your soon coming King. He said when you see the signs coming in great number, wars, signs within nature, sickness spreading like wild fires, pestilences, people will be offended. When we see the condition of the world in terrible moral condition, when we see the very corruption of Doctrine, then we can know the Antichrist is ready to step on the scene, and He says to His bride "When you see all these things taken place, look up your redemption is near.

And because we have this hope we HOLD ON and we keep HOLDING ON!

The world, the lost, the unbelieving, those who have rejected the Truth, the Way, the Life which is Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God, you have no hope! God's wrath will fall on you! But wait! There is stil hope, for if you do not know Christ as your Savior, He is speaking to you right now, the Holy Spirit is drawing on your heart and calling your name saying "Come"! You may be in the Valley of Decision, Satan is trying to to convince you that you are okay, that you don't need a Savior, that this God, this Savior is not real, what does He care for me. Oh my friend He loves you, He came for you, He died and took your sin on Himself on the cross. He rose from the dead that death will have no hold on you. Today while the Holy Spirit is drawing on your heart, do not harden your heart and reject God's call of salvation.

HEBREWS 13:5, MATTHEW 16:18,

EPHESIANS 6:11, ISAIAH 52:12,

1 JOHN 2:12-14 & REVELATION 10:11

ROMANS 8:37, PHILIPPIANS 4:13,

JOHN 17:16, 1 JOHN 4:4, EPHESIANS 2:6

JOHN 10:10, PSALM 61:1-4, JOHN 16:33,

JAMES 1:2, JOHN 16:33, JOHN 17:16,

PSALM 91:1-16 & PSALM 27:1-14

1 JOHN 2:11, LUKE 21:7-19 & 25-28

MATTHEW 24:4-13,

1 THESSALONIANS 1:10, ROMANS 3:23

JOHN 3:16,  ACTS 4:12,

REVELATION 1:7-8

This post today was to encourage you in these troubling times. As we see prophecy being fulfilled, we also can see God moving on our behalf. This is the time to kneel before our Jesus, lift up our hands and our hearts and surrender to His will. 

TESTIMONY: During these past 6 months I have experienced the pain of the Refiner's Fire, and the peace of surrender. I have gotten angry over the affairs of the wickedness of what is being played out in front of our eyes, I have prayed "Lord give America more time", and I have also been very aware the God's word says "judgment begins in His house"! His judgment on His church, is not for our harm but to turn us back to Him, to awaken us from our slumber, and to be about our Father's business. To share the Good News of the gospel of Christ. 

The spirit of Elijah will fall upon the remnant to prepare the way for the coming of Christ. We must open our eyes, our ears and our mouths. Social media is a tool that can be used by satan and it can be used as a tool by Christ Jesus, to encourage, inspire and lead the lost to Him. It will be what you make it. Choose wisely.

HE'S COMING ARE YOU READY?

 

LUKEWARM, CARNAL WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN!

Since 1974, I have heard two terms for Christians that are described as 

1. Carnal Christian, meaning a Christian still operating in the flesh

2. Lukewarm Christian, meaning a complacent Christian.

But do they really exist, or have I missed it? So I began a journey in God's word to learn is there such a thing as those types of Christians.

So first let's look at the definitions:

Carnal means: pertaining to or characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions and appetites, sensual, carnal pleasures, not spiritual; merely human; temporal, worldly, a person of secular, rather carnal in their leanings.

Now does any of that definition sound like a Christian?

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.

The word says something happens when we are born again. We are made new! Yes in the beginning we are babes in Christ, and many remain babes for their whole lives; they received, in faith and believing in Christ Jesus as their Savior, but they never mature because they don't allow themselves to surrender daily to the cross, they don't stay daily in the word to have their minds transformed, or stay regular in church to be strengthened. They know Jesus as the Savior but have failed to recognize Him as their Lord. But is this the same as carnal?

Romans 8:5-9 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are of the flesh cannot please God. But you are not of the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he is not His.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

A Carnal man is a natural man an unbeliever. So why have we associated a Christian as being carnal? This verse may give us a clue:

1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as carnal, as to babes in Christ.

In this verse Paul was not saying they were carnal Christians, he was saying that because of their behavior he had to go back to the basics and speak to them as if they were unbelievers or at the lest babies in Christ. 

Does this mean that a Christian never acts like a carnal person, or operates in their flesh; of course not, in fact we do often act like an unbeliever, but that should never be our lifestyle. A moment and the way we live each day is totally different.

What I am seeing through the written word is: there is no such thing as a CARNAL CHRISTIAN! Because you are either a believer or an unbeliever, you can't be both.

Now what is the definition of Lukewarm: moderately warm, having or showing little ardor, zeal, or enthusiasm, indifferent, no conviction.

There is only one place in God's word that this word is mentioned and wouldn't you know it is in the letters to the churches found in Revelation 3:14-22,

Let us look at the city of Laodicea, they received hot water from about five miles away. It came through wooden pipes they had learned to make from the Romans. But the problem was by the time it reached them it was neither hot nor cold but lukewarm, meaning "not fresh", and rendered "useless". They were a wealthy coastal city,  arrogant who believed they had enough. One of the cities great achievements was the manufacturing of "eye salve".

