The Group

This is hard to write. But, it's heavy on my heart. We live in a world that is full of groups. Each group is defined by their particular viewpoint, whether religious or secular. Look at it this way, thoughts become words, words become visions, visions become ideologies, and ideologies become entrenched. People are gathered along the way. Entrenched thought continues to add adherents through time, and people are born into the world where they are encouraged to pick their preferred group. Does that make sense so far? Rarely will anyone venture into some other avenue of thought, and they are chided if they attempt to do so. They are shut up. Now, the Lord calls us out of the world. He calls us to Himself. He admonishes us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. He says we will be persecuted as a result...that we will be considered 'peculiar'...that we will be shunned. Now, the hard part. Many of the groups are religious groups. 
The Lord was recorded as being angry several times. First, He was angry with the religious elite. They were supposed to know His Word, but HE IS the Word and they sure didn't recognize Him. They help up the ideals of their particular sects (groups) and attempted to shut Him up! Matthew 23:27, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness". 
The other one He was angry with was Peter. Bombastic Peter flew to the 'defense' of the Lord when he began to understand what was going to happen. The Lord was speaking about His impending death and Peter was trying to push such a thought away as fast as he could. The Lord rebuked him...Matthew 16:23, "But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men". 
How many times are we like the Sadducees, the Pharisees, and Peter? Like the religious in Jesus' day, we do our best to be what those in our group say we should be. We 'try the spirits' against our beliefs, to be sure they measure up. And we stubbornly 'do not care' what others think of our religious behavior, because we are backed by our (very pious) group. We, perhaps have made the outward appearance 'beautiful', but what's really happening in our heart? 
Or, like Peter, we do not understand what is happening, but it is definitely not what we expected, and it sure doesn't sound 'right'. But, it was right. It was the very Plan of God for you and me. 
If we cannot depend on our group, and we cannot depend on our own understanding without incurring the ire of God, how can we know what is right before Him? If we can actually know the Word, be students of the Word, even preach the Word (like the Pharisees did, and the Sadducees did, and like Paul did too), and not be right at all, how can we know? It's very important...eternally important, that we figure this out. The religious elite never figured it out as a group. Peter finally shut up and paid attention to what the Lord was trying to say...he 'got it' later on the day of Pentecost, and Paul, (Pharisee of Pharisees) 'got it' when he met Jesus, left the group, didn't confer with any flesh and blood for three years...not even the other Apostles, but received it by the revelation of the Holy Spirit! Now, obviously, we need to forget the group speak, forget what we have learned from them, and ASK the LORD HIMSELF to have mercy upon us, to forgive us for our errors, to show us what those are, and to speak to us by His grace, to reveal HIS TRUTH, by the power of His Holy Spirit...give us ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying! Much of the time, what we have learned is very close to the truth. It is a form of what God does in reality. What makes it even more confusing is the depth of passion displayed, that people actually 'love' God, follow Him (to the best of their knowledge), but hear...Mat 7:21-23, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity". They ARGUED with Him at the Judgment Seat!!!
Look at what they say...we PROPHESIED, we CAST OUT DEVILS, we did WONDERFUL WORKS! People! I cannot emphasize the importance of getting before God with this issue. Be willing to let Him scrutinized what you believe! You are in good Hands, if you will listen only to HIM. The rest will fall into place as you seek HIM. SEEK HIM.

Regarding Tradition

Thes 2:15, "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the TRADITIONS which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle".

Galatians 1:6-11, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ".

Here's an example of how we must rightly divide the Word of Truth. In 2 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul is exhorting the church to hold the traditions they've been taught by word or epistle. But, hear the same Apostle Paul make it clear that the gospel (good news) originally preached is what they need to cling to, even if he, or another Apostle, or an Angel from Heaven should preach something else, (Galatians 1). These are strong words indeed, and he repeats himself for added emphasis. Then he declares that he received this gospel by the revelation of God, he did not confer with the other men, not even the other Apostles, but was separated from them for three years being taught by the Holy Spirit, verses 15-19, "when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I CONFERRED NOT WITH FLESH AND BLOOD: neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother". Just before saying that, he said that before being saved, he had 'held to the traditions of the fathers' with great zeal. So, Paul is not about to instruct the church to make the same mistake he did. He is specific about what to hold on to. He was full of the Holy Spirit and lived his life being poured out. He says 'follow me'. But, when we hear others saying that, we must beware. Others take on the same office, and declare that others should follow them, and it is not the same, for they do not have the same spirit. How many preachers, teachers, and others in the church have received their message from the Holy Spirit? By revelation, not from other's writings, not from a specific doctrinal teaching! Read Jeremiah 23! Doctrinal teachings assume that all the work has been done, that someone else long ago figured it out, wrote it down, and made it 'understandable'. Preachers then, simply research the research and preach it over and over. They have NOT heard from God, and that is why you leave church empty. Now, having said that, God is gracious, and merciful. He is loving and kind, so from time to time there are evidences of His love. God's mercy and love in our lives does not mean WE are right! He calls us to repentance! PAUL'S MINISTRY WAS MARKED BY SELF-DENIAL. He put his very body on the line over and over. It wasn't just words. If you compare Paul's life to those that the Lord speaks to in Mat 15:6-9, "Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, THIS PEOPLE DRAWETH NIGH UNTO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOURETH ME WITH THEIR LIPS; BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. BUT IN VAIN THEY DO WORSHIP ME, TEACHING FOR DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN". Can you see the difference? Philippians 3:17-20, " Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, Whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, WHO MIND EARTHLY THINGS.) For our conversation is in heaven...".Now, if you read what Paul says in the first 16 verses you will be able to understand a little about this man's heart. God had done a work and continued to work, the outworking of life in the Holy Spirit, could be seen in Paul, praise God! May it be seen in us also.

