An Individual Affair

False 'christianity' is spreading like wildfire in these last days.  There is no point in declaring this statement using future tense any longer.  Delusion is now.  Delusion is everywhere.  Delusion is sending people to Hell.  (Acts 20:26, 20:27, 20:28, 20:29, 20:30, 20:31, & 20: 32)

It is time to seek the Lord fully and diligently.  Now is the time to go to the secret place and plead for the Lord's presence in your life.  You must do this.  It is a Y.O.U. thing.  It is personal.  You must encounter God 1 on 1 in order to find and receive the rescue and salvation that only the Lord can provide.  Salvation is IN Jesus Christ.  That deserves repeating - Salvation is IN Jesus Christ.  Are you IN Jesus Christ?  Salvation is not just a free floating trend out in space.  It is found only IN Jesus Christ. Essentially, salvation IS Jesus Christ. No one can receive salvation outside of Jesus Christ.  

Recently, I was in a conversation with someone who seemed to possess Biblical knowledge.  The person knows the Biblical stories, knows names of notable Biblical figures, & can list favorite stories from the Bible. This person professes to be a believer. (James 1:22, 2:19, 

However, in this conversation, it was clear this person did not really KNOW Jesus Christ.  There was no personal understanding of Jesus' true nature.  There was no desire to be transformed purely by Jesus.  There was no longing to have intimate communion with God (Matthew 7:21, 7:22, 7:23).  There was no reverential fear of this Almighty God.  To this person, He represented only mercy, not judgment (Revelation 19:11, 19:12, 19:13, 19:14, 19:15, & 19:16). 

To this person, Jesus was "understanding" of false religions.  During the conversation, it was almost impossible for her to hear, truly hear, God's hatred toward that which is false (Leviticus 26:30, 1 Samuel 15:23, Isaiah 1:18, 1:19; 1:20, Matthew 21:12, 21:13,  Revelation 2:14, 2:15, 2:16, 2:20, 9:18, 9:19, 9:20, 9:21).  

She was very much inclined to believe in a 'human works-based salvation', rather than a Spirit led transformation.  She seemed to convey the following notion:  Doing 'good works' such as feeding the hungry, respecting other people's religions or false notions within Christianity, sitting with the elderly, etc., were indicators of being saved.  I tried to explain that there is nothing wrong with feeding the hungry and spending time with the elderly, but those actions do not necessarily indicate one is "saved."  I shared that there are atheists who feed the hungry, are 'tolerant', & sit with the elderly, all the while not born again.  There are muslims who do those things, yet they are not born again.  There are catholics who do such things, yet they are not born again.  There are buddhists who perform such actions.  There are hindus who outwardly appear nice, gentle, & loving -- and any other positive, earthly label people tend to use, and none of them are truly born again  (Matthew 23:25, 23:26).  

Many are falling for this strong delusion of external good works equaling being Heaven-bound, but such is not the case.  One must be born again (John 3:5, 3:6, & 3:7).  One must absolutely have the Holy Spirit dwelling on the inside & one must be obedient to the Spirit's leading, teaching, and instructions.  Truly being born again will equal a transformation from the INSIDE out.  Hiding behind external works may fool any number of people, but God will never be deceived.  External works minus the Holy Spirit's leading are futile.  Yes, those human-driven works will receive a loud round of applause from others and from oneself, but they are ultimately filthy rags that will rot away in the presence of a Holy & Just God.  If we are not being forged by His Righteousness, our actions, thoughts, desires, and words are beyond ridiculous.

Below, I share these verses with a desire that all would be saved.  I am showing no one, absolutely no one, the true love of Christ, as defined in His Holy Word, if I mislead you in believing that there is any other way to be IN and to ABIDE IN Christ until the end.  I, with the utmost respect, bow before the Lord and do not ever want to share a message supposedly about Christ, all the while teaching that there are "shortcuts" to Him.  False teachers will be in the lake of fire for all eternity.  There are NO shortcuts. The Lord said the way to eternal life is narrow and few will find this way (Matthew 7:14, Luke 13: 23-24). Contemplate the word few.  It is a sobering word.  

