Friday, March 20, 2015

Skin for skin

Within the Bible, it is rare for the character of Satan to be revealed through his own direct words. Yet, there are a few occasions when Satan's words are made available -word for word- within the Bible.

The Lord brought me to a distinct area of the Word earlier today. We study the Word of God to know what God expects from us, to know what God thinks of us, to know what God has done for us, to know how to pray, to know how to worship, but have we examined the Word to see what the Accuser of the Brethren believes about us.

Satan makes it known what his assumptions are regarding man:
"Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.  But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face."  Job 2: 4-5
How often do human beings prove Satan right?  When afflictions, anguish, and trials come,  how many outstretched hands become angry fists cursing God?


Satan is confident that you will curse God when affliction is poured into your life, into your being. Satan insinuates in the verses above that your worship of your flesh will prevail when you find yourself in the midst of tremendous affliction.   -That your devotion to God will fall by the wayside when your flesh is being attacked.

Satan counts on man loving his life so much that man will turn his back on the Lord when suffering arises.

Today, when the Lord brought me to these verses in Job, the Lord also spoke:  "Love not your life even unto death."

I searched for that phrase in the Word just now, and what was revealed amazes me.  This verse is found in Revelation 12:
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Revelation 12:11)
Right after reading this verse, I read the verse just before it.  My how the Lord brings His revelations full circle in such a way that man could never take credit for it!    The Spirit of the Lord is alive and at work.  The previous verse reads:

"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."  (Revelation 12: 10)

When the Lord spoke a portion of verse 11 to me today, I had no recollection of its location in the Bible, and I had no idea the verse before it would speak of the very situation occurring in Job.  At the beginning of the blog, I used the phrase Accuser of the Brethren to describe Satan, not realizing the Lord was leading me to the very same phrase in Revelation 12:10. Satan stood in the presence of the Almighty God accusing Job.  
Afflict Job, and he will curse You.  He will turn his back on You.  
When Satan said  "All that a man hath will he give for his life," he did not say this about Job alone.  Satan contends this about every man.  Every woman.  He is counting on you giving up when difficulties arise.

What is the conclusion of the message the Lord has led me to share here?

No matter the afflictions you face in your flesh - physical battles & mental battles.  Hold on to the
Lord, for He will be faithful to deliver you at a precise time.  Jesus conquered Satan.  We need only abide IN Christ for the victory.  Victory can only be found in Jesus.

Jesus tells believers how we are to regard our lives.  Let us take heed and fully obey Him while we endure the inevitable anguish that we are called to experience in this life:

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
Can we imagine the physical anguish and the emotional agony Christ endured while carrying the cross?  Yet, He calls us to endure the same anguish.  Where Satan paces to and fro throughout the earth in hopes of tormenting a person to the point of the individual cursing God, the Lord says bear your cross daily.  Follow Him daily.  Deny yourself daily.  Where Satan is banking on man loving his flesh more than he loves his God, the Lord says carry the cross of affliction.  The Lord says allow your flesh to be crucified.  Deny the flesh.  Endure the agony.

What Satan means for evil, the Lord calls us to endure for the purpose of GOOD, for the purpose of eternal life, for the purpose of sanctification, for the purpose of Christ being formed in us.

If we love ourselves more than we love the Lord, the Accuser of the Brethren will ensnare us by that which we love:  our flesh, our lives.  

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11)
Overcoming the Accuser of the Brethren:
(1) by the blood of the Lamb  
(2) by the word of their testimony
(3) they loved not their lives unto the death

Romans 16:20 
Rev 2:10

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Horror Hath Taken Hold Upon Me

Psalm 119:53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

Satan has such a grip on the heart of this country right now that the Saints must press in with prayer to the Lord for the lost and the deceived.  


What a sad moment in time when television shows are being used to glorify that which is called an abomination by God, the Creator of this world.  When I see articles of different news events on the side of my Facebook page glorifying shows that follow teenagers who are confused about who they were created to be, I mourn for every eye that will turn that show on.  When television shows are airing kids of the same gender, at the age of 12, doing that which is against God’s plan for their lives, I fall to my knees and say, “Lord, don’t forsake this land!  Extend your hand of mercy; penetrate our hearts, Lord.  Do what you must so that the people in this land will turn away from their sin and turn to you!”    