Beware of men and women who use the Scriptures to uphold whatever it is that they follow when their lives and what they say are about self. The lives of those preachers with huge congregations are certainly not being poured out...they are taking in. They are filling themselves full of every thing the world has to offer, whether its expensive clothing, houses, planes, and whatever their hearts desire. And YOU are being taken in. They make merchandise of you. Many times the Scriptures are used in their sermons, and in the books the pump out to add weight to what they say, but you need to FIND OUT WHAT THE REST OF THE CHAPTER AND BOOK SAYS! Don't just accept their interpretation or usage of it. This started in the first century! Paul and the other Apostles were already dealing with those who had figured out how to make this new 'ideology' enrich them. Remember Simon? Acts 8:18-19, " And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power...". Yes. It's too often about power. Power, authority, riches, validation, but not about Christ. He gets used, and the Word gets abused, while they are 'lovin' life'. And it trickles down. Jude 1:4, "... there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ". Jude 1:3, "

 Beloved...it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints". 

Two Camps

Two Camps

There are two camps of people in this world. Those that believe God and those that deny Him. Often this basic fact is overlooked by followers of the Lord Jesus, and/or by those that want to know why He allows certain terrible things to happen, if He is God (i.e. in control).
First the Bible concludes the entire human race as dead in trespasses and sins, Ephesians 2:4-9, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast". The only way out of the mess is through the Lord Jesus Christ. This was God's plan from before the foundation of the world, to join with man through the sacrifice of Himself in human form…Jesus, 1 Peter 1:18-21, "…ye were not redeemed with corruptible things….But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead…". He made us to be compatible with Him and desires those who worship Him to be real about it, John 4:23-24, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth". When we believe His Word, He counts it to us for righteousness, Galatians 3:6, "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness". He gives us Himself in the form of the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in us. He makes us, therefore, a new creature in Christ and we become the sons of God, Romans 8:9, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his". Every individual who has come through the Door, (which is Christ) is part of one camp, John 10:9, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture". God's children have the privilege of entering into His presence, of hearing His voice, of calling on Him, of casting their cares on Him, of loving Him, rejoicing in His love, of being directed by Him, of having the peace that passes understanding, and many other such riches, Psalm 28:7, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him". Those that refuse to believe Him, that insist on their own way make up the other camp
Isaiah 53:6, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Romans 3:10-12, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one". They find themselves victims of many dangers…the very dangers He strives to protect us from. They go their own way and never realize that with every step they get farther and farther away from life, love, peace, and every other good thing that God intends to give to them, 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour"; then they blame God for their predicament. The interesting thing about that, is that He answers all those who call on Him out of their desperation. Psalm 107 describes His faithfulness to unbelievers in detail.
Now, it's pretty easy to see the extreme cases of these two camps, but it gets more difficult to discern who's who closer to the center. There's where people who act like Christians, but have never truly trusted Him find themselves. These people may display a certain amount of kindness, generosity, and caring to a degree. They may think that attending church, or Bible study; having 'devotions' and maybe giving to the poor may certainly prove that they are Christians. But the Scriptures clearly state that if doing any or all of these things could save us then Christ would not have had to die. Galatians 2:16, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified". So, it's not about listing, but listening. Galatians 3:2-3, "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?".
And then there are those who deny Christ altogether, but act the same without any religious over or under tones. They don't think they need a Savior. Let me say that, just like you as a parent, have no authority over children that do not belong to you, God will not intervene in the lives of those Who do not belong to Him unless He is asked to do so. Jesus paid a huge price to buy back your soul. He made the deal available to everyone who takes Him at His Word. So, if you don't take advantage of His generosity, you are on your own. Even so, God is merciful. He loves you and desires you. John 3:16-19, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil". Come to safety quickly! Let the Creator, the Savior, the Beginning and the End, teach you the ways of life. 2 Corinthians 6:2, "…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation".

Should Be (but Better)

My Should Be Box (or The Way Things Should Be)

You should have a Mother and a Father

You should know your Birthday is the day you were born

You should have love, security and safety

Everything that happens to you should be preparing you for your future

You should be taught to be respectful, thoughtful and disciplined

You should have good food

You should have room to run

You should have someone to answer your questions and to look up to

You should be taught the value of education, morality and sexual purity

Someone should be watching over you as you mature

You should be taught how things work and where they originated

You should be ensured the basic knowledge about your native language, history, math, and the sciences.