Please seek the Lord and study these verses with your entire heart.  Lay down false religion.  Lay down false doctrines.  Lay down pride.  Lay down the ways of this world.  Lay all of it down, and seek Christ in prayer and through His Word - The Holy Bible.  

Matthew 3:2, 3:8, 3:11, Mark 1:15

Acts 2:38

Acts 5:32

Romans 8:1, 8:4, 8:5, 8:6, 8:7, 8:8, 8:13, 8:14

Romans 12:1, 12:2, 

Galatians 5:16, 5:18, 5:19. 5:20, 5:21, 5:24

Hebrews 5:8, 5:9

Pray to the Jesus of the Bible.  Lay down pre-conceived notions of who you thought He was, or who you were told He was.  Read the Bible and pray.   This is so important:  praying and reading the Bible must be partners in your journey to truly be born again.  Relying on signs and wonders alone can be very dangerous.  In my conversation with this person, she was very reliant on signs and wonders, alone.  This concerned me greatly for her.

Be warned!  The Bible teaches that there will be false signs and wonders that will deceive many.  

Deuteronomy 13: 1, 13:2, 13:3

Matthew 24:5

Luke 21:8

2 Thessalonians 2:9, 2:10, 2:11, 2:12

Friends, we cannot afford to be ignorant of God's Word.  It is an individual affair, meaning you alone must make your calling and election sure with Christ Himself.  Do not rely on someone saying you are saved.  Do not be trapped by thinking that 'being a nice guy' equals salvation. Do not believe your regular church attendance means you are saved.  Do not believe 'running around' and volunteering for all the good deeds available means you are saved.  Do not believe the sin you practice will be overlooked because you do this, this, and this to help others.  Let your prayer be, "Lord, I want to know you, and I want you to truly know me."  

     

One Piece in the Arsenal

Arsenal:   A place where weapons and military equipment are stored or made.
Several years ago, my life changed - at first, it appeared to be for the worst. Yet, ultimately, the Lord brought the greatest victory to me through that tragedy.  Hallelujah!

I have written about portions of that time of testing in other blogs (Stand in the Gap, Place of a Skull), so I won't go into detail here.

I preface with that time in my life to say this:

When Satan presented his demonic self to me during that time, I didn't have much of anything in my spiritual armory.  I didn't have much to combat him with.  I was 32 years old when all of this began.  However, there was one area of truth that had some how and some where along the way made its way into my understanding:  

God is absolutely against sin.

Psalm 1:1, 1:5, 4:4, 19:13, 32:5, 51:2, 51:3, Isaiah 1:4, 1:13, 1:14, 1:15, 3:9, Jeremiah 7:9, 7:10. 7:11, Isaiah 59:2, Matthew 5:29, 18:9, Ezekiel 3:18, 3:19, 3:20, 3:21, Revelation 21:7, 21:8, 21:27

God is absolutely against sin.  Knowing that was crucial for me.

So when I was faced with this particular temptation (sin), I was floored!  Satan presented this temptation to my mind (my thoughts), and I nearly lost my ability to function in the smallest matters.  That is not an exaggeration. Insanity loomed around every corner of my mind.  It was a very, very dark time.  The battlefield was surely my mind.  Satan attempts to usurp our thoughts, and he hopes to carry out these thoughts in reality by weakening his prey's mind.  

Although Satan infiltrated much of my thoughts during that wilderness period, praise the Lord, he was destroyed and conquered in that very same place, too.

 How?  By the Lord's Standard.

I clung to the only weapon I had in my arsenal!  God hates sin.  Sin does not come from God.

Friends, we are living during a time when the word sin is not used very often.  Many refuse to speak about God's disgust with sin.  Many won't say anything against sin for fear of losing friends and church members.  This society celebrates what God calls sin, and they call it right.  They call it acceptable.  They call it normal.

So many have been made to falsely believe that speaking against sin and teaching God's true disgust with sin will "run" people off and that those people will never get saved, but the devil has forged this lie - Satan has taught people to believe such nonsense.

When people refused to accept Jesus' teachings, we do not see Him changing the Gospel or running after those who did not want it.  No.  Instead, in one story, Jesus turns to the remaining disciples and asks if they will also leave...  We must remember that most people will reject the whole Gospel.  Few will accept the Word of God cover to cover.  Few.