Jesus addresses them according to those things they hold dear. I remembered a message from several years ago on; "Never tell God you have enough". From Genesis 33:9, returning home to reunite with his brother Esau, unsure if Esau would want to harm him, Jacob brought an abundance of gifts to bless him with. But look at what Esau says:

Genesis 33:9 But Esau said, "I have enough, my brother keep what you have for yourself."

Oh Esau, the brother who placed such little value on his his birthright that he sold it to Jacob for a meal.

 Esau represents the natural man, who was satisfied with all he had accomplished, that is where we see the church of Laodicea, they were wealthy and full of themselves, believing in their prosperity achieved by their on works, you might say that wealth was their god. Look at verse 18 Jesus says to buy refined gold from Him. We know that refined gold represents our Christian walk with Jesus being in the Refiner's fire to purify the infirmities in us. This church apparently had not submitted to the Refiner's fire for purification. When the word "buy" was used I immediately thought of two scriptures; one in Matthew 25 the parable of the 5 wise and the 5 foolish virgins. The foolish had no oil in their lamps and were told by the wise "you go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves." While they were gone the Bridegroom came and they were left behind. Again this one in

 Isaiah 55:1 Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.

This verse is a call to salvation. But it appears that the word buy and without money were contracting one another. Because we know that salvation is a free gift purchased for us by the blood of Jesus. Yet here are three different scriptures that use this little word "buy", how can one buy something that is a gift freely given? So I searched what does "Buy" mean in the Hebrew, among the many words found, we find these two little words for the meaning: "Acquire, and Redeem"!  What Jesus is saying to the virgins and Laodicea and in Isaiah "Go and receive what I have already provided"! Isaiah announcing a future coming of the Messiah, the 5 foolish virgins had waited too late, they had all the opportunity to acquire the gift, but they slept, ate, partied while the Master delayed and missed their opportunity. And to the End Time church, "In your self-sufficiency, you have never placed yourselves in My sufficiency, therefore, you never knew My supremacy." See that little verse everyone quotes, referencing Jesus knocking on the heart of the unbeliever, yet here is the quote and it is to the Laodicea church, "Behold I stand at the door and knock"!  Why was He knocking? Because He wasn't in them and He was saying "If anyone hears My voice and opens the door I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me".

Many say this church represents the Apostate church at the end of the church age. Though we associate the word church to the corporate building, we must also remember we, you and I are the church. So we ask ourselves "Where have I placed my faith, in Christ or in myself, my achievements? Do I have real biblical convictions or opinions? Am I more in tune with the world rather than Jesus? Do You know my name?" The Apostate leaves their faith when the times get tough, because they have no root, they claimed they were saved but in reality they weren't. Remember the parable of the sower of the seed, Matthew 13.

Can a Christian become complacent, can the fire within them be quenched, like someone poured water on the Holy Spirit, can a Christian become lazy in their prayer life, church attendance, bible reading; can a Christian fall into sin, walk in dry places, find themselves in a wilderness? Yes we can!  BUT WE MUST NOT STAY THERE! The longer we keep ourselves away from God's house, His people, His word, prayer, His presence, the fire within us will grow dimmer and dimmer. But they are saved,

I am afraid many will hear these words:

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesized in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!

You see just like the end time church, of Laodicea, many may think "I attend church, I sing songs, I lift my hands, I serve and give," some are prominent in the church, hold even high positions" but they only know of Jesus, they have never entered in a saving relationship with Jesus the Son of God.

No there is not a LUKEWARM CHRISTIAN, the title "Lukewarm Church" as a heading is a title man gave that section, not Jesus. So digest these scriptures to really see what God is saying. Remember Jesus VOMITED THEM OUT OF HIS MOUTH! In all the other letters even the one titled "dead church" Jesus had something good to say about their works, except this one church, not one good thing was mentioned.  

Now is the time to examine your heart, do you know Him, or do you know of Him? If you have drifted away from your first Love, by putting life before Him, then come quickly back to Him, if you have ran headlong into the wilderness of the world, then turn come running back! 

Notice in the Revelation verses, Jesus says they are naked and to buy garments of white. Nakedness is the exposing of sin, only the saved wear the garments of white. We are clothed in the righteousness of Christ, that is our garments of white. Before we were saved our righteousness was as filthy rags. In verse 21 it says "To him who overcomes" how do we overcome? One of my favorite verses:

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

A Christian is not and should never be considered Lukewarm in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Yet too many take their relationship with Jesus for granted and casual. If that has become who you are then perhaps it is time to examine your own heart.

Many will not agree with this, and that is okay. But I suggest that you go read and search these scriptures and dig into God's word, don't just take anyone's word for it. Perhaps it is merely to recognize we put terms and labels out there even within the church, just like in the secular world. Is this good to do, does it help us understand better? I don't know!

Be blessed