You should know how the opposite sex thinks and doesn't think

You should know the value of waiting for the person most suited to being your mate

You should be kept from sexually titillating circumstances and sensuality

You should be involved in something you love and that absorbs your interests

You should expect your mate to marry you and to stand by you no matter what

You should expect to have children of your own

But …

If you never knew your parents, or a parent, you should know that there is an Almighty God who oversaw your introduction into this world. You should know that you have an Angel charged to watch over you, who beholds the face of God continually. You should know that whatever discomforts, or worse that have accompanied your youth can be redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb who was slain for you. He is able to intervene on your behalf and to cause everything that has happened to you, to become an asset for your future. You should know that there is a place of refuge to be had, and that safe place is found by calling on His Name, and asking Him for direction, understanding, and wisdom. In time, He will open the eyes of your understanding, and cause you to see everything from an eternal perspective. He will teach you to examine what you were taught by comparing it to His Word, and in that way, lead you into all truth. He will give you peace. He will be your Parent. Your Father and Mother as well as a Friend that will never leave you.

If you don't know your Birthday, you can have another Birthday. The day that you ask the Lamb of God, Jesus, to forgive your sins…the day you agree with Him, that He died for you, and was subsequently raised from the dead, His Spirit will come to live in you, and you will become a new creature. That day will be your Birthday…the day you were born again.

If you are in a dangerous place…you can call on the Mighty God who loves you and ask Him to deliver you, and He will! You can call on the Name of Jesus and He will deliver you from every evil work, thought, habit, and lie. You need to know that He always hears and answers those who call on Him out of a heart that is convinced there is no other power available to deliver them. In that way, you will be able to clearly see who He is, and that He is powerful…a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Every person brought into this world should be able to expect the love and protection of their parents and surrounding family members. Sadly though, too many never experience any such thing. They are given up from the beginning…lost to their families for whatever reason. You should know that God didn't make a mistake when He brought you into existence. YOU are not a mistake. God has a Plan for you, and it’s a good plan. "I know my plans for you, says the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, that you may have a future, and a hope". You can know that plan by trusting in Him, looking to Him, and running to Him. There is someone intended to be your mate, and you have the opportunity to provide a loving home for that person, and for your own offspring. You need to know that you also have an Enemy. He hates you because God loves you. He will try to do everything in his power to confuse you, to lie to you, to accuse God of the things he does to you and to cause you to question God's power and authority, and to make you believe that God is always trying to hide something from you. He is a liar and was a liar from the beginning. God set parameters for Himself. Until you call on Him, or someone else intercedes for you, He will not be able to free you from your bondage and confusion. Everything is in place for you. Everything you need is available. The Door is wide open that leads into His presence, but you must respond by agreeing with Him that 1.) you are a sinner (meaning that you need His help to be 'good', 2.) that He is able to save you when you call on His Name, and 3.) that God Himself approved of Jesus' sacrifice on your behalf, by raising Him from the dead.

When Jesus died and rose again, it was so that you would be able to approach Him. Before that time, no one could approach God. The Old Testament priests had to sacrifice animals for their sins, and then they had only one day out of the  year to go into His presence, and even then, a rope was tied around  their ankle so that if there were struck dead, having come into God's presence unworthily, someone could drag them out of the Holy of Holies. But, Jesus changed all of that, and now He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Him. That is the truth about how it is. We can only know these things by studying the Word of God. Jesus calls Himself the Living Word of God. He has something to say, and we all have the means to look into the Scriptures and know for ourselves what that is. He will lead us, and guide us into all truth, as we lean on Him. It will take time, but in the interim, all of our circumstances are designed to tutor us in the Way, and to teach us the truth, as we compare everything we are told to what He has to say about it. We will grow closer and closer to Him, and find peace and joy in His presence.

Childhood is a time of preparation. It’s a time of learning about the world. It's a time to learn how to be an adult. Of learning how to take the initiative, and about how to shoulder the responsibilities associated with providing a living for your own family. It's about what to teach your own children, so that together, we can live in a society of like-minded individuals, armed with a work ethic and common sense born of experience, as well as the wisdom of those who have gone on before us. Unfortunately for all of us, society has broken down. The Word of God regarding what should be valued has been tossed aside, and as a result, everyone is busy doing 'their own thing' which has led to chaos, tumult, confusion, fighting, and fear. No one holds themselves responsible, and whereas children should have been prepared for their adulthood, they instead, remain children, valuing sensationalism and thrills while at the same time, practicing sexual 'freedom'. This can only lead to abandoned children, aborted children, and abused children. Children, being the most vulnerable among us, are subject to the situation surrounding them, no matter whether it is good or bad, and too often become the victims of the very ones who were supposed to love them the most. It is a cycle that will not end without Christ and the foundations that only the Word of God can provide. So, if you find yourself in one of these situations, being a child or a young adult, the only place of refuge is, once again, the Word of God. What does it say about how you should live, and what you should value? What does it say about what you should avoid? By agreeing with God, trusting in Him, and looking to Him, you will avoid so many of the pitfalls that surround you. You will fall into some of them, because we don't even realize that we have believed a lie, but because you are calling on God for His direction, He will use all of those 'mistakes' to teach you and to convince you of the truth. I say this, because, sometimes, we think we know something, when it is only an intellectual knowledge. God will cause you to know the truth for real, way down in your heart, so that your behavior is no 'put on', but the result of His tutelage.