What a deceptive time when, unfortunately, people are twisting words from the Bible to condone that which is against the very nature of God’s plan for men and women.  Are believers so intimidated by Satan’s system that we can’t rise up in these last days and speak the Truth of the Word of God in order to set the captives free?   


Do we have too many friends who are in bondage to that sin that we can’t afford to tell
them the truth, for fear of them departing from us?  As you are being loyal to those friends, understand that you are betraying the Lord with a kiss - just as Judas did.


These captives (prisoners) to Satan do not even realize that they are in bondage to a death grip of sin.  The vice is slowly tightening around their throats as they continue to hold up signs and commit acts that are clearly spoken against in God’s Word.  


May we not forget that Satan attempted to quote the Bible for his own gain to Jesus Himself!  But the Lord used the Word against Satan.  We are not to remain silent just because those deceived misuse the Bible for filthy purposes.  


Some would argue that “their bible” tells them to love - as in we should not call sin what it is … sin.


What a strange distortion of love shouted from the housetops these days.  


We are taught about love in Romans 13:8-10


8...for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.


Do we not clearly see how love does not continue in sin?  Read the verses again.  We cannot afford to fall for the lie being espoused by so many.  Love will warn and exhort those who are practicing sin.  Love will not be silent while sin is being committed.  And love will not practice/commit/go against any commandment set forth by God.  



1) From the origin of the world, God’s statute was and still is clear:
 
Genesis 2:22-24And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.


2)  Jesus echoed these same words when He walked the earth:


Matthew 19:5 & Matthew 19:65 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.


3) The Holy Spirit Still Teaches The Covenant Between a Man and a Woman:



Ephesians 5:23, 5:24, 5:25, 5:28
Ephesians 5:31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they who shall be one flesh.


4) In The Old Testament and the New Testament, God’s Word does not change.


Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.


Jesus also says in Matthew 5:17:  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  


What is the link between the Old Testament Law and the New Testament Covenant? 

 Jesus Christ

The Old Testament law was certainly important and decreed by God, but man could never truly be delivered from the laws he broke.  In other words, man could not deliver himself from his own sin.  The best he could do was offer yearly sacrifices of animals.  Yet, when he walked away from that sacrificial ceremony, he would inevitably fail in some area of the law and commandments.  


However, the Lord provided a better way for all who follow Christ.  Jesus was the perfect sacrifice.  

He was sinless.  1 Peter 2:21 & 1 Peter 2:22


He became the sacrificial Lamb, once and for all.  


When a person understands his sinfulness, repents of the sin in his life, and instead turns to Christ, through obedience, the Holy Spirit will guide the follower of Christ into all truth.  It is not that we, by professing our belief in Jesus, can continue in sin and our sins still be covered or hidden under the blood.  That form of grace does not exist in the Bible, no matter how popular that false doctrine is.  



True Grace, According to the Bible Does the Following:


Titus 2:11, 2:12, 2:13, 2:14, 2:1511 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Grace does not allow sin; grace teaches a person who is following Christ HOW TO OVERCOME sin!  

Glory!  Freedom!  For those of you who are suffocating from sin’s grip around your neck, there is HOPE!  In Christ Jesus, you are no longer in bondage to the sin that has controlled you.  Cry out to the Lord. There are no special rehearsed words that you need to say.  Just cry out to the Lord!  He will come running to set you free!  He will find you and rescue you from any sin.


1 Peter 5:8, 5:9, 5:10, 5:11, 5:12
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
Notice in the verses above that the suffering is in direct relation to a believer who is resisting (not giving into) Satan.  We resist Satan and his temptations by praying to the Lord, seeking the Lord, reading the Bible, fasting.  After we have endured IN Christ and not given in to the sin, the Lord is faithful to perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us.  I could not type these words if I had not personally experienced how these verses and this explanation are true.  Any battle or temptation in my life that has been won, wholly and completely, has been won using the formula in the 1 Peter verses above.  
Satan will flee from a person who resists him.  Satan may flee quickly or may linger and attack for an extended period of time, but I promise he will depart if you do are obedient to what the Spirit says in verses 8-9.