When I had reached the end of me - when my mind was on the brink of disaster - when I knew I didn't have any strength on my own to fight off the devil, that's when I ran to the One who hated sin!  I knew God was against sin, so I knew HE was my only hope to overcome the thoughts that were raging in my mind.  If He hated sin, then He would justly and righteously show me how to overcome those thoughts.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Psalm 25:18
Psalm 32:5
2 Timothy 1:7

Because I knew the Lord was against the thoughts Satan was trying to drive me insane with, I knew the Lord was my greatest ally!  When man withholds God's stance against sin, man is withholding one of the greatest foundational weapons there is.  We must know that God stands against sin.  We can't afford gray area here!  Gray area leads people to think they can continue in sin and still be accepted by Christ.  Not true.

Look around - we are living during a time when people think they are born again, unfortunately, because they lack this foundation of truth.  God hates sin.  He does not approve of it.  He became flesh, dwelt among us, and was brutally crucified for filthy sin.  Jesus is not our way to continue in sin but to instead be forgiven and to overcome sin - IN and THROUGH Jesus we can overcome sin.

During these anguished months, I prayed and sought and read God's Word - The Holy Bible- and fasted and pleaded for this Great God's intervention!

Because God was against sin, I knew He was the only One who could rescue me!  And He did!  In miraculous ways, Jesus proved faithful and stronger than sin.  The Lord victoriously destroyed lies Satan was forging in my mind. The Lord rode in like a conqueror, and Satan had to go.  Glory to God.  A sound mind returned in that moment.  The One who hated sin was mighty to save the one who did not want to sin against Him. I weep now when I think back on this terrifying time of my life.  Oh, how the Lord was faithful to save me in that day of salvation.  Isaiah 49:8.

There is a day quickly approaching when every eye will see, will hear, and will know that God hates sin. In growing numbers, man is claiming God does not, but when that great and terrible day of the Lord arrives, it will be too late to make Jesus your ally in order to overcome the chains of sin.

Cry out to the Lord now.  He is mighty to rescue and to destroy the works of the devil in your mind.

Exodus 13:21, 13:22

Beulah Land

Press in and hold on, Saints! It is all worth it in the end. Hallelujah!

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. (Isaiah 62:4)


Hephzibah: 1. Wife of King Hezekiah

2. A symbolic name for Jerusalem

Strong's Hebrew #2657: My delight is in her.


Beulah: A name of restored Israel

Strong's Hebrew #1166: To be master; hence, to marry.

Beulah Land Song
More on Hezekiah: Waters of Siloam

Endogenous: Growth From Deep Within

The Palm Tree

Those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ will be transformed & grow from the inside out.  The Lord Jesus performs a remarkable transformation within us when we abide IN Him.  (John 15:1, 15:2, 15:3, 15:4, 15:5, 15:6, 15:7, 15:8, 15:9, 15;10)   If I believe in Jesus, I obey Him.  If I say I believe in my marriage to my husband, yet I practice adultery, then it is clear I do not truly believe in the marriage.  Let us be found faithful to Christ.  

He is the author and finisher of our faith, but we are reminded that we must, in fact, continue in the faith. (Hebrews 12:1, 12:2, 12:3)  As verse 3 of Hebrews 12 instructs, we must not faint in our minds, and as Paul instructs Christians in Acts 14:22, we must continue in the faith enduring great tribulation to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven from everlasting to everlasting.  The Lord is faithful to “finish” our faith IF we continue IN the faith.

Just the other day, the Lord shed new light on my understanding of the palm tree, and I shared the information with my husband.  The palm tree is quite unique in that, unlike many other trees, the palm is endogenous.  The palm tree’s growth occurs from deep within the tree  and becomes apparent externally -  this is in contrast  to many other trees that grow from the outside (exogenous).

We discussed how the palm's deep inner growth surely represents the same kind of growth that occurs within followers of Christ.  He transforms us from the inside out.  Within mere seconds of saying this, our 4 year old, who was sitting quietly in the backseat, said, “The heart.”  Now, I love my four year old, but he doesn’t possess that kind of wisdom.   : -)  

We knew the Holy Spirit had shared His Wisdom during our conversation.  It’s a transformed heart that leads to true growth spiritually and outwardly.  The Word of God teaches that our hearts are despicable (Jeremiah 17:9) without the transforming power of Jesus Christ within us.  He is the Word made flesh (John Chapter 1).  Unless that Word takes root and flourishes deep within our hearts - sustaining us, nourishing us, and growing us, we are doomed for damnation.  What a Saviour!  What mercy for God to offer HImself to a dying world.  