Again, if your experience has taught you to be wild, thoughtless, spontaneous, vulgar, as though these were good things and to be desired, the only refuge is to find out what God says about it in His Word. As I have described above, these pseudo values breed chaos and contention, and result in consequences to others far beyond what we could have imagined even if we had taken a moment to think about it. The Scriptures say that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and that it is worthy of death. Yet, we not only rebel, we actually embrace witchcraft too, as a part of it. You can see that this is spiritual in nature. It not only leads to death, but to a second death that is eternal. We cannot blame God, we know what is right and wrong innately. We all have a sense of what is fair and when it is not. We know, and we will be held accountable unless we repent. Now is the day of salvation. You can start over!

If you think that good food is a pastry, or coffee for breakfast, a candy bar, chips, and a soda for lunch, and a pizza for supper, you have once again missed out on something wonderful because of the relentless breakdown of western society. You should have good food. If you are interested, you can learn to cook, and experiment with fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, and learn how exquisite these taste. Most of us eat canned food and never know why we hate so much of it. Good food is available! But, you do have to learn how to prepare it, and it does take time. We have traded nutrition for convenience and are suffering the devastating results in our bodies. You should be healthy and fit, but you will suffer all sorts of health issues instead, because when someone should have lovingly prepared a meal for you, they simply opened a couple of cans. You do not have to follow their example! Cooking can not only be fun, but it can be cathartic, strengthening, and a passionate pursuit.

If your 'room to run' consisted of a hour in the school gymnasium sometimes, your idea of fitness is probably less than desirable. Without the natural movement provided by hard work and hard play, our muscles take second place to fat. We become misshapen, tired, unable to do simple things, and are easily injured. You don't have to continue to be robbed of having a fit, heathy body. Your body was designed to last your lifetime. It has the capacity to fight disease, and is intended to allow you to defend yourself and to do for yourself. Try doing some things you've never done…play baseball, or volleyball. Go swimming, try skiing, or ice skating. If you are totally out of shape, some of these things will be hard at first, but that will pass quickly! Stick with it for enough time to get past the soreness and you will discover the joy of being active, instead of just watching others do it on TV.

Now a days, not many people have answers that are any more complicated than the newest philosophy. Current philosophy is guaranteed to change every twenty years! What happened to answers that transcend generations? That remain true? That are timeless? Such knowledge is foundational. It stands, like the old stone castles, or the great wall of china, or the cliffs of Dover. Having it safeguards us from the mistakes that are all too common among us. It will protect us from the errors so many surrounding us are making. For instance, we have been fed the idea that sex is a natural bodily function, so why shouldn't we have sex for the simple pleasure of it? The idea of doing anything that has so many possible life changing consequences, and that can impact our lives in so many ways, is ridiculous. It's exactly the same as putting a gun to your head, not knowing if it's loaded or not. Sex is the stuff of life. Why, if we think for a moment, would we ever want to play with it? That's why it was originally intended to be wrapped up within a loving, binding relationship between two people who are prepared, as adults, to care for the children that will inevitably follow. A monogamous relationship also ensures that no sexually transmitted disease will find its way in, and that no matter what life holds, you will have someone to face it with. Together you will be there to provide guidance, instruction, and love.

What about drugs? Why is it OK to seek out substances that are intended to lower our inhibitions, our cognitive ability, and cause us to make silly, unproductive, and often (again) life changing decisions? Why are people being offered such things, and why are they actually partaking of them? I would dare to say that it is because of the very subject we are discussing…the lack of a strong family structure, good answers, knowing someone actually cares and is wise, respect for all of the above. All of these things hinge on knowing the foundational precepts found in the Word of God. He has shared His wisdom for our well-being, yet we stubbornly rebel in order to partake of a little pleasure. You will never miss not having done these things, but you will always regret that you did…guaranteed.

It is so sad that our Nation's foundational principles have been largely forgotten. The scales have tipped to the other side. Whereas once, those who were unwise were eschewed, now they are venerated, and those who cling to the wisdom passed down to them from the Scriptures are ridiculed. This is the classic childish attitude that screams that everyone else is doing it, why can't I? or, that's so unfair! We need to grow up! We have chosen to remain children, to refuse the responsibilities of adulthood, while demanding at the same time, to have those privileges as well. You might ask yourself why the Government, by the people, and supposedly for the people is helping us to destroy ourselves. Why are pregnant children being given autonomy? Doesn't being given their own apartment and food, along with other 'help' from the government encourage other children to do the same, in order to get the same? Who can calculate the amount of human suffering that is the result? Babies born into this scenario are almost sure of repeating it if they survive. What young mother knows anything about raising a child when she is a child herself? She will receive and believe whatever she is given and/or told. She will be further influenced by the other young people surrounding her, especially the boys who see an easy target…along come more babies, more diseases, more ignorance, more drug and alcohol use, and the cyclic consequences. Schools, funded by the government, are also complicit. When so-called sex education is used to titillate and therefore, encourage its misuse and abuse. You deserve better than that! The Scriptures say that when you ask the Lord to give you bread, He will not give you a stone. That if you acknowledge Him in all your ways, He will direct your paths. These lessons are the basics. As you trust Him, and lean on Him, He will expand your understanding about all things. I am not talking about going to any particular church, or about espousing any particular doctrine. I am talking about coming into a living, loving relationship with the God who brought you into this world, and who desires for you to flourish, and not to be destroyed. Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