For those of you who are struggling with the sin outlined in this blog or with any sin (for
there are many sins), I pray that you stay at the feet of the Lord.  No matter how strong your desire is to commit a particular sin, the Lord is the way of escape!  He will lead you to freedom if you seek Him.  For some, deliverance may come immediately, and for others, the battle may be long and tiring, but the Lord is faithful to those who Trust and Believe IN His ability to deliver us from the bondage of sin, any sin!


The days are rapidly growing darker.  That which is an abomination to God is now being glorified on television for anyone to see.  We removed cable from our home a year ago due to the increasing ungodliness showcased on cable television.  We couldn’t effectively monitor what our children’s eyes would be exposed to: not just shows, but commercials.  Even channels that were supposedly for young kids were starting to allow hosts for these children’s shows who were ungodly in an overt sense.


Can we not see that the men who were encompassing Lot’s home in Genesis 19 are now surrounding the church, seeking to infiltrate that which is Holy?  Lot offered his virgin daughters in place of the men (angels) who were being housed in his home.  Genesis 19:8  
Yet, the men of the city, did not want Lot’s virgin daughters.  Lot withstood the sin pressing upon his door, and when he did, the Angels in his home provided for Lot a way of escape from the sinfulness that surrounded him.  The Power of God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.  

Lot withstood the evil, and the Lord led him safely out of that town before its destruction.


The Lord is calling us to press against the door and protect that which is Holy:  The CHURCH!   Don’t allow an abomination inside.  If we are faithful to resist the devil, the LORD, by the POWER of His Grace, will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us.  We will never taste the wrath that is coming.  

Protect that which is sacred in the eyes of the Lord & point the lost to the Only One who can set them free.

Below:
This is a Spirit led sermon that I pray everyone listens to. I typed up this blog this morning with a sense of urgency from the same Holy Spirit. It wasn't until after I typed the blog that I saw this sermon shared on Facebook. The Spirit of God is pleading with His people. Now is the time to seek His Face. This country has crossed over to godlessness, and the Lord will only hear those who humble themselves before Him. Stand in the Gap for this nation and for the lost in it. I fully support the Holy Spirit driving this man's message below. Watch when you have time to really hear what the Spirit is saying. 



Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Worthy of Our Praise

I have been seeking the Lord the last few days on two particular matters.  Yesterday, I bowed before Him in prayer on those issues and felt led to start openly speaking how JUST the Lord is.  And how righteous the Lord is.  I said, "Lord, when you return, every judgment you make toward man will be just because You are justified in ALL of Your ways."







         JUST:
1.Honorable and fair in one's dealings and actions.
2. Consistent with what is morally right; righteous.
3. Properly due or merited.


Do you know that later last night, the Lord answered my prayer on both of the issues I had been praying about? Those two topics were not related at all. Yet, The Lord, answered my prayer about the two topics in the exact same manner. I thought, "Lord, how in the world do You do that!" Only He can.  He makes me laugh with love and devotion to Him.  Oh, how I love Him.

If you are in need of the Lord's answers, I recommend that you continually seek Him.  Don't stop.  In the midst of searching for Him . . . you must also wholeheartedly PRAISE HIM and all of His glory.  Praise Him because He is your creator & He has His hand on all.  His justice will be served in the end.  I praise Him for being God!  I am so thankful that these false gods are not real.  I am so thankful that Satan is not in control. My soul rests in knowing that the Lord Jesus is in control!  

I long for the day that I, and all others, will see Jesus coming in ALL of His Glory.  The Bible tells us
that EVERY KNEE WILL BOW to Him (Romans 14:11). Not just Christian knees, but atheist knees will bow.  All will bow no matter how many false gods were served; all will identify JESUS Christ as Lord of lords and King of kings.  What a moment that will be!  His judgment of every single one of us in that day will be JUST.  No matter where any of us spend eternity - with Him or in the lake of fire, the decision will be JUST.  


He Is JUST.

Psalm 7:17
I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.
Psalm 9:1
I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
Psalm 9:2
I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.


Psalm 9:11
Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

Psalm 18:3
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Psalm 18:49
Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
Psalm 21:13
Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.
Psalm 22:3
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.


Psalm 22:23
Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
Psalm 22:26
The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.