We must understand this Truth about the Lord’s Word:  The Truth of God’s Word must penetrate first deep within us; otherwise, our external “works” are superficial and hollow. Empty.  Dead.  If only our ears are tickled, our hearts won’t be transformed. (2 Timothy 4:3)  Messages that make our flesh comfortable will never seep into the core of our hearts.  There will be no true growth from the inside to the outside.  There may be a ‘flashy imitation’ for the world to gawk at, but it is worth nothing in the end.  The inner man will remain the same:  damned.

Is the True Word of God Implanted Deep Within You?

James 1:21

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. (Matthew 13:22, 13:23, Luke 8:11)

Are You Growing From The Inside Out Because of The Holy Spirit? Or Are You Performing External Works When There is Really No Internal Transformation Occurring?  These Are Difficult Questions, But We Can’t Afford To Deceive Ourselves.

Psalm 92:12

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

[The Song of Solomon is symbolic of the pure, righteous, and fruit bearing relationship between the Bride (the true Church) and the Groom (Jesus).]

Song of Solomon 7:7   This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.

Song of Solomon 7:8

I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples;

John 12:13

Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Revelation 7:9-10

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Facts About Palm Trees:  

From BibleStudyTools.com

“Its trunk is straight, tall and unbroken, terminating in a crown of emerald-green plumes, like a diadem of gigantic ostrich-feathers; these leaves are frequently twenty feet in length, droop slightly at the ends, and whisper musically in the breeze. The palm is, in truth, a beautiful and most useful tree. Its fruit is the daily food of millions; its sap furnishes an agreeable wine; the fibres of the base of its leaves are woven into ropes and rigging; its tall stem supplies a valuable timber; its leaves are manufactured into brushes, mats, bags, couches and baskets.”

“There is in the Psalms, (Psalms 92:12 ) the familiar comparison, "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree," which suggests a world of illustration whether respect be had to the orderly and regular aspect of the tree, its fruitfulness, the perpetual greenness of its foliage, or the height at which the foliage grows, as far as possible from earth and as near as possible to heaven. Perhaps no point is more worthy of mention, we wish to pursue the comparison, than the elasticity of the fibre of the palm and its determined growth upward even when loaded with weights.”

“To these points of comparison may be added, its principle of growth: it is an endogen, and grows from within.”

From www.sciencedaily.com/terms/tree.htm

“Exogenous trees, which comprise the great majority of modern trees (all conifers, and all broadleaf trees), grow by the addition of new wood outwards, immediately under the bark.”

“Endogenous trees, mainly in the monocotyledons (e.g. palms), grow by addition of new material inwards.”

What author could possibly include such intricate and vast symbolism within a book?  None other than the Creator of all, Lord God Almighty.  My mind cannot possibly fathom the depths of His Book’s Wisdom.  Yet - when His Spirit teaches a portion to me, I am humbled by Who He Is.

Is Your Heart Growing or Decaying?

Hebrews 3:12-1912 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in

departing from the living God.13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Psalm 17:3Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

Psalm 10:17Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

Psalm 19:14Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 27:3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

Psalm 28:3Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Matthew 12:35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Matthew 15:8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Mark 12:30And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Mark 12:33And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Matthew 5:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Matthew 15: 18-2018 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Whose Will Are You Doing?

Emotions and Personal Attachments

Placing emotions and personal attachments above obedience to the Holy Spirit of God will lead people to Hell.  Our emotions cannot be trusted if the Lord is not our Counselor (Isaiah 9:6).  Emotions can be deceptive, and Satan uses our emotions to manipulate us.  Love, hate, anger, happiness, sexual feelings, confusion - you name any emotion we can possibly “feel” as human beings, and I say be careful; tread cautiously.  

Unchecked emotions can and will control us.  It does not matter what we “feel” if God is not driving us.  Period.  