Unlike the children described above, you should have someone watching over you as you mature, just like farmers watch over their gardens as the vegetables and fruits ripen, so that they are perfect at the time of harvest. There will be a harvest of God's children too. That is why the enemy of your soul tries so hard to destroy you and your future. He doesn't want God to enjoy the fruits of His labor. God created humans with the capacity to be like Him. This life is akin to a baby in the womb. It is the preparation for a larger life…an unimagined life. The 'baby' is wanted. God has given us everything we need to make it through this life safely. He even took on a body, just like ours, and spilled His own blood so that we would not have to pay the penalty for our sins. The wages of sin is death. The soul that sins must die. But, the same God that cannot behold sin, was the very One that provided the way to be kept from that second death. He made it very easy. Whoever believes Him, (that He gave Himself on the cross for our sins, and that God raised Him from the dead), will be saved. God Himself will come to you in the form of the Holy Spirit and walk with you for the remainder of your life. He will teach you what He has said, and He will lead you and guide you every day. One of the fallacies perpetrated by the churches is that this transformation is instantaneous. Becoming a new creature is instantaneous, but learning how to behave, and what is true and what is not true takes time. It's a lifetime relationship. He yokes us together with Himself, like oxen are yoked together. The strong one walks beside the young one, the new one, the inexperienced one, and teaches him how to plow. In other words, HE is the strong One, and He will take the lead in our lives. He will forevermore watch over you.

Part of your education about this world should have included information about how things work, and where they originated. These include the physical things we use each day, as well as the institutions and thought that preside over us. We are saturated with inventions that make life 'easier'. Instead of growing our own food, for instance, we just go to the grocery store and buy what others have grown, raised, and/or imagined. This is a great benefit in that we have so much variety, and exciting choices. On the other hand, few among us know how garden. So many are congregated in cities and have lost touch with reality in this way. There is no understanding about how to grow food. If society, as we know it, should physically break down, we would starve very quickly because we have become completely dependent on those growers, truckers, and store owners that provide our sustenance. It is the same with so many things…we have cars for transportation that allow us to go great distances for work, but if we had to walk or bike, we wouldn't be able to get there.  I suppose that many would say that such a breakdown in society could not happen, but you only have to look at history to see that it has happened in the past. As we tend to make the same mistakes over and over as human beings, (these societal cycles are even taught in school), it's safe to say that it could happen again. And this time, as we are even further removed from the simplicity of the old ways, we will not be able to cope with the rude awakening.

Another part of getting wisdom and understanding, is to realize how and where the current philosophies that rule most thinking came from. All of these ideas came from a single thought, which grew through time into an entrenched ideology, around which we built schools and universities. Whether you are talking about religion, medicine, science, or philosophy itself, these are entrenched, strongholds of ideas, hard to be challenged, ingrained in the prevailing way of behaving. All of these ideas need to brought into the light of God's Word in order to keep those who follow Him, from becoming influenced and thusly, lured away from the straight way. The core of all thinking is found in the Word of God, and we can safely navigate this world by using it, while asking simply for Him to reveal His truth to us. He will keep us from missing the mark, and eventually, bring us safely home. A wonderful example for everyone to read regarding these things, is the life of George Washington Carver, the great scientist who gave us peanut butter!

Your baseline education should include an understanding of your native language, the basic history of your Nation and the world, basic math, and basic knowledge of the sciences. All of these things are available on line. So, if you fooled around in school, or your school was sub-standard, or if no one cared, you can do basic searches on-line and find a wealth of information. Be careful about being overwhelmed though. Choose one subject, one book…dip your toe in and get it wet before jumping in. Sample and enjoy, but remember that truth will always line up with Scripture, and then there are philosophies which spin off of the truth. If we are not careful, we can get lost following a certain tangent. Ask God to give you discernment, and to keep you from going off in a tangent.

I included language, because it is the cornerstone of everything else…it is how people communicate their thoughts on any subject to each other. But, there are many dialects, even of English, and often there is a disconnect. Even with the Bible, we are separated by time, the culture of the era, and language. Fortunately, there are resources on line that allow an easy comparison between today's language and the old English. They can also, preferably, take us back to the original languages of Hebrew, (the Old Testament) and of Greek and Arabic (the New Testament).

Anyone wishing to know another person will spend time with them. They will want to spend time with them. And so, in order to know what God has to say, we need to spend time with Him, Who is the Living Word…the Logos. It is a lifetime relationship and includes a lifetime of learning as we walk together with Him, every day.

Another baseline is to have some understanding about the difference between the sexes. Adult men are largely motivated by testosterone, while adult females are largely influenced by estrogen. Testosterone is the reason men have the capacity to be strong, fearless, focused, and sexual. Estrogen is the reason female bodies get ready to bear children every month, and accounts for their tendency to be very emotional and tender hearted. These are basic truths, although they have been often perverted in the present population. Men have harder bone structures than women. Women have a layer of fat under their skin that makes them soft, while men do not. These things are important to understand, because men and women look at the world differently, and they look at each other differently. A man will look at a woman with the desire to mate with her, while a woman, though attracted by his attention, would most likely prefer to be loved, and often both mistake his sexual desire for the love he declares. She is looking for a nest and a family, while he is looking primarily to meet his intense need for sexual release. That is why women must understand. If she thinks that the man pouring attention on her wants the same thing she wants, she will give him herself. But, too often, she will find that he will leave her as soon as she makes her intention for love and family clear, much to her consternation and heartache. When she makes this mistake too many times, she will become hardened and bitter. This is too great a price. If she will wait, she will eventually find someone who will want her to wait, because he genuinely cares about her. He will value her virtue. He will want a lasting relationship too, and that's when he will ask her to marry him. He will prefer a woman who has not slept around with many men.

Living together is not the same as marriage, because the premise of living together verses getting married, is that it might not work, and there will be an easy way out. It is a way of manipulating the situation, because each has that knowledge hanging over their head, and so they tend to behave a little differently, and be little more cautious. When children are born into any situation other than marriage, they are at risk of becoming the casualties of a broken home, and of having multiple 'fathers', which results in another cycle of the same. The premise for marriage is that the couple is willing to face the future together, regardless…"in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, etc…". I know that divorce is wreaking havoc on the institution of marriage, but the Lord Jesus said that divorce is the result of a hard heart. Marriage was instituted by God from the very beginning, because it is a picture of God's love and desire towards His creation, and of His final plan to bring His own Bride out of it. This is the secret that was hidden from the foundation of the Earth, until God revealed it in these end times.

Because of the foundational nature of marriage and family, we need to keep sex sacred and special. We have poured it over the whole of this Nation, until we cannot even sit in our own living room without having titillating pictures and ideas put directly into our face. How can we protect our children, and our relationships from falling apart, if people are continually inflamed by provocative images and thoughts? The only way is to understand the value of purity, and the consequences of corruption. Corruption cascades into all areas of life. From looking, to desiring, to searching, to partaking, to lying, and to betrayal. From the mind, to the heart, to the destruction of what we should be holding most dear, and love unconditionally. Sexual desire is the most powerful impulse on Earth, and should be respected as such. Nothing else has the power over us that sex has. It is not a toy created for our exclusive pleasure. Pleasure, as such, is fleeting. It is temporary, but it's effects on the individual, and on their loved ones is eternal. The Lord Jesus said that if a man looks on a woman to lust after her, he has already committed adultery in his heart. This may seem impossible to fix, but with God, nothing is impossible. He is able to keep us.

One of the ways that we can keep ourselves from the influence of things that dismay God, and quench His Spirit, is to involve ourselves in things that we love. Art, music, reading, sewing, cooking, etc… Yes, some of these too, must be approached with discretion. If you find that your heart is secretly looking for titillation and sexual fulfillment, even when you are trying to avoid it, you must take that revelation and tell God all about it. He will do what you cannot do. He will help you. Ask Him to bring every thought into subjection to the mind of Christ. If you are rebelling at that thought, ask Him to make you willing. Tell Him you are not willing, and ask Him to make you willing to be willing. He will do it! That is the power of God, to do in us, what we cannot do in our own strength.

These things are what I have learned through a lifetime (almost fifty years) of walking with my Lord. But, no matter…everything I have said here, must be subject to the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:15-17, "…the holy scriptures…are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works". So, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.", 2 Timothy 2:15. Be like the Bereans…listen to what the Apostle Paul says about them…"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.", Acts 17:11. The Berean Christians, heard the Word of God directly from the  Apostles, and yet, they ran home and searched the Scriptures to see for themselves. They were noble! For a long time now, I have also leaned on one Scripture in particular,  Philippians 3:15, "…if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you". He promised to correct us, to lead us and to guide us into all truth.

An invaluable resource for me has been the ability to find Scriptures quickly, using the on line Bible Gateway search engine. I started off many years ago, (in my early 20's) using the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. With it, I was able to search out all of the Scriptures dealing with certain subjects, (word studies). I was also able to find the meanings of the original texts using the Hebrew/Greek Lexicon which was in the back of the book. Now, all these things can be found on line and study becomes very easy, by comparison.

Here are some links:

http://www.biblegateway.com/

http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html

God will speak to you as you call on Him. He says a few things about it though, that need to be considered. First, He says to examine yourselves, as to whether you are in the faith. Secondly, we are told in James that we can ask, and He will not answer, because the prayer is for what you want rather than what He wants. We are instructed to pray according to the will of God. So, when you find yourself struggling with a consuming desire, it must be submitted to Him…'Father, help me! Please do (this), but let Your will be done, and not mine! Oh Father, Help me!' I am familiar with this, as in my youth especially, I longed for certain things. For instance, when I was separated from my husband and I wanted him to come home, I did not know God's truth about marriage at that time, so I agonized before Him. I understand. But, when we come into any loving relationship, we find it's not about us anymore, but about the ones we love. And so it is with the Lord. It's not about us anymore. It's not about using Him like a vending machine. It's not about expecting a rosy, uncomplicated life. It's about His will, which by the way, will amaze us. His desire is towards us as His Bride, and His will is always good. We will learn to wait on Him, and it will be worth it!