We may “feel” or “think” we know how to best handle situations, but if God is not the source of our actions, our thoughts, our feelings, then all is for nought.  Nothing. Empty.  Filthy Rags.

Too many times, under the disguise of ‘being a Christian’, we go against God’s will.  

I am convinced man’s attempt to emotionally gauge a situation has led to the birth of various denominations, has led to false teachings, has led to strife, has led to a complete distortion of God’s Holy Standard.

First, God has established His Standard.  In reality, no matter the debates and conjecture of the masses, there is no other standard except God’s Standard.  When we put God’s established way first, every decision we make thereafter is much easier.  

When we place the standards of others first or when we allow ourselves to fluctuate between what God says and what man says, we are bound to be UNfaithful to the Lord along the way.  This type of unfaithfulness is spiritual adultery.  And we know -based on God’s Standard- that adultery is grounds for divorce - be it spiritual or physical.  (Matthew 5:27, 5:28, 5:32, Hebrews 6:8, 2 Peter 2:21, 2:22)

Saul was anointed by God, but his emotions were driven by self, the need to be accepted by others, and his fear of others.  There were dire consequences for Saul.  Let this be a warning for all who profess loyalty to the Lord. (1 Samuel 15:22, 15:23, 15:24, 15:25, 15:35, 1 Samuel 28:15, 1 Samuel 28:6, 28:7, 28:16, 28:17, 28:18, 1 Chronicles 10:13, 10:14)

Solomon, too, was at one time loyal to the Lord, but he was ultimately ruled by his “feelings”.  Great was this man’s sin.  (1 Chronicles 28:9, 1 Kings 11:2, 11:3, 11:4, 11:5, 11:6, 11:7, 11:8, 11:9)

Recently, I observed someone I care for do something that was against God’s Standard.  My flesh-led emotions wanted to view it differently than God’s Standard views it.  A decision had to be made on my part.  Would I allow my emotions rule on this matter and bend what God says in His Word, or would I say, “It is written.”

Whose will would I follow?  God’s?  Mine?  Others’?  We must be prepared to choose.  Better yet, we must be prepared to choose God’s Standard every single time.  

If we find ourselves negotiating God’s Standard because our allegiance to man is more important in the moment, we are deeply, deeply deceived.  Our unchecked emotions will even convince us that we are in God’s will.  Beloved, try the spirits.  A comfortable flesh is very deceptive.

How often do we negotiate God’s Standard - distort it or remove parts of it - in order to have people view us in a positive way?  “Oh, she is so nice.”   “She always makes me feel comfortable around her.”  Satan loves to use people’s perception of us in order to manipulate us into doing his bidding.  In other words, we start shaving a little off of God’s Standard here and there - all for the sake of man “appreciating us” and man claiming that we “really love them.”  

Satan is a master puppeteer!  But can we blame all things on Satan?  Can we be honest about an unchecked flesh?  Flesh - if left to its own devices - very readily accepts pride within itself.  Of course, the flesh will never call it “pride.”  Words like meek, humble, friendly, peacemaker, etc. are replacement words used by the flesh to fool us.  

We won’t be fooled by our own flesh if the Holy Spirit rules within us.  

If the flesh is not destroyed (mortified - put to death) by obedience to the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13), then we will think ourselves special in the flesh. Beware! We will find ourselves manipulating the Word of God in order to have our flesh flattered by man’s “love” and “adoration” of us. Our flesh will communicate with the flesh of others in order to make people think we are ‘humble’ and that we truly ‘love’ them. Their flesh/ feelings will acknowledge the false ‘humility’ and ‘love’ and be very receptive to it --- especially if it means, they are not being called to turn from their sins nor being pricked in their hearts to beg the Lord’s forgiveness. If their heart does not have to be transformed, their ‘feelings’ will celebrate you. But such a celebration is worth absolutely nothing eternally.    

After the fleshly party and ultimately, at the Judgment, nothing remains from the celebration but the garbage that has continually defiled the hearts of ALL involved.  It’s a pitiful sight to behold.  I weep at this tragedy of corruption!

 

It is written:

Matthew 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Matthew 12:41The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Mark 6:11And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Revelation 2:5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Revelation 21:8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The Question Remains:  Whose Will Are You Doing?

Matthew 7:21

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.