One very important thing - when God speaks, not only will it be in accordance to His Word, but He said also, that He will establish it in the mouth of two or three witnesses. So, as you listen, and you think He has spoken to you…continue to listen for what He has said to come back to you in two or three other ways. As it does, you will know that it is He and not your imagination.

With this, I will leave you, though so much more could be said. As we grow up, we put together a 'should be box'. We carry it with us everywhere and are most often dismayed, because things are never as we thought they 'should be'. So, we will eventually learn to put it down, to let it go, and instead, to trust the living God, Who is doing things His way. When we know this, we can be thankful, because, He will always work things out for us as they truly should be, according to His eternal perspective. And to that I say, hallelujah! Amen.

The Two Groups

Last night, I got such clarity on a subject, that I wanted to share it with you. When Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God, he said it would be like a loaf of leavened bread...the leaven permeates the loaf. He also said to beware the leaven of the Sadducees and the Pharisees. They had a form of godliness, but, the Lord said that in reality, they were white-washed walls, full of dead men's bones. Another parable describes the Kingdom of God as a tiny seed which would eventually become a huge tree, filling the Earth, and that the birds of the air would nest in its branches. Birds, in Scripture represent evil spirits. So, you have Jesus saying that the Kingdom of God on Earth, would be permeated with those who have a form of godliness, without the power of the Holy Spirit; and that the church would fill the Earth, having evil spirits make their nest in its branches. It comes down to these two groups, those that have received the power of the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ, and actually belong to Him, and those who say they do. These are the same two groups that appear before the judgment seat of Christ. To the one group He says, depart from me...I never knew you, while welcoming the other group into His Presence. He bids us to examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith. It's not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit of God that we are saved. This error was already in the first century church and Paul addresses it in his epistles. Romans 8:9, "You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ". John 6:63, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life".    1 Corinthians 2:12, "What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us". This is the cause of all the confusion in the churches...those who profess Christ are mixed in with His precious children. It's a very scary thing, because a lot of them think that they know the Lord. If you notice, they even argue with Him about it in the judgment saying, "...Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?", (Mat 7:22). So it's not about being 'spiritual', not even super spiritual. There is only one foundation, Romans 10:8-10, "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:  If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved". We must believe the Word of God and wholly trust in His ability to save us, to correct us, and to guide us. Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ...". Amen!

A Plea and Some Help for these Difficult Days

     Before you automatically disregard this, consider that I am trying to do everything possible to communicate a warning to as many people as I can regarding some very alarming events that may have a huge impact on the population of our community, the State, the Nation and the world. You would think that, if that were the case, that the prevailing news media would be letting us know about it, but that it part of the problem, they don't want to "alarm the public", and perhaps become part of a self-fulfilling prophecy. For example, there have been several instances in the recent past, where we've heard of a near miss, when an asteroid, or a meteor came very close to Earth, but we didn't hear about it until afterward. That's the kind of thing I am talking about. My intention here, is to provide some information about alternative news sites that have impressed me with documenting who, what, where, why, and when, so that you will be able to prepare, and that you will not be taken by surprise, if even one of these events befalls us.

     A great many people, today, believe that we are in the 'last days'. Many of you that receive this letter, may be well acquainted with what I am trying to say. But, I am concerned because some of the people that I know personally, prefer to "hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil" and refuse to listen to any of these things. While this may seem noble, it's not very smart. Sometimes we need to sound the alarm. If I am about to be run over, I hope someone will tell me to get out of the way!

     With that, the first item I want to discuss, is the point I already made regarding the media's unwillingness to do their job, and to report unbiasedly, without judgment, the events that are happening in our community, in the State, in the Nation, and in the rest of the world. The truth is that only a few people own all of the news media, and it is their biases that permeate what we are allowed to know about. Google 'Ted Turner', owner of CNN, Turner Broadcasting, and Warner in affiliation with CBS. Look up 'Concentration of Media Ownership'. Alarm bells should be ringing. There are alternative news sites though, and so, if we do some research we can find out at least part of the truth. It is sometimes surprising what you can find in foreign news broadcasts. I read and compare about 25 alternative news sites most mornings, to include: Info Wars, Breitbart News, Truthstream, WND, Telegraph, RT News, Now the End Begins, Christian Headlines, and many others. Like I said, the documentation of the who, what, when, where, and why, is what I appreciate. A lot of times, the regular news will finally catch up, for instance I was warning about the housing crisis about a year before it finally got any press in the regular news. Enough said about that. If you want to be informed, do a little of your own research apart from what you are being told on the evening news.

     To what I have learned. Many, many experts have been warning about a global financial meltdown. Right now, there are about 23 countries experiencing a meltdown. The mere fact that the regular news is talking about this at all should send shivers down your spine. Please take the time to find out how our economy is being artificially held together. As many as 50 years ago, my father told me about how we are building a 'house of cards' in this country. It  will inevitably come down. We are there. Experts from our own country and around the world are sounding the alarm. The greatest one-day stock market slide was 777 points in September of 2008. Last Thursday and Friday, the market slid 888 points. If the banks are frozen, or if you lose your investment money in the stock market, you need to have a back-up plan. Hence, this warning. Please get some food and water, some toiletries etc…Even if a disaster only lasts a few weeks, you'll have something.  Do some research about the vulnerability of this Nation to an EMP attack, and its consequences. Read about how vaccines are hurting our children.

     Earlier, I mentioned the last days. I think, most people are familiar with the meaning of those words, as having to do with the prophecies in the Bible. The Lord Jesus spoke of the last days in Matthew 24:3-14, "…as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come". Of course 2 Peter 3-4 says, "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation". Doesn't that go right along with the fact that Jesus said that many will be deceived two times, above? So, to those who believe the Word of God (who is Jesus, made flesh), there is only one thing that matters…does He know you? "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity," Matthew 7:21-23. So, how can we be sure? Once again, it is the Word of God that gives the answer. No doctrine, no teaching, no other 'gospel' is sufficient. What does GOD have to say? 2 Cor 13:5, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves". We know we are 'in the faith' when we agree with God. He said in Romans 10:9&10, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation". That's it. It's that simple. Everything else becomes His business to perform in us over time. But, first, be sure you are standing on the right foundation! If you have believed the Lord Jesus, and have confessed that you believe Him, then your life is in God's hands, and He will teach you everything else you need to know. We get confused, because too many have made Salvation about behavior. Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ…". You are His business. Just don't think you are saved because you've been going to church your whole life, or because you are busy doing 'Christian things', or because you were raised in a Christian household, or because you belong to a particular sect, or denomination. Those things are not what God says you need. You need Him. His Blood alone avails for our Salvation. I want to leave you with one more thing. The only way to please God, is through faith. When we trust Him for our Salvation, and we lean on Him for our lives. When we ask Him to direct our paths, to correct us when we are wrong, and to search us and try us to see if there be any wicked way in us, He is pleased. 1 Cor 2:5-16, "…your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. …But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God… But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

     If anyone is interested in studying the Scriptures, there are great helps on the Web. Go to the Biblegateway.com, and eliyah.com (for a comparison of the Greek and Hebrew texts) to start. You can look up any subject, do words comparisons, language comparisons, etc.. Enjoy!

     I hope this information will be helpful to you and yours as the beginning of preparations in these difficult days. Luke 21, :31-36, "So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man".

Wait and Grow

My husband called me over to the television to see a television preacher, preaching from a chair with a glass of water by his side. He thought it was ridiculous. I do too. I am of the mind that most popular preachers have been handed down the 'gospel' they preach from the various Bible schools that ordained them. It's from that vantage point that they preach, surrounding themselves with whatever Scripture and doctrines uphold their position. They are not familiar with the whole word of God except from that particular perspective. This make for a LOT of confusion. Thinking that they are preaching the truth, they are doing exactly what the Pharisees and Sadducees did...they preach tradition. The Scriptures interpret themselves. The Lord Himself said that it was imperative for Him to return to Heaven so that the Holy Spirit could come, John 16:7, " Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you". Peter says in 2 Peter 1:20-21, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." John 16:13-14, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you."
Yes, the Scriptures clearly say that the Holy Spirit gives gifts as He will, to include the gifts of preaching and teaching, but remember the Bereans, even after they heard first century preaching, they went home and searched the Scriptures to see if the things they were being taught were true! We need to lean on the Lord, ask Him to search us and try us to see if there be any wicked way in us and to lead us in the way everlasting. We need to have the same mind in us as was in Christ Jesus, who did not have His own agenda, but clearly stated that "I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things," (John 8:28).
Paul was God's chosen vessel to reveal the Mystery of God that had been hidden until then. He clearly states in Galatians that, "...though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed". If perversions started already in the first century, how much more now? We must not be afraid to trust the Lord Himself to lead us and to guide us into all truth! Yes, all of these deviations came from some who believed they were hearing from God, so it is imperative that we beseech the Lord to reveal to us whether we have another agenda than to simply know what He is actually saying. This is a lifetime endeavor.
Again, the Scriptures say in 1 Tim 3:1-6, "This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless...Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil". NOT a NOVICE.
Going to Bible school, does not, and can not, prepare one for the ministry. Being drenched in the Word of God, seeking His face, longing for Him, and most of all, WAITING for Him is how we grow in grace, how we learn of Him, how we hear Him, and finally, have something to say. People want to hear from God, and those standing in the pulpit are supposed to be speaking for Him. We have had too much doctrine, and too little revelation. When an individual hears from God, there is power. Not for a show, but for the ability to mount up with wings as of eagles, above the world, the flesh, and the devil. That is when fruit is produced, Galatians 5:22-23, " But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law". People love a show, they think that power from God must produce one. But, Jesus, God Himself, did not put on a show! He often told those that received His touch not to tell anyone. He wasn't attempting to wow anyone, or to convince His sceptics. He did what He was told to do. First, until the wedding at Cana, He was completely hidden, and He obeyed His mother, and after His ministry began, He obeyed His Father. Praise His holy Name. If anyone could've put on a show, it would have been Him, but He did not do that. And, He wasn't looking for popularity, or money. He was meek and lowly in heart, and we need to be like Him. Obedient, whether or not ANYONE else knows, cares, listens, or believes what we say. Let's read what Jeremiah has to say again...17:5-9, "Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?", and, Jeremiah 23:16-27, "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal".
The Lord speaks again to the last church in Revelation 3:14-22, " And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches".